Number Idioms Practice Test (B1-B2) — Vocabulary Exercises with Answers

⏱ Time: 10:00 📝 Questions: 20 📊 Level: B1, B2 📚 Type: Vocabulary ⭐ XP: up to +22 (on pass)
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Practise Number Idioms with 20 exercises at Level B1-B2. Each question comes with a clear explanation to reinforce the words you know and introduce the ones you don't. Just 10 minutes per attempt — perfect for daily practice.

⏱ 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 weather today, so let me take a quick nap and kill two ___ with one stone by resting and catching up on sleep.

Question 1 options
'Kill two birds with one stone' is a fixed idiom meaning to accomplish two things with a single action. 'Birds' is the only word that completes this well-known expression. 'Cats', 'fish', and 'flies' do not belong in this idiom.
Q2 20

Question 2: What does the idiom 'at sixes and sevens' mean?

Question 2 options
'At sixes and sevens' means in a state of confusion or disorganization. It does not mean angry, exhausted, or delighted.
Q3 20

Question 3: The idiom 'back to square one' means returning to the very beginning after a failure.

Question 3 options
True. 'Back to square one' means having to start something over from the beginning, usually because a previous attempt was unsuccessful.
Q4 20

Question 4: She's ___ nine because she just got promoted at work.

Question 4 options
'On cloud nine' is a fixed idiom meaning extremely happy or elated. 'On cloud nine' fits because she received good news about a promotion. 'Under cloud nine', 'in cloud nine', and 'at cloud nine' are not standard forms of this idiom.
Q5 20

Question 5: Which word is closest in meaning to the idiom 'one in a million'?

Question 5 options
'One in a million' describes someone or something extraordinarily rare and special, making 'exceptional' the closest synonym. 'Ordinary' means the opposite, 'unlucky' is unrelated, and 'wealthy' refers to financial status.
Q6 20

Question 6: He gave a hundred and ___ percent effort in the final match.

Question 6 options
'A hundred and ten percent' is a common idiom meaning to give more than the maximum expected effort. The missing word is 'ten'.
Q7 20

Question 7: I've told you a ___ times not to leave the door open!

Question 7 options
'A million times' is a hyperbolic idiom meaning very many times, used to express frustration about repeating something. 'Thousand' could also work colloquially, but 'million' is the most established idiomatic form. 'Dozen' and 'hundred' are less commonly used in this exaggerated expression.
Q8 20

Question 8: Match each number idiom to its meaning.

Question 8 options
two-faced
fifth wheel
ninth inning
forty winks
an unnecessary extra person
deceitful or hypocritical
a short nap
the last possible moment

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

'Two-faced' means deceitful. 'Fifth wheel' means an unnecessary person. 'Ninth inning' means the last moment. 'Forty winks' means a short nap.
Q9 20

Question 9: The new employee felt like a ___ wheel during the team dinner since everyone else knew each other well.

Question 9 options
'A third wheel' is an idiom describing someone who feels awkward or unwanted in a social situation, typically when accompanying a couple. 'Fourth', 'spare', and 'broken' do not complete this standard idiom.
Q10 20

Question 10: What does the idiom 'it takes two to tango' mean?

Question 10 options
'It takes two to tango' means that both parties involved in a situation are responsible, not just one person. It does not mean dancing is required, that teamwork ensures success, or that two attempts are needed.
Q11 20

Question 11: After the scandal, the company went back to ___ one and rebuilt its reputation from scratch.

Question 11 options
'Back to square one' means returning to the very beginning. 'Square' is the correct word that completes this fixed idiom. 'Step', 'base', and 'point' do not form the standard expression.
Q12 20

Question 12: The idiom 'a dime a dozen' means something is very expensive and rare.

Question 12 options
False. 'A dime a dozen' actually means something is very common and easy to find, therefore not particularly valuable. It is the opposite of expensive and rare.
Q13 20

Question 13: Which word is closest in meaning to the idiom 'second to none'?

Question 13 options
'Second to none' means the very best, unmatched by anyone or anything. 'Unrivalled' captures this meaning perfectly. 'Inferior' means the opposite, 'secondary' suggests lesser importance, and 'mediocre' means average.
Q14 20

Question 14: The suspect refused to talk, so the detective decided to give him the ___ degree.

Question 14 options
'Give someone the third degree' means to interrogate someone intensely. 'Third' is the only number that completes this fixed idiom. 'First', 'second', and 'fourth' do not form this expression.
Q15 20

Question 15: We need a plan that works — let's not settle for a ___ measure that only addresses part of the problem.

Question 15 options
'Half measure' is a fixed expression meaning an inadequate or incomplete action. 'Half' is the correct modifier. 'Small', 'quick', and 'short' do not form this specific idiomatic collocation.
Q16 20

Question 16: What does the idiom 'the whole nine yards' mean?

Question 16 options
'The whole nine yards' means everything possible or the full extent of something. It does not refer to a sports field, a short distance, or a partial effort.
Q17 20

Question 17: My neighbour is very nosy — she's always trying to put in her ___ cents about how I raise my children.

Question 17 options
'Put in one's two cents' is an idiom meaning to offer one's unsolicited opinion. 'Two' is the correct number in this fixed expression. 'Five', 'ten', and 'three' do not belong in this idiom.
Q18 20

Question 18: The manager decided to ___ the other way when minor rules were broken, rather than punish everyone.

Question 18 options
'Look the other way' means to deliberately ignore something. This relates to the concept behind 'turn a blind eye.' 'Look' naturally collocates with 'the other way' in this idiomatic expression. 'Glance', 'stare', and 'gaze' do not form this standard idiom.
Q19 20

Question 19: I'm of ___ minds about accepting the job offer — the salary is great, but the hours are terrible.

Question 19 options
'Of two minds' means undecided or torn between two options. 'Two' is the correct number in this idiom expressing indecision. 'Three', 'many', and 'several' do not form this fixed expression.
Q20 20

Question 20: The politician's speech was merely a ___ wonder — exciting at first but quickly forgotten by the public.

Question 20 options
'A nine days' wonder' (often written 'nine-day wonder') describes something that attracts attention briefly and then is forgotten. 'Nine-day' is the correct modifier in this idiom. 'Seven-day', 'one-day', and 'three-day' are not part of this established expression.