These WAEC questions on Idioms are all from its sub-topics in the WAEC ENGLISH SYLLABUS.
We have also covered each Idioms sub-topic with detailed explanation in our WAEC English lesson online.
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WAEC Idiom questions
Attempt each question before checking its correct answer and explanation.
Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
WAEC English 2011 (26)
1. All the handsome men left her cold. This means that _____
A. she needed to wear warm clothes
B. the men took notice of her
C. she was not impressed by them
D. she felt sad and lonely
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
To leave someone cold” means to fail to impress or make an emotional connection with someone.
WAEC English 2011 (29)
2. Femi spends precious time building castles in the air. This means that Femi _____
A. wants to build castles
B. thinks of impracticable things
C. is a designer of castles
D. has made a lot of money
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
“To build castles in the air” means to spend time on unrealistic or impractical plans.
WAEC English 2012 (22)
3. The driver escaped death by a hair's breadth. This means that the driver escaped death _____
A. fast
B. luckily
C. surprisingly
D. narrowly
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
“By a hair’s breadth” means a very narrow or close escape.
WAEC English 2012 (25)
4. The account of the incident is true to a degree. This means that the account is _____
A. totally wrong
B. not clear
C. completely true
D. partly true
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
“True to a degree” means accurate but not entirely (partial truth).
WAEC English 2012 (27)
5. They vowed to win the race by hook or by crook. This means that they vowed to win by _____
A. peaceful negotiations
B. any possible means
C. bribing the other competitors
D. being honest
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
“By hook or by crook” means to use any method (whether fair or foul) to achieve a goal. It refers to any means, not just bribery.
WAEC English 2012 (28)
6. Williams spent the first three months learning the ropes. This means that he _____
A. pulled all the ropes that should be pulled
B. learnt what the job demanded
C. knew what to do
D. was unwilling to learn
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
“Learn the ropes” means to learn the basics or specifics of a job or task.
WAEC English 2012 (29)
7. Our teacher advised us not to go with the crowd. This means that he advised us not to _____
A. stay too much in the crowd
B. travel with the crowd
C. have many friends
D. be unduly influenced by others
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
“Go with the crowd” means to follow popular opinion or behaviour without independent thought.
WAEC English 2010 (23)
8. Musa does not believe that there is poverty in Africa, he is a dyed-in-the-wool capitalist. This means that he is _____
A. a kind capitalist
B. a thoughtful capitalist
C. an old capitalist
D. an unbending capitalist
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
“Dyed-in-the-wool” refers to someone who is firmly committed to their beliefs or opinions.
WAEC English 2010 (24)
9. Whenever my cousin comes to realize that I'm telling the truth, she will eat humble pie. This means that she will _____
A. respect me
B. hate herself
C. apologize
D. be ashamed
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
“Eat humble pie” means to humbly admit your error or wrongdoing, often with an apology.
WAEC English 2010 (25)
10. I had dinner with Tony and Nick and they talked shop the whole time. This means that they talked _____
A. about buying things from the shop
B. about their jobs
C. all the time
D. about taking me to the shop
SEE EXPLANATION ✅
“To talk shop” means to discuss business matters or work-related topics.
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