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. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
(a) It is better to have something than nothing.
(b) It is better to have a lot of something than a little.
(c) It is better to take risks than to play it safe.
(d) It is better to have something that is interesting.
(e) It is better to have something that is new than something that is old.
Q2. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
(a) It is important to not be afraid to fail.
(b) It is important to have a backup plan.
(c) It is important to not get too attached to anything.
(d) It is important to not take any risks.
(e) It is important diversify your investments.
Q3. A stitch in time saves nine.
(a) It is better to fix a small problem now than to let it become a big problem later.
(b) It is better to wait until a problem is really big before you fix it.
(c) It is better to ignore small problems and hope they go away on their own.
(d) It is better to not fix any problems at all.
(e) It is better to let the professionals handle all problems.
Q4. The early bird catches the worm.
(a) It is important to be patient.
(b) It is important to be prepared.
(c) It is important to be early to everything.
(d) It is important to be lucky.
(e) It is important to be persistent.
Q5. A watched pot never boils.
(a) If you are worried about something, it will happen.
(b) If you are impatient, things will take longer to happen.
(c) If you are excited about something, it will happen sooner.
(d) If you are not paying attention, things will happen without you noticing.
(e) If you are not doing anything, nothing will happen.
Q6. The teacher was at her wit’s end trying to get the students to pay attention.
(a) The teacher was very excited.
(b) The teacher was very calm.
(c) The teacher was very happy.
(d) The teacher was very frustrated.
(e) The teacher was very bored.
Q7. The athlete was on cloud nine after winning the gold medal.
(a) The athlete was very happy.
(b) The athlete was very sad.
(c) The athlete was very angry.
(d) The athlete was very scared.
(e) The athlete was very confused.
Q8. The couple was living paycheck to paycheck after the husband lost his job.
(a) The couple was very tired.
(b) The couple was very rich.
(c) The couple was very happy.
(d) The couple was very healthy.
(e) The couple was very poor.
Q9. The politician was in hot water after being caught in a lie.
(a) The politician was very popular.
(b) The politician was very respected.
(c) The politician was very honest.
(d) The politician was very trustworthy.
(e) The politician was in a lot of trouble.
Q10. The student was burning the midnight oil to study for the big exam.
(a) The student was sleeping very well.
(b) The student was not studying at all.
(c) The student was studying very hard.
(d) The student was very happy.
(e) The student was very tired.
Solutions
S1. Ans. (a)
Sol. The idiom “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” means that it is better to be satisfied with what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get something better. It is often used as a warning against taking unnecessary risks.
This idiom implies that it is more advantageous to hold onto something you already have, even if it is modest or less valuable, rather than risking it for the possibility of gaining something greater that may not materialize. It emphasizes the value of possessing and appreciating what is currently in your possession rather than taking unnecessary risks.
For example, if you have a job that you are happy with, it is better to stay in that job than to quit and try to find a better one. You may not be able to find a better job, and you may end up unemployed.
S2. Ans. (e)
Sol. The idiom “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” means that it is important to spread your risk by not putting all of your money or resources into one thing. This is because if you put all of your eggs in one basket and something happens to that basket, you will lose everything.
This idiom implies that it is advisable to spread your resources, efforts, or investments across multiple options instead of relying solely on one. It suggests that if you place everything in a single venture and that venture fails, you risk losing everything. By diversifying, you reduce the potential risks and increase the chances of success.
For example, if you invest all of your money in one stock and that stock crashes, you will lose all of your money. However, if you invest your money in a variety of stocks, even if one stock crashes, you will still have money invested in other stocks.
S3. Ans. (a)
Sol. The idiom “a stitch in time saves nine” means that it is better to deal with a problem when it is small and manageable, rather than waiting until it has grown and become more difficult to solve. This is because a small problem can often be fixed with a small amount of effort, but a big problem may require a lot of time and resources to fix.
This idiom implies that it is more efficient and beneficial to address and resolve a small problem promptly rather than waiting for it to become a larger and more complicated issue. By taking timely action, you can prevent the problem from escalating and requiring more effort or resources to fix.
For example, if you have a small hole in your shirt, you can easily fix it with a few stitches. However, if you ignore the hole and it gets bigger, you may eventually have to throw the shirt away.
S4. Ans. (c)
Sol. The idiom “the early bird catches the worm” means that people who arrive early have an advantage over those who arrive late. This is because they have more time to prepare, to get ahead of the competition, and to take advantage of opportunities.
