Choose the correct explanation for the idiom in each section

Exercise 1 Idiom: A common expression understood figuratively, as the literal definition makes no sense.
1. After going to the zoo, the mall, and the movies, Cassie was sick of bending over backwards to entertain her nieces.
a. Cassie was doing very little to entertain her nieces.
b. Cassie was making small efforts to entertain her nieces.
c. Cassie was trying very hard to entertain her nieces.
d. Cassie was not trying at all to entertain her nieces.
2. Bobby would have been playing ball until the cows came home if it hadn’t been for Suzie dragging him home for dinner.
a. Bobby was just about to stop playing ball.
b. Bobby didn’t even want to play ball to begin with.
c. Bobby prefers nature to athletics.
d. Bobby would have continued playing ball for a long time.
3. You might think that Billy Parker is the kid who has everything, but if you saw the list of chores his parents give him, I guarantee that you wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.
a. You wouldn’t want your shoes to get as dirty as Billy’s when he’s doing his chores.
b. If you have to do as many chores as Billy, you’ll want a pair of comfortable shoes.
c. Billy shoes are so uncomfortable that doing his chores is really unpleasant.
d. Billy has so many chores to do that it is unpleasant to imagine doing them all.
4. 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.
a. Eric was sick of spending his time helping his family.
b. Eric wanted to go fishing instead of working on computers.
c. Eric was having difficulties untangling the computer wires.
d. Eric was not ready to begin working on a complicated new problem.
5. 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.
a. Candace didn’t want to ruin her positive relationship with her old employer.
b. Candace wasn’t ready to start her new job.
c. Candace was really going to miss her old job.
d. Candace was waiting until her last day to rub it in everyone’s face that she was leaving.
6. World renowned country western super group The Mountain Boys can sell out an arena at the drop of a hat.
a. The Mountain Boys may be able to sell out an arena, but it will take a long time.
b. The Mountain Boys can sell out an arena very quickly.
c. The Mountain Boys are always willing to perform at charity events.
d. The Mountain Boys enforce a dress code at all of their show
7. Vivian expected Craig to sob uncontrollably when she broke up with him; however, Craig kept a stiff upper lip.
a. Craig cried even more than Vivian had expected.
b. Craig cried about as much as Vivian had expected.
c. Craig cried a little less than Vivian had expected.
d. Craig did not cry.
8. 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.
a. Cassie and the speaker are not prepared to give a good presentation.
b. Cassie and the speaker intend on hitting Mrs. Robinson rather than presenting.
c. Cassie and the speaker’s presentation will far exceed Mrs. Robinson’s expectations.
d. Cassie and the speaker’s presentation will meet Mrs. Robison’s expectations.
9. 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.
a. Brian was even more excited about the math class than he was over the summer.
b. Brian wanted to start working on his math assignments right away.
c. Brian did not want to be in the advance math class anymore.
d. Brian wanted to cause some trouble in the advanced math class.
 10. Brad was accusing us of stealing his phone until he found it, and now he’s trying to sweep it under the rug.
a. Brad thinks that his phone will be safer if he hides it under the rug.
b. Brad wants to do something to make up for his mistake.
c. Brad is trying to locate a signal for his phone so that he can use it.
d. Brad wants to pretend that the incident never happened.
11. When Brian felt pretty good about getting a pair of roller-skates for his birthday, until he saw his twin brother Ryan open up his GameBox X-9000, and then Brian felt like
he got the short end of the stick.
a. Brian felt like Ryan received a better gift than he.
b. Brian was quite pleased with his roller skates.
c. Brian wanted a long stick that he could use to support himself on hikes.
d. Brian feels bad for Ryan because Ryan wanted roller-skates.
12. After Ms. Smith caught Darnisha chewing gum for the third time, Ms. Smith scheduled a parent teacher conference with Darnisha’s mother. When Darnisha’s mother came
into Ms. Smith’s classroom, she was chewing gum. Ms. Smith thought to herself, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
a. Ms. Smith thinks that Darnisha dresses like her mother.
b. Ms. Smith thinks that Darnisha acts a lot like her mother.
c. Ms. Smith is surprised to see that Darnisha’s mother came.
d. Ms. Smith thinks that Darnisha’s mother lives very close to the school
We ______ in the same street for years, but I only met my husband in 2009.

were living

lived

had been living

should have lived

I didn't _____ to see Allen when I was in New York.

take

time

get

meet

You ought to ____ your car repaired.

