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Idioms & Phrases SSC CGL 50 MCQ SET:-4
Instructions : Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Q1. To play ducks and drakes
(A) to use recklessly
(B) to change places
(C) to be friendly
(D) to act cleverly
Answer: to use recklessly
Explanation: (a) to use recklessly He was suspended from the job for playing ducks and drakes with the company’s money.
Q2. At daggers drawn
(A) deceiving somebody
(B) without hope
(C) friendly with each other
(D) bitterly hostile
Answer: bitterly hostile
Explanation: d) bitterly hostile The two countries are at daggers drawn on the issue of the boundaries that they share.
Q3. Get out of hand
(A) get out of control
(B) to complete a task
(C) give up something
(D) get upset
Answer: get out of control
Explanation: a) get out of control Eg : The teacher complained that our kid was very naughty, he was going out of hand.
Q4. costs an arm and a leg
(A) easy to obtain
(B) rarely available
(C) nothing to lose
(D) very expensive
Answer: very expensive
Explanation: d) very expensive This car is my favorite but it will cost me an arm and a leg.
Q5. Actions speak louder than words
(A) take up a task that you cannot finish
(B) what you do is more important than what you say
(C) do something without planning
(D) look for solutions in the wrong place
Answer: what you do is more important than what you say
Explanation: b) what you do is more important than what you say Our politicians should realize that action speaks louder than words.
Q6. Pull someone’s leg
(A) trust someone
(B) joke with someone
(C) get upset with someone
(D) tell someone a secret
Answer: joke with someone
Explanation: b) joke with someone Eg : As he was a fresher in college, his seniors started pulling his leg.
Q7. Give someone the cold shoulder
(A) Ignore someone
(B) Give away a secret
(C) Do something pointless
(D) Pamper someone
Answer: Ignore someone
Explanation: a) Ignore someone He was angry at his wife but she showed her cold shoulder.
Q8. Pull yourself together
(A) go to sleep
(B) calm down
(C) try to understand
(D) do a good job
Answer: calm down
Explanation: b) calm down Tesla failed several times but he pulled himself together for his next project.
Q9. Couch potato
(A) A person who sleeps all day
(B) A person who watches too much television
(C) A person who remains relaxed and calm
(D) A person who is simple in nature
Answer: A person who watches too much television
Explanation: b) A person who watches too much television My mother scolded me and said “stop being a couch potato, go and water the plants”
Q10. Lead someone by the nose
(A) to do the right thing
(B) to force someone to take the blame
(C) to dominate someone
(D) to quarrel with someone
Answer: to dominate someone
Explanation: c) to dominate someone Australia led the cricket world cup by the nose.
Q11. Butterflies in the stomach
(A) being excited
(B) being nervous
(C) being angry
(D) being hungry
Answer: being nervous
Explanation: b) being nervous The culprit has butterflies in his stomach before the announcement of the result.
Q12. Out of the woods
(A) no longer in trouble
(B) no longer in sight
(C) no longer famous
(D) no longer young
Answer: no longer in trouble
Explanation: a) no longer in trouble Although that situation was very tense with the help of my friend I was out of the woods.
Q13. Lock, stock and barrel
(A) immediately
(B) partly
(C) rarely
(D) completely
Answer: completely
Explanation: d) completely I will complete this project lock, stock, and barrel.
Q14. In the Pink
(A) in the pink dress
(B) in the limelight
(C) in a happy mood
(D) in a good health
Answer: in a good health
Explanation: d) in a good health We hope that you and you and your family are in pink
Q15. On tenterhooks
(A) unhappy
(B) angry
(C) anxious
(D) happy
Answer: anxious
Explanation: c) anxious He is at tenterhooks all week as the result may come at any time.
Q16. Lend an ear
(A) to pay attention to
(B) to not make trouble
(C) to force someone to listen
(D) to not tell someone something
Answer: to pay attention to
Explanation: a) to pay attention to You should always lend your ears to the public place’s announcement.
Q17. The heavy losses in business came like a bolt from the blue.
(A) a thunderstorm
(B) an unexpected disaster
(C) a windfall
(D) an ominous warning
Answer: an unexpected disaster
Explanation: b) an unexpected disaster Without prior notification he left us, it was a boult from the blue.
Q18. He kicked up a row when he was denied entry to the amusement park.
(A) cried with sorrow
(B) waited in a queue
(C) kicked the guard
(D) created a fuss
Answer: created a fuss
Explanation: d) created a fuss Politicians kicked up the row when he was not treated like a special guest.
Q19. It is unfortunate that most people in the country are still living from hand to mouth.
(A) consuming daily what little is earned
(B) saving for the future generations
(C) doing manual labour
(D) earning wealth by selfish means
Answer: consuming daily what little is earned
Explanation: a) consuming daily what little is earned By this job I could only live from hand to mouth, I should do something big.
