Complete guide to "Idioms and Proverbs" for English students. Below you will find important questions and model answers to help you prepare.
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Choose the appropriate option to explain the figurative words. My brother _____ when he was checking the results.
wait for mother
kept his fingers crossed
waited for victory
left no stone unturned
Read the lines below and choose the proverb that perfectly matches the content. Habits are like weeds. The longer you allow them to grow, the harder it is to remove them. It is wise to mend them as early as possible.
Self help is the best help.
Where there is a will, there is a way
Manners maketh a man
A stitch in time saves nine.
Complete the following proverb. ‘Where there is a will, ______ .’
there won't be a way
there is no way
there are too many ways
there is a way
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: 'A piece of cake'.
Something very easy to do
A delicious sweet treat
To celebrate a birthday
Something very expensive
The idiom 'a piece of cake' is used to describe a task or activity that is extremely easy or simple to do. Option 2 is incorrect because idioms have figurative meanings, not literal ones about food. Options 3 and 4 are completely unrelated to the idiom's meaning.
Complete the following proverb: 'A stitch in time saves _______.'
ten
nine
time
money
The traditional proverb is 'A stitch in time saves nine'. It means that solving a problem immediately prevents it from becoming a much larger and more difficult issue to fix later. Options 1, 3, and 4 do not complete this well-known proverb correctly.
What is the meaning of the proverb: 'Don't judge a book by its cover'?
You should always read the summary of a book.
Do not form an opinion about someone or something based purely on their outward appearance.
Books with beautiful covers are always the best to read.
You should not buy books without checking their price.
This proverb advises against deciding the value, quality, or character of something (or someone) merely by looking at its external appearance. Options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect because they interpret the proverb literally, whereas proverbs carry figurative, moral, or practical wisdom.
Rohan was feeling very nervous before his stage performance. His teacher smiled and said, '_______!' Which idiom correctly fills the blank to wish him luck?
Spill the beans
Break a leg
Cry over spilled milk
Let the cat out of the bag
'Break a leg' is a famous theatrical idiom used to wish performers 'good luck' before they go on stage. 'Spill the beans' and 'Let the cat out of the bag' both mean to reveal a secret. 'Cry over spilled milk' means to worry about things that have already happened and cannot be changed.
Identify the idiom that matches the meaning: 'To reveal a secret by accident'.
To hit the nail on the head
To let the cat out of the bag
To pull someone's leg
To be under the weather
'To let the cat out of the bag' means to accidentally or prematurely reveal a secret. 'To hit the nail on the head' means to describe exactly what is causing a situation. 'To pull someone's leg' means to tease or play a harmless joke on them. 'To be under the weather' means to feel sick.
Which word correctly completes this famous proverb? 'Actions speak louder than _______.'
thoughts
words
promises
sounds
The correct proverb is 'Actions speak louder than words'. This means that what people actually do is much more important and reveals their true intentions better than what they say they will do. The other options are incorrect fillers.
What does the idiom 'Once in a blue moon' mean?
Something that happens very rarely.
Something that happens every month on a full moon day.
A very sad and gloomy day.
An event that occurs only during the night.
The idiom 'Once in a blue moon' is used to describe an event that happens extremely rarely or almost never. It has no physical connection to the moon's phases, nighttime, or feelings of sadness, making options 2, 3, and 4 incorrect.
Amit started learning how to play the violin. In the beginning, he made many mistakes, but he practiced every day for six months and now he plays beautifully. Which proverb best describes this situation?
Practice makes perfect
A barking dog seldom bites
Too many cooks spoil the broth
Look before you leap
'Practice makes perfect' means that regular practice of a skill or activity is the best way to become highly proficient at it. Amit's daily practicing led to his success, which fits this proverb perfectly. 'A barking dog seldom bites' refers to threats. 'Too many cooks spoil the broth' means too many people working on the same thing cause failure. 'Look before you leap' advises caution before taking action.
Select the correct meaning of the idiom: 'Under the weather'.
To enjoy rainy weather
Feeling slightly sick or unwell
Standing under an umbrella
Going on an outdoor picnic
'Under the weather' is a common idiom meaning to feel slightly sick, tired, or unwell. It is not literal, so it does not refer to rainy weather, umbrellas, or picnics, making options 1, 3, and 4 incorrect.
What does the proverb 'Where there's a will, there's a way' mean?
If you are determined to do something, you will find a way to achieve it.
You must write a legal will before you grow old.
Traveling on a long road always leads to a new destination.
Success only comes to those who have lots of money.
This proverb teaches that if a person has the strong determination ('will') to do something, they can overcome any difficulties and find a solution ('a way') to accomplish it. Option 2 mistakenly confuses the psychological 'will' with a legal document. Options 3 and 4 are incorrect interpretations.
Choose the correct meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence: 'My uncle lives in Canada, so he visits us once in a blue moon.'
Very rarely
Every month
On full moon nights only
Very frequently
The idiom 'once in a blue moon' is used to describe an event that happens very rarely. A 'blue moon' (the second full moon in a single calendar month) is a rare occurrence, which is why the phrase is metaphorically used for rare events. Options 2, 3, and 4 do not represent the correct meaning of this idiom.
Complete the popular proverb: 'A stitch in time saves _________.'
ten
nine
eight
fine
The complete and correct proverb is 'A stitch in time saves nine.' It means that taking care of a problem immediately prevents it from getting worse and requiring much more effort or work to fix later. The other numbers or words do not complete this traditional English proverb.
Rohan prepared well for the test and found it extremely easy. Which of the following idioms best describes his experience of the test?
A piece of cake
Under the weather
Crying over spilt milk
Out of the blue
The idiom 'a piece of cake' is used to describe a task or activity that is very easy to do. Since Rohan found the test extremely easy, this is the correct choice. 'Under the weather' means feeling slightly sick, 'crying over spilt milk' means worrying about past mistakes that cannot be changed, and 'out of the blue' means completely unexpected.