IDIOMS COURT INTERPRETERS EXAM SCRIPT
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
◉ AT (ONE'S) WITS' END. Answer: at a loss about what to do next; in
a state of frustration
◉ AT THE DROP OF A HAT. Answer: on any pretext; without needing
an excuse or reason
◉ AT THE END OF (ONE'S) ROPE. Answer: no longer able to deal
with a bad situation
◉ AX TO GRIND. Answer: a hidden reason for wanting something or
for not liking someone or something
◉ BACK TO SQUARE ONE, GO. Answer: return to the beginning
◉ BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, GO. Answer: return to the
planning stage of a project.
◉ BACK TO THE WALL, HAVE (ONE'S). Answer: to be in a difficult or
desperate situation
,◉ BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT. Answer: a criticism that is phrased
in such a way that it appears to be a compliment
◉ BAD BLOOD. Answer: negative or ill feelings
◉ BARK UP THE WRONG TREE. Answer: to misdirect one's efforts or
argument
◉ BATS IN (ONE'S) BELFRY, HAVE. Answer: harmlessly crazy or
eccentric
◉ BEAT A DEAD HORSE. Answer: to argue or pursue a point or topic
without the possibility of success
◉ BEAT A HASTY RETREAT. Answer: to run very fast in the opposite
direction
◉ BEAT ABOUT/AROUND THE BUSH. Answer: to speak or write
evasively; to talk around an issue
◉ BEAT (SOMEONE) TO THE PUNCH. Answer: to do something
before someone else does it
◉ BEAT THE BUSHES. Answer: to search exhaustively
, ◉ BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL. Answer: in a difficult situation or
position
◉ hit BELOW THE BELT. Answer: to act unfairly
◉ BEND sOMEONE''s EAR. Answer: to talk to someone for a long
time
◉ BESIDE ONESELF. Answer: distraught; very anxious and troubled
◉ BESIDE THE POINT. Answer: irrelevant
◉ bet one's boots. Answer: to be sure
◉ bet one's bottom dollar. Answer: to be sure
◉ BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. Answer: facing two
difficult outcomes for the same situation
◉ BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA. Answer: facing
two difficult outcomes for the same situation
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
◉ AT (ONE'S) WITS' END. Answer: at a loss about what to do next; in
a state of frustration
◉ AT THE DROP OF A HAT. Answer: on any pretext; without needing
an excuse or reason
◉ AT THE END OF (ONE'S) ROPE. Answer: no longer able to deal
with a bad situation
◉ AX TO GRIND. Answer: a hidden reason for wanting something or
for not liking someone or something
◉ BACK TO SQUARE ONE, GO. Answer: return to the beginning
◉ BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, GO. Answer: return to the
planning stage of a project.
◉ BACK TO THE WALL, HAVE (ONE'S). Answer: to be in a difficult or
desperate situation
,◉ BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT. Answer: a criticism that is phrased
in such a way that it appears to be a compliment
◉ BAD BLOOD. Answer: negative or ill feelings
◉ BARK UP THE WRONG TREE. Answer: to misdirect one's efforts or
argument
◉ BATS IN (ONE'S) BELFRY, HAVE. Answer: harmlessly crazy or
eccentric
◉ BEAT A DEAD HORSE. Answer: to argue or pursue a point or topic
without the possibility of success
◉ BEAT A HASTY RETREAT. Answer: to run very fast in the opposite
direction
◉ BEAT ABOUT/AROUND THE BUSH. Answer: to speak or write
evasively; to talk around an issue
◉ BEAT (SOMEONE) TO THE PUNCH. Answer: to do something
before someone else does it
◉ BEAT THE BUSHES. Answer: to search exhaustively
, ◉ BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL. Answer: in a difficult situation or
position
◉ hit BELOW THE BELT. Answer: to act unfairly
◉ BEND sOMEONE''s EAR. Answer: to talk to someone for a long
time
◉ BESIDE ONESELF. Answer: distraught; very anxious and troubled
◉ BESIDE THE POINT. Answer: irrelevant
◉ bet one's boots. Answer: to be sure
◉ bet one's bottom dollar. Answer: to be sure
◉ BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. Answer: facing two
difficult outcomes for the same situation
◉ BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA. Answer: facing
two difficult outcomes for the same situation
