Idioms and Phrases - Practice Test - 1

Directions: In the questions given below, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase underlined in the sentence. Click on the option given under each question which you think best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

SentenceAns

1. Ram is very calculative and always has an axe to grind.

  1. has no result
  2. works for both sides
  3. has a private agenda
  4. fails to arouse interest

2. The police looked all over for him but drew a blank.

  1. did not find him
  2. put him in prison
  3. arrested him
  4. took him to court

3. On the issue of marriage, Sarita put her foot down.

  1. stood up
  2. was firm
  3. got down
  4. walked fast

4. His investments helped him make a killing in the stock market.

  1. lose money quickly
  2. plan a murder quickly
  3. murder someone quickly
  4. make money quickly

5. There is no gainsaying the fact that the country is in difficulties.

  1. ignoring
  2. hiding
  3. forgetting
  4. denying

6. Children complain about their parents’ gifts. They should learn not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

  1. not to find goodness in the gifts
  2. not to look at a horse’s mouth
  3. not to find fault with the gifts received
  4. not to ask for more gifts

SentenceAns

7. Acquiring a job is a cakewalk for a student who has good academic performance coupled with good attitude.

  1. an easy achievement
  2. walk away with a cake
  3. a difficult achievement
  4. a walkway made with cakes

8. Let sleeping dogs lie.

  1. Do not make friends with enemies
  2. Do not bring up an old controversial issue
  3. Dogs can raise tempers
  4. Do not allow dogs to stand

9. To get admission in present day educational institutions, all children should be born with a silver spoon in the mouth.

  1. be born in a rich family
  2. be born to silver spoon manufacture
  3. always hold a silver spoon
  4. be born with silver spoon

10. A man of straw means

  1. A very active person
  2. A worthy fellow
  3. An unreasonable person
  4. A man of no substance