Sports 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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This 20-question Sports Idioms practice quiz walks you through the topic step by step — from recognising common words to precise word choice in context. Designed for Level A2-B2, with clear explanations after every answer.

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

Q1  20
Q1 20

Question 1: The exam was easy. It was a ___.

Question 1 options
'Slam dunk' is a basketball idiom meaning something very easy or certain to succeed. 'Free throw' refers to an uncontested shot but doesn't mean 'easy task.' 'Timeout' means a pause. 'Foul' means a violation of rules.
Q2 20

Question 2: What does the idiom 'the ball is in your court' mean?

Question 2 options
'The ball is in your court' is a tennis idiom meaning it is your turn to make a decision or take action. It does not mean you are winning, losing, or playing well.
Q3 20

Question 3: The idiom 'keep your eye on the ball' means to stay focused on what is important.

Question 3 options
True. This baseball/cricket idiom means to maintain concentration on the most important thing, just as a player must watch the ball carefully.
Q4 20

Question 4: I don't understand his plan. He needs to ___ me the rules.

Question 4 options
'Give a rundown of' means to provide a brief summary or overview, originally from sports broadcasting where a 'rundown' was a list of upcoming items. 'Throw a curveball' means to surprise with something unexpected; 'level the playing field' means to make things fair; 'call the shots' means to be in charge — none fit explaining rules clearly.
Q5 20

Question 5: Which word is closest in meaning to 'frontrunner'?

Question 5 options
'Frontrunner' is a horse-racing idiom meaning the person or thing most likely to win or succeed — a favourite. 'Underdog' means the opposite. 'Referee' is an official. 'Spectator' is a viewer.
Q6 20

Question 6: She ___ at the last minute and won the contract.

Question 6 options
'Scored a goal' is a football/soccer idiom meaning to achieve success. 'Dropped the ball' means to fail. 'Threw in the towel' means to give up. 'Missed the boat' means to miss an opportunity.
Q7 20

Question 7: After months of trying, he finally threw in the ___ and quit.

Question 7 options
'Throw in the towel' is a boxing idiom meaning to give up or admit defeat. It comes from the practice of a boxer's trainer throwing a towel into the ring to stop the fight.
Q8 20

Question 8: Match each sports idiom to its meaning.

Question 8 options
down to the wire
par for the course
throw a curveball
on the ropes
normal or expected
in a very difficult situation
surprise someone with something difficult
decided at the last moment

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

'Down to the wire' (horse racing) = decided at the last moment. 'Par for the course' (golf) = normal or expected. 'Throw a curveball' (baseball) = surprise someone with something difficult. 'On the ropes' (boxing) = in a very difficult situation.
Q9 20

Question 9: What does 'a whole new ball game' mean?

Question 9 options
'A whole new ball game' is a baseball idiom meaning a completely different situation, especially one that is harder or more complex than before. It does not refer to an easy task, a sports competition, or a fresh start after failure.
Q10 20

Question 10: The new policy aims to ___ so everyone has the same chance.

Question 10 options
'Level the playing field' is a general sports idiom meaning to make conditions fair and equal for everyone. 'Move the goalposts' means to change the rules unfairly. 'Hit below the belt' means to act unfairly. 'Jump the gun' means to act too soon.
Q11 20

Question 11: Don't announce the results yet — you're ___ the gun.

Question 11 options
'Jumping the gun' is a track-and-field idiom meaning to act too soon or before the right time, like a runner who starts before the starting gun fires. 'Clearing' the gun, 'loading' the gun, and 'dropping' the gun are not established idioms.
Q12 20

Question 12: The idiom 'to move the goalposts' means to change the rules or conditions unfairly after something has already started.

Question 12 options
True. This football/soccer idiom describes the unfair act of changing agreed-upon criteria, making it harder for someone to succeed.
Q13 20

Question 13: His comment about her work was really ___. It was cruel and unfair.

Question 13 options
'Below the belt' is a boxing idiom meaning unfair or cruel, referring to the illegal move of hitting an opponent below the waist. 'Above board' means honest. 'On the mark' means accurate. 'In the ring' means involved in a competition.
Q14 20

Question 14: Which word is closest in meaning to 'underdog'?

Question 14 options
'Underdog' originally comes from dogfighting and now is used broadly in sports contexts. It means a person or team expected to lose — the weaker competitor. 'Champion' is the winner. 'Coach' is a trainer. 'Veteran' is someone experienced.
Q15 20

Question 15: The manager ___ all the important decisions in this company.

Question 15 options
'Calls the shots' is a billiards/shooting idiom meaning to be in charge and make the important decisions. 'Saves face' means to protect one's reputation. 'Passes the baton' means to hand over responsibility. 'Runs the gauntlet' means to face a series of challenges.
Q16 20

Question 16: We need to ___ and work together, or this project will fail.

Question 16 options
'Get on board' means to join in and cooperate, but 'rally together' is not the target. 'Step up to the plate' is a baseball idiom meaning to take responsibility and act when needed. 'Take a rain check' means to postpone. 'Skate on thin ice' means to take a dangerous risk. 'Sit on the sidelines' means to not participate.
Q17 20

Question 17: What does 'to take a rain check' mean?

Question 17 options
'Take a rain check' is a baseball idiom — originally a ticket given to spectators when a game was rained out — meaning to politely decline an offer now but accept it later. It does not mean to cancel permanently, to complain, or to check the weather.
Q18 20

Question 18: Be careful what you say to the director — you're skating on ___.

Question 18 options
'Skating on thin ice' is an ice-skating idiom meaning to be in a risky situation where you could easily get into trouble. The fixed expression requires 'thin ice.' 'Hot water,' 'broken glass,' and 'deep snow' do not complete this idiom.
Q19 20

Question 19: The election was very close — it went right down to the ___.

Question 19 options
'Down to the wire' is a horse-racing idiom (from the wire stretched across the finish line) meaning something is decided at the very last moment. 'Line,' 'fence,' and 'track' do not complete this established idiom.
Q20 20

Question 20: The CEO's sudden resignation really ___. Nobody expected it.

Question 20 options
'Knocked us for six' is a cricket idiom meaning to shock or surprise someone completely, from the powerful hit in cricket that scores six runs. 'Bowled us a maiden' refers to cricket but means no runs scored. 'Gave us a head start' means an advantage. 'Kept us in the running' means we stayed competitive.