Phrases and Idioms
If you "throw caution to the wind," you...
a) become very careful
b) take a risk without worrying about consequences
c) complain about the weather
d) make a lot of noise
Answer: b) take a risk without worrying about consequences
The two companies decided to form a ______ to bid for the government contract together.
a) consortium
b) conglomerate
c) subsidiary
d) franchise
Answer: a) consortium (a group of companies working together on a project)
Cleopatra lived closer in time to the invention of the iPhone than to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Is this true?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Only partially true
d) It's a myth
Answer: a) Yes (Cleopatra lived ~30 BC; the Great Pyramid was built ~2560 BC; the iPhone was invented in 2007)
Verb: "raise"
a) a meeting
b) concerns
c) a decision
d) a profit
Answer: b) concerns (raise concerns)
What does "ubiquitous" mean?
a) rare and difficult to find
b) present everywhere at the same time
c) old-fashioned
d) expensive
Answer: b) present everywhere at the same time
The word "famous" means well-known. Which word suggests being well-known for a bad reason?
a) renowned
b) notorious
c) celebrated
d) acclaimed
Answer: b) notorious (famous for something bad)
To "delve into" a subject means to...
a) ignore it
b) investigate it deeply
c) skim through it
d) write about it
Answer: b) investigate it deeply
Answer: b) stop trying because of past success
We need to ______ our costs if we want to remain competitive in this market.
a) cut down
b) streamline
c) Both a and b
d) expand
Answer: c) Both a and b (cut down / streamline = reduce and make more efficient)
Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire. Is this true?
a) Yes
b) No
c) They are the same age
d) It's disputed
Answer: a) Yes (Teaching at Oxford began ~1096; the Aztec Empire began ~1428)
Verb: "bear"
a) a meeting
b) a grudge
c) a decision
d) a profit
Answer: b) a grudge (bear a grudge)
What does "ephemeral" mean?
a) lasting forever
b) lasting for a very short time
c) very beautiful
d) extremely rare
Answer: b) lasting for a very short time
Which word means "a person who is new to a profession"?
a) veteran
b) novice
c) expert
d) connoisseur
Answer: b) novice (a beginner)
To "gloss over" something means to...
a) paint it
b) avoid dealing with it properly
c) make it shiny
d) examine it closely
Answer: b) avoid dealing with it properly
If something "cuts no ice," it...
a) is very cold
b) has no effect or influence
c) is very sharp
d) makes a lot of noise
Answer: b) has no effect or influence
The company's ______ for the next quarter looks promising, with projected growth of 15%.
a) outlook
b) oversight
c) outset
d) outcome
Answer: a) outlook (future prospects)
Which famous inventor was afraid of the dark?
a) Thomas Edison
b) Nikola Tesla
c) Alexander Graham Bell
d) Leonardo da Vinci
Answer: b) Nikola Tesla (He also had a fear of pearls and round objects)
Verb: "draw"
a) a conclusion
b) a meeting
c) a profit
d) a mistake
Answer: a) a conclusion (draw a conclusion)
What does "pragmatic" mean?
a) idealistic and dreamy
b) dealing with things in a practical, realistic way
c) very emotional
d) extremely stubborn
Answer: b) dealing with things in a practical, realistic way
Which word means "to make something less severe"?
a) aggravate
b) exacerbate
c) mitigate
d) intensify
Answer: c) mitigate (to make less severe)
To "cave in" means to...
a) explore a cave
b) finally agree after resisting
c) collapse from exhaustion
d) build a shelter
Answer: b) finally agree after resisting
After working for twelve hours straight, we decided to ______.
a) call it a day
b) hit the sack
c) burn the midnight oil
d) go the extra mile
Answer: a) call it a day (stop working on something)
We've had to ______ production due to a shortage of raw materials.
a) scale back
b) scale up
c) scale off
d) scale over
Answer: a) scale back (reduce)
The Great Fire of London in 1666 started in a bakery on which street?
a) Baker Street
b) Pudding Lane
c) Bread Street
d) Fleet Street
Answer: b) Pudding Lane
Verb: "strike"
a) a meeting
b) a balance
c) a profit
d) a mistake
Answer: b) a balance (strike a balance)
What does "to have a chip on your shoulder" mean?
a) to be easily offended or hold a grudge
b) to have an injury
c) to be very strong
d) to be a carpenter
Answer: a) to be easily offended or hold a grudge
Which word means "a feeling of deep respect mixed with wonder"?
a) awe
b) fear
c) disgust
d) envy
Answer: a) awe (a feeling of reverential respect)
To "weed out" means to...
a) plant flowers
b) remove unwanted things or people
c) water the garden
d) make something grow
Answer: b) remove unwanted things or people
To "let sleeping dogs lie" means to...
a) avoid disturbing a situation that could cause trouble
b) wake up early
c) take care of pets
d) tell the truth
Answer: a) avoid disturbing a situation that could cause trouble
The CEO's ______ vision transformed the company into a global leader.
a) strategic
b) strategic
c) Both a and b
d) strategic
Answer: a) strategic (relating to long-term planning)
How many US Presidents have been assassinated?
a) Two
b) Three
c) Four
d) Five
Answer: c) Four (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy)
Paraphrasing (3 - 6 words )
The heavy rain prevented us from going to the beach.
The heavy rain ______ to the beach.
