Phrase and Idioms - Exercise - 9 for University Admission Test, Job Application Test, BCS Exam and Any Competitive Examination

Phrase and Idioms - Exercise

1. He 'pored over' the questions until he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore. [BSMRSTU F 17-18]

a) asked

b) examined

c) memorized

d) ignored

Ans: b

(Note: To 'pore over' something means to study or read it with great attention.)

2. The cricket match proved to be a big draw. [BSMRSTU (D) 17-18]

a) a keen contest

b) a huge attraction

c) a lovely spectacle

d) a game without any result

Ans: b

(Note: A 'big draw' is an event or person that attracts a very large audience.)

3. The officer asked the security guards to be —. [BSMRSTU (D) 17-18]

a) on purpose

b) on the alert

c) on edge

d) off their head

Ans: b

(Note: To be 'on the alert' means to be watchful and ready to deal with danger.)

4. The matter has been hanging fire for the last many months and must therefore be decided one way or the other. [BSMRSTU (F) 15-16]

a) hotly debated

b) stuck up

c) ignored

d) going on slowly

Ans: d

(Note: If an issue is 'hanging fire', it is being delayed and no decision has been made.)

5. The student's regular habit of saving — in difficult times. [BSMRSTU (F) 17-18]

a) stood him in good

b) stood him in good stead

c) stood him in good shape

d) stood him

Ans: b

(Note: 'To stand someone in good stead' means to be very useful to them in the future.)

6. The phrase 'high brow' means — [IU (B) 17-18]

a) big fighter

b) aristocratic

c) snobbish

d) genuine

Ans: b

(Note: 'Highbrow' can refer to something intellectual or to people of superior culture or social position ('aristocratic').)

7. He looked over the paper —. [RU (D) 17-18]

a) up and down

b) hard and fast

c) at a glance

d) out of print

Ans: c

(Note: To look 'at a glance' means to look quickly.)

8. The idiom 'point blank' refers to---. [IU (D) 17-18]

a) directly

b) indirectly

c) straightly

d) shortly

Ans: a

(Note: 'Point-blank' means in a very direct way.)

9. The meaning of the idiom 'a dime a dozen' means [DU (C) 17-18]

a) something common

b) something very rare

c) something we need

d) something very costly

Ans: a

(Note: If something is 'a dime a dozen', it is very common and therefore of little value.)

10. Try to strain every nerve to achieve your goal. [IU (C) 17-18]

a) Fill with joy

b) Do well to others

c) Do one's best

d) Do one's worst

Ans: c

(Note: 'To strain every nerve' means to try as hard as possible; 'to do one's best'.)

11. Choose the correct meaning of the underlined idiom: The rank and file do not have any idea about the war. [IU (C) 17-18]

a) ordinary soldiers

b) Soldier

c) Fighter

d) Young man

Ans: a

(Note: The 'rank and file' are the 'ordinary' members of an organization, not the leaders.)

12. What does 'French leave' mean? [PUST (C) 17-18]

a) leave with pay

b) leave without pay

c) long leave

d) leave without permission

Ans: d

(Note: 'French leave' is absence from work or duty 'without permission'.)

13. No one should enjoy----. [BRUR (A) 16-17]

a) in a hurry

b) French leave

c) give vent to

d) Cut short

Ans: b

(Note: 'French leave' means to be absent without permission.)

14. I know nothing — his character. [BRUR (A) 16-17]

a) nip in the bud

b) in the nick of time

c) muster strong

d) in respect of

Ans: d

(Note: 'In respect of' means concerning or in relation to.)

15. His words proved to be—. [BRUR (A) 16-17]

a) play tricks

b) cold water on

c) Quarrel

d) Pandora's box

Ans: d

(Note: A 'Pandora's box' is something that creates many new problems that you did not expect.)

16. The phrase 'out and away' means —. [COU (A) 16-17]

a) many times

b) sometimes

c) often

d) outside of scope

Ans: a

(Note: 'Out and away' means by a great deal; by far.)

17. 'Annihilate these demons.' Choose a phrase to replace the underlined word. [COU (A) 16-17]

a) Wipe out

b) Carry out

c) Set on

d) Set in

Ans: a

(Note: 'To annihilate' means to destroy utterly; to 'wipe out'.)

18. Mina is true to her—. (মিনা তার কথায় অটল।) [BRUR (B) 16-17]

a) word

b) ward

c) words

d) wards

Ans: a

(Note: 'True to one's word' means keeping one's promises.)

19. What is the meaning of the idiom 'a place in the sun'? [BRUR (F) 16-17]

a) A position in which you are at an advantage

b) A position which is very problematic

c) A situation which is creative

d) A position which is very hot

Ans: a

(Note: 'A place in the sun' means a favorable or advantageous position.)

