The Ultimate English Idioms Mega-Quiz

by Alex Questly

Welcome to the World of Idioms!

Idioms are like little puzzles in language—expressions that don’t always mean what they say. Why do we “let the cat out of the bag” or “bite the bullet”? Who knows? But they make our conversations colorful and fun, and understanding them is a secret weapon for mastering English. Whether you’re a native speaker or just fascinated by the quirks of language, this game will test your knowledge and maybe teach you a thing or two.

Instructions

  • Divide players into teams or play individually.
  • Each round has a different format to keep it exciting.
  • Assign points for each correct answer—feel free to add bonus rounds for extra fun!

Round 1: Warm-Up – Multiple Choice

1. What does “Break the ice” mean?
a) To break something made of ice
b) To initiate a conversation or interaction
c) To cause trouble in a peaceful situation
d) To make someone angry
Answer: b) To initiate a conversation or interaction

2. If someone says they’re “feeling under the weather,” what do they mean?
a) They are enjoying a sunny day
b) They are sick or unwell
c) They are standing in the rain
d) They are feeling very happy

Answer: b) They are sick or unwell

3. What does “Burn the midnight oil” mean?
a) To stay up late working or studying
b) To waste resources
c) To light a fire at night
d) To work efficiently

Answer: a) To stay up late working or studying


4. What does “Cry over spilled milk” mean?
a) To cry over something important
b) To feel sad about a loss
c) To complain about something that can’t be changed
d) To spill milk intentionally
Answer: c) To complain about something that can’t be changed


5. What does “Jump the gun” mean?
a) To avoid a problem
b) To act prematurely
c) To fire a gun early
d) To prepare for a race
Answer: b) To act prematurely


6. What does “Let the cat out of the bag” mean?
a) To release a pet
b) To reveal a secret
c) To create a problem
d) To take control of a situation
Answer: b) To reveal a secret

7. What does “When pigs fly” mean?
a) When something happens rarely
b) When something is impossible
c) When pigs learn to fly airplanes
d) When someone lies

Answer: b) When something is impossible


8. If someone is “on thin ice,” what are they doing?
a) Ice skating
b) Taking a dangerous risk
c) Avoiding a serious conversation
d) Feeling very cold

Answer: b) Taking a dangerous risk


9. What does “Throw someone under the bus” mean?
a) Literally push someone into traffic
b) Blame or sacrifice someone for personal gain
c) Transport someone quickly
d) Make someone laugh

Answer: b) Blame or sacrifice someone for personal gain


Round 2: True or False Trivia Questions

Question 1

“Raining cats and dogs” means it’s snowing heavily.

Answer: False (It means it’s raining very heavily.)

Question 2

“To spill the beans” means to reveal a secret.

Answer: True


Question 3

“Bite the bullet” means to avoid a tough situation.

Answer: False (It means to face a difficult situation with courage.)

Question 4
“Kick the bucket” means to die.

Answer: True


Question 5
“To have a chip on your shoulder” means you’re carrying a snack.

Answer: False (It means you’re holding onto a grudge.)


Question 6
“Let sleeping dogs lie” means to confront an issue directly.

Answer: False (It means to avoid stirring up trouble unnecessarily.)


Question 7
“To cost an arm and a leg” means something is very expensive.

Answer: True

Round 3: Fill in the Blank

1 “To add _____ to injury” means to make a bad situation worse.
Answer: insult

2. “To kill two birds with one _____” means to accomplish two tasks with one action.
Answer: stone

3. “Let the _____ out of the bag” means to reveal a secret.
Answer: cat

4. “To _____ the beans” means to reveal a secret.
Answer: spill

5. “To beat around the _____” means to avoid the main point.
Answer: bush

6. “To have bigger _____ to fry” means to have more important matters to deal with.
Answer: fish


7. “To leave no _____ unturned” means to explore every possibility.
Answer: stone

8. To “have a _____ on your shoulder” means to hold a grudge.
Answer: chip


9. To “beat around the _____” means to avoid talking about the main point.
Answer: bush


10. To “pull someone’s _____” means to tease or joke with them.
Answer: leg


Round 4: Matching

Match the idiom to its meaning:

IdiomMeaning
A. A blessing in disguise1. Something good hidden in a bad situation
B. Hit the nail on the head2. Do or say something exactly right
C. The ball is in your court3. It’s your turn to make a decision

Answers:

  • A: 1
  • B: 2
  • C: 3

IdiomMeaning
A. Piece of cake1. Something very easy
B. Cry over spilled milk2. Worry about something that cannot be changed
C. Hit the sack3. Go to bed
D. Curiosity killed the cat4. Being too curious can lead to trouble

Answers:

  • A: 1
  • B: 2
  • C: 3
  • D: 4

Round 5: What’s the Idiom?

