Fill in the blanks to form an idiom about adversity, challenges, and failure. The idioms used in this exercise are listed after the practice activity. It may be a good idea to study the list of idioms before trying the exercise.
Also see the Idioms Builder for practice with hundreds of idioms (including the idioms in this exercise).
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- Answered
- Review
- Question 1 of 35
1. Question
1. It’s obvious Ken is having trouble planning a party for 50 people. He’s definitely in over his _____.
Correct
Incorrect
head
- Question 2 of 35
2. Question
2. I’ve never been the type of person who throws in the _____ when things get tough. I’m not a quitter.
Correct
Incorrect
towel
- Question 3 of 35
3. Question
3. Our fundraising goal was $500,000. Unfortunately, we came up _____ and only raised $410,000.
Correct
Incorrect
short
- Question 4 of 35
4. Question
4. I don’t know how they didn’t realize that the plan wouldn’t work. It had disaster _____ all over it.
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Incorrect
written
- Question 5 of 35
5. Question
5. In the 2000’s, video rental stores tried to compete against online platforms, but they were fighting a _____ battle.
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Incorrect
losing
- Question 6 of 35
6. Question
6. My wife and I have been married for 25 years. We’ve been together through thick and _____.
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Incorrect
thin
- Question 7 of 35
7. Question
7. Our Social Security system is unsustainable. The only way to fix it is by taking the bull by the _____ and making some unpopular changes.
Correct
Incorrect
horns
- Question 8 of 35
8. Question
8. Yesterday’s market activity generated a lot of confidence, but many experts say we’re not out of the _____ yet.
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woods
- Question 9 of 35
9. Question
9. I have three reports that I need to submit by tomorrow morning. I really have my _____ cut out for me.
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work
- Question 10 of 35
10. Question
10. His legal fees are high, but he’s one of the few people who can help us. We’re just going to have to bite the _____ and pay him.
Correct
Incorrect
bullet
- Question 11 of 35
11. Question
11. We need a leader who will be decisive and courageous when the chips are _____.
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Incorrect
down
- Question 12 of 35
12. Question
12. It’s a competitive, dog-eat _____ environment in this industry.
Correct
Incorrect
dog
- Question 13 of 35
13. Question
13. Failing the certification test was a _____ pill to swallow for Lionel.
Correct
Incorrect
bitter
- Question 14 of 35
14. Question
14. Rejection and criticism are part of the business. You need to roll with the _____ and not let the negativity affect you.
Correct
Incorrect
punches
- Question 15 of 35
15. Question
15. Everyone in the room was determined to succeed. Their do-or- ______ attitude was infectious.
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Incorrect
die
- Question 16 of 35
16. Question
16. It’s too risky of an investment. I think you’re _____ with fire.
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Incorrect
playing
- Question 17 of 35
17. Question
17. We failed spectacularly. All our plans _____ up in our faces.
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Incorrect
blew
- Question 18 of 35
18. Question
18. We’ve worked 60 hours a week for the last seven months. We can see the _____ at the end of the tunnel, though. We should be finished by the end of next month.
Correct
Incorrect
light
- Question 19 of 35
19. Question
19. They didn’t like the proposal we put together. It looks like it’s back to the _____ board.
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Incorrect
drawing
- Question 20 of 35
20. Question
20. Don says he has so many clients that he can’t concentrate on all of them. He feels like he’s spreading himself too _____.
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Incorrect
thin
- Question 21 of 35
21. Question
21. The regulations have really shaken up the industry. Only companies that can weather the _____ will survive.
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Incorrect
storm
- Question 22 of 35
22. Question
22. Continuing down this path isn’t going to work. We need to _____ our losses and try another approach.
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Incorrect
cut
- Question 23 of 35
23. Question
23. Mike never lets criticism and setbacks affect him. He takes everything _____ stride.
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Incorrect
in
- Question 24 of 35
24. Question
24. It’s not about how you react when things are going well. It’s about how you react when your back’s against the _____.
