Intermediate idiomatic language. 45 questions on business and decision idioms, formal idiom appropriateness, mixed-idiom errors, and register awareness.
What this test covers
- Decision, Attitude, and Challenge Idioms
- Register Appropriateness: Idioms in Formal vs Informal Contexts
- Mixed Idioms and Structural Errors
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1After the project failed, the team had to ___ and start the planning process from scratch.
Answer: C. go back to the drawing board
The phrase 'go back to the drawing board' is used when a plan or project fails and you must start over from the beginning. The context clue 'start... from scratch' points directly to this meaning. 'Move the goalposts' means changing the rules unfairly, which doesn't fit here.
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Q2I am still ___ about which job offer to accept, as both have pros and cons.
Answer: C. on the fence
To be 'on the fence' means to be undecided between two choices. The mention of 'pros and cons' indicates the speaker is weighing options. While 'up in the air' also means uncertain, it usually refers to a situation rather than a person's decision-making state.
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Q3He had to ___ and admit that his mistake had caused the entire production delay.
Answer: D. face the music
The idiom 'face the music' means to accept the unpleasant consequences or criticism for something you have done wrong. Since the subject made a mistake that caused a delay, he must now deal with the fallout.
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Q4Losing that initial investment was a ___ because it forced us to find a more profitable partner.
Answer: C. blessing in disguise
A 'blessing in disguise' is something that seems bad at first but results in a positive outcome later. Here, losing the investment (bad) led to a better partner (good). 'Bottom line' refers to the final result or net profit, which doesn't fit the narrative context.
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Q5We need to ___ with the marketing department before we finalize the quarterly budget.
Answer: D. touch base
To 'touch base' means to briefly contact someone to update them or check their progress. In a business context, it is common to 'touch base' with another department before finalizing plans. 'Hit the ground running' refers to starting a new job with great energy.
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Q6The final decision about the merger is still ___ until the board meets on Friday.
Answer: A. up in the air
When a situation is 'up in the air,' it means it is uncertain or not yet resolved. This fits the context of a decision waiting for a future board meeting. 'On the back burner' would mean the decision is being deliberately delayed or given low priority, which is different from being undecided.
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Q7We need to stop ___ and make a firm decision regarding the new office location today.
Answer: A. sitting on the fence
To 'sit on the fence' is an idiom used to describe someone who is hesitant to choose between sides or make a firm decision. The speaker is urging the team to stop delaying and reach a conclusion.
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Q8The company is ___ in renewable energy research, developing technology no one else has.
Answer: A. breaking new ground
To 'break new ground' means to do something innovative or reach a new level of discovery. The context clue 'developing technology no one else has' confirms that the company is innovating in its field.
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Q9The new software project ___ with record sales in the very first month of launch.
Answer: A. got off to a flying start
To 'get off to a flying start' means to begin a project or activity with immediate success. The mention of 'record sales' in the 'very first month' perfectly matches this idiom.
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Q10The new manager will ___ on Monday, so please ensure all the files are ready for her.
Answer: B. hit the ground running
To 'hit the ground running' means to start a new activity or job with a lot of energy and without any delay. Preparing the files ensures she can be productive immediately upon arrival.
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Q11Our team is always ___ by adopting the latest software before our competitors do.
Answer: A. ahead of the curve
To be 'ahead of the curve' means to be more advanced or faster than the average or your competitors. Adopting 'the latest software' before others demonstrates this forward-thinking position.
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Q12The ___ is that we simply cannot afford to expand our operations until next year.
Answer: D. bottom line
The 'bottom line' refers to the most essential point or the final financial result. In this sentence, it introduces the ultimate reality of the company's financial limitation.
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Q13It is incredibly frustrating when clients ___ after we have already signed the contract.
Answer: A. move the goalposts
To 'move the goalposts' means to unfairly change the rules, targets, or requirements of a situation after it has already started. Changing terms after a contract is signed is a classic example of this behavior.
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Q14We decided to ___ the expansion plans until we have more capital available.
Answer: C. put on the back burner
To 'put something on the back burner' means to temporarily stop focusing on it or to give it lower priority. The phrase 'until we have more capital' indicates a delay, making this the correct choice.
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Q15Don't ___ by insulting your former boss; you might need a reference later.
