Idioms and Phrases

A baker's dozen refers to thirteen items. This tradition originated in medieval England when bakers would give thirteen items for the price of twelve to avoid penalties for selling underweight bread. The extra item ensured customers received the full amount they paid for, protecting bakers from accusations of short-selling.

To disabuse means to persuade someone that an idea or belief is mistaken. 'To disabuse one's mind' means to remove a false belief or misunderstanding from someone's thinking. Option B correctly captures this meaning of clearing up a misapprehension.

'To play fast and loose' means to behave irresponsibly, unreliably, or deceitfully. It originates from a cheating trick in games. The correct answer 'to play tricks' (D) captures the essence of deceptive, unreliable behavior rather than mere inconsistency or emotional manipulation.

'A bull in a china shop' is a classic metaphor for someone who is clumsy, careless, or rough in situations requiring delicacy and care. Just as a bull would cause destruction in a shop filled with fragile porcelain, this person damages things through their clumsy approach. Option D perfectly captures this meaning.

'To look down one's nose at someone' means to regard them with a sense of superiority, disdain, or contempt. The physical gesture of literally looking down one's nose suggests arrogance and scornful judgment. Option D 'to regard with half-hidden contempt' correctly captures this attitude of looking down on others.

'To clinch the issue' means to settle, resolve, or finally decide something. When the chairman's casting vote 'clinched the issue,' it means it decided the matter conclusively. Option B 'decided' is the correct meaning - the vote brought the discussion to a definitive conclusion.

'To lose one's train of thought' means to forget the sequence of ideas one was thinking about or saying. When something interrupts your focus (like nagging), you lose the continuous chain of reasoning. Option B 'forget the order' correctly captures losing the sequence of connected thoughts.

'To spin a yarn' means to tell a long, often fanciful story. When someone 'spins a yarn,' they're telling a tale that may be exaggerated or fabricated. In this context, they created a story (Option A) to hide the truth - the idiom specifically refers to storytelling, not merely lying.

'In defiance of' means in open resistance to, or willful disregard of, something. When someone acts 'in defiance of' their parents' wishes, they're deliberately ignoring or opposing those wishes. Option B 'in disregard of' correctly captures this meaning of intentional opposition and disrespect.

'To tug at someone's heartstrings' means to evoke compassion, pity, or strong emotional sympathy. Seeing small children begging would naturally create an emotional response of sympathy and concern. Option A is the correct idiom - 'heartstrings' refer to emotions and compassion, not money (which would be 'purse strings').

'Wouldn't hurt a fly' is an idiom used to describe someone who is completely harmless and gentle, despite perhaps having an appearance that suggests otherwise. It emphasizes that the person would not cause harm to even the smallest, most insignificant creature. Option A 'unlikely to cause harm' correctly captures this metaphorical expression of harmlessness.

'To take a strip off someone' is an idiom meaning to scold, reprimand, or criticize them severely - often in a verbal beratement. When a mother 'takes a strip off' her child, she's giving them a strong verbal scolding for misbehavior (like coming home late). Option B 'took a strip off me' is the correct idiom form.

'On the sly' means secretly, discreetly, or in a stealthy manner - doing something while trying to avoid detection. When someone deals in smuggled items 'on the sly,' they're conducting this illegal trade secretly. Option A 'on the sly' is the correct idiomatic expression; 'slyly' is just an adverb, not the idiom itself.

'Basket case' is a recognized idiom meaning someone who is mentally unstable or hopeless. The sentence context suggests someone who has failed repeatedly, fitting this meaning perfectly. The other options are not standard English idioms.

'Eat my hat' is a well-known idiom used when making a statement about something you believe will never happen. The sentence presents an extremely unlikely scenario (China winning the World Cup), which fits this idiomatic expression perfectly.