take

get

make

do

First, add some _____ chopped garlic to the tomatoes.

small

finely

tinily

neatly
In the course of the meeting, Mr Smith was _____ mishandling funds.

praised for

denied

accused of

informed by

It seemed ____ been snowing, but we knew it was only some white dust that had covered the whole town.

like it has

if it had

as it had

as if it had

_____ a large number of people in my life who have always done their utmost to help me achieve my goals.

There were

They were

They have been

There have been

I can't park here. That motorbike is ____ the way.

on

in

up

across

There's no point _______ the kids. They're old enough to look after themselves.

to worry for

to worry about

in worrying for

in worrying about

The concert was postponed, _____ to the lead singer's illness.

because

for

owing

causing
There are more _____ than last year.

unemployment

unemployed

unemployeds

unemployments

She didn't marry James, because her parents _______ .

wanted her

were against

were against it

haven't liked him

I think I'm _______ against.

having plotted

being plotted

plotting

have plotted

Most of my colleagues supported the idea, but a few were ______ it.

for

opposed

against

behind

We ____ give up when things took a turn for the better.

wanted

were about to

considered

have wanted to

______ you're late?

Why

What makes

How come

How is
I'm sorry, I can't see what ________ .

can you mean.

you are meaning.

do you mean.

you mean.

In 1998 she published the book ____ make Cheryl Dawn a household name in the US.

that was to

which

would

that might have

I wish he _______ that. My mother was so annoyed.

would say

would have said

hasn't said

hadn't said

Could you tell me what ________ ?

is the answer

the answer is

was the answer

would the answer be

This could have hardly _____ better- we sealed the deal and signed the contract.

done

gone out

made

played out

We can't buy a house unless we take out a(n) ______ .

mortgage

credit

overdraft

investment
I couldn'get in touch with her, even though I'd tried all possible _____ of communication.

ways

thing

means

tools

What does global warming have ____ overpopulation?

to do

to do with

made

made up

James is rather lonely these days. Why _____ him round?

shouldn't invite

not invite

do you invite

will you invite

_____ apologized, I wouldn't have been so upset at the time.

He had

If he

Had he

Would he

He's too _____ person to say no.

nice a

nice

a nice

so nice

There is going to be less unemployment this year, or so the newspaper _____ .

tells

thinks

writes

says
We'll need to discuss _____ we should close the shop.

about

that

what

whether

Why on earth ____ have done such a thing?

you

you would

would you

if you

I think I put my _____ in it when I asked Jane about her ex-husband.

thought

elbow

foot

nose

The thing ______ I love the most about him is his smile.

what

is

have

that

All I had to do to convince Janet, it turned out, ____ talk to her mother.

was to

is to

by

to

Susen failed all her exams, ______ a big surprise.

that was

was

which was

where was
Rather than ______ about how tired she was, she got on with her job.

to complain

complained

she complained

complain

The boy I was about to meet _____ play a very important role in my life.

is going to

might have

would get to

has had to

_____ me to your mother when you are in London.

Tell

Remind

Remember

Greet

Have you seen Gone with the Wind? ______ it's a very good film.

Apparently

Nevertheless

Despite

Admittedly

Despite deliberately _____ a personal distance from his co-worker, Josh acknowledged the dangers of working
together with such a beautiful woman.

was keeping

keeping

he kept

he had been keeping

Let's sleep on it, _____ we?

will

won't we

don't we
shall

Even though Jack had made a fortune, he _____ working as a consultant.

was going on

went on

went to

had gone

We've got three very _____ cats.

alike-looking

similar-looking

same

alike

It _____ to Fred that I secured a place at Harvard.

had been

had been up

was down

helped

Will you _____ the carpet a clean while I'm out?

have

give

try

make

It took a long time _______ accepted.

for the theory to be

until the theory

the theory was

while the theory became

The problem with this product is that the designers ______ .

considered by the users

haven't considered the users

inadequate
inadequately trained

I think he's an idiot. ______ , he's not very intelligent.

