Important Idioms and Phrases MCQs with answers for one paper mcqs test preparation.
Idioms and Phrases MCQs
“Pull your socks up” means:
A. To get ready
B. To finish
C. To start
D. To improve
“Cap it all” means:________?
A. To cover everything
B. To seize everything
C. To finish
D. To occur
“Never-never land” means:________?
A. An ideal pace
B. Dream land
C. A worthless place
D. A useless situation
The idiom “once a blue moon” means?
A. Often
B. Rarely
C. Rapidly
D. Slowly
“Hornet’s nest” means:_______?
A. A bee’s house
B. A violent situation
C. A good situation
D. A dangerous place
To make clean breast of _____?
A. To gain prominence
B. To praise oneself
C. To confess without of reserve
D. To destroy before it blooms
To have an axe to grind _______?
A. A private end to serve
B. To fail to arouse interest
C. To have no result
D. To work for both sides
To cry wolf _______?
A. To listen eagerly
B. To give false alarm
C. To turn pale
D. To keep off starvation
To end in smoke ________?
A. To make completely understand
B. To ruin oneself
C. To excite great applause
D. To overcome someone
To put one’s hand to plough _______?
A. To take up agricultural farming
B. To take a difficult task
C. To get entangled into unnecessary things
D. Take interest in technical work
To pick holes _________?
A. To find some reason to quarrel
B. To destroy something
C. To criticize someone
D. To cut some part of an item
To leave someone in the lurch _______?
A. To come to compromise with someone
B. Constant source of annoyance to someone
C. To put someone at ease
D. To desert someone in his difficulties
A man of straw _________?
A. A man of no substance
B. A very active person
C. A worthy fellow
D. An unreasonable person
To smell a rat _______?
A. To see signs of plague epidemic
B. To get bad small of a bad dead rat
C. To suspect foul dealings
D. To be in a bad mood
To hit the nail right on the head _______?
A. To say something that is exactly right or completely true
B. To destroy one’s reputation
C. To announce one’s fixed views
D. To teach someone a lesson
To set one’s face against _______?
A. To oppose with determination
B. To judge by appearance
C. To get out of difficulty
D. To look at one steadily
He could be easily arrested because the police were tipped off in a advance. tipped off means ________?
A. Toppled over
B. Bribed
C. Given advance information
D. Threatened
I met him after a long time, but he gave me “the cold shoulder”.
A. scolded me
B. insulted me
C. abused me
D. ignored me
He “passed himself off” as a noble man.
A. Was regarded as
B. Pretended to be
C. Was thought to be
D. Was looked upon
In the armed forces, it is considered a great privilege to “die in harness”.
A. die on a horse back
B. die in the battlefield
C. die while still working
D. die with honour
Do no trust a man who “blows his own trumpet”
A. flatters
B. praises others
C. admonishes others
D. praises himself
It was he who “put a spoke in my wheel”.
A. tried to cause an accident
B. helped in the execution of the plan
C. thwarted in the execution of the plan
D. destroyed the plan
“Like a sitting duck” means__________?
A. Lazy
B. Fat
C. Sleepy
D. Ignorant
A bitter pill means ___________?
A. Anything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy
B. A controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to deal with
C. A situation or information that is unpleasant but must be accepted
D. When an attempt fails, and it’s time to start planning all over again
“A hot potato” means _________?
A. The one tiny drawback that ruins it
B. To go to bed to sleep
C. To find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favor
D. A controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to deal with
“Ace in the hole” means __________?
A. A hidden or secret strength, or unrevealed advantage
B. A metaphor for a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength
C. Anything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy
D. Without any hesitation; instantly
“Achilles’ heel” means ________?
A. To action a task; to initiate work
B. A metaphor for a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength
C. A hidden or secret strength, or unrevealed advantage
D. To endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is unavoidable
“Elephant in the room” means _________?
A. An obvious, pressing issue left unaddressed due to its sensitive nature
B. In good physical health
C. Someone can perceive things and events that are outside of their field of vision
D. You learned something through means of a rumor
“An arm and a leg” means _________?
A. Full throttle; at maximum speed
B. Very cheap or inexpensive. A little amount of money
C. Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money
D. One made powerless or ineffective, as by nerves, panic, or stress
“Apple of discord” means ______?
A. Anything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy
B. A person that is not too smart; a person that acts stupid
C. To further a loss with sarcasm or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation
D. To speak the truth, even to the point of being blunt and rude
“Basket case” _______?