Answer: A. burn your bridges
To 'burn your bridges' means to destroy relationships or paths back to a previous situation so that you cannot return. Insulting a former boss makes it impossible to get a reference, effectively cutting off that professional connection.
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Q16Which sentence is most appropriate for a formal, professional report?
Answer: D. The findings suggest that the initial strategy requires revision.
Formal professional reports should avoid idioms and colloquialisms. 'Requires revision' is precise and neutral, whereas 'put on the back burner,' 'on the fence,' and 'bite the bullet' are too informal for this register.
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Q17In a casual email to a close colleague, which phrase is appropriate?
Answer: A. Let's touch base later this week.
In semi-formal or casual business communication with colleagues, common idioms like 'touch base' are natural and appropriate. The other options use overly formal or academic language ('aforementioned', 'incumbent upon us') that would sound stiff among close colleagues.
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Q18Which sentence would be inappropriate in a formal academic essay?
Answer: C. The researchers hit the ground running with the experiment.
Academic writing requires objective, literal language. 'Hit the ground running' is a metaphorical idiom and is considered too informal for a research paper. The other options use standard academic verbs and terms like 'indicates,' 'statistically significant,' and 'hypothesis.'
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Q19Which of these is NOT suitable for a strictly legal contract?
Answer: C. The company is on the fence regarding the clause.
Legal documents require precise, unambiguous language. 'On the fence' is an idiom that is too vague and informal for a contract. Terms like 'shall remain in effect' and 'herein' are standard in legal registers.
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Q20Which phrase is the most appropriate replacement for 'the bottom line' in a financial report?
Answer: A. the net profit
While 'the bottom line' can mean 'the most important point' in general conversation, in finance, it specifically refers to the 'net profit' or final figure on an income statement. In a formal report, using the precise technical term is better than using an idiom.
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Q21Which sentence is most appropriate for a quick, informal chat with a friend?
Answer: D. I'm on the fence about going to the party.
Idioms like 'on the fence' are perfect for casual, spoken English. The other options use high-register vocabulary ('pending,' 'determine,' 'evaluating') that sounds too formal and robotic for a conversation with a friend.
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Q22Which of the following is the most formal way to express that a decision is pending?
Answer: B. The matter remains unresolved.
To be 'formal,' you should choose neutral, literal language. 'The matter remains unresolved' uses sophisticated vocabulary ('unresolved') without using metaphors. 'Up in the air' and 'on the fence' are idioms, and 'a bit messy' is colloquial.
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Q23Which of the following phrases should be avoided in a formal email to a CEO?
Answer: A. We need to touch base regarding the budget.
When communicating with high-level executives (CEOs), it is safer to use professional, direct language. 'Touch base' is a common business idiom, but it is often considered too informal for high-stakes or very formal correspondence.
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Q24Which sentence is correct for a formal letter?
Answer: C. We have decided to postpone the event.
Formal letters should use literal verbs. 'Postpone' is the correct formal term, whereas 'touching base,' 'back burner,' and 'bite the bullet' are idiomatic and informal.
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Q25Which sentence is suitable for a quick chat at the office coffee machine?
Answer: D. Are you on the fence about the new policy?
Casual office interactions are the ideal place for idiomatic language like 'on the fence.' The other options are overly formal ('reservations,' 'fiscal projections,' 'under consideration') and would sound unnaturally stiff in a coffee break setting.
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Q26The phrase 'the bottom line' is most appropriate in which context?
Answer: A. A business discussion about profit.
The idiom 'the bottom line' originated in accounting, referring to the last line of a financial statement. Therefore, it is most natural in business contexts. It is usually too informal for legal or academic writing.
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Q27Which context is best for the idiom 'go back to the drawing board'?
Answer: B. A team brainstorming session.
This idiom is best suited for collaborative, semi-formal environments like a brainstorming session. It is too metaphorical for official reports, legal documents, or academic textbooks.
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Q28Which sentence is most appropriate for a formal business proposal?
Answer: D. The financial projections remain uncertain.
Business proposals require professional clarity. 'Uncertain' is a precise adjective. 'Up in the air' and 'on the fence' are idioms, and 'hit-and-miss' is a colloquialism, all of which should be avoided in formal proposals.
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Q29Which context is 'a blessing in disguise' most suitable for?
Answer: A. An informal conversation.
Idioms are most commonly used in spoken English or informal writing. 'A blessing in disguise' is a figurative expression that would be out of place in the precise and literal language used in contracts, annual reports, or press releases.
