idiom and Phrases Set-2 ssc cgl 2018

#60Questions #66-126

66. A few days before his death, he
made a clean breast of
everything.
(1) confessed
(2) took off his shirt
(3) suffered
(4) spoke ill

66. (1) make a clean breast of : to
speak the truth about something
that you longer feel guilty
l You’ll feel better if you make a
clean breast of the incident.
The best option is confessed.


67. I am done for.
(1) ruined (2) rewarded
(3) answered (4) questioned
67. (1) done for : to be in a very
bad situation; to be certain to
fail
l I’m sorry. This whole scheme is
done for.
The best option is ruined.
68. For a healthy and lasting
friendship one must be on the
level .
(1) equally rich
(2) mentally compatible
(3) honest and sincere
(4) ready for sacrifices

68. (3) on the level : honest; legal;
above board
l You can trust Shivam. He is
strictly on the level .
The best option is honest and
sincere.

69. The foolish young man soon
made ducks and drakes ofthe
vast property his father left him.
(1) squandered
(2) distributed
(3) spent
(4) gave in charity



69. (1) made ducks and drakes of :
to squander; to waste
l Ritesh made ducks and drakes
of the vast property he had possessed.
The best option is squandered


70. All his ventures went to the
winds.
(1) dissipated
(2) spread all over
(3) got speed of the winds
(4) became well-known


70. (1) went to the winds : to be
dissipated; to be utterly lost
l All his hard work and sincerity
went to the winds, when he
failed to achieve the target.
The best option is dissipated

71. at one’s wit’s/wits' end
(1) to work hard
(2) to be intelligent
(3) to get puzzled
(4) to be stupid

71. (3) at one’s wits, end : to be so
worried by a problem that you
do not know what to do next; to
be puzzled
l I’ve tried every possible source
but without success, and now
I’m at my wits, end.
The best option is to get puzzled



72. to take someone to task
(1) to scold someone
(2) to assign work to someone
(3) to take someone to his place
of work
(4) to praise someone for the
work done


72. (1) to take someone to task :

to criticize somebody strongly

for something he has donel The teacher took Shalu to task

for her misbehaviour.

The best option is to scold

someone

73. to face the music
(1) to be greeted rudely
(2) to be offered warm
hospitality
(3) to enjoy a music programme
(4) to bear the consequences

73. (4) to face the music : to expect or deal with criticism or
punishment for something you
have done
l He is prepared to face the music for his conduct at the meeting.
The best option is to bear the
consequences

74. to blow one’s own trumpet
(1) to play on one’s own trumpet
(2) to praise one’s own self
(3) to create noisy disturbances
(4) to have a high-pitched voice


74. (2) to blow one’s own trumpet :
to boast
l Anyone will tell you she’s one of
the best journalists we have got,
although she never blows her
own trumpet.
The best option is to praise
one’s own self.
75. to run one down
(1) to be in a hurry
(2) to be weak and tired
(3) to disparage someone
(4) to run down a lane

75. (3) to run one down : to criticize somebody/something in an
unkind manner
(1) disparage : to suggest that
somebody/something is not important/valuable; belittle
l Shefalli was always run down
by her friends.
The best option is to disparage
someone.

76. at snail’s pace
(1) very slowly
(2) to walk like a snail
(3) to lack interest in work
(4) in methodical manner

76. (1) at a snail’s pace : very slowly
l Things are moving at a snail’s
pace, but we’ll finish on time.
The best option is very slowly


77. to turn a deaf ear
(1) to be hard of hearing
(2) to be indifferent
(3) to be attentive
(4) to be obstinate
77. (2) to turn a deaf ear : to ignore/refuse to listen to somebody/something
l Sheela turned a deaf ear to our
pleadings.
The best option is to be indifferent.
78. to take to one’s heels
(1) to run off
(2) to show one’s heels
(3) to turn around
(4) to walk leisurely

78. (1) to take to one’s heels : to
run away from somebody/something
l As soon as the thief saw the police, he took to his heels.
The best option is to run off.
79. to have something up one’s
sleeves
(1) having a practical plan
(2) having an important project
(3) having an ambitious plan
(4) having a secret plan

79. (4) to have something up one’s
sleeves : to keep a plan or an idea
secret until you need to use it
l I have something up my sleeve
that will solve all your problems.
The best option is having a secret plan.