20. "Unauthorised trespass" means:

a) May enter without permission

b) illegal entrance

c) Tracing drawing paper

d) Unauthorised transparency

Ans: b

(Note: 'Trespass' is the act of entering land or property without permission. 'Unauthorized trespass' is therefore 'illegal entrance'.)

21. 'Maiden voyage' means: [বিসিএস-18]

a) early voyage

b) late voyage

c) first voyage

d) last voyage

Ans: c

(Note: A 'maiden voyage' is the 'first' journey made by a ship or spacecraft.)

22. The whole interview was not dull, it was, at some points, done tongue in cheek. Here 'tongue in cheek' means - [BSMRSTU (F) 16-17]

a) seriously

b) happily

c) humorously

d) honestly

Ans: c

(Note: If you say something 'tongue-in-cheek', you intend it to be a joke or 'humorous', not serious.)

23. They always kept at being materialistic. Here 'kept at' means - [BSMRSTU (F) 16-17]

a) persisted

b) prevailed

c) stuck

d) derailed

Ans: a

(Note: 'To keep at' something means to continue to do it; to persist.)

24. All his life he let the grass grow under his feet. The underlined phrase means- [PUST (C) 17-18]

a) hang around

b) stay out

c) move away

d) sat unmoving

Ans: a

(Note: 'To let the grass grow under one's feet' means to remain idle and delay action, similar to 'hang around'.)

25. He was undecided. He let the grass grow under his feet. [BSMRSTU (G) 15-16]

a) loitered around

b) stayed out

c) moved away

d) sat unmoving

Ans: a

(Note: To 'loiter around' means to hang around idly, which is the meaning of 'letting the grass grow under one's feet'.)

26. He was trying to print his itinerary, but the printer was out of-- [SUST (A) 16-17]

a) a paper

b) papers

c) the papers

d) order

e) all papers

Ans: d

(Note: If a machine is 'out of order', it is not working.)

27. They were very — to protect me. [BSMRSTU (E) 16-17]

a) fold up

b) white sale

c) heart of gold

d) up and doing (কর্মতৎপর)

Ans: d

(Note: 'Up and doing' means active and busy.)

28. He is a yellow dog. Here 'yellow dog' means [BSMRSTU (D) 16-17]

a) coward

b) glamorous

c) studious

d) sagacious

Ans: a

(Note: A 'yellow dog' is a contemptible or cowardly person.)

29. 'We were kept completely in the dark about the plan to sell the company'. What is the meaning 'in the dark'? [JnU (F) 15-16]

a) Putting something

b) Asking something

c) Not knowing about something

d) Looking for something

Ans: c

(Note: To be 'in the dark' about something means to be unaware of it.)

30. —, I enjoyed my time at college. [JU C 16-17]

a) By the by

b) By and large

c) By and by

d) Bye-bye

Ans: b

(Note: 'By and large' means on the whole; in general.)

31. Monica is clearly — when it comes to speaking a foreign language. [CU (C2) 16-17]

a) to a disadvantage

b) from a disadvantage

c) in a disadvantage

d) at a disadvantage

Ans: d

(Note: The correct prepositional phrase is 'at a disadvantage'.)

32. 'Breathe one's last' means: [RU (A, Law) 16-17]

a) breathe in the open air

b) become successful

c) to pass away

d) to laugh

Ans: c

(Note: 'To breathe one's last' is a euphemism for to die or 'pass away'.)

33. He is very shy and doesn't you in the eye. [BSMRSTU (F) 15-16]

a) look

b) watch

c) see

d) notice

Ans: a

(Note: The idiom is 'to look someone in the eye'.)

34. Women of colour are multiply marginalized even in the 21st Century. [BSMRSTU (E) 15-16]

a) black women

b) white women

c) brown women

d) tan women

Ans: a

(Note: 'Women of colour' is a term primarily used to refer to women who are not white, often including 'black women', among others.)

35. The maid is — of my mother. [RU (A2) 17-18]

a) at the beck and call (আজ্ঞাবহ)

b) at the length

c) at her wits' end

d) at the beck and front

Ans: a

(Note: To be 'at someone's beck and call' means to be always ready to obey their orders.)

36. 'Cut a sorry figure' means— [JnU (D) 17-18]

a) make a poor impression

b) feel sorry for what has happened

c) fruitless task

d) change slowly

Ans: a

(Note: 'To cut a sorry figure' means to 'make a poor impression' or appear foolish.)

37. 'Fight shy of' means— [JnU (D) 17-18]

a) a feeling of guilty

b) trying to avoid a person

c) feel sorry for what has happened

d) be ruined

Ans: b

(Note: 'To fight shy of' means to try to avoid a person or thing.)

38. He raised his brows when I gave him the news. The sentence indicates— [JnU (D) 17-18]

a) He felt angry

b) He felt annoyed

c) He felt surprised

d) He felt disinterested

Ans: c

(Note: Raising one's eyebrows is a common expression of surprise.)

