EXERCISE-17
Choose the exact meaning of the idioms/phrases given in the italic form.
1.When I saw him in the morning, he looked like a duck in a thunderstorm.
(a) entrapped
(b) distressed
(c) indomitable
(d) peaceful
(e) timid
2. Our school is within a stone’s throw of the railway station.
(a) very far-off
(b) with a certain radius
(c) at a short distance
(d) within a definite circumference
3. He burnt his fingers by interfering in his neighbour’s affair.
(a) got himself into trouble
(b) burnt himself
(c) got himself insulted
(d) got rebuked
4. He is not worth his salt if he fails at this juncture.
(a) very strange
(b) very proud of himself
(c) quite depressed
(d) quite worthless
5. Mr Gupta, who is one of the trustees of a big charity is suspected of feathering his own nest.
(a) being lazy in doing his work
(b) being too generous
(c) neglecting his job
(d) making money unfairly
6. She exhibited remarkable sang froid during the crisis.
(a) temper
(b) irritation
(c) composure
(d) anger
7. Mrs Hashmi has been in the blues for the last several weeks.
(a) abroad
(b) unwell
(c) depressed
(d) penniless
(e) lonely
8. All the political parties are tarred with the same brush.
(a) treated equally
(b) profess the same policies
(c) have the same merits
(d) follow the same principles
(e) possess the same defects
9. Let us admit that we could not heap coals of fire on his head.
(a) burn him alive
(b) agitate him
(c) make him feel sorry by retuning good for evil
(d) put him to shame
(e) incite him to a fight
10. Almost everybody has an eye on the main chance.
(a) waits for the appropriate time
(b) thinks of outwitting his rival
(c) looks for better prospects
(d) tries to tackle the problem in his own way
(e) looks after his own welfare
11. For the first week, the apprentice felt like a fish out of water.
(a) frustrated
(b) homeless
(c) disappointed
(d) uncomfortable
(e) starved
12. His friends failed to see why he should ride the high horse just because he had won an election.
(a) become abnormal
(b) appear arrogant
(c) indulge in dreams
(d) hate others
(e) act rashly
13. The General Manager of this industry is a host in himself.
(a) eats too much
(b) independent of others
(c) capable of doing as much as a number of ordinary persons
(d) very hospitable
(e) intolerant of guests
14. The cooperation and esprit de corps between the soldiers and the officers was directly responsible for their victory.
(a) bravery
(b) loyalty
(c) subordination
(d) unity
(e) adjustment
15. It is out of the question for only one to have a quiet meal with 8 set of ultras around him.
(a) unthinkable
(b) impossible
(c) unbecoming
(d) indecent
(e) undesirable
Answers:-
1.b 2.c
3.a 4.d
5.d 6.c
7.C 8.e
9.d 10.e
11.b 12.b
13.d 14.d
15.a