CBSE Class 11 English Idioms and Phrases Assignment

Question. That student of yours has such sound values. She’s indeed a _____ . ?
a) Rare bird
b) Barrel of laughs
c) Pain in the neck
d) Pot calling the kettle black

Answer : A

Question. The thieves made off with all the cash and jewellery in the house. ?
a) Squandered
b) Ran away with
c) Transferred
d) Discovered

Answer : B

Question. Bed of roses ?
a) An unforgettable moment
b) A state of perplexity
c) An enjoyable state
d) A difficult situation

Answer : C

Question. Cup of tea ?
a) Something that pleases one
b) A useless search
c) A feeling of elation
d) Something refreshing

Answer : A

Question. To run amok ?
a) To compete in a race
b) To participate in a marathon
c) To run about in a frenzy
d) To outrun someone

Answer : C

Question. To restart his cash-strapped company he decided to apply for a bank loan. ?
a) impoverished
b) improving
c) expensive
d) expanding

Answer : A

Question. Call on ?
a) announce
b) visit
c) step out
d) telephone

Answer : B

Question. A dog’s life ?
a) A restful life
b) A life spent in guarding something
c) A life full of freedom
d) A miserable existence

Answer : D

Question. Head in the clouds ?
a) To daydream
b) To be very tall
c) To be very lazy
d) To feel giddy

Answer : A

Question. The crux of the matter ?
a) The unknown point
b) The lesser issue
c) The critical point
d) The interesting

Answer : C

Question. Carry a chip on one’s shoulder ?
a) Entertaining a grudge over a past event
b) Moving daintily across rooms
c) Having a plate inserted to fix the collar bone
d) Carrying multiple stars over the lapel

Answer : A

Question. The news of a leopard in the city spread like wild fire ?
a) spread rapidly
b) spread slowly
c) caused fear
d) caused damage

Answer : A

Question. Mad as a hatter ?
a) Superstitious
b) Very upset
c) Eccentric
d) Old fashioned

Answer : C

Question. Over one’s head ?
a) unable to function as before
b) beyond one’s capability to understand something
c) being at a disadvantage
d) something totally unexpected

Answer : B

Question. Go off at a tangent ?
a) Go on at great length
b) Change the subject immediately
c) Forget things in between
d) Become boisterous

Answer : B

Question. Till the cows come home ?
a) In the evening
b) For the long, long time
c) For a small part
d) Till the work is finished

Answer : B

Question. Be the devil’s advocate ?
a) To represent an accused in a murder trial
b) To present a counter argument just for the sake of it
c) To present an argument in favor of a well-known evil man
d) To represent the devil as an advocate in which trials

Answer : B

Question. The whole nine yards ?
a) An act of kindness
b) The entirety of something
c) An essential part
d) An enjoyable situation

Answer : B

Question. On tenterhooks ?
a) unhappy
b) angry
c) anxious
d) happy

Answer : C

Question. The bee's knees ?
a) Observant
b) Foolish
c) Problematic
d) Extraordinary

Answer : D

Question. Take one's hat off to someone ?
a) Indicate disapproval
b) Express anger
c) Display humility
d) Show admiration

Answer : D

Question. This is strictly _____ but some changes are going to happen in the company in the near future. ?
a) Off the rails
b) Off the key
c) Off the mark
d) Off the record

Answer : D

Question. Touch all bases ?
a) Force someone to do something
b) Include everything
c) Stretch your hands high
d) Imagine you are flying

Answer : B

Question. Fit as a fiddle. ?
a) of the right size
b) playing a musical instrument
c) healthy and strong
d) singing happily

Answer : C

Question. Many people in our country like to feather their own nest from the money they raise for social work. ?
a) Enrich oneself by dishonest means
b) Achieve something and be proud of it
c) Make one’s family comfortable
d) Provide comforts in one’s house