Question 1

What idiom means “to avoid talking about the main point”?
Answer: Beat around the bush


Question 2

What idiom means “to be very happy or excited”?
Answer: On cloud nine


Question 3

What idiom means “to react angrily to criticism”?
Answer: Bite someone’s head off

Question 4
What idiom means “to disclose secret information accidentally”?
Answer: Spill the beans


Question 5
What idiom means “to fail spectacularly or embarrass yourself”?
Answer: Fall flat on your face


Question 6
What idiom means “to have an unrealistic or impossible dream”?
Answer: Build castles in the air


Question 7

What idiom means “to pursue a mistaken course of action”?
Answer: Barking up the wrong tree


Question 8

What idiom means “to make peace or settle differences”?
Answer: Bury the hatchet

Round 6: Advanced Idioms (Bonus Round)

  • Question 1: What does “Barking up the wrong tree” mean?
    Answer: Pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action.
  • Question 2: What does “The elephant in the room” mean?
    Answer: An obvious issue that people avoid discussing.
  • Question 3: What does “Throw in the towel” mean?
    Answer: To give up or admit defeat.
  • Question 4: What does “A blessing in disguise” mean?
    Answer: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
  • Question 5: What does “The ball is in your court” mean?
    Answer: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
  • Question 6: What does “Cut corners” mean?
    Answer: To do something in a cheap or easy way that compromises quality.
  • Question 7: What does “The elephant in the room” mean?
    Answer: An obvious issue that people are avoiding.

    Question 8: What does “Throw in the towel” mean?
    Answer: To give up or admit defeat.

    Question 9: What does “Walking on eggshells” mean?
    Answer: To act very carefully to avoid upsetting someone.

    Question 10: What does “Burn bridges” mean?
    Answer: To damage relationships beyond repair.

    Question 11: What does “Have a skeleton in the closet” mean?
    Answer: To have a hidden secret or past mistake.

Round 7: Rapid Fire

In 60 seconds, answer as many idioms as possible based on their meanings:

  1. To lose control of your emotions → Fly off the handle
  2. To remain silent → Hold your tongue
  3. Something that happens very rarely → Once in a blue moon
  4. To hear something indirectly → Hear it through the grapevine
  5. To pretend something doesn’t bother you → Put on a brave face
  6. To reveal a secret → Let the cat out of the bag
  7. To be suspicious → Smell a rat
  8. To be very happy → On cloud nine
  9. To make peace → Bury the hatchet
  10. To relax → Take a load off
  11. To delay making a decision → Sit on the fence
  12. To waste effort on something pointless → Beat a dead horse
  13. To fail or give up → Throw in the towel
  14. To exaggerate a story → Make a mountain out of a molehill
  15. To be extremely happy → Over the moon
  16. To keep something under control → Rein it in

Final Scoring Suggestions

  • Correct Answer: 1 point
  • Bonus Question (Round 6): 2 points
  • Rapid Fire: 1 point per correct answer

How’d you do?

  • 1–20 points: Idioms Novice. You’re just getting started!
  • 21–40 points: Idioms Enthusiast. You know your stuff!
  • 41–60 points: Idioms Expert. Language mastery achieved!
  • 61+ points: Idioms Mastermind. Are you Shakespeare in disguise?

Declare the winner and celebrate with a piece of cake—figuratively or literally!


Game Notes

  • Mix and match rounds to suit your audience or time limits.
  • For added fun, allow players to explain idioms in their own words or use them in sentences for extra points.

PS Here are some more fun English Idioms!

Alex Trivia
Alex Questly

Hi, I’m Alex—your trivia-obsessed, fact-hoarding host of this little corner of the internet. Picture me in my tiny home office, walls lined with shelves buckling under the weight of old trivia books, science magazines, and a stack of half-filled notebooks. My desk is a chaotic mess—a chipped coffee mug holding an army of pens, my laptop precariously perched atop an outdated encyclopedia, and post-it notes with scribbled reminders stuck to everything in sight (including, somehow, the cat). Welcome to the madness!

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