Idioms and Phrases

The idiom 'to blaze a trail' means to be the first to do something or create a new path for others to follow. Option D correctly captures this sense of pioneering or initiating something new. The other options incorrectly focus on literal meanings (fire) or unrelated emotions.

'To bite one's lips' is a physical action that represents holding back strong emotions, especially anger or frustration. Option A correctly identifies this meaning, though there is a minor spelling error ('supress' should be 'suppress').

The idiom 'within an ace of' means extremely close to something happening, almost succeeding or failing by a very small margin. 'Narrowly' (Option D) correctly captures this sense of barely missing or achieving something. The phrase originates from cards, where an ace is the smallest margin.

'To beggar description' means something is so extraordinary, remarkable, or overwhelming that it cannot be adequately described in words. Option C correctly captures this meaning. The word 'beggar' here means 'to exhaust the resources of' or 'to be beyond', not related to a poor person.

'At cross purposes' means having conflicting goals, intentions, or understandings, leading to miscommunication or opposition. Option A correctly identifies this - doing things differently and often contrarily, which leads to disagreement. The phrase suggests two parties working against each other without realizing it.

'To plough the sands' means to engage in futile work that cannot produce any useful result, similar to 'til at windmills'. Option C correctly captures this sense of wasted effort on something that cannot succeed. The image is of farming work done on sand where nothing can grow.

 'Music to ears' means very good news.

'To keep a weather eye open' means to remain watchful, alert, and attentive to potential dangers or changes. Option C correctly identifies this meaning of being watchful to avoid trouble. The phrase originates from sailing, where sailors had to watch weather conditions carefully.

'To shuffle the deck' means to change the existing order, rearrange things, or alter one's approach to achieve different results. Option A ('change the policy') is the closest match, suggesting a fundamental change in approach. The idiom comes from card games where shuffling creates new arrangements and possibilities.

'A hot ticket' refers to something that is highly popular, in-demand, and difficult to obtain. Option B correctly identifies this as a popular item. The phrase suggests excitement and high demand, like tickets to a sought-after event. It has nothing to do with temperature, emergencies, or being new.

'The icing on the cake' means an additional benefit or advantage that makes a good situation even better. Option A correctly completes the sentence - getting a great salary at a dream company is already good, so getting both is 'the icing on the cake'. The idiom refers to the decorative frosting on a cake that enhances an already good thing.

'At sea' means confused, perplexed, or uncertain about what to do. Option A correctly completes the sentence - being uncertain about future plans matches this idiom. The phrase comes from being lost at sea without navigation, representing a state of confusion and lack of direction.

'To jump down someone's throat' means to criticize or attack someone verbally in an aggressive, sudden manner. Option D correctly completes the sentence. The idiom suggests an immediate, harsh verbal response, often overreacting to something someone said. The other options are incorrect variations.

The correct answer is A because 'took a poke' is an idiom that means to mock, tease, or make fun of someone. The sentence context describes the boys' reaction to Rivera's stammering habit, which fits this idiomatic expression for teasing someone. The other options are incomplete or grammatically incorrect constructions.

The correct answer is A because 'blew his top' is a common idiom meaning to lose one's temper or become extremely angry. In the context of coming home late at night, this is the appropriate expression for a parent's angry reaction. The other options ('blew his hat', 'blew his anger', 'blew his back') are not standard English idioms.