CELPIP Vocabulary: Idiomatic Expressions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a friend tells you to break the ice at a party, they want you to:
- Start a conversation to ease tension (Correct answer)
- Cool down the drinks
- Leave early
- Argue with guests
Correct answer: Start a conversation to ease tension
"Break the ice" means to initiate social interaction and reduce awkwardness.
Question 2: If your boss says you need to bite the bullet, you should:
- Face an unpleasant task with courage (Correct answer)
- Avoid the work entirely
- Eat before working
- Complain loudly
Correct answer: Face an unpleasant task with courage
"Bite the bullet" means to endure something difficult that cannot be avoided.
Question 3: Someone says the answer to your question is a piece of cake. This means it is:
- Very easy (Correct answer)
- Very expensive
- Delicious
- Confusing
Correct answer: Very easy
"A piece of cake" describes a task that is simple to accomplish.
Question 4: If a coworker spills the beans, they have:
- Revealed a secret (Correct answer)
- Made a mess in the kitchen
- Quit the job
- Refused to talk
Correct answer: Revealed a secret
"Spill the beans" means to disclose information that was meant to be kept private.
Question 5: Your friend is feeling under the weather today. This means she is:
- Feeling unwell (Correct answer)
- Standing in the rain
- Very happy
- Extremely busy
Correct answer: Feeling unwell
"Under the weather" means feeling slightly ill.
Question 6: When you tell someone to keep their chin up, you are encouraging them to:
- Stay positive during hard times (Correct answer)
- Sit up straighter
- Stop talking
- Look down
Correct answer: Stay positive during hard times
"Keep your chin up" means to remain optimistic despite difficulty.
Question 7: If a plan goes back to the drawing board, the team must:
- Start planning again from scratch (Correct answer)
- Celebrate success
- Finish quickly
- Hire an artist
Correct answer: Start planning again from scratch
"Back to the drawing board" means to restart after a failed attempt.
When a friend tells you to break the ice at a party, they want you to: