Question 1
Companies shouldn't make investors _____ through hoops to get financial information.
The idiom is jump through hoops: to do a lot of difficult or unnecessary things to get something. Example: We had to jump through hoops to get a visa.
Question 2
After hosting 25 visitors from Japan for four weeks, Marie was wiped _____.
Wiped out is an informal way to say very tired or exhausted. Hosting 25 visitors for four weeks would make anyone wiped out.
Question 3
Jerry suggested that I buy the Dell Pocket DJ instead of the Apple iPod Mini. He said I'd get more bang for the _____.
The idiom is more bang for the buck: better value for your money. Buck is informal American English for a dollar, and the fixed expression always uses buck.
Question 4
The loan officer at the bank said our business plan was very confusing. He couldn't make heads or _____ of it.
Can't make heads or tails of something means you can't understand it at all. Not sense: we say make sense of it, but not heads or sense.
Question 5
I'm sorry I won't be able to come to your presentation. I'm up to my _____ in work.
Up to my ears in work means extremely busy, with too much work to do. The idiom pictures someone almost covered by work. Not head: in over my head is a different idiom meaning something is too difficult for you.
Question 6
Sorry I forgot to book your airplane tickets. It _____ my mind.
It slipped my mind means I forgot it. Example: I meant to call you, but it slipped my mind. Not skipped: that means you missed something on purpose or jumped over it.
Question 7
Oil prices have come down recently, but $50 a barrel is still nothing to _____ at.
Nothing to sneeze at means something is big or important enough to be taken seriously. Even after prices fell, $50 a barrel is still a high price. Cough and hiccup are not used in this idiom.
Question 8
That e-mail you sent me with the details about your project was very helpful. Thanks for keeping me _____ the loop.
Keep someone in the loop means to keep them informed about what is happening. The fixed preposition is in, not within or with.
Question 9
Between working full-time at the bank and volunteering as a fireman on weekends, Neil has a lot on his _____.
Have a lot on your plate means to have many things to do or deal with. Neil works full-time and also volunteers, so he is very busy.
Question 10
Wal-Mart set up a huge display of under $20 Christmas gifts. It's great for people on a _____ budget.
On a tight budget means having very little money to spend. That is why cheap gifts under $20 are great for these people. Not loose: it isn't used about budgets.
Question 11
No wonder Ken is so rich. He has a knack _____ picking winning stocks!
Have a knack for (doing) something means to have a natural skill for it. American English uses knack for; British English also says knack of. With and in are not used.
Question 12
When Wendy and Jim bought the leather couch for $1600, the furniture store agreed to throw _____ a $200 chair at no extra charge.
Throw in means to add something extra for free when someone buys something. The clue is at no extra charge.
Question 13
Andy won't be in today. He's feeling _____ the weather.
Feeling under the weather means feeling a little sick. That is why Andy won't come to work today.
Question 14
Things have been very busy at the office lately. I hope they'll settle _____ soon.
Settle down means to become calm and quiet again after a busy or exciting time. Not up: settle up means to pay money that you owe.
Question 15
We want to move our company headquarters to a city. Chicago is too large, but Salt Lake City is too small. Atlanta might be a _____ medium.
A happy medium is a good choice between two extremes. Chicago is too large and Salt Lake City is too small, so Atlanta is in the middle. Perfect medium is not the fixed expression.
Print this test
Free worksheets for class or home