Important Idioms and Phrases Questions :
Directions :
In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
1. The mother always insists on keeping the house spick and span.
(1) locked
(2) safe
(3) tidy
(4) open
2. The clerk turned a deaf ear to his officer’s advice.
(1) disputed
(2) paid attention to
(3) disregarded
(4) acknowledged gratefully
3. We cannot depend on him for this assignment as it needs careful handling and he is like a bull in a China shop.
(1) a clumsy person
(2) a tactful person
(3) a nonsense person
(4) a felicitous person
4. The ruling party has been warned not to play to the gallery.
(1) to give importance to the common man
(2) to try to be clever
(3) to seek to win approval
(4) to side-track the issue
5. The prices are going up by leaps and bounds.
(1) gradually
(2) irregularly
(3) rapidly
(4) systematically
6. The teacher advised the students to take into account the advice given by the elders.
(1) to obey
(2) to neglect
(3) to consider
(4) to reject
7. In the last few years, India has advanced by leaps and bounds in Industrial sector.
(1) very pathetically
(2) very slowly
(3) very rapidly
(4) very competently
8. to fall back on
(1) to oppose something important
(2) to suffer an injury on the back in an accident
(3) to fail to do something important in time
(4) to seek support out of necessity
9. The whole problem has been swept under the carpet, but that is not the solution.
(1) kept hidden
(2) ignored
(3) solved
(4) detected
10. The teacher’s extra hours of coaching went a long way in improving the student’s performance.
(1) took great effort
(2) spent a lot of time
(3) extended widely
(4) helped considerably
11. I take my hat off to all those who donate blood regularly.
(1) congratulate
(2) welcome
(3) admire
(4) encourage
12. The students were advised to pore over the lessons thoroughly.
(1) go through
(2) go down
(3) go off
(4) go out
13. You better learn to toe the line to avoid consequences.
(1) to be indifferent to rules
(2) to disobey rule
(3) to follow the lead
(4) to make your own rules
14. At the police station, he showed a clean pair of heels.
(1) ran away
(2) displayed clean heels
(3) kneeled down
(4) showed courage
15. It is bad to try to fish in troubled waters.
(1) make a profit out of a disturbance
(2) go for fishing and cause trouble
(3) fish in hot weather
(4) catch fish in disturbed waters
16. To clip one’s wings
(1) to stop one from flying
(2) to trim the leaves
(3) to deprive one of power
(4) to hurt a bird
17. How did you break the ice in the party ?
(1) shatter peace
(2) cause harm
(3) break free
(4) initiate something
18. Every dark cloud has a silver lining
(1) Every unpleasant situation has to wait
(2) Every unpleasant situation has a positive side
(3) Every dark cloud is upsetting
(4) Cloud with dark and silver lining is good
19. He is known for blowing his own trumpet.
(1) clattering
(2) shouting
(3) clamouring
(4) boasting
20. The President gave away the prizes to the winners.
(1) let go
(2) released
(3) gave back
(4) distributed
21. He took a leap in the dark with his latest investment in stocks.
(1) took a risk
(2) was hesitant
(3) was confused
(4) was cocksure
22. a gentleman at large
(1) a man in the crowd
(2) a man without a job
(3) a man who runs around
(4) a man who is generous
23. He is leaving the USA for good.
(1) urgently
(2) permanently
(3) temporarily
(4) immediately
24. In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/ Phrase. Run out of steam
(1) To lose impetus or enthusiasm
(2) To work quickly like a machine
(3) To give up easily
(4) no more money to spend
25. Many politicians in India are not fit to hold a candle to Mahatma Gandhi.
(1) superior
(2) equal
(3) inferior
(4) indifferent
