IDIOMS

BY

POOJA MAM
1. To take to heart
a. To be encouraged
b. To grieve over
c. To like
d. To hate
2. Yeoman’s service
a. Medical help
b. Excellent work
c. Social work
d. Hard work
3. To face the music
a. To enjoy a musical recital
b. To bear the consequence
c. To live in a pleasant atmosphere
d. To have a difficult time
4. To put Up with
a. To accommodate
b. To adjust
c. To understand
d. To tolerate
5. To call it a day
a. To conclude proceedings
b. To initiate proceedings
c. To work through the day
d. None of the above
6. A damp squib
a. Rainy weather
b. A disappointing result
c. A skirt in a laundry
d. None of the above
7. In cold blood
a. Angrily
b. Deliberately
c. Excitedly
d. slowly
8. To take someone for a ride
a. To give a ride to someone
b. To deceive someone
c. To be Indifferent
d. To disclose a secret
9. To move heaven and earth
a. To cause an earthquake
b. To try everything possible
c. To pray to all Gods
d. To travel in a rocket
10. To smell a rat.
a. To smell foul
b. To see a rat
c. To chase a rat
d. To be suspicious
11. A bolt from the blue
a. A delayed event
b. An inexplicable event
c. An unexpected event
d. An unpleasant event
12. Cold comfort
a. Absurdity
b. Deception
c. Slight satisfaction
d. Foolish proposal
13. To be all at sea.
a. A family voyage
b. Lost and confused
c. In the middle of the ocean
d. A string of Islands
14. To take to one’s heels
a. To walk slowly
b. To run away
c. To march forward
d. To hop and jump
15. To bite the dust
a. Eat voraciously
b. Have nothing to eat
c. Eat roots
d. None of the above
16. Winter was so bad that the nomadic tribesmen
found it difficult to keep the wolf from the door.
a. Hunt wild animals
b. Escape starvation
c. Get woolen clothes
d. Walk on ice.
17. There Is no soft option to the crisis now.
a. Popular opinion
b. Popular solution
c. Easy and agreeable option
d. Difficult choice
18. A little gush of gratitude
a. Gradual recovery
b. Feeling of gratitude
c. Excessive labour
d. Excessive enthusiasm
19. To lose ground
a. To become less powerful
b. To become less popular
c. To lose foundation
d. To be without a leader
20. To fall back on
a. To oppose something important
b. To suffer an injury on the back in an accident
c. To fail to do something important in time
d. To seek support out of necessity
21. To make one’s blood boil
a. To make somebody furious
b. To develop fever
c. To get excited
d. To make someone nervous
22. To speak one’s mind.
a. To be frank and honest
b. To think aloud
c. To talk about one’s ideas
d. To express one’s thoughts
23. To make a mountain of a molehill
a. To make advantage of a small thing
b. To give great importance to little things
c. To get into trouble
d. To see a thing with prejudiced mind
24. Hand In glove
a. In close relationship
b. Non-cooperative
c. Critical
d. On bad terms
25. To add fuel to the fire
a. To make matters bright
b. To cause additional anger
c. To bring matters to a conclusion
d. To start a revolt
26. Wear and tear
a. A brand name
b. Damage
c. Lot of sorrow
d. A warning
27. He is always praised for his gift of the gab.
a. Being lucky
b. Getting something free
c. Talent for speaking
d. Great skill
28. 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
29. The administration found it difficult to cope with
the striking employees.
a. Move
b. Compromise
c. Handle
d. subdue
30. The criminal was pardoned at the eleventh hour
just as the was about to be hanged.
a. At eleven o’ clock
b. Suddenly
c. At the very last moment
d. At midnight
31. He spoke well though it was his maiden speech.
a. Long speech
b. Brief speech
c. First speech
d. Emotional speech
32. Do not run down your friends in public.
a. Fight with
b. Follow
c. Make a mention of
d. criticise
33. 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.
