English Verbal Ability-Idioms

Newcastle was historically famous for coal mining, so bringing coal there would be completely pointless and unnecessary. This idiom describes doing something that's redundant or serving no purpose.

To raise Cain means to cause trouble. So, the mischievous boys caused a lot of trouble at the party.

A 'barrel of laughs' refers to someone who is consistently entertaining, amusing, and full of humor. This idiom describes a person who is always making jokes and keeping others amused through their witty personality.

A 'scrape' literally means a difficult or troublesome situation. The idiom 'to get into a scrape' means finding oneself in a challenging predicament or awkward situation, typically through one's own actions or decisions.

The idiom 'to split hairs' means making unnecessary, overly fine distinctions or arguing about trivial details. However, this version uses 'split hours' which is a variation meaning to waste time in overly refined or pedantic arguments rather than focusing on what matters.

'To beat the pants off' is an informal expression meaning to defeat someone completely and decisively. In the context of cricket, it means the Indian team overwhelmingly defeated the Pakistan team in a match.

'Gravy' metaphorically represents easy money, extra profit, or benefits that come without much effort. After paying creditors, whatever remains is pure profit or 'gravy' - money that can be enjoyed or spent freely.

'To cook one's goose' means to ruin one's chances, cause one's own downfall, or spoil one's prospects through foolish actions. Investing all money recklessly in the share market would certainly destroy someone's financial future.

The idiom 'turn up one's nose' refers to the physical gesture of raising one's nose in disdain, indicating that someone looks down on something or treats it with contempt and scorn. Option C correctly captures this meaning of showing disdain or treating something as beneath consideration.

The idiom 'take a hike' is an informal expression meaning to leave immediately, often used when dismissing someone or telling them to go away. In this context, the manager telling his clerk to 'take a hike' would mean telling them to leave or be fired. Option A correctly identifies this common idiom.

The idiom 'take a leaf out of his book' means to imitate or copy someone's behavior, approach, or example. It comes from the idea of taking a page from someone's book to replicate their methods. Option B 'copy someone' correctly captures the essential meaning, though it's less idiomatic than the original expression.

The idiom 'turn the corner' means to pass through a difficult situation or crisis and begin to improve or recover. It suggests reaching a turning point where things start getting better after a challenging period. Option C 'to pass the crisis' correctly identifies this meaning of overcoming a difficult phase.

The idiom 'the die is cast' comes from Julius Caesar's famous words 'alea iacta est' meaning the decision has been made and cannot be undone - it refers to an irrevocable decision or action that cannot be changed. Option B 'decision can't be changed' correctly captures this meaning of finality and irreversibility.

The idiom 'a different kettle of fish' means something completely different or distinct from what was previously discussed or expected - it emphasizes contrast and uniqueness. Option A 'not the same' correctly captures this meaning of being fundamentally different from others.