Directions (Qs. 1 - 23): Select the most appropriate meaning of the given phrases and idioms.
1. Jazz up
A) Make something more interesting B) Cut something with a sharp object
C) Evaluate something D) Keep working at something E) Want something or someone a lot
Explanation: The phrase ‘Jazz up’ means to make something more interesting.
Ans: A
2. Race off
A) Make food quickly B) Hurry or leave somewhere quickly C) Become uncontrolled
D) Praise someone in a way to get favour from them E) To speak, raise your voice
Explanation: The phrase ‘race off’ means in a hurry or leave somewhere quickly.
Ans: B
3. Nose out
A) Continuing doing something B) Finish a work for the day C) Discover something
D) Visit different places for pleasure E) Move into a lane of traffic without making other cars stop Explanation: The phrase ‘nose out’ means to discover something.
Ans: C
4. Play up to
A) Marry someone of different religion B) Get ready for a busy schedule C) Accept responsibility or guilt
D) Behave in a way expected E) Spend a lot of time on something
Explanation: The phrase ‘play up to’ means to behave in a way someone expected.
Ans: D
5. Square away
A) Sleep somewhere for the night B) Shout because of pain C) Restrict or try to stop something
D) Enquire about someone’s health E) To complete all necessary arrangements for something or someone
Explanation: The phrase ‘square away’ means to complete all necessary arrangements for something or someone.
Ans: E
6. Crank out
A) Depend very much or completely B) Fill something C) Raise an issue or highlight its importance
D) Produce a lot of something fast in large amounts E) Acquire bad habits
Explanation: The phrase ‘crank out’ means to produce a lot of something fast in large amounts.
Ans: D
7. Salt away
A) Run away B) Walk away C) Save money D) Spend lavishly E) Going away
Explanation: The phrase ‘salt away’ means to save money.
Ans: C
8. Wade into
A) Resist something B) Become involved in a situation without thinking or planning
C) Search and discover something D) Not to be brave enough to do something E) Stay overnight Explanation: The phrase ‘wade into’ means to become involved in a situation without thinking or planning. Ans: B
9. Knuckle down
A) Make a great effort B) Leave a place without telling anyone C) Pay for stay over
D) To lead, make something begin E) Get something to lower the price of something
Explanation: The phrase ‘knuckle down’ means to make a great effort.
Ans: A
10. Nerd out
A) Talk fast or incomprehensibly B) To discuss something in detail C) Look in different places for something D) Make something more attractive, exciting E) Search for and manage to find something
Explanation: The phrase ‘nerd out’ means to discuss something in detail.
Ans: B
11. Measure against
A) Study hard for a goal or a reason B) Try to get something indirectly, by hinting or suggesting
C) To compare someone/ something with somebody/ something
D) Try to minimize the importance of something E) Become less busy or intense
Explanation: The phrase ‘measure against’ is used to compare someone/ something with somebody/ something.
Ans: C
12. Pan out
A) Finish work for the day B) Become excited by C) Understand about something after a long time
D) The way a situation develops E) Criticize
Explanation: The phrase ‘pan out’ is used to describe the way a situation develops.
Ans: D
13. Bashed in
A) Find by accident/ suddenly B) Attack someone who is already hurt C) To explain
D) Make a mistake E) Break or hit something
Explanation: The phrase ‘bashed in’ means to break or hit something.
Ans: E
14. Paper over
A) Go away on a bike B) To reduce a pressure C) Settle in a place as comfortably as possible to stay there D) Try to conceal a problem E) To be unfaithful
Explanation: The phrase ‘paper over’ means to try to conceal a problem.
Ans: D
15. Jump at
A) Leave a work B) Get someone to accept something that is not true
C) Accept an opportunity or offer with great eagerness D) Cancel or divert E) Reduce
Explanation: The phrase ‘jump at’ is used to accept an opportunity or offer with great eagerness.
Ans: C
16. Potter about
A) Start to be noticeable B) Spend time doing little things for pleasure C) Get lost or go away
D) End in an unsuccessful way E) Feel more confident or optimistic about something
Explanation: The phrase ‘potter about’ means to spend time doing little things for pleasure.
Ans: B
17. Conjure up
A) To imagine something B) Pay attention to C) Focus less closely
D) Improving knowledge quickly E) Hide something
Explanation: The phrase ‘conjure up’ means to imagine something.
Ans: A
18. Scrape together
A) Become involved or interested B) Manage to collect enough of something needed
C) Consider something to be inferior or unimportant D) Remove someone secretly from a place
E) Find an answer to a problem
Explanation: The phrase ‘scrape together’ means to manage to collect enough of something needed.
Ans: B
19. Rake up
A) Lie around B) Confine in a small area C) Bring forgotten memories back
D) Give something away E) Act in a lazy or unproductive way
Explanation: The phrase ‘rake up’ means to bring forgotten memories back.
Ans: C
20. Snap up
A) Invest heavily in or throw a lot of money at something B) Cheat someone by charging them too much
C) Make a mistake D) To purchase or acquire something quickly before anyone else has the chance
E) Try to take hold of something quickly
Explanation: The phrase ‘snap up’ means to purchase or acquire something quickly before anyone else has the chance.
Ans: D
21. Beaver away
A) Become rigid B) Become involved even though there is opposition to your involvement
C) Prepare someone mentally D) To make someone feel more positive
E) To work in a very active and energetic way
Explanation: The phrase ‘beaver away’ means to work in a very active and energetic way.
Ans: E
22. Gad about
A) Pass quickly B) Look through something quickly C) Not being serious for something
D) Visit a lot of different places for pleasure E) Control negative emotions
Explanation: The phrase ‘gad about’ means to visit a lot of different places for pleasure.
Ans: D
23. Stumble across
A) Enclose an area B) Arrange events for someone C) Find something suddenly/ accidentally
D) Remove less important options to make it easier to choose E) Heat something solid until it becomesliquid
Explanation: The phrase ‘stumble across’ means find something suddenly/ accidently.
Ans: C
