CBSE Class 12 English Idioms and Phrases MCQs

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the bold or given idiom/ phrase. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the bold part or given idiom/phrase.

Question. The principal has to carry out the orders issued by the higher authorities.
(a) Obey
(b) Communicate
(c) Execute
(d) Modify
Answer : C

Question. The young engineer was hauled up for spilling the beans about the new project to the competitor.
(a) Suppressing the information
(b) Hiding the details
(c) Revealing the information indiscreetly
(d) Spoiling the plans
Answer : C

Question. The government claims that Indian industry is progressing by leaps and bounds.
(a) Intermittently
(b) Leisurely
(c) At a rapid pace
(d) At a desired pace
Answer : C

Question. Laying off thousands of workers is inevitable under the new economic policy.
(a) Dismissal from jobs of
(b) Offering new jobs to
(c) Reduction of workers’ wages of
(d) Sending on leave
Answer : A

Question. “I take thee at thy word”, said Romeo to Juliet.
(a) Listen to you carefully
(b) Do not believe you
(c) Fee angry with you
(d) My believe you
Answer : D

Question. People who do not lay out their money carefully, soon come to
(a) Earn
(b) Spend
(c) Distribute
(d) Preserve
Answer : B

Question. Having bought the house, they decided to go the whole hog and buy all the furniture needed.
(a) To live there
(b) To do it completely
(c) To go all the way
(d) To go in the fog
Answer : B

Question. There is a lot of bad blood between them.
(a) Jealousy
(b) Fight
(c) Angry feeling
(d) Distrust
Answer : C

Question. The village headman pretends to be a good Samaritan.
(a) A religious person
(b) A helpful person
(c) A citizen of Samaria
(d) A law-abiding citizen
Answer : B

Question. The beleaguered politician was anxious to set the record straight.
(a) Give a speech
(b) Win party support
(c) Give a correct account
(d) Make a confession
Answer : C

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/ phrase.

Question. Do not run down your friends in public.
(a) Fight with
(b) Follow
(c) Make a mention of
(d) Criticize
Answer : D

Question. Most parents find it difficult to make both ends meet because of inflation.
(a) To lead a lavish life
(b) To live within one’s income
(c) To live a miserly life
(d) To lead an active life
Answer : B

Question. The students were advised to pore over the lessons thoroughly.
(a) Go through
(b) Go down
(c) Go off
(d) Go out
Answer : A

Question. The two famous writers crossed swords with each other on every issue.
(a) Fought physically
(b) Crossed the road on meeting
(c) Took different routes
(d) Disagreed
Answer : D

Question. The traffic came to a standstill after the heavy downpour of rain.
(a) Complete halt
(b) Accident spot
(c) Diversion
(d) Confused disorder
Answer : A

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase given in bold in the sentence, Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase given in bold.

Question. As the bomb exploded people ran scattered alter.
(a) In great fear
(b) In disorderly haste
(c) In haste
(d) In great sorrow
Answer : B

Question. He was progressing by leaps and bounds because of his hard work.
(a) Rapidly
(b) Slowly
(c) Peacefully
(d) Strongly
Answer : A

Question. Our founder had done a Herculean by constructing this great educational institution.
(a) A work of no worth
(b) An effortless job
(c) A work requiring very great effort
(d) A work requiring very great intelligence
Answer : C

Question. My close friend got the sac from his first job recently.
(a) Resigned
(b) Got rid of
(c) Was demoted from
(d) Was dismissed from
Answer : D

Question. I can no longer put up with her insolence.
(a) Endure
(b) Evade
(c) Suppress
(d) Assume
Answer : A

In the following questions, four alternative are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Question. He is always praised for his gift of the gab.
(a) Being lucky
(b) Getting something free
(c) Talent for speaking
(d) Great skill
Answer : C

Question. The teacher’s extra hours of coaching went a long way in improving the student’s performance.
(a) Took great effort
(b) Spent a lot of time
(c) Extended widely
(d) Helped considerably
Answer : D

Question. The administration found it difficult to cope with the striking employees.
(a) Move
(b) Compromise
(c) Handle
(d) Subdue
Answer : C

Question. The criminal was pardoned at the eleventh hour just as he was about to be hanged.
(a) At eleven o’ clock
(b) Suddenly
(c) At the very last moment
(d) At midnight
Answer : C

Question. He spoke well though it was his maiden speech.
(a) Long speech
(b) Brief speech
(c) First speech
(d) Emotional speech
Answer : C

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the bold idiom/ phrase.