Answer : A

Question. Go down in flames ?
a) Get hit by a burning cracker
b) Crashland an aeroplane
c) Fail completely
d) Get completely burnt

Answer : C

Question. Pull yourself together ?
a) Use a rope ladder
b) Regain composure
c) Be friendly with everyone
d) Talk about fitness

Answer : B

Question. Can’t cut the mustard ?
a) To win a victory
b) To be unable to do a job
c) To render a service
d) To be successful

Answer : B

Question. Her success as a singer was a nine days’ wonder ?
a) a short-lived sensation
b) an impossible feat
c) eternal fame
d) a proud achievement

Answer : A

Question. The government has decided to ______ GST on some items in order to help small traders.?
a) Steer clear of
b) Roll back
c) Wash away
d) Crack down on

Answer : B

Question. In the nick of time ?
a) In the middle of things
b) After the deadline
c) At the last possible moment
d) Much in advance

Answer : C

Question. The straw that broke the camel’s back. ?
a) To undertake a difficult journey across a desert
b) To make a wish for an escape from existing conditions
c) To show strength and continue without a fuss
d) To be the last in a series of events leading one to feel that it is intolerable

Answer : D

Question. Apple of discord ?
a) a tempting offer
b) something that causes friction
c) a good opportunity
d) something very special

Answer : B

Question. It is unfortunate that most people in the country are still living from hand to mouth ?
a) consuming daily what little is earned
b) saving for the future generations
c) doing manual labour
d) earning wealth by selfish means

Answer : A

Question. Chip off the old block ?
a) Resembling parents
b) Looking after parents
c) Having old fashioned values
d) Having an interest in antique furniture

Answer : A

Question. The invigilator did not know that the two boys were exchanging notes under his nose. ?
a) Written in small letters
b) Rolled into small pellets
c) Wrapped in handkerchiefs
d) Right in front of him

Answer : D

Question. Bite your tongue ?
a) Talk for a long time
b) Be impossible to be understood
c) Get bruises in the mouth
d) Stop yourself from saying something

Answer : D

Question. A mountaineer has to walk the tight rope as a small slip can prove to be fatal. ?
a) Be very nervous
b) Be very cautious
c) Be well trained
d) Be an expert

Answer : B

Question. His comments cast a slur upon the integrity of his manager. ?
a) praised
b) damaged
c) redeemed
d) improved

Answer : B

Question. Face the music ?
a) Face the enemy
b) Enjoy the harmony
c) Get appreciation
d) Face the criticism