39. Keep on walking until you reach your destination. The phrase 'keep on' means: [RU (D) 17-18]

a) endure

b) keep your clothes

c) turn on the light

d) continue

Ans: d

(Note: 'To keep on' doing something means to 'continue' doing it.)

40. The phrase 'Dark horse' means- [IU (C1) 17-18]

a) dark coloured

b) a person of unknown past

c) a horse of bad nature

d) large horse

Ans: b

(Note: A 'dark horse' is someone who was previously unknown but emerges to prominence.)

41. What is the meaning of 'on the horizon'? [PUST (C) 16-17]

a) likely to happen soon

b) seeing something clearly

c) to look for something

d) finding out the inner meaning of something

Ans: a

(Note: If an event is 'on the horizon', it is 'likely to happen soon'.)

42. I met him after a long time, but he gave me the cold shoulder. The meaning of the underlined phrase is - [JUST (D) 16-17]

a) ignorance

b) insult

c) scolding

d) abuse

e) offence

Ans: a

(Note: To give someone the 'cold shoulder' means to treat them with indifference or 'ignorance'.)

43. The film makes huge profits, and the workers want a —. [JUST (D) 16-17]

a) blank cheque

b) lion's share

c) new ball game

d) dirty chaos

e) slice of the cake

Ans: e

(Note: 'A slice of the cake' (or a slice of the pie) refers to a share in the profits or benefits.)

44. The expression 'Don't lose heart' means - [MBSTU (D) 16-17]

a) not to lose hope

b) not to faint

c) not to bleed

d) not to fight

Ans: a

(Note: 'Don't lose heart' is an encouragement to not give up or 'lose hope'.)

45. At last England carried the day. The underlined phrase means — [RU (B) 16-17]

a) lost

b) drew

c) leveled

d) won

Ans: d

(Note: 'To carry the day' means to win or be victorious.)

46. The new economic policy is likely to run into rough weather. [KU (BBA) 15-16]

a) Confuse matters

b) Makes things difficult

c) Encounter difficulties

d) Create problems

Ans: c

(Note: To 'run into rough weather' means to 'encounter difficulties'.)

47. go wrong means- [RU (A, Arts) 15-16]

a) to become unmanageable

b) to stop working correctly

c) to turn upside down

d) to expect a mistake

Ans: b

(Note: If something 'goes wrong', it fails or 'stops working correctly'.)

48. Discipline is on the wane in schools and colleges these days. [KU (BA-H) 15-16]

a) increasing

b) declining

c) spiraling

d) spreading

Ans: b

(Note: 'On the wane' means becoming weaker or less extensive; 'declining'.)

49. The closest meaning of 'Carry the day' is: [KU (BBA) 15-16]

a) To have great fun

b) To do something wrong

c) To win a victory

d) To lose something

Ans: c

(Note: 'To carry the day' means 'to win a victory'.)

50. The closest meaning of 'Blessing in disguise' is: [KU (BBA) 15-16]

a) Fortunes in prayer

b) Positive outcome in an apparent negative situation

c) Turning fate into success

d) Dilemma of success and failure

Ans: b

(Note: A 'blessing in disguise' is something that seems bad at first but results in something good happening later.)

51. The closest meaning of 'Sit on the fence' is: [KU (BBA) 15-16]

a) To be impartial

b) Brimful

c) Moreover

d) Everywhere

Ans: a

(Note: 'To sit on the fence' means to avoid making a decision or choice, hence being impartial or neutral.)

52. I started at the bottom of the—in this company. [CU (D3) 15-16]

a) ladder

b) steps

c) stairs

d) elevators

Ans: a

(Note: 'To start at the bottom of the ladder' is an idiom meaning to start in a low position in a company or organization.)

53. On hearing the news of her son's death, the mother was —. [CU (D3) 15-16]

a) washed with tears

b) washed in tears

c) bathed in tears

d) bathed with tears

Ans: c

(Note: To be 'bathed in tears' is an expression for crying profusely.)

54. I was — a terrible jam. (আমি এক ভয়ানক যানজটে আটকা পড়েছিলাম।) [BSMRSTU (A) 16-17]

a) stuck into

b) stuck in

c) set off

d) set into

Ans: b

(Note: The correct phrasal verb is 'stuck in' a traffic jam.)

55. It turns me off when guys do not respect my boundaries. Here 'turn off' means: [BSMRSTU (D) 16-17]

a) make me completely

b) makes me angry

c) makes me sorry

d) regrets me

Ans: b

(Note: To 'turn someone off' means to cause them to lose interest or to feel disgusted or angry.)

