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 following question, four alternatives are given for the underlined idiom or phrase used in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiom or phrase.

His decision to pull out of the match was taken on the spur of the moment.

  1. Suddenly

  2. After much deliberation

  3. Foolishly

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Taken on the spur of the moment' means 'taking a decision suddenly or spontaneously'.

Multiple choice

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

He has given up challenging his elder brother as he always came off second best in the wrestling match.

  1. He won

  2. He lost

  3. The match ended in a tie

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 The phrase means 'to be beaten in a contest or arguement'.

Multiple choice

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

As a novelist, he has no political axe to grind.

  1. He does not have a strong opinion

  2. He has no interest at all

  3. He is eager to solve the issue

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Having an axe to grind' means to have a strong opinion about something that influences your actions.

Multiple choice

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

  1. What other steps can be taken

  2. to expedite the recovery of loans

  3. are being discussed by Bank Chairmen

  4. at their meeting in Bombay.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'is being discussed'......what other steps should be taken is being discussed. Also ‘the’ before Bank Chairmen. Definite article 'the' will be used as we are referring to specific people. 'Bank Chairmen' implies more than one chairman....so, 'their' use is correct.

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 parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. If you imagine that I am one of those

  2. who is cowed down by such threats

  3. you are totally mistaken; I shall

  4. stick to my views and fight to the least
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) who are cowed down by such threats. The verb is used to refer to the plural word “those” so a plural verb is to be used maintaining the subject & verb relationship.

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 parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. the fact that you have failed now

  2. should not make you lose your heart

  3. you must remember the old adage that

  4. failures are but stepping stones to success
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) failures are nothing but stepping stones to success. The word “nothing” conveys the complete sense that is no more than.

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 parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. Half the students in the class

  2. are taking part in the excursion

  3. to Madras where they will visit the museum

  4. the light house, and see the snake - park
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) the light house, and snake - park. Rule of maintenance of parallelism is to be applied. So we omit “see the” before snake park.

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 parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. The three had been great friends

  2. for many years but when it came to

  3. sharing the money they won in raffles

  4. they quarreled with each other and ceased talking

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

(4) they quarreled with one another and ceased talking. Since we are referring to more than two people so “one another” should be used.

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 parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. I expected only Sita to come

  2. and was surprised that, beside her

  3. Lata, Lakshmi and Charu also came

  4. and took active part in the function
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) and was surprised that, besides her. Incorrect word usage has been done. “besides” should be used which means in addition to.

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 parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. Neither the Principal nor the Professors

  2. likes him, and so when he sought their help

  3. on being arrested for misbehaviour in a bus

  4. he found himself cold-shouldered
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) like him, and so when he sought their help. When conjunction “neither…nor” is used in the sentence, the verb is used according to the second subject. In this case the second subject “professors” is plural so a plural verb should be used.

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 parts contains a mistake in grammar idiom or syntax. Identify that part and mark it as the answer.

  1. We are hoping for a day of good sunshine

  2. but if, by chance, it is raining

  3. we shall have to abandon the match

  4. since the visiting team has to leave for home tomorrow
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) but if, by chance, it rains. Present Indefinite tense is being used. The act is not taking place so continuous tense should not be used.