This idiom implies that being proactive and taking action early provides an advantage or opportunity for success. It suggests that being prompt and prepared gives you a better chance of achieving your goals or gaining an advantage over others.
For example, if you are applying for a job, it is important to submit your application early. This will give you a better chance of getting an interview, because the hiring manager will have more time to review your application.
S5. Ans. (b)
Sol. The idiom “a watched pot never boils” means that when you are waiting for something to happen, it seems to take longer if you are constantly checking on it. This is because when you are impatient, you are focused on the fact that the thing you are waiting for has not happened yet. This can make it seem like it is taking longer than it actually is.
This idiom implies that if you anxiously or impatiently wait for something to happen, it will feel like it takes longer for it to occur. It suggests that constantly focusing on and anticipating an outcome can make the process seem slower.
For example, if you are waiting for water to boil, it may seem like it is taking forever if you keep checking on it. However, if you distract yourself with something else, the water will boil before you know it.
S6. Ans. (d)
Sol. The idiom “at one’s wit’s end” means to be so frustrated or worried that one does not know what to do next. It implies to be extremely frustrated, perplexed, or at a loss for how to proceed or handle a situation. In this case, the teacher is trying to get the students to pay attention, but they are not listening. The teacher is at her wit’s end because she does not know what to do to get the students to listen.
The other options are not correct because they do not accurately reflect the meaning of the idiom.
Option (a) says that the teacher was very excited, which is also not true.
Option (b) says that the teacher was very calm, which is not true.
Option (c) says that the teacher was very happy, which is also not true.
Option (e) says that the teacher was very bored, which is also not true.
S7. Ans. (a)
Sol. The idiom “on cloud nine” means to be extremely happy or excited. In this case, the athlete has just won the gold medal, which is a very prestigious accomplishment. This idiom means elated, or overjoyed about something. It indicates a state of euphoria or extreme pleasure. The athlete is likely feeling very happy and excited about their victory.
The other options are not correct because they do not accurately reflect the meaning of the idiom. Option (b) says that the athlete was very sad, which is not true.
Option (c) says that the athlete was very angry, which is also not true.
Option (d) says that the athlete was very scared, which is also not true.
Option (e) says that the athlete was very confused, which is also not true.
S8. Ans. (e)
Sol. The idiom “living paycheck to paycheck” means that a person or family is spending all of their income on expenses and has little or no savings left over. This means that if something unexpected happens, such as a car repair or medical emergency, they may not have the financial resources to cover the cost and may have to borrow money or go into debt to pay for it. It refers to a financial situation where a person or a couple relies solely on each paycheck to cover their expenses, with little or no savings or financial buffer. It indicates a state of financial hardship or struggling to make ends meet.
In this case, the couple is living paycheck to paycheck after the husband lost his job. This means that they are likely struggling to make ends meet and are probably feeling very stressed and worried about their financial situation.
The other options are not correct because they do not accurately reflect the meaning of the idiom. Option (a) says that the couple was very tired, which is also not true.
Option (b) says that the couple was very rich, which is not true.
Option (c) says that the couple was very happy, which is also not true.
Option (d) says that the couple was very healthy, which is also not true.
S9. Ans. (e)
Sol. The idiom “in hot water” means to be in trouble or difficulty. In this case, the politician has been caught in a lie. This means that the politician has lost the trust of the people and may face consequences, such as losing their job or being voted out of office. It means to be in a difficult or troublesome situation, typically as a result of one’s actions or decisions. It implies facing consequences, criticism, or backlash for something negative or controversial.
The other options are not correct because they do not accurately reflect the meaning of the idiom. Option (a) says that the politician was very popular, which is not true.
Option (b) says that the politician was very respected, which is also not true.
Option (c) says that the politician was very honest, which is also not true.
Option (d) says that the politician was very trustworthy, which is also not true.
S10. Ans. (c)
Sol. The idiom “burning the midnight oil” means to stay up late at night to work or study. In this case, the student is burning the midnight oil to study for the big exam. This means that the student is studying very hard and is likely feeling very stressed and worried about the exam.
The other options are not correct because they do not accurately reflect the meaning of the idiom.
Option (a) says that the student was sleeping very well, which is also not true.
Option (b) says that the student was not studying at all, which is not true.
Option (d) says that the student was very happy, which is also not true.
Option (e) says that the student was very tired, which is also not true.
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