ALCPT Idiomatic and Phrasal Expressions 2

Question 1

What does the expression 'burn the midnight oil' mean?
(A) To destroy classified documents
(B) To work or study late into the night
(C) To waste fuel carelessly
(D) To signal distress with a flare

Accepted Answer

To work or study late into the night

Answer

To destroy classified documents

Answer

To waste fuel carelessly

Answer

To signal distress with a flare

Question 2

Choose the best meaning for 'get the ball rolling.'
(A) To play a sport during free time
(B) To begin an activity or process
(C) To lose control of a situation
(D) To pass responsibility to someone else

Accepted Answer

To begin an activity or process

Answer

To play a sport during free time

Answer

To lose control of a situation

Answer

To pass responsibility to someone else

Question 3

What is the meaning of 'hit the nail on the head'?
(A) To injure someone accidentally
(B) To damage equipment during construction
(C) To say or do something exactly right
(D) To strike first in a conflict

Accepted Answer

To say or do something exactly right

Answer

To injure someone accidentally

Answer

To damage equipment during construction

Answer

To strike first in a conflict

Question 4

The captain said, 'Let's cross that bridge when we come to it.' This means:
(A) We should plan the route carefully before moving
(B) We should not worry about a problem until it actually occurs
(C) We need to repair the bridge before continuing the mission
(D) We should avoid dangerous crossings at all costs

Accepted Answer

We should not worry about a problem until it actually occurs

Answer

We should plan the route carefully before moving

Answer

We need to repair the bridge before continuing the mission

Answer

We should avoid dangerous crossings at all costs

Question 5

What does 'pull someone's leg' mean?
(A) To physically assist someone who has fallen
(B) To joke with or tease someone
(C) To drag someone from a dangerous situation
(D) To request extra effort from a team member

Accepted Answer

To joke with or tease someone

Answer

To physically assist someone who has fallen

Answer

To drag someone from a dangerous situation

Answer

To request extra effort from a team member

Question 6

Choose the correct meaning of 'once in a blue moon.'
(A) During night operations
(B) At a specific scheduled time
(C) Very rarely
(D) Under special atmospheric conditions

Accepted Answer

Very rarely

Answer

During night operations

Answer

At a specific scheduled time

Answer

Under special atmospheric conditions