An engaging idiom worksheet with illustrated examples and fill-in-the-blank exercises to help learners understand and use common English expressions.
A colorful educational worksheet titled "IDIOMS" featuring cartoon illustrations and definitions for common English idioms, with a section for students to complete sentences using the correct idioms.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
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 their meanings and context.
We are given a list of idioms with pictures and definitions. We need to match each sentence (a–o) with the appropriate idiom.
---
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 go through each sentence and find the correct idiom:
---
a) I have to tell you something that will ________.
→ This implies revealing a secret.
✔ Let the cat out of the bag
👉 *"I have to tell you something that will let the cat out of the bag."*
*(Note: This phrasing is slightly awkward; better: "I have to tell you something that will let the cat out of the bag.")*
---
b) He ________ when he accidentally told her about the surprise party.
→ He revealed the secret unintentionally.
✔ Let the cat out of the bag
👉 *"He 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 ________.
→ Suggests acting strangely or crazily.
✔ Lost my marbles
👉 *"I have lost my marbles."*
---
d) I’m ________ with my teacher because she caught me cheating in the test.
→ In trouble.
✔ In hot water
👉 *"I’m in hot water..."*
---
e) I’d better ________ now. I’m feeling really exhausted.
→ Go to sleep.
✔ Hit the sack
👉 *"I’d better hit the sack..."*
---
f) He is so cute that when he looks at me I get ________.
→ Feel nervous or excited.
✔ Butterflies in my stomach
👉 *"I get butterflies in my stomach."*
---
g) We’re all packed and ready to go – we can leave ________.
→ Immediately, without delay.
✔ At the drop of a hat
👉 *"We can leave at the drop of a hat."*
---
h) I am feeling a bit ________ – I think I’m getting a cold.
→ Feeling unwell.
✔ Under the weather
👉 *"I am feeling a bit under the weather."*
---
i) Is Samantha really getting married or are you just ________?
→ Making a joke.
✔ Pulling my leg
👉 *"Are you just pulling my leg?"*
---
j) Was your Math exam hard? – No, it was really ________.
→ Very easy.
✔ A piece of cake
👉 *"It was really a piece of cake."*
---
k) My friend got ________ and decided not to do a bungee jump.
→ Lost courage.
✔ Cold feet
👉 *"My friend got cold feet..."*
---
l) Just ________! Let’s think about this for a moment.
→ Wait, slow down.
✔ Hold your horses
👉 *"Just hold your horses!"*
---
m) Tell me who was at the party. I am ________.
→ Eager to listen.
✔ All ears
👉 *"I am all ears."*
---
n) If you try to please both your father and mother, you can end up ________.
→ Unable to choose between two options.
✔ Caught between two stools
👉 *"You can end up caught between two stools."*
---
o) I don’t know how you could afford this sports car. It must have ________.
→ Very expensive.
✔ Cost an arm and a leg
👉 *"It must have 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 has a figurative meaning, not literal.
- We matched the context of each sentence to the most appropriate idiom.
- Some idioms were used more than once (like *let the cat out of the bag*), which is okay as long as it fits the meaning.
- Pay attention to grammar (e.g., “I have lost my marbles” vs. “I have lost my marbles” — past tense is needed here).
Let me know if you'd like this formatted into a printable answer sheet!
We are given a list of idioms with pictures and definitions. We need to match each sentence (a–o) with the appropriate idiom.
---
Idioms and Their 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 go through each sentence and find the correct idiom:
---
a) I have to tell you something that will ________.
→ This implies revealing a secret.
✔ Let the cat out of the bag
👉 *"I have to tell you something that will let the cat out of the bag."*
*(Note: This phrasing is slightly awkward; better: "I have to tell you something that will let the cat out of the bag.")*
---
b) He ________ when he accidentally told her about the surprise party.
→ He revealed the secret unintentionally.
✔ Let the cat out of the bag
👉 *"He 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 ________.
→ Suggests acting strangely or crazily.
✔ Lost my marbles
👉 *"I have lost my marbles."*
---
d) I’m ________ with my teacher because she caught me cheating in the test.
→ In trouble.
✔ In hot water
👉 *"I’m in hot water..."*
---
e) I’d better ________ now. I’m feeling really exhausted.
→ Go to sleep.
✔ Hit the sack
👉 *"I’d better hit the sack..."*
---
f) He is so cute that when he looks at me I get ________.
→ Feel nervous or excited.
✔ Butterflies in my stomach
👉 *"I get butterflies in my stomach."*
---
g) We’re all packed and ready to go – we can leave ________.
→ Immediately, without delay.
✔ At the drop of a hat
👉 *"We can leave at the drop of a hat."*
---
h) I am feeling a bit ________ – I think I’m getting a cold.
→ Feeling unwell.
✔ Under the weather
👉 *"I am feeling a bit under the weather."*
---
i) Is Samantha really getting married or are you just ________?
→ Making a joke.
✔ Pulling my leg
👉 *"Are you just pulling my leg?"*
---
j) Was your Math exam hard? – No, it was really ________.
→ Very easy.
✔ A piece of cake
👉 *"It was really a piece of cake."*
---
k) My friend got ________ and decided not to do a bungee jump.
→ Lost courage.
✔ Cold feet
👉 *"My friend got cold feet..."*
---
l) Just ________! Let’s think about this for a moment.
→ Wait, slow down.
✔ Hold your horses
👉 *"Just hold your horses!"*
---
m) Tell me who was at the party. I am ________.
→ Eager to listen.
✔ All ears
👉 *"I am all ears."*
---
n) If you try to please both your father and mother, you can end up ________.
→ Unable to choose between two options.
✔ Caught between two stools
👉 *"You can end up caught between two stools."*
---
o) I don’t know how you could afford this sports car. It must have ________.
→ Very expensive.
✔ Cost an arm and a leg
👉 *"It must have 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 Summary:
- Each idiom has a figurative meaning, not literal.
- We matched the context of each sentence to the most appropriate idiom.
- Some idioms were used more than once (like *let the cat out of the bag*), which is okay as long as it fits the meaning.
- Pay attention to grammar (e.g., “I have lost my marbles” vs. “I have lost my marbles” — past tense is needed here).
Let me know if you'd like this formatted into a printable answer sheet!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of idioms practice worksheet.