Idioms Worksheet: 12 Common Idioms With Pictures and Answers
This free idioms worksheet teaches 12 common English idioms, like piece of cake, break the ice and under the weather. It has a picture for each idiom, four exercises (matching, fill in the blank, "what does it mean?" and speaking questions) and an answer key. It is made for adult learners at level A2 to B1. Print it for your class, or choose "Save as PDF" in the print window to keep a PDF copy.
Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses
The 12 idioms, with pictures and meanings
An idiom is a group of words with a meaning that is different from the meaning of each word. "It's a piece of cake" is not about cake: it means "it is very easy." Look at each picture first and guess the meaning. Then read the meaning and the example.
1. Piece of cake
Meaning: Very easy.
The test was a piece of cake. I finished in ten minutes.
2. Break the ice
Meaning: To say or do something that helps people relax when they first meet.
Our new manager told a funny story to break the ice at the first meeting.
3. Under the weather
Meaning: A little sick.
I feel a bit under the weather today, so I'll work from home.
4. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: To cost a lot of money.
I love this car, but it costs an arm and a leg.
5. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Almost never.
We eat at a restaurant once in a blue moon.
6. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working for today.
We worked for ten hours. Let's call it a day.
7. Hit the road
Meaning: To leave and start a trip.
It's a long drive to Chicago. Let's hit the road at six.
8. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To tell a secret by mistake.
Tom let the cat out of the bag about Anna's surprise party.
9. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work or study late at night.
I burned the midnight oil to finish my report.
10. In the same boat
Meaning: In the same bad situation as other people.
Our boss wants the project by Friday. We're all in the same boat.
11. On cloud nine
Meaning: Very, very happy.
She passed her driving test. She is on cloud nine!
12. The ball is in your court
Meaning: Now it is your turn to decide or to act.
I sent you my best price. Now the ball is in your court.
The printable idioms worksheet
Students do the exercises alone or in pairs. Exercise 1 uses all 12 idioms. Exercises 2 and 3 use them in real‑life sentences. Exercise 4 is for speaking. The answers are below the worksheet.
Idioms worksheet: 12 common idioms
Name: Date:
1. Match the idiom to its meaning
Write the letter of the meaning next to each idiom. Use each letter one time.
- 1.piece of cake
- 2.break the ice
- 3.under the weather
- 4.cost an arm and a leg
- 5.once in a blue moon
- 6.call it a day
- 7.hit the road
- 8.let the cat out of the bag
- 9.burn the midnight oil
- 10.in the same boat
- 11.on cloud nine
- 12.the ball is in your court
- Almost never.
- To tell a secret by mistake.
- Very easy.
- Now it is your turn to decide or to act.
- A little sick.
- To work or study late at night.
- Very, very happy.
- To stop working for today.
- To cost a lot of money.
- In the same bad situation as other people.
- To leave and start a trip.
- To say or do something that helps people relax when they first meet.
2. Fill in the blank
Choose an idiom from the box for each sentence. Use each idiom one time.
Idioms: break the ice | call it a day | cost an arm and a leg | in the same boat | on cloud nine | once in a blue moon | piece of cake | under the weather
- The new manager told a funny story at the first meeting to __________.
- I'm sorry, I can't come to work today. I feel a little __________.
- We started at seven this morning. Let's __________ and go home.
- The repair on my car __________. It was two thousand dollars!
- My cousin lives far away, so I only see her __________.
- I was worried about the driving test, but it was a __________.
- Nobody at the office got a raise this year, so we are all __________.
- She got the job she wanted, and now she is __________.
3. What does it mean?
Read what each person says, and circle the best answer: a, b or c.
"It's six in the morning, and we have a long drive. Let's hit the road." What does the speaker want to do?
- a) Leave now and start the trip.
- b) Fix the road.
- c) Stop the car.
"Tom let the cat out of the bag. Now Maria knows about her surprise party." What did Tom do?
- a) He lost his cat.
- b) He told the secret by mistake.
- c) He planned the party.
"I have an exam tomorrow, so I will burn the midnight oil tonight." What will the speaker do tonight?
- a) Cook a late dinner.
- b) Study late at night.
- c) Go to bed early.
"I sent you my best price. The ball is in your court." What does the speaker mean?
- a) Let's play tennis.
- b) I will decide later.
- c) Now it is your turn to decide.
"Rent in this part of the city costs an arm and a leg." What is rent like there?
- a) Cheap.
