MCQs Based on Idioms and Phrases
Q 1: What does the idiom “A blessing in disguise” mean?
(A) Something that seems bad but is actually good
(B) Something that looks good but is actually bad
(C) An unexpected gift
(D) A disguise for something bad
Answer: (A) Something that seems bad but is actually good
Q 2: What does the idiom “Break the ice” mean?
(A) To break something frozen
(B) To start a conversation in a social setting
(C) To solve a difficult problem
(D) To escape from a situation
Answer: (B) To start a conversation in a social setting
Q 3: What is the meaning of the phrase “Bite the bullet”?
(A) To endure a painful experience
(B) To be extremely aggressive
(C) To refuse to take action
(D) To run away from danger
Answer: (A) To endure a painful experience
Q 4: What does the idiom “Burning the midnight oil” mean?
(A) To stay up late working or studying
(B) To burn something by accident
(C) To waste time doing unnecessary tasks
(D) To stop working after hours
Answer: (A) To stay up late working or studying
Q 5: What does the phrase “Cry over spilt milk” mean?
(A) To waste time worrying about something that cannot be undone
(B) To cry about an emotional event
(C) To be upset about a minor issue
(D) To be angry at someone
Answer: (A) To waste time worrying about something that cannot be undone
Q 6: What is the meaning of the idiom “Hit the nail on the head”?
(A) To make a mistake
(B) To speak or do something exactly right
(C) To be angry
(D) To make a foolish decision
Answer: (B) To speak or do something exactly right
Q 7: What does the phrase “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” mean?
(A) Take care of what you have rather than risk losing it for something uncertain
(B) Two birds are better than one
(C) It is better to chase after something than to keep it
(D) The birds will fly away anyway
Answer: (A) Take care of what you have rather than risk losing it for something uncertain
Q 8: What is the meaning of the idiom “To let the cat out of the bag”?
(A) To let something escape
(B) To reveal a secret or a surprise by mistake
(C) To keep something hidden
(D) To make a bad decision
Answer: (B) To reveal a secret or a surprise by mistake
Q 9: What does the phrase “The ball is in your court” mean?
(A) The situation is out of control
(B) It is now your responsibility to take action
(C) You are playing a game
(D) You need to make a decision quickly
Answer: (B) It is now your responsibility to take action
Q 10: What does the idiom “To add fuel to the fire” mean?
(A) To put out a fire
(B) To make a situation worse
(C) To ignore a problem
(D) To resolve a conflict
Answer: (B) To make a situation worse
Q 11: What does the idiom “To burn the candle at both ends” mean?
(A) To work excessively hard and tire oneself out
(B) To waste time
(C) To be wasteful
(D) To avoid work
Answer: (A) To work excessively hard and tire oneself out
Q 12: What does the phrase “The early bird catches the worm” mean?
(A) Early risers are successful
(B) It's good to sleep in
(C) Birds are active early
(D) You should avoid being early
Answer: (A) Early risers are successful
Q 13: What is the meaning of the idiom “A picture is worth a thousand words”?
(A) Pictures are better than words
(B) Words are more powerful than pictures
(C) Pictures can express ideas better than verbal descriptions
(D) Words can express things better than pictures
Answer: (C) Pictures can express ideas better than verbal descriptions
Q 14: What does the phrase “Once in a blue moon” mean?
(A) Something that happens rarely
(B) Something that happens frequently
(C) Something that happens every day
(D) Something that happens once a month
Answer: (A) Something that happens rarely
Q 15: What does the idiom “A dime a dozen” mean?
(A) Something of great value
(B) Something that is rare
(C) Something that is very common
(D) Something that is highly expensive
Answer: (C) Something that is very common
Q 16: What does the phrase “To feel under the weather” mean?
(A) To feel healthy
(B) To feel sick or unwell
(C) To feel happy
(D) To feel relaxed
Answer: (B) To feel sick or unwell
Q 17: What is the meaning of the idiom “To put all your eggs in one basket”?
(A) To take a risk by concentrating all resources in one area
(B) To carry a heavy load
(C) To trust someone completely
(D) To be very cautious with resources
Answer: (A) To take a risk by concentrating all resources in one area
Q 18: What does the idiom “To call it a day” mean?
(A) To finish work for the day
(B) To start working
(C) To call someone on the phone
(D) To rest after working hard
Answer: (A) To finish work for the day
Q 19: What does the phrase “To beat around the bush” mean?
(A) To avoid answering directly
(B) To find a solution to a problem
(C) To focus on a topic
(D) To make a clear statement
Answer: (A) To avoid answering directly
Q 20: What is the meaning of the idiom “To get cold feet”?
(A) To be unsure about something at the last moment
(B) To feel physically cold
(C) To be prepared for a challenge
(D) To take a decision quickly
Answer: (A) To be unsure about something at the last moment
Q 21: What does the idiom “To hit the sack” mean?
(A) To sleep
(B) To rest after a hard day's work
(C) To play a game
(D) To clean up
Answer: (A) To sleep
Q 22: What is the meaning of the idiom “In the blink of an eye”?
(A) To take a long time
(B) To happen very quickly
(C) To blink repeatedly
(D) To happen slowly
Answer: (B) To happen very quickly
Q 23: What does the idiom “The ball is in your court” mean?
