Idioms Quiz: Music

This quiz tests you on music idioms.

1. a jam session

We're going to have a jam session later on, so don't forget to bring

a. your bread and butter

b. your saxophone

c. your tennis racket

2. blow your own horn | blow your own trumpet

Georgina says she finds it difficult to blow her own horn because she is

a. a very shy person

b. not very musical

c. very proud of herself

3. change your tune

The prime minister wasn't polite to journalists at first, but he changed his tune when he realised

a. they had a lot of influence

b. they didn't get paid much

c. they were only doing their job

4. face the music

James will have to face the music when he

a. goes to a concert

b. goes to hospital

c. goes to court

5. for a song

I thought I was getting the gems for a song, but I was actually

a. paying too much

b. paying less than usual

c. meant to dance as well

6. make a song and dance about something

The staff in our company are making a song and dance about

a. how bored their receptionist seems

b. how short the new security guard is

c. how bad the coffee in the canteen is

7. music to your ears

The accused man said it was music to his ears when the judge said

a. guilty

b. not guilty

c. life without parole

8. play it by ear

Once they get into the studio, the band are going to play it by ear and

a. record all their old songs

b. see what they come up with

c. do whatever the producer tells them to do

9. pull out all the stops

Indira's family were very proud and they pulled out all the stops to make sure her wedding was

a. as spectacular as possible

b. as cheap as possible

c. as secret as possible

10. ring a bell

When I heard the poem, some of the lines rang a bell and

a. some of them beat a drum

b. sounded very beautiful

c. I thought I'd heard it somewhere before

NB: you can also print this quiz on paper.

1. a jam session - We're going to have a jam session later on, so don't forget to bring: a) your bread and butter b) your saxophone c) your tennis racket

2. blow your own horn | blow your own trumpet - Georgina says she finds it difficult to blow her own horn because she is: a) a very shy person b) not very musical c) very proud of herself

3. change your tune - The prime minister wasn't polite to journalists at first, but he changed his tune when he realised: a) they had a lot of influence b) they didn't get paid much c) they were only doing their job

4. face the music - James will have to face the music when he: a) goes to a concert b) goes to hospital c) goes to court

5. for a song - I thought I was getting the gems for a song, but I was actually: a) paying too much b) paying less than usual c) meant to dance as well

6. make a song and dance about something - The staff in our company are making a song and dance about: a) how bored their receptionist seems b) how short the new security guard is c) how bad the coffee in the canteen is

7. music to your ears - The accused man said it was music to his ears when the judge said: a) guilty b) not guilty c) life without parole

8. play it by ear - Once they get into the studio, the band are going to play it by ear and: a) record all their old songs b) see what they come up with c) do whatever the producer tells them to do

9. pull out all the stops - Indira's family were very proud and they pulled out all the stops to make sure her wedding was: a) as spectacular as possible b) as cheap as possible c) as secret as possible

10. ring a bell - When I heard the poem, some of the lines rang a bell and: a) some of them beat a drum b) sounded very beautiful c) I thought I'd heard it somewhere before

Contributor: Matt Errey