Directions (1-10): In the following questions four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase italicized/bold in the sentence. Choose the one that best expresses the meaning of the given idiom/phrase:
Q1. His most trusted friend proved to be a snake in the grass.
(a) a happy person
(b) a hidden enemy
(c) low and mean
(d) cowardly and brutal
Q2. The captors of the kidnapped kept his family on tenter-hooks.
(a) an anxious suspense
(b) on constant move
(c) in seething anger
(d) in excited wait
Q3. I have come to know of your hole-and-corner methods of dealing with people.
(a) suspicious
(b) secret
(c) servile
(d) strict
Q4. They are sure to steal a march upon their competitors.
(a) outshine
(b) defy
(c) challenge
(d) resist
Q5. He was in a brown study and did not seem to catch my point.
(a) in his study room
(b) not involve in reading
(c) absent-minded
(d) in a state of shock
Q6. The authorities took him to task for his negligence.
(a) gave him additional work
(b) suspended his assignment
(c) forced him to resign
(d) reprimanded him
Q7. I am sure they will fight tooth and nail for their rights.
(a) with all their rights
(b) with all their might
(c) without any weapon
(d) very cowardly
Q8. The detective left no stone unturned to trace the culprit.
(a) took no pains
(b) did very irrelevant things
(c) restored to illegitimate practices
(d) used all available means
Q9. He was in high spirits when I met him in the restaurant.
(a) he was in a drunken state
(b) he was very cheerful
(c) he talked incoherently
(d) he was deeply engrossed in thoughts
Q10. Harassed by repeated acts of injustice, he decided to put his foot down.
(a) not to yield
(b) resign
(c) withdraw
(d) none of these
Solutions
S1. Ans.(b)
Sol. snake in the grass-a sneaky and despised person
S2. Ans.(a)
Sol. on tenterhook- anxiously waiting for news about someone or something
S3. Ans.(b)
Sol. hole-and-corner- hole-and-corner activities are kept secret, usually because they are dishonest
S4. Ans.(a)
Sol. steal a march on – to spoil someone’s plans and get an advantage over them by doing something sooner or better than them
S5. Ans.(c)
Sol. brown study. – The condition of being so lost in solitary thought as to be unaware of one’s surroundings: absent-mindedness, abstraction, bemusement, daydreaming
S6. Ans.(d)
Sol. take someone to task- to scold or reprimand someone.
S7. Ans.(b)
Sol. fight tooth and nail- to use a lot of effort to oppose someone or achieve something
S8. Ans.(d)
Sol. leave no stone unturned- to search in all possible places.
S9. Ans.(b)
Sol. in good spirits- happy and cheerful; positive and looking toward the future, despite unhappy circumstances.
S10. Ans.(d)
Sol. put your foot down-to decide something and express your decision
