About this quiz
20 common English idioms and their meanings.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 20 multiple-choice questions (Subject: English · For: Kharidar, Nayab Subba, Section Officer · Level: Medium). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 20 questions with answers and explanations
"A piece of cake" means:
- A) something very easy ✔
- B) a small reward
- C) a sweet dish
- D) a small share
Why: "The test was a piece of cake" means it was very easy.
"Once in a blue moon" means:
- A) every night
- B) very rarely ✔
- C) at midnight
- D) every month
Why: It describes something that happens very seldom.
"Break the ice" means:
- A) start a conversation in an awkward situation ✔
- B) damage something
- C) become angry
- D) end a friendship
Why: People "break the ice" to make others feel relaxed.
"Hit the nail on the head" means:
- A) make a mistake
- B) say exactly the right thing ✔
- C) hurt someone
- D) work hard
Why: It means to describe a problem exactly correctly.
"Burn the midnight oil" means:
- A) waste money
- B) work or study late at night ✔
- C) cook at night
- D) start a fire
Why: Students "burn the midnight oil" before exams.
"A blessing in disguise" means:
- A) a hidden enemy
- B) something that seems bad but turns out good ✔
- C) a religious ceremony
- D) a fake gift
Why: A bad event that later brings good results is a blessing in disguise.
"Call it a day" means:
- A) stop working for the day ✔
- B) name a date
- C) phone someone
- D) celebrate
Why: "Let's call it a day" means let's stop working now.
"Spill the beans" means:
- A) waste food
- B) reveal a secret ✔
- C) make a mess
- D) tell a lie
Why: It means to tell information that was supposed to be secret.
"Under the weather" means:
- A) feeling unwell ✔
- B) outdoors in rain
- C) very happy
- D) under pressure at work
Why: "I am feeling under the weather" means I am slightly ill.
"Cost an arm and a leg" means:
- A) be very expensive ✔
- B) cause injury
- C) be cheap
- D) need hard work
Why: It means something costs a lot of money.
"Beat around the bush" means:
- A) avoid the main point ✔
- B) work in a garden
- C) search everywhere
- D) speak clearly
Why: It means not speaking directly about the main topic.
"In hot water" means:
- A) in trouble ✔
- B) taking a bath
- C) very busy
- D) successful
Why: "He is in hot water with his boss" means he is in trouble.
"The ball is in your court" means:
- A) it is your turn to decide or act ✔
- B) you have won
- C) you should play sport
- D) you are in danger
Why: It means the next decision or action is yours.
"Add fuel to the fire" means:
- A) make a bad situation worse ✔
- B) help solve a problem
- C) cook food
- D) save energy
Why: Doing something that makes an argument worse adds fuel to the fire.
"A white elephant" means:
- A) a rare animal
- B) a costly possession that is of little use ✔
- C) a valuable gift
- D) a peaceful person
Why: Something expensive to keep but not useful is a white elephant.
"A red-letter day" means:
- A) a day of danger
- B) an important or happy day ✔
- C) a holiday for workers only
- D) a day of bad news
Why: A red-letter day is memorable and special.
"At the eleventh hour" means:
- A) at the last moment ✔
- B) at 11 o'clock
- C) very early
- D) too late to act
Why: "He submitted the form at the eleventh hour" means just before the deadline.
"Bite the bullet" means:
- A) face a difficult situation bravely ✔
- B) get hurt
- C) speak angrily
- D) avoid work
Why: It means to accept something unpleasant and deal with it.
"In the same boat" means:
- A) travelling together
- B) in the same difficult situation ✔
- C) on holiday
- D) on the same team only
Why: People "in the same boat" face the same problem.
"Turn over a new leaf" means:
- A) start behaving in a better way ✔
- B) read a new book
- C) plant a tree
- D) change jobs
Why: It means to make a fresh, improved start.