Test Your Phrase Knowledge!

You may be familiar with these words used in common phrases, but when it comes to spelling them, you may be in dire straights (or is it straits?). Test your knowledge with our quiz!

by Richard Lederer Updated: March 25, 2021

<section><h2><h2 class="ql-align-center"><strong>Phrase Quiz!</strong></h2></h2><p><p>These phrases may be as familiar as your old stamping (or is it stomping?) grounds, but when it comes to spelling them, you may be in dire straights (or is it straits?). In each phrase that follows in our quiz, choose the preferred spelling. Can you get a perfect score?</p></p></section><section><h2><h2><strong>Anchors…</strong></h2></h2></section><section><h3><h2><strong>“Just grin and ____ it!”</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>He was very qualified and a definite _____ in for the job.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>She entered the fourth day of the tournament as the only female ___ player.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Her reaction didn’t really _____ him.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Mary really has a _____ for acting.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>That was a delicious and _____ winter soup!</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>The government imposed _____ to stop the rioting.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>To prove his ______, Bob slept in the haunted house.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>The first chapter of the book really ____ her interest.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Joe _____ his brain to remember the right answer to the question.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>When the babysitter is there, the kids have free ____ over the house.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>The card trick is a perfect example of “____ of hand.”</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Reading that book is every graduate student’s ____ of passage.</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h2><h2><strong>Less than 60% Right – Try Again!</strong></h2></h2></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Barely Passed This One</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Not Bad – Got Most Right!</strong></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Perfect Score!</strong></h2></h3></section>

Richard Lederer

Richard Lederer is a writer, speaker, and teacher best known for his books on word play and the English language and is a regular contributor to the Farmers' Almanac. You can visit his web site at Verbivore.