IDIOMS

Combined Graduate Level

PYQs :- 09 to 26 / 09 / 2024
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1. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

To have bigger fish to fry
(1) To have an interest in cooking
(2) To know different kinds of fishing techniques
(3) To take calculated risks
(4) To have bigger things to take care of than the menial task at hand
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2. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Break a leg
(1) Give advice on maintaining physical health.
(2) Encourage someone to engage in risky activities.
(3) Suggest taking a short break during work.
(4) Wish someone good luck before a performance.
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3. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.

Fatima was at her wits’ end trying to decide on a serene place for
spending the holidays in.
(1) So worried, confused or annoyed that she does not know what to
do next
(2) So worried, confused or annoyed that she became unconscious
(3) So calm and composed that she knows what to do next
(4) So worried, confused or annoyed that she insulted others for no
reason
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4. Which of the following idioms means ‘to steal from a shop’?

(1) Golden opportunity
(2) Green thumb
(3) Five-finger discount
(4) Black sheep
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5. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

On the ball
(1) Unaware of any changes or developments and lazy to react to them
(2) Aware of any changes or developments but slow to react to them
(3) Aware of any changes or developments and quick to react to them
(4) Aware of any changes or developments but doing nothing
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6. What does the idiom ‘Bite the bullet’ mean?

(1) Enjoy a delicious meal
(2) Face a difficult situation with courage
(3) Avoid confrontation
(4) Give someone a piece of advice
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7. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Care a hang
(1) Hanging clothes to dry
(2) Putting an outfit on a hanger
(3) Caring too much
(4) Showing no interest
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8. Substitute the underlined word-segment with most appropriate

idiom.
The doctors tried very hard to save his mother but they were
unsuccessful.
(1) faced the music
(2) drew the line
(3) moved heaven and earth
(4) ran like clockwork
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9. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Hit the nail on the head
(1) They are experiencing a headache.
(2) They have accurately identified or explained something.
(3) They're uncertain about a decision.
(4) They hit a nail with a hammer.
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10. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

To read between the lines
(1) To underline some words
(2) To read differently
(3) To read aloud to public
(4) To understand more than what the words suggest
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11. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Jump the gun
(1) To start all over again
(2) Using a gun for sports
(3) To stop a process
(4) To do something too soon and too quickly
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12. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

A dime a dozen
(1) Variety of amenities
(2) Something common and not special
(3) Very wealthy
(4) A fair trade
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13. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Nobody’s fool
(1) Not easily deceived
(2) The wisest person
(3) A complete fool
(4) All are fools
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14. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in

the following sentence.
In my new office, all employees were different, so I felt like a fish
out of water.
(1) Uncomfortable
(2) Homeless
(3) Frustrated
(4) Disappointed
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15. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.

Anand personally believes in the motto, “When life gives you
lemons, make lemonade.”
(1) Earn the maximum out of business
(2) Nourish health
(3) Enjoy the most when the season is favourable
(4) Make the best out of difficult situations
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16. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Turned a deaf ear to
(1) Disregarded
(2) At intervals
(3) By any means
(4) Rebuked
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17. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

A bad patch
(1) A path that is untravelled
(2) A period of time when a person faces lots of troubles
(3) A person who takes a difficult path
(4) A dangerous road to walk on
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18. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.

All his friends admired him because he was a straight shooter.
(1) Excellent shooter
(2) Complicated and confusing person
(3) Miserly and pessimistic individual
(4) A thoroughly upright straightforward person
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19. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.

My uncle lives in New York, so I only see him once in a blue
moon.
(1) Not very often
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Very often
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20. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Radhika stood by Monica’s side through thick and thin.
(1) Under easy situations wherein she could ensure Monica’s safety
and security
(2) In all the happy moments, personally spending most of her time
(3) Under all conditions, no matter how challenging or difficult
(4) In the moments when Monica couldn’t complete some simple tasks
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21. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.

In those days, we did not expect luxuries; we were thankful if we
could keep the wolf from the door.
(1) Avoid starvation
(2) Wallow in poverty
(3) Relish food
(4) Encourage starvation
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22. Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom.

To bring to light
(1) To engage in conversation
(2) To lighten
(3) To disclose
(4) To disengage
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23. Select the correct meaning of the underlined idiom in the

following sentence.
Rina pulled a long face since her husband had not bought her a
diamond necklace on their anniversary.
(1) To be euphoric
(2) To be ecstatic
(3) To look saddened
(4) To be electrified
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24. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Easy does it
(1) Used to tell someone to do something rarely
(2) Used to tell someone to do something violently
(3) Used to tell someone to do something slowly and carefully
(4) Used to tell someone to do something horridly
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25. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Cut corners
(1) Complete a work
(2) Do something in an inexpensive and easy way
(3) Find a suitable place
(4) Clear a space
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26. Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the idiom in
the given brackets.
His PhD degree seems to be (Penelope’s web).
(1) An important task
(2) A difficult task
(3) A secret task
(4) An endless task
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27. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Creature of habit
(1) A mean person
(2) A bad habit
(3) A faithful dog
(4) One who does same thing in the same way
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28. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Hit the roof
(1) To destruct a building
(2) To become very angry
(3) To jump high
(4) To play joyfully
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29. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Start from scratch
(1) To start or create something from the very beginning
(2) To address an issue
(3) To develop something out of waste material
(4) To point out something wrong
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30. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined

