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: Choose the word from the options that correctly defines the meaning to the given idiom / phrase.

To play up

  1. To cooperate

  2. To overemphasize a point

  3. Helter skelter

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

To play up can mean to cause trouble or behave badly, but in the context of the provided options, it refers to emphasizing or highlighting something. Note that this idiom is polysemous, but 'overemphasize' is the intended meaning here.

Multiple choice
Direction: In the following 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. In tropical climate, it is necessary

  2. that a person drinks

  3. several cups of water daily

  4. if he wishes to remain healthy.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) 'that a person drink'. Error of importance. If the modifying clause emphasises the importance of an action in the modified clause, the latter will not use any helping verb or 's'/'es'. Necessary that “a person drink”.

Multiple choice
Direction: In the following 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. Pollution effects more people

  2. today than it ever did in the past

  3. because more people live near industrial units

  4. and inhale noxious gases from the atmosphere.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) 'Pollution affects more people'. Wrong word usage. The word “effect” is used as a noun meaning result whereas the word “affect” is used as a verb meaning influence. In this sentence the second sense is conveyed.

Multiple choice

Direction: In the following 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. Sita claimed that she had

  2. not only gone to Delhi

  3. but also to Agra

  4. and had seen the Taj Mahal.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) Error of Modifier. 'Not only' does not qualify 'gone'. It qualifies Delhi. So the correct usage is gone not only to Delhi, but also to Agra.

Multiple choice

Direction: In the following 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. If you would have come earlier

  2. there would have been enough time

  3. for us to go to the movie

  4. which has been running to full-houses.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) 'If you had come earlier'. There are two events in sequence. The later verb tense is there would have been enough time. The earlier event has to be in Past Perfect tense.

Multiple choice
Direction: In the following 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. The advertisement for the new detergent

  2. claimed that it was as effective

  3. if not more effective than

  4. washing soap in removing dirt from clothes.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) Error of correlative conjunction. The correct expression is “as effective as”. As ... as a correlative conjuction is used to indicate the equality or sameness of two things.

Multiple choice
Direction: In the following 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. Nalini found it difficult

  2. to manage single-handedly the three children

  3. who were always quarrelling

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

(4) 'among themselves'. Preposition “between” should not be used as the subject here is “three children” and for more than two people we use “among”.

Multiple choice
Direction: In the following 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. The teacher gave us a choice

  2. of joining or keeping away from

  3. next week's picnic, and

  4. all but he opted to join.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) 'all but him'. Prepositional phrases 'let', 'between', “except” and 'but' are followed by objective case (him)..