Idioms and Phrases
To check the grammatical knowledge of the aspirant
Questions
Directions: Select the best meaning of the given phrase.
To hear it on the grapevine
- To hear rumours about something from someone
- To hear sounds of crying
- To come to the point
- To take seriously
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately:
To bring one’s eggs to a bad market
- To face a humiliating situation
- To bring one’s commodities to a market where there is no demand for them
- To show one’s talents before audience which is incapable of appreciating them
- To fail in one’s plans because one goes to the wrong people for help
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately:
To fly off the handle
- To take off
- To be indifferent
- To dislocate
- To lose one’s temper
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
An apple pie order
- In ascending order
- In descending order
- In perfect order
- In total disorder
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
An apple of one’s eye
- The most treasured possession
- The focal point
- The point of concentration
- The tasty food liked by every one
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
From hand to mouth
- Something repeated often
- One who talks excessively
- One who eats too frequently
- One who has just enough to live on
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
To go into black
- To mourn
- To turn face
- To change side
- To be exposed to sun
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
- Born in luxury
- Born prematurely
- Born with defects
- Born in poverty
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately.
To pour oil on troubled waters
- To foment trouble
- To add to the trouble
- To instigate
- To calm a quarrel with soothing words
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately.
Hobson’s choice
- Feeling of insecurity
- Accepting or leaving the offer
- Feeling of strength
- Excellent choice
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately.
To talk one’s head off
- To talk loudly
- To talk in whispers
- To talk to oneself
- To talk excessively
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
To keep the ball rolling
- To earn more and more
- To work constantly
- To keep the conversation going
- To make the best use of
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
To have a brush with
- To start painting
- To have good and pleasing terms
- To be impressed
- To have a slight encounter
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
Something up one’s sleeve
- A grand idea
- A secret plan
- A profitable plan
- Something important
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
Dog in the manger
- An dwarf bull almost the size of a dog
- A dog that has no kennel of its own
- A person who puts himself in difficulties on account of other people
- A person who prevents others from enjoying something useless to himself
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
To take the wind out of another’s sail
- To manoeuvre to mislead another on high seas
- To cause harm to another
- To defeat the motive
- To make someone feel less confident
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
The pros and cons
- For and against a thing
- Foul and fair
- Good and evil
- Former and latter
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
To keep the wolf away from the door
- To keep from starving
- To keep off an unwanted and undesirable person
- To keep alive and happy
- To hold the difficulties and dangers in check
Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
A bull in a china shop
- A person who is very ugly, but loves the beautiful things of life
- A person who takes the sadistic delight in harming innocent people
- A person who becomes too excited where no excitement is warranted
- A person who is rough and clumsy where skill and care is required
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately:
Will o’ the wisp
- Anything which eludes or deceives
- To act in a childish way
- To act in a foolish way
- To have desires unbacked by efforts
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately.
Hard pressed
- Bewildered
- Insulted
- Disciplined
- In difficulties
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately.
To wrangle over an ass’s shadow
- To act in a foolish way
- To quarrel over trifles
- To waste time on petty things
- To do something funny
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately:
To get the bird
- To get to await
- To have good luck
- To be fired or dismissed
- To get the impossible
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately:
To cast pearls before a swine
- To spend recklessly
- To spend a lot of money for the upkeep of domestic hogs
- To waste money over trifles
- To offer to a person a thing which he cannot appreciate
Directions: Choose the phrase amongst the given phrases which brings out the meaning of the idiom most appropriately.
To take the bull by the horns
- To punish a person severely for his arrogance
- To grapple courageously with a difficulty that lies in one's way
- To escape from a fierce attack
- To bypass the legal process and take action according to one’s own whims