(A) It’s your responsibility to act
(B) Someone else is in charge
(C) It’s time to leave the game
(D) You need to take a break
Answer: (A) It’s your responsibility to act
Q 24: What does the idiom “To cut corners” mean?
(A) To follow the rules exactly
(B) To take shortcuts or reduce quality
(C) To make something appear more difficult
(D) To handle something with care
Answer: (B) To take shortcuts or reduce quality
Q 25: What is the meaning of the idiom “To cry wolf”?
(A) To scream for help
(B) To tell a lie repeatedly
(C) To protect someone
(D) To make a warning signal
Answer: (B) To tell a lie repeatedly
Q 26: What does the idiom “To put the cart before the horse” mean?
(A) To do things in the wrong order
(B) To work efficiently
(C) To focus on something important
(D) To make the right decision
Answer: (A) To do things in the wrong order
Q 27: What does the idiom “To let sleeping dogs lie” mean?
(A) To let things stay as they are without causing problems
(B) To disturb something peaceful
(C) To ignore problems
(D) To seek revenge
Answer: (A) To let things stay as they are without causing problems
Q 28: What is the meaning of the idiom “To steal someone's thunder”?
(A) To outshine someone
(B) To steal something from someone
(C) To speak before someone else can
(D) To take credit for someone else's work
Answer: (D) To take credit for someone else's work
Q 29: What does the phrase “To have a chip on your shoulder” mean?
(A) To be upset or angry about something
(B) To carry something heavy
(C) To stand tall with confidence
(D) To be physically fit
Answer: (A) To be upset or angry about something
Q 30: What is the meaning of the idiom “To throw in the towel”?
(A) To give up or admit defeat
(B) To start over again
(C) To clean something
(D) To fight hard until the end
Answer: (A) To give up or admit defeat
MCQs Based on One Word Substitutions
Q 1: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who studies insects"?
(A) Ornithologist
(B) Entomologist
(C) Anthropologist
(D) Biologist
Answer: (B) Entomologist
Q 2: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who cannot hear"?
(A) Mute
(B) Deaf
(C) Dumb
(D) Blind
Answer: (B) Deaf
Q 3: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who loves or is fond of books"?
(A) Bibliophile
(B) Bibliomania
(C) Philemon
(D) Bookworm
Answer: (A) Bibliophile
Q 4: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who can speak several languages"?
(A) Polyglot
(B) Linguist
(C) Scholar
(D) Pundit
Answer: (A) Polyglot
Q 5: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who writes books"?
(A) Novelist
(B) Playwright
(C) Author
(D) Editor
Answer: (C) Author
Q 6: What is the one-word substitute for "A place where animals are kept for exhibition"?
(A) Zoo
(B) Aviary
(C) Sanctuary
(D) Menagerie
Answer: (D) Menagerie
Q 7: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who sells flowers"?
(A) Florist
(B) Horticulturist
(C) Gardener
(D) Botanist
Answer: (A) Florist
Q 8: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who takes care of horses"?
(A) Jockey
(B) Stableman
(C) Farrier
(D) Groom
Answer: (D) Groom
Q 9: What is the one-word substitute for "A collection of maps"?
(A) Atlas
(B) Globe
(C) Cartography
(D) Directory
Answer: (A) Atlas
Q 10: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who studies or is an expert in philosophy"?
(A) Theologian
(B) Philosopher
(C) Historian
(D) Sociologist
Answer: (B) Philosopher
Q 11: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who is the first to explore a new area"?
(A) Pioneer
(B) Adventurer
(C) Explorer
(D) Traveler
Answer: (A) Pioneer
Q 12: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who is always cheerful"?
(A) Optimist
(B) Pessimist
(C) Miser
(D) Cynic
Answer: (A) Optimist
Q 13: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who examines and judges works of art"?
(A) Artist
(B) Curator
(C) Critic
(D) Painter
Answer: (C) Critic
Q 14: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who is an expert in the study of ancient history"?
(A) Historian
(B) Archaeologist
(C) Sociologist
(D) Paleontologist
Answer: (B) Archaeologist
Q 15: What is the one-word substitute for "A fear of spiders"?
(A) Arachnophobia
(B) Xenophobia
(C) Claustrophobia
(D) Hydrophobia
Answer: (A) Arachnophobia
Q 16: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest"?
(A) Idealist
(B) Optimist
(C) Pessimist
(D) Cynic
Answer: (D) Cynic
Q 17: What is the one-word substitute for "A government by a king or queen"?
(A) Democracy
(B) Monarchy
(C) Republic
(D) Dictatorship
Answer: (B) Monarchy
Q 18: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who travels from place to place for work"?
(A) Nomad
(B) Vagabond
(C) Itinerant
(D) Traveler
Answer: (C) Itinerant
Q 19: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who is in charge of a group of soldiers"?
(A) General
(B) Soldier
(C) Lieutenant
(D) Commander
Answer: (D) Commander
Q 20: What is the one-word substitute for "A person who collects coins"?
(A) Numismatist
(B) Philatelist
(C) Collector
(D) Archivist
Answer: (A) Numismatist