An engaging idioms worksheet with illustrated examples and fill-in-the-blank exercises to help learners understand and use common English expressions.

Let’s go step by step to match each sentence with the correct idiom from the list. We’ll read each sentence, think about what it means, and pick the idiom that fits best — sometimes we may need to change the form (like tense or pronoun) to make it grammatically correct.

---

a) I have to tell you something that will _______________.

→ This sounds like revealing a secret. The idiom “let the cat out of the bag” means to reveal a secret, usually unintentionally. But here, the speaker is *intentionally* telling something. Still, this is the closest fit for “reveal something surprising.”
✔ let the cat out of the bag

*(Note: Sometimes people use this even when intentional — context matters.)*

---

b) He _______________ when he accidentally told her about the surprise party.

→ Again, revealing a secret → same as above. But now past tense. So:
✔ let the cat out of the bag

Wait — actually, let’s check if another idiom fits better? No — “let the cat out of the bag” is still best. But maybe we should consider “pull one’s leg”? No — that’s joking/teasing. Not accidental revelation.

Actually — hold on! Sentence b says “accidentally told her” — so yes, “let the cat out of the bag” is perfect.

But wait — look at sentence i: “Is Samantha really getting married or are you just _______________?” — that’s clearly “pulling my leg”.

So let’s not jump ahead. Let’s do them in order.

Back to b: He [did something] when he accidentally told her... → He let the cat out of the bag.

✔ 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 _______________.

→ “Have cold feet” = lose courage to do something planned. That fits! You’re about to do something big, but you might chicken out.

✔ cold feet

---

d) I’m _______________ with my teacher because she caught me cheating in the test.

→ Being in trouble → “in hot water”

✔ in hot water

---

e) I’d better _______________ now. I’m feeling really exhausted.

→ Go to bed → “hit the sack”

✔ hit the sack

---

f) He is so cute that when he looks at me I get _______________.

→ Nervous/excited butterflies → “butterflies in my stomach”

✔ butterflies in my stomach

---

g) We’re all packed and ready to go - we can leave _______________.

→ Immediately → “at the drop of a hat”

✔ at the drop of a hat

---

h) I am feeling a bit _______________ – I think I’m getting a cold.

→ Feeling ill/sad/lack energy → “under the weather”

✔ under the weather

---

i) Is Samantha really getting married or are you just _______________?

→ Joking/tricking someone → “pulling my leg”

✔ pulling my leg

---

j) Was your Math exam hard? – No, it was really _______________.

→ Very easy → “a piece of cake”

✔ a piece of cake

---

k) My friend got _______________ and decided not to do a bungee jump.

→ Lost courage → “cold feet” — but wait, we already used that in c?

Hold on — let’s double-check.

In c, we said “have cold feet” — which is correct.

In k, “got cold feet” — also correct. Same idiom, different verb form.

That’s okay — idioms can be reused if they fit.

But let’s see if there’s another option.

“Lost one’s marbles”? No — that’s acting crazy.

“Caught between two stools”? No — that’s indecision.

“Cold feet” is definitely right for backing out of something scary.

✔ cold feet

Wait — but we already used “cold feet” in c. Is that allowed? Yes — the worksheet doesn’t say each idiom can only be used once. And both sentences fit perfectly.

BUT — let’s check sentence o: “I don’t know how you could afford this sports car. It must have _______________.” → That’s “cost an arm and a leg”.

And sentence n: “If you try to please both your father and mother, you can end up _______________.” → “caught between two stools”

So maybe we shouldn’t reuse “cold feet”? Let’s re-examine.

Actually, looking again:

Sentence c: “you’ll probably think that I have _______________.” → “have cold feet” — yes.

Sentence k: “My friend got _______________ and decided not to do a bungee jump.” → “got cold feet” — also yes.

It’s fine to use the same idiom twice if it fits. But let’s see if any other idiom fits k better.

What about “lost his marbles”? No — that’s behaving strangely, not losing courage.

“Knock his socks off”? No — that’s impressing someone.

No — “cold feet” is correct for k.

But wait — perhaps the worksheet expects unique answers? Let’s count total blanks: 15 sentences (a to o). Total idioms shown: 18. So some won’t be used, and some might be reused? Unlikely — probably each blank uses a different idiom.

