Idioms & Phrases (d) uninteresting

1. Wear heart on sleeve 6. From pillar to post

(a) Wear dress that does not match (a) went to pillars

(b) Express emotions and feelings openly (b) tried his best

(c) Utter disappointment (c) went to money lenders

(d) Very happy (d) moving from one place to another

2. Grease someone’s palm 7. Bone of contention

(a) Bribe (a) a subject of peace

(b) flatter (b) a subject of trade

(c) cheat (c) a subject of dispute

(d) fight (d) a subject of exports

3. A fish out of water 8. Turn a deaf ear

(a) Disgusted (a) went far away

(b) uncomfortable (b) listened carefully

(c) disappointed (c) paid no heed

(d) homeless (d) turned his ear away

4. To face the music 9. Fight tooth and nail

(a) to bear the criticism (a) with weapons

(b) to listen to a favourable comment (b) with all efforts

(c) to run away (c) using unfair means

(d) to compensate (d) with strength and fury

5. All greek 10. Paint the town red

(a) strange (a) indulge in rioting

(b) incomprehensible (b) to have a lively time

(c) inaudible (c) paint the houses red

(d) to face danger (d) run away

11. Green-eyed friends 16. A fair-weather friend

(a) rich (a) friendly only in good time

(b) jealous (b) a successful friend

(c) handsome (c) a notable friend

(d) enthusiastic (d) a jealous friend

12. Ride the high horse 17. Lion’s share

(a) become abnormal (a) the larger part

(b) appear arrogant (b) the worthy part

(c) hate others (c) the smaller part

(d) indulge in dreams (d) the stronger part

13. In the family way 18. A red letter day

(a) in a domestic manner (a) a dangerous day in one’s life

(b) unwell (b) A sorrowful day in one’s life

(c) injured (c) An important or joyful occasion in one’s life

(d) pregnant (d) Both a dangerous and sorrowful day in one’s life

14. Fool’s errand 19. To keep the pot boiling

(a) To go with a message (a) To maintain interest

(b) a useless undertaking (b) to show anger

(c) One who takes a message (c) To heat

(d) an observation (d) to do experiments

15. Pull a long face 20. Lump in the throat

(a) look disappointed (a) to be hoarse

(b) feel good (b) wind-pipe

(c) retreat (c) food of the low type

(d) a highly emotional state (d) to be taken by surprise

21. A wild goose chase 26. To feather one’s nest

(a) A violent chase (a) to make a residential house

(b) to hunt (b) something that lasts for a short time

(c) Foolish and useless enterprise (c) to profit in a dishonest way

(d) to run fast (d) to take advantage

22. Pyrrhic victory 27. To take to one’s heels

(a) permanent victory (a) to walk slowly

(b) defeat (b) to run away

(c) easy victory (c) to march forward

(d) victory at high cost (d) to hop and jump

23. Rank and file 28. To take to one’s heels

(a) Common people (a)To walk slowly

(b) officers (b) to run away

(c) People of high rank (c) to march forward

(d) army personnel (d) to hop and jump

24. To flog a dead horse 29. To smell a rat

(a) to whip a dead horse (a) to smell foul

(b) attempt to do the impossible (b) to see a rat

(c) waste one’s efforts (c) to chase a rat

(d) to take advantage of a weakness (d) to be suspicious

25. To die in harness 30. In cold blood

(a) Premediated murder (a) angrily

(b) dying young in an accident (b) deliberately

(c) to die while in service (c) excitedly

(d) slowly (d) paradise of idiots

31. White elephant 36. An axe to grind

(a) very huge item (a) To indulge in evil conspiracies

(b) costly but useless possession (b) To catch a fish in disturbed water

(c) very expensive investment (c) To make a personal profit out of a situation

(d) useful material (d) To aggravate the situation

32. To take someone for a ride 37. To bell the cat

(a) to deceive someone (a) To tie bell to a cat’s neck

(b) to give a ride to someone (b) To take lead in danger

(c) to be indifferent (c) To be alert of the enemy

(d) to disclose a secret (d) To make noise

33. To beat the bush 38. Rainy days

(a) wander across the words (a) Late hours of the night

(b) speak in a haphazard manner (b) Unlucky time

(c) speak in a round-aabout manner (c) A pleasant day

(d) make use of irrelevant reference (d) Small hours of the morning

34. To strain every nerve 39. Stir up a hornet’s nest

(a) To make utmost efforts (a) Money laid by

(b) to feel weak and tired (b) create trouble

(c) To be a diligent worker (c) Neighbourhood

(d) to be methodical in work (d) well-mannered people

35. A fool’ s paradise 40. With might and main

(a) To live in the past (a) A big blow

(b) to have happy dreams (b) a hard blow

