Register Today for free Practice Sets on each and every topic.New Course MS Excel is Live NowFree online Typing Course

English Grammar - Idioms and Phrases: 11 MCQs with Answers

Idioms and Phrases - English Grammar
English Grammar - Idioms and Phrases

English Grammar- Idioms and Phrases

Idioms and Phrases — HTET / CTET अभ्यास प्रश्न।
4 min read 11 Questions

Your Progress

0%
0%
11
Total
0
Attempted
11
Remaining

Q1. The idiom – "To pay off old scores" means :

Right Answer: To have revenge

Explanation:

An idiom carries a figurative meaning that cannot be guessed from its individual words. The expression 'to pay off old scores' means to take revenge for an old injury, insult or grudge, that is, to settle an old account of wrongdoing. Here the word 'score' refers to a record of past grievances rather than to money or marks. The other options interpret the phrase literally in financial terms, such as returning capital without interest, living within one's income, or refusing to repay a loan. Hence the correct meaning is 'to have revenge'.
Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q2. Choose the correct phrasal verb to fill the blank space of the following sentence : Burglars ………… and stole the jewellery.

Right Answer: broke in

Explanation:

The phrasal verb ‘break in’ means to enter a building forcibly, usually in order to steal, which is exactly what the sentence describes. The other options carry quite different senses: ‘break out’ means to escape or, of a war or disease, to begin suddenly; ‘break down’ means to stop functioning, or to lose emotional control, or to analyse something into parts; and ‘break off’ means to end a relationship or discontinue something abruptly. Phrasal verbs of this kind are idiomatic, so the particle cannot be predicted from the meaning of the base verb.

Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q3. Choose correct idiomatic expression for the blank space from the given options : The parents were ………… till their children came back safe and sound.

Right Answer: on tenterhooks

Explanation:

To be ‘on tenterhooks’ is to be in a state of anxious suspense while waiting for something uncertain to happen, which is exactly the parents’ condition until their children came back safe and sound. The image comes from the tenter, a frame on which newly woven cloth was stretched taut by hooks so that it dried without shrinking. ‘Out of the wood’ means free from danger, which is the opposite of what is required; ‘on the sly’ means secretly; and ‘out and out’ means thorough or complete, and is used as an intensifying adjective.

Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q4. Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Hobson's choice

Right Answer: No real choice at all

Explanation:

The idiom 'Hobson's choice' originates from Thomas Hobson, a Cambridge stable owner who allowed customers to take only the horse nearest the door or none at all. It therefore describes a situation in which only one option is actually offered, so accepting it or refusing it is the only freedom available. In effect there is no genuine alternative. This is different from a dilemma between two evils, which involves two real but unpleasant options. It is also not a free decision or one made under threat. Hence the correct meaning is 'No real choice at all'.
Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q5. Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Move heaven and earth

Right Answer: To work tirelessly to achieve something

Explanation:

The idiom 'move heaven and earth' is a hyperbolic expression meaning to make every possible effort and use every available means to accomplish a goal. The image is of someone so determined that they would shift the very heavens and the earth itself to succeed. For example, a parent may move heaven and earth to secure treatment for a sick child. Option two captures this sense of tireless, all-out effort. The idiom has nothing to do with physically relocating, with silent protest, or with blind obedience. Hence the correct meaning is 'To work tirelessly to achieve something'.
Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q6. Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Fly off the handle

Right Answer: To become suddenly angry

Explanation:

The idiom 'fly off the handle' is drawn from the image of an axe head flying off its wooden handle in mid-swing, suddenly and dangerously. Applied to people, it means to lose one's temper abruptly and without warning, as in a manager who flew off the handle over a small mistake. Option three captures this sense exactly. The idiom has nothing to do with escaping or disappearing, despite the presence of the word 'fly', and it certainly does not mean handling a situation skilfully, which reverses the meaning. Hence the correct answer is 'To become suddenly angry'.
Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q7. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: Fly off the handle

Right Answer: To become suddenly angry

Explanation:

The idiom 'fly off the handle' means to lose one's temper very suddenly and react with uncontrolled anger. Its origin is traced to an axe head that flies off its wooden handle while being swung, causing sudden and unexpected danger. The expression is normally used for people who overreact to small provocations, as in the sentence, 'He flies off the handle whenever someone questions his work.' The other options refer to escaping, disappearing or managing a situation cleverly, none of which conveys the sense of sudden rage. Hence the correct meaning is 'To become suddenly angry'.
Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q8. Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Make no bones about it

Right Answer: To be direct and honest

Explanation:

The idiom 'to make no bones about it' means to state something plainly, without hesitation, embarrassment or evasion. Its origin is usually traced to soup or broth containing no bones, so there was nothing to cause difficulty and it could be swallowed straight away. When someone makes no bones about a matter, they speak frankly even if the truth is unwelcome. Option three, 'to be direct and honest', captures this precisely. Hesitating, remaining neutral and confusing the listener all describe the opposite behaviour of avoiding a clear statement. Hence option three is correct.
Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q9. Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Has two strings to his bow

Right Answer: He has an additional skill or option to rely on.

Explanation:

The idiom 'to have two strings to one's bow' originates from archery, where a skilled archer would carry a spare bowstring in case the first one broke, ensuring he was never left without a means to shoot. Figuratively, this idiom means having an alternative plan, skill, or resource to fall back on if the primary one fails. It does not refer to indecisiveness, romantic relationships, or deception. The closest and correct interpretation is that the person possesses an additional skill or option to rely on, giving them flexibility and security. Therefore, the correct answer is option 3.
Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q10. Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Show the white feather

Right Answer: To act cowardly

Explanation:

The idiom 'show the white feather' originates from cockfighting, where a white feather in a gamecock's tail was considered a sign of poor breeding and cowardice, since purebred fighting cocks did not have white feathers. Over time, the phrase came to mean displaying cowardice or fear in the face of a challenge or danger. It is commonly used in British English, especially in military and wartime contexts, to criticize someone perceived as avoiding duty or difficulty out of fear. The other options describing courage, signaling for help, or graceful defeat do not match this historical and idiomatic meaning. The correct answer is option 1, to act cowardly.
Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code

Q11. The battalion operating from the mountain was able to ________

Right Answer: tie down

Explanation:

सैन्य संदर्भ में शत्रु सेना को रोकना/जकड़ना (immobilize) के लिए मुहावरा 'tie down' प्रयुक्त होता है, न कि 'tie up' (जिसका अर्थ बांधना/व्यस्त रखना है)।
Was this helpful?

No suggestions yet — be the first.

Your email will not be published. Suggestions are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code
Published: 27 July 2026 | Last Updated: 03 September 2026 |

Was this topic helpful?
Deepak - Educational Content Creator

Written by Deepak

Educational Content Creator

I am an educational content creator dedicated to making learning simple, engaging, and accessible for students preparing for competitive exams. He specializes in creating high-quality study materials, including notes, multiple-choice questions (MCQs), previous year question papers, practice tests, and exam-oriented resources.

Experience: 10+ years in Education and Competitive Exam Content Creator

0 Comments

Be the first to comment.

Leave a comment

Your email will not be published. Comments are reviewed before appearing.

Security code image. Reload the page if you cannot read it. New code