Idioms and Phrases with Shortcut tricks Set 01

Answer: (b) the ordinary members

Explanation:
1. 'Rank and file' means the ordinary members of a group, as opposed to its leaders.
2. The cabinet ministers are the leaders, so (d) is the opposite of the meaning.

Teacher's Note:
1. Rank and file always refers to ordinary members, not leaders.
2. Think of soldiers in ranks versus their officers.

Answer: (b) Cheated

Explanation:
1. To wipe someone's nose means to cheat or trick that person.
2. The false bill shows the clerk cheated his employer; the literal meaning in (a) does not fit the sentence.

Teacher's Note:
1. Do not take idioms literally.
2. The context clue here is 'false bill'.

Answer: (b) Am angry

Explanation:
1. To have a bone to pick with someone means to have a complaint or grievance to settle with that person.
2. Of the options, 'Am angry' is closest; agreement, debt and joining hands do not suggest a complaint.

Teacher's Note:
1. A bone to pick means a matter to argue about.
2. Look for the option that shows a complaint.

Answer: (b) took a risk

Explanation:
1. To stick one's neck out means to take a risk by doing or saying something bold.
2. Promising a large benefit is a bold, risky step; taking an oath is a different thing.

Teacher's Note:
1. Sticking out your neck exposes it to danger, hence risk.
2. Do not confuse it with 'take an oath'.

Answer: (a) not to yield

Explanation:
1. To put one's foot down means to take a firm stand and refuse to give way.
2. Accepting a proposal unconditionally is the opposite, since it means yielding fully.

Teacher's Note:
1. Put one's foot down = be firm.
2. Check for the opposite meaning among the options.

Answer: (c) dishonest dealings

Explanation:
1. 'Sharp practices' are tricky, dishonest ways of doing business.
2. Hard work, skill and intelligence are honest qualities, so they do not fit the phrase.

Teacher's Note:
1. Sharp practice always carries a negative sense.
2. 'Sharp' here does not mean intelligent.

Answer: (c) associates in some action

Explanation:
1. 'Hand in glove' means working closely together, often in a joint plan or action.
2. 'Very good friends' only describes friendship and not working together; fighting and suspicion are the opposite.

Teacher's Note:
1. A hand fits a glove closely, so the two are closely joined.
2. Choose the option about joint action.

Answer: (b) Unduly under control

Explanation:
1. To keep someone under one's thumb means to control that person completely.
2. 'Unduly under control' gives this meaning; the other options only repeat the words literally.

Teacher's Note:
1. Under one's thumb = fully controlled.
2. Avoid literal readings like (a) and (c).

Answer: (a) Detachment and seclusion

Explanation:
1. An ivory tower is a state of being cut off from the practical problems of ordinary life.
2. The sentence asks professors to come down and study real needs, so the phrase means detachment.

Teacher's Note:
1. Ivory tower = a place of withdrawal from reality.
2. Choose the figurative, not the literal, meaning.

Answer: (a) Be calm and not be excitable

Explanation:
1. A cool customer is a person who stays calm and does not get excited.
2. Being cold-hearted or uncommunicative describes a different nature, and being choosy is about selection.

Teacher's Note:
1. Cool here means calm, not unfriendly.
2. The word 'patient' in the sentence supports the answer.

Answer: (b) remain serious

Explanation:
1. To keep a straight face means to stay serious without smiling or laughing.
2. Silent and mute only describe not speaking, which is a different thing.

Teacher's Note:
1. The idiom is about facial expression.
2. Pick 'serious', not 'silent'.

Answer: (d) Disclose

Explanation:
1. To bring to light means to reveal something that was hidden.
2. 'Disclose' means to reveal; 'probe' means to investigate, and 'highlight' only stresses what is already known.

Teacher's Note:
1. Bring to light = reveal or uncover.
2. An inquiry may probe, but facts are disclosed.

Answer: (c) was appreciated by

Explanation:
1. To go down well with people means to be liked and appreciated by them.
2. 'Applauded' refers only to clapping, and 'attentively listened to' refers only to listening.

Teacher's Note:
1. Go down well = be welcomed and liked.
2. Choose the broad meaning, not a single action.

Answer: (a) Is trying to do much

Explanation:
1. The idiom means trying to do more than one can manage.
2. It is not about eating, so 'greedy' and 'hungry' take the words literally.

Teacher's Note:
1. The full idiom is 'bite off more than one can chew'.
2. Look for the idea of taking on too much work.

Answer: (d) used all available means

Explanation:
1. To leave no stone unturned means to try every possible way to reach a goal.
2. 'Took no pains' is the opposite, since the detective worked hard.

Teacher's Note:
1. Think of searching under every stone.
2. Eliminate options with a negative or unrelated sense.

Answer: (d) making the best use of a favourable situation

Explanation:
1. Hay is made when the sun shines, so the idiom means using a good opportunity while it lasts.
2. The other options do not talk about opportunity or timing.

Teacher's Note:
1. Make hay while the sun shines = use the chance now.
2. It is a proverb about time and opportunity.

Answer: (d) Upright

Explanation:
1. 'Fair and square' means honest and straightforward.
2. 'Upright' means honest; careful, considerate and polite are different qualities.

Teacher's Note:
1. Fair and square = honest.
2. Match the idea of honesty with 'upright'.

Answer: (a) already late

Explanation:
1. 'High time' means that the right time has already arrived or passed and action is overdue.
2. 'Appropriate time' and 'auspicious moment' suggest the time is just right, not late.

Teacher's Note:
1. High time = about time, overdue.
2. It expresses urgency.

Answer: (b) Championing the cause of

Explanation:
1. To stand up for someone means to defend and support that person.
2. 'Championing the cause of' means the same; the other options do not mean defending.

Teacher's Note:
1. Stand up for = support or defend.
2. A champion is a defender.

Answer: (b) keep away from

Explanation:
1. To give a wide berth means to keep a safe distance from a person or thing.
2. Giving publicity or condemning publicly would bring the person into notice, not keep away.

Teacher's Note:
1. Berth here means room or distance.
2. Look for the idea of avoidance.

Answer: (c) reprimanded him

Explanation:
1. To take someone to task means to scold or reprimand that person.
2. The sentence gives no sign of extra work, suspension or resignation.

Teacher's Note:
1. Take to task = scold.
2. Do not read in more than the sentence says.

Answer: (b) yield

Explanation:
1. To give in means to surrender or yield to pressure.
2. 'Oppose' is the opposite of giving in.

Teacher's Note:
1. Give in = yield.
2. Do not confuse it with 'oblige'.

Answer: (b) About to perish

Explanation:
1. To be on one's last legs means to be close to collapse or failure.
2. Fructify, produce results and take off all suggest success, which is the opposite.

Teacher's Note:
1. Last legs = nearly finished.
2. Choose the negative option.

Answer: (a) withdrew

Explanation:
1. To go back on a promise means to withdraw from it and not keep it.
2. 'Reinforced' and 'supported' mean the opposite; 'forgot' is not the same as deliberately breaking it.

Teacher's Note:
1. Go back on = withdraw from a promise.
2. Keeping a promise is the opposite.

Answer: (b) ran about wildly

Explanation:
1. To run amuck means to rush about in a wild, uncontrolled manner.
2. Becoming desperate, annoyed or disgusted describe feelings, not wild movement.

Teacher's Note:
1. Amuck is also spelt amok.
2. The idiom is about uncontrolled action.