A. An area of vulnerability
B. Narrowly; barely. Usually used in regard to a narrow escape from a disaster
C. To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally or to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant
D. One made powerless or ineffective, as by nerves, panic, or stress
“Beating a dead horse” means ________?
A. To uselessly dwell on a subject far beyond its point of resolution
B. An obvious, pressing issue left unaddressed due to its sensitive nature.
C. To speak the truth, even to the point of being blunt and rude
D. To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting
“Best of both worlds” means ________?
A. A phrase implying that a person is never satisfied with their current situation; they think others have it better
B. People’s intentions can be judged better by what they do than by what they say
C. A situation wherein someone has the privilege of enjoying two different opportunities
D. Just the information I have on the subject
“Bird Brain” means _____?
A. A person that is not too smart; a person that acts stupid
B. A person that is too smart; a person that acts Sharp
C. A person that is too lazy; a person that acts dull
D. A person that too angry; a person that acts hastly
“Chew the fat” means __________?
A. To action a task; to initiate work
B. To become silent; to stop talking
C. To take offense; to get worked up, aggravated, or annoyed
D. To chat idly or generally waste time talking
“Drop a dime” means ________?
A. To be an informant
B. Almost free. Very cheap
C. To stop something at an early stage
D. To leave
“Get your goat” means _____?
A. To pacify someone
B. To irritate someone
C. To soothe someone
D. To Hug someone
“Spill the beans” ________ ?
A. Frivolously performing a simple task
B. Reveal someone’s secret
C. To stop something at an early stage
D. Frivolously performing a simple task
“Far cry from” means __________?
A. To present a counter argument
B. To take on a task that is way to big
C. The show has come to an end. It’s all over
D. Very different from
“Your guess is as good as mine” means __________?
A. Join a popular trend or activity
B. To hear something from the authoritative source
C. To know the answer
D. To have no idea
“At the drop of the hat” means_______?
A. As soon as it was spoken
B. Done easily, without any preparation
C. Done in an instant
D. After something is done
“Keep at bay” means _________.
A. Keep in mind
B. Keep at a distance
C. Keep thinking about something
D. Keep at the sea-shore
“Raining cats and dogs” means _________?
A. Raining very heavily
B. Easy option
C. Very rarely
D. one who presents a counter argument
“when pigs fly” means ______?
A. something that is easy to do
B. raining very heavily
C. something that will never happen or is impossible
D. miss the chance
“Icing (also frosting) on the cake” means ________?
A. An ugly but essential addition or enhancement
B. An ugly & inessential removal or diminution
C. Be very expensive
D. An attractive but inessential addition or enhancement
“A litmus test” means __________ ?
A. A decisively indicative test
B. False sense of happiness or success
C. Something that is not understandable
D. To show dislike or disappointment through facial expressions
“Black and blue” _________ ?
A. Full of bruises
B. A poor plan
C. False sense of happiness or success
D. Something that is not understandable
“Go Dutch” means _______ ?
A. One person paying for everyone
B. share the cost of something, especially a meal, equally
C. Enjoy two different opportunities at the same time
D. To do something badly or cheaply
“Fender bender” means ________ ?
A. A mammoth car accident
B. A Huge car accident
C. A small car accident
D. A major car accident
“Fender bender” means ________ ?
A. A mammoth car accident
B. A Huge car accident
C. A small car accident
D. A major car accident
“Feel blue” means _________?
A. Feel Sad
B. Feel happy
C. Feel energetic
D. Feel angry
She goes to her mother’s house off and on. What does idiom / phrase “off and on” means
A. frequently
B. rarely
C. occasionally
D. sometimes
He Was all at sea when he began his new Job.What does idiom / phrase “at sea” means _______?
A. happy
B. sad
C. puzzled
D. triumphant
My friend is a couch potato. What does the idiom/phrase “couch potato” means?
A. active person
B. busy person
C. lazy person
D. angry person
She turned heads wherever she went. What does the idiom/phrase “turn heads” mean?
A. too pleased
B. get angry
C. attract a lot of attention
D. not knowing what to say
E. get acquainted
Co*k and bull story mean ?
A. a true story
B. a lengthy tale
C. Story told by an idiot
D. An unbelievable story
To make clean breast of means
A. To gain prominence
B. To praise oneself
C. To destroy before it blooms
D. To confess without of reserves
To catch a tartar means:
A. To meet with disaster
B. To catch a dangerous person
C. To deal with a person who is more than one’s match
D. None of above
“Give cold shoulder” means_______?
