Idiom Phrases : Verbal Ability Questions
Q. 1 Select the meaning of the idiom:
“To bell the cat”
a) To be victorious
b) To take a risk for the benefit of others
c) To lead a luxurious life
d) To question someone’s authority
Check Solution
Ans: b) To take a risk for the benefit of others
“To bell the cat” means to undertake a dangerous task for the greater good, as in the story of mice deciding to put a bell on the cat.
Q. 2 Identify the correct meaning of the phrase:
“Spill the beans”
a) To make a mess
b) To reveal a secret
c) To ruin a plan
d) To confuse someone
Check Solution
Ans: b) To reveal a secret
“Spill the beans” refers to disclosing information that was supposed to remain confidential.
Q. 3 Choose the appropriate meaning for the idiom:
“Burn the midnight oil”
a) To work late into the night
b) To waste resources
c) To celebrate all night
d) To delay decisions
Check Solution
Ans: a) To work late into the night
This idiom describes staying up late to study or work hard on something.
Q. 4 What does the idiom mean?
“Throw in the towel”
a) To accept defeat
b) To surrender to temptation
c) To give up a job
d) To make a sacrifice
Check Solution
Ans: a) To accept defeat
The phrase originates from boxing, where throwing in the towel signifies conceding defeat.
Q. 5 Determine the meaning of the phrase:
“At the drop of a hat”
a) Happening after a lot of thought
b) Happening unexpectedly
c) Happening immediately
d) Happening under pressure
Check Solution
Ans: c) Happening immediately
This idiom means doing something instantly or without hesitation.
Q. 6 Select the correct meaning of the idiom:
“Hit the nail on the head”
a) To achieve success
b) To be precise or accurate
c) To make a big mistake
d) To criticize harshly
Check Solution
Ans: b) To be precise or accurate
This idiom means to state or do something exactly right.
Q. 7 What does the idiom mean?
“Break the ice”
a) To overcome social awkwardness
b) To start a fight
c) To solve a difficult problem
d) To clear misunderstandings
Check Solution
Ans: a) To overcome social awkwardness
“Break the ice” refers to initiating conversation or activity to reduce tension or shyness.
Q. 8 Choose the meaning of the idiom:
“A blessing in disguise”
a) An apparent misfortune that turns out to be good
b) A situation that requires caution
c) An event that is unfortunate
d) A warning to avoid mistakes
Check Solution
Ans: a) An apparent misfortune that turns out to be good
The idiom describes something that seems bad at first but proves beneficial later.
Q. 9 Find the correct interpretation of the idiom:
“Let the cat out of the bag”
a) To make a serious mistake
b) To share confidential information
c) To lose something important
d) To create a mess
Check Solution
Ans: b) To share confidential information
This idiom means revealing a secret or letting others know something that was hidden.
Q. 10 Identify the meaning of the idiom:
“By the skin of one’s teeth”
a) To just barely succeed in something
b) To be extremely cautious
c) To face a risky situation
d) To fail narrowly
Check Solution
Ans: a) To just barely succeed in something
This idiom refers to narrowly escaping failure or difficulty.
Q. 11 Select the option that is closest in the meaning to: Slow and steady wins the race
A) Money you save today you can spend later
B) Reliability is more important than speed
C) Believe what people do and not what they say
D) Good things come after bad things
Check Solution
Ans: B
Meaning: Reliability is more important than speed | Example : She worked on her business methodically, knowing slow and steady wins the race.
Q. 12 Select the option that is closest in the meaning to: It’s a piece of cake
A) Work better or leave
B) Take only calculated risks
C) It’s easy
D) It’s too late
Check Solution
Ans: C
Meaning: It’s easy | Example : Solving this puzzle was a piece of cake!
Q. 13 Select the option that is closest in the meaning to: Play devil’s advocate
A) To argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument
B) Something bad is coming, but right now it’s calm
C) Hear news of something secret
D) Follow a trend, do what everyone else is doing
Check Solution
Ans: A
Meaning: To argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument | Example : I’ll play devil’s advocate and point out the flaws in your plan.
Q. 14 Select the option that is closest in the meaning to: Get wind of something
A) Stop discussing an issue
B) Follow a trend, do what everyone else is doing
C) Hear news of something secret
D) Something you never forget how to do
Check Solution
Ans: C
Meaning: Hear news of something secret | Example : The employees got wind of the layoffs before the official announcement.
Q. 15 Select the option that is closest in the meaning to: Calm before the storm
A) Hear news of something secret
B) Something bad is coming, but right now it’s calm
C) Follow a trend, do what everyone else is doing
D) Stop discussing an issue
Check Solution
Ans: B
Meaning: Something bad is coming, but right now it’s calm | Example : The office was eerily quiet—the calm before the storm of tax season.
Q. 16 Select the option that is closest in the meaning to: To make matters worse
A) Hear news of something secret
B) To argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument
C) Something bad is coming, but right now it’s calm
D) Make a problem worse
Check Solution
Ans: D
Meaning: Make a problem worse | Example : To make matters worse, we ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere.
Q. 17 Select the option that is closest in the meaning to: Burn bridges
A) Destroy relationships
B) Busy
C) Stop working on something
D) It’s too late
Check Solution
Ans: A
Meaning: Destroy relationships | Example : Be careful not to burn bridges with former coworkers; you might need a reference.
Q. 18 Select the option that is closest in the meaning to: Call it a day
A) Make people feel more comfortable
B) It’s too late
C) Stop working on something
D) Very happy
Check Solution
Ans: C
Meaning: Stop working on something | Example : We’ve made good progress; let’s call it a day and pick up tomorrow.
Q. 19 Select the option that is closest in the meaning to: On the ball
A) On probation. If you make another mistake, there will be trouble.
B) Doing a good job
C) Go to sleep
D) Destroy relationships
Check Solution
Ans: B
Meaning: Doing a good job | Example : She’s really on the ball, finishing that report ahead of schedule.
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