Directions (1-15): In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrases. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase as your answer.

Q1. Stand by:

(a) support

(b) postpone

(c) stand up

(d) resist

Q2. To give vent to:

(a) cause trouble

(b) lose courage

(c) circulate

(d) express anger

Q3. Part and parcel:  

(a) partly

(b) unnecessary part

(c) essential element

(d) large part

Q4. To get acquainted:

(a) to forget

(b) come to know

(c) to tell

(d) to fly

Q5. Under the thumb of:

(a) beyond control of

(b) under the nose of

(c) active

(d) under control of

Q6. To follow the primrose path

(a) To follow one’s objectives very steadfastly

(b) To go on wandering

(c) To trek to the mountains

(d) To go in for pursuit of pleasure or an easy life

Q7. At the eleventh hour

(a) At a late stage

(b) At the beginning

(c) At 11 o’clock

(d) At an early stage

Q8. A shot in the dark

(a) To love to go out on adventures

(b) Be able to work very quickly

(c) Be very violent

(d) An attempt to guess something

Q9. In a nutshell

(a) Angrily

(b) Causally

(c) Writing

(d) Brief

Q10. From the bottom of my heart

(a) Sincerely

(b) Lowest position

(c) Totally

(d) Wholly

Q11. For better or worse

(a) Sometimes

(b) Always happening bad or good

(c) In good times

(d) In bad shape

Q12. A hard nut to crack

(a) A foolish search

(b) A difficult problem

(c) An easy question

(d) An expensive thing

Q13. Hand in glove

(a) Very difficult

(b) Open enemy

(c) Very intimate

(d) Very rude

Q14. A lame excuse

(a) An unsatisfactory explanation

(b) A good explanation

(c) Useless talk

(d) Ill feelings

Q15. At a loss

(a) Expertise

(b) Unanimous

(c) Abscond

(d) puzzled or uncertain

Solutions

S1. Ans.(a)

Sol. stand by: support or remain loyal to (someone), typically in a time of need.

S2. Ans.(d)

Sol. give vent to something. Fig. to express anger.

S3. Ans.(c)

Sol. part and parcel: an essential or integral component

S4. Ans.(b)

Sol. acquainted with something: familiar with something; able to understand or recognize something.

S5. Ans.(d)

Sol. "Under someone's thumb" is an idiom that means "under someone's control or influence."

S6. Ans.(d)

Sol. the primrose path-if you lead someone down the primrose path, you encourage them to live an easy life that is full of pleasure but bad for them

S7. Ans.(a)

Sol. the eleventh hour-the latest possible moment.

S8. Ans.(d)

Sol. A shot in the dark-an act whose outcome cannot be foreseen; a guess.

S9. Ans.(d)

Sol. In a nutshell-in the fewest possible words.

S10. Ans.(a)

Sol. from the (bottom of one's) heart- with sincere feeling.

S11. Ans.(b)

Sol. for better or (for) worse -if a situation exists or happens for better or for worse, it exists or happens whether its results are good or bad

S12. Ans.(b)

Sol. A hard nut to crack-A hard nut to crack

S13. Ans.(c)

Sol. hand in glove (with someone)- very close to someone.

S14. Ans.(a)

Sol. lame excuse- A 'lame excuse' is an excuse of poor quality or lack of thought or an inappropriate excuse

S15. Ans.(d)

Sol. at a loss-puzzled or uncertain what to think, say, or do.