Having my say

That is to say

To say nothing

Say so

This time next month, I _____ on a beach in Florida.

will lie

am lying

lie

I'll be lying

Having spotted the burglar behind the curtain, I was scared _____ .

frozen

stiff

hard

over

My neighbours are so noisy. They ____ always move furniture around first thing in the morning.

might

do

should

will

I'm not quite sure why ____ want to interfere with their marriage.

would you

do you

you would

you can

It was important for her _____ seen as a threat.

to not be

not being

not to be
she wasn't

The confusion ______ the discovery of the body made everybody lose track of time.

had caused

was caused by

had been caused by

caused by

Have you met Julie? She is a friend of ______.

my

my mother

my mother's

me

Anger is something you should try to control, _____ you can let love roam free.

moreover

despite

whereas

neither

He was only nineteen years old, but he _____ developed a great sense of humour.

already

had still

had already

was just

Avoid ____ questions that are too personal in a job interview.

you should answer

having answered

to answer

answering

Writing her memoirs, Doreen, _____ lost a daughter to cancer, admitted that she had contemplated suicide on
many an occasion.

would have

who had herself

who must

have

_______ at the top of the hill, I could see the whole town.

Standing

Being stood

I had been standing

As I stand

I put down the date in my diary _______ forget it.

that I won't

so as not to

because I

for not to

When I asked him ______ the keys , Bob said he had no idea where they were.

if did he see

if he had seen

could he see

that he had seen

She was _____ hang up when I answered the phone.

to

about to

thinking of

considering

I'm a teacher and _____ my husband.

is a teacher

is he

so is

such is

They tried to talk her ________ .

of giving up

out of giving up
not giving up

not to give up

Charlie doesn't ____ to grasp that next year's budget may have to be cut.

like

know

able

seem

Have you seen the film _____ Brad Pitt saves the world from the zombies?

that

in which

in that

about

If it ______ , they would have divorced by now.

had sold the house

weren't for the house

weren't becuse of the house

were sold the house

She always gets away with _______ . The boss loves her.

she's late

late

to be late

being late

He always gets up at 5 o'clock in the morning, _____ on holiday.

moreover

although

however

even

My grandparents' house ______ pulled down just before I was born.

had

had been
was

must have

Your shirt is dirty, I don't think it will _____ for the wedding.

wear

present

do

make

Of course ______ I meant missed opportunities.

losing

by losses

for lost

the losses

I stopped _____ a phone call on my way home.

making

for making

to make

for make

Please, let me know why _______ the meeting.

you didn't attend

didn't you attend

you didn't attend to

you didn't go

My sister ____ bought a laptop for her birthday last year.

were

was

has

had

I think you should let your daughter ______ over at Judy's.

sleep

to sleep
sleeping

sleeps

I was wondering ____________ me some money.

that you can lend

if you lend

that you lent

if you could lend

My husband and I bought _______ last week.

some new furniture

a lot of new furnitures

any new furniture

pieces of new furnitures

I think our house _______ by the end of next year.

will have sold

will have been sold

will be sold

is going to be sold

Neither she nor her friend ______ invited to the party.

have

has been

will have

has

_____ any further information, do not hesitate to contact me.

Should you need

You should need

Unless you need

You will need

The kids had cereal for breakfast, and so ____ .

I did

did I
me too

had I

If I ______ to feed the dog, it wouldn't be starving now.

have had time

have time

had had time

never have time

I don't regard her _____ a threat to my marriage.

to be

having

as being

meaning

I'm anxious _____ to get home in time to meet his granddad.

that he

for him

about him

he has

If your invitations are met with repeated ______ , you should just leave him alone.

hypotheses

negatives

blunts

rebuffs

I bet your wife could tell _____ good few stories about you.

some

so

much

Before _____ money, banks have to assess the risks involved.

to lend

borrowing
lending

they lent

____ I hadn't been expecting any visitors, I was wearing pyjamas when the doorbell rang.

While

Due to

Why

Since

_______ she meets, they take an instant liking to her.

Wherever

Whoever

Who

If

Knowing he was late, he _________ .

eating his sandwich quickly.

ate quickly his sandwich.

ate his sandwich quickly.

fastly ate his sandwich.

It's not so much his looks I don't like ____ his inability to listen.

more

as

than

for

Passengers are advised ________ their belongings with them at all times.

to keep

to mind

if they could mind

if they could keep

Don't drink and drive ever again. You _____ easily been killed.

can

should have
could have

would

Anyone who was shocked by the atrocities ought to ask himself what _____ to prevent them.

had they done

they must have done

they could have done

did they do

I went to St Mary's Elementary School, ____ all my friends.

so went

as did

like did

the same as

I had to admit _____ completely forgotten our wedding anniversary.

to having

to have

I have

having

_______ at the party doesn't concern me.

That you saw

Which you saw

What you saw

You saw something

I don't dislike the building. Now as _____ the neighbourhood, I do have concerns.

about

well

regards

in

No need to get upset- I was _____ asking.

although

moreover
merely

likely

Where do you think _______ to spend my summer holidays?

