Idioms and Phrases
Direction: 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.
- The king had been made to eat humble pie.
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to eat humble pie : to say and show that you are sorry for a mistake that you made
● The producers of the advertisement had to eat humble pie for misrepresenting the facts. The best option is to apologise.Correct Option: D
to eat humble pie : to say and show that you are sorry for a mistake that you made
● The producers of the advertisement had to eat humble pie for misrepresenting the facts. The best option is to apologise.
- Sometimes, it happens that we have to give the devil his due.
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to give the devil his due : said when you admit that someone you don’t like or admire does have some good qualities
● I don’t like her views, but still I give the devil her due; she has always something important to say. The best option is to give encouragement even to the enemy.Correct Option: B
to give the devil his due : said when you admit that someone you don’t like or admire does have some good qualities
● I don’t like her views, but still I give the devil her due; she has always something important to say. The best option is to give encouragement even to the enemy.
- Reading between the lines I realised that my friend wanted to keep something from me.
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reading between the lines : looking for or discovering a meaning
● Reading between the lines of the letter, she realised that her friend was in great trouble. The best option is looking for meanings that are not actually expressed.Correct Option: A
reading between the lines : looking for or discovering a meaning
● Reading between the lines of the letter, she realised that her friend was in great trouble. The best option is looking for meanings that are not actually expressed.
- The saint’s life was an open book.
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an open book : can easily understand and know everything about somebody
● Your health secrets will be an open book to anyone who can do an online search. The best option is one that held no secrets.Correct Option: B
an open book : can easily understand and know everything about somebody
● Your health secrets will be an open book to anyone who can do an online search. The best option is one that held no secrets.
- I knew he had an axe to grind and turned down his offer of help.
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an axe to grind : to have private reasons for being involved in something or for arguing for a particular cause
● He claimed to be disinterested, but I knew he had an axe to grind. The best option is a private interest to serve.Correct Option: C
an axe to grind : to have private reasons for being involved in something or for arguing for a particular cause
● He claimed to be disinterested, but I knew he had an axe to grind. The best option is a private interest to serve.
