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About This Quiz
Every language is full of expressions that have become ingrained as part of the national culture. English in the United States is no different. How well do you know these common American phrases?
Ace in the ____.
hole
The expression is "ace in the hole." It means to withhold a valuable part of the winning strategy.
hand
bush
basket
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Achilles' ____.
hand
arm
heel
The expression is "Achilles' heel." It means a spot where one is vulnerable, based on Greek mythology.
foot
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Acid ____.
test
The expression is "acid test." It describes a test of the value of something.
time
tune
tore
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Actions _____ louder than words.
sound
play
speak
The phrase is "Actions speak louder than words." It means that what one does is more meaningful than what one says. In other words, talk is cheap.
look
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All ______.
Pinkies
Thumbs
The expression is "all thumbs." It is used to describe someone who is clumsy.
Pointers
Ring fingers
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All ___.
dry
cold
wet
The expression is "all wet." It is used to describe someone who is so wrong they're silly.
warm
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At her _____ end.
wits'
The expression is "at her wits' end." It means that someone is exasperated.
egg's
hand's
head's
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Apple of my _______.
eye
The expression is "apple of my eye." This is used to describe someone who is held dear.
nose
mouth
ear
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Axe to _____.
hit
cut
grind
The expression is "axe to grind." It means that someone is holding a grudge.
use
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Back to ______ one.
circle
rectangle
square
The expression is "back to square one." It means to start something all over again.
oval
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Back seat ______.
rider
looker
driver
The saying is "back seat driver." This describes someone who is full of criticism and instructions, even though they are not the one driving.
singer
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Bad _____.
plasma
corpuscles
blood
The expression is "bad blood." This is used to describe someone with ill feelings toward someone else.
cells
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Backhanded __________.
saying
compliment
The expression is "backhanded compliment." This is a saying used to describe a compliment that sounds genuine but is actually an insult.
secret
phrase
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Back to the _______ board.
painting
drawing
The expression is "back to the drawing board." This means to go back to the beginning of a project.
sculpting
building
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Behind the _____ ball.
eight
The phrase is "behind the eight ball." It means to be in a difficult position.
nine
ten
eleven
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Bend your ___.
ear
The expression is "bend your ear." It means to talk for quite a while, often not in a good way.
nose
mouth
chin
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Beside the _____.
side
knife
goal
point
The phrase is "beside the point." It means that something said has nothing to do with the subject at hand.
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Beat the ______.
bushes
The phrase is "beat the bushes." This means to search high and low for something.
barn
hay
grass
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Bet your _____.
hands
eyes
ears
boots
The phrase is "bet your boots." People say this when they are certain about something.
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Big ______.
bread
tomato
cheese
The expression is "big cheese." This is used to refer to an important person.
salad
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Between a ____ and a hard place.
cushion
couch
rock
The expression is "between a rock and a hard place." It means that there is no way to get out of a situation with a positive outcome.
bed
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Bird's eye ____.
flight
view
The expression is "bird's eye view." This means to look at an overview of something.
wing
nest
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Hard ____ to swallow.
head
knocks
pill
The phrase is "hard pill to swallow." This is used to describe a reality that is difficult to accept.
life
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Bite off more than you can ____.
eat
digest
chew
The expression is "bite off more than you can chew." This means to take on too much at one time.
have
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Bite the ______.
rifle
gun
shot
bullet
The expression is "bite the bullet." This means to face something unpleasant.
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Blow off _____.
work
steam
The expression is to "blow off steam." This is a phrase used to describe getting something out of your system.
home
dinner
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Toot your own ____.
violin
tuba
horn
The expression is "toot your own horn." This means to brag about something.
flute
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Run hot and ____.
warm
tepid
cold
The expression is to "run hot and cold." This means to be indecisive about something.
boiling
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Both feet on the ______.
hammer
pedal
air
ground
The phrase is "both feet on the ground." This expression is used to describe someone who is practical and realistic.
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The bottom ____.
two
line
The expression is "the bottom line." This is the end result.
horn
way
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A ____ of contention.
arm
nose
bone
The phrase is "a bone of contention." This means a dispute.
eye
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Bottom of the ______.
sea
cup
drawer
barrel
The expression is "bottom of the barrel" - often phrased as "scraping the bottom of the barrel." This is used to refer to the least desirable option.
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Bring down the _____.
opera
curtain
drawer
house
The expression is "bring down the house." This is used to describe something that is very exciting or successful - especially a live performance.
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Bring home the _____.
bacon
The expression is to "bring home the bacon." This is used to describe earning an income to support the household.
coffee
cookies
oatmeal
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Break the ______.
window
glass
pot
ice
The expression is "break the ice." This means to start things off.
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You Got:
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