Intermediate Quiz 47

1. I decided to hit the ______ and have an early night.
bag
pack
sack
rack

Answer:
I decided to hit the (sack) and have an early night.

The idiom “hit the sack” means to go to bed (sleep).

I decided to hit the sack and have an early night.
= I decided to go to bed and have an early night.

2. Copies of the book are selling like hot ______.
tea
cakes
coffee
candies

Answer:
Copies of the book are selling like hot (cakes).

The idiom “sell like hot cakes” means that something is sold quickly and in large amounts.

Copies of the book are selling like hot cakes.
= Copies of the book are sold quickly and in large number.

3. The discussion kept going around in ______.
circus
a circus
circles
a circle

Answer:
The discussion kept going around in (circles).

The idiom “go around in circles” means happening or seeming busy without deciding anything or making progress.

The discussion kept going around in circles.
= The discussion kept going without deciding anything.
= The discussion kept going without making progress.

4. The airline was accused of cutting _____ on safety.
corners
a corner
edges
an edge

Answer:
The airline was accused of cutting (corners) on safety.

The idiom “cut corners” means doing things quickly and not as carefully as you should to save time, money, or energy.

The airline was accused of cutting corners on safety.
= The airline was accused of not paying neccesary attention to safety to save time and money.

5. Reading _____ the lines, I’d say he’s not very happy.
along
among
beyond
between

Answer:
Reading (between) the lines, I’d say he’s not very happy.

The idiom “read between the lines” means to try to understand someone’s real feelings or intentions from what they say or write.

Reading between the lines, I’d say he’s not very happy.
= By looking at the things he said/wrote, I’d say he’s not very happy.