Quiz-Tree

Idioms by Theme

What do animals, colors, body parts, and food all have in common in English? Each one hides inside a whole family of common idioms you will hear every day.

Common English Idioms by Theme

This topic sorts everyday idioms into themes, so you learn a set of related phrases together instead of one at a time. One quiz fills every blank with an animal, as in let the cat out of the bag (give away a secret) or calling a fast reader a bookworm. Others group idioms by color, body part, food, money, numbers, and time, with the body-part set covering phrases like cost an arm and a leg (be very expensive).

There are also themed sets for moods, with one quiz full of phrases for being upset or angry and another for being happy and upbeat. Pitched at an intermediate level, they suit learners ready to move past textbook sentences. Learning idioms in groups like this makes them easier to remember, because each phrase reminds you of the others in its set.

Did You Know?

Idioms love to play tricks with numbers. A baker's dozen does not mean twelve at all but thirteen, a leftover from the days when bakers added an extra item so they were never caught selling short.

Colors can flip meaning from one phrase to the next, too. Getting the green light (permission to go ahead) is a good thing, but being green with envy (jealous) certainly is not.

How the Idiom Quizzes Work

Each quiz is quick, about five minutes, and you can revisit any of the 11 quizzes whenever you want to refresh a theme. Practicing a whole category in one sitting helps the phrases stick far better than meeting them at random. Curious which theme is your favorite? Browse the free interactive English quizzes and pick the set that catches your eye.

1. Animal Idioms

This 9-question quiz is a fun way to practice common English idioms, where every missing word is an animal. You read a sentence with a gap and fill it in, like Miggy asked his friends not to let the ___ out of the bag. or Gary is a ___. He reads 6 books in a week., so it is great for learners picking up everyday expressions. What makes idioms tricky is that the words rarely mean what they literally say, so guessing the animal is really about knowing the phrase as a whole. It is a relaxed set that pairs well with conversation practice. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 76% (everyone)

2. Body Part Idioms

Here is a 12-question idiom quiz where the missing word in each sentence is a part of the body. You complete lines like Shannon can't afford to buy a car. It costs an ___ and a leg. and Can you give me a ___ with these boxes?, which makes it handy for learners who want to sound more natural in English. The fun of these phrases is how far they stray from their literal meaning, so an arm or a hand in an idiom usually has nothing to do with the actual body part. It pairs nicely with speaking practice once you have the basics down. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 86% (everyone)

3. Color Idioms

This 10-question quiz puts a colorful spin on English idioms, with a color filling every blank. You finish sentences such as Her father gave her the ___ light to move into a new apartment. and Denver is considered the ___ sheep of the family., so it is a lively way to learn common expressions. Something neat here is that the same color can carry very different feelings depending on the phrase, so it pays to learn each idiom on its own rather than by the color alone. It is a good match for learners building toward everyday conversation. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 85% (everyone)

13. Food Idioms

This 12-question quiz serves up English idioms where every missing word is a kind of food. You fill in sentences like Jacob is a couch ___. He sits in front of the TV all day long. and Watching horror movies is not her cup of ___., so it is a tasty way to pick up common phrases. These expressions are a great example of how idioms hide their meaning, since the food word usually has nothing to do with eating at all. It works well alongside conversation practice for intermediate learners. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 78% (everyone)

14. Health Idioms

This short 7-question quiz focuses on English idioms connected to health and the body's condition. You complete sentences such as The baby is sleeping safe and ___ on the bed. and Dr. Miller gave Andy a clean bill of ___., so it is a quick, friendly bit of practice. As with most idioms, the trick is that the phrases do not mean what the words say, so being as sick as a certain animal is just a colorful way to say very sick. Being on the shorter side, it makes an easy warm-up before a longer set. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 77% (everyone)

15. Love Idioms

This 11-question quiz gathers up English idioms about love, romance, and marriage. You fill in gaps in lines like Their marriage is a match made in ___. and When will James pop the ___?, so it is a sweet way to practice expressions you will actually hear. What is interesting is how many everyday phrases about relationships are idioms in disguise, from getting engaged to a marriage going through a rough patch. It fits learners who are ready to move past textbook sentences into real conversation. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 80% (everyone)

20. Money Idioms

This 12-question quiz gathers English idioms that all have to do with money, spending, and being rich or broke. You fill in the missing word in sentences like Buying a new flat TV at half the price won't break the ___. and Jayson hit the ___ when he won the lottery last night., so it is useful for talking about everyday finances. One thing you will notice is how many ways English has to say something is cheap or expensive, from dirt cheap to costing a fortune. It works well for learners building toward natural conversation. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 74% (everyone)

21. Idioms for Bad Moods

This 9-question quiz collects English idioms used when someone is upset, angry, or down. You finish each sentence with the right word, in lines such as Stop teasing her. She is at her wit's ___. and Wilson hit the ___ when he saw his son's grades., so it is good for describing bad moods. What makes these fun is that English has so many colorful ways to show frustration, like hitting the ceiling or throwing cold water on a plan. Being on the shorter side, it makes a quick and focused bit of practice. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 79% (everyone)

22. Number Idioms

This 11-question quiz brings together English idioms that all contain a number. You fill the gap in sentences like Michelle just got promoted. She is in ___ heaven right now. and Susie sometimes feels like the ___ wheel in the department., so it is a fun way to spot how numbers sneak into everyday speech. Here is a surprising one: a baker's dozen does not mean twelve at all but thirteen, a leftover from when bakers added an extra loaf to be safe. It fits learners ready to move past basic phrases. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 90% (everyone)

23. Idioms for Good Moods

This 11-question quiz is all about English idioms for being happy, cheerful, or having a great time. You complete each line, with prompts like Barbara graduated from Harvard University with ___ colors. and Margaret was over the ___ when she heard the good news., so it is a cheerful set to work through. What stands out is just how many ways English has to say someone is delighted, from being on cloud nine to grinning from ear to ear. It is a good match for learners adding everyday expression to their speaking. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 86% (everyone)

24. Time Idioms

This 10-question quiz focuses on English idioms that deal with time. You fill in the missing word in sentences such as Jackson arrived at the train station in the ___ of time. and The radio station plays music around the ___., so it is handy for talking about schedules and timing. A nice detail is how these phrases stretch time in different directions, from the wee hours of the night to living to a ripe old age. It suits learners comfortable with the basics who want to sound more natural. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 86% (everyone)