Idioms, Adages & Proverbs — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Maria studied all week, so the quiz was a "piece of cake" for her.
'A piece of cake' is an idiom meaning something is very easy.
2. After losing the game, Coach said "every cloud has a silver lining" to cheer us up.
'Every cloud has a silver lining' means even bad situations have a positive side.
3. When Jake told a wild story, his friends knew he was "pulling their leg."
'Pulling someone's leg' means joking with them or telling them something that is not true.
4. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch" means do not assume success too early.
This proverb warns against assuming something will succeed before it actually happens.
5. The broken vase was the last straw; Mom grounded us for a week.
'The last straw' (final straw) is an idiom for the final problem that causes someone to react strongly.
6. Grandma always says "two heads are better than one" when we work in groups.
'Two heads are better than one' means collaborating with others produces better results than working alone.
7. He was "on thin ice" after arriving late three days in a row.
'On thin ice' means in a risky or precarious situation where any mistake has consequences.
8. "The early bird catches the worm" means arriving early gives you an advantage.
'The early bird catches the worm' is an adage meaning that acting early brings rewards.
9. She "hit the nail on the head" when she guessed the answer correctly.
'Hit the nail on the head' means to be exactly right or to identify the precise answer.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Bite the bullet
→ Endure something painful
Reveal a secret
Actions speak louder than words
→ What you do matters most
Late is better than not at all
Spill the beans
→ Reveal a secret
Endure something painful
Better late than never
→ Late is better than not at all
What you do matters most
Bite the bullet = endure something painful; Actions speak louder = what you do matters; Spill the beans = reveal a secret; Better late than never = late is better than not at all.