ARTICLES WITH IDIOMS EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
B1–B2 · IntermediateArticles in English idioms are fixed — they are part of the set phrase and cannot always be predicted by the standard rules. This first exercise introduces the most common patterns, from expressions with the to those that take zero article.
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Choose the correct article (a, an, the) or no article to complete each idiomatic expression.
1. I'm not doing anything important. I'm just killing _________________ time.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — kill time is a fixed idiom — no article before time in this expression.
2. We had fun. = We had _________________ great time.
Correct answer: a — have a great time is the fixed expression — a is always used here.
3. He made a lot of money. = He made _________________ killing.
Correct answer: a — make a killing = make a lot of money — fixed idiom with the indefinite article.
4. They were racing against _________________ clock to finish the project.
Correct answer: the — against the clock = racing under time pressure — fixed idiom with the.
5. If someone is clumsy, you can say he/she is "all _________________ thumbs".
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — all thumbs is a fixed expression — no article used.
6. Why do you always have to stir up ( = cause) _________________ trouble?
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — stir up trouble is a fixed expression — trouble is uncountable and takes no article here.
7. Keep _________________ eye on him and make sure he doesn't steal anything.
Correct answer: an — keep an eye on = watch carefully — fixed idiom with the indefinite article.
8. A "jack-of-all-_________________-trades" is someone who knows how to do a lot of different things.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — jack-of-all-trades is a fixed compound idiom — no article inside the expression.
9. We have only begun to scratch _________________ surface. = We have only begun to find out about something.
Correct answer: the — scratch the surface = deal with only a small part — fixed idiom with the.
10. I will never set _________________ foot in your house again!
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — set foot is a fixed idiom — no article before foot in this expression.
Next exercise: Articles with Idioms – Exercise 2 →
Grammar review
Articles in fixed expressions and idioms
Many English idioms and set phrases include an article as a fixed part of the expression. These can’t be predicted by the usual article rules — you simply need to learn the whole phrase as a unit.
Fixed expressions with a:
as a rule, at a glance, in a hurry, once in a while, make a difference, take a look, have a good time, give someone a hand, it’s a pity, what a shame
Fixed expressions with the:
on the other hand, in the long run, under the circumstances, get the better of, for the time being, in the meantime, read between the lines
Fixed expressions with no article:
by accident, on purpose, at home, in bed, go to school/work, at night, by car/bus/train, face to face, hand in hand
Strategy: When you encounter an unfamiliar idiom, don’t try to apply the standard article rules — the article is part of the fixed form. The best approach is to treat each idiom as a complete unit and learn the article along with it.
Many English idioms and set phrases include an article as a fixed part of the expression. These can’t be predicted by the usual article rules — you simply need to learn the whole phrase as a unit.
Fixed expressions with a:
as a rule, at a glance, in a hurry, once in a while, make a difference, take a look, have a good time, give someone a hand, it’s a pity, what a shame
Fixed expressions with the:
on the other hand, in the long run, under the circumstances, get the better of, for the time being, in the meantime, read between the lines
Fixed expressions with no article:
by accident, on purpose, at home, in bed, go to school/work, at night, by car/bus/train, face to face, hand in hand
Strategy: When you encounter an unfamiliar idiom, don’t try to apply the standard article rules — the article is part of the fixed form. The best approach is to treat each idiom as a complete unit and learn the article along with it.
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