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IDIOMS AND PHRASAL VERBS

In English language, there are about 10 Lakh words and almost every word has some meaning. Most words carry more than one meaning. Again when used in combinations as a small group, words give altogether a new and different meaning. Such combinations of words are called IDIOMS AND PHRASAL VERBS. While a Phrasal Verb may have just a Verb plus a Preposition, an idiom may have a group of Nouns/Adjectives/Verbs/Prepositions. There are thousands of Idioms and Phrasal Verbs in English and in other languages. People often use them in English to make their speeches and writings rich and beautiful. A vocabulary of idioms and phrasal verbs is a sign of scholarship with which a person can impress people and be successful in his career. But avoid using too many idioms and phrasal verbs in your speech and writing. In Competitive exams, they are given to test your vocabulary and scholarship. Here are a few questions taken from some previous question papers for your practice.

Exercise - 1

Directions (Qs. 1 - 15): Select the meaning of the following idioms.
1. Kick the bucket
a) To win a deal     b) To throw a tantrum
c) To get angry      d) To die
Ans-d; ‘Kick the bucket’ means to die.

 

2. Feather one’s own nest
a) To enrich oneself
b) To prepare for a family
c) To beautify one’s house
d) To be greedy
Ans-a; ‘Feather your own nest’ means to take advantage of the opportunities to get a lot of money for yourself.

 

3. To go off the deep end
a) To be silent
b) To fall into further trouble
c) To be caught doing a wrong act
d) To give way to anger or emotion
Ans-d; ‘Go off the deep end’ means to give way immediately to an emotional outburst, especially of anger.

 

4. Call a spade a spade
a) To be rude
b) To speak bluntly
c) To force your views on others
d) To support a theory
Ans-b; ‘To call a spade a spade’ is to tell the truth about something, even if it is not polite or pleasant.

 

5. To sit on the fence
a) To shirk off responsibility
b) To become lazy
c) To do no work
d) To remain undecided
Ans-d; ‘To sit on the fence’ is to be unable to take a decision.

 

6. All Greek to me
a) Incomprehensible       b) Foreign
c) New to me       d) Difficult
Ans-a; ‘All Greek to me’ means something that one does not understand.

 

7. Cut to the chase
a) Run fast        b) Take part in the chase
c) Get to the point      d) Take a short cut
Ans-c; ‘Cut to the chase’ means to be specific and to the point.

 

8. Field day
a) A day of working in a field
b) A day of hard work
c) An enjoyable situation
d) An outdoor picnic
Ans-c; ‘Field day’ means an activity, or time spent in an activity, that is enjoyable and fun.

 

9. Gut feeling
a) Feeling hungry       b) Feeling unwell
c) Stomach ache         d) Intuition
Ans-d; To have a ‘gut feeling’ means to have a sense or a certain feeling about a person or a situation, without knowing the rational basis for such a feeling.

 

10. Give someone the slip
a) To fire someone
b) To cheat someone
c) To escape from someone
d) To hide from someone
Ans-c; To ‘give someone the slip’ means to run away from problems or from any difficult situations.

 

11. Have your back to the wall
a) To talk to someone again in order to give them some information
b) To have very serious problems that limit the ways in which you can act
c) To not allow people to know about your intentions that you have kept secret
d) To behave stubbornly or in a childlike manner
Ans-b; If you 'have your back to the wall', you are in serious difficulty.

 

12. Can of worms
a) A situation that causes a lot of problems for you when you start to deal with it
b) A sight or situation which brings the feeling of disgust or abhorrence
c) To accept blame or take responsibility for something that goes wrong
d) To begin to worry because of a problem that you weren't expecting.
Ans-a; To describe a situation as a 'can of worms' means that it is a situation that causes a lot of problems for you when you start to deal with it.

 

13. Half the battle
a) An important step towards achieving something
b) The slightest opportunity
c) Not as much as you want but better than nothing
d) Most important part of something
Ans-a; 'Half the battle' is used to refer to an important step towards achieving something.

