C2 · Vocabulary

Advanced Idioms

Idioms fluent speakers use without a second thought.

Score: 0 / 10

1. She decided to ___ and admit her mistake.

2. He accidentally ___ about the surprise party.

3. I’m exhausted — I’m going to ___ early tonight.

4. You’d better apply now, or you’ll ___ on this opportunity.

5. The comedian told a joke to ___ at the start of the show.

6. His success didn’t come easily — it took a lot of ___.

7. Let’s ___ and discuss the real problem.

8. I think we should ___ before making a final decision.

9. He’s been ___ about his plans — nobody knows what he’s thinking.

10. After the argument, they decided to ___ and start fresh.

Answer key — Advanced Idioms (C2)

  1. A — bite the bullet. Bite the bullet means to face a difficult situation bravely.
  2. A — spilled the beans. Spill the beans means to reveal a secret.
  3. A — hit the sack. Hit the sack means to go to bed.
  4. A — miss the boat. Miss the boat means to lose a chance by acting too late.
  5. A — break the ice. Break the ice means to ease tension in a social situation.
  6. A — blood, sweat and tears. Blood, sweat and tears means great effort and hard work.
  7. A — cut to the chase. Cut to the chase means to get to the point without delay.
  8. A — sleep on it. Sleep on it means to delay a decision until you’ve had time to think.
  9. A — tight-lipped. Tight-lipped means unwilling to talk or share information.
  10. A — bury the hatchet. Bury the hatchet means to make peace after a conflict.

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