Verbal Ability

Idioms and Phrases 2

Directions to Solve

Some proverbs/idioms are given below together with their meanings. Choose the correct meaning of proverb/idiom, If there is no correct meaning given, E (i.e.) 'None of these' will be the answer.

1.  To have an axe to grind
A. A private end to serve
B. To fail to arouse interest
C. To have no result
D. To work for both sides
E. None of these
2.  To catch a tartar
A. To trap wanted criminal with great difficulty
B. To catch a dangerous person
C. To meet with disaster
D. To deal with a person who is more than one's match
E. None of these
3.  To make clean breast of
A. To gain prominence
B. To praise oneself
C. To confess without of reserve
D. To destroy before it blooms
E. None of these
4.  To drive home
A. To find one's roots
B. To return to place of rest
C. Back to original position
D. To emphasise
E. None of these
5.  To set one's face against
A. To oppose with determination
B. To judge by appearance
C. To get out of difficulty
D. To look at one steadily
E. None of these
6.  To smell a rat
A. To see signs of plague epidemic
B. To get bad small of a bad dead rat
C. To suspect foul dealings
D. To be in a bad mood
E. None of these
7.  To hit the nail right on the head
A. To do the right thing
B. To destroy one's reputation
C. To announce one's fixed views
D. To teach someone a lesson
E. None of these
8.  A black sheep
A. An unlucky person
B. A lucky person
C. An ugly person
D. A partner who takes no share of the profits
E. None of these
9.  To leave someone in the lurch
A. To come to compromise with someone
B. Constant source of annoyance to someone
C. To put someone at ease
D. To desert someone in his difficulties
E. None of these
10.  To beg the question
A. To refer to
B. To take for granted
C. To raise objections
D. To be discussed
E. None of these

Overview

Exercise