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English Quiz - Metaphors (Questions)

11-Plus English - Study of Metaphors and Word Comparisons

A metaphor is a word or phrase that is used to describe a person or object and in so doing makes an understood comparison; unfortunately, this 'understood' comparison is not always easy to understand. For example, 'Her sunny face was a pleasing sight'. Her face couldn't literally (in real) be sunny. By comparing it with the sun, we understand that she was a pleasant person. Technically speaking, metaphors are figures of speech.

You may think that metaphors are not important to learn or understand. However, in everyday life metaphors are used extensively and so it's handy to familiarise yourself with them. You could always make up your own metaphors too and see if they catch on!

Do this 11-plus English quiz and see if you can find the meaning of the metaphors.

1. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
He's the apple of her eye.
[ ] He's like an apple
[ ] She would like to eat him because he looks like an apple
[ ] She adores him
[ ] She thinks he is evil
2. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
He lived his life in the fast lane.
[ ] He lived in a car which he always drove fast
[ ] He's a racing driver
[ ] He drives fast
[ ] He lived a life full of excitement and activity
3. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
She has half-baked ideas and nothing more.
[ ] Her ideas are not thought out enough
[ ] She likes cooking, but she isn't very good at it
[ ] She doesn't bake very well
[ ] She cooks better than she bakes
4. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
Mary tried to pull the wool over my eyes.
[ ] Mary tries to pull his woollen cap over his eyes
[ ] Mary tried to cover his eyes with wool
[ ] Mary is teasing him
[ ] Mary tried to deceive him
5. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
These children are rug rats.
[ ] The children are playing at being rats on the rug
[ ] The children can't walk yet
[ ] The children spend a lot of time sitting on rugs
[ ] The children are like rats
6. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
Peter is all thumbs; he just spilt my drink.
[ ] Peter has no fingers - only two thumbs
[ ] Peter is clumsy
[ ] Peter only uses his thumbs to pick things up
[ ] Peter knocked the drink over with his thumb
7. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
Andrew has decided to turn over a new leaf this year.
[ ] Andrew turned over a new page in his book
[ ] Andrew changed his behaviour for the better
[ ] Andrew changed his behaviour for the worse
[ ] Andrew turned over a leaf that had just fallen from a tree
8. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
My name is mud ever since I caused all that trouble at school.
[ ] He has been shamed
[ ] He has changed his name to mud
[ ] He likes mud because he behaves badly
[ ] Mud is his nickname
9. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
My boyfriend showered me with gifts.
[ ] Her boyfriend made her take a shower with his gifts
[ ] Her boyfriend threw gifts at her
[ ] Her boyfriend gave her endless loads of gifts
[ ] Her boyfriend took a shower with her gifts
10. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
'Necessity is the mother of invention.'
[ ] Someone's mother is a good inventor
[ ] Someone's mother has to invent something
[ ] Mothers are good inventors
[ ] If you really want to do something very much, you will think of a way to do it
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English Quiz - Metaphors (Answers)
1. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
He's the apple of her eye.
[ ] He's like an apple
[ ] She would like to eat him because he looks like an apple
[x] She adores him
[ ] She thinks he is evil
Perhaps she won't eat him
2. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
He lived his life in the fast lane.
[ ] He lived in a car which he always drove fast
[ ] He's a racing driver
[ ] He drives fast
[x] He lived a life full of excitement and activity
And often danger!
3. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
She has half-baked ideas and nothing more.
[x] Her ideas are not thought out enough
[ ] She likes cooking, but she isn't very good at it
[ ] She doesn't bake very well
[ ] She cooks better than she bakes
Half baked food is as bad as half baked ideas
4. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
Mary tried to pull the wool over my eyes.
[ ] Mary tries to pull his woollen cap over his eyes
[ ] Mary tried to cover his eyes with wool
[ ] Mary is teasing him
[x] Mary tried to deceive him
She tried to trick him
5. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
These children are rug rats.
[ ] The children are playing at being rats on the rug
[x] The children can't walk yet
[ ] The children spend a lot of time sitting on rugs
[ ] The children are like rats
This is an American/Canadian metaphor
6. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
Peter is all thumbs; he just spilt my drink.
[ ] Peter has no fingers - only two thumbs
[x] Peter is clumsy
[ ] Peter only uses his thumbs to pick things up
[ ] Peter knocked the drink over with his thumb
He's very clumsy: you'd think all his fingers are thumbs
7. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
Andrew has decided to turn over a new leaf this year.
[ ] Andrew turned over a new page in his book
[x] Andrew changed his behaviour for the better
[ ] Andrew changed his behaviour for the worse
[ ] Andrew turned over a leaf that had just fallen from a tree
You turn over a new leaf for the better
8. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
My name is mud ever since I caused all that trouble at school.
[x] He has been shamed
[ ] He has changed his name to mud
[ ] He likes mud because he behaves badly
[ ] Mud is his nickname
Mud is not considered good - if your name is mud, you had better start improving your behaviour
9. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
My boyfriend showered me with gifts.
[ ] Her boyfriend made her take a shower with his gifts
[ ] Her boyfriend threw gifts at her
[x] Her boyfriend gave her endless loads of gifts
[ ] Her boyfriend took a shower with her gifts
Think of a water shower
10. Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.
'Necessity is the mother of invention.'
[ ] Someone's mother is a good inventor
[ ] Someone's mother has to invent something
[ ] Mothers are good inventors
[x] If you really want to do something very much, you will think of a way to do it
Learn this metaphor - it's used quite a bit!