Idiom Quiz

"Once in a blue moon" means something that happens very rarely.
A "blue moon" is the second full moon in a calendar month, which is less frequent but still occurs every few years.

"Beat around the bush" means avoiding the main topic, often to delay or dodge a direct answer.
It originates from medieval hunting practices. In these hunts, people would beat the area around bushes with sticks to flush out animals hiding underneath into the open.

"Costs an arm and a leg" means something is very expensive.

To "spill the beans" means to reveal secret information unintentionally or prematurely.
It is believed to stem from ancient Greek voting methods. In these practices, secret ballots were cast by placing beans in a container. If the container was spilled, the secret votes were revealed prematurely, leading to the phrase "spill the beans".

If you are "under the weather," it means you're feeling ill or unwell.
The phrase is widely believed to be tied to maritime life, as sailors would often retreat below deck when feeling sick.

To "break the ice" means to initiate conversation in a way that eases tension or awkwardness.

"Cut to the chase" means to get straight to the main point without unnecessary details.

"Letting the cat out of the bag" means accidentally revealing a secret.

"Hit the sack" is an informal way of saying to go to bed or sleep.
It originates from the late 1800s and early 1900s in America, when mattresses were often made of large sacks filled with hay or straw. "Hitting the sack" meant literally getting into bed to sleep, as the "sack" was a common form of bedding at the time.

The idiom "throw in the towel" comes from boxing, where it signals surrender. It means to give up or stop trying.