Directions (Q. No. 1-30): Select the meaning of the bold Idiom or phrase from the given alternatives.

1. In the organised society of today no individual or nation can plough a lonely furrow.
(a) remain unaffected
(b) do without the help of others
(c) survive in isolation
(d) remain non-aligned

2. To flog a dead horse
(a) to do interesting things
(b) to try to take work from a weak horse
(c) to beat a horse that is dead
(d) to revive interest in a subject which is out of date

3. To bait the hook to suit the fish
(a) to look at things from other person's point of view
(b) to catch fish by providing suitable food
(c) to do things to please others
(d) to prepare a box to pack the fish

4. Bed of roses
(a) very soft bed
(b) dull life
(c) belong to
(d) full of joys

5. Black and blue
(a) painting
(b) severely
(c) together
(d) intermix

6. Smell a rat
(a) to act unfairly
(b) to talk boastfully
(c) to have reason to suspect
(d) to discourage

7. Under duress
(a) under compulsion
(b) willingly
(c) to elicit information
(d) to demand

8. In the throes of
(a) out of the grip
(b) in the grip of
(c) uncontrolled
(d) in the power of

9. There followed an awkward silence after Salim declared his love to her.
(a) Uncomfortable silence
(b) Embarrassing silence
(c) A period of embarrassment

10. Looking at them now, who can imagine that they were a couple of babes in the wood in school!
(a) Children or babies in the forest
(b) Babies made of wood
(c) Babies lost in the wood
(d) Innocent and inexperienced people

11. The ship was about to weigh anchor when the stormcame.
(a) Weigh the anchor
(b) Leave the docking berth
(c) Raise the anchor as a preparation to sail again
(d) Drop the anchor

12. I did not know that he was pulling my leg all the time.
(a) complimenting me
(b) defaming me
(c) degrading me
(d) befooling me

13. Only the cowards hit below the belt.
(a) give a crippling blow
(b) hit in the thighs
(c) act unfairly
(d) act brutally

14. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind
(a) A good done to others does not go unnoticed
(b) Do or say a thing which may bring severe punishment
(c) Prevention is better than cure
(d) See no evil and do no evil

15. Anurag has made a laughing stock of the braggart:
(a) Foolish
(b) Laugh
(c) Laughing store-house
(d) Look ridiculous

16. The two women are so jealous that at the drop of a hat they start insulting each other:
(a) When hat falls
(b) When any one drops a hat
(c) For no reason at all
(d) One every occasion

17. To bite the dust
(a) To be defeated in battle
(b) To learn a lesson
(c) To be ashmed of
(d) To work very hard

18. Between the devil and the deep sea
(a) in a dilemma
(b) a man who is drowing
(c) to be evil-tempered
(d) a deep sea diver

19. His oily tongue has won him promotion.
(a) flattery
(b) soft speech
(c) word power
(d) fluency in speech

20. He cannot win the election, it is a wild goose chase.
(a) useless effort
(b) good effort
(c) desperate effort
(d) baseless effort

© UPSCPORTAL.COM