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Idioms & Phrases SSC MTS 50 MCQ SET:-1
Instructions : Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Q1. The embezzlement in the company’s accounts has come to light.
(A) been concealed
(B) been rewarded
(C) been revealed
(D) been punished
Answer: been revealed
Explanation: Come to light- been revealed.
Q2. In times of economic recession, the demand for goods is on the wane.
(A) on the rise
(B) on the decline
(C) out of control
(D) at the peak
Answer: on the decline
Explanation: On the wane- on the decline
Q3. The new CEO is in favour of giving plenty of elbow room to the managers.
(A) huge salaries and perks
(B) leave to go on vacation
(C) freedom to do what one wants
(D) tough competition
Answer: freedom to do what one wants
Explanation: Elbow room- freedom to do what one wants
Q4. I cannot take up any new assignment as I have my hands full.
(A) am very rich
(B) need to seek help
(C) am very busy
(D) am short of time
Answer: am very busy
Explanation: I have my hands full- am very busy
Q5. He runs for two hours at a stretch to build his stamina.
(A) continuously
(B) painfully
(C) easily
(D) comfortably
Answer: continuously
Explanation: At a stretch- continuously
Q6. India’s problem boils down to just one thing – lack of infrastructure for health services.
(A) fulfils something
(B) adapts to something
(C) heats up to
(D) sums up to
Answer: sums up to
Explanation: Boils down- sums up to
Q7. The wedding preparations are in full swing.
(A) hard to arrange
(B) in great difficulty
(C) at the height of activity
(D) very costly affair
Answer: at the height of activity
Explanation: In full swing- at the height of activity
Q8. He knows the ins and outs of the case and has been chosen to defend the accused.
(A) high stakes
(B) expense involved
(C) time needed to complete
(D) complete details
Answer: complete details
Explanation: Ins and outs- complete details
Q9. When the miscreants saw the police they beat a retreat.
(A) attacked fiercely
(B) protested strongly
(C) marched ahead
(D) ran away
Answer: ran away
Explanation: Beat a retreat- ran away
Q10. You must seize the opportunity to make amends for your earlier curtness.
(A) to correct a mistake
(B) to give a suggestion
(C) to make a proposal
(D) to offer a deal
Answer: to correct a mistake
Explanation: To make amends- to correct a mistake
Q11. Little by little
(A) a few
(B) not much
(C) only once
(D) gradually
Answer: gradually
Explanation: d) Little by little- gradually. Eg : After the accident, her strength returned little by little.
Q12. A dry run
(A) a rehearsal
(B) a run on dry ground
(C) a slow run
(D) a poor harvest
Answer: a rehearsal
Explanation: a) A dry run- a rehearsal. Eg : I suggested to my teammates that we should have a dry run before our final performance tomorrow.
Q13. Call on
(A) announce
(B) visit
(C) step out
(D) telephone
Answer: visit
Explanation: b) Call on- to Visit. Eg : My friend Suraj is always helpful if I need to call on him. Sol:128.(d) Look Out- Be careful. Eg : If you don’t look out, you might fall on the ice.
Q14. Look out
(A) find out
(B) search
(C) locate
(D) be careful
Answer: be careful
Explanation: d) Look Out- Be careful. Eg : If you don’t look out, you might fall on the ice.
Q15. Give a hand
(A) assist
(B) encourage
(C) clap hands
(D) donate an organ
Answer: assist
Explanation: a)Give a hand- Assist. Eg : I always give my friend a hand whenever he asks for my help.
Q16. Speak one’s mind
(A) to put one’s thoughts in writing
(B) to speak without thinking
(C) to speak in an assembly
(D) to voice one’s thoughts plainly
Answer: to voice one’s thoughts plainly
Explanation: d) Speak one’s mind- to voice one’s thoughts plainly. Eg : Ravi is very shy, so he does not speak his mind.
Q17. Grin from ear to ear
(A) to ridicule someone
(B) to have very sharp ears
(C) to smile a lot because of happiness
(D) to make funny faces
Answer: to smile a lot because of happiness
Explanation: c) Grin from ear to ear- to smile a lot because of happiness. Eg : When my daughter was awarded a scholarship, she grinned from ear to ear all evening.
Q18. Walking on thin ice
(A) slipping on ice
(B) performing a ballet
(C) doing something risky
(D) walking carefully
Answer: doing something risky
Explanation: c) Walking on thin ice- doing something risky. Eg : You’re walking on thin ice by investing a lot of your money in the share market. If the market crashes, you’ll be in debt.
