Choose the best option to complete each of the following sentences.
1. After six months of convalescence in a nursing home, Simon is finally on the
.
Explanation
Correct Answer: mend
The idiom on the mend means to be recovering health after an illness or injury.
The idiom on the mend means to be recovering health after an illness or injury.
2. There’s been a slight improvement in his health, but he’s not out of the
yet.
Explanation
Correct Answer: woods
To be out of the woods means to be no longer in danger or facing a very difficult situation.
To be out of the woods means to be no longer in danger or facing a very difficult situation.
3. Let me stay at home this morning, please. I’m feeling rather under the
, so I won’t be of great use in the office.
Explanation
Correct Answer: weather
The idiom under the weather means feeling slightly ill or not as well as usual.
The idiom under the weather means feeling slightly ill or not as well as usual.
4. He’s feeling a bit off
today, so he won’t join us.
Explanation
Correct Answer: colour
The idiom off colour (mainly British English) means to feel slightly ill or unwell.
The idiom off colour (mainly British English) means to feel slightly ill or unwell.
5. He’s no spring
, but he’s still fit enough to run five miles a day.
Explanation
Correct Answer: chicken
No spring chicken is a humorous way to say that someone is no longer young.
No spring chicken is a humorous way to say that someone is no longer young.
6. Though he’s a bit tired, he’ll be full of
after a nap.
Explanation
Correct Answer: beans
To be full of beans means to have a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
To be full of beans means to have a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
7. I’ve been in the
all week and need a break.
Explanation
Correct Answer: grind
The phrase the daily grind or being in the grind refers to difficult, tiring, and repetitive work.
The phrase the daily grind or being in the grind refers to difficult, tiring, and repetitive work.
8. He was so tired that he hit the
the moment he got home.
Explanation
Correct Answer: sack
To hit the sack is an informal way to say go to bed.
To hit the sack is an informal way to say go to bed.
9. His campaign started strong, but it quickly ran out of
due to lack of funding.
Explanation
Correct Answer: steam
To run out of steam means to suddenly lose the energy or interest to continue doing something.
To run out of steam means to suddenly lose the energy or interest to continue doing something.
10. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will help you stay as fit as a
.
Explanation
Correct Answer: fiddle
The idiom as fit as a fiddle means to be very healthy and physically fit.
The idiom as fit as a fiddle means to be very healthy and physically fit.
11. It took her a long time to get back on her
after the serious accident.
Explanation
Correct Answer: feet
To get back on your feet means to be healthy or successful again after a period of illness or trouble.
To get back on your feet means to be healthy or successful again after a period of illness or trouble.
12. After a long period of hospitalization, the athlete was finally given a clean
of health.
Explanation
Correct Answer: bill
A clean bill of health is a report or statement that someone is healthy or that something is in good condition.
A clean bill of health is a report or statement that someone is healthy or that something is in good condition.
13. You look a bit
around the gills after the trip. Maybe you should sit down and drink some water.
Explanation
Correct Answer: green
To be green around the gills means to look ill, pale, or as if you are going to vomit (often from motion sickness).
To be green around the gills means to look ill, pale, or as if you are going to vomit (often from motion sickness).
14. My grandmother has been a
to rheumatism for over twenty years, but she never complains.
Explanation
Correct Answer: martyr
To be a martyr to something means to suffer very much or frequently from a specific illness or pain.
To be a martyr to something means to suffer very much or frequently from a specific illness or pain.
15. I think I’ll stay home tonight; I’m not a
and might be coming down with a cold.
Explanation
Correct Answer: hundred percent
To be not a hundred percent means to not feel completely well or healthy.
To be not a hundred percent means to not feel completely well or healthy.
16. Severe food poisoning
him low for nearly a week, making him unable to go to work.
Explanation
Correct Answer: laid
To lay someone low means to force someone to stay in bed because of an illness.
To lay someone low means to force someone to stay in bed because of an illness.