Joy English · Level C2 · Idiomsjoy-english.com
Figurative idioms and fixed expressions
Name:Date:
Use twelve vivid figurative expressions, from red herrings to the tip of the iceberg, with the right form and the right occasion.
Which idiom fits?
Choose the idiom that best completes each sentence.
- The detective realised the muddy footprints were ___, laid to lead the search away from the real culprit.
- Everyone knew the company was losing money, but nobody dared mention it; it was ___ at every meeting.
- Working from home has been ___: I save two hours a day, but I miss my colleagues.
- The complaint about the late bus turned out to be ___; by lunchtime everyone had forgotten it.
- The three errors we found are only ___; the audit will probably reveal hundreds more.
- Do not ___ just because last year's sales were a record; the market is changing fast.
- Halfway through the long essay, Aiko began to ___ and could barely finish the paragraph.
- The contractor was accused of trying to ___ by using cheaper materials than those specified.
Complete the idiom
Complete each idiom with one word from this list: nettle, squib, stone, lines, steam, corners, laurels, teacup. Use each word once.
- After weeks of excited publicity, the grand reopening was a damp ___: hardly anyone came.
- The inspector promised to leave no ___ unturned in her search for the cause of the leak.
- The sender was clearly angry, though you had to read between the ___ to see it.
- Having put off the difficult conversation for months, she finally decided to grasp the ___.
- I would never cut ___ on safety checks, however tight the deadline.
- The campaign started brightly, but after six weeks it began to run out of ___.
- The row over who should wash up was a storm in a ___; they had forgotten it by morning.
- The former champion was warned not to rest on her ___.
Answer key
Which idiom fits?
- b) a red herringSomething that distracts attention from the truth is a red herring.
- a) the elephant in the roomAn obvious problem that everybody avoids discussing is the elephant in the room.
- d) a mixed blessingIt has both good and bad effects, which is a mixed blessing.
- c) a storm in a teacupA fuss about something trivial that quickly disappears is a storm in a teacup.
- a) the tip of the icebergA small visible part of a much larger problem is the tip of the iceberg.
- b) rest on your laurelsRelaxing because of past success is resting on your laurels.
- d) run out of steamLosing energy before finishing is running out of steam.
- c) cut cornersChoosing a cheaper, lower-quality way to save money is cutting corners.
Complete the idiom
- squibA damp squib is an event that is far less impressive than people expected.
- stoneTo leave no stone unturned means to try absolutely everything.
- linesReading between the lines means finding the unstated meaning.
- nettleTo grasp the nettle means to face a difficulty boldly.
- cornersTo cut corners means to do something cheaply or carelessly to save effort.
- steamRunning out of steam means losing energy and enthusiasm.
- teacup / tea cupA storm in a teacup is a great fuss about something small.
- laurelsTo rest on your laurels is to relax because of earlier success.