This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Idioms – Set 3”.
1. Select a suitable idiom to replace the italicized part of the below sentence.
He was annoyed when I didn’t invite him to the party.
a) put on
b) put out
c) put up
d) put off
View Answer
Explanation: Among the options ‘put out’ is the closest in meaning to ‘being annoyed’. Thus, the sentence can be written as ‘He was put out when I didn’t invite him to the party’.
2. The meaning of the below idiom is ‘do a remarkable thing’.
Set the Thames on fire.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Set the Thames on fire’ refers to something remarkable that has been done. For example, ‘He solved the quantum vortices conundrum and set the Thames on fire’.
3. Identify the meaning of the idiom ‘keeps a good table’ from the following options.
a) keen on building friendships
b) experienced person
c) keeping oneself clean
d) entertaining the guests sumptuously
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘keeps a good table’ means entertaining the guests and providing them with good food. An example for its usage will be ‘His mother treats us well and keeps a good table’.
4. Select the idiom which means ‘getting into a fight for petty things’.
a) a great hand at
b) put off
c) splitting hairs
d) thrust your nose into
View Answer
Explanation: From the options, the idiom ‘splitting hairs’ means ‘to fight for small things’. Consider this sentence ‘He never realizes that it is a waste of time splitting hairs’.
5. What is the meaning of the sentence ‘She made light of her mother’s warnings’?
a) She followed whatever her mother told
b) She didn’t consider her mother’s warnings
c) She made fun of her mother’s warnings
d) She took into consideration her mother’s warnings and told everybody
View Answer
Explanation: ‘To take something lightly’ is the meaning of the idiom ‘made light of’. Thus, the option ‘She didn’t consider her mother’s warnings’ is the correct meaning.
6. Choose the idiom which is closest in meaning to the italicized part.
At the wedding I accidentally bumped into my professor.
a) fell back
b) fell in
c) fell out
d) fell off
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘fell in’ has the closest meaning to accidentally meet someone. The sentence can be rephrased as ‘At the wedding I fell in with my professor’.
7. ‘The lawyer put in the best possible effort to prove him not guilty’ is the meaning of the below sentence.
The lawyer moved heaven and earth to prove him not guilty.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Moved heaven and earth’ means did every possible thing for the cause. Thus the sentence says that the lawyer did everything he could in his power.
8. Select the option which expresses the meaning of the idiom ‘a bone of contention’.
a) a subject of dispute
b) to triumph over
c) interrupt an action
d) causing great damage
View Answer
Explanation: ‘A bone of contention’ generally refers to a subject that is being regarded as a matter of dispute. Consider the sentence ‘The citations in the research paper became a bone of contention’.
9. Which of the following idioms means ‘defended vigorously’?
a) made ducks and drakes of
b) all eyes
c) took up the cudgels for
d) took away my breath
View Answer
Explanation: Consider the sentence ‘The lawyer took up the cudgels for his client’. It means that the lawyer defended his client vigorously.
10. The sentence ‘Nowadays T20 cricket is all the rage’ refers to which of the following meanings?
a) T20 cricket is extremely popular
b) All the people hate T20 cricket
c) T20 cricket has been put to severe criticism
d) T20 cricket is going to be scraped off
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence refers to the meaning that T20 cricket format has become very popular nowadays among the general public.
11. From the options, select an idiom to replace the italicized part.
The thief tried to attack me.
a) get off
b) get at
c) get away
d) get on
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Get at’ can be used to refer to ‘attack’. The other options ‘get off’ and ‘get away’ means ‘escape’, whereas ‘get on’ means to agree with something.
12. Identify the idiom in the below sentence and its meaning.
I never thought even in my dreams that you would leave me in the lurch.
a) in my dreams – not plausible
b) in the lurch – in a happy situation
c) leave me in the lurch – deserted me in my difficult period
d) in the lurch – in a lovable situation
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom present in the above sentence is ‘leave me in the lurch’ which means to deliberately avoiding a person when he/she is experiencing difficult times.
13. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom ‘come to grief’.
a) cry out loud
b) get ruined
c) a wise choice
d) being attentive
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘come to grief’ generally means to be ruined or almost lose everything. For example, ‘You will come to grief if you follow in your brother’s footsteps’.
14. Find the idiom which means ‘call upon criticism’.
a) stirred up a hornet’s nest
b) every inch
c) done the handsome thing
d) to serve him out
View Answer
Explanation: ‘By disrespecting the martyrs in his speech, the minister stirred up a hornet’s nest’. Here the idiom ‘stirred up a hornet’s nest’ is used to refer that he brought about a sense of hostility and criticism upon himself.
15. From the options select the meaning of the below sentence.
His wife turned up her nose at purchasing that villa.
a) His wife was excited to purchase that villa
b) His wife has already purchased that villa
c) His wife colluded in illegal activities to purchase that villa
d) His wife regarded with contempt the idea of purchasing that villa
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘turned up her nose at’ means to regard with contempt. Thus, among the options ‘His wife regarded with contempt the idea of purchasing that villa’.
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