80. to end in smoke
(1) to have a smoking session
(2) to be on fire
(3) to come to nothing
(4) to burn slowly


80. (3) to end in smoke : efforts that
come to nothing or are useless
l All his schemes ended in smoke.
The best option is to come to
nothing.


81. As the bomb exploded people
ran helter-skelter.
(1) in great fear
(2) in disorderly haste
(3) in haste
(4) in great sorrow


81. (2) helter-skelter : done in a hurry and in a way that lacks unity
l Clothes were scattered helterskelter.
The best option is in disorderly
haste.
82. He was progressing by leaps
and bounds because of his hard
work.
(1) rapidly (2) slowly
(3) peacefully (4) strongly

82. (1) leaps and bounds : very
quickly; in large amounts
l India is progressing by leaps and
bounds.
The best option is rapidly

83. Our founder had done a
Herculean task by constructing
this great educational institution.
(1) a work of no worth
(2) an effortless job
(3) a work requiring very great
effort
(4) a work requiring very great
intelligence

83. (3) Herculean task : a task needing a lot of strength, determination or effort
l It was a matter ofHerculean task
for him to be selected for the
Olympic Games.
The best option is a work requiring very great effort.
84. My close friend got the sack
from his first job recently.
(1) resigned
(2) got rid of
(3) was demoted from
(4) was dismissed from

84. (4) got the sack : dismissed from
a job
l Ravi got the sack today. He is
always late.
The best option is was dismissed
from
85. I can no longer put up with her
insolence.
(1) endure (2) evade
(3) suppress (4) assume

85. (1) put up with : to accept somebody/something that is annoying. unpleasant etc. without complaining
(1) endure : to bear; to experience and deal with something that
is painful or unpleasant, especially without complaining
(2) evade : to escape from somebody/something or avoid meeting somebody
(3) suppress : to put arn end,
often by force
(4) assume : to think or accept
that something is true but without having proof of it
l I cannot put up with your constant complaining any longer.
The best option is endure.



86. She is a fair-weather friend.
(1) a good friend
(2) a friend who meets
difficulties calmly
(3) a friend who deserts you in
difficulties
(4) a favourable friend
86. (3) a fair-weather friend : somebody who stops being a friend
when you are in trouble
l I had a lot of money and I knew
a lot of people, but most of them
turned out to be fair-weather
friends.
The best option is a friend who
deserts you in difficulties.

87. to die in harness means to die
while
(1) riding a horse
(2) in a stable
(3) in a uniform
(4) still in service

87. (4) to die in harness : to die at
one’s work
l My friend, Rashi, died in harness.
The best option is still in service.

88. to keep under wraps means to
keep something
(1) covered (2) protected
(3) unpacked(4) secret
88. (4) to keep under wraps : being
kept secret until sometime in the
future
l We kept the plan under wraps
until after the election.
The best option is secret



89. After independence Indian
agriculture rose like a phoenix
due to the Green Revolution.
(1) with a new life
(2) with a start
(3) with royal gait
(4) with vengeance

89. (1) like a phoenix : to be powerful or successful again
a magic bird that lives for several hundred years before burning itself and then being born
again from its ashes
l The Indian Industry has risen
like a phoenix after Independence.
The best option is with a new
life





90. His failure at the election has
been a sore point with him for
a long time.
(1) something which hurts
(2) something that brings fear to
(3) something memorable for
(4) something pleasurable to
.
90. (1) a sore point with : a subject
that makes you feel angry or
upset when it is mentioned
sore : annoyed ; upset and angry
l I tried not to make any reference
to his drinking habits. I know it’s
a sore point with his wife at the
moment.
The best option is something
which hurts.

91. The student is on the verge of
breakdown.
(1) on the brink of
(2) at the outset of
(3) in the midst of
(4) at the risk of



91. (1) on the verge of : very near to
the moment when somebody
does something or something
happens
(1) brink : in a very new, dangerous or existing situation; the extreme edge of land.
(2) outset : at/from the beginning
of
l Sara was on the verge of tears
when she heard the news.
The best option is on the brink
of.



92. My repeated attempts to get
refund from the civic authorities
were of no avail .
(1) unsuccessful
(2) postponed
(3) useless
(4) delayed

92. (3) of no avail : of little or no
use
l Everything I did to help her was
of no avail .
The best option is useless.



