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.
- He has a very nice manner, but you would better take what he says with a grain of salt.
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take with a grain of salt : to hear/ listen/believe with some doubt
● You must take anything she says with a grain of salt. She doesn’t always speak the truth. The best option is to listen to something with considerable doubt.Correct Option: A
take with a grain of salt : to hear/ listen/believe with some doubt
● You must take anything she says with a grain of salt. She doesn’t always speak the truth. The best option is to listen to something with considerable doubt.
- He was given Hobson’s choice by the employer.
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Hobson’s choice : a situation in which somebody has no choice because if he does not accept what is offered, he will get nothing
● We didn’t really want that particular hotel, but it was a case of Hobson’s choice. The best option is no real choice at all.Correct Option: B
Hobson’s choice : a situation in which somebody has no choice because if he does not accept what is offered, he will get nothing
● We didn’t really want that particular hotel, but it was a case of Hobson’s choice. The best option is no real choice at all.
- 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.
