- The actor was supposed to go on stage, but he _______ at the last minute and refused to perform.
Answer: got cold feet
To 'get cold feet' means to become too nervous or frightened to do something that was planned. This best explains why an actor would suddenly refuse to perform. Distractor A is an idiom meaning 'good luck,' often said to performers. Distractor B means to accept the consequences of one's actions. Distractor C means to change one's mind, but it doesn't carry the specific meaning of fear or nervousness.
- The emergency roof repair was very expensive, but with the storm approaching, I had to _______ and pay for it.
Answer: bite the bullet
'Bite the bullet' means to decide to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been putting off. This fits the context of paying for a necessary but costly repair. Distractor A means to become too scared to do something planned. Distractor B means to chat casually. Distractor C means to accept something humiliating, which is not the primary meaning required by the context.
- As a _______, you should water this type of plant once a week, but you may need to adjust based on the humidity in your home.
Answer: rule of thumb
A 'rule of thumb' is a general principle or guideline that is not intended to be strictly accurate in every situation. The context, which mentions adjusting the practice, makes this the correct choice. Distractors B and C both refer to strict, unchangeable rules, which is the opposite of what the sentence implies.
- As soon as the new smartphone was released, many customers rushed to _______ and bought it on the first day.
Answer: jump on the bandwagon
To 'jump on the bandwagon' means to join an activity or adopt an opinion that has become popular. This describes people rushing to buy a newly popular product. Distractor A means to cause trouble in a stable situation. Distractor B means to miss an opportunity. Distractor D means to commit to a course of action that cannot be reversed.
- I wish my boss would be more direct; he always _______ instead of telling me what he really thinks about my work.
Answer: beats around the bush
The idiom 'beat around the bush' means to avoid talking about the main topic and be indirect. This matches the description of the boss. Distractor A is the opposite; it means to get to the point directly. Distractor C means to be exactly right. Distractor D is a literal phrase that sounds similar to the correct idiom but is incorrect.
- Being laid off was difficult, but it turned out to be _______ because it led me to find a much better and more fulfilling career.
Answer: a blessing in disguise
A 'blessing in disguise' is something that seems bad or unlucky at first but results in something good later. This perfectly matches the context. Distractor A, 'a necessary evil,' is something bad that must be accepted, but it doesn't carry the same positive outcome. Distractor B is a hopeless pursuit. Distractor D is a lot of anger or worry about something unimportant.
- We have sent the contract to the client for their signature, so now _______; we can only wait for their decision.
Answer: the ball is in their court
The idiom 'the ball is in their court' means it is now someone else's turn to make a move or decision. This perfectly describes waiting for a client to respond to a contract. Distractor A means the situation has changed completely. Distractor C means they made a mistake. Distractor D means a situation has been reversed.
- With the final exam just a few days away, I need to cancel my weekend plans and really _______.
Answer: hit the books
'Hit the books' is an idiom that means to study hard. This is the logical action to take before a final exam. Distractor A means to leave or begin a journey. Distractor C means to look for a hidden meaning. Distractor D means to move on from a past situation.
- I disagreed with my friend months ago, but we have since reconciled. I don't want to bring it up again because it's best to _______.
Answer: let sleeping dogs lie
The idiom 'let sleeping dogs lie' means to avoid bringing up a past issue or conflict to prevent causing new trouble. This is the most appropriate choice for not wanting to restart an old argument. Distractor A means to reveal a secret. Distractor B means to create a situation that will cause trouble, which is what the speaker is trying to avoid. Distractor D means to take a risk.
- The two department heads rarely _______ on budget priorities, so reaching a compromise is always a long process.
Answer: see eye to eye
To 'see eye to eye' means to agree with someone. The context of having to compromise suggests disagreement, so the negative form 'rarely see eye to eye' is appropriate. The other distractors are also eye-related idioms but have different meanings: 'turn a blind eye' (to ignore wrongdoing), 'keep an eye out' (to watch for something), and 'have eyes in the back of their heads' (to be aware of everything happening).
- Before we present our new strategy to the investors, it is essential that everyone on the management team is _______.
