Q1. Cut the mustard 

(a) to lose 

(b) to come up to expectations 

(c) to get injured 

(d) to leave the job 

Q2. To beat about the bush 

(a) to punish an innocent person 

(b) to avoid coming to the point 

(c) to boast about oneself 

(d) None of these 

Q3. Why you should always be the one to cast the first stone? 

(a) deeply involved 

(b) to be the first to find fault 

(c) to praise first of all 

(d) to start a fight 

Q4. One who doubts the soundness of inferences.

(a) ascetic

(b) hermit

(c) aesthetic

(d) sceptic

Q5. While I have a both, you may chew the cud. 

(a) go through legalities 

(b) reflect upon one’s past 

(c) have breakfast 

(d) kill time 

Q6. The project looks to be in apple pie order. 

(a) grappling with 

(b) dirty job 

(c) perfectly neat and tidy 

(d) beautifully decorated 

Q7. Unexpectedly, he proved to be a man of straw.

(a) very stubborn 

(b) weak 

(c) useful 

(d) self-loving 

Q8. He was in high spirits when I met him in the restaurant.

(a) in a drunken state 

(b) in a cheerful mood 

(c) talking incoherently 

(d) deeply engrossed in thoughts 

Q9. He struck several bad patches before he made good.

(a) came across bad food 

(b) went through many successes 

(c) had a bumpy car ride 

(d) had many professional difficulties 

Q10. Truly he is a chip of the old block.

(a) very similar to his father 

(b) a good actor 

(c) an honorable man 

(d) outdated in his mannerisms 

Q11. The gift of the gab means 

(a) an unexpected gain 

(b) fluency of speech 

(c) thought provoking oration 

(d) a gift from Santa Claus 

Q12. A fool’s paradise means 

(a) a foolish idea 

(b) an imaginary friend 

(c) an unexpected gain for foolish man 

(d) false hopes 

Q13. A man of spirit is 

(a) a very talented man 

(b) a spiritual person 

(c) a very courageous man 

(d) a unexpected person 

Q14. A person very hard to please 

(a) obstinate 

(b) unconquerable 

(c) fastidious 

(d) invincible 

Q15. A funny imitation of a poem 

(a) dialogue 

(b) sonnet 

(c) caricature 

(d) parody

Solutions 

S1. Ans.(b)

Sol. Cut the mustard -come up to expectations; reach the required standard.

S2. Ans.(b)

Sol. To beat about the bush -discuss a matter without coming to the point.

S3. Ans.(b)

Sol. cast the first stone-to make the first criticism; to be the first to attack.

S4. Ans.(d) 

Sol. sceptic-not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.

S5. Ans.(b)

Sol. chew the cud -To ponder over; meditate.

S6. Ans.(c)

Sol. apple pie order. -perfect order or neatness.

S7. Ans.(b)

Sol. a man of straw.-a person or an idea that is weak and easy to defeat

S8. Ans.(b)

Sol. high spirits -lively and cheerful behaviour or mood.

S9. Ans.(d)

Sol. go through a rough patch-to experience a lot of problems in a period of life

S10. Ans.(a)

Sol. chip off the old block-a person (usually a male) who behaves in the same way as his father or resembles his father.

S11. Ans.(b)

Sol. The gift of the gab -an ability to speak easily and confidently and to persuade people to do what you want

S12. Ans.(d)

Sol. A fool’s paradise-a state of happiness based on a person's not knowing about or denying the existence of potential trouble.

S13. Ans.(c)

Sol. A man of spirit means-a very courageous man

S14. Ans.(c)

Sol. fastidious -Difficult to please; exacting:

S15. Ans.(d)

Sol. parody-an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.