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Q30Correct the sentence: 'We must bite the cannon and accept the new policy.'
Answer: B. We must bite the bullet and accept the new policy.
Idioms are fixed expressions. The correct form is 'bite the bullet,' which means to endure a painful or difficult situation that is unavoidable. Using 'cannon' or 'cannonball' is incorrect.
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Q31Which is the correct version of the expression?
Answer: D. Burn your bridges.
The standard idiomatic expression is 'burn your bridges' (or 'burn one's bridges'). Adding 'down' or 'to the ground' is redundant and not part of the set phrase.
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Q32Correct the sentence: 'She is taking the fence on this issue.'
Answer: D. She is sitting on the fence on this issue.
The fixed idiom is 'sit on the fence.' It describes the physical act of being in the middle of two sides, metaphorically representing indecision.
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Q33Correct the sentence: 'Let's go back to the drawing table.'
Answer: A. Let's go back to the drawing board.
The correct idiom is 'go back to the drawing board.' In this phrase, 'board' refers to a large architect's desk where plans are drawn; 'table,' 'desk,' or 'paper' are not part of the fixed expression.
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Q34Correct the mixed idiom: 'We'll cross that bridge when we jump it.'
Answer: B. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
This is a common error where two idioms are mixed. The correct phrase is 'cross that bridge when we come to it,' meaning to deal with a problem only when it actually happens.
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Q35Correct the mixed idiom: 'Don't keep all your chickens in one basket.'
Answer: A. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
The correct idiom is 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket.' It warns against risking everything on a single venture or plan.
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Q36Correct the sentence: 'He bit the bullets and resigned.'
Answer: D. He bit the bullet and resigned.
In the idiom 'bite the bullet,' the word 'bullet' is always singular. Even though the action happened in the past ('bit'), the noun part of the idiom does not change to plural.
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Q37Correct the sentence: 'She hit the ground walking.'
Answer: C. She hit the ground running.
The idiom is 'hit the ground running.' It implies starting an activity immediately and with full energy. Using 'walking' or 'sprinting' changes the fixed form of the expression.
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Q38Correct the sentence: 'I will touch your base later.'
Answer: B. I will touch base later.
The correct idiom is 'touch base.' It does not use a possessive pronoun like 'your' or 'my,' nor is 'base' usually plural in this context. It functions as a fixed verbal phrase.
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Q39Correct the sentence: 'We are ahead of the line on this.'
Answer: D. We are ahead of the curve on this.
The correct expression is 'ahead of the curve.' The 'curve' refers to a statistical trend or a learning curve; 'line' or 'queue' would literally refer to people waiting.
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Q40Correct the sentence: 'The manager moved the goalposts in the middle of the project, so we had to bite the cannon.'
Answer: B. The manager moved the goalposts in the middle of the project, so we had to bite the bullet.
The error is 'bite the cannon.' The correct fixed idiom is 'bite the bullet.' You cannot substitute other related objects (like cannonballs) into a fixed idiomatic phrase.
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Q41Correct the sentence: 'He had to face the concert.'
Answer: D. He had to face the music.
The correct idiom is 'face the music.' It means to accept unpleasant consequences. Substituting 'concert' or 'symphony' makes the phrase lose its idiomatic meaning.
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Q42Correct the sentence: 'It was a blessing in a disguise.'
Answer: B. It was a blessing in disguise.
The correct idiom is 'a blessing in disguise.' It does not require an article ('a' or 'the') before the word 'disguise.'
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Q43Correct the sentence: 'We put the plan on the back stove.'
Answer: D. We put the plan on the back burner.
The correct idiom is 'put on the back burner,' referring to the rear burners of a stove where food is kept warm but not actively cooked. While a stove has burners, you cannot substitute the word 'stove' itself into the idiom.
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Q44Correct the sentence: 'They got off to a flying beginning.'
Answer: A. They got off to a flying start.
The fixed expression is 'get off to a flying start.' Even though 'beginning' is a synonym for 'start,' idioms rely on specific word choices that cannot be changed.
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Q45Which of the following is a correct idiomatic expression?
Answer: C. He is a loose cannon.
A 'loose cannon' is a person who is unpredictable and likely to cause damage or trouble. This originates from the days of wooden warships where a cannon that came loose from its ropes was extremely dangerous.
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