This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Idioms – Set 2”.
1. What is the meaning of the sentence ‘He is acting like he has an axe to grind in this issue’?
a) He acts as if he has some personal interest in the issue
b) He acts like he is the culprit
c) He acts carelessly regarding the issue
d) He acts like if he knows something important regarding the issue
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Having a personal interest in something’ is the meaning of the idiom ‘an axe to grind’. Thus, the option ‘He acts as if he has some personal interest in the issue’ is the correct meaning.
2. Select the idiom which means ‘taking a resolute stand’.
a) turned out
b) put my foot down
c) turn a deaf ear
d) strain every nerve
View Answer
Explanation: From the options, the idiom ‘put my foot down’ means ‘to take a resolute stand’. Consider this sentence ‘When it comes to my career, I won’t be playful and put my foot down’.
3. Select a suitable idiom to replace the italicized part of the below sentence.
He began well but stopped suddenly in the middle of the presentation.
a) broke down
b) broke off
c) break up
d) break with
View Answer
Explanation: Among the options ‘broke off’ is the closest in meaning to ‘stopped suddenly’. Thus, the sentence can be written as ‘He began well but broke off in the middle of the presentation’.
4. The meaning of the below sentence is ‘breathing heavily’.
Giving himself airs.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Giving himself airs’ is used to refer to an arrogant behavior. For example, ‘After losing out on the finals he has been giving himself airs’.
5. Identify the meaning of the idiom ‘put me on my mettle’ from the following options.
a) being annoyed by someone
b) enlightened to do one’s best
c) cause irreparable damage
d) getting enraged
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘put me on my mettle’ means to get encouraged to perform better or to bring out the best in oneself. An example for its usage will be ‘All my recent setbacks and losses really did put me on my mettle’.
6. The sentence ‘He is not in the good books of his class teacher’ refers to which of the following meanings?
a) He is not remembered by his teacher
b) He was not mentioned in the books of his teacher
c) He is not in favor with his class teacher
d) He is the most favorite student of his class teacher
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence refers to the meaning that the student has been troublesome and is not in favor with his class teacher.
7. Which of the following idioms means ‘found everywhere’?
a) in the air
b) in hot water
c) at discretion
d) have at my fingertips
View Answer
Explanation: Consider the sentence ‘There was a sense or unrest in the air during the ceremony yesterday’ meaning there was unrest prevalent everywhere.
8. Choose the idiom which is closest in meaning to the italicized part.
Rajesh decided to keep aside a small percentage of his salary for his retirement life.
a) lay by
b) lay down
c) lay up
d) lay out
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘lay by’ has the closest meaning to save for future needs. The sentence can be rephrased as ‘Rajesh decided to lay by a small percentage of his salary for his retirement life’.
9. The chapter has been explained is the meaning of the below sentence.
The chapter has been cleared up.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Cleared up’ means to explain something. Hence the sentence indeed refers to the chapter being explained.
10. Select the option which expresses the meaning of the idiom ‘take exception to’.
a) to appreciate
b) to be on complete agreement
c) object to something
d) take into consideration
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Take exception to’ generally means to object or say against something. Consider the sentence ‘The board took exception to his remark’.
11. From the options select the meaning of the below sentence.
The members in the strike were said to stick to their colors by their leader.
a) The members were advised to not be in disguise
b) The members were told not to yield by their leader
c) The members were told to indulge in violence
d) The members were told to give up and surrender
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘stick to their colors’ means not to give up and be faithful to the cause. Thus, among the options ‘The members were told not to yield by their leader’ is the required answer.
12. Find the idiom which means ‘hateful’.
a) gall and wormwood
b) go back on
c) won his spurs
d) off and on
View Answer
Explanation: ‘My grandmother is gall and wormwood to everyone’ . Here the idiom ‘gall and wormwood’ is used to denote that she is being hateful.
13. From the options, select an idiom to replace the italicized part.
That huge complex was demolished yesterday.
a) pulled together
b) pulled through
c) pulled up
d) pulled down
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Pulled down’ can be used to refer to ‘demolished’. The other options ‘pulled together’ means cooperate, ‘pulled through’ means passed with difficulty, ‘pulled up’ means to scold.
14. Identify the idiom in the below sentence and its meaning.
The habit of consuming fast food has been growing upon him recently.
a) habit of consuming – relentless
b) has been growing – increasing
c) growing upon him – having a strong hold on him
d) consuming fast food – habit of consumption
View Answer
Explanation: There is only one idiom in this sentence and that is ‘growing upon him’. It is used in a sentence to refer to a behavior that is becoming more habitual recently.
15. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom ‘with a high hand’.
a) being generous
b) wealthy
c) having a carefree attitude
d) oppressive behavior
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘with a high hand’ generally means displaying an oppressive behavior against someone. For example, ‘My mother always used to treat me with a high hand’.
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