Directions (1-15): The sentences given below consists of an idiom given in bold. From the given alternatives identify the most suitable option reflecting the meaning of the idiom.
Q1. The defence lawyer played devil’s advocate, explaining that the truth could be the opposite of the way it looked, but the judge wasn’t having it.
(a) concentrate on something in an effort to understand
(b) to doubt the accuracy of information
(c) rapid drop or decrease in value
(d) pretend not to notice
(e) to present a counter argument
Q2. The founder of the company decided to take a back seat and let the board members run the business.
(a) choose to be less important in a role
(b) good or competent at the job or profession specified
(c) temporary help (often financial)
(d) make a fresh start
(e) pretend to be brave in a scary situation
Q3. I never thought the world of the trailers for the lord of the rings but the movies turned out to be very good.
(a) to lower standards or expectations
(b) silly act
(c) something unpleasant to be endured
(d) to have a very high opinion of something
(e) melancholy mood accompanied by deep thought
Q4. Many of the other major daily newspapers have not really zeroed in on the problem.
(a) not sticking to the rules
(b) focus all attention onto one thing
(c) mid-point in recovery, treatment, or progress
(d) shock or surprise at something you see or hear
(e) criticize, scold or lecture someone
Q5. Those who suggest that it is possible to save £1,000 million overnight are barking up the wrong tree.
(a) something that has just occurred to us as we speak
(b) the presence of something very bad in the best
(c) no fuss or ceremony
(d) take a wrong approach to something
(e) be the undisputed champion
Q6. There is always a temptation to cut corners when time is short.
(a) neat and clean
(b) reach a particular place or condition
(c) neutral zone between two or more areas
(d) use courage, reserve, nerve or strength to achieve something
(e) to take shortcuts
Q7. Jack is under the weather so we need someone else to facilitate today’s discussion.
(a) mentally go somewhere surreal or strange
(b) refuse entry to somewhere
(c) being sick or unhealthy
(d) to remove something or someone
(e) to agree by word of mouth only
Q8. It was the oldest trick in the book – one man distracted me while another stole my wallet.
(a) reach a particular place or condition
(b) method of deception which has been used very often
(c) make a bad situation even worse
(d) to change from supporting something to opposing it
(e) to fight very fiercely
Q9. He took the plunge and asked her to marry him.
(a) commit oneself to a course of action about which one is nervous
(b) a task requiring huge amounts of physical strength
(c) something you must do or feel compelled to do
(d) difficult or complex problem
(e) make the best out of a difficult situation
Q10. When he’s tired, we spend the day walking on eggshells as he becomes stubborn and grumpy.
(a) with the top at the bottom
(b) be faithful to your word
(c) be extremely cautious about your actions
(d) old fashioned ideas or approach compared to current trends
(e) overreact in an angry or harsh way
Q11. The ruling party and the opposition don’t see eye to eye on most things.
(a) easier to stop problems than correct them later
(b) to be aware of the information
(c) done against the rules
(d) to have the same views about something
(e) done according to the rules
Q12. He used to be an outstanding orator, but he has lost his touch following his illness.
(a) someone or something is exactly as they seem
(b) keep objects that don’t belong to you
(c) lose the talent or skill in something
(d) neat and tidy in the arrangement
(e) a slim or frugal amount
Q13. After several years of cheating his employer, the embezzler finally had to face the music.
(a) by no means
(b) something is arranged in a haphazard fashion
(c) sadness or unpleasant things can have a positive side effect
(d) something like a mood that everybody can feel
(e) accept unpleasant consequences of your actions
Q14. A good rule of thumb is to add the ingredients when the water starts to boil.
(a) a guide that is based on practice rather than theory
(b) a place you feel connected to emotionally
(c) to feel tense or unable to relax
(d) rooting out the practice of corruption
(e) to disagree about something
Q15. We planned a surprise birthday party for my colleague but a deliveryman accidentally spilled the beans to him about it.
(a) to treat something as if it isn’t important
(b) reveal secret information unintentionally or indiscreetly
(c) under all conditions, no matter how challenging or difficult
(d) a very short period of time
(e) the only way to succeed
Solutions
S1. Ans (e)
Sol. ‘Devil’s advocate’ means to express an opposing or unpopular point of view for the sake of argument. Argue for an opinion which you may not agree with in order to make an argument more interesting.
Hence, option (e) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S2. Ans (a)
Sol. Take a back seat: to have or assume a secondary position or status; to be or become less important, active, or powerful.
Hence, option (a) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S3. Ans (d)
Sol. Thought the world of: to have a good opinion of; to regard very favourably.
Hence, option (d) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S4. Ans (b)
Sol. If you zero in on a problem or subject, you give it your full attention.
Hence, option (b) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S5. Ans (d)
Sol. The phrase ‘Barking up the Wrong Tree” means to make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to follow the wrong course.
Hence, option (d) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S6. Ans (e)
Sol. Cut corners: to do something in the easiest, cheapest, or fastest way.
Hence, option (e) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S7. Ans (c)
Sol. If you say that you are under the weather, you mean that you feel slightly ill.
Hence, option (c) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S8. Ans (b)
Sol. Oldest trick in the book – people should have expected something dishonest or unfair that someone has done because it is a very common or obvious thing to do.
Hence, option (b) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S9. Ans (a)
Sol. Take the plunge: to finally do something important, difficult, or dangerous after thinking about it.
Hence, option (a) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S10. Ans (c)
Sol. Walking on eggshells: be extremely cautious about one’s words or actions.
Hence, option (c) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S11. Ans (d)
Sol. The phrase ‘See Eye to Eye’ is used when you view something in the same way as others do, or that you agree with someone about something.
Hence, option (d) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S12. Ans (c)
Sol. Lost his/her touch: to no longer have the ability to do things that one was able to do successfully in the past
Hence, option (c) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S13. Ans (e)
Sol. Face the music means to “face reality” or to deal with the reality of the situation and accept all the consequences, good or bad (but mostly bad).
Hence, option (e) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S14. Ans (a)
Sol. Rule of thumb: A rough and useful principle or method, based on experience rather than precisely accurate measures.
Hence, option (a) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S15. Ans (b)
Sol. Spill the beans means to accidentally or prematurely give out information that’s supposed to be kept secret.
Hence, option (b) becomes the most viable answer choice.
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