Question. The passing of anti-defection law struck a chill to the heart of every opportunistic legislator.
(a) Caused anger
(b) Caused relief
(c) Aroused fear
(d) Awakened bitterness
Answer : C

Question. Our house is within a stone’s throw from the Red Building.
(a) Far off
(b) Far away
(c) Very near to
(d) Beside
Answer : C

Question. He has a bone to pick with his cousin.
(a) Reasonable agreement
(b) Cause of quarrel
(c) Cause of doubt
(d) Difference of opinion
Answer : B

Question. The day I graduated was a red-letter day for me.
(a) A dangerous day
(b) An important day
(c) An eventful day
(d) A formidable day
Answer : B

Question. Many young artists were dropping names at the party to impress the gathering.
(a) Talking proudly about their family members
(b) Using pet names
(c) Hinting at high connections
(d) Talking informally
Answer : C

Question. The teacher announced that she had no blue-eyed boys in the class.
(a) Royal children
(b) Young boys
(c) Foreigners
(d) Favourites
Answer : D

Question. The company has run into a lot of debts.
(a) Incurred
(b) Settled
(c) Opened up
(d) Avoided
Answer : A

Question. He was confident that all his present sufferings will soon blow over.
(a) Increase
(b) Pass off
(c) Be looked into
(d) Be taken care of
Answer : B

Question. The teacher advised the students to take into account the advice given by the elders.
(a) To obey
(b) To neglect
(c) To consider
(d) To reject
Answer : C

Question. The lawyer asked his assistant to collect the details regarding the pros and cons of the case.
(a) Ups and downs
(b) In and out
(c) Weak and strong
(d) For and against
Answer : D

In the following question four alternatives are given for the bold or given idiom/ phrase Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the bold part or given idiom/phrase.

Question. The bus had a close shave as its driver swerved to safety a split second before the oncoming truck could run intofit.
(a) Serious accident
(b) Close collision
(c) Narrow escape
(d) Deep dent
Answer : C

Question. Fits and starts
(a) Slowly
(b) Not regularly
(c) Continuously
(d) Quickly
Answer : B

Question. When the Inspector entered the class, some of the students shook in their shoes.
(a) Stamped the ground with their shoes
(b) Showed signs of anger
(c) Trembled with fear
(d) Stood up to salute
Answer : C

Question. Fin high spirits
(a) Full of hope and enthusiasm
(b) Under tremendous stress
(c) Under the influence of liquor
(d) Mentally deranged
Answer : A

Question. He amassed his wealth through sharp practices.
(a) Dishonest means
(b) Illegal means
(c) Intelligent decisions
(d) Quick decisions
Answer : A

Question. He is not in the good boo of his boss.
(a) A lover of good books
(b) In favour with
(c) Not of the same opinion as
(d) As good as
Answer : B

Question. The officer is fed up with the complaints made against the clerk.
(a) Annoyed
(b) Disgusted
(c) Pleased
(d) Satisfied
Answer : A

Question. A white elephant
(a) A rare species of elephants
(b) An expensive gift
(c) A costly but useless possession
(d) A worthless thing
Answer : C

Question. Ins and outs
(a) Entry and exit points
(b) Full details
(c) Tactical moves
(d) Complexity of character
Answer : B

Question. All his ventures went to the winds.
(a) Dissipated
(b) Spread all over
(c) Got speed of the winds.
(d) Became well-known
Answer : A

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.

Question. Don’t worry about the silly row. It was just a storm in a tea cup.
(a) Important matter dealt with ease
(b) Hot tea being served
(c) Commotion over a trivial matter
(d) Confusion and chaos
Answer : C

Question. The Rajput warriors set their face against the invader.
(a) Became enemies
(b) Turned away from
(c) Faced difficulty
(d) Opposed strongly
Answer : D

Question. Syria is now currying favour with America.
(a) Pleasing
(b) Favouring
(c) Obliging
(d) Ingratiating itself with
Answer : D

Question. Our Principal is not a man to mince matters.
(a) To confuse issues
(b) To say something mildly
(c) To mix everything together
(d) To be very modest
Answer : A

Question. We tend to take for granted the conveniences of modern life.
(a) To consider
(b) To admit
(c) To accept readily
(d) To care for
Answer : C

Question. The prodigal son was left high and dry by his friends, when he lost all his money,
(a) Wounded
(b) Alone
(c) Depressed
(d) Neglected
Answer : D

Question. The success of his first novel completely turned his head.
(a) Made him vain
(b) Made him look back
(c) Changed him completely
(d) Made him think
Answer : C

Question. She pays up her nose at this kind of dress.
(a) Despises
(b) loves
(c) Sees no harm in
(d) Can just tolerate
Answer : A

Question. At last the notes fell back.
(a) Fell on the ground
(b) Yielded
(c) Ran back
(d) Turned back
Answer : D

Question. The Madagascar Coup attempt ended in a fiasco.
(a) Had no effect
(b) Was an utter failure
(c) Resulted in blood-shed
(d) Was a disaster
Answer : B

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase in bold in the sentence Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/ phrase.

Question. There is no love lost between any two neighbouring countries in the world.
(a) Stop loving
(b) Not on good terms
(c) Forming a group
(d) Have good understanding
Answer : B

Question. He is accused of sitting on the fence.
(a) Observing the scene
(b) Resting on fence
(c) Hesitating which side to take
(d) Sitting back and enjoying the fun
Answer : C

Question. You have to read between the lines to understand most of the symbolic writing.
(a) Read again and again
(b) Understand the hidden meaning
(c) Know the symbols
(d) Look for many meanings
Answer : B

Question. The ruling party has been warned not to play to the gallery.
(a) To give importance to the common man
(b) To try to be clever
(c) To seek to win approval
(d) To side-track the issue
Answer : C

Question. In the securities scam, the national credibility was at stake.
(a) On trial
(b) Under pressure
(c) In danger
(d) Challenged
Answer : C