This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Idioms”.
1. Identify the meaning of the idiom ‘to eat humble pie’ from the following options.
a) convince oneself
b) to have overbearing pride
c) discussed in detail
d) to apologize
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘to eat humble pie’ means to apologize in a humble manner for some wrongdoing. An example for its usage will be ‘In spite of his condescending attitude, he had to eat humble pie’.
2. The meaning of the below sentence is ‘extremely rare’.
Once in a blue moon.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Once in a blue moon’ is used to refer to things which happen very rarely. For example, ‘He comes with us on a road trip once in a blue moon’.
3. Select a suitable idiom to replace the italicized part of the below sentence.
The incumbent President has been able to crush all opposing critics.
a) bear away
b) bear down
c) bear up
d) bear out
View Answer
Explanation: Among the options ‘bear down’ is the closest in meaning to ‘crush’ or ‘overthrow’. Thus, the sentence can be written as ‘The incumbent President has been able to bear down all opposing critics’.
4. Select the idiom which means ‘to retract your statements’.
a) to eat your words
b) put up
c) not worth his salt
d) to take stock of
View Answer
Explanation: From the options, the idiom ‘to eat your words’ means ‘to retract your statements’. Consider this sentence ‘The Opposition party directed its legislators to eat their own words after a section of the public were enraged by their speech’.
5. What is the meaning of the sentence ‘She puts me in mind of an amazing person’?
a) She reminds me of an amazing person
b) She is like an amazing person
c) She never can be an amazing person
d) She was expected to be an amazing person
View Answer
Explanation: ‘To remind someone of something’ is the meaning of the idiom ‘puts me in mind of’. Thus, the option ‘She reminds me of an amazing person’ is the correct meaning.
6. Select the option which expresses the meaning of the idiom ‘losing ground’.
a) to yield to unfavorable circumstances
b) in the stage of dying
c) losing importance and becoming less powerful
d) excoriating humiliation
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Losing ground’ generally means that the importance and influence is getting faded away. Consider the sentence ‘The research on string theory is losing ground’.
7. ‘My professor didn’t endorse my idea’ is the meaning of the below sentence.
My professor backed up my idea.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Backed up’ means supported. Thus, the sentence says that the professor approved and supported his idea.
8. Choose the idiom which is closest in meaning to the italicized part.
The external examiner demanded an explanation for his project expenses.
a) called for
b) call out
c) called in
d) called on
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘called for’ has the closest meaning to ‘demand’ something. The sentence can be rephrased as ‘The external examiner called for an explanation for his project expenses’.
9. Which of the following idioms means ‘a constant annoyance’?
a) in cold blood
b) into hot water
c) too many irons in the fire
d) a thorn in his side
View Answer
Explanation: Consider the sentence ‘His close acquaintance later turned out to be a thorn in his side’ meaning he was a constant annoyance to him.
10. The sentence ‘Kumar has the habit of sitting on the fence when it comes to making decisions’ refers to which of the following meanings?
a) Kumar tries to find a loophole to make decisions
b) Kumar vacillates between opinions when comes to making decisions
c) Kumar hates making decisions
d) Kumar has the habit of staying calm while making decisions
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence refers to the meaning that Kumar is always skeptical regarding his stand on different opinions when it comes to making decisions.
11. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom ‘without reserve’.
a) lacking content
b) not up to the mark
c) completely
d) practically
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘without reserve’ generally means accepting without hesitation or completely. For example, ‘My grant proposal was accepted without reserve’.
12. Identify the idiom in the below sentence and its meaning.
These internal dissensions will soon blow over.
a) internal dissensions – conflicts
b) blow over – fade away or pass off
c) internal dissensions – agreements
d) blow over – cause damage
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom in the above sentence is ‘blow over’ and not ‘internal dissensions’. The meaning of ‘blow over’ is ‘pass off’.
13. From the options, select an idiom to replace the italicized part.
When he attained stardom, he abandoned his friends and family who helped him get there.
a) threw away
b) threw out
c) threw up
d) threw over
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Threw over’ can be used to refer to ‘abandoned’. The other options ‘threw away’ means wasted, ‘threw out’ means to reject, ‘threw up’ means to resign.
14. Find the idiom which means ‘of the same opinion’.
a) in good part
b) at one
c) made up my mind
d) fallen flat
View Answer
Explanation: ‘At least on the method of designing the experiment we were at one’. Here the idiom ‘at one’ is used to express the fact that they had the same opinion or suggestion.
15. From the options select the meaning of the below sentence.
Abraham was not fit to hold a candle to his predecessor.
a) Abraham cannot be the successor
b) Abraham is worse than his predecessor
c) Abraham cannot be named in comparison to his predecessor
d) Abraham was not qualified to serve under his predecessor
View Answer
Explanation: The idiom ‘not fit to hold a candle’ means cannot be compared with. Thus, among the options ‘Abraham cannot be named in comparison to his predecessor’ is the required answer.
More English Grammar Exercises on Idioms:
- Idioms Exercises (Set 2)
- Idioms Exercises (Set 3)
- Idioms Exercises (Set 4)
- Idioms Exercises (Set 5)
- Idioms Exercises (Set 6)
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