 

14. Put the hard word on
a) To raise a topic of conversation
b) To make a mess of things
c) To adopt an aloof attitude
d) To ask a favour of someone
Ans-a; 'Put the hard word on' means to ask a favour of someone, especially a financial favour.

 

15. Be chilled to the marrow
a) To be completely shameless
b) To your innermost being
c) To be extremely cold
d) To vigorously engage in an argument
Ans-c; 'Be chilled to the marrow' means to be extremely cold.

 

Directions (Qs. 16 - 20): Select the idiom or phrase from the given alternatives that best completes the sentence.
16. It finally ................ him that she was the Principals daughter.
a) dawned on       b) came on
c) came to            d) took to
Ans-a; ‘Dawned on’ is the correct idiomatic usage in the sentence as ‘dawn on’ means to become suddenly clear to (a person).

 

17. Ritesh has started his own business and he has been ........ money since then.
a) raking in       b) making in
c) raking for     d) taking in
Ans-a; ‘Raking in’ is the correct idiomatic usage in the sentence as it means to earn large sums of money.

 

18. You are not in a good mood today; .......?
a) why aren’t you
b) what is happening to you
c) what’s eating you
d) what’s picking you
Ans-b; ‘What’s eating you’ is the correct phrase. It means what is worrying or annoying you?

 

19. Rahul came into the kitchen and made a ................ the cookies.
a) beeline for      b) beeline of
c) deck for          d) route at
Ans-a; ‘Beeline for’ is the correct phrasal usage as it means hurry directly to. The phrase, used in this context, describes the rush hour at the metro.

 

20. Her poems are definitely a .............. the poems of other competitors.
a) cut in       b) cut above
c) cut for      d) cut below
Ans-b; ‘Cut above somebody/something’ is the correct idiomatic usage as it means to be better than other people or things.

 

Directions (Qs. 21 - 25): In each of the following questions, the given sentence contains an idiom which has been underlined. From the given options, choose the one which gives the correct meaning of the idiom.
21. Even during the holidays I had my hands full.
a) was very busy       b) was extremely worried
c) was tired            d) carried heavy loads
Ans-a; ‘Have your hands full’ means to be very busy or too busy to do something else.

 

22. The long and the short of it is that it ended in a fiasco.
a) the outcome or result
b) the whole matter in brief
c) the multiple effects
d) the disastrous result
Ans-b; ‘The long and (the) short of it’ is used when you are telling somebody the essential facts about something or what effect it will have, without explaining all the details.

 

23. There's no doubt that stress can lead to physical illness.
a) begin a process         b) invite something
c) upheld something     d) attract something
Ans-a; ‘Lead up to’ means to make someone think something.

 

24. He cut a poor figure at the presentation ceremony.
a) spoke loudly
b) used indecent language
c) appear badly
d) was critical of the arrangement
Ans-c; ‘To cut a poor figure’ means to appear or behave badly.

 

25. The labour strike is only the tip of the iceberg.
a) indication of a big problem
b) biggest hurdle
c) cause of agitation
d) last problem
Ans-a; ‘The tip of the iceberg’ means only a small part of a much larger problem.

 

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Directions (Q.No.1 - 10): In each of the following sentences there are two blanks spaces. Below each sentence there are five pairs of words denoted by numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Find out which pair of words can be filled up in the blanks in the same order to make the sentence meaningfully complete.
1. If you kindly bear ........... Ravi for some time, he shall ........... the whole issue.
1) out and show          2) with and clarify
3) for and open           4) in and close            5) from and clear

 

2. The account of the crime given by police was ........ and was ........
1) correct and documented            2) false and factual           3) narrated and doctored
4) recorded and revealed                5) balanced and imaginary 

 

3. When the agitating students turned ........, police opened fire to bring the ........ under control.
1) back and group           2) down and ground          3) peaceful and place
4) violent and situation             5) up and time

 

4. A ........ reader gets much greater joy from reading books than a close-fisted person in ........
1) new and sleeping            2) powerful and spending               3) fervent and hoarding
4) small and sharing                 5) regular and receiving

