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Idioms: common comparisons and reactions

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Understand each item before testing yourself. Choose honestly whether it already feels familiar or needs practice.

1 of 10Expression

a dime a dozen

very common and easy to find

Example

Cheap souvenirs like these are a dime a dozen near the station.

Use ten common idioms for simple comparisons, reactions, health, warnings, and unlikely events.

a dime a dozen
Expression
very common and easy to find
Cheap souvenirs like these are a dime a dozen near the station.
easy as pie
Phrase
very easy to do
Once you know the steps, the recipe is easy as pie.
fit as a fiddle
Expression
healthy and full of energy
After a few weeks of rest, she felt fit as a fiddle again.
no pain, no gain
Expression
effort and discomfort are often necessary to make progress
Training is difficult, but no pain, no gain.
quick as a cat
Expression
very fast and responsive
The goalkeeper was quick as a cat and stopped the shot.
needle in a haystack
Expression
something extremely difficult to find
Finding that tiny part in this warehouse is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
a penny for your thoughts
Expression
a friendly way to ask what someone is thinking
You have been quiet all morning—a penny for your thoughts?
kick the bucket
Phrase
die (a very informal expression)
The phrase kick the bucket is a very informal way to say that someone died.
when pigs fly
Phrase
used to say that something will never happen
He says he will clean his room when pigs fly.
cry wolf
Phrase
give a false warning so often that people stop believing you
If you cry wolf too often, people may ignore a real warning.