Q19. Once bitten twice shy
(A) a bitter experience making one cautious for future
(B) an insect bite that leaves a permanent mark
(C) to be shy of meeting strangers
(D) a person with no self confidence
Answer: a bitter experience making one cautious for future
Explanation: a) Once bitten twice shy- a bitter experience making one cautious for future. Eg : He will never do a business deal with Neeraj again once bitten, twice shy.
Q20. Know like the back of one’s hand
(A) to copy another’s trade secrets
(B) to be unaware of the situation
(C) to hit someone with the back of one’s hand
(D) to have detailed knowledge of something
Answer: to have detailed knowledge of something
Explanation: d) Know like the back of one’s hand- to have detailed knowledge of something. Eg : I know my friend Juhi like the back of my hand.
Q21. Make one’s mark
(A) leave a clue
(B) attain recognition
(C) sign a deal
(D) claim a right
Answer: attain recognition
Explanation: b) Make one’s mark- attain recognition Eg : Sachin Tendulkar made his mark by scoring the highest number of centuries in ODI.
Q22. Pocket an insult
(A) bear an insult quietly
(B) express true feelings
(C) resent an affront
(D) plan a revenge
Answer: bear an insult quietly
Explanation: a) Pocket an insult- bear an insult quietly. Eg : Yuvraj did not reply to the cruel comments of Vishnu, however, Yuvraj chose to pocket the insult and remain quiet.
Q23. Strike when the iron is hot
(A) grab a favourable opportunity promptly
(B) sort out differences promptly
(C) torture someone with a hot iron
(D) wait patiently for the results
Answer: grab a favourable opportunity promptly
Explanation: a) Strike when the iron is hotgrab a favourite opportunity promptly. Eg : If you want to avoid financial losses in the share market investments, you should always strike when the iron is hot.
Q24. Kith and kin
(A) distant enemies
(B) family relations
(C) neighbours
(D) colleagues
Answer: family relations
Explanation: b) Kith and kin- family relations. Eg : We have lost several of our kith and kin in cross-border terrrorism.
Q25. Rise to the occasion
(A) challenge an opponent who is strong
(B) show you can deal with a situation successfully
(C) assess a critical situation carefully
(D) take a big risk in order to succeed
Answer: show you can deal with a situation successfully
Explanation: b) Rise to the occasion – show you can deal with a situation successfully. Eg : In the semester exams, Rahul rose to the occasion and scored brilliant marks.
Q26. The sword of Damocles
(A) an impending threat
(B) an authentic sword
(C) a poignant weapon
(D) a rare artifact
Answer: an impending threat
Explanation: a) The sword of Damocles- an impending threat. Eg : The threat of an investigation is hanging over the government officer like a sword of damocles.
Q27. Bear the brunt of
(A) assume an identity
(B) bear the maximum fury
(C) breed jealousy
(D) bear discrimination
Answer: bear the maximum fury
Explanation: b) Bear the brunt of- bear the maximum fury. Eg : The concerned authority had to bear the brunt of not investigating the matter in a time bound manner.
Q28. Tide over
(A) to change sides
(B) to jump over
(C) to deceive
(D) to overcome
Answer: to overcome
Explanation: d) Tide over- to overcome. Eg : He should have to sell all his luxuries to tide over his bankruptcy.
Q29. Through thick and thin
(A) under extreme pressure
(B) under all circumstances
(C) by unfair means
(D) going through pain
Answer: under all circumstances
Explanation: b) Through thick and thinunder all circumstances. Eg : I promised my wife that I will always be with her through thick and thin.
Q30. Kick up a row
(A) cause a disturbance
(B) hit someone angrily
(C) break a queue
(D) arrange in rows
Answer: cause a disturbance
Explanation: a) Kick up a row- cause a disturbance. Eg : The agitated crowd will be going to kick up a row if the government does not come to a consensus.
Q31. Through and through
(A) partially
(B) eventually
(C) gradually
(D) completely
Answer: completely
Explanation: d) Through and through- Completely. Eg : You will not get the full salary unless you do your work through and through.
Q32. Snake in the grass
(A) a suspicious person
(B) a deceitful person
(C) a slippery person
(D) a mean person
Answer: a deceitful person
Explanation: b) Snake in the grass- a deceitful person. Eg : I trusted Rohan at first, but eventually he turned out to be a snake in the grass.
Q33. Egg on
(A) agree
(B) encourage
(C) continue
(D) quarrel
Answer: encourage
Explanation: b) Egg on- Encourage. Eg : Seeing me less confident in communication skills, my friend Sam egged me on to join personality development classes.
Q34. Get your money’s worth
(A) to be cheated in a purchase
(B) to get something of poor quality for free
(C) to pay and get something of good value
(D) to buy something very expensive
Answer: to pay and get something of good value
Explanation: c) Get your money’s worth- to pay and get something of good value. Eg : I have been driving my car for the last five years without any engine problem, I think I got my money’s worth.