idiom/phrase.
I had heard of henpecked husbands and now, I felt that I saw one.
(1) Controlling husband
(2) Bossy husbands
(3) Oppressed husband
(4) Dominating husbands
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31. Select the most appropriate idiom that can substitute the
underlined segment in the given sentence.
Roshan, it’s time for you to give your speech to the whole school,
wishing you luck to do well.
(1) down in the dumps
(2) break a leg
(3) high five
(4) hands down
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32. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

At a low ebb
(1) In a depressed or weak state
(2) In a happy state
(3) In a critical moment
(4) In an unemployed mode
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33. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Off and on
(1) Now and then
(2) Know something thoroughly
(3) Remind
(4) Object to
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34. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Left out in the cold
(1) To go underground
(2) To be in hiding
(3) To be ignored
(4) To be extremely negative
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35. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Break the ice
(1) Nervousness before a performance
(2) Ill-feeling carried by a person over a period of time
(3) Respect for someone’s achievements
(4) To say or do something that makes people feel more relaxed,
especially at the beginning of a meeting, party
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36. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in

the following sentence.
Sejal visits the nearby temple off and on.
(1) Periodically
(2) Constantly
(3) Continuously
(4) Regularly
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37. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.

This year’s budget is unlikely to pass as law since the president’s
proposed budgets typically face a jaundiced eye but this one has
gotten even more scepticism.
(1) Jealousy
(2) Confidence
(3) Resentment
(4) Good will
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38. Select the most appropriate idiom for the given group of words.
A time when money might unexpectedly be needed
(1) A rainy day
(2) A raw deal
(3) A rash of something
(4) A rap over the knuckles
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39. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in

the following sentence.
Instead of confusing others, let us call a spade a spade in front of
the audience.
(1) Pretend superiority
(2) Remain silent
(3) Speak truthfully
(4) Be at strife
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40. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in

the following sentence.
Rahul won the extempore competition. He is lucky to be blessed
with the gift of the gab.
(1) An honest person
(2) A big surprise
(3) A lucky person
(4) A talent for speaking
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41. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in

the following sentence.
The leader of the Legislative Assembly won the hearts of the
members through his maiden speech during the session in state
council.
(1) final speech
(2) closure speech
(3) first speech
(4) logical speech
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42. Select the most appropriate idiom that can substitute the
underlined segment in the given sentence.
Leela was in class when the big fight happened. So, if you want to
know the details, You should ask her, you will get the truth given
by somebody who is directly involved and therefore likely to be
accurate.
(1) with kid gloves
(2) shooting off the cuff
(3) calling a spade a spade
(4) straight from the horse’s mouth
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43. Select the correct idiom to substitute the underlined segment in the
following sentence.
Due to her impoverished state, most of her relatives treated her
with contempt.
(1) Came in handy
(2) Turned up their nose at her
(3) Turned the corner at her
(4) Gave a wide space to her
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44. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Let the dust settle
(1) To make use of a situation
(2) Wait for the other person to make a move
(3) To make a space tidy
(4) To wait for a situation to become clear or certain
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45. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.

The company understood that these small protests of employees
regarding low wages were just the tip of the iceberg.
(1) A small, noticeable part of a problem, the total size of which is
non-existent
(2) A small, noticeable part of a problem, the total size of which is
solvable
(3) A large part of a problem which is really noticeable
(4) A small, noticeable part of a problem, the total size of which is
really much greater
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46. Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.

Bincy’s mother kept her cards close to her chest.
(1) Decided to show more affection
(2) Informed that all the cards must be kept safe
(3) Kept her purse and money by herself
(4) Kept her plans and thoughts hidden
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47. Select the correct meaning of the underlined idiom in the

following sentence.
Lucy’s conceited conduct with her colleagues has left her high and
dry
(1) Helpless
(2) Superseding
(3) Impoverished
(4) Surrounded by people
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Answer key
1. (4) 9. (2) 17. (2) 25. (2) 33. (1) 41. (3)
2. (4) 10. (4) 18. (4) 26. (4) 34. (3) 42. (4)
3. (1) 11. (4) 19. (1) 27. (4) 35. (4) 43. (2)
4. (3) 12. (2) 20. (3) 28. (2) 36. (1) 44. (4)
5. (3) 13. (1) 21. (1) 29. (1) 37. (3) 45. (4)
6. (2) 14. (1) 22. (3) 30. (3) 38. (1) 46. (4)
7. (4) 15. (4) 23. (3) 31. (2) 39. (3) 47. (1)
8. (3) 16. (1) 24. (3) 32. (1) 40. (4)