This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Idioms – Set 8”.
1. Select the idiom which means ‘to quarrel’.
a) break with
b) break down
c) break off
d) break into
View Answer
Explanation: From the options, the idiom ‘break with’ means ‘to quarrel’. Consider this sentence ‘There was absolutely no reason for him to break with me’.
2. Identify the meaning of the idiom ‘was carried off his feet’ from the following options.
a) slipped and fell down
b) lost his balance
c) met with an accident
d) was wild with excitement
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘was carried off his feet’ means gone wild with excitement. An example for its usage will be ‘After hearing the result, he was carried off his feet’.
3. What is the meaning of the sentence ‘The tape bears out the evidence provided by the local police’?
a) The tape disproves the evidence provided by the local police
b) The tape confirms the evidence provided by the local police
c) The tape was not relevant to the evidence provided by the local police
d) The tape overthrows the evidence provided by the local police
View Answer
Explanation: ‘To confirm’ or ‘corroborate’ is the meaning of the idiom ‘bears out’. Thus, the option ‘The tape confirms the evidence provided by the local police’ is the correct meaning.
4. Out of the question.
The meaning of the above idiom is ‘totally impossible’.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Out of the question’ is used to refer to things which are completely impossible. For example, ‘Thinking about another idea for the project is out of question’.
5. Select a suitable idiom to replace the italicized part of the below sentence.
The expenses on work force has to be reduced.
a) cut off
b) cut down
c) cut out for
d) cut him up
View Answer
Explanation: Among the options ‘cut down’ is the closest in meaning to reduce. Thus, the sentence can be written as ‘The expenses on work force has to be cut down’.
6. Which of the following idioms means ‘subdued’?
a) got away
b) got off
c) got through
d) got under
View Answer
Explanation: Consider the sentence ‘The protest by the trade union has been got under’ meaning that the trade union’s protest has been subdued.
7. Select the option which expresses the meaning of the idiom ‘the ins and outs’.
a) corrupt methods
b) loopholes in law
c) the entire details
d) accommodation details
View Answer
Explanation: ‘The ins and outs’ generally mean ‘the full details’. Consider the sentence ‘He knows the ins and outs of this video game’.
8. The sentence ‘You must lie in the bed you have made’ refers to which of the following meanings?
a) You must use your own furniture
b) You must take responsibility for your wrongdoings
c) You must not involve in corruption
d) You must be happy about your achievements
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence refers to the meaning that you have to take responsibility for your actions and suffer for your own misdeeds.
9. ‘The decision was taken after a deliberate discussion’ is the meaning of the below sentence.
The decision was taken on the spur of the moment.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: ‘On the spur of the moment’ means at once or without deliberation. Thus, the sentence says that the decision was taken without any discussions.
10. Choose the idiom which is closest in meaning to the italicized part.
The team management overlooked the rookies for squad selection.
a) passed himself off
b) passed through
c) passed upon
d) passed by
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘passed by’ has the closest meaning to overlook something. The sentence can be rephrased as ‘The team management passed by the rookies for squad selection’.
11. Find the idiom which means ‘refusing to surrender’.
a) leave me in the lurch
b) nail my colors to the mast
c) a great hand at
d) hung fire
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Till my demands are fulfilled, I nail my colors to the mast’. Here, the idiom ‘nail my colors to the mast’ is used to express the fact that he won’t surrender until his demands are fulfilled.
12. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom ‘on his last legs’.
a) walking with a single leg
b) without support from others
c) on the verge of ruin
d) anxious
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘on his last legs’ generally means on the verge of ruin or failure. For example, ‘Sathish is on his last legs after he suffered a huge loss in his business’.
13. From the options select the meaning of the below sentence.
She is leaving Chennai for good.
a) She is leaving Chennai for others
b) She is leaving Chennai so that everyone else will live happily
c) She is leaving Chennai permanently
d) She is leaving Chennai for the greater good of the city
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom for good means permanently. Thus, among the options ‘She is leaving Chennai permanently’ is the required answer.
14. Identify the idiom in the below sentence and its meaning.
Nagesh is so absent-minded that he does not know what passes under his nose.
a) absent minded – not aware of the surroundings
b) absent minded – suffering from psychological imbalance
c) under his nose – in his presence
d) under his nose – on his own orders
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom in the above sentence is ‘under his nose’ and not ‘absent minded’. The idiom conveys the meaning that he is unaware of the things happening in his presence.
15. From the options, select an idiom to replace the italicized part.
The news of loan waivers excited the mob.
a) worked up
b) worked out
c) worked on
d) worked upon
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Worked up’ can be used to refer to ‘getting excited’. The other options ‘worked out’ means solved, ‘worked on’ and ‘worked upon’ means to influence people.
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