CPE Idiomatic Expressions and Phrasal Verbs 3

Question 1

What does the idiom 'to beat around the bush' mean?

Accepted Answer

To avoid the main topic and speak in a deliberately indirect way

Answer

To search for small animals hiding in dense vegetation

Answer

To trim or maintain hedges and shrubs in a garden

Answer

To win an outdoor competition held in a rural setting

Question 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'take up' to mean 'to begin a new hobby or activity'?

Accepted Answer

She took up painting after she retired from her career.

Answer

He took up too much space in the crowded elevator.

Answer

They took up the old carpet to install hardwood floors.

Answer

The lengthy meeting took up most of the afternoon.

Question 3

What is the meaning of the idiom 'once in a blue moon'?

Accepted Answer

Very rarely or extremely infrequently

Answer

During a rare but predictable astronomical event

Answer

Exactly once per calendar month

Answer

Only during nighttime hours or after dark

Question 4

What does the phrasal verb 'give away' mean in the sentence 'Her nervous laugh gave away her true feelings'?

Accepted Answer

To unintentionally reveal or betray something

Answer

To donate something to a charity or worthy cause

Answer

To formally present a gift to someone at a ceremony

Answer

To surrender a prized possession under pressure

Question 5

What does the idiom 'to bite off more than you can chew' mean?

Accepted Answer

To take on more work or responsibility than one is able to handle

Answer

To attempt to eat a portion of food that is far too large

Answer

To make promises that one has no intention of keeping

Answer

To argue aggressively with someone more powerful than oneself

Question 6

Which sentence correctly demonstrates the use of 'get over' to mean 'to recover from something difficult'?

Accepted Answer

It took him several months to get over the loss of his job.

Answer

She couldn't get over the tall fence without assistance.

Answer

The speaker struggled to get over his message to the large audience.

Answer

They tried to get over to the other side of the city as quickly as possible.

Question 7

What does the idiom 'to turn a blind eye' mean?

Accepted Answer

To deliberately choose to ignore or overlook something problematic

Answer

To suffer from partial or complete loss of vision in one eye

Answer

To look away from a situation out of fear or cowardice

Answer

To avoid all forms of confrontation regardless of the circumstances