Idioms which refer to animals, fruit and vegetables

1. [Multiple choice]

He spilt the …………………. about his financial worries.

(He revealed a secret or confessed to something.)

Answers for Quiz [1].

• 1. onions
• 2. leeks
• 3. beans
  (correct)
• 4. apricots
• 5. peas

2. [Multiple choice]

‘Hold your ……………….!’

(You are doing something too fast and someone is asking you to slow down (informal).)

Answers for Quiz [2].

• 1. horses
  (correct)
• 2. sheep
• 3. beans
• 4. fish
• 5. dogs

3. [Multiple choice]

I feel like a …………….. out of water.

(I feel very uncomfortable in the situation I am in.)

Answers for Quiz [3].

• 1. whale
• 2. dolphin
• 3. frog
• 4. fish (correct)
• 5. shark

4. [Multiple choice]

I may as well be hanged for a sheep as a ………………….

(I am going to get into trouble for doing something minor anyway, so I might as well stop worrying and do whatever I like before I get caught or criticised.)

Answers for Quiz [4].

• 1. puppy
• 2. fox cub
• 3. foal
• 4. lamb
  (correct)
• 5. kitten

5. [Multiple choice]

That was the point when it all went ……………-shaped.

(A situation has either gone wrong or produced an unexpected and unwanted result.)

Answers for Quiz [5].

• 1. apple
• 2. pear (correct)
• 3. banana
• 4. fish
• 5. cherry

6. [Multiple choice]

Aren’t we putting the cart before the …………….?

(We are doing something the wrong way round.)

Answers for Quiz [6].

• 1. deer
• 2. cow
• 3. horse
  (correct)
• 4. pig
• 5. sheep

7. [Multiple choice]

It’s good to see the two off you so full of ……………….

(You are very energetic and enthusiastic.)

Answers for Quiz [7].

• 1. peas
• 2. plums
• 3. potatoes
• 4. fish
• 5. beans (correct)

8. [Multiple choice]

Mary’s landed a rather ……………….. job in Rio De Janeiro.

(This person has managed to be offered a highly desirable post in Brazil.)

Answers for Quiz [8].

• 1. apple
• 2. plum (correct)
• 3. cherry
• 4. pineapple
• 5. pear

9. [Multiple choice]

He’s always been the black ……………. of the family.

(He doesn’t fit into a group or family because his behaviour or character is not good enough. (Farmers earned more money when selling sheep’s wool if it was white rather than black.)

)

Answers for Quiz [9].

• 1. sheep (correct)
• 2. cat
• 3. dog
• 4. horse
• 5. donkey

10. [Multiple choice]

Paul’s turned into a bit of a couch …………………… since he got married.

(This person has turned into an extremely idle or lazy person who spends much leisure time horizontal in front of the TV and eats a diet that is mainly junkfood.)

Answers for Quiz [10].

• 1. tomato
• 2. broad bean
• 3. onion
• 4. mushroom
• 5. potato (correct)

11. [Multiple choice]

His wife’s a bit of a dark ………………..

(This individual is a bit of a mystery.)

Answers for Quiz [11].

• 1. cat
• 2. sheep
• 3. dog
• 4. horse (correct)
• 5. rabbit

12. [Multiple choice]

I need this like a ……………. needs a bicycle

(I really do not need this at all.)

Answers for Quiz [12].

• 1. cat
• 2. fish
  (correct)
• 3. dog
• 4. bird
• 5. hare