Exercise-5
Directions: In each of the following questions, some alternatives are suggested for the idiom/phrase in italic in the sentence. Choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase in italics.
1.The young heir to his father’s huge estate (made ducks and drakes) of his patrimony.
(a) Made the best use of
(b) Took stock of
 (c) Squandered lavishly
(d) Invested wisely
2. There is (no love lost) between the two neighbours. (C.B.I. 1995)
 (a) Close friendship
 (b) Intense dislike
(c) A love-hate relationship
(d) Cool indifference
3. He( rides the high) horse because of his high connection.
(a) is famous
 (b) Talks flatteringly
(c) Puts on airs
 (d) is prosperous
4. Whenever I meet him he (pulls a long face).
 (a) looks angry
 (b) looks cheerful
(c) looks gloomy
(d) looks indifferent
5. The speaker’s observations on the subject were (beside the mark).
(a) Correct
(b) Exaggerated
(c) Incorrect
 (d) Irrelevant
6. In parliament, every member can (have the floor) with the permission of the speaker.
(a) Leave the house
(b) Make a speech
(c) Raise an issue
 (d) Speak against his own party
7. The Chief Minister had the Inspector General of Police to (fill him in) on the behavior of the arrested terrorists.
(a) Probe into the cases against the terrorists
(b) Take action against the terrorists
 (c) Inform him about the terrorists
 (d) None of these
8. I did not mind what he was saying; he was only (talking through his hat) (Assistant Grade, 1996)
 (a) Talking insultingly
(b) Talking irresponsibly
(c) Talking ignorantly
(d) Talking nonsense
9. I (sent him about his business) as I could stand his insolence no longer.
(a) Broke the partnership with him
 (b) Requested him to bother someone else
(c) Dismissed him peremptorily
 (d) Abused him heartily
10. He is a (person after my own heart).
(a) An object of mockery
 (b)An emotional man
(c) A happy-go-lucky fellow
(d) Exactly to one’s own liking
11. The captain played with determination because the honor of the team was (at stake.)
 (a) inevitable
(b) sensitive
 (c) necessary
 (d) person
12. He is a (queer fish), I understand him. (Stenographer Exam, 1993)
(a) funny person
 (b) danger
 (c) strange person
(d) quarrelsome person Â
13. Childhood and innocence lie (cheek by jowl.)
(a) together
(b) one after another
 (c) side by side
 (d) proportionately
14. He is really a (broken reed).
 (a) a frustrated man
 (b) an unsuccessful person
 (c) undependable
 (d) one who has lost in business
15. No caring for the family, Defender wanted (to gather roses only). (Bank P.O. 1994)
(a) wanted to paint a rosy picture of the past
(b) wanted to start business of roses
(c) wanted to make safe investment
(d) wanted to seek all the enjoyments of life
 (e) desired to attain fame by hard work
ANSWERS
1.(c)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2. (b)
3. (c)Â Â Â Â Â Â 4. (d)
5. (d)Â Â Â Â Â Â 6. (c)
7. (c)Â Â Â Â Â Â 8. (d)
9. (c)Â Â Â Â Â Â 10. (d)
11. (d)Â Â Â Â 12. (c)
13. (c)Â Â Â Â Â 14. (a)
15. (d)
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