TOPIC: Idioms And Phrases
Directions (1-15): In each of the following questions, a proverb/idiom is given followed by their meanings. Choose the correct meaning and mark that as your answer. If the given meanings are not correct, mark your answer as ‘None of the above’.
Q1. The best of both worlds
(a) Enjoying two different opportunities simultaneously
(b) Getting everything in the world
(c) Availing best opportunities from everywhere
(d) Having the best beginning of life
(e) None of the above
Q2. Speak of the devil
(a) Indicating bad habits of someone
(b) Speaking devilish about someone
(c) Appearance of devil right after being mentioned
(d) Said when a person appears just after being mentioned
(e) None of the above
Q3. See eye to eye
(a) Fall in love with (someone’s) eyes
(b) Meeting of eyes
(c) Agreeing with someone
(d) Facing the challenge
(e) None of the above
Q4. Once in a blue moon
(a) That appears after lunar eclipse
(b) That happens after blue moon
(c) That occurs often
(d) That happens infrequently
(e) None of the above
Q5. When pigs fly
(a) That animals start flying
(b) That will never occur/happen
(c) That dreams come true
(d) Something that is untidy
(e) None of the above
Q6. To cost an arm and a leg
(a) Which is very expensive
(b) That costs someone’s life
(c) Something that cannot be sold
(d) That which is easily reachable
(e) None of the above
Q7. A piece of cake
(a) That tastes soft
(b) Something very sweet
(c) Something very easy
(d) Something that looks delicious
(e) None of the above
Q8. Let the cat out of the bag
(a) Living secretly with someone
(b) Reveal an open secret
(c) Reveal a secret
(d) Leave the cat outside
(e) None of the above
Q9. To feel under the weather
(a) Getting obsessed with the pleasant weather
(b) Feeling to enjoy the weather
(c) Not liking the weather
(d) Feeling sick
(e) None of the above
Q10. Kill two birds with one stone
(a) Finding solutions for two issues
(b) Manage two things at once
(c) Solve two problems simultaneously
(d) Kill a dream for the sake of other
(e) None of the above
Q11. To cut corners
(a) To cut someone’s share
(b) Do something cheaply
(c) To come to the point
(d) To make space by cutting corners
(e) None of the above
Q12. Add insult to injury
(a) Insulting and injuring at the same time
(b) Bettering a bad situation
(c) Making a situation worse
(d) Coping with an insult
(e) None of the above
Q13. Don’t judge a book by its cover
(a) Judging a person without knowing him
(b) Judging someone on the basis of his rich looks
(c) Not reading a book looking at its title
(d) Not judging someone’s based upon his appearance
(e) None of the above
Q14. Call it a day
(a) Quitting a job
(b) Stop working on something
(c) Stop getting into details
(d) Stop making efforts
(e) None of the above
Q15. The elephant in the room
(a) Seeing only the bigger problem
(b) A known issue no one wants to discuss
(c) A big issue everyone is aware of
(d) An unknown issue
(e) None of the above
Solutions:
S1. Ans. (a)
Sol. The best of both worlds means you can enjoy two different opportunities at the same time.
Example: By working part-time and looking after her kids two days a week she managed to get the best of both worlds.
Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.
S2. Ans. (d)
Sol. Speak of the devil: the person you’re just talking about actually appears at that moment.
Example: I hope our teacher doesn’t come today – oh, speak of the devil, here he comes.
Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
S3. Ans. (c)
Sol. See eye to eye: It means agreeing with someone
Example: They finally saw eye to eye on the business deal.”
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S4. Ans. (d)
Sol. Once in a blue moon means “that happens very rare”.
Example: I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon.
Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
S5. Ans. (b)
Sol. When pigs fly is a figure of speech so hyperbolic that it describes an impossibility.
Example: When pigs fly she’ll tidy up her room.
S6. Ans. (a)
Sol. To cost an arm and leg suggests something that is very costly.
Example: These days, fuel costs an arm and a leg.
Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.
S7. Ans. (c)
Sol. A piece of cake suggest some act that is very easy to accomplish.
Example: The second shift bank examination was a piece of cake.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S8. Ans. (c)
Sol. let the cat out of the bag means reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake.
Example: I let the cat out of the bag about their wedding plans.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S9. Ans. (d)
Sol. If you say that you are under the weather, you mean that you feel slightly ill
Example: I can’t go to the movies as I am feeling under the weather today.
Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice
S10. Ans. (c)
Sol. Kill two birds with one stone means to do one thing which will achieve two results
Example: By taking my dad on holiday, I killed two birds with one stone. I got to go away but also spend time with him.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S11. Ans. (b)
Sol. Cut the corner means to do something quickly and not as well as you should
Example: They really cut corners when they built this bathroom; the shower is leaking.” Hence, option (b) is the right answer.
S12. Ans. (c)
Sol. Add insult to injury means act in a way that makes a bad situation worse.
Example: To add insult to injury the car drove off without stopping after knocking me off my bike.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S13. Ans. (d)
Sol. Don’t judge a book by its cover is a metaphorical phrase that means one should not judge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone.
I thought this no-brand bread would be horrible; turns out you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
S14. Ans. (b)
Sol. Call it a day means to decide to stop doing something
Example: I think we have done enough work today, I am feeling tired now, let’s call it a day.
Hence, option (b) is the right answer choice.
S15. Ans. (c)
Sol. The expression “the elephant in the room” means an important or enormous topic or issue that is obvious or that everyone knows about but no one mentions or wants to discuss
Example: Increasing poverty in the world is the western politicians’ elephant in the room.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
English Quizzes For SBI PO Mains 2023 - ...
