More Speak English Like an American Review for Lessons 6-10 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test

The idiom is put a damper on something. It means to make an event less fun or less exciting. Example: The rain put a damper on our picnic. We don't say placed or created a damper.

To air your dirty laundry in public means to talk openly about private, embarrassing problems, often family or relationship problems. Joyce is telling everyone in town bad things about her ex-husband, so she is airing her dirty laundry. Cleaning and folding are not used in this idiom.

To drink like a fish means to drink a lot of alcohol, often regularly. That's why you need to buy plenty of beer for Alex. Not bird: eat like a bird means to eat very little.

To stick your nose where it doesn't belong (or stick your nose into something) means to get involved in other people's private business. The speaker is apologizing before asking a personal question. Put and place are not used in this idiom.

To hit the hay is an informal way to say go to bed. The clue is that the speaker has to get up early tomorrow. A similar idiom is hit the sack.

To get bent out of shape means to become very angry or upset, often about something small. Norm was upset because Steve returned his car with an empty gas tank. Not sorts: out of sorts means slightly ill or in a bad mood, and it doesn't follow bent.

If something rings a bell, it seems familiar, but you can't remember it clearly. Here the speaker doesn't recognize the name Adam Bennett. We don't say strike a bell or sound a bell with this meaning.

Packed to the rafters means completely full. The rafters are the wooden beams under a roof, so the room is full all the way up. Here the office is full of old paperwork. Not crowded: it is used for people, and it doesn't go with to the rafters. Covered doesn't fit this idiom either.

Off the top of my head means from memory, quickly, without checking or thinking carefully. The speaker can name only a few Kubrick movies without looking them up. The idiom always uses off, not from or at.

To add insult to injury means to make a bad situation even worse. First they waited 45 minutes, and then their dish was sold out. The idiom always uses injury, not hurt or damage.

To hold out for something means to wait and refuse to accept an offer until you get something better. Here they could refuse $50 million and wait for a higher offer. Not hold up: it means to delay something or to rob someone.

To fight like cats and dogs means to argue very often and angrily. Bill and his boss argue all the time. The idiom always pairs cats with dogs.

To go downhill means to get worse and worse. The restaurant used to be the best, but its quality has dropped. The clue is used to... but lately. Not uphill: it has no such meaning, and go down alone doesn't clearly mean 'get worse in quality'.

To pick up the tab means to pay the bill for everyone. The speaker hoped Gary would pay, but Gary wanted to split the bill instead. Pick on means to treat someone unkindly, and pick out means to choose.

To give someone a piece of your mind means to tell someone angrily what you think of their bad behavior. Breaking up by email is rude, so the speaker thinks you should call him and complain. The idiom always uses piece.