IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS 07

(Fill in the blank with ONE word only)

No Words Examples Notes
1 Action You'll do your fair share of the housework. Remember that actions speak louder than (……..). Words
2 Anger When things go wrong, his assistant always has to (………….) the brunt of his anger. Bear
3 Back I hope we've (………….) the back of Betsy; she is terribly rude Seen
4 Ball I can't do anything as long as the ball is in John's (………….) Court
5 Bark The hitters blamed the team's bad record on the pitchers, but they’re barking up the wrong (……….). Tree
6 Bay Experts hope the economy will slow enough to (………….) inflation at bay. Keep
7 Bell John Bentley? The name (………….) a bell but I can’t remember him Rig
8 Boat The storm left them all in the (………….) boat. Same
9 Book He seems very quiet, but you can't judge a book by its (………….) Cover
10 Bush Don't (………….) around the bush. Just tell me where my brother is. beat
11 Cake Our team is strong, but it won't be a (………….) of cake to make it to the finals. Piece
12 Candle No wonder Mary is ill. She has been burning the candle at both (……….) for a long time. Ends
13 Curiosity Jill: Where did you get all that money? Jane: Curiosity killed the (………….). Cat
14 Deck Jim's a nice guy, but with foolish things he does, I wonder if he's not (……….)with a full deck. Playin
g
15 Devil Hi, there. We were just talking about you. (……….)of the devil and in he walks. Speak
16 Doubt American people are usually willing to give the government the (……….) of the doubt. Benefi
t
17 Driver Can’t stand (………….) driver’s like my mother-in-law! Backse
at
18 Ear Of course I want to know- I’m (………….) ears! All
19 Egg Don't invest all your money in one company. Never put all your eggs in one (………….) Basket
20 Elephant "I don't mind seeing (………….) elephants, but (-hic-) this is too much! pink
21 End The show has (………….) to an end. It's all over. Come
22 Eye Will labor and management ever (………….) eye to eye on the new contract? See
23 Feet Most people like to come home after work and put their feet (………….) Up
24 Finger I know his name; I just can't put my finger (………….) it. On
25 Fit This lovely new dress fits like a (………….) Glove
26 Flame He forgot her birthday, so what he apologized only added (………….) to the flames. Fuel
27 Grapevine I (………….) through the grapevine that she was pregnant, but I don't know anything more. Heard
28 Guess Jill: How long should we bake this pie? Jane: Your guess is as (………….) as mine. Good
29 Hard Jack was hard (………….) to pay his rent. Up
30 Hat If you need help, just call on me. I can come at the (………….) of a hat. Drop
31 Head You're (………….) your head if you think I'll pay your debts Off
32 Heat Frank doesn't hate you. He just said that in the heat of the (………….). Mome
nt
33 Heel Mary opened the door and as soon as they saw each other, they fell(…………)over heel in love Head
34 Horse This comes straight (………….) the horse's mouth, so it has to be believed. From
35 Injury My car barely started this morning, and to add (………)to injury, I got a flat tire in the Insult
driveway.
36 Job What did you think of my singing, then?' 'Er, don't give up the (………….) job!' Day
37 Leg These opera tickets cost us an (………….) and a leg! Arm
38 Milk You're just crying (………….) spilt milk. We already submitted the report, Over
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS 07 - PAGE 1
39 Miss Pay attention, John, or you'll miss the (………….) and not learn algebra. Boat
40 Moon Once in a (………….) moon, I buy a fashion magazine, just to see what people are wearing. Blue
41 Nail Bob doesn't say much, but every now and then he hits the nail right on the (………….). Head
42 Nine Don’t be (………….) cloud nine , you can’t get that. On
43 Oil What doctors do know is that burning the (………….) oil is bad for your health. Midni
ght
44 Pill Losing his job after organizing the merger was a bitter pill to (………….). Swallo
w
45 Port The hotel was substandard, but it was a case of any port in a(………….);all the others were full Storm
46 Potato The issue of taxing domestic fuel has become a political (………….) potato. Hot
47 Salt I always take Sandy's stories about illnesses with a(………….)of salt as she tends to exaggerate. Grain
48 Silver I'm sorry your business is going badly, but don't despair. Every(…………)has a silver lining Cloud
49 Sleeping I thought if she wanted me to pay her back, but then I decided to let sleeping (………….)lie. Dogs
50 Speak In the end, her neighbor decided to speak his (………….) Mind
51 Stone John learned his part in the play while peeling potatoes. He was killing two(………….)with one stone. Birds
52 Story If I can make a (………….)story short, let me say that everything worked out fine. Long
53 Straw When she showed up late a third time, that was the (………….) straw . We had to fire her. Last
54 Sweat His success wasn’t due to luck; it was (………….), sweat and tears. Blood
55 Tango She blames Tracy for stealing her husband. Well, it takes (………….) to tango. Two
56 Teeth It’s so horrible. The bank robbers were armed (………….) the teeth. To
57 Thick I will never talk to him again; he is thick in the (………….). Head
58 Thumb Would you mind wrapping this for me? I’m all (………….) and thumbs. Finger
s
59 Wave Tom is (………….) the crest of his wave, judging by his new car On
60 Wet Come on, Mike! Don’t be such a wet (………….). You’re spoiling the party! Blanke
t
61 World Donna wanted to live in the best of (………….) worlds, retirement and continue working. Both
62 Yard For you I'll go the (………….) nine yards. Whole

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