Q35. A bird’s eye view
(A) a cursory look
(B) a detailed study
(C) a prejudiced view
(D) a personal view
Answer: a cursory look
Explanation: a) A bird’s eye view- a cursory look. Eg : I got a bird’s eye view of the entire village from the top of the mountain.
Q36. To take stock of
(A) to check the accounts
(B) to store goods
(C) to assess a situation
(D) to buy stocks
Answer: to assess a situation
Explanation: c) To take stock of- to assess a situation. Eg : Before going on the trip I suggest you take stock of your finances.
Q37. Apple of discord
(A) a tempting offer
(B) something that causes friction
(C) a good opportunity
(D) something very special
Answer: something that causes friction
Explanation: b)Apple of discord- something that causes friction. Eg : The determination to claim a piece of land in the international borders has become an apple of discord between the two countries.
Q38. High time
(A) well in time for something
(B) past the appropriate time
(C) time to celebrate something
(D) time to fly high
Answer: past the appropriate time
Explanation: b) High time- past the appropriate time. Eg : It’s high time that India had retaliated against Pakistan in its own words.
Q39. Sitting on a gold mine
(A) wasting a vast treasure
(B) secretly hunting for something precious
(C) to own something potentially valuable
(D) not availing of an opportunity
Answer: to own something potentially valuable
Explanation: c) Sitting on a gold mine- to own something potentially valuable. Eg : You know you are sitting on a gold mine because you have thousands of shares in that multinational company.
Q40. Make up one’s mind
(A) to achieve
(B) to decide
(C) to pretend
(D) to lie
Answer: to decide
Explanation: b) Make up one’s mind- to decide. Eg : I can’t make up my mind whether to purchase a bike or a car.
Q41. Take exception
(A) appreciate
(B) object to
(C) deny
(D) care for
Answer: object to
Explanation: b) Object to Eg : I take exception to be addressed by my surname.
Q42. Eat one’s words
(A) retract what one has said
(B) forgive and forget
(C) become less acceptable
(D) oppose sternly
Answer: retract what one has said
Explanation: a) Retract what one has said. Eg : You said that I would never be able to clear CGL, now you will have to eat your words.
Q43. A fair weather friend
(A) a jealous friend
(B) a friend turned into an enemy
(C) a dependable friend
(D) an unreliable friend
Answer: an unreliable friend
Explanation: d) An unreliable or disloyal friend Eg : I badly needed money for business and was hoping my friend Sam would help me, but he is really just a fair weather friend.
Q44. On the spur of the moment
(A) deciding after a lot of thinking
(B) being extremely careful
(C) waiting nervously for something
(D) acting impulsively without thinking
Answer: acting impulsively without thinking
Explanation: d) Acting impulsively without thinking. Eg : My friend Himanshu decided, on the spur of the moment, to marry his girlfriend.
Q45. Over one’s head
(A) unable to function as before
(B) being at a disadvantage
(C) beyond one’s capability to understand something
(D) something totally unexpected
Answer: beyond one’s capability to understand something
Explanation: c) Beyond one’s capability to understand something. Eg : A lot of these concepts of biology are way over my head.
Q46. One track mind
(A) using a well-known path
(B) thinking of another point o
(C) waiting anxiously for something
(D) always thinking of only one thing
Answer: always thinking of only one thing
Explanation: d) Always thinking of only one thing. Eg : Shyam had a one-track mind since he started preparation for UPSC examinations.
Q47. Breath of fresh air
(A) someone with a pleasant voice
(B) a high-priced and expensive thing
(C) a peaceful and relaxing place
(D) someone or something new and refreshing
Answer: someone or something new and refreshing
Explanation: d) Someone or something new and refreshing. Eg : He came in like a breath of fresh air and cheered up the whole team.
Q48. On the double
(A) on the verge of collapse
(B) between two undesirable things
(C) at a fast pace
(D) out of order
Answer: at a fast pace
Explanation: c) At a fast pace. Eg : Sam said that he wanted to see me in his office on the double.
Q49. To call the shots
(A) to be in debt
(B) to lack control
(C) to be blissfully
(D) to be the person in charge
Answer: to be the person in charge
Explanation: d) To be the person in charge Eg : He is not in a position to call the shots in this organization.
Q50. Rose-coloured glasses
(A) a difficult situation
(B) a positive outlook on life
(C) an outdated attitude
(D) a belief not based on facts
Answer: a positive outlook on life
Explanation: b) A positive outlook on life Eg : At first, I saw my girlfriend through rose-colored glasses but after a year I realized she was just selfish and arrogant.