94. to emergeout of thin air means
to
(1) appear suddenly
(2) descend gradually
(3) fall down quickly
(4) enter from space
94. (1) out of thin air : from nowhere
or nothing, as if by magic
l Suddenly, out of thin air, the
messenger appeared


95. The news of the accident came
as a bolt from the blue.
(1) something unexpected
(2) something unpleasant
(3) something horrible
(4) something unexpected and
unpleasant


95. (4) a bolt from the blue : an
event or a piece of news which
is sudden and unexpected; a
complete surprise
l She seemed to be very involved
in her job, so her resignation
came as a bolt from the blue.
The best option is something
unexpected and unpleasant.
96. The story of the train accident
as narrated by one of the
survivors made my flesh creep.
(1) thrilled me
(2) horrified me
(3) excited me
(4) frightened me

96. (2) made my flesh creep : made
me feel afraid or full of disgust
l The story of the killings made
my flesh creep.
The best option is horrified me

97. He has resigned his job and
burnt his boats so far as
government service is
concerned.
(1) felt dejected
(2) blasted his hopes
(3) ruined himself
(4) left no means of retreat

97. (4) burnt his boats : to do something that makes it impossible to
return to the previous situation
later
(1) retreat : to move away/back
l Turning down one job before you
have another leads to burning
your boats.
The best option is left no means
of retreat.


98. He cannot hold a candle to his
elder brother.
(1) equal to
(2) not as clever as
(3) cannot be compared to
(4) duller than

99. The question of higher
membership fees was brought
up at the last meeting.
(1) discussed at great length
(2) introduced for discussion
(3) criticised vehemently
(4) vaguely referred to

99. (2) brought up : raise; to care
for a child, teaching him or her
how to behave; to mention a subject or start to talk about it
l We were having a pleasant chat
until someone brought up politics.
The best option is introduced for
discussion.

100. His arguments cut no ice with
me.
(1) had no influence on me
(2) did not hurt me
(3) did not benefit me
(4) did not make me proud

100. (1) cut no ice with me : to have
no influence or effect
l I don’t care who you are, It cuts
no ice with me.
The best option is had no influence on me

01. the green-eyed monster strikes
a woman the moment she sees
her husband talking to another
pretty woman.
(1) anger (2) hatred
(3) envy (4) jealousy

102. (2) to fight tooth and nail : to

fight in a determined way for

what you wantl They vowed to fight the new legislation tooth and nail .

The best option is to oppose

resolutely.



103. at one’s wit’s end
(1) to understand thoroughly
(2) to be puzzled
(3) to be a stupid person
(4) to behave irrationally

103. (2) at one’s wit’s end : to get
puzzled
l I’ve tried every possible source
but without success, and now I’m
at my wit’s end.
The best option is to be puzzled.
104. The clerk turned a deaf ear to
his officer’s advice.
(1) disputed
(2) paid attention to
(3) disregarded
(4) acknowledged gratefully

104. (3) turned a deaf ear : ignored/
refused to listen
l Sheela turned a deaf ear to our
pleadings.
The best option is disregarded.
105. He expects his subordinates to
be always at his beck and call
(1) at rest
(2) at work
(3) at his disposal
(4) at their desks

105. (3) to be always at his beck and
call : always ready to obey somebody’s orders
l There were a dozen of maids
and waiters at our beck and
call .
The best option is at his disposal.

106. in the long run
(1) permanently (2) universally
(3) occasionally (4) ultimately

106. (4) in the long run : concerning
a longer period in the future
l He realized that in the long run ,
their argument wouldn’t seem so
useless.
The best option is ultimately.
107. If you are in the good books of
the boss, you are sure to rise
quickly.
(1) work well for the boss
(2) praise the boss
(3) in favour with the boss
(4) co-operate with boss

107. (3) in the good books : used for
saying that somebody is pleased
with you
l I cleaned the bathroom yesterday. So, I’m in mum’s good
books.
The best option is in favour with
the boss.

