Directions (1-5): In each of the question given below a/an idiom/phrase is given in bold which is then followed by five options which then try to decipher its meaning. Choose the option which gives the correct meaning of the phrases.
Q1. Knight in shining armor
(a) a coward man
(b) a chivalrous man
(c) a chivalrous story
(d) an enraged person
(e) a selfish person
Q2. Know the ropes
(a) to know the way
(b) to be a beginner
(c) to have a plan
(d) to be experienced
(e) to be gallant
Q3. Larger than life
(a) to be cruel
(b) to be haughty
(c) to be impressive and important
(d) to be disrespectful
(e) to be happy
Q4. Extend the olive branch
(a) to reduce efforts
(b) to show interest in gardening
(c) to declare ceasefire null
(d) to enrage the enemy
(e) to step to achieve peace
Q5. In stitches
(a) to laugh so hard
(b) in a good mood
(c) in a bad condition
(d) to improve the quality of something
(e) to reduce the cost
Directions (6-10): In each of the question given below a/an idiom/phrase is given in bold which is then followed by five options which then try to decipher its meaning. Choose the option which gives the correct meaning of the phrases.
Q6. Toot you own horn
(a) To boast about the achievements of oneself
(b) To always beat about the bush
(c) To end up in doing the loss of oneself
(d) To prove to be the best of all
(e) None of the above
Q7. To hear something straight from the horse’s mouth
(a) To get rebuked or scolded by someone
(b) To hear something from the authoritative source
(c) To hear rumors about oneself by someone
(d) To hear something bad from an uncivilized person
(e) To hear something commendable for someone and then get jealous
Q8. Method to my madness
(a) A logistic approach to explain something complex
(b) A dogmatic attitude towards the solution of a problem
(c) A purpose in doing something that is seemingly crazy
(d) An intention that leads to craziness
(e) A solution from the way of madness
Q9. Whole nine yards
(a) A long distance
(b) All the levels of a game
(c) Wholly or completely
(d) Something
(e) Everything
Q10. Devil’s Advocate
(a) To act as a witness of a criminal
(b) To stab/attack from behind
(c) To support someone wrong
(d) To speak something wrong in the greed of getting money
(e) To present a counter argument
Solutions
S1. Ans.(b)
Sol. “A knight in shining armor” is a heroic, idealized male who typically comes to the rescue of a female.
Example: “He saved me from humiliation – he’s my knight in shining armor.”
S2. Ans.(d)
Sol. Someone who “knows the ropes” is experienced at what they are doing. “Showing someone the ropes” means to explain to them how something is done.
Example: “Ask John, he knows the ropes around here.”
S3. Ans.(c)
Sol. The phrase “larger than life” refers to a flamboyant, gregarious person whose mannerisms or appearance is considered more outlandish than those of other people.
Example: “His colorful waistcoats and unusual taste for hats made him a larger-than-life character in the local community.”
S4. Ans.(e)
Sol. “To extend the olive branch” is to take steps towards achieving peace with an enemy (or simply someone with whom you have fallen out).
Example: “I thought it was about time I went over there and extended the olive branch.”
S5. Ans.(a)
Sol. If you’re “in stitches”, you’re laughing so hard that your sides hurt.
Example: “He was so funny – he had me in stitches all evening.”
S6. Ans.(a)
Sol. Meaning: If someone toot his own horn, they like to boast about their achievements.
S7. Ans.(b)
Sol. Meaning: To hear something from the authoritative source.
S8. Ans.(c)
Sol. Meaning: An assertion that, despite one’s approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it.
S9. Ans.(e)
Sol. Meaning: Everything; All of it.
S10. Ans.(e)
Sol. Meaning: To present a counter argument