Idioms And Phrases - English Aptitude MCQ Questions and Answers

gift horse in the mouth: to show a lack of appreciation or gratitude when receiving a gift.

burning question: an important question that requires an answer.

to bell the cat: to attempt or agree to attempt an impossibly difficult task that if achieved, will benefit the entire community.

on the wane: to decrease gradually in size, number, strength, or intensity.

The sentence "He is leaving the country for good" is an idiom. An idiom is a phrase where the meaning isn't obvious from the individual words.

The phrase "for good" doesn't mean "for a good reason" or "for a charitable purpose."

Instead, "for good" means permanently or forever.

Therefore, the sentence implies that the person is leaving the country and will not return.

Let's look at the options:

Option A: "for better prospects" suggests he's leaving for opportunities.
Option B: "for a good cause" means he's leaving for a worthy reason.
Option C: "forever" accurately reflects the meaning of "for good".
Option D: "for others' good" implies he's leaving to benefit others.

Only option C correctly explains the idiom.

go off at a tangent: to suddenly start talking or thinking about a completely new subject.

for a song: for little money.

The idiom "a snake in the grass" refers to someone who appears to be friendly or harmless but is actually a hidden enemy or traitor.

Let's look at the options:
Option A: a secret enemy - This is a good description of someone who is a "snake in the grass." They are not openly hostile, but secretly work against you.
Option B: a treacherous person - This is also a very accurate description. "Treacherous" means someone who betrays trust, which is exactly what a snake in the grass does.
Option C: an unforeseen danger - While a snake in the grass *can* present an unforeseen danger, the idiom specifically refers to the person, not just the danger itself.
Option D: an unexpected misfortune - This is a general negative event and doesn't capture the element of betrayal inherent in the idiom.

Between A and B, both are good. However, option B, "a treacherous person," is slightly better because it emphasizes the betrayal aspect which is central to the "snake in the grass" meaning.
So, Option B is the best answer because it accurately captures the meaning of the idiom as a person who betrays trust after seeming friendly. Option A is also close, but 'treacherous' is a stronger fit.

what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander: to emphasize that if one person is allowed to do something or to behave in a particular way, then another person must be allowed to do that thing or behave in that way.

to take it lying down: accept an insult, setback, or rebuke without protest.