American Idioms Quiz (A2-B2) — Vocabulary Practice Test

⏱ Time: 10:00 📝 Questions: 20 📊 Level: A2, B1, B2 📚 Type: Vocabulary ⭐ XP: up to +22 (on pass)
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10-minute daily practice: 20 American Idioms exercises for Level A2-B2. Short enough to fit into a coffee break, thorough enough to make real progress. Covers the most useful aspects of american idioms with instant feedback.

⏱ You have 10:00 to answer 20 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  20
Q1 20

Question 1: I'm feeling a bit under the ___. I think I have a cold.

Question 1 options
'Under the weather' is an American idiom meaning to feel sick or unwell. 'Storm,' 'cloud,' and 'rain' do not complete this fixed expression.
Q2 20

Question 2: What does the idiom 'break the ice' mean?

Question 2 options
'Break the ice' means to start a conversation or make people feel comfortable in a social situation. It does not mean to cause trouble, cool a drink, or break something fragile.
Q3 20

Question 3: That test was a piece of ___. It was so easy!

Question 3 options
'A piece of cake' is a common American idiom meaning something very easy to do. 'Pie,' 'bread,' and 'candy' do not form this standard expression.
Q4 20

Question 4: The idiom 'hit the sack' means to go to sleep.

Question 4 options
True. 'Hit the sack' is an informal American idiom that means to go to bed or go to sleep. 'Sack' here refers to a sleeping bag or bed.
Q5 20

Question 5: Which word is closest in meaning to the idiom 'cost an arm and a leg'?

Question 5 options
'Cost an arm and a leg' means something is extremely expensive. 'Cheap,' 'free,' and 'reasonable' all describe the opposite or a different price level.
Q6 20

Question 6: Don't let the cat out of the ___! It's supposed to be a surprise party.

Question 6 options
'Let the cat out of the bag' is an American idiom meaning to reveal a secret. 'Box,' 'house,' and 'room' do not complete this fixed expression.
Q7 20

Question 7: What does the idiom 'barking up the wrong tree' mean?

Question 7 options
'Barking up the wrong tree' means pursuing a wrong course of action or making a false assumption. It comes from hunting dogs barking at a tree where the animal has already fled.
Q8 20

Question 8: He was so nervous that he had ___ in his stomach before the speech.

Question 8 options
'Butterflies in your stomach' is an American idiom describing the nervous, fluttery feeling you get before a stressful event.
Q9 20

Question 9: Match each American idiom to its meaning.

Question 9 options
Bite the bullet
Hit the nail on the head
Spill the beans
Kick the bucket
Describe something exactly right
Reveal secret information
To die
Endure something painful with courage

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

'Bite the bullet' means to endure something painful. 'Hit the nail on the head' means to be exactly right. 'Spill the beans' means to reveal a secret. 'Kick the bucket' means to die.
Q10 20

Question 10: She's been burning the midnight ___ studying for her final exams.

Question 10 options
'Burning the midnight oil' is an American idiom meaning to stay up very late working or studying. 'Candle,' 'lamp,' and 'fire' do not complete this standard expression.
Q11 20

Question 11: After losing his job, Tom decided to turn over a new ___.

Question 11 options
'Turn over a new leaf' means to make a fresh start or change one's behavior for the better. 'Page,' 'chapter,' and 'stone' do not form this idiom.
Q12 20

Question 12: The idiom 'once in a blue moon' means something that happens very frequently.

Question 12 options
False. 'Once in a blue moon' means something that happens very rarely, not frequently. A 'blue moon' is an uncommon astronomical event, hence the association with rarity.
Q13 20

Question 13: When the teacher asked who broke the window, nobody wanted to ___ the music.

Question 13 options
'Face the music' is an American idiom meaning to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions. 'Hear,' 'play,' and 'stop' do not form this expression.
Q14 20

Question 14: What does the idiom 'the ball is in your court' mean?

Question 14 options
'The ball is in your court' is a sports-derived American idiom meaning it is now your turn to take action or make a decision. It does not relate to actual games or physical locations.
Q15 20

Question 15: Which word is closest in meaning to the idiom 'beat around the bush'?

Question 15 options
'Beat around the bush' means to avoid talking about what is important or to speak indirectly. 'Exaggerate' means to overstate, 'interrupt' means to cut in, and 'whisper' means to speak quietly.
Q16 20

Question 16: My boss threw me under the ___ and blamed me for the project's failure.

Question 16 options
'Throw someone under the bus' is an American idiom meaning to betray or sacrifice someone for personal gain. 'Train,' 'car,' and 'truck' do not complete this fixed expression.
Q17 20

Question 17: She tried to convince her skeptical colleagues, but she was essentially preaching to the ___.

Question 17 options
'Preaching to the choir' means trying to persuade people who already agree with you. The idiom 'preaching to the choir' means attempting to convince those who already believe. 'Crowd,' 'audience,' and 'congregation' do not form this American idiom.
Q18 20

Question 18: What does the idiom 'cut someone some slack' mean?

Question 18 options
'Cut someone some slack' means to be less critical or give someone more freedom or leniency. It does not mean to fire someone, to reduce pay, or to ignore someone completely.
Q19 20

Question 19: The new employee is still learning the ___; give her some time to adjust.

Question 19 options
'Learning the ropes' is an American idiom meaning to learn how a particular task or job is done. It originates from sailing, where new sailors had to learn how to handle the ropes. 'Rules,' 'tricks,' and 'steps' do not form this idiom.
Q20 20

Question 20: After years of struggling, her business finally turned the ___ and started making a profit.

Question 20 options
'Turn the corner' is an American idiom meaning to pass a critical point and begin to improve. 'Bend,' 'page,' and 'wheel' do not complete this expression.