Welcome, Guest
📚 Idioms and Phrases Practice
Choose an answer, then open the short learning card. Learn the meaning of common idioms and phrases with short examples, memory clues, and exam-focused explanations.
Q11. He is ill at ease in his new position.
ill at ease: awkward, uneasy, uncomfortable
Q12. "Don't try to throw dust into my eyes. You will not succeed."
throw dust into my eyes: to mislead or deceive someone.
Q13. Don't mix with the bad hats.
bad hats: someone who deliberately stirs up trouble, mischief-maker, trouble maker,
Q14. All our effort ended in smoke.
ended in smoke: means to fail or be unsuccessful after a lot of effort.
Q15. The number increased by leaps and bounds.
leaps and bounds: Rapidly, or in fast progress.
Q16. To murder in "cold blood", it means to murder:
unfeelingly
Cold blood means without emotion or mercy, so the murder is done without feeling.
Think: "cold" = without feelings.
The killer acted in cold blood and showed no remorse.
Q17. If somebody has worked for "donkey's years", it means he has worked:
"donkey's years": for a very long time
Q18. Replace the underlined portion with an idiom from the list below:
They finally agreed on the business deal.
The phrase "See Eye to Eye" is used when you view something in the same way as others do, or that you agree with someone about something.
Q19. The idiomatic expression "A slap on the wrist" means:
A slap on the wrist is a warning or a punishment that is not very severe.
Q20. He says he has invented a time machine, which is clearly a load of cobblers.
"A load of cobblers" is indeed an idiom, and it is commonly used to express that something is nonsense, untrue, or of poor quality.