I should

a good place

might be the best place

I might

Due to lacking _____ , we couldn't open the new store as scheduled.

interest rates

expenses

shares

funds

I wish you ______ checking my e-mails. You're invading my privacy.

will stop

have stopped

would stop

are going to stop

They had the luck to be present when history _____ .

had made

was being made

made

about to make

There was ______ anger in his voice that I had to hang up.

as much

such lot of

such much

so much

Their business hasn't taken off as expected, ____ , they are happy that the number of their customers is
increasing.

furthermore
inasmuch as

nonetheless

moreover

My grandfather was never _____ apologize to anyone.

had to

known for

heard to

believed in

The promises you have _____ will have to be kept.

been done

done

making

made

Can you help _____ up the mess?

clear

with clear

to clearing

me clearing

'Where shall we go this weekend?' 'What if we ____ in for a change?'

are staying

will stay

can stay

stayed

Prices are too high and they will remain _____ until inflation comes down.

so

there

that

as

She doesn't reveal much about herself, and is _____ fascinating for it.

as
the same

all the more

the more

I had _____ gone to bed than both kids started crying.

already

yet

scarcely

no sooner

The future of the planet doesn't look too good, but there isn't much ______ .

I can make about it

I can do about it

can I do about it

I can't do about it

It's about time you _____ exercising regularly.

start

started

should start

will start

If you ______ here, please, until Mr Brown gets back.

would wait

waited

are waiting

wait

Your husband was a bit out of control at the party, to ____ mildly.

put it

say

take it

tell

If I'd known about it, I _________ you for sure.

had told
should have told

would have told

would of told

Part of the reason Chris wanted to apply for the job _____ that employees were given plenty of room to grow
within the company.

he had recognised

realising

was his recognition

was mainly

The turmoil caused by World War II lasted well ____ the fifties.

after

over

beyond

for

_____ had I left the building when they called me on my mobile.

Just

As soon as

Hardly

After

I congratulated Josh on _____ given the job.

was

having been

had been

that he

We _____ regret that our presentation has been cancelled.

very

would like to

much

have

I've told you plenty of times. I _______ .

have love you

need love you

was love you

do love you

If I haven't come back by seven o'clock, _______ dinner without me.

start

will start

you start

you're starting

I can't get used to __________ .

be alone all day.

that I'm alone all day.

being alone all day.

I was alone all day.

Jim hasn't met the new boss yet, and _____ .

me too

neither I have

neither have I

I haven't

She's capable of _____ forget my own name.

making me to

having to

having made

making me

Whatever you ____ done to fool Claire, I don't believe a word of what you've said.

might

should have

will have

might have

If anybody wants to talk to me, tell ____ to call back later.

her

me

him

them

I couldn't stay any longer due _____ having enough money to pay for the hotel.

to not

not

for

to

Do you know how long _____ going to stay in Italy?

are Jack and Suzy

Jack and Suzy is

Jack and Suzy are

Jack and Suzy

I've broken Mum's favourite vase. I'm ______ .

taken for

made for

called for

done for

Miriam left her husband after a ______ row.

burning

heavy

crashing

blazing

I'm very sorry that ________ I've betrayed you.

you should think

why you think

you think so

I look

Thanks for having me! I've had _____ with you guys.
so fun

such fun

good time

so good time

There are strict rules against students ____ their mobile phones at the school premises.

using

want to use

are using

having used

The ____ I want to live my life is nobody else's business.

way how

reason

way

how

He's one of the most hated men in history, despite _______ anything really bad.

he didn't do

he hadn't done

not having done

not done

I can't decide _____ to move in with my boyfriend.

if

that

about

whether

Do you sell apples ___ the kilo?

for

at

in

by

Whenever I visited her, my grandma ______ my favourite cake for me.

would make

use to make

would have made

have made

You are the only person _______ I can talk.

to whom

with who

that

which

We argue all the time, but I just don't have _____ to leave my husband of thirty years.

feelings

decided

it in me

to take

Although we had tickets, we _________ for an hour.

have kept waiting

made waiting

had made waiting

were kept waiting

Mrs Brown's death came as no surprise, as she was said _____ ill for a long time.

to be

to have been

she had been

she was

Having such a famous man for a father ____ had an effect on Jason's childhood.

must

have

having

must have