Choose the best option to complete each of the following sentences.
1. He made a killing on the stock market – really laughing all the way to the
.
Explanation
Correct Answer: bank
The idiom laughing all the way to the bank means to earn a lot of money very easily and be very happy about it.
The idiom laughing all the way to the bank means to earn a lot of money very easily and be very happy about it.
2. The thief was caught
with the money.
Explanation
Correct Answer: red-handed
The phrase caught red-handed means to be caught in the act of doing something wrong or illegal.
The phrase caught red-handed means to be caught in the act of doing something wrong or illegal.
3. The politician was caught with his
in the till.
Explanation
Correct Answer: hand
The idiom hand in the till refers to someone stealing money from the place where they work.
The idiom hand in the till refers to someone stealing money from the place where they work.
4. We must tighten our
if we want to save enough for a holiday.
Explanation
Correct Answer: belts
To tighten one’s belt means to try to spend less money than usual because you have less money available.
To tighten one’s belt means to try to spend less money than usual because you have less money available.
5. Their arguments always revolve around money matters, and this time they really went at it hammer and
.
Explanation
Correct Answer: tongs
The idiom go at it hammer and tongs means to argue or fight with a lot of energy and noise.
The idiom go at it hammer and tongs means to argue or fight with a lot of energy and noise.
6. You shouldn’t put all your eggs in one
when investing your money.
Explanation
Correct Answer: basket
To put all your eggs in one basket means to depend entirely on one plan or one person for success, which is risky.
To put all your eggs in one basket means to depend entirely on one plan or one person for success, which is risky.
7. He keeps buying things he doesn’t need — money burns a hole in his
.
Explanation
Correct Answer: pocket
The idiom money burns a hole in your pocket is used to describe someone who wants to spend money as soon as they get it.
The idiom money burns a hole in your pocket is used to describe someone who wants to spend money as soon as they get it.
8. They live from hand to
and have no savings.
Explanation
Correct Answer: mouth
To live from hand to mouth means to have only just enough money to buy food and basic needs, with nothing left over.
To live from hand to mouth means to have only just enough money to buy food and basic needs, with nothing left over.
9. He isn’t interested in building a long-term career here; he’s just trying to make a fast
.
Explanation
Correct Answer: buck
To make a fast buck means to earn money quickly and easily, often in a way that is not completely honest.
To make a fast buck means to earn money quickly and easily, often in a way that is not completely honest.
10. After years of saving, they finally bought their dream house — it was a labor of
.
Explanation
Correct Answer: love
A labor of love is a piece of work that you do because you enjoy it or care about it, rather than for money.
A labor of love is a piece of work that you do because you enjoy it or care about it, rather than for money.
11. They had to cut
and cancel two projects to stay within the budget.
Explanation
Correct Answer: corners
To cut corners means to do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often by ignoring rules or reducing quality.
To cut corners means to do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often by ignoring rules or reducing quality.
12. They’ve got a lot of money, but they don’t exactly shout it from the
.
Explanation
Correct Answer: rooftops
To shout something from the rooftops means to share news or information publicly so that everyone knows about it.
To shout something from the rooftops means to share news or information publicly so that everyone knows about it.
13. Their online business took off instantly; they were making money hand over
within just a few months.
Explanation
Correct Answer: fist
The idiom make money hand over fist describes earning a large amount of money very quickly.
The idiom make money hand over fist describes earning a large amount of money very quickly.