Q20. The loyal watchman was cut to the quick when he was accused of theft.
(A) imprisoned
(B) severely punished
(C) hurt intensely
(D) dismissed
Answer: hurt intensely
Explanation: c) hurt intensely The policeman cut to the quick thief as he did not stop even after several warnings.
Q21. When his envious competitor extended a hand of friendship, he smelt a rat.
(A) detected something wrong
(B) felt very pleased
(C) became complaisant
(D) behaved arrogantly
Answer: detected something wrong
Explanation: a) detected something wrong Boss smelt a rat as employees were sitting idle.
Q22. Coming from an affluent family she found herself a square peg in a round hole when she married a poor farmer and moved to a small village.
(A) in a favourable situation
(B) unhappy and regretful
(C) a misfit in the environment
(D) in a financial crisis
Answer: a misfit in the environment
Explanation: c) a misfit in the environment The Religious gathering generally doesn’t suit the young generation as they are a square peg in a round hole.
Q23. Extreme poverty made the poor woman wonder how long she could keep the wolf from the door.
(A) avoid starvation
(B) live on charity
(C) keep wild animals away
(D) be safe in her house
Answer: avoid starvation
Explanation: a) avoid starvation During a recession, most of the families find it difficult to keep the wolf from the door.
Q24. The ambitious project to impart free books to all students ended in smoke.
(A) Exceeded the budget
(B) Was delayed
(C) Yielded no result
(D) Was successfully completed
Answer: Yielded no result
Explanation: c) yielded no result As we could win the trophy all our hard work ended in smoke.
Q25. Due to increased number of layoffs in the industry, the sword of Damocles is always hanging over the employees.
(A) Strict rules and regulations
(B) An ill omen of death
(C) A constant threat
(D) Threat of physical harm
Answer: A constant threat
Explanation: c) a constant threat The level of the river is constantly rising, it is a sword of Damocles of a flood.
Q26. True friends stay by our side through thick and thin.
(A) Under all circumstances
(B) In happy moments
(C) In difficult times
(D) In different weathers
Answer: Under all circumstances
Explanation: a) under all circumstances A good friend will always support you through thick and thin.
Q27. A mountaineer has to walk the tight rope as a small slip can prove to be fatal.
(A) Be very nervous
(B) Be very cautious
(C) Be well trained
(D) Be an expert
Answer: Be very cautious
Explanation: b) be very cautious In government exams, you have to walk on the rope as your small mistake can throw you out of the competition.
Q28. The boss is going to blow his top when he discovers the blatant mistake in the balance sheet.
(A) Dismiss from job
(B) Be very embarrassed
(C) Be very angry
(D) Attack fiercely
Answer: Be very angry
Explanation: c) be very angry My teacher blew her top when she knew that in her absence the whole class was misbehaving.
Q29. One must learn to prioritize in life. It never pays to put the cart before the horse.
(A) Perform many tasks simultaneously
(B) Postpone till the last moment
(C) Do things spontaneously
(D) Do last things first
Answer: Do last things first
Explanation: d) do last things first College students are waking up all night and sleeping in the daytime, they are putting the cart before the horse.
Q30. His success at such a young age speaks volumes for his talent.
(A) Gives enough proof
(B) Boasts a lot
(C) Publicly announces
(D) Showers praise
Answer: Gives enough proof
Explanation: a) gives enough proof His acts speak volumes of his charitable nature.
Q31. The man heaved a sigh of relief when he was sure he was out of the woods.
(A) Discharged from hospital
(B) Released from prison
(C) Out of danger
(D) Out of the forest
Answer: Out of danger
Explanation: c) out of danger Although that situation was very nervous with the help of my friend I was out of the woods
Q32. Many people join politics to feather their own nest.
(A) Make others’ life comfortable
(B) Promote their own interest
(C) Utilize black money
(D) Serve their country
Answer: Promote their own interest
Explanation: b) promote their own interest Example. The contractor used a lot of public money to feather his nest.
Q33. Throughout his speech, the crowd was all ears.
(A) Very attentive
(B) Talking loudly
(C) Covering their ears
(D) Making a lot of noise
Answer: Very attentive
Explanation: a) very attentive The teacher asked the student to pay all ears as this is an important chapter.
Q34. Since he secured the first rank Sudhir has become swollen-headed.
(A) Well-connected
(B) Unwell
(C) Conceited
(D) Famous
Answer: Conceited
Explanation: c) to be conceited or to be arrogant Many people are so swallow-headed after getting some money that they even forget their past.
Q35. Raju was playing with fire when he made speeches against the management.
