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.

idiom meaningsphrase substitutionsunderlined phrase interpretationcommon english expressionsidiomatic error detection

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.

As the quarrel ended, the person who was affronted, left in high dudgeon.

  1. exhibiting great resentment

  2. resenting the exhibition

  3. exhibiting joy on being victorious

  4. acting proud and arrogant
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'in high dudgeon' refers to exhibiting great resentment. 'Acting proud and arrogant' refers to the phrase 'acting high and mighty'. The others are  incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiom/phrase.

The minister will be facing the music for taking these one-sided decisions.

  1. feeling depressed and sad

  2. feeling refreshed and rejuvenated

  3. listening to the music

  4. accepting unpleasant consequences
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'facing the music' refers to accepting unpleasant consequences. The others are incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiom/phrase.

After the new government took over, all the projects started by the older one fell by the wayside.

  1. remained unfinished

  2. restarted with new vigor

  3. completed quickly

  4. became organised
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'fell by the wayside' refers to something remaining unfinished. The others are incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiom/phrase.

After the life threatening illness, he decided to follow his doctor’s advice and call it a day.

  1. start exercising

  2. stop working

  3. start meeting the doctor regularly

  4. change his attitude towards others
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'call it a day' refers to stop working. Change his attitude towards others refers to the phrase 'change of heart'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, the sentence contains an idiom/phrase which is underlined. You are to select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of this idiom/phrase.

In the times of recession, big financial institutions have become lame ducks.

  1. giving explanations that are weak and unconvincing

  2. organisations in difficulty and unable to manage without help

  3. an obvious and defenseless target

  4. organisations that are minting money
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'lame ducks' refers to organisations in difficulty which are unable to manage without help.

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 we want this business to succeed, we need to get our ducks in a row!

  1. get things well organised

  2. take care of the finances

  3. do hard work

  4. earn profit from something
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'to get our ducks in a row' refers to getting things well organised.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiom/phrase.

Both the political parties are having meetings behind closed doors to work out a coalition government.

  1. after closing all the doors

  2. in a clandestine manner

  3. at an isolated place

  4. to reach an understanding
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'behind closed doors' refers to doing something in a secret manner. The others are incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, the sentence contains an idiom/phrase which is underlined. You are to select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of this idiom/phrase.

In college, being a studious person, I was the odd man out.

  1. person who remained reserved

  2. polite and humble person

  3. an unusual person

  4. brilliant in studies
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'odd man out' refers to an unusual person. 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.

He got wise to the fact that his father was suffering from a tumor that needed to be operated upon.

  1. solved the mystery by finding out the problem

  2. got timid and frightened

  3. learnt something that he was unaware of

  4. became sad and depressed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'got wise to the fact' refers to learning something that he was unaware of. 

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, the sentence contains an idiom/phrase which is underlined. You are to select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of this idiom/phrase.

The business is going from bad to worse and the owner is just hanging on by his fingernails.

  1. encouraging himself to persevere and not give up

  2. gripping something firmly so as not to fall

  3. waiting for some kind of assistance from someone

  4. just managing to avoid danger or failure

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'hanging on by his fingernails' refers to only just managing to avoid danger or failure. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiom/phrase.

The musician wanted to cash in on his popularity by opening a chain of music stores.

  1. to earn profit from something

  2. to get attention due to

  3. to increase

  4. to create an atmosphere of great excitement due to
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'to cash in on something' refers to earning profit from something. Create an atmosphere of great excitement refers to the phrase 'causing quite a stir'. 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.

He was out cold when he was brought into the emergency at the hospital.

  1. out in the cold for long

  2. unconscious

  3. cold due to death

  4. about to die due to cold
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'out cold' refers to someone being unconscious. The others are incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, the sentence contains an idiom/phrase which is underlined. You are to select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of this idiom/phrase.

In today’s world, poverty and misery always come hand in hand.

  1. happen simultaneously

  2. take control of the situation

  3. happen in close association

  4. one after another
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'hand in hand' refers to something happening in close association.