Cultural Literacy Activity #1--Idioms

Directions: The following sentences contain common cultural expressions (idioms) with some words missing. Please fill the blanks with the best answers based on your experience.

Example: That’s water under the bridge.

1. He will need to burn the midnight ___________.

2. Estelle found herself between a rock and a _________________.

3. Let’s not beat around the _________________.

4. It’s about five miles as the crow__________________.

5. The doctor gave me a clean bill of _________________.

6. Following his advice is like the blind leading the ______________.

7. Let’s not cry over spilt _______________.

8. I was wrong. I guess I will have to eat humble ______________.

9. If Bob gets that promotion, it will be a feather in his ____________.

10. Ralph can grow anything; he certainly has a green _________________

11. When I needed Yvonne’s help, she refused. She’s just a fair-weather _______________.

12. Don’t feel so superior! Why don’t you get off your high _________________!

13. Mark certainly let the cat out of the _________________ by telling her.

14. I shouldn’t have said that. I really put my foot in my _________________.

15. That’s it! I quit! I am throwing in the ________________!

16. We were like two ships that pass in the __________________.

17. I want to change! I am going to turn over a new _______________.

18. Instead of supporting Drew, they threw him under the __________________

19. or they threw him to the _________________( A second ending to number 18).

20. I want you to take the bull by the ________________ and get to work!

21. They are so young that they are still wet behind the _____________________.

22. Don’t take his comments seriously. Consider them just water off a duck’s _____________________.

23. David is so emotional! He certainly wears his heart on his _______________________.

24. I made the deadline just under the ____________________.

25. Yes, that problem is certainly a fly in the ___________________.

26. I am throwing down the ________________ and challenging you to a duel!

27. Diane was famous for only a second or two. She was certainly a flash in the ______________.

28. We are all just footprints on the sands of ______________________.

29. Hey, I have a _____________ to pick with you!

30. Bob certainly seems to have an axe to ____________________.

31. Tom may not be impressive yet, but I believe he is a diamond in the __________________.

32. Don’t be in such a hurry! Just cool your ___________ for awhile.

33. His one weakness is Pop Tarts. That is his _____________ heel.

34. I am going to get that new I-pod by hook or by _____________!

35. That’s only fair! Finally Sue got a dose of her own ______________.