(c) To live in illusions (c) With full vigour

(d) penetrating (a) High and Low

41. Uphill task (b) Dark and Light

(a) Easy task (c) Neat and Clean

(b) difficult task (d) Happy and Sad

(c) interesting task 46. Under a cloud

(d) peaceful task (a) experiencing cloudy weather

42. Turn a blind eye (b) enjoying favourable luck

(a) Not able to see the obvious truth (c) under suspicion

(b) Hide the ugly truth from someone (d) under observation

(c) Pretend not to notice 47. Break a leg

(d) Stay away from bad habits (a) To wish good luck

43. To get one’s walking papers (b) To undertake a risky or impossible task

(a) One has the right to entry within a country or (c) To behave cruelly
community
(d) To express anger
(b) One is discharged from a hospital or mental
48. A Benjamin’s portion
asylum
(a) A scientific part
(c) Get fired from job
(b) Leftover part after use
(d) One is free of imprisonment
(c) A large portion
44. To chip on his shoulder
(d) Curse someone
(a) To have huge responsibilities on one’s
shoulders 49. Reading between the lines

(b) Uniform decorated with stars and medals (a) Nerd’s paradise

(c) Wearing your battle scars like medals (b) Look for a meaning that is implied rather than
explicitly stated
(d) Holding a grudge or grievance that readily
provokes a fight (c) Be present at the right moment in a meeting

45. Spick and Span (d) Enhance your skill set in an unconventional way
50. To pour oil on troubled waters (c) Someone who supports a criminal

(a) To initial conversation with a stranger (d) A cruel person

(b) Sideline someone because of understanding 55. Blessing in disguise

(c) Spread the existing dispute (a) Something good that isn’t recognized at first

(d) To make peace on a dispute or disagreement (b) A talented person

51. Give cold shoulder (c) A kindhearted person

(a) intentionally ignore someone (d) Something which was not expected

(b) Had a monstrous fight with someone 56. Bury the hatchets

(c) To spread a false rumor about someone (a) Risk your integrity to get the work done

(d) To accept defeat without even trying (b) Assign significant importance to someone

52. Break the ice (c) End a conflict and become friendly

(a) Point out someone’s fault deliberately (d) Kill an enemy

(b) Point out distress among a specific community 57. Get the boot

(c) To initiate a social conversation or interaction (a) Join the Military

(d) To make arrangement for a feast (b) Get promoted

53. Icing on the cake (c) Get fired

(a) To learn something formally (d) Do the preparatory work for a task to be
accomplished
(b) An attractive but inessential addition or
enhancement. 58. At the eleventh hour

(c) To follow the rules strictly (a) At the last moment

(d) To make something useful by using waste (b) Very late at night.
products
(c) At a very odd time.
54. Devil’s advocate
(d) Luckily have sufficient time to wrap up things
(a) An accomplice in crime
59. Excuse my French
(b) Someone who presents a counter-argument
(a) Used to apologize for swearing.
(b) Said when one cannot speak the language of (c) With lot of determination
the other person correctly.
(d) In an alliance or partnership with
(c) Used to make a flimsy excuse.
64. A storm in a tea-cup
(d) Used when you give up easily.
(a) To see signs of plague epidemic
60. With bated breath
(b) To get back to previous state without results
(a) In dispute
(c) To hide oneself
(b) In anxiety
(d) Worried for frivolous things
(c) In full detail
65. To cut corners
(d) In happy mood
(a) Something is better than nothing
61. Add insult to injury
(b) To look disappointed for something
(a) To further a loss with mockery or to worsen an
(c) To take short-cuts
unfavourable situation.
(d) To sniff something wrong
(b) A disgrace becomes worse when friends and
family disown you. 66. From the horse’s mouth

(c) The world usually slanders a fallen person (a) To make to bear the sins for others

rather than help him. (b) From an authoritative or dependable source

(d) A suffering is compounded if you are hurt at the (c) Take a subordinate position
same place again.
(d) Worried for frivolous things
62. To gird up the loins
67. In a nutshell
(a) To be unable to decide
(a) as objectively as possible
(b) To one's liking
(b) in a simple and brief manner
(c) To be at strife
(c) an actual experience described vividly
(d) To prepare for hard work
(d) to take into consideration
63. In cahoots with
68. Red tape
(a) A marriage made in heaven.
(a) accepting bribes
(b) A group of criminals
(b) formal procedures
(c) corruption (b) a very long time

