Idioms - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Idioms. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
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Step-by-step solution for: Idioms
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Idioms
Let's solve this idiom worksheet step by step. The task is to fill in the blanks with the correct idioms based on the context and meaning provided. We’ll match each sentence with the appropriate idiom from the list, using the definitions and illustrations as clues.
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1. In hot water – to be in difficulties, especially in serious trouble
2. Butterflies in one’s stomach – to be very nervous and anxious
3. Under the weather – to be or feel ill / sad or lack energy
4. Hold your horses – to wait / slow down / consider things carefully
5. A piece of cake – something very easy to do
6. Knock one’s socks off – to delight, thrill, amaze / impress
7. Let the cat out of the bag – to reveal a secret, usually unintentionally
8. At the drop of a hat – immediately, without any delay or hesitation
9. Cost an arm and a leg – to be very expensive
10. Pull one’s leg – to play a joke, tease, trick someone in a friendly way
11. Caught between two stools – to be unable to choose between two alternatives
12. Lose one’s marbles – to act in a crazy or strange way
13. Hit the sack – to go to bed
14. All ears – to be eager to hear / listen attentively
15. Cold feet – to lose courage to do something you had planned
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Now let's complete each sentence:
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a) I have to tell you something that will ________.
→ "Let the cat out of the bag" — because it’s about revealing a secret.
✔ Answer: let the cat out of the bag
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b) He ________ when he accidentally told her about the surprise party.
→ Again, revealing a secret unintentionally.
✔ Answer: let the cat out of the bag
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c) Okay, I'll tell you what I'm going to do, although you'll probably think that I have ________.
→ This implies acting strangely or irrationally.
✔ Answer: lost my marbles
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d) I'm ________ with my teacher because she caught me cheating in the test.
→ Being in serious trouble.
✔ Answer: in hot water
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e) I'd better ________ now. I'm feeling really exhausted.
→ Going to sleep.
✔ Answer: hit the sack
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f) He is so cute that when he looks at me I get ________.
→ Feeling nervous or excited.
✔ Answer: butterflies in my stomach
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g) We're all packed and ready to go – we can leave ________.
→ Immediately, without delay.
✔ Answer: at the drop of a hat
---
h) I am feeling a bit ________ – I think I'm getting a cold.
→ Feeling unwell.
✔ Answer: under the weather
---
i) Is Samantha really getting married or are you just ________?
→ Teasing or joking.
✔ Answer: pulling my leg
---
j) Was your Math exam hard? – No, it was really ________.
→ Very easy.
✔ Answer: a piece of cake
---
k) My friend got ________ and decided not to do a bungee jump.
→ Lost courage.
✔ Answer: cold feet
---
l) Just ________! Let's think about this for a moment.
→ Slow down, wait.
✔ Answer: hold your horses
---
m) Tell me who was at the party. I am ________.
→ Eager to listen.
✔ Answer: all ears
---
n) If you try to please both your father and mother, you can end up ________.
→ Unable to choose between two options.
✔ Answer: caught between two stools
---
o) I don't know how you could afford this sports car. It must have ________.
→ Very expensive.
✔ Answer: cost an arm and a leg
---
a) let the cat out of the bag
b) let the cat out of the bag
c) lost my marbles
d) in hot water
e) hit the sack
f) butterflies in my stomach
g) at the drop of a hat
h) under the weather
i) pulling my leg
j) a piece of cake
k) cold feet
l) hold your horses
m) all ears
n) caught between two stools
o) cost an arm and a leg
---
- Each idiom is used figuratively, not literally.
- We matched the context of each sentence with the most appropriate idiom from the list.
- Some idioms appear more than once (like "let the cat out of the bag"), which is normal since they fit multiple contexts.
This exercise helps improve understanding of common English expressions and their real-life usage.
---
Idioms List (with meanings):
1. In hot water – to be in difficulties, especially in serious trouble
2. Butterflies in one’s stomach – to be very nervous and anxious
3. Under the weather – to be or feel ill / sad or lack energy
4. Hold your horses – to wait / slow down / consider things carefully
5. A piece of cake – something very easy to do
6. Knock one’s socks off – to delight, thrill, amaze / impress
7. Let the cat out of the bag – to reveal a secret, usually unintentionally
8. At the drop of a hat – immediately, without any delay or hesitation
9. Cost an arm and a leg – to be very expensive
10. Pull one’s leg – to play a joke, tease, trick someone in a friendly way
11. Caught between two stools – to be unable to choose between two alternatives
12. Lose one’s marbles – to act in a crazy or strange way
13. Hit the sack – to go to bed
14. All ears – to be eager to hear / listen attentively
15. Cold feet – to lose courage to do something you had planned
---
Now let's complete each sentence:
---
a) I have to tell you something that will ________.
→ "Let the cat out of the bag" — because it’s about revealing a secret.
✔ Answer: let the cat out of the bag
---
b) He ________ when he accidentally told her about the surprise party.
→ Again, revealing a secret unintentionally.
✔ Answer: let the cat out of the bag
---
c) Okay, I'll tell you what I'm going to do, although you'll probably think that I have ________.
→ This implies acting strangely or irrationally.
✔ Answer: lost my marbles
---
d) I'm ________ with my teacher because she caught me cheating in the test.
→ Being in serious trouble.
✔ Answer: in hot water
---
e) I'd better ________ now. I'm feeling really exhausted.
→ Going to sleep.
✔ Answer: hit the sack
---
f) He is so cute that when he looks at me I get ________.
→ Feeling nervous or excited.
✔ Answer: butterflies in my stomach
---
g) We're all packed and ready to go – we can leave ________.
→ Immediately, without delay.
✔ Answer: at the drop of a hat
---
h) I am feeling a bit ________ – I think I'm getting a cold.
→ Feeling unwell.
✔ Answer: under the weather
---
i) Is Samantha really getting married or are you just ________?
→ Teasing or joking.
✔ Answer: pulling my leg
---
j) Was your Math exam hard? – No, it was really ________.
→ Very easy.
✔ Answer: a piece of cake
---
k) My friend got ________ and decided not to do a bungee jump.
→ Lost courage.
✔ Answer: cold feet
---
l) Just ________! Let's think about this for a moment.
→ Slow down, wait.
✔ Answer: hold your horses
---
m) Tell me who was at the party. I am ________.
→ Eager to listen.
✔ Answer: all ears
---
n) If you try to please both your father and mother, you can end up ________.
→ Unable to choose between two options.
✔ Answer: caught between two stools
---
o) I don't know how you could afford this sports car. It must have ________.
→ Very expensive.
✔ Answer: cost an arm and a leg
---
✔ Final Answers:
a) let the cat out of the bag
b) let the cat out of the bag
c) lost my marbles
d) in hot water
e) hit the sack
f) butterflies in my stomach
g) at the drop of a hat
h) under the weather
i) pulling my leg
j) a piece of cake
k) cold feet
l) hold your horses
m) all ears
n) caught between two stools
o) cost an arm and a leg
---
🔍 Explanation:
- Each idiom is used figuratively, not literally.
- We matched the context of each sentence with the most appropriate idiom from the list.
- Some idioms appear more than once (like "let the cat out of the bag"), which is normal since they fit multiple contexts.
This exercise helps improve understanding of common English expressions and their real-life usage.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of idiom worksheet pdf.