34. The students were advised to pore over the
lesson the thoroughly.
a. Go through
b. Go down
c. Go off
d. Go out
35. 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
36. The traffic came to a standstill after the heavy
downpour of rain.
a. Complete halt
b. Accident spot
c. Diversion
d. Confused disorder
37. Even though the new clerk was given a difficult
task, he remained cool as a cucumber.
a. Not nervous or emotional
b. Caught cold
c. Was happy
d. Was scared
38. The car broke down just as it reached the edge of
a cliff. It was indeed a close shave.
a. To share one’s brand
b. Very risky
c. Narrow escape from danger
d. To be happy
39. To strain every nerve
a. To make utmost efforts
b. To feel weak and tired
c. To be a diligent worker
d. To be methodical in work
40. To flog a dead horse
a. To whip a dead horse
b. To attempt to do the impossible
c. Waste one’s efforts
d. To take advantage of a weakness
41. To break the ice
a. To end the hostility
b. To start a conversation
c. To end up partnership
d. To start quarreling
42. In a nutshell
a. The majority
b. The ordinary members
c. Briefly and concisely
d. The official machinery
43. To cool one’s heels
a. To remain in a comfortable position
b. To rest for sometime
c. To be kept waiting for sometime
d. To give no importance to someone
44. By the rule of thumb
a. By cheating and deception
b. By the use of force
c. By practical experience which is rather rough
d. By the use of trickery
45. A bull in a china shop
a. A person who becomes too excited where no
excitement in warranted
b. A person who is very ugly but loves the beautiful
things of life
c. A person who is rough and clumsy where skill and
care are required
d. A person who takes a sadistic delight in harming
innocent people
46. By fair means or foul
a. In any way, honest or dishonest
b. Without difficulty
c. Having been instigated
d. Without using common sense
47. To be at one’s finger’s end
a. To be highly perplexed
b. To be completely conversant with
c. To count things
d. To be hopeless
48. To be old as the hills
a. To be wise and learned
b. Not being worth the age
c. To be very ancient
d. To be old but foolish
49. To play to the gallery
a. To be able to do a work easily
b. To work hard to achieve the best
c. Trying to get appreciation from least intelligent
people
d. Use wrong means to achieve success
50. Put something by
a. To withdraw in defeat or humiliation
b. To withdraw after scoring a victory
c. To march back after a ceremonious parade
d. To save money for a particular purpose
51. Salad days
a. Childhood
b. Adolescence
c. School days
d. Old age
52. Cool about
a. Ready to work
b. Not ready to work
c. Excited about working
d. Grudgingly working
53. Throw dust into my eyes.
a. Terrify me
b. Cheat me
c. Hurt me
d. Abuse me
54. Maiden speech
a. Long speech
b. Firs speech
c. Brief speech
d. Emotional speech
55. All ears
a. Smiling
b. Silent
c. Restless
d. Attentive
56. To tell you in a nut shell
a. To tell as objectively as possible
b. Confidentially
c. In detail
d. In a brief manner
57. To gather roses only
a. To save money miserly
b. To paint a rosy picture of the past
c. To seek all enjoyments of life
d. To obtain fame by hard work
58. See eye to eye with
a. To give a correct decision
b. To abstain suitable punishment
c. To have the same eyesight
d. To have the same opinion.
59. In Dutch
a. In love
b. In good terms
c. In Awe
d. Trouble
60. Wild goose chase.
a. Wise decision
b. Useless search
c. Timely action
d. Delayed action
61. At daggers drawn
a. Angry
b. Frustrated
c. Enemies
d. Competitors
62. A Penelope’s web.
a. Endless
b. Difficult
c. Declining
d. In his best form
63. Pay on the nail
a. Pay within the given time
b. Pay the full amount
c. Pay promptly in cash
d. Pay promptly
64. To go to the dogs
a. To fight
b. To be ruined
c. To be united
d. To be rough
65. Eats like a horse
a. Eats slowly
b. Eats a lot a food
c. Does not like to eat
d. Swallows his food
66. To stick to one’s guns
a. Happiness all around
b. Loud public protest
c. To remain determined in one’s opinion
d. Absolute certainty
67. Make a long story short
a. Quickly
b. A dangerous note about the destruction
c. Giving only details.
d. To be precise and avoid giving the details.
