Directions (1-10): An idiom and four possible meanings are given. Identify the meaning of the idiom from among the answer choices and mark its number as your answer.
Q1. A leap in the dark
(a) a random guess or a risky attempt
(b) a mistake that cannot be rectified
(c) to get wounded
(d) unusual behaviour
Q2. A flash in the pan
(a) an incorrect piece of reasoning
(b) sudden but brief success
(c) a mixture of many types
(d) among other things
Q3. The Income Tax department seized the property of all those who accumulated wealth through ill-gotten gains.
(a) money obtained through dishonesty
(b) multifarious means
(c) ancestry
(d) theft
Q4. With the best of our batsmen injured, it was a foregone conclusion that the other team would win the match.
(a) easily acceptable
(b) get idea
(c) predictable result
(d) compelling argument
Q5. When I borrowed a large sum of money from my friend, we simply came to a gentleman’s agreement – neither he nor I had to sign any document.
(a) agreement based on trust
(b) casual agreement
(c) urgent agreement
(d) round about agreement
Q6. He did not want his sister to leave the house and so he put the wind up her with his ghost stories.
(a) make someone frightened of something
(b) make someone feel less confident
(c) defeat someone in an argument
(d) give someone help and protection
Q7. The politician accused of corruption called for a public meeting to clear the air regarding his actions.
(a) to flaunt
(b) to propagate
(c) get rid of suspicion
(d) to influence
Q8. Tongue in cheek
(a) to conceal
(b) to admonish
(c) to be ironic
(d) to be in agreement
Q9. A nail in someone’s coffin
(a) something bad that contributes towards someone’s failure
(b) something irrelevant to the subject
(c) to make money unfairly
(d) to make someone feel uncomfortable or embarrassed
Q10. A man of the world
(a) headstrong and arrogant
(b) highly experienced in many fields
(c) very popular because of success
(d) a man of wit or genius
Solutions:
S1. Ans.(a)
Sol. A leap in the dark-a daring step or enterprise whose consequences are unpredictable.
S2. Ans.(b)
Sol. A flash in the pan-a thing or person whose sudden but brief success is not repeated or repeatable.
S3. Ans.(a)
Sol. ill-gotten gains. -money or other possessions acquired in a dishonest or illegal fashion.
S4. Ans.(c)
Sol. was a foregone conclusion -a result that can be predicted with certainty.
S5. Ans.(a)
Sol. gentleman’s agreement -an arrangement or understanding which is based upon the trust of both or all parties, rather than being legally binding.
S6. Ans.(a)
Sol. put the wind up -to make someone feel anxious about their situation
S7. Ans.(c)
Sol. clear the air – to get rid of doubts or hard feelings.
S8. Ans.(c)
Sol. Tongue in cheek-speaking or writing in an ironic or insincere way.
S9. Ans.(a)
Sol. A nail in someone’s coffin – something that will harm or destroy someone or something
S10. Ans.(b)
Sol. a man of the world-someone who has a lot of experience of life, and is not usually shocked by the way people behave
