TEST
IDIOMS
4. IDIOMS WITH “BY”, “FOR”, “OFF”, and “OUT OF”
Fill in the missing words in the sentences below. Choose from the following:
by chance |
for a change |
off and on |
out of bounds |
(* change as appropriate)
01. I’m fed up with doing the same thing every weekend. Let’s go
away somewhere ___.
02. He lived in a small cottage ___, because it was very difficult to find.
03. I think I’d better give up smoking. I was completely ___ this morning after climbing
two flights of stairs.
04. It is ___ unusual in some countries for a family to have two cars.
05. The demonstration got ___ and quickly developed into a full-scale battle between the
demonstrators and the police.
06. The government has decided to shelve its plans to raise the school leaving age to
eighteen – at least ___.
07. These things are more expensive because they’re all made ___.
08. She said she would join us at the restaurant later; when she was ___.
09. ___, did you remember to post that letter I gave you yesterday?
10. We can’t use this piano, it’s ___.
11. He wasn’t prepared for the question, so he was forced to answer ___.
12. Of all the houses we’ve looked at, this one is ___ the best.
13. The pupils were not allowed to go to the local fish and chip shop during their lunch
hour. It was ___ to them.
14. My sister has been living in Ireland ___ for the past seven years.
15. If the government puts up income tax again I shall leave this country ___ and go and
live in Spain or Greece.
16. I’m afraid I can’t let you have next week off, Miss Blake. It’s quite ___; we
have far too much to do at the moment.
17. Do you like my ring? I saw it quite ___ in the window of an antique shop while I was
shopping in the Old Town.
18. His name was Benjamin, but was called Ben ___.
19. Mr Wilson’s ___. He’s been caught fiddling the accounts.
20. Probably the only really effective way of learning prepositions is to learn them ___.
5. IDIOMS OF COMPARISON
Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence.
01. Where’s everyone? It’s as silent as ___ in here!
a) Sunday
b) the grave
c) death
d) a tomb
02. Jimmy’s feeling a bit under the weather today, but I expect he’ll be as right as ___ by the weekend.
a) athlete
b) sunshine
c) rain
d) roses
03. I’ll never eat and drink as much as that again! I was as sick as a ___ on the way home!
a) dog
b) horse
c) pig
d) poodle
04. Ask David to give you a hand moving the furniture. He’s as strong as ___.
a) an elephant
b) a mountain
c) a gorilla
d) a horse
05. You’re not getting enough to eat, Karen! Look at you! You’re as thin as a ___.
a) stick insect
b) rake
c) finger
d) wire
06. We can’t eat this meat – it’s as tough as ___!
a) canvas
b) old boots
c) rubber
d) stale bread
07. You shouldn’t have frightened her like that. Poor thing! She went as white as ___!
a) a sheet
b) snow
c) milk
d) whitewash
08. Nothing ever seems to bother Colin. No matter what happens, he always remains as cool as ___.
a) cold feet
b) ice-cream
c) a cucumber
d) an Eskimo
09. You’ll have to shout, I’m afraid. My father’s as deaf as ___.
a) a leaf
b) a post
c) a politician
d) a stone
10. It’s hard to believe Brian and Stephen are brothers, isn’t it? They’re as different as ___.
a) Mars from Jupiter
b) milk from honey
c) chalk from cheese
d) margarine from butter
11. Although we had been told that the film was very exciting, both my wife and I found it to be as dull as ___.
a) ditchwater
b) a don
c) a dungeon
d) a museum
12. Honestly, Pam, ever since I’ve given up smoking I feel as fit as ___!
a) a fighter
b) a fiddle
c) a frog
d) an athlete
13. Our dog looks very ferocious, but don’t worry, Liz, Fido’s as gentle as ___ – especially with children.
a) a pony
b) snowflakes
c) a lamb
d) washing-up liquid
14. “I hope the children didn’t play you up, Doreen?” “No, not at all, Mrs Gardener. They’ve been as good as ___.”
a) religion
b) gold
c) God
d) brass
15. “The suitcase isn’t too heavy, is it?” “No, it’s as light as ___.”
a) dust
b) lightning
c) a feather
d) a fish
16. I wish the new secretary would cheer up! She’s been as miserable as ___ for the past week!
a) a monk
b) death
c) a banker
d) sin
17. “By the way, have you heard the one about the Welshman, the Irishman and the pig?” “Yes, we have. That joke’s as old as ___.”
a) Solomon
b) the hills
c) a dinosaur
d) Jupiter
18. Of course he loves you! It’s as plain as ___.
a) a pancake
b) the knob on your door
c) the nose on your face
d) a bell
19. Kathy was as pleased as ___ when she heard she had passed the exam.
a) punch
b) a poppy
c) a sunflower
d) pound notes
20. I hope the computer course starts this term. We’re all as keen as ___ to get going.
a) coffee
b) mustard
c) a gigolo
d) cornflakes
21. He was a natural singer with a voice that was as clear as ___.
a) a waterfall
b) a lake
c) a bell
d) a mirror
22. After a good night’s sleep he woke up feeling as fresh as ___ and eager to start work again.
a) fruit
b) a daisy
c) a kitten
d) a maiden
23. He might look kind and sympathetic, but deep down he’s as hard as ___.
a) nails
b) a mountain
c) a gangster
d) an iceberg
24. What on earth have you got in this suitcase? It’s as heavy as ___.
a) an elephant
b) lead
c) concrete
d) a corpse
25. Pauline can’t have emigrated to New Zealand because I saw her last night at Simon’s party, as ___ as life.
a) true
b) real
c) good
d) large
26. It’s no use arguing with him, he won’t listen. He’s as stubborn as ___.
a) a mule
b) a spoilt child
c) a strawberry
d) a trade union
27. “You’re drunk!” “No, I’m not. I’m as sober as ___!”
