English Language

Idioms and Phrases

524 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.

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.

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 community is taking steps to curb the menace of drugs!

  1. adopting a firm position

  2. assessing all aspects to form an opinion

  3. involving all

  4. starting a course of action
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'taking steps' refers to starting a course of action. 'Assessing all aspects to form an opinion' refers to the phrase, 'taking stock of the situation'. 'Adopting a firm position' refers to the phrase, 'take a stand'. 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 big-shot at the head office never listened to the branch head, and consequently one day she landed into trouble.

  1. an important person

  2. a well known personality but at an unimportant place

  3. a foolish girl

  4. a mean person
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'big-shot' refers to an important person. 'A well known personality but at an unimportant place' refers to the phrase, 'big fish in a little sea'. 'A foolish girl' refers to the phrase, 'a bimbo'. 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 team lost the tournament, the manager was like a bear with a sore head.

  1. trying very hard to solve the problem

  2. to be in a bad mood

  3. very nervous person

  4. preparing himself for troubles ahead
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'To be in a bad mood' refers to the phrase, 'bear with a sore head'. 'Trying very hard to solve the problem' refers to the phrase, 'beating one’s brains out'. 'Preparing himself for troubles ahead' refers to the phrase, 'batten down the hatches'. 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 he came home after his stay in Dubai, he was a bag of bones!

  1. enjoying immensely

  2. in best of his health

  3. extremely thin

  4. needing some exercise to be physically fit again
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'bag of bones' refers to being extremely thin. 'Enjoying immensely' refers to the phrase, 'having a ball'. 'Needing some exercise to be physically fit again' refers to the phrase, 'back on his feet'. 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 I catch you again with that boy, I will beat the daylights out of you!

  1. do something that will not be possible to rectify in future

  2. do something to restrict your freedom

  3. hit you before you could react

  4. hitting very hard and repeatedly
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'beat the daylights out of you' refers to hitting very hard and repeatedly. 'Do something that will not be possible to rectify in future' refers to the phrase, 'burn your bridges'. 'Do something to restrict your freedom' refers to the phrase, 'clip your wings'. 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.

Backseat drivers can land anyone in serious trouble.

  1. untrustworthy person whose company should be avoided

  2. passenger in a car giving unwanted advice to the driver

  3. a loser taking undue advantage

  4. a very nervous person
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'backseat drivers' refers to the passenger in a car giving unwanted advice to the driver. 'Untrustworthy person whose company should be avoided' refers to the phrase, 'bad egg'. 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 took out the purse of the unsuspecting old man before my very eyes.

  1. before I could blink my eyes

  2. right in front of me

  3. happening suddenly without giving time to react

  4. without any remorse
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'before my very eyes' refers to  'right in front of you'. 'Happening suddenly without giving time to react' refers to the phrase, 'before you know it'. 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 might have just returned from the hospital after a prolonged illness, but he is full of beans.

  1. lively, healthy and active

  2. very weak

  3. not recovered fully

  4. enjoying his life immensely
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'full of beans' refers to being lively, healthy and active. 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 pager, a fad of yesteryears, is now dead as a dodo.

  1. unlikely to be retrieved

  2. unquestionably obsolete

  3. certain to fail

  4. a complete failure
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'dead as a dodo' refers to something that is unquestionably obsolete. 'Certain to fail' refers to the phrase, 'dead duck'. 'A complete failure' refers to the phrase, 'dead loss'. 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 plan to assassinate the President was hatched behind closed doors!

  1. done privately, with no intruders

  2. in prison

  3. in a far off location

  4. after shutting the doors of the room
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'behind closed doors' refers to doing something privately, with no intruders. 'In prison' refers to the phrase, 'behind bars'. 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.

Your plan to go trekking alone is dicing with death. Take somebody along!

  1. putting life at risk by doing something dangerous

  2. a potentially risky situation

  3. doing something that can cause one’s own downfall

  4. like experiencing death
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, 'dicing with death' refers to putting life at risk by doing something dangerous. 'A potentially risky situation' refers to the phrase, 'dicey situation'. 'Doing something that can cause one’s own downfall' refers to the phrase, 'dig one’s own grave'. The others are the incorrect meanings of the given phrase.