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Incorrect
wall
- Question 25 of 35
25. Question
25. I’m finally going to go on vacation to Europe this year. Come hell or high _____, I’m going.
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Incorrect
water
- Question 26 of 35
26. Question
26. I learned English by spending a year in Australia. Not learning the language wasn’t an option. It was sink or _____.
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Incorrect
swim
- Question 27 of 35
27. Question
27. We’re going to have to nip this in the _____ or it’s going to become a much bigger problem.
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Incorrect
bud
- Question 28 of 35
28. Question
28. I stuck my ____ out when I recommended you for the position. You can’t resign after only two months.
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Incorrect
neck
- Question 29 of 35
29. Question
29. Neither solution appeals to me. I’m stuck between a rock and a _____ place.
Correct
Incorrect
hard
- Question 30 of 35
30. Question
30. Calvin’s resignation put us in a tight _____. It was hard to find a suitable replacement.
Correct
Incorrect
spot
- Question 31 of 35
31. Question
31. When they investigated the police chief for corruption, it opened a can of _____.
Correct
Incorrect
worms
- Question 32 of 35
32. Question
32. I was feeling confident, but John’s criticism really took the wind out of my _____.
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Incorrect
sails
- Question 33 of 35
33. Question
33. If we fail to innovate and stay ahead of the curve, we’ll be dead in the _____.
Correct
Incorrect
water
- Question 34 of 35
34. Question
34. The new product _____ flat. Sales were terrible.
Correct
Incorrect
fell
- Question 35 of 35
35. Question
35. Let’s take advantage of this one-of-a-kind opportunity and not let it _____ through our fingers.
Correct
Incorrect
slip
Idioms about Adversity, Challenges, and Failure
back against the wall
Someone with their back against the wall is in a problematic situation with few ways to react.
back to the drawing board
To go back to the drawing board means to start over and go back to the planning stage.
bite the bullet
To bite the bullet means to do something unpleasant that needs to be done.
bitter pill to swallow
A bitter pill to swallow means something unpleasant that needs to be accepted.
blow up in one’s face
If something blows up in someone’s face, it means that something failed when success was expected.
come hell or high water
Come hell or high water means no matter what.
come up short
To come up short means to fail to achieve a goal.
cut one’s losses
To cut one’s losses means to stop a course of action that is not working.
dead in the water
Someone dead in the water is not able to function or operate.
do or die
A do-or-die situation requires a great effort to avoid the negative consequences of failure.
dog eat dog
Something dog eat dog is ultra competitive and ruthless.
fall flat
To fall flat means to fail.
fight a losing battle
To fight a losing battle means to fight an unwinnable fight.
have disaster written all over it
If something has disaster written all over it, it is obviously headed for complete failure.
have one’s work cut out
Someone who has their work cut out for them has a lot of work to do.
in a tight spot (also, in a bind, in a fix, in a jam)
Someone in a tight spot is in a difficult situation.
in over one’s head
Someone in over their head is in a difficult situation that they are incapable of handling.
let something slip through one’s fingers
To let something slip through one’s fingers means to fail to take advantage of an opportunity.
nip something in the bud
To nip something in the bud means to stop something at the onset before it develops and becomes a bigger problem.
open a can of worms
To open a can of worms means to create a situation that causes trouble.
out of the woods
Out of the woods means no longer in trouble.
play with fire
To play with fire means to do something risky or dangerous.
roll with the punches
To roll with the punches means to handle setbacks, unexpected situations, and adversity without getting frustrated.
see the light at the end of the tunnel
If someone can see the light at the end of the tunnel, they can see signs of a successful conclusion to a difficult situation.
sink or swim
Sink or swim refers to a situation in which someone will either fail or succeed without anyone else’s help.
spread oneself too thin
To spread oneself too thin means to take on so many responsibilities that they can’t be done properly.
stick one’s neck out
To stick one’s neck out means to put oneself at risk.
stuck between a rock and a hard place
Someone stuck between a rock and a hard place is facing a difficult decision in which neither choice is desirable.
take (something) in stride
Someone who takes something in stride deals with a setback, criticism, or negative situation without letting it affect or influence them.
take the bull by the horns
To take the bull by the horns means to directly confront a difficult situation and take action.
take/knock the wind out of one’s sails
To take/knock the wind out of one’s sails means to make someone lose optimism or confidence.
through thick and thin
Through thick and thin means in all circumstances, both good and bad.
throw in the towel
To throw in the towel means to quit.
weather the storm
To weather the storm means to successfully handle difficulties.
when the chips are down
When the chips are down refers to times when difficulty arises.
Also see the Idioms Builder for practice with hundreds of idioms (including the idioms in this exercise).