ESOL ESOL Idioms and Expressions 2

Question 1

What does the idiom 'cost an arm and a leg' mean?

Accepted Answer

Be extremely expensive

Answer

'Cost an arm and a leg' means something is very expensive or costs a great deal of money.

Question 2

If someone tells you to 'spill the beans,' what are they asking you to do?

Accepted Answer

Reveal a secret or hidden information

Answer

'Spill the beans' means to accidentally or deliberately reveal secret information.

Question 3

What does 'once in a blue moon' mean?

Accepted Answer

Very rarely

Answer

'Once in a blue moon' describes something that happens very rarely or infrequently.

Question 4

If someone says 'I'm on the fence,' what do they mean?

Accepted Answer

They are undecided or neutral about something

Answer

'On the fence' means a person has not yet made a decision or is neutral between two options.

Question 5

What does 'burning the midnight oil' mean?

Accepted Answer

Working or studying late into the night

Answer

'Burning the midnight oil' means working or studying very late at night, past normal hours.

(ESOL) English to Speakers of Other Languages Practice Test