A.

Complete each idiom on the left with the correct animal word (write the correct
number next to each picture). Then match the idioms to their definitions on the
right (write the correct letter in each box).
1 to take the . by a to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could
the horns cause an even more difficult situation

2 to do the . work b to talk and think a lot about something

3 to flog a dead . c to do the hard boring part of a job or task

4 to keep the from the d to have more important or more interesting things to do
door
5 to let sleeping .s lie e to face a difficult or dangerous situation directly and with
courage

6 to let the . out of the f to do something badly; to make a mess of something

bag
7 to smell a . g to have enough money to avoid going hungry

8 to have other/bigger h to reveal a secret

.. to fry
9 to have a in your i to waste your effort by trying to do something that is no
bonnet longer possible

10 to make a s ear of j to sense that something is wrong about a situation

something

B. Complete the sentences with the correct animal idiom from exercise A (write the
verbs in the correct form).
1. As a student, he took an evening job to
....
2. He keeps trying to get it published but I think he
.....
3. He .... that bookcase he was
supposed to be making.
4. I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to
.....
5. Our teacher .... about punctuation.
6. She decided to .. and try to solve the
problem without any further delay.
7. She ....whenaroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/
her husband came
 A. Complete each idiom on the left with the correct animal word (write the correct
number next to each picture). Then match the idioms to their definitions on the
right (write the correct letter in each box).
1 to take the . by a to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could
the horns cause an even more difficult situation

2 to do the . work b to talk and think a lot about something

3 to flog a dead . c to do the hard boring part of a job or task

4 to keep the from the d to have more important or more interesting things to do
door
5 to let sleeping .s lie e to face a difficult or dangerous situation directly and with
courage

6 to let the . out of the f to do something badly; to make a mess of something

bag
7 to smell a . g to have enough money to avoid going hungry

8 to have other/bigger h to reveal a secret

.. to fry
9 to have a in your i to waste your effort by trying to do something that is no
bonnet longer possible

10 to make a s ear of j to sense that something is wrong about a situation

something

B. Complete the sentences with the correct animal idiom from exercise A (write the
verbs in the correct form).
1. As a student, he took an evening job to
....
2. He keeps trying to get it published but I think he
.....
3. He .... that bookcase he was supposed
to be making.
4. I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to
.....
5. Our teacher .... about punctuation.
6. She decided to .. and try to solve the
problem without any further delay.
7. She ....when aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/
her husband came home
Answer Key
A. Complete each idiom on the left with the correct animal word (write the correct
number next to each picture). Then match the idioms to their definitions on the
right (write the correct letter in each box).
1 to take the bull by the a to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could
e cause an even more difficult situation
horns
2 to do the donkey work c b to talk and think a lot about something

3 to flog a dead horse i c to do the hard boring part of a job or task

4 to keep the wolf from the door g d to have more important or more interesting things to do

5 to let sleeping dogs lie e to face a difficult or dangerous situation directly and with
a
courage

6 to let the cat out of the bag h f to do something badly; to make a mess of something

7 to smell a rat j g to have enough money to avoid going hungry

8 to have other/bigger fish to h to reveal a secret

d
fry
9 to have a bee in your b i to waste your effort by trying to do something that is no
bonnet longer possible

10 to make a pigs ear of something f j to sense that something is wrong about a situation

7 6 3 1 9
0

1 8 5 4 2

B. Complete the sentences with the correct animal idiom from exercise A (write the
verbs in the correct form).
1. As a student, he took an evening job to keep the wolf from the door.
2. He keeps trying to get it published but I think hes flogging a dead horse.
3. He has made a pigs ear of that bookcase he was supposed to be making.
4. I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to let sleeping dogs lie.
5. Our teacher has a bee in his bonnet about punctuation.
6. She decided to take the bull by the horns and try to solve the problem without any
further delay.
7. She smelled a rat when her husband came home with lipstick on his collar.
8. We wanted the party to be a surprise, but he let the cat out of the bag.
9. We'll have to address that problem tomorrow. Right now we have other/bigger fish to
fry.
aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/
I have used the following websites:

http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/

http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/

http://www.clker.com/

http://www.free-clipart.net/

http://www.free-clipart-pictures.net/

http://www.wpclipart.com/

http://www1.flamingtext.com/