A. To support
B. Cold meat
C. To ignore
D. Shiver
“Hold one’s horse” means__________?
A. Keep one’s expectations
B. Keep one’s gift
C. Have patience
D. High on energy
His office is always in apple-pie order. What does the idiom/phrase “apple-pie order” means?
A. Neat & tidy
B. Disordered
C. Mismanaged
D. Ornamental
One-Trick Pony means:
A. A person having one special feature, talent, or area of experti
B. Doing work dishonesty
C. Unlawful paropaganda
D. Clever planning for enemy
The Government ruled by Women is called?
A. Petticoat government
B. Corporatocracy
C. Patriarchy
D. None of these
The Government ruled by Women is called?
A. Petticoat government
B. Corporatocracy
C. Patriarchy
D. None of these
Idiom “Tie the knot” means?
A. Friendship
B. Getting married
C. Enmity
D. Criticism
Foreign phrase ” De Jure” means?
A. By law
B. Successful
C. Illegal
D. Compromising
Complete the idiom “Hell hath no fury like a_________?
A. A women scorned
B. A burnned women
C. A women forgotten
D. A devil’s advocate
The idiom “To burry the hatchet” mean?
A. To make peace
B. To make a foolish choice
C. To make a wrong decision
D. To lose something
“Brain Drain” means__________?
A. Mad Person
B. Migration Of Skilled Person To Other Country
C. Emigration Of Intellectuals
D. None
Idiom ” To make amend for” means________?
A. Make possible effort
B. To compensate for damage
C. To bring chance in something
D. None of these
“En-route” means_______?
A. oneway direction
B. On the way
C. Long distance
D. None of these
“Inter alia” means___________?
A. In between
B. By the fact
C. Under concentration
D. At the end
“De novo” means___________?
A. Calm in arm
B. New
C. Prominent
D. To any extent
Idiom “To cut long story short” means?
A. Tell the story briefly
B. Come to the point
C. Miss the main points
D. None of above
Idiom “A slap on the wrist” means?
A. Hard Punishment
B. Beating Someone
C. Warning or Small Punishment
D. Make someone sad
“All Hours” means_________
A. At Regular Times
B. At Irregular Times
C. Every Hour
D. None of these
He is busy with his work __________?
A. inns and out
B. up to neck
C. up to the hilt
D. kith and kin
What is the meaning of Banton?
A. Afresh
B. Good manners
C. Farewell
D. Authority
“Prosaic” means__________?
A. Good
B. Dull
C. Beautiful
D. None
“Clique” means____________?
A. A group of animals
B. A group of birds
C. A group of people
D. None of above
Meaning of the idiom ‘Swan song”?
A. Last work
B. First work
C. Middle work
D. Early work
There were no opposition to the new policy by the ‘rank and file’ of the Government.
A. The ordinary members
B. The official machinery
C. The majority
D. The cabinet ministers
To”Jazz Up” means to_________
A. Go faster
B. Make something more exciting
C. Make a lot of noise
D. Be Strong
What the term Short Story stands for:
A. A long prose fiction
B. A story of figurative language
C. A story of many characters
D. A short prose fiction
What do you mean by Novel ___________ ?
A. Short prose
B. A long fictional prose with many characters
C. A short narrative prose
D. A literary work on the stage
The idiomatic phrase “Spick and Span” means?
A. Wisdome and foresight
B. Watch the weather
C. spotlessly clean
D. Deceive somebody
Chose the correct meaning of idiom: Beat about the bush ?
A. Try to meet George Bush
B. To avoid the main topic
C. To make noise
D. To accompany someone in a jungle
Have an Axe to Grind means:____________ ?
A. To use axe frequently
B. Selfish motive
C. To have a dispute with someone
D. To be fair with someone
Rule of thumb means ?
A. Mark of thumb on a legal paper
B. a rough estimate
C. an easy choice
D. an unknown rule
To face the music means____________?
A. To be greeted rudely
B. To be offered warm hospitailty
C. To be on the front seat in a concert
D. To bear the consequences
Khan is always ready to “Eat anyone,s salt”?
A. To be one,s guest
B. To cook tasty dishes
C. An infectious diseas
D. None
idiom of “Rides the high horse”?
A. went on gambling
B. bought a horse
C. superior
D. None of them
“Weal and woe” means__________?