Answer: on the same page
The idiom 'on the same page' means to be in agreement or have the same understanding. This is necessary before a team presentation. Distractor B is a common error, confusing the correct idiom with a similar-sounding phrase. Distractor C, 'turning a new leaf,' means to start behaving in a better way, which is irrelevant here. Distractor D is a literal interpretation and not the correct idiomatic expression.
- The salesperson made some impressive claims about the new vacuum cleaner, but I've learned to _______ what he says.
Answer: take it with a grain of salt
The idiom 'take it with a grain of salt' means to be skeptical about something or to not fully believe it. This fits the context of being cautious about a salesperson's claims. Distractor A is a literal phrase that doesn't fit the context. Distractor B means to believe something completely, which is the opposite of the intended meaning. Distractor D is a literal phrase and not a recognized idiom for this situation.
- In this tourist town, souvenir shops are _______, but it's difficult to find authentic, locally made crafts.
Answer: a dime a dozen
'A dime a dozen' is an idiom meaning that something is very common and therefore not valuable or special. This contrasts well with the 'difficult to find' authentic crafts. Distractor B means the opposite (rare). Distractors A and D are idioms related to high value or cost.
- Good friends are the ones who stay with you _______, supporting you during both successful and difficult times.
Answer: through thick and thin
'Through thick and thin' means through all circumstances, no matter how difficult. This idiom is commonly used to describe loyalty in friendships. Distractor A has a similar meaning but is most strongly associated with marriage vows. Distractor B means occasionally. Distractor C means by any means necessary, which is not relevant to loyalty.
- The investigation revealed that the contractor _______ on safety regulations to finish the project ahead of schedule.
Answer: cut corners
To 'cut corners' means to do something in the easiest or cheapest way, especially by ignoring rules or sacrificing quality. This fits the context of ignoring safety regulations. Distractor A is the opposite, meaning to do more than is required. Distractor B means to innovate or go beyond normal limits. Distractor C means to get into a difficult situation from which there is no easy escape.
- We were trying to keep the surprise party a secret, but my little sister _______ and told our cousin all about it.
Answer: spilled the beans
The idiom 'spill the beans' means to reveal secret information. This is exactly what the sister did. Distractor A, 'dropped the ball,' means to make a mistake or fail at a responsibility, which is too general. Distractor B, 'planted the seed,' means to introduce an idea that will grow later. Distractor D, 'cooked the books,' is an idiom for falsifying financial records.
- Learning the new software was challenging at first, but after a week of practice, I began to _______.
Answer: get the hang of it
To 'get the hang of it' means to learn the skills necessary to do something. This correctly describes the outcome of practicing the new software. Distractor A means to escape responsibility. Distractor C is an expression of encouragement to someone who is still struggling. Distractor D means to be relaxed and informal.
- My brother lives overseas, so we only see each other _______. It's a special occasion when he visits.
Answer: once in a blue moon
'Once in a blue moon' means very rarely. This fits the context of seeing a brother who lives overseas. Distractor A means continuously, and D means routinely, both of which are opposite in meaning. Distractor B means to be extremely happy, which is an idiom related to the moon but with a completely different meaning.
- I wanted to buy the designer handbag, but I couldn't afford it; it _______.
Answer: cost an arm and a leg
The expression 'cost an arm and a leg' means that something was extremely expensive. This fits the sentence structure and context. Distractor A means something is very valuable or useful. Distractors B and D describe the action of the buyer ('Buying it would break the bank,' or 'I paid a pretty penny'), not the quality of the object itself ('it...'), making them grammatically awkward or incorrect in this sentence.
- After my computer crashed and I lost my report, the power outage that erased my backup file was _______.
Answer: the last straw
'The last straw' refers to the final problem in a series of problems that makes a situation unbearable. This perfectly describes the context of multiple frustrating events. Distractor A means a very small, insignificant part of a whole, which is the opposite. Distractor B means something that seems bad but is actually good. Distractor D refers to the final moments before a significant event, which doesn't fit the feeling of frustration.
