Idioms and Phrases Power-Up: 20 MCQs for All Pakistani Competitive Exams

Idioms and phrases are the spice of the English language, adding color and depth to communication. They are a favorite of examiners in all major Pakistani competitive exams, including NTS, CSS, PMS, PPSC, FPSC, ETEA, SPSC, BPSC, and KPPSC. A good grasp of these common expressions is essential for comprehension and effective writing.

How well do you know your idioms? This quiz is designed to test your understanding of 20 common and important idioms and phrases. Let's see how many you can get right\!

Idioms and Phrases MCQs

Instructions: Choose the best meaning for the given idiom or phrase.

1. To be "a dime a dozen" means:

• To be very expensive
• To be very common and of little value
• To be rare and valuable
• To be a perfect ten

Answer: To be very common and of little value

2. What does "bite the bullet" mean?

• To eat something very quickly
• To get into a fight
• To endure a difficult situation with courage
• To die

Answer: To endure a difficult situation with courage

3. "Spill the beans" means:

• To be clumsy
• To reveal a secret
• To waste food
• To plant something

Answer: To reveal a secret

4. If something is "a blessing in disguise," it is:

• A misfortune that turns out to have a good result
• A solution that is obvious
• A person who pretends to be good
• A gift that is not useful

Answer: A misfortune that turns out to have a good result

5. "To be on the ball" means:

• To be playing a sport
• To be attending a formal party
• To be alert and knowledgeable
• To be confused

Answer: To be alert and knowledgeable

6. The phrase "once in a blue moon" describes an event that happens:

• Every night
• During a full moon
• Very rarely
• Predictably

Answer: Very rarely

7. "To see eye to eye" with someone means:

• To look at them directly
• To agree with them
• To have good vision
• To be of the same height

Answer: To agree with them

8. What is the meaning of "a piece of cake"?

• Something very difficult
• A delicious dessert
• A small portion
• Something very easy to do

Answer: Something very easy to do

9. "To hit the nail on the head" means:

• To do or say something exactly right
• To injure oneself
• To make a lucky guess
• To start a construction project

Answer: To do or say something exactly right

10. "Let the cat out of the bag" is another way of saying:

• To free a pet
• To cause trouble
• To reveal a secret, usually by mistake
• To finish a task

Answer: To reveal a secret, usually by mistake

11. To "get cold feet" means:

• To feel chilly
• To become nervous or frightened about something you are about to do
• To wear the wrong shoes
• To be calm and relaxed

Answer: To become nervous or frightened about something you are about to do

12. "To add insult to injury" means:

• To make a bad situation even worse
• To apologize after hurting someone
• To offer medical help
• To forgive and forget

Answer: To make a bad situation even worse

13. The idiom "the ball is in your court" means:

• You are in trouble
• It is your turn to make a move or decision
• You have won the game
• You need to go to a specific location

Answer: It is your turn to make a move or decision

14. "To break the ice" means:

• To start a fight
• To make people feel more comfortable and start a conversation
• To destroy something valuable
• To feel cold

Answer: To make people feel more comfortable and start a conversation

15. "To go back to the drawing board" means:

• To start over after a plan or idea has failed
• To become an artist
• To review past successes
• To take a break

Answer: To start over after a plan or idea has failed

16. The phrase "barking up the wrong tree" means:

• To choose the wrong course of action or make a false accusation
• To be scared of dogs
• To be lost in a forest
• To be noisy without reason

Answer: To choose the wrong course of action or make a false accusation

17. "To cost an arm and a leg" means something is:

• Very cheap
• Physically painful
• Very expensive
• A bad investment

Answer: Very expensive

18. "To be under the weather" means:

• To be caught in the rain
• To feel slightly ill
• To be depressed
• To be outdoors

Answer: To feel slightly ill

19. What does "to cut corners" mean?

• To take a shortcut
• To do something poorly or cheaply to save time or money
• To be a good driver
• To be precise

Answer: To do something poorly or cheaply to save time or money

20. "The elephant in the room" refers to:

• A large piece of furniture
• A person who is overweight
• An obvious major problem or issue that people are avoiding
• The most important person in a group

Answer: An obvious major problem or issue that people are avoiding