Name: _______________________________
Idioms 4

Directions: Read each idiom and determine the meaning.

Idiom: A common expression understood figuratively, as the literal definition makes no sense.

1. When the boys were having difficulty finding a DJ for the party, Brian suggested that they just turn on the radio at the party, but Kevin didn’t want to cut corners. 

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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2. Don’t challenge Zeke to a dance off unless you are ready because Zeke will get in a dance battle at the drop of a hat.  

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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3. Antibiotic researchers have already picked the low-hanging fruit, so discovering new antibiotics to battle infections is very difficult.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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4. Alan kept talking about how he could do a backspin, but when the rubber met the road all he could really do was lie on his back and slide around. 

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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5.  When Mr. Lewis asked Jimmy to tell the class about the Pythagorean Theorem, Jimmy wanted nothing more than to eloquently explain it and impress Brittany with his knowledge, but he was drawing a blank. 

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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6. John didn’t mind rewriting his essay each time Ms. Robinson returned it; as long as he was still eligible for the scholarship, he would jump through hoops for her.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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7. Ever since Paul Jr. found out that he could make money by shoveling driveways in the winter, he’s been riding the gravy train.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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8. Vince sighed when he thought about how wickedly short the spring break was and how dreadfully long the remainder of the school year would be, yet he knew that there was little that he could do about it but get back into the saddle.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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9. Kyle had been bullied every day until Carter, the captain of the wrestling team, took him under his wing.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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10. I tried to warn Brian that he was playing with fire, but he kept flipping off of the trampoline and into the pool until he missed the pool one time and broke his ankle.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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11. After a long day of school, football practice, studying, and chores, Glen wanted to play GameBox, but he was beat.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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12. Whenever Scrub-Tom-Rectangle-Bottoms came on the TV, the children were glued to their seats.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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13.  The naughty child planned to wait out on his roof on Christmas Eve and to throw a lump of coal at Santa Clause when he appeared, thereby giving him a taste of his own medicine.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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14. June worried about the test for weeks prior to taking it; so much so that he almost gave himself an ulcer, but when he actually sat down to take the test, he thought that it was a walk in the park.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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15. Vanessa wanted to speak out at the Nonviolent Protest, but she felt that since most of the people there would already be nonviolent people, she would just be preaching to the choir.

What is the meaning of this idiom? _____________________________________________________________

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