This is a continuation of my Idioms and Sayings exercise series, which I started last month. As a reminder, I’ve put together a list of 45 interesting, popular sayings which I’m putting into 3 short exercises, with the third one to come soon. Check the first exercise for a more in depth introduction to idioms and sayings!

Idioms, Sayings and Proverbs Exercise 2

This is a simple exercise to try and get you thinking creatively about idioms and sayings. Below are 15 idioms and sayings, with example sentences. Can you guess their meanings? You may know the answers to some of these, but if not try and consider the possible message of the saying, then consider its purpose in the example sentence.

1. Always put your best foot forward

Be rested and eager when you start your new job; remember to always put your best foot forward!

2. It’s a piece of cake

I did very well in the English exam – it was a piece of cake!

3. A stitch in time saves nine

Shelly took her car to the mechanics the moment it made a strange noise, well aware that a stitch in time saves nine.

4. Calm before the storm

Our manager was obviously disappointed by the meeting, but he was strangely quiet as we all left. We could tell is was just the calm before the storm.

5. The ball is in your court

I’ve sent over the documents for you to check and sign – the ball’s in your court now!

6. Still waters run deep

You could see still waters ran deep with Rufus; he never said much, but he wrote the most interesting essays.

7. Get out of hand

The party was already rather chaotic, but things really got out of hand when the rabbits escaped.

8. Better safe than sorry

Please check if you turned off the oven before we go; better safe than sorry!

9. Don’t put your eggs in one basket

Hilary decided to apply to six different schools, rather than put all her eggs in one basket.

10. There are plenty of other fish in the sea

Lily was upset that her first date went badly, but her friends reminded her there were plenty of other fish in the sea.

11. Pull someone’s leg

I don’t believe you caught a fish that big; you’re pulling my leg!

12. Call it a day

With everyone tired, we decided to finish painting the bedroom tomorrow, and called it a day at 6pm.

13. There is method to the madness

Lucas studies from three different textbooks at a time, but there must be method to his madness, as he always does well in tests.

14. A blessing in disguise

The train arrived late, but it had stopped raining by then, so the delay was a blessing in disguise.

15. Easy come, easy go

I found a £5 note on the floor, but needed to use it to pay for extra parking – easy come, easy go!

Answers (Idiom and Saying Definitions)

Below are suggested definitions for the idioms and sayings; you may find some are slightly nuanced, and can carry extra meaning depending on how people use them. These ones don’t have much shorter forms, except that you can expect to see them without adverbials or definers (e.g. no “always”, “there is/it is”).

Always put your best foot forward: start doing something with your best effort
It’s a piece of cake: it is very easy
A stitch in time saves nine: doing something early leads to less work later
Calm before the storm: a period of unusual quiet that may indicate something bad is coming
The ball is in your court: you are expected to act next/take responsibility
Still waters run deep: something calm can have hidden depths (e.g. a quiet person may be very thoughtful)
Get out of hand: become unmanageable
Better safe than sorry: it is better to be too cautious than risk causing a problem
Don’t put your eggs in one basket: do not rely on thing; it is good to have alternative options
There are plenty of other fish in the sea: there are lots of other options (usually used to mean do not waste time worrying over one lost opportunity, particularly for relationships)
Pull someone’s leg: to trick someone
Call it a day: decide to finish what you are doing, either temporarily or completely
There is method to the madness: something that seems chaotic actually has a rational explanation
A blessing in disguise: something that seemed bad has a hidden positive point
Easy come, easy go: something that is easily obtained can be easily lost (and this might be expected)