Idioms Quiz: Numbers 1

This quiz tests you on numbers idioms.

1. a ballpark figure | a ballpark estimate

She gave us a ballpark figure for the cost because she

a. didn't know the exact amount

b. knew how much a ballpark cost

c. wanted to tell us the exact amount

2. a one-track mind

Roberto said he didn't have a one-track mind. He said he

a. could speak two languages, not just one

b. thought about many things, not just one

c. was interested in many things to do with money, not just one

3. against all odds | against all the odds

Harry was born into a very poor family, but against all odds he became

a. a very poor adult

b. a very rich man

c. a really nice guy

4. back to square one

The team decided to go back to square one after they

a. qualified for the tournament

b. failed to qualify

c. won the tournament

5. behind the eight ball

The report is due tomorrow morning, and Nayomi is behind the eight ball because

a. her computer crashed and she can't print it

b. she's still waiting for a few pages to print

c. it's after 8 o'clock and she isn't asleep yet

6. dressed (up) to the nines

We were all dressed to the nines because we were

a. going to a wedding

b. going to play golf

c. going to the beach

7. forty winks

I'll sometimes have forty winks if

a. I see a pretty girl

b. I get something in my eye

c. I feel a bit sleepy

8. have second thoughts

Sid and Nancy were going to get married, and then Nancy had second thoughts so

a. they decided to wait

b. they're getting married sooner

c. they're getting a divorce

9. I owe you one!

Johnny was very grateful and said "Man, I really owe you one!" after I'd

a. saved his drowning son

b. passed him the salt

c. opened the door for him

10. zero-sum game

In a zero-sum game, any gains made by one player will

a. be greater than their losses

b. increase the sum in the game

c. equal the losses of another

NB: you can also print this quiz on paper.

1. a ballpark figure | a ballpark estimate - She gave us a ballpark figure for the cost because she: a) didn't know the exact amount b) knew how much a ballpark cost c) wanted to tell us the exact amount

2. a one-track mind - Roberto said he didn't have a one-track mind. He said he: a) could speak two languages, not just one b) thought about many things, not just one c) was interested in many things to do with money, not just one

3. against all odds | against all the odds - Harry was born into a very poor family, but against all odds he became: a) a very poor adult b) a very rich man c) a really nice guy

4. back to square one - The team decided to go back to square one after they: a) qualified for the tournament b) failed to qualify c) won the tournament

5. behind the eight ball - The report is due tomorrow morning, and Nayomi is behind the eight ball because: a) her computer crashed and she can't print it b) she's still waiting for a few pages to print c) it's after 8 o'clock and she isn't asleep yet

6. dressed (up) to the nines - We were all dressed to the nines because we were: a) going to a wedding b) going to play golf c) going to the beach

7. forty winks - I'll sometimes have forty winks if: a) I see a pretty girl b) I get something in my eye c) I feel a bit sleepy

8. have second thoughts - Sid and Nancy were going to get married, and then Nancy had second thoughts so: a) they decided to wait b) they're getting married sooner c) they're getting a divorce

9. I owe you one! - Johnny was very grateful and said "Man, I really owe you one!" after I'd: a) saved his drowning son b) passed him the salt c) opened the door for him

10. zero-sum game - In a zero-sum game, any gains made by one player will: a) be greater than their losses b) increase the sum in the game c) equal the losses of another

Contributor: Matt Errey