Common Idiomatic Expressions

Fill in the blanks.

1. ‘OK everybody, lunch break is over. Now get back to the

…………………...’
hearth
mill
grind
To be back to the grind is to get back to work.

2. ‘Did you get that job?’ ‘No mate, I ………………………… it.’

cracked
blew
burst
I blew it = I missed my opportunity

3. Her dreams of becoming a famous actor ended up just being a

……………………….. in the sky.
speck
pie
star
Pie in the Sky = an unrealistic dream

4. It was a ……………………. plan, so nobody was surprised when it failed.

raw
half-baked
half-ripe
If something is half-baked, it hasn't been properly thought out or planned.

5. …………………….. in there. Things should get better soon.

Hang

www.englishgrammar.org
 Common Idiomatic Expressions

Slide
Stand
This is an expression used to encourage people who are in a difficult situation.

6. Writers of his caliber are hard to ………………………… by.

get
come
meet
If something is hard to come by, it is difficult to find.

7. She was hot under the ……………………… when she heard that they had
lost that contract.
head
coat
sleeves
collar
If you are hot under the collar, you are angry or annoyed about something.

8. I’m ……………………… and tired of eating the same thing for dinner
every day.
ill
sick
angry
When you are sick and tired of something, you no longer find it interesting or exciting.

9. Your radio is starting to get on my ………………………. You had better it

turn it down.
spine
nerves
spirits

www.englishgrammar.org
 Common Idiomatic Expressions

To get on somebody’s nerves is to annoy them.

10. It is a small job but I am going to accept it. At least, I’ll have my
……………………. in the door.
foot
leg
ankle
To get your foot in the door is to accept even a small job hoping that you would be able to
get a promotion before long.

11. You don’t have to pay for my drinks. Let’s go ………………………..

French
Spanish
Dutch
To go Dutch is to pay your own share.

12. He tends to sell himself …………………… and that is his main fault.
short
low
less
To sell somebody short is to describe them as less impressive than they really are.

PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. ‘OK everybody, lunch break is over. Now get back to the grind.’

2. ‘Did you get that job?’ ‘No mate, I blew it.’

3. Her dreams of becoming a famous actor ended up just being a pie in the sky.

www.englishgrammar.org
 Common Idiomatic Expressions

4. It was a half-baked plan, so nobody was surprised when it failed.

5. Hang in there. Things should get better soon.

6. Writers of his caliber are hard to come by.

7. She was hot under the collar when she heard that they had lost that contract.

8. I’m sick and tired of eating the same thing for dinner every day.

9. Your radio is starting to get on my nerves. You had better it turn it down.

10. It is a small job but I am going to accept it. At least, I’ll have my foot in the door.

11. You don’t have to pay for my drinks. Let’s go Dutch. 12. He tends to sell himself short and
that is his main fault.

www.englishgrammar.org