- b) Fair.
- c) Very expensive.
"My brother calls me once in a blue moon." How often does he call?
- a) Every day.
- b) Almost never.
- c) Only at night.
4. Talk about it
Ask a partner these questions. Answer with full sentences, and use the idiom in your answer.
- When was the last time you felt under the weather? What did you do?
- What is a piece of cake for you, but hard for other people?
- What is something in your city that costs an arm and a leg?
- What do you do once in a blue moon?
- When did you last burn the midnight oil? Why?
- What is a good way to break the ice with new coworkers?
The answers: idioms worksheet
Exercise 1: 1‑c, 2‑l, 3‑e, 4‑i, 5‑a, 6‑h, 7‑k, 8‑b, 9‑f, 10‑j, 11‑g, 12‑d
Exercise 2: 1. break the ice; 2. under the weather; 3. call it a day; 4. cost an arm and a leg; 5. once in a blue moon; 6. piece of cake; 7. in the same boat; 8. on cloud nine
Exercise 3: 1‑a, 2‑b, 3‑b, 4‑c, 5‑c, 6‑b
Exercise 4: Answers will vary. Check that students use the idiom in a full sentence, for example: "I felt under the weather last week, so I stayed home."
Play it in class: Idiom Rush
Idiom Rush is our free emoji quiz game. Each question shows a few emojis, and players choose the idiom from 4 answers. Fast answers get more points. After the game, players see a picture of each idiom, what it means and an example. It works on a projector, a computer or a phone, and nobody needs to sign up.
- Put one level on the projector. The 12 idioms on this worksheet are in the Weather, Time, Work and six other levels.
- Play in teams. Each team agrees on an answer before the timer ends, and one student says it. You tap the answer.
- After the level, open "See what you learned" and ask each team to make a new sentence with one of the idioms.
▶ Play the Weather idioms level
Idiom Rush: break the ice, under the weather and 3 more
The other levels with idioms from this worksheet: Food, Money, Time, Travel, Animals, Work, Feelings, Sports.
How to use this worksheet in a 45‑minute class
- Warm‑up (5 minutes). Show the picture for "on cloud nine" and ask: "How does she feel? Why is she on a cloud?" Let students guess before you say the meaning.
- The idiom cards (10 minutes). Go through the 12 cards. Students guess each meaning from the picture, then you read the meaning and the example.
- Exercises 1 to 3 (15 minutes). Students work alone, then check with a partner. Check the answers together with the answer key.
- Idiom Rush (10 minutes). Play one or two levels in teams on the projector.
- Talk about it (5 minutes). Pairs ask the questions in Exercise 4. Each student tells the class one answer from a partner.
With adult learners, the real‑life sentences matter most. Ask: "Where could you use this idiom this week: at work, at the doctor or with friends?" Idioms like under the weather and call it a day are common at work in the US.
For a complete lesson on real‑life English, see our free ESL lesson plans for adults. For speaking practice, try these ESL conversation questions for adults.
Questions about this idioms worksheet
What is an idioms worksheet?
An idioms worksheet is a page of exercises that helps students learn idioms. This one has 12 common idioms with pictures, a matching exercise, a fill in the blank exercise, a "what does it mean" exercise, speaking questions and an answer key.
What are some common idioms for ESL students?
Good first idioms are piece of cake, break the ice, under the weather, cost an arm and a leg, once in a blue moon, call it a day, hit the road and on cloud nine. People use them often in everyday American English.
Where are the answers to this idioms worksheet?
The answer key is right below the worksheet on this page. You can print it on its own with the "Print the answer key" button.
Can I get this idioms worksheet as a PDF?
Yes. Click "Print the worksheet" and choose "Save as PDF" in the print window. Do the same for the answer key and the idiom cards.
How do you teach idioms to adult learners?
Start with a picture and let students guess the meaning. Then give the real meaning and a sentence from adult life, like work, money or health. Ask students to use the idiom in their own sentence, and review it a few days later with a game.
How many idioms should I teach in one lesson?
For most A2 and B1 classes, 5 to 12 idioms is enough for one lesson. This worksheet has 12, so you can also split it into two shorter lessons.
How can students practice idioms after the worksheet?
They can play Idiom Rush, our free emoji quiz game. Each level has 5 idioms, and after the game players see a picture, the meaning and an example for each one.
More idioms on our site: English idioms, idiom examples from A to Z, a guide to idiomatic expressions and how to teach idioms in 4 steps.
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