MCQ: Phrases and Idioms- 2 - SSC CGL MCQ

Turn a blind eye: deliberately overlook, ignore; to ignore something that you know is wrong.
Shadow ban: a method of censoring or controlling content on the internet.
Flash in the pan: someone who made a good early impression but subsequently failed to maintain the same standards.
Leave hanging: keep undecided, uncertain, or in suspense.
Hence, the correct answer is option B. 

Twist someone’s arm: to make someone do what you want by making it difficult for them to refuse.
Twist the knife: deliberately make someone’s sufferings worse.
Hold court: be the centre of attention amidst a crowd of one's admirers.
Go ballistic: to become very angry.
Hence, the correct answer is option D. 

Cut to the chase: to get to the main point; to talk about or deal with the important parts of a subject and not waste time with things that are not important.
Take the stand: to assert an opinion or viewpoint; to defend one's point of view or beliefs.
Spring out: to break out; to escape.
Stand out: persist in opposition or support of something.
Hence, the correct answer is option C. 

Against the collar (Idiom): difficult, exhausting, or problematic.
Shore up (Idiom): to support or help.
Snuff out (Idiom): to make something end quickly, especially by using force.
Pent-up (Idiom): unable to be expressed or released, closely confined or held back.
It is obvious that ‘against the collar’ makes perfect sense in the given blank.
Hence, the correct answer is option A. 

Gain ground (Idiom): to become popular, to make progress, to advance.
Ham (it) up (Idiom): overstate or exaggerating;to deliberately exaggerate one’s emotions or movements, or to overact or act badly.
Go for the jugular (Idiom): be aggressive or unpressed in making an attack.
Go bananas (Idiom): to become very excited or angry.
It is obvious that ‘gains ground’ makes perfect sense in the given blank.
Hence, the correct answer is option D. 

Ring a bell (Idiom): something that sounds familiar; makes someone remember something indistinctly; to awaken a vague or indistinct memory.
Stow away (Idiom): conceal oneself on a ship, aircraft, or other passenger vehicle in order to travel secretly or without paying the fare.
Take a new turn (Idiom): to make or begin a sudden change in direction, course, or progress.
Take a gander (Idiom): to take a look; to check or examine.
It is obvious that ‘ring a bell’ makes perfect sense in the given blank.
Hence, the correct answer is option C. 

Talk a mile a minute (Idiom): to speak in a very quick or hurried manner; to talk very fast.
Weasel out (Idiom): to avoid doing something that you have agreed to do, especially by being dishonest.
Weave in and out (Idiom): move by twisting and turning or winding in and out, as in The motorcycle wove in and out of traffic, leaving us far behind.
Send up a trial balloon (Idiom): to suggest something in order to get feedback on it or gauge how people respond to it.
It is obvious that ‘talk a mile a minute’ makes perfect sense in the given blank.
Hence, the correct answer is option D. 

In the red: more money going out than coming in.
Dollars to donuts: an outcome that is almost assured.
Bare bones: the mere essentials or plain, unadorned framework of something.
Keep one’s head above water: avoid succumbing to difficulties, typically debt.
It is obvious that ‘dollars to donuts’ makes perfect sense in the given blank.
Hence, the correct answer is option B. 

Dress down: to scold or reprimand someone.
Give away: to give something freely as a gift or donation.
Pour out: to express one’s feelings in an unrestrained way.
Play down: to represent something as being less important than it in fact is.
Hence, the correct answer is option B. 

To replace "suspect something wrong" with the most suitable idiom/expression:

- The correct idiom is "Smell a rat."
- This expression means to sense that something is suspicious or not right.
- In the context of the sentence, it implies that if a person avoids answering legitimate questions, it may raise suspicions or doubts in the minds of others.
- Therefore, the sentence should read: "Good reporters won't be intimidated, and voters are likely to smell a rat if he's not willing to answer legitimate questions."

The most suitable idiom/expression to replace the underlined part of the sentence is:

1. A thorn in my side

The revised sentence would be:

"This difference in perspectives is really starting to become a thorn in my side, since our children are at an age where everything we say counts."

The idiom, "Hear through the grapevine" which means to hear rumours or information indirectly accurately describes the situation.
Bite the bullet: to face a difficult situation bravely
Kick the bucket: to die
Jump the gun: to do something too soon, before it is appropriate or allowed
These idioms do not fit in the given context.
The correct answer is option D. 

"Walk away scot-free" means to escape without punishment or harm. This accurately describes the driver's situation, as he did not suffer serious injuries and was able to leave the scene without facing legal consequences.
Option A, "Give someone the benefit of the doubt", means to trust someone's good intentions despite uncertain circumstances, and is not applicable in this context.
Option B, "Be in hot water", means to be in trouble or facing negative consequences, and does not describe the driver's situation.
Option C, "Hit the nail on the head", means to make an accurate observation or assessment, and is not relevant to the driver's situation.
The correct answer is option D. 

The sentence mentions that Tom was taken to a Star Wars convention by his friend and the idiom is used to describe his situation. Option B can be eliminated because the idiom cannot describe someone’s situation. ‘Swan song’ is also contextually incorrect. Option C can also be eliminated because the idiom is not suitable here. Option A seems correct for the sentence as it suggests that Tom grew uncomfortable in the convention.
Fish out of water: to be out of your comfort zone.
Hook, line and sinker: doing something or trying to achieve something with thoroughness and passion.
The whole nine yards: everything, all the way.
Swan song: the last piece of work of an artist before his/her death.
Correct Sentence:
Tom felt like a fish out of water when his girlfriend took him to a Star Wars convention in LA.
Hence, the correct answer is option A. 

‘A tall order’ refers to ‘a challenging task or difficult requirement’ and ‘an uphill battle’ means ‘a very difficult struggle’. Both these idioms fit contextually in the blank.
‘A viper in bosom’ - a person who deceives you after receiving help from you. This idiom has no correlation to the context of the sentence. Thus, it does not fit in the blank.
Hence, option A is the correct answer.