Idioms and Fixed Expressions (C2) – Worksheet 1

Match each idiom with its meaning from the box. There are two extra meanings that you do not need.

Example: to bite the bullet → to accept something unpleasant with courage

Word box to be anxiously waiting for newsto act recklessly, ignoring the risksto shift responsibility to someone elsean event that is much less impressive than expectedto have a private, often selfish, motiveto have nothing in particular to doto take attention away from someone else's achievementsomething that distracts from the real issueto criticise someone unfairlyto make a bad situation worse

1. to be on tenterhooks

   Choose… to be anxiously waiting for newsto act recklessly, ignoring the risksto shift responsibility to someone elsean event that is much less impressive than expectedto have a private, often selfish, motiveto have nothing in particular to doto take attention away from someone else's achievementsomething that distracts from the real issueto criticise someone unfairlyto make a bad situation worse

2. to throw caution to the wind

   Choose… to be anxiously waiting for newsto act recklessly, ignoring the risksto shift responsibility to someone elsean event that is much less impressive than expectedto have a private, often selfish, motiveto have nothing in particular to doto take attention away from someone else's achievementsomething that distracts from the real issueto criticise someone unfairlyto make a bad situation worse

3. to pass the buck

   Choose… to be anxiously waiting for newsto act recklessly, ignoring the risksto shift responsibility to someone elsean event that is much less impressive than expectedto have a private, often selfish, motiveto have nothing in particular to doto take attention away from someone else's achievementsomething that distracts from the real issueto criticise someone unfairlyto make a bad situation worse

4. a damp squib

   Choose… to be anxiously waiting for newsto act recklessly, ignoring the risksto shift responsibility to someone elsean event that is much less impressive than expectedto have a private, often selfish, motiveto have nothing in particular to doto take attention away from someone else's achievementsomething that distracts from the real issueto criticise someone unfairlyto make a bad situation worse

5. to have an axe to grind

   Choose… to be anxiously waiting for newsto act recklessly, ignoring the risksto shift responsibility to someone elsean event that is much less impressive than expectedto have a private, often selfish, motiveto have nothing in particular to doto take attention away from someone else's achievementsomething that distracts from the real issueto criticise someone unfairlyto make a bad situation worse

6. to be at a loose end

   Choose… to be anxiously waiting for newsto act recklessly, ignoring the risksto shift responsibility to someone elsean event that is much less impressive than expectedto have a private, often selfish, motiveto have nothing in particular to doto take attention away from someone else's achievementsomething that distracts from the real issueto criticise someone unfairlyto make a bad situation worse

7. to steal someone's thunder

   Choose… to be anxiously waiting for newsto act recklessly, ignoring the risksto shift responsibility to someone elsean event that is much less impressive than expectedto have a private, often selfish, motiveto have nothing in particular to doto take attention away from someone else's achievementsomething that distracts from the real issueto criticise someone unfairlyto make a bad situation worse

8. a red herring

   Choose… to be anxiously waiting for newsto act recklessly, ignoring the risksto shift responsibility to someone elsean event that is much less impressive than expectedto have a private, often selfish, motiveto have nothing in particular to doto take attention away from someone else's achievementsomething that distracts from the real issueto criticise someone unfairlyto make a bad situation worse

Complete each sentence with a word from the box. There are two extra words that you do not need.

Example: Don't worry, it's not rocket ___; anyone can learn it. → science

Word box grainbushtetherwoolnutshellsalthatcheeklineplate

9. Stop beating about the Choose… grainbushtetherwoolnutshellsalthatcheeklineplate and tell me what actually happened.

10. After three sleepless nights with the new baby, Tomasz was at the end of his Choose… grainbushtetherwoolnutshellsalthatcheeklineplate .

11. I'd take the reviewer's claims with a pinch of Choose… grainbushtetherwoolnutshellsalthatcheeklineplate ; he loves exaggerating.

12. Getting up at 5 a.m. to go running really goes against the Choose… grainbushtetherwoolnutshellsalthatcheeklineplate for me.

13. Don't try to pull the Choose… grainbushtetherwoolnutshellsalthatcheeklineplate over my eyes; I know the figures don't add up.

14. In a Choose… grainbushtetherwoolnutshellsalthatcheeklineplate , the project failed because nobody took ownership of it.

15. Priya is so organised that she can plan a whole trip at the drop of a Choose… grainbushtetherwoolnutshellsalthatcheeklineplate .

16. Don't be offended; his remark about your cooking was clearly tongue in Choose… grainbushtetherwoolnutshellsalthatcheeklineplate .

Complete each idiom with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Example: Since the new year, she has ___ (turn) over a new leaf. → turned

17. By the time we arrived, the guests had already (get) wind of the surprise.

18. I wish I hadn't (bite) off more than I could chew with this renovation.

19. Someone (spill) the beans about the merger yesterday, so it's no longer a secret.

20. After years of rivalry, the two neighbours finally (bury) the hatchet last summer.

21. Everything was going smoothly until Ana (throw) a spanner in the works by resigning.

22. You've really (hit) the nail on the head with that analysis.

23. Fortunately, the rumour was (nip) in the bud before it could cause any damage.

Each sentence contains one wrong word in the idiom. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

Example: He's got cold toes about the wedding. → He's got cold feet about the wedding.

24. Don't count your chickens before they're born.

25. Our new manager is a different pot of fish from the last one.

26. Jonas let the dog out of the bag about the party.

27. Mira was over the sky when she heard she'd got the job.

28. The proof of the pudding is in the tasting.

29. We'll cross that river when we come to it.

30. Lena has been burning the candle at both sides for weeks.

Use the word in capitals to form a word that completes each fixed expression.

Example: After the argument, he was ___ shown the door. (CEREMONY) → unceremoniously

31. It goes without that safety must come first. (SAY)

32. With such a strong team, the result of the final was a foregone . (CONCLUDE)

33. When it comes to to detail, she is second to none. (ATTEND)

34. He made a attempt to apologise, but nobody was convinced. (HEART)

35. The twins are like two peas in a pod; they're practically . (DISTINGUISH)

36. To add insult to , the train was cancelled after we'd waited an hour. (INJURE)

37. The deal almost fell through, but they reached an agreement at the hour. (ELEVEN)