Idioms Worksheets - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to match each idiom with its correct meaning.

We’ll read each idiom and think about what it really means in everyday language — not the literal words, but the common saying behind it.

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1. Add insult to injury
→ This means making a bad situation worse by adding something hurtful on top.
Look at the options:
- I says “to make a bad situation worse” → That matches!
✔ So 1 → I

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2. Cost a bomb
→ If something costs a bomb, it’s very expensive.
Option G says “to be very expensive” → Perfect match.
✔ So 2 → G

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3. Cut corners
→ This means doing something quickly or cheaply, often skipping steps — so you’re being efficient (but maybe not careful).
Option A says “to make more effort than is expected of you” → No, that’s the opposite.
Wait — actually, “cutting corners” usually means doing less work to save time/money. But none of the options say that directly? Let’s check again.

Actually, looking back — Option A might be misread. Wait — let’s look at all options again carefully.

Hold on — maybe we made a mistake. Let’s list all meanings clearly:

A: to make more effort than is expected of you → that’s going above and beyond
B: to do something in the easiest or cheapest way → YES! That’s cutting corners!
C: to be quick to understand things → no
D: something that is very easy → no
E: to do something without special preparation → maybe, but not quite
F: to reveal a secret → no
G: to be very expensive → already used for #2
H: to become organized → no
I: to tease or joke with someone → no
J: to make a bad situation worse → used for #1

So “Cut corners” = B → to do something in the easiest or cheapest way
✔ So 3 → B

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4. Spill the beans
→ This means telling a secret accidentally or on purpose.
Option F: “to reveal a secret” → Yes!
✔ So 4 → F

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5. Be on the ball
→ Means being alert, quick to understand, sharp.
Option C: “to be quick to understand things” → Perfect.
✔ So 5 → C

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6. Pull someone’s leg
→ This is joking around — teasing someone playfully.
Option I: “to tease or joke with someone” → Exactly.
✔ So 6 → I

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7. Play it by ear
→ Means doing something without planning ahead — improvising.
Option E: “to do something without special preparation” → Yes!
✔ So 7 → E

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8. Piece of cake
→ Something very easy.
Option D: “something that is very easy” → Right.
✔ So 8 → D

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9. Go the extra mile
→ Doing more than required — putting in extra effort.
Option A: “to make more effort than is expected of you” → Yes!
✔ So 9 → A

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10. Get one’s act together
→ Means getting organized, fixing your life or behavior.
Option H: “to become organized” → Close enough — yes, that’s the idea.
✔ So 10 → H

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Now let’s double-check all matches:

1. Add insult to injury → I
2. Cost a bomb → G
3. Cut corners → B
4. Spill the beans → F
5. Be on the ball → C
6. Pull someone’s leg → I ← Wait! We already used I for #1? Oh no!

Mistake here!

#1 was “Add insult to injury” → I (“to make a bad situation worse”) — that’s correct.

#6 is “Pull someone’s leg” → should be “to tease or joke with someone” — which is also labeled as I? That can’t be right.

Wait — let’s recheck the original image’s option labels.

Looking back at the user’s image description:

Options are labeled A through J.

In the original problem:

A: to make more effort than is expected of you
B: to do something in the easiest or cheapest way
C: to be quick to understand things
D: something that is very easy
E: to do something without special preparation
F: to reveal a secret
G: to be very expensive
H: to become organized
I: to tease or joke with someone
J: to make a bad situation worse ← Ah! Here’s the error!

Earlier I said #1 → I, but actually:

“Add insult to injury” = to make a bad situation worse → that’s J, not I.

And “Pull someone’s leg” = to tease or joke → that’s I

I mixed up I and J earlier.

Let’s fix this:

Correct mapping:

1. Add insult to injury → J (to make a bad situation worse)
2. Cost a bomb → G
3. Cut corners → B
4. Spill the beans → F
5. Be on the ball → C
6. Pull someone’s leg → I
7. Play it by ear → E
8. Piece of cake → D
9. Go the extra mile → A
10. Get one’s act together → H

Now all are unique and correct.

Final Answer:
1-J, 2-G, 3-B, 4-F, 5-C, 6-I, 7-E, 8-D, 9-A, 10-H