(d) dishonesty (c) instantly

69. Bee in bonnet (d) once in a while

(a) obsessed with one thing 74. A sea change

(b) ambitious (a) a fast change

(c) overconfident (b) a radical change

(d) frustrated (c) a nominal change

70. In a flutter (d) a slow change

(a) frightened 75. A stone's throw

(b) very angry (a) a short distance

(c) in a jovial mood (b) an easy task

(d) in a state of nervousness (c) a faraway place

71. Leave no stone unturned (d) a memorable place

(a) Search for the hidden treasure 76. A hot potato

(b) Do a futile task (a) an offensive remark

(c) Be known for achieving a tremendous feat (b) a tasty snack

(d) Try every possible course of action in order to (c) a memorable thing
achieve something
(d) a controversial issue
72. Ins and outs
77. To blow hot and cold
(a) difficulties
(a) to exhale heat and inhale cold
(b) usefulness
(b) to show favour and disfavour alternately
(c) importance
(c) to work like bellows and blow air
(d) details
(d) to be friendly and unfriendly at the same time
73. Donkey’s years
78. To make no bones about
(a) having long ears
(a) to state something clearly
(b) to make something unsubstantial (d) to dislike yourself for having done something
unpleasant
(c) to consume only the fleshy part
83. Caught red-handed
(d) to reveal the hidden structure
(a) To discover a murderer using the clues
79. Flash in the pan
(b) To catch a thief who steals red paints
(a) Gold discovered only once during panning
(c) To catch someone doing something illegal
(b) An early promise that fails to materialize
(d) To try to arrest someone without any evidence
(c) Something that offers hope, like a light in a
tunnel 84. Up in arms

(d) Sudden discovery or a surprise element (a) to be angry

80. Hit the nail on the head (b) to be nervous

(a) drive a nail into a wall (c) to be defensive

(b) hurt a person by telling the truth (d) to be rude

(c) say or do something exactly right 85. Run around in circles

(d) punish someone for a heinous crime (a) to keep doing something without achieving
much
81. Lend me your ears.
(b) to keep running to set a record
(a) to politely ask for someone's hearing-aid
(c) to work excessively hard by keeping two jobs
(b) to politely ask for someone's speakers
(d) to remain busy with your work
(c) to politely ask for someone's full attention
86. Make a beeline for
(d) to politely ask for someone's headphones
(a) Make a line for honey
82. Bite the bullet
(b) Go for freebies
(a) to restrain yourself from doing something
unpleasant (c) Stand in a queue

(b) to force yourself to do something unpleasant (d) Go straight to

(c) to amuse yourself by doing something 87. Make a clean breast of

unpleasant
(a) Confess fully
(b) Gain prominence (a) be very nervous

(c) To praise (b) be very cautious

(d) To destroy (c) be well trained

88. The last straw (d) be an expert

(a) she picked the last option available for her 93. The sword of Damocles

(b) last straw available for anyone to pick up (a) strict rules and regulations

(c) final irritant that made the situation unbearable (b) an ill omen of death

(d) only one straw was available for drinking the (c) a constant threat
juice
(d) threat of physical harm
89. Through thick and thin
94. Keep the wolf from the door
(a) when there was a lot of work to be done
(a) avoid starvation
(b) in good and bad times
(b) live on charity
(c) on occasions when he had a lot of money
(c) keep wild animals away
(d) even though he has put on weight
(d) be safe in her house
90. All ears
95. A square peg in a round hole
(a) very attentive
(a) in a favourable situation
(b) talking loudly
(b) unhappy and regretful
(c) covering their ears
(c) a misfit in the environment
(d) making a lot of noise
(d) in a financial crisis
91. Out of the woods
96. Bolt from the blue
(a) discharged from hospital
(a) a thunderstorm
(b) released from prison
(b) an unexpected disaster
(c) out of danger
(c) a windfall
(d) out of the forest
(d) an ominous warning
92. Walk the tight rope
97. On tenterhooks
(a) unhappy (a) go to sleep

(b) angry (b) calm down

(c) anxious (c) try to understand

(d) happy (d) do a good job

98. In the pink 103. Costs an arm and a leg

(a) in pink dress (a) easy to obtain

(b) in the limelight (b) rarely available

(c) in a happy mood (c) nothing to lose

(d) in good health (d) very expensive

99. Butterfly in the stomach 104. At daggers drawn

(a) being excited (a) deceiving somebody

(b) being nervous (b) without hope

(c) being angry (c) friendly with each other

(d) being hungry (d) bitterly hostile

100. Lead someone by the nose 105. To play ducks and drakes

(a) to do the right thing (a) to behave recklessly

(b) to force someone to take the blame (b) to change places

(c) to dominate someone (c) to be friendly

(d) to quarrel with someone (d) to act cleverly

101. Couch potato 106. At the drop of a hat

(a) a person who sleeps all day (a) Instantly

(b) a person who watches too much television (b) Normally

(c) a person who remains relaxed and calm (c) Frequently

(d) a person who is simple in nature (d) Usually

102. Pull yourself together 107. Dark horse

(a) an unexpected winner

(b) a horse of a fine breed

(c) a well kept secret

(d) an expected outcome