Idioms and Phrases Questions with Answer :
Directions :
In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase in bold.
1. the green-eyed monster strikes a woman the moment she sees her husband talking to another pretty woman.
(1) anger
(2) hatred
(3) envy
(4) jealousy
2. He and his friend are sailing in the same boat.
(1) sailing together in the same boat
(2) sharing the financial and social condition
(3) being in the same difficult situation
(4) getting rid of the difficult situation
3. at one’s wit’s end
(1) to understand thoroughly
(2) to be puzzled
(3) to be a stupid person
(4) to behave irrationally
4. The man changed colours when I questioned him on the allocation of funds.
(1) got numbed
(2) turned happy
(3) got motivated
(4) turned pale
5. He expects his subordinates to be always at his beck and call
(1) at rest
(2) at work
(3) at his disposal
(4) at their desks
6. His work seems to be a Penelope’s web.
(1) endless
(2) difficult
(3) declining
(4) in his best form
7. an axe to grind
(1) attack aggressively
(2) suffer a lot
(3) betray somebody
(4) have a selfish interest
8. The population of our country is increasing by leaps and bounds.
(1) very slowly
(2) very quickly
(3) irregularly
(4) very systematically
9. to weigh up the pros and cons is to
(1) measure the ingredient
(2) observe etiquette
(3) consider all facts
(4) postpone action
10. To play fast and loose
(1) To be narrow minded
(2) To play a good game
(3) To act in an unreliable way
(4) To defeat a person
11. There is no love lost between any two neighbouring countries in the world.
(1) stop loving
(2) not on good terms
(3) forming a group
(4) have good understanding
12. There is no soft option to the crisis now.
(1) popular opinion
(2) popular solution
(3) easy and agreeable option
(4) difficult choice
13. You have to read between the lines to understand most of the symbolic writing.
(1) read again and again
(2) understand the hidden meaning
(3) know the symbols
(4) look for many meanings
14. He made a few statements, but all were wide off the mark.
(1) irrelevant
(2) crucial
(3) important
(4) unreasonable
15. In the securities scam, the national credibility was at stake.
(1) on trial
(2) under pressure
(3) in danger
(4) challenged
16. If people do not mend their ways, they are sure to go to the dogs.
(1) to fight
(2) to be ruined
(3) to be united
(4) to be rough
17. Our house is within a stone’s throw from the Red Building.
(1) far off
(2) far away
(3) very near to
(4) beside
18. wet behind the ears
(1) skillful
(2) young and rich with experience
(3) young and without much experience
(4) hearing impaired
19. The day I graduated was a red letter day for me.
(1) a dangerous day
(2) an important day
(3) an eventful day
(4) a formidable day
20. grease the palm
(1) dirty one’s hands
(2) work in a garage
(3) slip and fall
(4) bribe
21. The teacher announced that she had no blue-eyed boys in the class.
(1) royal children
(2) young boys
(3) foreigners
(4) favourites
22. a little gush of gratitude
(1) gradual recovery
(2) friendly feeling
(3) excessive labour
(4) excessive enthusiasm
23. He was confident that all his present sufferings will soon blow over.
(1) increase
(2) pass off
(3) be looked into
(4) be taken care of
24. I did not give in to his request.
(1) approve
(2) like
(3) permit
(4) yield
25. The lawyer asked his assistant to collect the details regarding the pros and cons of the case.
(1) ups and downs
(2) in and out
(3) weak and strong
(4) for and against