a) a priest
b) Sunday
c) a judge
d) a Muslim
28. Am I nervous? Of course not. Look at my hand – it’s as steady as ___.
a) a bridge
b) a rock
c) steel bars
d) a stepladder
29. As students, David, Kevin and William were as thick as ___.
a) thieves
b) boy scouts
c) a team
d) thistles
30. Whenever I feel embarrassed I always go as red as ___.
a) a rose
b) lipstick
c) a raspberry
d) a beetroot
31. Buying shares in this company is as safe as ___. There’s no way you can lose your money.
a) a bank
b) houses
c) gold bars
d) a vault
32. She was so tired last night that she slept like ___ until 10 o’clock this morning.
a) a squirrel
b) death
c) a log
d) a zombie
33. We’d better get some extra food in if your brother’s coming to stay with us. He eats like ___.
a) a lion
b) a starving man
c) an eagle
d) a horse
34. Normally she smoked 15 cigarettes a day, but whenever she was worried she smoked like ___.
a) a chimney
b) a forest fire
c) a steam engine
d) a salmon
35. “Is the dress too big?” “No, not at all. It fits like ___.”
a) a mould
b) a glove
c) glue
d) a pillowcase
36. James never remembers anything; he’s got a memory like ___.
a) cotton wool
b) a mouse
c) a sieve
d) a bucket
37. If your father finds out that you’ve been taking days off school he’ll be down on you like a ___ of bricks.
a) wheelbarrow
b) ton
c) pile
d) load
38. From the moment they first met they got on like ___.
a) two peas in a pool
b) fish and chips
c) a house on fire
d) clockwork
39. News of the new pay agreement spread like ___ throughout the factory.
a) wildfire
b) butter
c) the plague
d) a flood
40. She was so frightened that she was shaking like ___.
a) the wind
b) a leaf
c) jelly
d) a flag
KEYS:
4.
01. for a change (As a change from what we usually do)
02. off the beaten track (Out-of-the-way; away from towns, villages; in a lonely place)
03. out of breath (Unable to breathe easily because of running, working hard, etc.)
04. by no means (It is not at all unusual)
05. out of hand (The demonstration got out of control)
06. for the time being (For the moment; temporarily)
07. by hand (People make them individually, rather than mass-produce them by machine)
08. off duty (When she stopped work)
09. by the way (Incidentally. Used to introduce a subject)
10. out of tune (The notes don’t sound right; the pitch is incorrect)
11. off the top of his head (Without preparing beforehand; spontaneously)
12. by far (Compared to all the others; by a large margin)
13. out of bounds (They were forbidden to go inside the fish and chip shop)
14. off and on (From time to time; periodically)
15. for good (I shall leave this country and never come back again)
16. out of the question (It’s quite impossible)
17. by chance (Unintentionally; unexpectedly)
18. for short (Ben is a short form of Benjamin)
19. for the high jump (Mr Wilson’s going to be punished)
20. by heart (To memorise them)
5.
01. the grave (It’s very quiet)
02. rain (He’ll be completely well again)
03. dog (I was very sick)
04. a horse (He’s very strong)
05. rake (You’re very thin)
06. old boots (It’s very tough)
07. a sheet (She became very pale)
08. a cucumber (He always remains very calm)
09. a post (He is deaf; he can’t hear a thing)
10. chalk from cheese (They are very different)
11. ditch water (It was extremely boring)
12. a fiddle (I feel very fit and healthy)
13. a lamb (He’s very gentle)
14. gold (They’ve been very well behaved)
15. a feather (It’s very light)
16. sin (She’s been very miserable)
17. the hills (It’s very old joke)
18. the nose on your face (It’s very obvious to everyone)
19. punch (She was very pleased)
20. mustard (We’re all very keen)
21. a bell (He had a very clear voice)
22. a daisy (He woke up feeling very refreshed)
23. nails (He’s very hard and ruthless; he doesn’t have much feeling for other people)
24. lead (It’s very heavy)
25. large (Used to show that you saw someone you didn’t expect to see)
26. a mule (He’s very stubborn)
27. a judge (I’m completely sober)
28. a rock (It’s very steady)
29. thieves (They were very friendly with each other and spent a great deal of their time
together)
30. a beetroot (I always blush)
31. houses (It’s completely safe)
32. a log (She slept soundly)
33. a horse (He eats a lot)
34. a chimney (She smoked a lot)
35. a glove (It fits perfectly)
36. a sieve (He’s got a very bad memory)
37. ton (He’ll be very angry)
38. a house on fire (They got on really well together; they became great friends)
39. wildfire (The news spread very quickly)
40. a leaf (She was trembling)
Compiled by Elena Kisunko,
Moscow, School No. 651