Idioms and Phrases

A happy-go-lucky person is cheerful, unconcerned, and often leaves things to chance rather than worrying or planning ahead. Option A ('careless' in the sense of 'free from care or anxiety') is the intended answer, though 'careless' in modern usage often implies negligence.

'Stomach it' means to tolerate, endure, or bear something unpleasant without complaining. Option A is correct: just as you might literally stomach food you dislike, figuratively you stomach difficult situations or criticism.

'Make a mountain out of a molehill' means to exaggerate the importance or seriousness of a minor issue. Option D correctly identifies this meaning: making a trivial matter appear serious or significant. A mole (the small animal) is tiny compared to a mountain.

'Have an axe to grind' means to have a selfish or ulterior motive or personal interest in a situation. Option B is correct despite the typo ('secret to motive' should be 'secret motive'). It comes from a story where someone flattered a boy to turn the grindstone for his axe.

'Fight shy of' means to deliberately avoid, evade, or keep away from something. Option A is correct. The phrase suggests an active attempt to steer clear of a person, situation, or task, often due to discomfort or reluctance.

'Like water off a duck's back' describes something (often criticism, insults, or trouble) that has no effect on a person. Option B is correct: ducks' feathers are naturally oily and waterproof, causing water to roll right off without soaking in, just as some people remain unaffected by negativity.

The idiom "go to the dogs" means to deteriorate, decline in quality, or be ruined. This expression originated from the idea of leftover or unwanted food being thrown to dogs, symbolizing something that has lost its value or fallen into a state of neglect.

There is no love lost between the two means 'they don't like each other'.

To bring to light means 'to present or reveal someone or something to the public'.

If you stay with or support someone through thick and thin, you always stay with or support them, even in difficult situations.

Flesh and blood means 'humanly nature'. Eg: Many of the cartoon characters are more popular than their flesh and blood counterparts.

It means to direct one's attention to, concentrate or focus on.

It means what someone does is more important than what someone says.

It means immediately.

If you say or do something in the heat of the moment, you say or do it without thinking because you are angry or excited.