 

5. With large classes, it is difficult for teachers to ........ regular essay-type questions for homework because ........... long answers would take too much time.
1) write and erasing              2) give and evaluating                3) take and estimating
4) copy and encircling            5) impose and endorsing

 

6. Hari has a ........... sense of words.Therefore, the sentences he constructs are always ........... with rich meaning.
1) great and fraught               2) little and barren              3) less and limited      
4) no and round             5) bad and brimming

 

7. The present education system is ........... and needs ...........
1) complete and improvement             2) full and betterment
3) defective and reforming           4) total and redressal            5) inadequate and recharging

 

8. Punishment is ........... and ........... a lot of wrong doings
1) a gift and helps              2) a god-send and creates             3) a deterrent and prevents  
4) a door stopper and laces            5) a wage and wipes

 

9. Pradeep was ........... for the crime of ...........
1) honored and eve teasing             2) fined and drunken driving
3) detained and directing a film            4) fired and incurring heavy losses
5) denounced and employing a child

 

10. The ........... manners of the new bride won for her the ........... of one and all.
1) good and  praise         2) old and hearts           3) new and affection
4) crude and recognition           5) refined and wrath

 

11. The account of the big bank heist given by the bank manager was ........... and was ....
1) correct and documented            2) false and factual           3) narrating and doctoring
4) recorded and revealed            5) balancing and imaginary

 

12. An ........... reader gets much greater joy from reading books than a close-fisted person in ...........
1) new and sleeping          2) powerful and spending
3) avid and hoarding         4) agitating and sharing         5) angry and receiving

 

13. With large classes, it is difficult for the examiners to ........... regular essay-type questions for homework because ........... long answers would take too much time.
1) write and erasing          2) set and evaluating           3) take and estimating
4) copy and encircling            5) impose and endorsing

 

14. Mary has a ........... sense of words. Therefore, the sentences she constructs are always full of ........... meaning.
1) great and profound           2) little and barren             3) less and limited      
4) no and round               5) bad and brimming


Directions (Q.No. 15 - 39): There is a blank in each of the five sentences. Fill in the blank with a suitable idiom and phrasal verb choosing from the options given below each question.

15. Besides watching movies on T V Madhavi goes to the theatre ........... to see Telugu movies  
1) once in a blue moon              2) once in a donkey's year
3) once upon a time             4) once in four years             5) once in five years

 

16. My father-in- law ........... in hospital yesterday after a brief illness
1) kicked the ball         2) footed the bill            3) breathed his last    
4) breathed his first           5) kicked off

 

17. As Meena is very kind and she helps one and all, her friends often call her ...........
1) a miser          2) a smart Alec          3) a good Samaritan
4) a man Friday          5) a man of few words

 

18. Maintaining the big and pristine mansion has become ........... for Raju  
1) a dark horse         2) a white elephant           3) a black sheep      
4) a lame duck              5) a sitting duck

 

19. When Ramu found a costly laptop on the road, he immediately rushed to a near by police station to ........... the item to them.  
1) turn in         2) turn off          3) turn down          4) turn up        5) turn around

 

20. Vasu is a moody person  and he often ........... with friends.
1) blows his own trumpet              2) blows hot and cold            3) holds a candle to devil
4) quotes from scripture             5) beats around the bush

 

21. Close friends always talk ...........
1) over the head          2) heart to heart            3) in the ear
4) in the face              5) in the eyes

 

22. My mother is a great host and she always receives her guests with ...........
1) open hands             2) open mind            3) closed fist            4) closed doors         5) open mouth

 

23. Most agriculture workers work in their fields ...........
1) from evening to night             2) from Sunday to Saturday              3) from dawn to dusk
4) from dusk to dawn           5) from day to day

 

24. After a month long voyage, our ship at last ........... at Mumbai
1) cast a shadow         2) cast anchor         3) cast an eye
4) cast a role            5) cast a hand

 

25. After a fight with the host, some members left the party ...........
1) in a bad mood         2) in a good mood          3) in a huff        4) in a jiffy         5) in a bind

