Modismos comunes en inglés (idioms) – Test 1

Lee cada frase y elige el significado del modismo en negrita.

1. I'm sorry I can't come tonight. I'm feeling a bit under the weather. What does 'under the weather' mean?

   A slightly ill B very busy C in a bad mood because of the rain D stuck outside in the cold

2. Everyone was worried, but the final exam was a piece of cake. What does 'a piece of cake' mean?

   A very stressful B very easy C badly organised D surprisingly long

3. We've been working for ten hours. Let's call it a day. What does 'call it a day' mean?

   A make a phone call B celebrate the end of the day C stop working for now D plan the next day

4. Hiro let the cat out of the bag about Mia's surprise party. What did Hiro do?

   A He planned the party carefully. B He forgot about the party. C He cancelled the party. D He told people about the secret by mistake.

5. I'd love a new laptop, but a good one would cost an arm and a leg. What does 'cost an arm and a leg' mean?

   A be extremely expensive B be physically painful C take a long time D be difficult to carry

6. Amara has been on cloud nine since she got the job. How does Amara feel?

   A very tired B extremely happy C confused D worried about the future

7. Go and buy your coffee. I'll keep an eye on your bag. What will the speaker do?

   A carry it for you B look inside it C take it home D watch it carefully

8. When you said the project failed because of poor planning, you hit the nail on the head. What did the person do?

   A made a serious mistake B worked very hard C described the situation exactly right D changed the subject

9. Don't worry about the delay. We're all in the same boat. What does 'in the same boat' mean?

   A facing the same difficult situation B travelling together C working for the same company D going on the same holiday

10. I usually cycle to work. I take the bus only once in a blue moon. How often does the speaker take the bus?

    A every weekend B very rarely C only at night D when the weather is bad

Elige la palabra que completa correctamente cada modismo.

11. I always get _____ in my stomach before a job interview.

    A bees B butterflies C birds D worms

12. Could you give me a _____? This box is really heavy.

    A arm B finger C hand D leg

13. Please don't _____ around the bush. Just tell me what happened.

    A beat B hit C kick D walk

14. I really don't know the answer. It's just a _____ in the dark.

    A jump B step C light D shot

15. Carlos works all day and studies all night. He's burning the candle at both _____.

    A sides B ends C tips D corners

16. Driving was difficult at first, but now it's second _____ to me.

    A habit B skill C nature D hand

17. Just before Lina went on stage, her friend whispered, 'Break a _____!'

    A leg B foot C arm D neck

18. The offer came completely out of the _____. Nobody expected it.

    A dark B sky C air D blue

19. I'm not sure yet. Can I _____ on it and give you my answer tomorrow?

    A dream B sleep C lie D rest

20. You broke the printer, so you'll have to face the _____ and tell the manager.

    A song B noise C music D sound

Elige la frase correcta, encuentra el error o elige la mejor respuesta.

21. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?

    A I was exhausted, so I was on cloud nine all evening. B Let's call it a day. We've only just started. C The repair was really cheap. It cost an arm and a leg. D The test was a piece of cake, so I finished early.

22. Find the error: My grandfather is still as fit as a violin, even at ninety.

    A My grandfather B is still C as fit as a violin D even at ninety

23. Find the error: It's raining cats and dog outside, so take an umbrella.

    A It's raining B cats and dog C outside, so D take an umbrella

24. A: I finally passed my driving test! B: _____

    A Well done! You must be over the moon. B Break a leg! C That's the last straw! D Don't cry over spilt milk.

25. A: I failed my chemistry test and I can't stop thinking about it. B: _____

    A You're pulling my leg. B That rings a bell. C There's no use crying over spilt milk. Just prepare better next time. D Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Lee el texto y elige el significado más adecuado de cada modismo tal como se usa en el texto.

26. Tomás says it takes everyone a few weeks to 'learn the ropes'. This means to _____.

    A work long hours without complaining B understand how things are done in a new job C find their way around a new city D make friends with their colleagues

27. Priya realised she had 'bitten off more than she could chew'. This means _____.

    A she had eaten too much at work B she had argued with her manager C she had taken on more work than she could manage D she had made a careless mistake

28. Before the event, Priya 'almost got cold feet'. This means she _____.

    A became nervous and nearly decided not to continue B felt ill because the office was cold C forgot to send the invitations D lost interest in her job

29. The conference 'went off without a hitch'. This means it happened _____.

    A with a few small delays B later than planned C without any problems D without any guests

30. Priya thinks her difficult start was 'a blessing in disguise'. This means it was _____.

    A a secret she kept from her colleagues B a lucky event that she had planned C a problem that she never solved D something that seemed bad but turned out to be good