Intermediate English Idioms Quiz: 20 Questions
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| Intermediate English Idioms Quiz: 20 Questions |
Intermediate English Idioms Quiz: Test Yourself with 20 Questions
Are you ready to move beyond basic English expressions? This intermediate English idioms quiz contains 20 multiple-choice questions based on idioms commonly encountered in conversations, workplaces, books, films and online content.
Each question places an idiom inside a meaningful sentence. Use the surrounding context to identify its correct meaning. After completing the questions, take the interactive quiz and read the answer explanations to strengthen your understanding.
Take the Interactive Intermediate Idioms Quiz
What Are Intermediate English Idioms?
Intermediate idioms are expressions that may not be as immediately recognisable as beginner phrases such as a piece of cake. Their meanings usually cannot be understood by interpreting every word literally.
For example, if someone tells you not to put all your eggs in one basket, they are advising you not to depend entirely on a single plan or opportunity.
Learning these expressions can help you:
- Understand natural English conversations more easily.
- Follow films, podcasts and television programmes.
- Recognise implied meanings in books and articles.
- Express ideas in a more natural and memorable way.
- Communicate more confidently in different situations.
Intermediate English Idioms Quiz Instructions
- Read each sentence carefully.
- Choose the option that best explains the bold idiom.
- Select only one answer for each question.
- Use the context of the sentence as a clue.
- Give yourself one point for every correct answer.
Intermediate English Idioms Quiz
1. Add Fuel to the Fire
During the argument, Leo’s sarcastic comment only added fuel to the fire.
A) Ended the disagreement
B) Confused everyone involved
C) Made the situation worse
D) Changed the subject completely
2. Beat Around the Bush
When I asked why the report was late, she kept beating around the bush.
A) Avoiding the main point
B) Giving a complete answer
C) Admitting the mistake immediately
D) Explaining everything simply
3. Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
Riya accepted three major projects at once and soon realised that she had bitten off more than she could chew.
A) Started her work too late
B) Refused to accept assistance
C) Chosen an extremely easy task
D) Taken on more than she could manage
4. Burn the Midnight Oil
We had to burn the midnight oil to finish the proposal before Friday.
A) Delay the work until morning
B) Work or study late into the night
C) Waste electricity unnecessarily
D) Celebrate after completing the work
5. Cut Corners
The builder cut corners, so the repairs did not last very long.
A) Changed the design creatively
B) Postponed the work carefully
C) Saved time or money by reducing quality
D) Used materials with rounded edges
6. Get the Ball Rolling
Let’s get the ball rolling by agreeing on the first task.
A) Start the activity or process
B) Begin playing a competitive game
C) End the discussion immediately
D) Wait for further instructions
7. Jump on the Bandwagon
After the application became popular, many businesses jumped on the bandwagon.
A) Criticised the new application
B) Created a completely private version
C) Waited for the trend to disappear
D) Joined a popular trend
8. Keep Something at Bay
The new security measures helped keep online fraud at bay.
A) Advertise it to more people
B) Prevent it from approaching or causing harm
C) Record every incident publicly
D) Make it easier to carry out
9. Make Ends Meet
The family planned its monthly budget carefully to make ends meet.
A) Save enough money for luxury purchases
B) Finish every task before its deadline
C) Have enough money for necessary expenses
D) Divide its income equally
10. Read Between the Lines
The email sounded polite, but if you read between the lines, the manager was clearly disappointed.
A) Understand the hidden or implied meaning
B) Count the number of sentences
C) Read the message aloud
D) Correct the grammatical mistakes
11. Take Something with a Pinch of Salt
The advertisement makes some enormous promises, so you should take it with a pinch of salt.
A) Save the advertisement for later
B) Share it with everyone you know
C) Follow its advice exactly
D) Avoid accepting it as completely true
12. The Last Straw
When the bus arrived an hour late again, it was the last straw for the passengers.
A) The first sign of a problem
B) The final problem that exhausted their patience
C) A situation they found amusing
D) An issue that was immediately forgotten
13. Through Thick and Thin
Nina supported her business partner through thick and thin.
A) Only when the business was successful
B) By offering financial advice
C) During both good and difficult times
D) While avoiding every difficult decision
14. Up in the Air
The date of the school trip is still up in the air.