 

26. Mohan is a great painter and he can paint any portraits ...........
1) to an eye        2) to a nose        3) to a hair      4) to a hilt        5) to a hand

 

27. After loosing her husband in a ghastly car accident, my aunt is ........... 
1) out of her mind          2) out of her house         3) out of touch
4) out of town            5) out of party

 

28. Sharing of river water is always a ........... between our States.
1) matter of joy           2) bone of contention           3) matter of pride    
4) dead horse             5) sitting duck

 

29. In our factory we are using some ........ technology these days.
1) old             2) own        3) edge cutting          4) cutting edge            5) state art

 

30. What did you say? You like me, please ...........
1) go again          2) went again         3) come again           4) make again        5) came again

 

31. We don't know what happens to our team in the final match, but we keep our ...........  
1) eyes crossed          2) star crossed            3) fingers crossed         4) legs crossed         5) path crossed

 

32. The life of a soldier at the borders is not a ..........
1) bed of roses               2) bed of lilies           3) bed of tulips  
4) bed of cowlips           5) bed of grass

 

33. This is a competitive world and to be successful in life, youngsters have to ...........
1) keep ears to the ground              2) keep feet on the ground
3) keep all eggs in one basket            4) keep good hours          5) keep words.

 

34. It is getting late and you may miss the train. Please shake ...........
1) a leg           2) a hand         3) a tree        4) the sky        5) the earth

 

35. Good habits and exercise generally keep a person ...........
1) in the dark          2) in the firing line            3) in the pink
4) in the red          5) in the black

 

36. In our politics, the opposition leaders seldom see ...........  with the government on many issues.
1) eye to eye          2) tooth for tooth           3) horns locked            
4) green in eyes          5) wet behind  the ears

 

37. Since the success of her first film, this heroine is ...........
1) in the swamp          2) in the quick sand         3) in the limelight         4) in debts          5) in news

 

38. Even after becoming very successful and popular, my father is humble and cool as........
1) a cucumber        2) a pumpkin       3) a stone           4) a tree           5) a pot

 

39. In the Pakistan jet crash, three passengers escaped death by the skin of ........
1) their head           2) their nose          3) their ear            4) their teeth           5) their foot

 

KEY: 1-2; 2-1; 3-4;  4-3;  5-2;  6-1;  7-3;  8-3;  9-2; 10-1; 11-1; 12-3; 13-2; 14-1; 15-1; 16-3; 17-3; 18-2; 19-1; 20-2;  21-2;  22-1;  23-3;  24-2;  25-3; 26-3;  27-1;  28-2; 29-4; 30-3;  31-3;  32-4;  33-1; 34-1; 35-3;  36-1;  37-3;  38-1; 39-4.
 

Posted Date : 13-01-2022

గమనిక : ప్రతిభ.ఈనాడు.నెట్‌లో కనిపించే వ్యాపార ప్రకటనలు వివిధ దేశాల్లోని వ్యాపారులు, సంస్థల నుంచి వస్తాయి. మరి కొన్ని ప్రకటనలు పాఠకుల అభిరుచి మేరకు కృత్రిమ మేధస్సు సాంకేతికత సాయంతో ప్రదర్శితమవుతుంటాయి. ఆ ప్రకటనల్లోని ఉత్పత్తులను లేదా సేవలను పాఠకులు స్వయంగా విచారించుకొని, జాగ్రత్తగా పరిశీలించి కొనుక్కోవాలి లేదా వినియోగించుకోవాలి. వాటి నాణ్యత లేదా లోపాలతో ఈనాడు యాజమాన్యానికి ఎలాంటి సంబంధం లేదు. ఈ విషయంలో ఉత్తర ప్రత్యుత్తరాలకు, ఈ-మెయిల్స్ కి, ఇంకా ఇతర రూపాల్లో సమాచార మార్పిడికి తావు లేదు. ఫిర్యాదులు స్వీకరించడం కుదరదు. పాఠకులు గమనించి, సహకరించాలని మనవి.

 

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