English Language

Idioms and Phrases

325 Questions

Idioms and phrases are expressions where the meaning differs from the literal definitions of the individual words. The questions require identifying the correct meaning of underlined expressions within sentences. Mastering this topic is essential to score well in the English language section of competitive exams.

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Idioms and Phrases Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Top management universities often cherry-pick their students.

  1. make decisions that require little or no thought because the best option is so obvious

  2. accept just anyone as

  3. make difficult decisions between

  4. choosing with great care and selecting only the best
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'cherry-pick' refers to choosing with great care and selecting only the best. 'Make decisions that require little or no thought because the best option is so obvious' refers to the phrase, 'no-brainer'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

He tries hard to be a good father, a good son and a good brother, but still cannot be all things to all people.

  1. someone considered to be worthless

  2. someone who is physically very strong but not very intelligent

  3. a person who undertakes many different kinds of work

  4. someone who pleases or satisfies everyone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'all things to all people' refers to someone who pleases or satisfies everyone. 'Someone considered to be worthless' refers to the phrase, 'abbreviated piece of nothing'. 'A person who undertakes many different kinds of work' refers to the phrase, 'jack of all trades'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

If you do not leave the company of these boys, you will come to a bad end.

  1. lose the good reputation

  2. have to accept responsibility for their actions

  3. have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions

  4. have predictably disastrous consequences
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'come to a bad end' refers to predictably disastrous consequences.  'Accept responsibility for their actions' refers to the phrase, 'answer for them'. 'Accept the unpleasant consequences of your action' refers to the phrase, 'face the music'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

People start businesses. But when it comes to running it, they are a dead loss.

  1. not a dreamer but a realistic and practical person

  2. incurring losses due to ignorance

  3. a complete failure

  4. not very intelligent
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'dead loss' refers to someone who is a complete failure in something. 'Not a dreamer but a realistic and practical person' refers to the phrase, 'down to earth'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

He was advised by the RTI activist to bring the evidence out into the open.

  1. in an area that is not closed in

  2. just in time

  3. available for everyone to see

  4. publically visible in the daytime
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'out into the open' means evidence available for everyone to see. 'In an area that is not closed in' refers to the phrase, 'in the open' and is out of context with the sentence. Publicly visible in the daytime refers to the phrase, in broad daylight. The other is an incorrect meaning of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Many big and small hotels in Jaipur that are involved in tourism are in the red.

  1. losing money

  2. in great demand

  3. in a financially profitable condition

  4. located everywhere
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'in the red' refers to losing money. 'In a financially profitable condition' refers to the phrase, 'in the black'. The others are incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Even if you scratch the surface, you will surely find many skeletons tumbling out of his closet.

  1. scratch the paint

  2. investigate superficially

  3. search his home

  4. investigate thoroughly
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'scratch the surface' refers to investigating superficially. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Hearing the loud noise, he came out of the bathroom in the buff.

  1. spotlessly clean

  2. completely unclothed

  3. in a hurry

  4. wearing his clothes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'in the buff' means naked or completely unclothed. 'Spotlessly clean' refers to the phrase, 'spick and span'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

If the government funding is withdrawn, I wonder if the old age pensioners will stand a chance.

  1. have a possibility of success in life

  2. agree with the government

  3. become very angry or annoyed

  4. maintain their position and refuse to yield
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'stand a chance' refers to having a possibility of success in life. 'Become very angry or annoyed' refers to the phrase, 'see red'.  'Agree with the government' refers to the phrase, 'see eye to eye'. 'Maintain their position and refuse to yield' refers to the phrase, 'stand one’s ground'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Not being sure, I think I should sleep on the decision whether to buy or lease this plot.

  1. do nothing

  2. postpone indefinitely

  3. consult with others

  4. think about it overnight
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'sleep on' refers to thinking about it overnight. 'Do nothing' refers to the phrase, 'sit on one’s hands'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

The purchase deal cannot go through without the minister’s seal of approval.

  1. thinking over and approving it

  2. formal approval from higher authorities

  3. thinking over the matter and changing his mind

  4. formal agreement with the proposal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'seal of approval' refers to the formal approval from the higher authorities. 'Formal agreement with the proposal' refers to the phrase, 'second a motion'. 'Thinking over the matter and changing his mind' refers to the phrase, 'on second thought'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Have you taken leave of your senses by deciding to go out in this blizzard?

  1. taking risk of being killed

  2. behaving crazily

  3. consulted anyone before

  4. trying to commit suicide
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'taken leave of your senses' refers to behaving crazily. 'Taking risk of being killed' refers to the phrase, 'taking one’s life in one’s own hands'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

The management is walking the tight rope between their efforts of increasing production, and keeping the wages unchanged!

  1. acting carefully in a difficult situation

  2. careful not to offend workers

  3. keeping the budget tight

  4. working very hard
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'walking the tight rope' refers to acting carefully in a difficult situation. 'Careful not to offend workers' refers to the phrase, 'walking on eggshells'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

When the shares of the company nosedived due to internal trading, the investors realized that they have been taken to the cleaners.

  1. surprised because not expecting it

  2. take all of one's money or possessions

  3. cheated or deceived

  4. treated very badly
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'taken to the cleaners' refers to take all of one's money or possessions. 'Cheated or deceived' refers to the phrase, 'being taken for a ride'. 'Surprised because not expecting it' refers to the phrase, 'taken unaware'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

I had a bad bout of malaria, but now I am back on my feet.

  1. need to do some exercise to be fit and healthy

  2. going to work

  3. physically healthy again

  4. walking again
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'back on my feet' refers to being physically healthy again. 'Need to do some exercise to be fit and healthy' refers to the phrase, 'back into shape'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.