Let me list all idioms available:

From image:

1. in hot water
2. butterflies in one’s stomach
3. under the weather
4. hold your horses
5. a piece of cake
6. knock one’s socks off
7. let the cat out of the bag
8. at the drop of a hat
9. cost an arm and a leg
10. pull one’s leg
11. caught between two stools
12. lose one’s marbles
13. hit the sack
14. all ears
15. cold feet

That’s 15 idioms — and 15 sentences (a to o). So likely, each idiom is used exactly once.

Therefore, we cannot use “cold feet” twice.

So where did we go wrong?

Let’s reassign.

We had:

c) have cold feet → but maybe that’s not right?

Alternative for c: “you’ll probably think that I have _______________.”

Could it be “lost my marbles”? Like, you think I’m crazy for doing this?

Yes! That makes sense too.

“Have lost my marbles” = act crazy.

So if I’m about to do something risky, you might think I’ve gone crazy.

Whereas “cold feet” is more about hesitation before doing something.

In sentence c: “I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, although you’ll probably think that I have _______________.”

This implies the action seems crazy — so “lost my marbles” fits better.

Then for k: “got cold feet” — backing out of bungee jump — perfect.

So let’s swap:

c) lost my marbles

k) cold feet

Better.

Also, check sentence l: “Just _______________! Let’s think about this for a moment.”

→ Wait / slow down → “hold your horses”

✔ hold your horses

Sentence m: “Tell me who was at the party. I am _______________.”

→ Eager to hear → “all ears”

✔ all ears

Sentence n: “If you try to please both your father and mother, you can end up _______________.”

→ Unable to choose between two alternatives → “caught between two stools”

✔ caught between two stools

Sentence o: “I don’t know how you could afford this sports car. It must have _______________.”

→ Very expensive → “cost an arm and a leg”

✔ cost an arm and a leg

Now back to earlier ones.

We had:

a) let the cat out of the bag — revealing something → ok

b) let the cat out of the bag — again? But we can’t reuse.

Problem: a and b both seem to want “let the cat out of the bag”

But a: “I have to tell you something that will _______________.” — future tense, intentional

b: “He _______________ when he accidentally told her...” — past, accidental

Both fit “let the cat out of the bag”, but we can only use it once.

Is there another idiom for revealing secrets? Not really in the list.

Perhaps for a, it’s “knock your socks off”? Like, shock you?

“I have to tell you something that will knock your socks off!” — meaning amaze/shock you.

That could work!

And for b, “let the cat out of the bag” — accidental revelation.

Yes! That resolves the conflict.

So:

a) knock your socks off — because it will amaze/shock you

b) let the cat out of the bag — accidental secret revealed

Perfect.

Now update:

a) knock your socks off
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

Check if all idioms are used:

List of idioms from image:

- in hot water → d
- butterflies in one’s stomach → f
- under the weather → h
- hold your horses → l
- a piece of cake → j
- knock one’s socks off → a
- let the cat out of the bag → b
- at the drop of a hat → g
- cost an arm and a leg → o
- pull one’s leg → i
- caught between two stools → n
- lose one’s marbles → c
- hit the sack → e
- all ears → m
- cold feet → k

All 15 used, no repeats. Perfect.

Now, write the answers with proper grammar adjustments.

For example:

a) I have to tell you something that will knock your socks off. → Correct as is.

b) He let the cat out of the bag when... → Past tense, correct.

c) ...think that I have lost my marbles. → Present perfect, correct.

d) I’m in hot water with my teacher... → Correct.

e) I’d better hit the sack now. → Correct.

f) ...I get butterflies in my stomach. → Should be “my” since subject is “me” — yes.

g) ...leave at the drop of a hat. → Correct.

h) I am feeling a bit under the weather → Correct.

i) ...are you just pulling my leg? → Present continuous, correct.

j) ...it was really a piece of cake. → Correct.

k) My friend got cold feet → Correct.

l) Just hold your horses! → Imperative, correct.

m) I am all ears. → Correct.

n) ...end up caught between two stools. → Correct.

o) It must have cost an arm and a leg. → Past participle after “have”, correct.

All good.

Final Answer:

a) knock your socks off
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