Idioms and Phrases

'Pin-money' traditionally refers to a small sum of money set aside for minor personal expenses, historically for women to buy small items like pins or other personal trifles. It is not bribery (which is illegal), compensation (which is payment for work), or alimony (which is spousal support after divorce). The term dates to when pins were expensive household items.

'A chip off the old block' means someone who closely resembles their parent or ancestor in character or behavior, like a piece of wood broken from a larger block being identical in material. It does not mean a piece of seasoned wood (A), an old friend (B), or a good bargain (D). The idiom is about inherited traits and family resemblance.

 The idiom means to quarrel over trivial issues or trifles.

The idiom 'to draw a bead upon' means to aim at something carefully and deliberately, like using the bead sight on a rifle or gun. It can refer to literally taking aim at a target, or figuratively focusing attention on someone with intent to confront or criticize them.

The idiom 'to get into a scrape' means to find oneself in a difficult, troublesome, or awkward situation. A 'scrape' in this context refers to a predicament or tight spot, not literally scratching or scraping something. It suggests getting into trouble through one's own actions.

It means to begin the day feeling unhappy and uncomfortable ... so, option 3 is the correct answer.

The idiom 'salt of the earth' refers to people who are fundamentally decent, honest, reliable, and worthy of respect - the backbone of society. The phrase comes from the Bible (Matthew 5:13) where salt represents value and preservation. It describes people of excellent character and humility.

The idiom 'back to the salt mine' means returning to work, especially after a pleasant break or holiday. It playfully compares work to the difficult labor in salt mines, implying resignation about returning to one's regular routine or job. It's often used humorously rather than expressing genuine misery.

The idiom 'a pretty penny' or 'cost a pretty penny' means something is expensive or costs a lot of money. The 'pretty' here means considerable or substantial, not attractive. The watch appeared costly to the wife - meaning it seemed like a significant expense.

The idiom 'no spring chicken' means someone is no longer young, typically used about older people. It comes from the idea that spring chickens are young and tender. The sentence contrasts Jessica's mother's continued activity with her advanced age - she's energetic despite being elderly.

The idiom 'warmed the cockles of my heart' means something gave you great pleasure, joy, or touched you emotionally. The 'cockles' are chambers of the heart, and the phrase suggests something that deeply gladdened or comforted you. A Swiss vacation brought the speaker great happiness.

The idiom 'none of someone's beeswax' means something is not their business or concern - it's a playful variation of 'none of someone's business'. The sentence states that the speaker's personal decisions are private matters that don't concern others. However, there's a grammatical issue - it should be 'others' beeswax' (possessive plural), not 'other's'.

The phrase 'goods and chattels' is a legal term referring to all of someone's personal property and possessions. 'Goods' are movable property, and 'chattels' is a legal term for personal property. Margaret left with all her belongings and possessions.

It means to live on very little money, often in order to save up for something.