Exercise-2
Directions: In each of the following questions, an idiomatic expression/a proverb has been given, followed by some alternatives. Choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given idiom proverb.
1.To be at loggerheads
(a) To have a tough encounter                      Â
(b) To be at enmity or strife
 (c) To face stiff opposition                          Â
(d) To tax one’s mind and body
2. To talk through one’s bat
(a) To speak fluently                                     Â
(b) To talk nonsense
(c) To talk wisdom                                        Â
(d) To speak at random
3. To snap one’s fingers
(a) To speak abruptly                                   Â
(b) To accept immediately
(c) To grasp eagerly                                       Â
(d) To become contemptuous of
4. A pipe dream
(a) A pleasant dream                                     Â
(b) A bad dream
(c) An impracticable plan                              Â
(d) A foolish idea
5. To give up the ghost
(a) To die                                                                  Â
(b) To make a false appearance
(c) To terrify others by acting in a suspicious manner
(d) To leave useless pursuits
6. To have an easy time of it
(a) To take the world lightly                         Â
(b) To indulge in frivolities
(c). To squander away resources                   Â
(d) To live in quiet and comfort
7. To stand to one’s guns
(a) To keep the guns close to oneself even amid danger
(b) To persevere when hardships press
(c) To maintain a dignified and unbending attitude
(d) ‘To maintain one’s position
8. To take the bull by the horns (Railways, 1995)
(a) To punish a person severely for his arrogance
(b) ‘To grapple courageously with a difficulty that lies in our way
(c) To handle it by a fierce attack
(d) To bypass the legal process and take action according to one’s own whims.
9. To lose one’s head
(a) To go mad
(b) To become nervous
(c) To become confused and over excited
(d) To lose the balance
10. by the skin of one’s teeth
(a) Hardly
(b) In time
(c) Hurriedly
(d) Only just
11. To throw down the glove
(a). To resort to wrong tactics
 (b) To give a challenge
(c) To accept defeat
(d) To reject the prize
12. To be in abeyance
(a) To be in trouble
(b) Dual minded,
(c) In a fighting mood
(d) In suspense
13. To cast pearls before a swine
(a) To spend recklessly
 (b) To spend a lot of money upkeep of domestic hogs
(c) To waste money over trifles
(d) To offer to a person a thing which he cannot appreciate
14. A chip off the old block
(a) A piece of wood
(b) An old friend
(c) Characteristics of one’s ancestors
(d) A good bargain
15. To smell a rat
(a) To detect a bad smell
 (b) To misunderstand
 (c) To suspect a trick or deceit
(d) To see the hidden meaning
Answers:-
1.(b)Â Â Â Â Â 2. (b)
3. (d)Â Â Â Â 4. (c)
5. (a)Â Â Â Â 6. (d)
7. (b)Â Â Â Â 8. (b)
9. (c)Â Â Â Â 10. (d)
11. (b)Â Â Â 12. (d)
13. (d)Â Â Â 14. (c)
15. (c)
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