Idioms Test 1

After going to the zoo, the mall, and the movies, Cassie was sick of bending over backwards to entertain her nieces.

• Cassie was doing very little to entertain her nieces.

• Cassie was making small efforts to entertain her nieces.

• Cassie was trying very hard to entertain her nieces.

• Cassie was not trying at all to entertain her nieces.

Answer explanation

When someone is 'bending over backwards', they are trying very hard to please another person.

Bobby would have been playing ball until the cows came home if it hadn’t been for Suzie dragging him home for dinner.

• Bobby was just about to stop playing ball.

• Bobby didn’t even want to play ball to begin with.

• Bobby prefers nature to athletics.

• Bobby would have continued playing ball for a long time.

Answer explanation

The expression 'until the cows come home' means that something is likely to continue for a long time.

Mr. Johnson was very particular about the arrangement of his classroom, so the thing he hated most was when his students caused a ruckus with their wild horseplay.

• Mr. Johnson hated when his students pretended to be animals.

• Mr. Johnson hated when his students played sports.

• Mr. Johnson hated when his students wrestled around with each other.

• Mr. Johnson hated when his students made animal noises.

Answer explanation

'Horseplay' is when children wrestle around with one another. It is referred to as such in areas where such activities might upset the environment.

Eric wanted to fix his cousin’s computer, but he was already having problems setting up his Aunt’s Wi-Fi network and he didn’t want to open a whole new can of worms.

• Eric was sick of spending his time helping his family.

• Eric wanted to go fishing instead of working on computers.

• Eric was having difficulties untangling the computer wires.

• Eric was not ready to begin working on a complicated new problem.

Answer explanation

To 'open a can of worms' is to begin working on a complicated problem.

Even though Candace already had a new job, she submitted her two week notice and conducted herself in a professional way at her old job because she didn’t want to burn bridges.

• Candace didn’t want to ruin her positive relationship with her old employer.

• Candace wasn’t ready to start her new job.

• Candace was really going to miss her old job.

• Candace was waiting until her last day to rub it in everyone’s face that she was leaving.

Answer explanation

To 'burn bridges' is to ruin a relationship. If Candance did not want to burn bridges with her old employer, she wanted to maintain a good relationship with them.

World renowned country western super group The Mountain Boys can sell out an arena at the drop of a hat.

• The Mountain Boys may be able to sell out an arena, but it will take a long time.

• The Mountain Boys can sell out an arena very quickly.

• The Mountain Boys are always willing to perform at charity events.

• The Mountain Boys enforce a dress code at all of their shows.

Answer explanation

'At the drop of a hat' means that something is likely to occur very quickly. This expression may have come from street performers, who were likely to perform amazing feats at the drop of a hat.

Vivian expected Craig to sob uncontrollably when she broke up with him; however, Craig kept a stiff upper lip.

• Craig cried even more than Vivian had expected.

• Craig cried about as much as Vivian had expected.

• Craig cried a little less than Vivian had expected.

• Craig did not cry.

Answer explanation

'Keeping a stiff upper lip' means that a person does not cry despite facing emotional turmoil. This expression probably refers to how when one cries, his or her upper lip tends to curl.

Mrs. Robinson expects Cassie and my presentation to be good, but we have been working on it every night for the last week, so we are really going to knock her socks off.

• Cassie and the speaker are not prepared to give a good presentation.

• Cassie and the speaker intend on hitting Mrs. Robinson rather than presenting.

• Cassie and the speaker’s presentation will far exceed Mrs. Robinson’s expectations.

• Cassie and the speaker’s presentation will meet Mrs. Robison’s expectations.

Answer explanation

To 'knock someone's socks off' is to impress them greatly with your efforts.

Over the summer Brian was really excited about being placed in the advanced math class, but after getting his syllabus on the first day and seeing the workload, he was ready to jump ship.

• Brian was even more excited about the math class than he was over the summer.

• Brian wanted to start working on his math assignments right away.

• Brian did not want to be in the advance math class anymore.

• Brian wanted to cause some trouble in the advanced math class.

Answer explanation

To 'jump ship' is to escape a commitment in which you are already engaged.

Jose had a hard time comparing the iPhone to the Samsung phone because to him they were apples and oranges.

• Jose can hardly tell the difference between the two phones because they are so similar.

• Jose believes that the phones are so different from one another that they cannot be compared.

• Jose doesn’t know anything about phones so he may as well be thinking about fruits.

• Jose is too hungry to think about phones at this time.

Answer explanation

Jose believes that the phones are so different that they cannot be compared. The expression 'apples and oranges' is applied when two things are so uniquely different from one another that comparisons either don't apply or are unfair.