A) Uncertain or not yet decided
B) Happening sooner than expected
C) Announced publicly
D) Delayed permanently
15. Your Guess Is as Good as Mine
“When will the repairs be completed?” “Your guess is as good as mine.”
A) Your estimate is probably accurate
B) You already know the answer
C) You should ask someone else immediately
D) I do not know either
16. Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Depending on only one supplier means putting all your eggs in one basket.
A) Dividing your resources equally
B) Depending on one option and risking everything
C) Preparing several alternative plans
D) Avoiding an important decision
17. Throw in the Towel
After hours of trying to repair the old printer, Arun finally threw in the towel.
A) Cleaned the equipment
B) Asked for additional time
C) Admitted defeat and gave up
D) Started the task again
18. A Storm in a Teacup
The disagreement over the choice of font became a storm in a teacup.
A) A great deal of fuss about a small issue
B) A discussion held inside a café
C) A serious and dangerous crisis
D) A disagreement kept completely secret
19. Keep Your Cards Close to Your Chest
The company kept its cards close to its chest until the official launch.
A) Cancelled its original plans
B) Invited its competitors to participate
C) Lost important information
D) Kept its plans and intentions secret
20. Cross That Bridge When You Come to It
We do not need to worry about next year’s problem yet; we will cross that bridge when we come to it.
A) Ignore the problem permanently
B) Deal with the problem when it actually arises
C) Solve every possible problem today
D) Ask someone else to handle it
Take the Interactive Intermediate English Idioms Quiz
Intermediate English Idioms Quiz Answers
| Question | Correct Answer | Idiom |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Add fuel to the fire |
| 2 | A | Beat around the bush |
| 3 | D | Bite off more than you can chew |
| 4 | B | Burn the midnight oil |
| 5 | C | Cut corners |
| 6 | A | Get the ball rolling |
| 7 | D | Jump on the bandwagon |
| 8 | B | Keep something at bay |
| 9 | C | Make ends meet |
| 10 | A | Read between the lines |
| 11 | D | Take something with a pinch of salt |
| 12 | B | The last straw |
| 13 | C | Through thick and thin |
| 14 | A | Up in the air |
| 15 | D | Your guess is as good as mine |
| 16 | B | Put all your eggs in one basket |
| 17 | C | Throw in the towel |
| 18 | A | A storm in a teacup |
| 19 | D | Keep your cards close to your chest |
| 20 | B | Cross that bridge when you come to it |
Answers and Explanations
1. Add Fuel to the Fire
Correct answer: C) Made the situation worse
To add fuel to the fire means to say or do something that makes an already tense or difficult situation worse.
2. Beat Around the Bush
Correct answer: A) Avoiding the main point
To beat around the bush means to avoid discussing the most important subject directly.
3. Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
Correct answer: D) Taken on more than she could manage
To bite off more than you can chew means to accept more work or responsibility than you can reasonably manage.
4. Burn the Midnight Oil
Correct answer: B) Work or study late into the night
To burn the midnight oil means to continue working or studying until very late at night.
5. Cut Corners
Correct answer: C) Saved time or money by reducing quality
To cut corners means to complete something in the easiest or cheapest way, often by ignoring important standards.
6. Get the Ball Rolling
Correct answer: A) Start the activity or process
To get the ball rolling means to start an activity, process, discussion or project.
7. Jump on the Bandwagon
Correct answer: D) Joined a popular trend
To jump on the bandwagon means to join an activity or follow an idea because it has become fashionable or successful.
8. Keep Something at Bay
Correct answer: B) Prevent it from approaching or causing harm
To keep something at bay means to prevent a problem, threat or unwanted situation from approaching or becoming worse.
9. Make Ends Meet
Correct answer: C) Have enough money for necessary expenses
To make ends meet means to have enough money to pay for essential living expenses.
10. Read Between the Lines
Correct answer: A) Understand the hidden or implied meaning
To read between the lines means to understand an idea or feeling that has been suggested without being expressed directly.
11. Take Something with a Pinch of Salt
Correct answer: D) Avoid accepting it as completely true
To take something with a pinch of salt means to remain doubtful and not accept information as entirely accurate.
12. The Last Straw
Correct answer: B) The final problem that exhausted their patience
The last straw is the final difficulty in a series of problems that causes someone to lose patience.