A. Up & down
B. Joys & sorrows
C. whole heartedly
D. Extreme hate
“MALA FIDE” means ?
A. Bad intention
B. Genuine
C. Trustworthy
D. Generous
“TO EGG ON” means ?
A. to advise
B. to ask
C. to urge
D. to warn
What it the moaning of the Idiom/proverb “To be at loggerheads” ?
A. To cooperate with enemies
B. To be in strong disagreement or dispute
C. To face stiff opposition
D. To tax one’s mind and body
choose the correct meaning of idiom “The birds & the bees________ :
A. Depression and low spirits
B. Remain undecided & uncomplete
C. Do favors for getting favors
D. Basic information about se*ual behaviour in humans
Fortnight Means?
A. 14 days
B. 18 days
C. 20 days
D. 22 days
Idiom ” As the Crow flies ” means:________?
A. In a indirect way
B. The impossible task
C. In a direct & straight way
D. None of these
Choose the correct meaning of idiom “Champing at the bit_______?
A. Something difficult to accept
B. Extremely Impatient
C. A pessimistic Person
D. None of these
Choose the correct meaning of idiom ” Spill the beans______ :
A. Become uncertain about something
B. To avoid from someone
C. To reveal the Secrets
D. Something difficult to accept
choose the correct meaning of idiom ” peddle one’s own canoe:
A. A person with good behaviour
B. To solve one’s own issues without any help
C. To have aims & desires suitable to circumstances
D. To be successful
Choose the correct meaning of idiom ” Play ones card right”:
A. To do something risky
B. To get benefit of the opportunity
C. Change the parties
D. Being to improve
choose the right meaning of idiom ” In the blue funk ” :
A. To get rid off
B. In a state of terror
C. To be against person wishes
D. To make a challenge.
choose the correct meaning of idiom ” Leave in the Lurch” :
A. A difficult situation
B. To meet suddenly with someone
C. To leave someone in difficulty
D. To assist someone in adverse circumstances
Choose the correct meaning of idiom ” between sylla and charybids”
A. Between two great difficulties
B. Between two great opportunities
C. In a confused situation
D. None of these
Choose the meaning of idiom: “To break a lance with”.
A. To entertain friends
B. To fail or to miscarry
C. To engage in a competition
D. Get up to be involved in something
Idiom “Star Crossed” is________?
A. Unlucky
B. Lucky
C. Hard worker
D. None of these
To beat the air means?
A. Making progress
B. To sound logical
C. To keep doing something despite its apparent pointlessness or futility
D. None of these
Idiom “at one’s wit’s end” means?
A. to understand thoroughly
B. to be puzzled
C. to be a stupid person
D. to behave irrationally
Idiom “turned a deaf ear to” means?
A. disputed
B. paid attention to
C. To ignore or refuse to listen to someone or something
D. acknowledged gratefully
Idiom “by leaps and bounds” means?
A. very slowly
B. very quickly
C. irregularly
D. very systematically
Idiom “The pros and cons of” means?
A. measure the ingredient
B. observe etiquette
C. consider all facts
D. postpone action
Idiom “Get the sack” means?
A. resigned
B. got rid of
C. was demoted from
D. was dismissed from
Idiom “no love lost” means?
A. stop loving
B. not like each other at all.
C. forming a group
D. have good understanding
Idiom “Red letter day” means?
A. a dangerous day
B. an important day
C. an eventful day
D. a formidable day
“Nod off” means?
A. take rest
B. Fall asleep
C. sitting down
D. turn off something
Idiom “Best of both worlds” means?
A. Friendly with everyone
B. Master of huge wealth
C. benefits of two things and none of the disadvantages.
D. None of these
To read between the lines means?
A. To Suspect
B. To Grasp the hidden meaning
C. To concentrate
D. To read carefully
What is the meaning of idiom ” pour cold water on “?
A. Discourage
B. Encourage
C. To be calm
D. Deceive
The idiom “Above-board” means?
A. Clever
B. Over confidence
C. Honest
D. Moral
The idiom “All and Sundry” means?
A. Specific
B. Everyone
C. Experienced
D. Relevant
The idiom “Kick the bucket” means?
A. To kill
B. To achieve a goal
C. To die
D. To be successful
He was undecided. He “let the grass grow under his feet”.
A. loitered around
B. stayed out
C. sat unmoving
D. moved away
The idiom “A bolt from blue” means?
A. Good news
B. Unexpected misfortune
C. Expected misfortune
D. Sudden News
Better ______ than never.