108. The population of our country
is increasing by leaps and
bounds.
(1) very slowly
(2) very quickly
(3) irregularly
(4) very systematically

108. (2) by leaps and bounds : rapidly; very quickly
l India is progressing by leaps and
bounds.
The best option is very quickly
109. to weigh up the pros and cons
is to
(1) measure the ingredient
(2) observe etiquette
(3) consider all facts
(4) postpone action

109. (3) the pros and cons : arguments or considerations for and
against something; advantages
and disadvantages
l We will discuss all the pros and
cons before we decide to add a
new wing to the library.
The best option is consider all
facts


111. There is no love lost between
any two neighbouring countries
in the world.
(1) stop loving
(2) not on good terms
(3) forming a group
(4) have good understanding

111. (2) no love lost between : do
not like each other
l These is no love lost between
them.
The best option is not on good
terms.
112. He is accused ofsitting on the
fence.
(1) observing the scene
(2) resting on fence
(3) hesitating which side to take
(4) sitting back and enjoying the
fun
112. (3) sitting on the fence : to avoid
becoming involved in deciding/
influencing something
l The shrewd man is sitting on
the fence in the quarrel.
The best option is hesitating
which side to take

113. You have to read between the
lines to understand most of the
symbolic writing.
(1) read again and again
(2) understand the hidden
meaning
(3) know the symbols
(4) look for many meanings

.
113. (2) read between the lines : looking for meanings that are not
actually expressed
l Reading between the lines of
the letter, she realised that her
friend was in great trouble.
The best option is understand
the hidden meaning.

114. The ruling party has been
warned not to play to the
gallery.
(1) to give importance to the
common man
(2) to try to be clever
(3) to seek to win approval
(4) to side-track the issue

114. (3) to play to the gallery : to
behave in an exaggerated way to
attract people's attention
l Akshay is a competent actor, but
he has a tendency to play to
the gallery.
The best option is to seek to win
approval
115. In the securities scam, the
national credibility wasat stake.
(1) on trial
(2) under pressure
(3) in danger
(4) challenged

15. (3) at stake : that can be won/
lost, depending on the success
of a particular action
l I have everything at stake on
this bet.
The best option is in danger.

116. The passing of anti-defection law
struck a chill to the heart of
every opportunistic legislator.
(1) caused anger
(2) caused relief
(3) aroused fear
(4) awakened bitterness
116. (3) struck a chill to the heart :
to make somebody be afraid
l The introduction of Boards in
Class VIII struck a chill to the
heart of all the students.
The best option is aroused fear.
117. Our house is within a stone’s
throwfrom the Red Building.
(1) far off (2) far away
(3) very near to (4) beside
117. (3) within a stone’s throw : a
very short distance away
l Her house is within a stone’s
throw from mine.
The best option is very near to.
118. He has a bone to pick with his
cousin.
(1) reasonable agreement
(2) cause of quarrel
(3) cause of doubt
(4) difference of opinion
118. (2) bone to pick : to be angry
with somebody about something
and want to discuss it with him;
to have grounds for a quarrel.
l I have a bone to pick with my
sister.
The best option is cause of quarrel.

119. The day I graduated was a redletter day for me.
(1) a dangerous day
(2) an important day
(3) an eventful day
(4) a formidable day

119. (2) a red-letter day : an important day
l 15th August is a red-letter day
in the history of India.
120. Many young artists were
dropping names at the party to
impress the gathering.
(1) talking proudly about their
family members
(2) using pet names
(3) hinting at high connections
(4) talking informally

120. (3) dropping names : to mention
famous people you know or have
met in order to impress others
l Dropping names to impress ones
friends is a common practice.
The best option is hinting at high
connections.
121. The teacher announced that she
had no blue-eyed boys in the
class.
(1) royal children
(2) young boys
(3) foreigners
(4) favourites

121. (4) blue-eyed boy : a person
treated with special favour by
somebody
l He was very much the blue-eyed
boy in the office.
The best option is favourites

122. The company has run into a lot
of debts.
(1) incurred (2) settled
(3) opened up (4) avoided

122. (1) run into : to experience difficulties
incurred : to pay some charges/amount
l We have run into extra expenses with the renovation.
The best option is incurred.

123. He was confident that all his
present sufferings will soon blow
over.
(1) increase
(2) pass off
(3) be looked into
(4) be taken care of

123. (2) blow over : to go away without having a serious effect
l The scandal will soon blow over.
The best option is pass off

124. The teacher advised the
students to take into account
the advice given by the elders.
(1) to obey (2) to neglect
(3) to consider
(4) to reject
125.
124. (3) to take into account : to consider particular facts, circumstances, etc. while making a decision about something
l I hope you’ll take Mr. Gupta advice into account when you plan
the party.
The best option is to consider.
126. The principal has to carry out
the orders issued by the higher
authorities.
(1) obey (2) communicate
(3) execute (4) modify

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