13. Through Thick and Thin
Correct answer: C) During both good and difficult times
To support someone through thick and thin means to remain loyal during both successful and difficult periods.
14. Up in the Air
Correct answer: A) Uncertain or not yet decided
If a plan or decision is up in the air, it remains uncertain and has not been finalised.
15. Your Guess Is as Good as Mine
Correct answer: D) I do not know either
Your guess is as good as mine is used when the speaker has no more information about something than the other person.
16. Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Correct answer: B) Depending on one option and risking everything
To put all your eggs in one basket means to depend entirely on one plan or opportunity, increasing the risk of losing everything if it fails.
17. Throw in the Towel
Correct answer: C) Admitted defeat and gave up
To throw in the towel means to admit defeat and stop trying to achieve something.
18. A Storm in a Teacup
Correct answer: A) A great deal of fuss about a small issue
A storm in a teacup is an exaggerated amount of worry, anger or excitement about a relatively unimportant matter.
19. Keep Your Cards Close to Your Chest
Correct answer: D) Kept its plans and intentions secret
To keep your cards close to your chest means to avoid revealing your plans, opinions or intentions to other people.
20. Cross That Bridge When You Come to It
Correct answer: B) Deal with the problem when it actually arises
To cross that bridge when you come to it means to postpone worrying about a possible problem until it actually occurs.
How Did You Score?
| Score | Result |
|---|---|
| 18–20 | Excellent! You have a strong understanding of intermediate English idioms. |
| 14–17 | Very good! You recognised most of the expressions correctly. |
| 10–13 | Good progress! Review the explanations and try the quiz again. |
| 0–9 | Keep practising. Study the idioms in context before retaking the quiz. |
How to Learn Intermediate English Idioms
1. Learn the Complete Expression
Learn an idiom as one complete expression rather than studying each individual word separately. This will help you remember its figurative meaning.
2. Pay Attention to Context
Read the sentence before and after an idiom. The surrounding information often provides useful clues about its intended meaning.
3. Create Original Examples
Write an original sentence for each new expression. Connecting an idiom with a realistic situation makes it easier to remember.
4. Group Idioms by Situation
Organise expressions into topics such as decision-making, work, money, problems and communication.
5. Review at Regular Intervals
Review new expressions after one day, one week and again later. Regular revision can help move vocabulary into long-term memory.
6. Practise with Quizzes
Quizzes require you to recall meanings instead of simply rereading them. Retake this quiz later and compare your new score with your first attempt.
Continue Learning English
Start With Common Expressions → English Idioms Quiz for Beginners
Strengthen Your Synonym Skills → Intermediate English Synonyms Quiz
Take On a Bigger Vocabulary Challenge → Advanced English Synonyms Quiz
Review Useful Everyday Expressions → 10 Most Common English Idioms and Phrases
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Should Take This Intermediate Idioms Quiz?
This quiz is suitable for learners who already understand basic English idioms and want to practise more challenging expressions. It can also help students preparing for vocabulary and language examinations.
What Is the Difference Between Beginner and Intermediate Idioms?
Beginner idioms are generally more common and easier to recognise. Intermediate idioms often require stronger contextual understanding because their meanings are less obvious from the individual words.
Are Idioms Suitable for Formal Writing?
Some idioms can be used in professional or semi-formal communication, but many sound conversational. Consider the audience and context before using an idiomatic expression in formal academic or business writing.
What Is a Good Score on This Quiz?
A score of 14 or more shows a good understanding of the expressions covered. If you score below 14, review the explanations and take the quiz again later.
What Is the Difference Between an Idiom and a Phrasal Verb?
An idiom is a fixed expression with a figurative meaning, while a phrasal verb combines a verb with an adverb or preposition. Some phrasal verbs also have meanings that cannot be understood literally.
How Can I Remember Intermediate Idioms?
Learn each idiom in context, write an original example and review it regularly. Connecting expressions with realistic situations is more effective than memorising isolated definitions.
Final Thoughts
Intermediate English idioms can make conversations, books and films much easier to understand. The key is to learn each expression in context and practise recognising its figurative meaning.
How many questions did you answer correctly? Share your score in the comments, review any unfamiliar expressions and retake the quiz to see whether you can achieve 20 out of 20.