(going)
Answer: stopped us from going
What does "to make a mountain out of a molehill" mean?
a) to climb a mountain
b) to exaggerate a minor problem
c) to do something impossible
d) to work very hard
Answer: b) to exaggerate a minor problem
Which word means "using very few words"?
a) verbose
b) laconic
c) garrulous
d) loquacious
Answer: b) laconic (using very few words)
To "peter out" means to...
a) call someone Peter
b) gradually diminish and stop
c) become angry
d) start suddenly
Answer: b) gradually diminish and stop
To "throw someone under the bus" means to...
a) push someone physically
b) betray someone to protect yourself
c) give someone a lift
d) cause a traffic accident
Answer: b) betray someone to protect yourself
We need to ______ our position in the European market before our competitors do.
a) consolidate
b) console
c) consort
d) consume
Answer: a) consolidate (strengthen and make more secure)
Which famous ship was the first to send a distress signal by radio?
a) The Titanic
b) The Lusitania
c) The Republic
d) The Britannic
Answer: c) The Republic (1909, three years before the Titanic)
Never ______ such delicious food.
(have)
Answer: have I tasted
What is the difference between "historic" and "historical"?
a) No difference
b) "Historic" means important in history; "historical" means relating to history
c) "Historical" means important
d) "Historic" means relating to history
Answer: b) "Historic" means important in history; "historical" means relating to history
Which word means "to speak very highly of someone"?
a) denigrate
b) extol
c) criticise
d) disparage
Answer: b) extol (to praise enthusiastically)
To "bottle up" emotions means to...
a) express them freely
b) suppress and hide them
c) drink alcohol
d) share them with others
Answer: b) suppress and hide them
I know you don't want to fire him, but you can't ______ – you have to make a decision.
a) sit on the fence
b) beat around the bush
c) play it by ear
d) cut corners
Answer: a) sit on the fence (avoid making a decision)
The company was forced to ______ after failing to secure additional funding.
a) liquidate
b) liquidise
c) Both a and b
d) liberate
Answer: a) liquidate (close down and sell assets)
The Eiffel Tower was originally intended to be a temporary structure. Is this true?
a) Yes
b) No
c) It was meant to be permanent
d) It was never meant to be built
Answer: a) Yes (It was supposed to be dismantled after 20 years)
Paraphrasing (3-6 words)
It's possible that she missed the train.
She ______ the train.
(might)
Answer: might have missed
What is the difference between "continual" and "continuous"?
a) No difference
b) "Continual" means happening repeatedly with breaks; "continuous" means happening without stopping
c) "Continuous" means with breaks
d) "Continual" means without stopping
Answer: b) "Continual" means happening repeatedly with breaks; "continuous" means happening without stopping
Which word means "harmless"?
a) benign
b) malignant
c) malevolent
d) malicious
Answer: a) benign (gentle, harmless)
To "tone down" something means to...
a) make it louder
b) make it less extreme or intense
c) change its colour
d) make it stronger
Answer: b) make it less extreme or intense
I was going to complain about the service, but I decided to ______ because the waiter looked exhausted.
a) let sleeping dogs lie
b) bite the bullet
c) rock the boat
d) call it a day
Answer: c) rock the boat (cause trouble or disrupt a stable situation)
The manager's ______ approach to leadership encouraged innovation and creativity.
a) hands-off
b) hands-on
c) hand-in-hand
d) hand-to-mouth
Answer: a) hands-off (allowing employees freedom without close supervision)
Which English word has the most definitions?
a) Run
b) Set
c) Go
d) Take
Answer: b) Set (over 430 definitions in the Oxford English Dictionary)
a) The company decided to ______ its losses and close the factory.
b) The new policy will ______ into our profits significantly.
c) He made a ______ remark that hurt her feelings.
Answer: cut (cut its losses / cut into profits / cutting remark)
"The politician's flippant remarks during the serious debate angered many voters."
a) thoughtful and serious
b) not showing proper seriousness
c) very long and detailed
d) extremely rude
Answer: b) not showing proper seriousness
Which word means "impossible to satisfy"?
a) insatiable
b) satiated
c) satisfied
d) satiable
Answer: a) insatiable (impossible to satisfy)
To "single out" someone means to...
a) marry them
b) choose them for special attention (often negative)
c) ignore them
d) introduce them
Answer: b) choose them for special attention (often negative)
The new employee is very talented, but he needs to learn to ______ and not make promises he can't keep.
a) bite off more than he can chew
b) keep his nose clean
c) sit on the fence
d) pull his weight
Answer: b) keep his nose clean (avoid getting into trouble)
The two departments need to ______ more effectively to avoid duplication of work.
a) liaise
b) liase
c) liaison
d) liaise
Answer: a) liaise (cooperate and exchange information)
Which animal has the longest tongue relative to its body size?
a) Chameleon
b) Giraffe
c) Anteater
d) Woodpecker
Answer: a) Chameleon (its tongue can be twice its body length)
a )The two countries have a ______ relationship.
b) She has a ______ interest in ancient history.
c) The evidence was ______ – it proved his innocence.a)
Answer: strong (strong relationship / strong interest / strong evidence)
"The company's austere cost-cutting measures meant no more free coffee in the office."
a) generous
b) severe and strict
c) temporary
d) popular
Answer: b) severe and strict
Which word means "to spread ideas or information widely"?
a) disseminate
b) dissemble
c) dissimulate
d) dissipate
Answer: a) disseminate (to spread widely)
To "play down" something means to...
a) make it seem less important
b) play a game
c) make it seem more important
d) ignore it completely
Answer: a) make it seem less important