56. If you dilly-dally, you [NSTU (C) 16-17]

a) do your work diligently

b) do your work slowly

c) do your work quickly

d) hesitate to do your work

Ans: b

(Note: 'To dilly-dally' means to waste time by being slow or indecisive.)

57. Owing to: [PUST (B) 12-13]

a) borrowing

b) loan

c) because of

d) act of owing

Ans: c

(Note: 'Owing to' is a preposition meaning 'because of'.)

58. What is the meaning of 'heart and soul'? [PUST (B) 16-17]

a) Completely

b) Narrowly

c) Romantically

d) Lovingly

Ans: a

59. Choose the correct meaning of 'Heart and Soul'. [RU (BBA) 09-10]

a) Good and bad

b) Family relation

c) With all energy

d) Without any delay

Ans: c

(Note: For questions 58 and 59, 'heart and soul' means with all one's energy and enthusiasm; completely.)

60. I have two left feet. This sentence indicates [RU (C1) 15-16]

a) I have a rare disease

b) I am not good at dancing

c) I am not good at walking

d) I have poor eyesight

Ans: b

(Note: To 'have two left feet' is an idiom meaning one is clumsy or 'not good at dancing'.)

61. He lacks the know-how of dealing with the issue. What does 'know-how' indicate here? [BSMRSTU (F) 15-16]

a) information

b) wisdom

c) knowledge

d) technology

Ans: c

(Note: 'Know-how' refers to practical knowledge and ability.)

62. What does 'a bolt out of the blue' mean? [RU (J) 17-18]

a) something completely unexpected

b) a very loud sound

c) a big natural disaster

d) a very pleasant experience

Ans: a

(Note: 'A bolt from/out of the blue' is something completely unexpected, usually unpleasant.)

63. Both parties left the door open for further negotiations. What does the underlined expression mean? [COU (B) 16-17]

a) They blocked the path to progress

b) They left the door open, and not the window

c) They kept the way open-ended for future possibilities

d) Both parties behaved very rigidly

Ans: c

(Note: 'To leave the door open' for something means to make it possible for it to happen in the future.)

64. 'As well as' means- [COU (B) 14-15]

a) good

b) and

c) also

d) very well

Ans: b

(Note: 'As well as' means in addition to; 'and'.)

65. "To breathe one's last' means: [RU (A, Law) 16-17]

a) breathe in the open air

b) become successful

c) to pass away

d) to laugh

Ans: c

(Note: 'To breathe one's last' is a euphemism for to die or 'pass away'.)

66. The health of women is a telling window on female inequality. The underlined phrase can be replaced by- [DU (C) 16-17]

a) window of a house

b) speaks clearly

c) speaks from a window

d) speaks alternatively

Ans: b

(Note: 'A telling window' means something that reveals a lot of information clearly.)

67. The phrase 'conservative outlook' refers to - [COU (C) 16-17]

a) openness

b) restrictions

c) easy now

d) blindness

Ans: b

(Note: A 'conservative outlook' is one that is averse to change and holds to traditional values, often implying 'restrictions'.)

68. Unemployment is the— of the day. [MBSTU C 15-16]

a) burning question

b) crying need

c) sum and substance

d) part and parcel

Ans: a

(Note: A 'burning question' is a topic of great interest or controversy.)

69. Off and on: [KU BBA 16-17]

a) everyday

b) not at all

c) regularly

d) occasionally

Ans: d

(Note: 'Off and on' means intermittently or 'occasionally'.)

70. Give the cold shoulder: [KU BBA 16-17]

a) to insult

b) to scold

c) to abuse

d) to ignore

Ans: d

(Note: To 'give someone the cold shoulder' means to 'ignore' them.)

71. Cut a corner: [KU BBA 16-17]

a) to cut a portion of the road

b) to take a short cut

c) to go slow

d) to go fast

Ans: b

(Note: 'To cut a corner' means to take a shorter route.)

72. Dowry is a burning Question of the day. [KU BBA 16-17]

a) An irrelevant issue

b) An important issue

c) A dying issue

d) A solved issue

Ans: b

(Note: A 'burning question' is an 'important' and often controversial issue.)

73. Not-so-studious students very often play on a fiddle. [CU C 17-18]

a) play an important role

b) play upon a musical instrument

c) get busy over an important matter

d) idle away time

e) use their time

Ans: d

(Note: 'To play on a fiddle' means to 'idle away time' on trivial things.)

74. Since the man was rather inexperienced, I took his advice with a grain of-. [CU B 17-18]

a) sand

b) salt

c) wood

d) sugar

Ans: b

(Note: 'To take something with a grain of salt' means to not completely believe it.)

75. His books sold like —. [RU (A) 16-17, 17-18]

a) burgers

b) hot cakes

c) fresh biscuits

d) butter and buns

Ans: b

(Note: To 'sell like hot cakes' means to sell very quickly.)

Answers With Explanation: