100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

DECISIONS
Idioms – part 6
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

DECISIONS
1. ON THE FENCE
2. TOING AND FROING
3. THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS
4. LEFT HANGING IN THE AIR
5. TO DRAG ONE’S FEET
6. TO BLOW HOT AND COLD
7. TO CHOP AND CHANGE
8. TO BE IN A QUANDARY
9. TO SPLIT HAIRS
10. TO PUT OUT FEELERS
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

ON THE FENCE
Idiom 1/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

ON THE FENCE
Idiom 1/10

• Meaning: a person is on the fence when s/he

has not decided yet

• Examples:
• Both candidates are perfect for this job so we’re still
on the fence and we don’t know which one to
choose.
• I haven’t decided where I want to live – Paris or New
York. I am on the fence about it.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TOING AND FROING

Idiom 2/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TOING AND FROING

Idiom 2/10

• Meaning: going from one place to another or

changing one’s mind about something

• Examples:
• I decided to go back to university after weeks of
toing and froing.
• My boss was toing and froing all afternoon on who
should get the contract.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS

Idiom 3/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS

Idiom 3/10

• Meaning: it is when you have the choice

between two equally bad things or solutions and
you choose one of them

• Examples:
• I didn’t know what to do about it so I chose the
lesser of two evils.
• Sometimes it’s hard to decide what to choose and
then you just have to choose the lesser of two evils.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

LEFT HANGING IN THE AIR

Idiom 4/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

LEFT HANGING IN THE AIR

Idiom 4/10

• Meaning: a decision has not been made yet or

solution has not been found

• Examples:
• The question was left hanging in the air as no one
knew the answer.
• We haven’t reached a compromise so the issue was
left hanging in the air at the last meeting.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO DRAG ONE’S FEET

Idiom 5/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO DRAG ONE’S FEET

Idiom 5/10

• Meaning: to delay making a decision or to

deliberately do something slowly because you
do not want to do it

• Examples:
• I’ve been draging my feet ever since I spoke to my
boss because I simply don’t know what to do now.
• The employer promised to give his employees a pay
rise but he’s been dragging his feet ever since.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO BLOW HOT AND COLD

Idiom 6/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO BLOW HOT AND COLD

Idiom 6/10

• Meaning: to change your opinion about

something repeatedly

• Examples:
• Every year our teacher blows hot and cold about the
semester assignment.
• My husband keeps blowing hot and cold on the idea
of setting up his own business.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO CHOP AND CHANGE

Idiom 7/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO CHOP AND CHANGE

Idiom 7/10

• Meaning: to constantly change your plans which

can cause confusion

• Examples:
• I do not like people who chop and change about
everything, it’s so annoying!
• Make up your mind and stop chopping and changing,
it confuses me.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO BE IN A QUANDARY
Idiom 8/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO BE IN A QUANDARY
Idiom 8/10

• Meaning: to be unable to make a decision

• Examples:
• Many high-school graduates are in a quandary about
which university to choose.
• I got two fantastic job offers and now I’m in a
quandary because both are tempting.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO SPLIT HAIRS
Idiom 9/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO SPLIT HAIRS
Idiom 9/10

• Meaning: to argue about minor differences or

unimportant details of something

• Examples:
• When my children meet they often spend hours
splitting hairs until everyone is fed up with it.
• Don’t waste your time splitting hairs with him, there
are more important things to do.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO PUT OUT FEELERS

Idiom 10/10
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

TO PUT OUT FEELERS

Idiom 10/10

• Meaning: to secretly make enquiries about

someone’s opinion on an issue

• Examples:
• The teachers are putting out feelers to find out what
students think about them.
• I am planning to put out feelers to find out what’s
going on.
 100 idioms for TOEFL, TOEIC, FCE or CAE

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