A. Late
B. Once
C. Sometime
D. Repeat
“Hitting the Nail on the Head” means?
A. Performing a task with exactness
B. Hurting someone without letting them know
C. Taking a very dangerous risk
D. Scold someone for their mistake
The idiom “To keeps one’s temper” means:
A. To become hungry
B. To be in good mood
C. T0 preserve ones energy
D. To be aloof from
If ”you have a finger in the pie”, you are _________ in something.
A. Interested
B. Involved
C. Puzzled
D. None of these
The idiom ” Pass the buck” means?
A. keep something in hand
B. To evade responsibility
C. To Warn
D. Come to know someone’s secrets
Yeoman`s Services means: ________?
A. Free services
B. Help in need
C. Govt services
D. None of these
A group of Apes is called?
A. Pod
B. Herd
C. Shrewdness
D. Drove
A group of Assess is called_________?
A. Pace
B. Gang
C. Colony
D. Flock
A group of Buffaloes is called?
A. Pack
B. School
C. Gang
D. Team
“A PIPE DREAM” means ?
A. A pleasant dream
B. A bad dream
C. An impracticable plan
D. None of these
“Feel good” means to;_________
A. Show goodwill to someone
B. Become happy or confident
C. Know or sense something
D. Move along very carefully
flogging a dead horse __________?
A. Repeating our request
B. Making him see reason.
C. Beating about the bush.
D. Wasting time in useless effort
see eye to eye means?
A. Disagree
B. Agree
C. Meet
D. Dislike
The phrase “Be all ears” means:
A. Having long ears,
B. Listen with interest,
C. Suspect something,
D. Being good listener
Be poles apart” means:
A. Either of the two poles
B. Having nothing in common
C. Leading position in a race
D. Affect somebody greatly
beat around the bush means:
A. Try to hide in the bush
B. Making excuses
C. To avid talking about what is important.
D. To talk rubbish
“fair field and no favor” Idiom means:
A. An equal chance for every one
B. Perfection
C. Indifference in opinion
D. Popularity
I take down my notes carefully means:
A. To hide
B. To remove
C. To publish
D. To write down
Every now and then implies means:
A. Often
B. Always
C. Occasionally
D. Every where
The phrase “To have your hands full” expresses means:
A. To be a sinner
B. To have too many things to do
C. To have plenty of wealth
D. Something related to fighting
She invited all and sundry to the party. “All and Sundry” means: ________?
A. Everyone
B. Close Friends
C. Many People
D. None of these
Sara, You should not “Call it a day”.
A. Stop working on something
B. To begin working
C. To delay working
D. To refuse working
To run across means?
A. To look around
B. To meet casually
C. To go from one side to another
D. To ignore
A bed of roses.
A. Many roses
B. Tricky option
C. Difficult option
D. Easy Option
“Play away from the field”.
A. To conduct a game far from home and town.
B. To conduct a game far from home.
C. To have se*ual relationship with someone who is not your usual partner.
D. To have se*ual relationship with someone who is your usual partner.
To get on the nerves.
A. To soothe
B. To have an illness
C. To give medicine
D. To irritate
Idiomatic phrase ‘a month of Sundays’ means: ________?
A. no time
B. a long time
C. a special Sunday
D. a short period
For this act of indifference he will be taken to task by the authority; here taken to task means:
A. Rewarded
B. Tender his resignation
C. Entrusted with an official job.
D. Get an official reprimand
The U.N.O is the forlorn hope for world peace . ‘Forlorn hope’ means: ________?
A. Desperate enterprise
B. False hope
C. Good initative
D. None of these
One who praise oneself is called __________?
A. Fascist
B. Nazist
C. Narcissist
D. None of These
_______makes the mare go.
A. Gold
B. Silver
C. Money
D. Copper
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: ‘A Dark Horse’.
A. A wicked fellow
B. An Unexpected winner
C. A criminal Getting the water dirty
D. None of these
idiom of “Smell A Rat” ?
A. To reveal secrets
B. To suspect that something is wrong
C. Talking nonsense
D. To get momentum in a job
The idiom donkey’s year means _________?
A. Very Short period
B. Very long period
C. Both
D. None
Bring forward means?
A. Produce
B. Show up
C. Clarify
D. None of These
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All these English Idioms mcqs, Phrases and clause mcqs are compiled from past of Ppsc, Fpsc, Spsc, Kppsc, Bpsc, Upsc, css, Nts, and other one paper exams.