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: Select the correct meaning of the idiom/ phrase from the four alternatives.

To follow suit

  1. To be active

  2. To be confused

  3. to act in a like manner

  4. To follow others
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'to follow suit' means to do what someone else has done or to act in a similar manner, originating from card games where players must follow the lead suit. Option C precisely states this meaning. Option D 'To follow others' is close but less specific about imitating actions.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct meaning of the idiom/ phrase from the four alternatives.

Fabian policy

  1. Policy of delaying decisions

  2. To weaken the power

  3. Support one another

  4. Policy of Finland
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A 'Fabian policy' refers to a strategy of delaying tactics and avoiding direct confrontation, named after Roman general Fabius Maximus who wore down Hannibal's forces through patience rather than battle. Option A correctly identifies this meaning of postponing decisions. This has nothing to do with Finland.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct meaning of the idiom/ phrase from the four alternatives.

Writing on the wall

  1. To discourage

  2. To be hopeful in need

  3. To signal

  4. To paste posters on the wall
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'The writing on the wall' refers to a warning sign or omen that something bad will happen. It comes from a biblical story where mysterious writing appeared on a wall predicting a king's downfall. Option C 'To signal' is correct as it refers to giving a warning sign. Options A, B, and D are incorrect interpretations.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct meaning of the idiom/ phrase from the four alternatives.

To play truant

  1. Yield

  2. To be absent from duty without permission

  3. False hope

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

To 'play truant' means to stay away from school or work without permission or good reason. It refers to being absent from duty without authorization. Option B correctly captures this meaning. Options A, C, and D are unrelated to the idiom's actual meaning.

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 noticed the suit he wore? It is custom made!

  1. so special that each customer will receive only one

  2. made according to the latest trend

  3. made according to the specifications of the buyer

  4. made according to the rituals and customs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, custom made refers to something made according to the specifications of the buyer. So special that each customer will receive only one refers to the phrase, one to a customer. 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.

Everyone is trying to rope in this businessman as he carries a lot of weight.

  1. is very fat

  2. is very influential

  3. is easily influenced

  4. is a born leader
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase, carries a lot of weight refers to being very influential. The others are incorrect meanings of the given phrase.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, four phrasal verbs are given. You are to choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word(s)/phrase/sentence.

Accept an idea too hastily.

  1. run away with the idea

  2. run out with the idea

  3. run in with the idea

  4. run of with the idea
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Run away with the idea means to accept an idea too hastily or become overenthusiastic about something without proper consideration. The variations run out/in/of with the idea are not standard idioms.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four given alternatives, choose the correct meaning of the following Idiom/expression:

To smell a rat

  1. To detect bad smell

  2. To misunderstand

  3. To suspect a trick or deceit

  4. To see hidden meaning
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The idiom 'to smell a rat' means to suspect that something is wrong or that someone is being deceitful. Suspecting a trick or deceit is the correct interpretation. It has nothing to do with actual smells or misunderstanding.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question given below, 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 my childhood friend, but after school we drifted apart.

  1. became my enemy

  2. became less and less close

  3. became very close

  4. left the place to live somewhere else

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as to “drift apart” means ‘to become less and less close’ after school.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question given below, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

After robbing the house owner, the robbers got away on a motorcycle.

  1. To extenuate

  2. To confess

  3. To escape

  4. To move from place to place

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as the phrase “got away” implies that the robbers managed to escape on a motorcycle.