1980s

Question 1

The thin end of the wedge

Answer 1

An event or action that is the beginning of something more serious and unpleasant

Question 2

Flash in the pan

Answer 2

A sudden success that lasts only a short time and is not likely to be repeated

Question 3

To keep at

Answer 3

Persevere or persist at doing something

Question 4

Keep at something

Answer 4

To continue to do or work on something

Question 5

At one’s beck and call

Answer 5

Ready to comply with any wish or command

Question 6

Go against the grain

Answer 6

To be or do something different from what is normal or natural

Question 7

Grist to the mill

Answer 7

Something that is useful to someone for a particular purpose

Question 8

Upset the Apple cart

Answer 8

Spoil carefully laid plans, arrangements

Question 9

Hoist on one’s petard

Answer 9

To be hurt or to have problems as a result of your plan to hurt others

Question 10

Live off the fat of the land

Answer 10

The best or richest of anything

Question 11

To have your cake and eat it too

Answer 11

Have the advantages of something without its disadvantages

Question 12

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

Answer 12

To have two choices that are equally unpleasant

Question 13

In hot water

Answer 13

To be in trouble

Question 14

On the carpet

Answer 14

To be in trouble with someone in authority

Question 15

It never rains but it pours

Answer 15

When one has bad things happened to you, other bad things follow soon after

Question 16

A miss is as good as a mile

Answer 16

Coming close to success but failing is no better than failing by a lot

Question 17

To give oneself airs

Answer 17

Assume a haughty manner, pretend to be better than one is

Question 18

To have the courage of one’s convictions

Answer 18

Behave according to one’s belief

Question 19

Out of sight, out of mind

Answer 19

It is used to say someone will quickly be forgotten when they are no longer with you

Question 20

To come to a dead end

Answer 20

A passage that has no exit

Question 21

To turn a deaf ear

Answer 21

Refuse to listen or respond to a statement or request

Question 22

Every cloud has a silver lining

Answer 22

Every sad or difficult situation has a positive or hopeful side

Question 23

Blow hot and cold

Answer 23

To change your opinion about something often

Question 24

To let the cat out of the bag

Answer 24

Reveal the secret carelessly or by mistake

Question 25

To put the cart before the horse

Answer 25

Reverse the proper order of things or events

Question 26

Be in the same boat

Answer 26

To be in the same difficult situation

Question 27

Swan song

Answer 27

A final accomplishment or performance, one’s last work

Question 28

To look a gift horse in the mouth

Answer 28

Be critical or suspicious of something received at no cost

Question 29

Have an axe to grind

Answer 29

Have a private reason for doing or being involved in something

Question 30

To wash one’s dirty line in public

Answer 30

Discuss one’s personal affairs in public

Question 31

To pocket an insult

Answer 31

To receive an affront without open resentment or without seeking redress

Question 32

To take to one’s heels

Answer 32

Run away

Question 33

To win laurels

Answer 33

Honour and praise given to someone because of something that they achieved

Question 34

At large

Answer 34

Not captured

Question 35

By and by

Answer 35

After a while, soon

Question 36

The lion’s share

Answer 36

The largest part of something

Question 37

In black and white

Answer 37

In writing

Question 38

To bring to book

Answer 38

To punish somebody for doing something wrong

Question 39

To read between the lines

Answer 39

Perceive or detect a hidden meaning

Question 40

To stick to one’s guns

Answer 40

Hold fast to a statement, opinion, course of action

Question 41

To be under a cloud

Answer 41

If somebody is under a cloud, other people think that they have done something wrong and are suspicious of them

Question 42

By fits and starts / in fits and starts

Answer 42

Frequently starting and stopping again

Question 43

To back out

Answer 43

Withdraw

Question 44

To keep out of something

Answer 44

To not become involved with something

Question 45

Bang into something

Answer 45

To crash into or hit something by mistake

Question 46

To smell a rat

Answer 46

To suspect that something is wrong about a situation

Question 47

To burn one’s fingers

Answer 47

To suffer as a result of doing something without realising the possible bad results

Question 48

Null and void

Answer 48

Cancelled, invalid

Question 49

To catch up with someone

Answer 49

To find and arrest someone who has committed a crime after searching for them or chasing them

Question 50

To stand up for someone / something

Answer 50

To defend someone or something that is being criticised or attacked

Question 51

Slip through

Answer 51

To fail to be noticed

Question 52

To narrow down

Answer 52

To reduce the number of possibilities or choices

Question 53

As cool as a cucumber

Answer 53

Very calm and controlled especially in a difficult situation

Question 54

Have your cake and eat it too

Answer 54

To have all the benefits of a situation while having no disadvantages

Question 55

In a pickle

Answer 55

In a difficult or unpleasant situation

Question 56

Takes the cake

Answer 56

To be the worst, most shocking, or most annoying example of something

Question 57

Sell like hot cakes

Answer 57

To sell quickly

Question 58

As flat as a pancake

Answer 58

Completely flat

Question 59

Take something with a pinch of salt

Answer 59

To be careful about believing that something is completely true

Question 60

Like two peas in a pod

Answer 60

Very similar especially in appearance

Question 61

Account for

Answer 61

To be the cause of

Question 62

Carry weight / carry authority or conviction

Answer 62

Exert influence, authority, or persuasion

Question 63

To fall back on something

Answer 63

To have something to use when you are in difficulty

Question 64

To be taken aback

Answer 64

To be surprised or shocked

Question 65

A wild goose chase

Answer 65

A search for something that is impossible for you to find

Question 66

By leaps and bounds

Answer 66

Very quickly

Question 67

As cool as a cucumber

Answer 67

Very calm and controlled especially in a difficult situation

Question 68

To burn midnight oil

Answer 68

To study or work until late at night