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Idioms Quiz: Numbers 1
Many idioms are based on numbers. Test your knowledge of English idioms with the questions below. To learn more about an individual idiom, click on the "more about this idiom" link.
1. a ballpark figure | a ballpark estimate
She gave us a ballpark figure for the cost because she
- didn't know the exact amount
- knew how much a ballpark cost
- wanted to tell us the exact amount
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2. a one-track mind
Roberto said he didn't have a one-track mind. He said he
- could speak two languages, not just one
- thought about many things, not just one
- was interested in many things to do with money, not just one
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3. a zero-sum game
In a zero-sum game, any gains made by one player will
- be greater than their losses
- increase the sum in the game
- equal the losses of another
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4. against all odds | against all the odds
Harry was born into a very poor family, but against all odds he became
- a very poor adult
- a very rich man
- a really nice guy
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5. back to square one
The team decided to go back to square one after they
- qualified for the tournament
- failed to qualify
- won the tournament
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6. behind the eight ball
The report is due tomorrow morning, and Nayomi is behind the eight ball because
- her computer crashed and she can't print it
- she's still waiting for a few pages to print
- it's after 8 o'clock and she isn't asleep yet
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7. dressed (up) to the nines
We were all dressed to the nines because we were
- going to a wedding
- going to play golf
- going to the beach
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8. forty winks
I'll sometimes have forty winks if
- I see a pretty girl
- I get something in my eye
- I feel a bit sleepy
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9. have second thoughts
Sid and Nancy were going to get married, and then Nancy had second thoughts so
- they decided to wait
- they're getting married sooner
- they're getting a divorce
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10. I owe you one!
Johnny was very grateful and said "Man, I really owe you one!" after I'd
- saved his drowning son
- passed him the salt
- opened the door for him
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