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 softskills communication

I'd like to start the meeting and get down to _____ tacks.

  1. silver

  2. brass

  3. copper

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

To solve this question, the user needs to know the correct idiom and its meaning. The phrase "get down to brass tacks" means to focus on the essential details or the main point of a matter.

Now, let's go through each option and explain why it is right or wrong:

A. silver: This option is incorrect because the correct idiom is "get down to brass tacks," not "silver tacks."

B. brass: This option is correct. The idiom is "get down to brass tacks," so option B is the correct answer.

C. copper: This option is incorrect because the correct idiom is "get down to brass tacks," not "copper tacks."

D. gold: This option is incorrect because the correct idiom is "get down to brass tacks," not "gold tacks."

The Answer is: B

Multiple choice softskills communication

Lining one’s pocket

  1. To stitch one’s pocket with a bigger lining to hold more money

  2. To have a silver lining along the pocket borders

  3. To make money in a greedy or dishonest manner

  4. To earn money in an honest and straightforward manner
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Line one's pocket means to make money for oneself, usually through greedy or dishonest means. It does not literally mean sewing pockets, having silver linings, or earning honestly.

Multiple choice softskills communication

Make someone’s gorge rise

  1. To highly annoy someone

  2. To make someone’s mouth water

  3. To hurt someone on purpose

  4. To make someone feel jealous
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Make someone's gorge rise means to cause someone to feel disgusted or nauseated - to highly offend or annoy them. It does not mean making someone's mouth water, hurting them, or making them jealous.

Multiple choice softskills communication

what do i mean? "Least said soonest mended."

  1. The less discreet you are, the less damage you cause.

  2. The more discreet you are, the less damage you cause.

  3. The more discreet you are, the more damage you cause.

  4. The less discreet you are, no damage you cause.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Least said soonest mended' means that problems or conflicts are often resolved more quickly when people don't talk about them excessively. Being discreet (saying less) causes less damage than being indiscreet. Option B correctly captures this meaning.

Multiple choice softskills communication

As cool as

  1. cucumber

  2. cloud

  3. snow

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

The correct answer is cucumber because 'as cool as a cucumber' is a standard English idiom describing someone who remains calm and composed under pressure. This expression dates back to the 19th century and refers to the cucumber's refreshing, cool temperature. Cloud, snow, and ice don't form part of this established idiom.

Multiple choice softskills communication

Haste ___ waste.

  1. is

  2. creates

  3. leads to

  4. makes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This proverb means that rushing through tasks often results in mistakes that require more time to fix than doing the job carefully in the first place. The traditional form uses 'makes' to complete the saying: 'Haste makes waste.' While 'leads to' conveys similar meaning, it is not the traditional wording of this proverb.

Multiple choice softskills communication

Cook up a storm

  1. To create a hurricane in the ocean

  2. To cook for yourself

  3. To cook a lot of food

  4. To go out to dinner
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The idiom 'cook up a storm' means to cook elaborately or in large quantities, often with great energy and enthusiasm. Option A is incorrect as it refers to weather phenomena, not cooking. Option B is too narrow - one can cook up a storm for others as well. Option D is the opposite - the phrase describes active cooking, not dining out.

Multiple choice

Direction: Choose the option that best replaces the underlined portion.

Eloquent lamentations regarding the fate of the flora and fauna are certain to be rendered cry in the wilderness.

  1. a cry in vain

  2. an unpleasant situation

  3. a cry with a laughter

  4. a laughter having no end
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Wilderness' is generally an uncultivated, uninhabited region, waste, wild, therefore, a cry in wilderness would be a cry in vain. Hence, option (1) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question some alternatives are given or suggested for the idiom/phrase in italics in the sentence. Choose the one that best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase in italics.

In life, we have to take the rough with the smooth.

  1. be tough in order to be successful

  2. use pleasant words to make things smooth

  3. accept unpleasant as well as pleasant things

  4. make unpleasant things better
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 The phrase means to accept the difficult times in lifes with the good times.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question some alternatives are given or suggested for the idiom/phrase in italics in the sentence. Choose the one that best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase in italics.

Tell me plainly who broke the mirror ,do not beat about the bush.

  1. put any blame on others

  2. pretend to be in aware of the matter

  3. approach the matter in a round about way

  4. try to impress me with your arguments
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

To beat about the bush means to stall answering a question, to avoid and waste time.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question some alternatives are given or suggested for the idiom/phrase in italics in the sentence. Choose the one that best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase in italics.

He resigned the post of his own accord.

  1. according to his judgement

  2. which he liked

  3. voluntarily and willingly

  4. according to his convenience
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Of one's  own accord means to do something out of  one's own will.