American Idioms - List Three

Question 1

Add insult to injury

Answer 1

To worsen a situation by making it more painful or difficult

Question 2

Burn the midnight oil

Answer 2

To work late into the night

Question 3

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater

Answer 3

To discard valuable elements along with the undesirable ones

Question 4

Fish out of water

Answer 4

Someone who feels uncomfortable in a particular situation or environment

Question 5

Get a taste of your own medicine

Answer 5

Experience something you’ve inflicted on others

Question 6

Hit the ground running

Answer 6

To start something with great speed or success

Question 7

Keep your eyes peeled

Answer 7

To stay alert and watchful

Question 8

Let the cat out of the bag

Answer 8

To reveal a secret

Question 9

A penny saved is a penny earned

Answer 9

Saving money is just as important as earning it

Question 10

Bury the hatchet

Answer 10

To make peace or reconcile with someone

Question 11

Cross that bridge when you come to it

Answer 11

Deal with a problem when it arises

Question 12

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch

Answer 12

Don’t rely on something that hasn’t happened yet

Question 13

Get your act together

Answer 13

To organize yourself and start behaving more responsibly

Question 14

Hit the nail on the head

Answer 14

To describe something accurately

Question 15

Keep your nose to the grindstone

Answer 15

To work hard and diligently

Question 16

Let sleeping dogs lie

Answer 16

To leave things as they are

Question 17

A penny for your thoughts

Answer 17

Asking someone what they are thinking

Question 18

Bite the bullet

Answer 18

To endure a painful situation or task

Question 19

Burn bridges

Answer 19

To ruin relationships, especially intentionally

Question 20

Cut to the chase

Answer 20

To get to the point quickly

Question 21

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Answer 21

Don’t risk everything on a single opportunity

Question 22

Every cloud has a silver lining

Answer 22

There’s something good in every bad situation

Question 23

Go down like a lead balloon

Answer 23

Fail to be well received or accepted

Question 24

Hit the jackpot

Answer 24

To be extremely successful or fortunate

Question 25

In hot water

Answer 25

In trouble or facing difficulties

Question 26

Jump on the bandwagon

Answer 26

To join a popular trend or activity

Question 27

Kick the bucket

Answer 27

To die

Question 28

Let the chips fall where they may

Answer 28

To let things happen without interference

Question 29

Off the top of my head

Answer 29

Without careful thought or consideration

Question 30

Put all your eggs in one basket

Answer 30

To risk everything on a single opportunity

Question 31

The ball is in your court

Answer 31

It’s your decision or responsibility

Question 32

Bite off more than you can chew

Answer 32

To take on more responsibility than one can handle

Question 33

Don’t cry over spilled milk

Answer 33

Don’t worry about past mistakes

Question 34

Get off on the wrong foot

Answer 34

To start a relationship or interaction poorly

Question 35

Hit the ground running

Answer 35

To start something with great speed or success

Question 36

In the same boat

Answer 36

In the same situation or predicament

Question 37

Keep it under wraps

Answer 37

To keep something secret

Question 38

Leave no stone unturned

Answer 38

To search thoroughly for something

Question 39

Make a mountain out of a molehill

Answer 39

To exaggerate a minor problem

Question 40

Play devil’s advocate

Answer 40

To argue the opposing viewpoint for the sake of debate

Question 41

Put your best foot forward

Answer 41

To make a good impression

Question 42

The straw that broke the camel’s back

Answer 42

The final event causing failure or collapse

Question 43

A wolf in sheep’s clothing

Answer 43

Someone who appears harmless but is actually dangerous

Question 44

Break a leg

Answer 44

Good luck (especially in a performance)

Question 45

Cut corners

Answer 45

To do something in the easiest or cheapest way

Question 46

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Answer 46

Don’t form an opinion based on appearance

Question 47

Get a leg up

Answer 47

To gain an advantage

Question 48

Hit the road

Answer 48

To leave, to start a journey