(A) Taking a grave risk
(B) Lighting candles
(C) Smoking a cigarette
(D) Provoking the crowd
Answer: Taking a grave risk
Explanation: a) taking a grave risk He is playing with fire by complaining continuously against such a big institution.
Q36. The authorities have turned a deaf ear to all our requests.
(A) Acknowledged
(B) Neglected
(C) Accepted
(D) Presented
Answer: Neglected
Explanation: b) neglected How can you turn a deaf ear to the differently-abled poor begging for food?
Q37. The idea of making a children’s park has been nipped in the bud by the local council.
(A) Encouraged strongly
(B) Changed completely
(C) Dropped at an early stage
(D) Included somewhere else
Answer: Dropped at an early stage
Explanation: c)dropped at an early stage Most of the problems can be nipped in the bud if they are detected at an early stage.
Q38. We now have an ex-Minister in the running from our constituency for the post of Member of Parliament.
(A) Contesting the seat
(B) Teaching yoga
(C) Giving speeches
(D) Jogging everyday
Answer: Contesting the seat
Explanation: a)contesting the seat Eg : Many candidates are in the running for the principal’s post.
Q39. Let us have all the regulations in black and white.
(A) Painted in colour
(B) Printed in coloured ink
(C) Written on the black-board
(D) In writing
Answer: In writing
Explanation: d)in writing To have the process legal we must have everything in black and white.
Q40. The invigilator did not know that the two boys were exchanging notes under his nose.
(A) Written in small letters
(B) Rolled into small pellets
(C) Wrapped in handkerchiefs
(D) Right in front of him
Answer: Right in front of him
Explanation: d)right in front of him The staff was misusing the fund of the organisation under the nose of the managing director.
Q41. The dog played in the pond to his heart’s content.
(A) Only upto his legs
(B) Till he was completely sick
(C) As much as he wanted to
(D) Avoiding getting too wet
Answer: As much as he wanted to
Explanation: c)as much as he wanted to Boss gave a project to be done at the supreme quality and offered a heart’s content fund.
Q42. “These glasses suit you to a T,” said Ria to Vandana.
(A) Look very good on your face
(B) Are not suitable for your work
(C) Make you look weird
(D) Need to be worn with a suit
Answer: Look very good on your face
Explanation: a)look very good on your face The black t-shirt which I bought last week suits me to a T.
Q43. He has set up his business now as he knows the ins and outs of it.
(A) Usefulness
(B) Importance
(C) Details
(D) Difficulties
Answer: Details
Explanation: c) details Eg : As I have been in this business for a long I know its ins and outs.
Q44. A friend is no friend if he leaves you in the lurch.
(A) Leave for one’s own work
(B) Take advantage of someone
(C) Make a fool of someone
(D) Leave someone in a helpless condition
Answer: Leave someone in a helpless condition
Explanation: d) leave someone in a helpless condition Eg : Even though I helped him several times but he believes that I left him in the lurch.
Q45. Many people in our country like to feather their own nest from the money they raise for social work.
(A) Enrich oneself by dishonest means
(B) Achieve something and be proud of it
(C) Make one’s family comfortable
(D) Provide comforts in one’s house
Answer: Enrich oneself by dishonest means
Explanation: a) enrich oneself by dishonest means Example. The contractor used a lot of public money to feather his nest.
Q46. After getting the news of his promotion, he was in high spirits.
(A) Joyful
(B) Drunk
(C) Mad
(D) Hopeful
Answer: Joyful
Explanation: a) joyful Eg : After winning three consecutive matches, our team is in high spirit.
Q47. Don’t take it seriously. He was simply pulling your leg.
(A) Playing a joke with someone
(B) Scolding someone for nothing
(C) Trying to comfort someone
(D) Speaking in a harsh tone
Answer: Playing a joke with someone
Explanation: a) playing a joke with someone Eg : As he was a fresher in college, his seniors started pulling his leg.
Q48. The cost of living has increased so much that many people find it difficult to make both ends meet.
(A) Buy expensive gadgets
(B) Buy something new
(C) Earn enough to survive
(D) Help other people
Answer: Earn enough to survive
Explanation: c) earn enough to survive Eg : In the current scenario of inflation, it is difficult for the middle-class man to make both ends meet.
Q49. I am fed up with his false promises.
(A) Disgusted
(B) Hopeful
(C) Furious
(D) Pleased
Answer: Disgusted
Explanation: a) disgusted or annoyed Eg : I am fed up with the heating problem of my laptop.
Q50. Getting the Fulbright Scholarship at this young age is a feather in his cap.
(A) A sign of his intelligence
(B) An accomplishment to be proud of
(C) Something he can show off about
(D) An award not to be given up
Answer: An accomplishment to be proud of
Explanation: b) an accomplishment to be proud of Eg : This award is another feather on his cap.