68. Let the chips fall wherever they may
a. Wears dress that does not match.
b. Expresses his feelings openly
c. Let something happen without bothering about
consequences.
d. Expresses his feelings with the shape of a heart
printed on its sleeve.
69. Capital punishment
a. Death sentence.
b. An excellent letter dictator
c. A great writer of letters
d. Proficient in literary art
70. Couch potato
a. In disorder
b. A person who prefers to watch television.
c. In very neat and tidy condition
d. In an orders as apples are kept
71. Put up the shutters
a. So fast
b. Slowly
c. At last moment
d. Go out of business
72. Dressing-down
a. Eat his pamphlets
b. Previous situation.
c. Speak to his opponents
d. Make friends with others.
73. Butt in
a. Did everything possible
b. Prayed God and spent money
c. Went to every hospital
d. Interrupt
74. Catch a tartar
a. Sell slowly and in less quantity
b. Prove a setback for the company
c. To deal with a person who is more than one’s
match.
d. Sell quickly and in great quantities
75. Between horns of dilemma
a. To know firefighting and swimming
b. A difficult situation/choice
c. To experience all types of hardships
d. To train himself well
76. Catch a tartar
a. To compete with
b. To come to their level
c. To overtake them
d. To deal with a person who is more than one
match.
77. Full of beans
a. Too late
b. Too early
c. Immediately
d. Energetic
78. Follow one’s nose
a. To get hurt physically
b. To suffer financial losses
c. To go straight ahead.
d. To suffer nervous break down
79. To grease the palm
a. To investigate
b. To insulate
c. To initiate
d. To bribe
80. For good
a. Consistently
b. Irregularly
c. Permanently
d. Enthusianism
81. Seamy side
a. Unpleasant and immoral
b. Is interesting
c. Is described by a beggar
d. Has not been described by anyone
82. Give vent to
a. Completely
b. At once
c. To express
d. Not completely
83. All might and main
a. Very slowly and illegally
b. With full force
c. Very quickly
d. Without following the normal criterion
84. Keep up with
a. Go at equal pace.
b. A black horse
c. A nightmare
d. An unknown person
85. Bury the hatchet
a. Read carefully
b. Look for the hidden meaning
c. Forget the quarrels
d. Hurriedly
86. Foam at the mouth
a. Prove easy
b. Improve attendance
c. Sound valid
d. Furious
87. A cut above
a. Rather superior to
b. Insignificant
c. Essential Point
d. The most important part
88. Pick on
a. Warn severely
b. Beaten in confusion
c. The first seat
d. Given hug
89. Wild goose chase
a. Imminent danger
b. A special type of sword
c. A foolish and useless enterprise.
d. An instant remedy
90. Salt of the earth
a. Good, honest and ideal
b. A costly gift
c. A beautiful thing
d. A very costly and useless possession
91. Pin money
a. Additional money
b. Protected money
c. Packed money
d. Secret Money
92. In moonshine
a. Of his own accord
b. Superficial, Total lies
c. With a heavy heart
d. When it was raining
93. In the offing
a. Between a good choice and a bad choice
b. Between two difficulties
c. Between two good choice
d. Appear soon
94. On tenterhooks
a. Friendship
b. Camaraderie
c. In anxious suspense
d. Confusion
95. To make a fuss about
a. An excessive display of attention or activity.
b. To investigate
c. To question
d. To peer closely at
96. Nail one’s colours to the most
a. Catch fish in disturbed waters.
b. Refuse to climb down.
c. Go for fishing and cause trouble.
d. Fish in hot weather.
97. Snake in the grass
a. Hidden camera
b. Love each other
c. Keep oneself healthy
d. Hidden enemy
98. With a fine tooth-comb.
a. Puzzled
b. Carefully
c. Afraid
d. Worried
99. Barking up the wrong tree
a. Abuses others
b. Harasses
c. Misdirecting one’s efforts.
d. Boasts