Exercise-1
Choose the option that describes the meaning of each of the following idioms and phrases:
1.To catch a Tartar
(a) To live carefully and cautiously
(b) To catch a dangerous person
(c) To trap a wanted criminal with great difficulty
(d) To deal with a person who is more than ones match
2. End in smoke
(a) bear no fruit
(b) produce good results
(c) benefit the poor and downtrodden
(d) having many blue things
3. In the blues
(a) behave like a fool
(b) being colourful
(c) melancholic and low spirited
(d) having many blue things
4. To turn over a new leaf
(a) disclose a secret
(b) to divert from the path
(c) to destroy a leaf
(d) to begin again
5. To smell a rat
(a) to suspect foul dealings
(b) to be in a bad mood
(c) bad smell
(d) sings of plague epidemic
6. A man of straw
(a) an unreasonable person
(b) a man of no substance
(c) a very active person
(d) a worthy fellow
7. To fall flat
(a) to retreat
(b) to meet accidentally
(c) to be met with a cold reception
(d) to quarrel
8. To cast pearls before swine
(a) to offer a person, a thing which he can’t appreciate
(b) to waste money over trifles.
(c) to spend a lot of money on the upkeep of domestic dogs
(d) to spend recklessly
9. A wet blanket
(a) a man who is always drunk
(b) a wife who is cold to her husband
(c) to wear black and white clothes
(d) none of these
10. To carry the coal to New Castle
(a) to finish a difficult job
(b) to do the mental jobs
(c) to work very hard
(d) to do an unnecessary job
Answers:
1.(b) To catch a dangerous person
2. (a) bear no fruit
3. (c) melancholic and low spirited
4. (d) to begin again
5. (a) to suspect foul dealings
6. (b) a man of no substance
7. (c) to be met with a cold reception
8. (a) to offer a person, a thing which he can’t appreciate
9. (d) none of these
10. (d) to do an unnecessary job
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