English Language

Idioms and Phrases

680 Questions
All Idiom/Phrase Meaning 431 Error Detection in Idioms 73 Synonymous Idiom Replacement 58 Idiom Completion 46 Contextual Usage 22 Foreign Origin Phrase Meaning 1 One-Word Substitution 1 Prepositional Phrase Selection 1

Idioms and Phrases Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, a sentence has been divided into four parts and marked 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. Amphibians are creatures that

  2. live equally effortlessly

  3. in water as well as land and are found

  4. on all the continents of the world
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(3) in water as well as on land. Use“in” for water and 'on' for land.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, a sentence has been divided into four parts and marked 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. Along the northern border of India

  2. is seen the Himalayas

  3. tall, mighty and majestic

  4. in their unique splendor
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) in its unique splendor. Subject & pronoun agreement error is made. The subject “Himalayas” is used in the singular form so singular pronoun should be used.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, a sentence has been divided into four parts and marked 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. Each of the speakers whom I invited

  2. to participate in the debate

  3. has indicated their unwillingness

  4. because of the short notice
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(3) has indicated their unwillingness. Sentences starting with Indefinite Pronoun  “Each” are used in the singular form ,so singular pronoun his/her should be used. Therefore "...his or her unwillingess..."

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, a sentence has been divided into four parts and marked 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. Arthur leads a content life

  2. among his relatives in his village

  3. and rarely visits the city though

  4. he has many friends here
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) Arthur leads a contented life. The right form of the word to be used is “contented”.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, a sentence has been divided into four parts and marked 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. To this day, the Pythagoras theorem

  2. remains the very important theorem

  3. in the realm of mathematics

  4. including algebra, geometry and trigonometry
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) remains the most important single theorem. Superlative form should be used as the comparison is made out of all the theorems. Adjective “very” should be replaced by “most”. 

Multiple choice
Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been divided into four parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. My cousin has four daughters

  2. all of whom are studying in school

  3. and I consider the youngest among them

  4. as the most handsome of all
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) as the prettiest of all. Adjective “pretty” is used for girls and “handsome” for boys. Superlative degree will be used as the comparison is made amongst a larger group.

Multiple choice
Directions: In the following question, a sentences has been divided into four parts and marked 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. While I confess his superiority to me

  2. in studies so far, it is only because

  3. his father has bought for him many foreign books

  4. which my family cannot afford to buy for me
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) While I admit his superiority to me. Instead of ”confess” (as confession is always done to someone) we should use “admit” which means to agree.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been divided into four parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. I admire your new shirt

  2. and would like to buy one like it;

  3. can you tell me where you bought it

  4. and what was its price
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) and what is its price, Since Present tense is used in the sentence so the last part should be also in the same tense.

Multiple choice
Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been divided into four parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. You do not have to do difficult exercises

  2. to maintain a good figure;

  3. a regular morning walk is

  4. quite beneficent to one's health
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) quite beneficial to one's health. The correct word to be used should be “beneficial” meaning advantageous.

Multiple choice
Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been divided into four parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. When you meet your father tomorrow

  2. please convey my respect to him

  3. and inform him that I am eagerly awaiting

  4. his visit to Madras next month
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) please convey my regards to him. Incorrect word usage a “respect” cannot be conveyed however we convey our “regards”.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been divided into four parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. While asking for an application form

  2. please send a self-addressed envelope

  3. that contained your name, door no

  4. street and city
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(3) that contains your name, door no. Instead of Past tense, Present Indefinite tense should be used.

Multiple choice
Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been divided into four parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. Though we did not relish the observance

  2. of the teacher that we had not exhibited

  3. the sense of responsibility expected of us

  4. we knew that what he said was true

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

(1) Though we did not relish the observation. The correct noun to be used here is “observation” and not “observance” as students noticed the observation of the teacher.

Multiple choice
Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been divided into four parts and marked 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. Soviet Premier, during his Delhi visit,

  2. promised to assist India

  3. to the building of the new super thermal power project

  4. with both financial and technical aid
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(3) in the building of the new super thermal power project. Incorrect preposition is used instead of “to” we should use “in” as the correct preposition phrase is “assist in”.

Multiple choice
Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been divided into four parts and marked 1, 2, 3 and 4. One of these contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. Repeated studies in the US has shown

  2. that it is seldom that the same student

  3. is adept in learning languages as well as

  4. in the study of sciences.

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

(1) Repeated studies in US have shown. Since the subject “repeated studies” is plural so a plural verb “have” should be used.