Idioms

Directions: Read each idiom and determine the meaning.

1. When the politician was caught stealing from the taxpayers, everyone thought he would receive a severe
punishment, but all he got was a slap on the wrist.
meaning ______________________________________________________
2. We thought that our neighbors, the Jones family, were rich beyond our wildest dreams, but it turns out
that were all in the same boat.
meaning ______________________________________________________
3. If Kim thinks that Im going to let her copy my math homework, shes barking up the wrong tree.
meaning ______________________________________________________

4. Tom wanted to get down to brass tacks, but the lawyer kept chatting about the weather.
meaning ______________________________________________________

5. The lawyer knew that beating around the bush would get Tom all worked up.
meaning ______________________________________________________

6. After playing for three straight quarters, the quarterback was running out of steam.
meaning ______________________________________________________
7. Dont get so worked up, buddy. Shes only pulling your leg.
meaning ______________________________________________________
8. Jimbo was too tired to finish the assignment, so he decided to hit the hay.
meaning ______________________________________________________

9. Alan was excited when he found out that he would have his own front row parking spot at the university,
but that was just the icing on the cake.
meaning ______________________________________________________

10. Working at the Burger King was at first overwhelming to Kyle, but now he knows the ropes.
meaning ______________________________________________________

11. I know that the fight that they had yesterday seemed serious, but thats just the tip of the iceberg.
meaning ______________________________________________________
12. Sam and Paul had been dating forever, so we knew that it wouldnt be long until they tied the knot.
meaning ______________________________________________________
13. I would have loved to call in sick everyday until the summer, but I had to face the music one day.
meaning ______________________________________________________
14. Jacob wanted to join karate class, but with the cost of his sister's ballet class, he had to put his karate
dreams on the back burner.
meaning ______________________________________________________
15. Vince was sick of school, but on Thursday he could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
meaning ______________________________________________________
16. Tim jumped on the bandwagon and got his ear pierced after all of the other guys pierced their ears.
meaning ______________________________________________________
17. Chrissy yelled at Alec for taking the last wingding, but he wasnt scared because he knew that she was
all bark and no bite.
meaning ______________________________________________________
18. Lucy must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, because she was muttering curses again.
meaning ______________________________________________________
19. Mike told the students he would share the answers, and they were all ears.
meaning ______________________________________________________
20. Luke hopelessly stared at the problem. He couldnt make heads or tails of it.
meaning ______________________________________________________
21. Dad wanted to let me off punishment, but mom said, He made his bed. Now he has to lie in it.
meaning ______________________________________________________
22. You knew there was no answer to this problem. You sent me on a wild goose chase.
meaning ______________________________________________________