KPPSC Junior Clerk (BS-11) English Idioms & Phrases — Set 3

1. Question 1

   Q1. Give the meaning of the idiom: To bury the hatchet

   • A) to make peace
   • B) to act unfairly
   • C) to keep secret
   • D) None of these

   Answer: to make peace

   Explanation: 'to make peace' is grammatically correct and completes the sentence according to standard English usage tested in LAT, USAT, and FPSC papers.

2. Question 2

   Q2. Give the meaning of the idiom: A scapegoat

   • A) A goat that has escaped from the herd.
   • B) A person who is made to suffer for the misdeeds of another.
   • C) A sharp goat.
   • D) None of these

   Answer: A person who is made to suffer for the misdeeds of another.

   Explanation: 'A person who is made to suffer for the misdeeds of another.' is grammatically correct and completes the sentence according to standard English usage tested in LAT, USAT, and FPSC papers.

3. Question 3

   Q3. Complete the sentence with a suitable idiom: Definitely, it is a ____ because it has been

   • A) very long time since I saw you. A donkey's year
   • B) An elephant's year
   • C) A dog's year
   • D) None of these

   Answer: very long time since I saw you. A donkey's year

   Explanation: The blank is correctly filled with 'very long time since I saw you. A donkey's year' because this is the standard preposition or word choice in formal English for this construction.

4. Question 4

   Q4. The meaning of the idiom "Prick up your ears" is?

   • A) Ignoring
   • B) Listening carefully
   • C) Tune out
   • D) None of these

   Answer: Listening carefully

   Explanation: 'Listening carefully' is grammatically correct and completes the sentence according to standard English usage tested in LAT, USAT, and FPSC papers.

5. Question 5

   Q5. Give the meaning of the idiom: To be rolling in money

   • A) very rich
   • B) washing a lot of money
   • C) borrowing money
   • D) None of these

   Answer: very rich

   Explanation: 'very rich' is grammatically correct and completes the sentence according to standard English usage tested in LAT, USAT, and FPSC papers.

6. Question 6

   Q6. Complete the following proverbial / idiomatic phrase with correct options: Still waters ______:

   • A) make no noise
   • B) run deep
   • C) bring flood
   • D) smell bad

   Answer: run deep

   Explanation: The complete proverb is "Still waters run deep," meaning a quiet or calm person often has deep thoughts or feelings.

7. Question 7

   Q7. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom "Knock down".

   • A) To refuse
   • B) To accept
   • C) To Proceed
   • D) To fell something

   Answer: To fell something

   Explanation: "Knock down" means to cause something or someone to fall by striking or pushing it, i.e., to fell something.

8. Question 8

   Q8. What is the meaning of the idiom "a turncoat":

   • A) Wet coat
   • B) Traitor
   • C) Man of principle
   • D) Poor man

   Answer: Traitor

   Explanation: A "turncoat" is someone who switches allegiance from one loyalty to another, i.e., a traitor.

9. Question 9

   Q9. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: Once in a blue moon

   • A) Very frequently
   • B) Luckily
   • C) Very rarely
   • D) Sadly

   Answer: Very rarely

   Explanation: "Once in a blue moon" refers to something that happens very rarely, as a blue moon is an uncommon astronomical event.

10. Question 10

    Q10. "A piece of cake" idiom means:

    • A) Part of cake
    • B) An easy task
    • C) Celebrate birthday
    • D) None of these

    Answer: An easy task

    Explanation: 'An easy task' is grammatically correct and completes the sentence according to standard English usage tested in LAT, USAT, and FPSC papers.

11. Question 11

    Q11. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: Bag and Baggage

    • A) With whole family
    • B) With due respect
    • C) With all belongings
    • D) With anger

    Answer: With all belongings

    Explanation: "Bag and baggage" is an idiom meaning with all one's belongings, i.e., taking everything along.

12. Question 12

    Q12. The meaning of the idiom "out of the blue":

    • A) Higher than sky
    • B) Once upon a time
    • C) An unexpected way
    • D) Many times

    Answer: An unexpected way

    Explanation: "Out of the blue" means something happening suddenly and unexpectedly, without any prior indication or warning.

13. Question 13

    Q13. The green-eyed monster' means:

    • A) An animal with green eyes
    • B) Hatred
    • C) To get into trouble
    • D) Jealousy

    Answer: Jealousy

    Explanation: "The green-eyed monster" is a Shakespearean idiom from Othello referring to jealousy.

14. Question 14

    Q14. He was all at sea when he began his new job. What does the idiom/phrase "at sea" mean?

    • A) Puzzled
    • B) Disturbed
    • C) Lucidity
    • D) Explicitness

    Answer: Puzzled

    Explanation: "At sea" is an idiomatic expression meaning confused or puzzled, not knowing what to do - derived from the disorientation of being at sea.

15. Question 15

    Q15. My friend is a couch potato. What does the idiom 'couch potato' mean?

    • A) Active person
    • B) Busy person
    • C) Lazy person
    • D) None of these

    Answer: Lazy person

    Explanation: 'Lazy person' is grammatically correct and completes the sentence according to standard English usage tested in LAT, USAT, and FPSC papers.

16. Question 16

    Q16. Complete the idiom/proverb: To rob Peter to pay ____?

    • A) Paul
    • B) Thomas
    • C) Bills
    • D) Debt

    Answer: Paul

    Explanation: The complete proverb is "To rob Peter to pay Paul," meaning to solve one problem by creating another, or to borrow from one source to pay another.

17. Question 17

    Q17. The idiomatic phrase "Out and Out" means:

    • A) Completely
    • B) Miss out
    • C) Long for something
    • D) None of these

    Answer: Completely

    Explanation: 'Completely' is grammatically correct and completes the sentence according to standard English usage tested in LAT, USAT, and FPSC papers.

18. Question 18

    Q18. Give the meaning of the idiom: Spick and Span

    • A) meanwhile
    • B) neat and clean
    • C) in the meantime
    • D) None of these

    Answer: neat and clean

    Explanation: 'neat and clean' is grammatically correct and completes the sentence according to standard English usage tested in LAT, USAT, and FPSC papers.

19. Question 19

    Q19. Give the meaning of the Idiom: To throw up the sponge

    • A) to offer a challenge
    • B) To surrender or give up contest
    • C) to become utterly disappointed
    • D) None of these

    Answer: To surrender or give up contest

    Explanation: 'To surrender or give up contest' is grammatically correct and completes the sentence according to standard English usage tested in LAT, USAT, and FPSC papers.

20. Question 20

    Q20. Don't count your '''' before they are hatched. Complete the proverb.

    • A) Quails
    • B) Sparrows
    • C) Ducks
    • D) Chickens

    Answer: Chickens

    Explanation: The complete proverb is "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched," meaning don't assume success before it is certain.