Answer : D

Idioms and Phrases for Class 11 English

Some Commonly Used Idioms

• To take the bull by the horns (to grapple with a problem courageously instead of avoiding it) : There is no short cut to prosperity. We have to take the bull by the horns and make people work like slaves.
• To take a leap in the dark (to do a hazardous thing without any idea of what it may result in) : You took a leap in the dark in going into partnership with that man.
• To throw cold water upon (to discourage something) : The doctor threw cold water upon my plans for a world tour by declaring that I could never stand the strain of it.
• To throw up the sponge (to give up a contest) : Faced with stiff competition from big companies, many a small company will throw up the sponge.
• To turn over a new leaf (to change one’s course of action completely) : After a long career of crime the convict suddenly turned over a new leaf and became a model citizen.
• To turn tail (to retreat ignominiously) : The enemy turned tail in the face of heavy onslaughts on its key positions.
• To turn the tables (to reverse someone’s success or superiority) : Pakistan started war with a blitz on our positions but the superior tactics of our Armed Forces soon turned the tables on them.
• To cook or doctor an account (to tamper with or falsify the account) : From the balance sheet presented to the shareholders, the company seemed to be flourishing, but it afterwards turned out that the Secretary had cooked the accounts.
• To bear the brunt of (to endure the main force or shock of) : The infantry has to bear the brunt of a battle.
• To beard the lion in his den (to oppose someone, in his stronghold) : The Indian Army broke through strong Pakistani fortifications in the Shakargarh area and bearded the lion in his own den.
• To bid fair to (to give fair prospect of) : His health is so good that he bids fair to live till he is sixty.
• To blow one’s own trumpet (to parade one’s own good deeds) : Modesty does not pay. Only if you blow your own trumpet, you can succeed.
• To blunt the edge of (to make something less effective) : Time blunts the edge of grief.
• To build castles in the air (to indulge in reveries or visionary schemes) : There is nothing wrong if you build castles in the air; now put foundations under them.
• To burn the candle at both ends (to use too much energy) : Our resources are limited. Let us use them judiciously and not burn the candle at both ends.
• To buy a pig in a poke (to purchase a thing without previously examining it) : Buying shares in a new Company started by unknown entrepreneurs is like buying a pig in a poke.
• To cross or pass the Rubicon (to take a decisive step forward) : The Government will have to think of many things before nationalising the textile industry for once they cross the Rubicon there will be no going back.
• To cry over spilt milk (to nurse unnecessary regrets) : We have failed to build up a sizeable total against England’s meagre first innings total. It is no use crying over spilt milk now.
• To err on the safe side (to choose a course which may in fact be inaccurate, but which will keep you safe from risk or harm) : In going in for mixed economy rather than wholesale nationalisation the Government were erring on the safe side.
• To flog a dead horse (waste one’s energies) : We are flogging a dead horse if we are trying to make Sanskrit the national language of India.
• To feather one’s nest (to provide for oneself through dishonest means) : Many tax collectors make a point of feathering their own nests well while they have opportunity.
• To Eat one’s heart out (to brood over one’s sorrows or disappointments) : Don’t eat your heart out over failure in this competition.

Idioms and Phrases for Class 11 English Exam

1. Weak in the knees
Meaning: Barely able to stand because of emotion, fear or illness
Example: The shock of being summoned by the Supreme Court made me go weak in the knees.

2. Wear many hats
Meaning: Do many different types tasks
Example: We have such a small number of employees that one is often supposed to wear many hats.

3. Weather the storm
Meaning: Succeed in surviving a difficult period of time
Example: Given the current global market conditions, the Indian economy is weathering the storm pretty well.

4. See eye to eye
Meaning: To be in agreement with
Example: She was glad her roommate saw eye to eye on the choice of the flat.

5. Strike while the iron is hot
Meaning: To act at the right time
Example: The price of gold is at a 10 year low, strike while the iron is hot and invest in it right away.

6. Take a back seat
Meaning: Choose to be less important in a role
Example: He finally decided to take a back seat and let his son run the family business.

7. Take with a grain/pinch of salt
Meaning: To doubt the accuracy of information
Example: A lot is said about the celebrities in media, but that information should be taken with a grain of salt.

8. Give the benefit of doubt
Meaning: Believe someone’s statement without proof.
Example: I knew him since the past 5 years, so I gave him the benefit of doubt.

9. Hear through the grapevine
Meaning: To hear news from someone who heard that news from someone else
Example: I heard through the grapevine that she’s pregnant.

10. It takes two to tango
Meaning: Both people involved in a bad situation are responsible for it.
Example: He blamed her for his lack of attention; well it takes two to tango.

11. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: Join a popular trend or activity.
Example: So many people are playing that game that I might as well jump on the bandwagon and check it out.

12. Keep something at bay
Meaning: Keep something away
Example: A good way to keep your anxiety at bay is through meditation.

13. Taste of one’s own medicine
Meaning: Treat people the same (unpleasant) way they treated you
Example: People who often disregard others should be given a taste of their own medicine.

14. Wipe the slate clean
Meaning: Make a fresh start
Example: When Mike was leaving home, he decided to wipe the slate clean with his dad.

15. Zero in on something
Meaning: Focus all attention onto one thing
Example: The teacher immediately zeroed in on the weaker students of the class.