UPSC Aptitude Test - Idioms or Phrases
Exam Duration: 45 Mins Total Questions : 30
In the question four alternatives are given for the idioms / phrase printed in bold. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the bold idioms -phrase.
Our house is within a stone's throw from the Red Building.
- (a)
far off
- (b)
far away
- (c)
very near to
- (d)
beside
The questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/ phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/ phrase.
The news of the President's death spread like wild fire.
- (a)
spread rapidly
- (b)
caused a major confusion
- (c)
was a wild rumour
- (d)
set the nation on fire
In the question four alternatives are given for the bold or given idiom / phrase. Choose the alternative which best express the meaning of the bold part or given idiom / phrase
The carefully worked-out plan fell through because of an unexpected event.
- (a)
came out successfully
- (b)
had a step fall
- (c)
was shattered
- (d)
failed
In the question four alternatives are given for the bold or given idiom / phrase. Choose the alternative which best express the meaning of the bold part or given idiom / phrase
The students wanted a holiday, but the Pricipal put his foot down and said, ' No'.
- (a)
asserted his authority
- (b)
kicked them
- (c)
stepped out
- (d)
came downstairs
In the questions, Four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence.Choose the alternative with best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
she paid a flying visit to Mumbai to see her ailling father.
- (a)
went by aeroplane
- (b)
a very long visit
- (c)
a very short visit
- (d)
a surprise visit
In the questions, Four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence.Choose the alternative with best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
To take after
- (a)
to remove
- (b)
to reasemble
- (c)
to cheat
- (d)
to write down
In these questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase given in bold in the sentence Choose the alternative best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase
He has a very nice manner, but you would better take what he says with a grain of salt.
- (a)
to listen to something with considerable doubt
- (b)
to take sensibly
- (c)
to criticise
- (d)
to complement
In the question four alternatives are given for the bold or given idiom / phrase. Choose the alternative which best express the meaning of the bold part or given idiom / phrase
Helena was over head and ears in love with Demetrius.
- (a)
carefully
- (b)
completely
- (c)
brilliantly
- (d)
cauutiously
The questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/ phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/ phrase.
The young boy was kicking his heels inspite of his mother's stern warnings.
- (a)
playing happily
- (b)
kicking someone
- (c)
wasting time
- (d)
passing a gesture of disrespect
The questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/ phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/ phrase.
It is hard to strike a bargain with a woman.
- (a)
to finalize a deal
- (b)
to negotiate a deal
- (c)
to negotiate
- (d)
to deal
In these questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase given in bold in the sentence Choose the alternative best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase
We wanted keep the gift as a surprise for mother but my sister for mother but my sister gave the game away
- (a)
lost the game
- (b)
gave out the street
- (c)
played badly
- (d)
withdrew from the game
The questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/ Phrase in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/ Phrase as your answer.
a shot in the dark
- (a)
to love to go out on adventures
- (b)
be able to work very quickly
- (c)
be very violent
- (d)
an attempt to guess something
In the questions, Four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence.Choose the alternative with best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
He has made a dog's breakfast of these accounts.
- (a)
A breakfast for the dogs.
- (b)
An accurate summary
- (c)
A total mess
- (d)
A breakfast being served by the dogs.
In these questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase given in bold in the sentence Choose the alternative best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase
Red-letter day
- (a)
a colorful day
- (b)
fatal day
- (c)
happy and significant day
- (d)
hapless day
In the question, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.
Children complain about their parents' gifts. They should learn not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
- (a)
not to find fault with the gifts received
- (b)
not to ask for more gifts
- (c)
not to find goodness in the gifts
- (d)
not to look at a horse's mouth
In the question, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
The principle of this school is a hard nut to crack.
- (a)
generous
- (b)
difficult
- (c)
careless
- (d)
kind
In these questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase given in bold in the sentence Choose the alternative best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase
at one's wit's/wit's end
- (a)
to work hard
- (b)
to be intelligent
- (c)
to get puzzled
- (d)
to be stupid
In the question four alternatives are given for the bold or given idiom / phrase. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the bold part or given idiom / phrase.
To fall back on
- (a)
to oppose something important
- (b)
to suffer an injury on the back in an accident
- (c)
to fail to do something important in time
- (d)
to seek support out of necessity
The question, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.
He was Pulled up by the Director of the Company.
- (a)
assaulted
- (b)
dragged
- (c)
reprimanded
- (d)
cleared
In the question, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
I hope you will back me at the meeting.
- (a)
criticise
- (b)
speak after I do
- (c)
follow
- (d)
support
The question, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.
build castles in the air
- (a)
waste time
- (b)
daydream
- (c)
build houses
- (d)
work hard
In the question, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
The winning team decided to go for the jugular in thelast quarter of the match.
- (a)
forfeit the match
- (b)
give easy opportunities to the opposite team
- (c)
give reserve players a chance
- (d)
attack all out
The questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/ Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/ Phrase as your answer.
The manager dismissed the proposal out of hand and said that it was not at all practical.
- (a)
completely
- (b)
directly
- (c)
simply
- (d)
quickly
His arguments cut no ice with me.
- (a)
had no influence on me
- (b)
did not hurt me
- (c)
did not benefit me
- (d)
did not make proud
The questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/ Phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/ Phrase.
I expect my friends to stand by me.
- (a)
Energise
- (b)
Support
- (c)
Accompany
- (d)
Release
In the question, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
The future of Kashmir is still a vexed question.
- (a)
controversial
- (b)
None of the given options.
- (c)
important
- (d)
confused
In the question, four alternatives are given for the Idioms / Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
Some shots were fired at random.
- (a)
without any aim
- (b)
for a long time
- (c)
for end quarrel
- (d)
thoroughly
The question, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.
By putting two and two together
- (a)
to mix several things
- (b)
to make an arithmetical calculation
- (c)
to keep people in pairs
- (d)
to deduce from given facts
The question, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.
At the eleventh hour
- (a)
at eleven O' clock
- (b)
at the wrong time
- (c)
at the last possible moment
- (d)
at the initial moment itself
In the question, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase as your answer.
He beats about the bush
- (a)
talks sensibly
- (b)
talks continuously
- (c)
speak well
- (d)
does not talk specifically