English Olympiad Test: Idioms- 1 - Class 10 MCQ

Answer: C Explanation: The idiom "to make a clean breast of" means: - To confess without reserve - To admit one's mistakes or wrongdoings - To be completely honest about a situation or issue This expression is often used when someone is disclosing something they have been hiding or when they are being completely open about a situation.

Answer: B. To catch a dangerous person

Explanation:
- The idiom "to catch a tartar" means to catch or confront a dangerous or formidable person.
- The phrase is often used when someone is dealing with an individual who is more challenging or difficult than they initially anticipated.
- The idiom conveys the idea that the person has gotten involved with someone who might be a potential threat or cause trouble for them.
- It is derived from the historical Tartar people, who were known for their fierce fighting skills and military prowess.

The correct answer is C: Given advance information. Explanation: The phrase "tipped off" means to provide someone with confidential or insider information about a specific event or situation. In this case, the police were "tipped off" in advance, meaning they were given advance information about Sobhraj, which allowed them to easily arrest him.

Answer: B: Pretended to be Explanation: - The idiom "passed himself off" means to pretend to be someone or something that one is not. - In this context, the person is pretending to be a noble man when he is not one. - Therefore, the correct alternative is B: Pretended to be.

The correct answer is A: Change the subject immediately. Explanation: The idiom "go off at a tangent" means to suddenly change the subject or start talking about something unrelated to the main topic of discussion. In this context, the speaker is interesting but tends to change the subject immediately. - A: Change the subject immediately - Correct. This is the meaning of the idiom "go off at a tangent." - B: Forget things in between - Incorrect. The idiom does not imply forgetting things. - C: Go on at great length - Incorrect. The idiom does not suggest talking at length; it refers to changing the subject. - D: Become boisterous - Incorrect. The idiom does not relate to becoming loud or noisy.

Answer: A: A secret enemy Explanation: The idiom "a snake in the grass" refers to someone who appears to be trustworthy and friendly but turns out to be deceitful or harmful. In this context, the minister was trusted by others, but he proved to be a secret enemy during the revolution. - A secret enemy: Someone who pretends to be trustworthy and friendly but is actually deceitful or harmful. - A treacherous person: Although this option is closely related to the meaning of the idiom, it does not capture the aspect of being a secret enemy, which is the primary focus of the idiom. - An unforeseen danger: This option does not directly relate to the meaning of the idiom, which focuses on a person's deceptive nature rather than an abstract danger. - An unexpected misfortune: This option also does not directly relate to the meaning of the idiom, as it refers to an unfortunate event rather than a person's deceitful nature.

Answer: A. To have an axe to grind - Meaning: A private end to serve - Explanation: * The phrase "to have an axe to grind" refers to having a personal motive or hidden agenda for doing something. * It implies that a person is promoting a particular cause or idea, not because it is inherently right or beneficial, but because they stand to gain from it. * This idiom is often used to describe situations where someone is advocating for a specific outcome, while concealing their true intentions or personal interest.

Answer: B. To ruin oneself Explanation: - The proverb/idiom "to end in smoke" refers to the situation when something fails or becomes useless. - It implies that all efforts put into a project or goal have gone to waste and yielded no results. - This phrase is often used to describe a disappointing outcome or a failed venture. Examples: 1. After months of preparation, their business plan ended in smoke because of a lack of funding. 2. He put all his savings into the stock market, but it ended in smoke when the market crashed.

Explanation:

To put one's hand to plough

- This proverb/idiom means to take a difficult task or to start working on a challenging project. - It implies committing to a task that requires hard work, dedication, and perseverance. - It is often used to encourage someone to tackle a tough situation with determination and focus. - This expression has its roots in the Bible (Luke 9:62), where Jesus used the metaphor of a person putting their hand to the plow and not looking back, as a symbol of commitment and dedication. In conclusion, the correct meaning of the given proverb/idiom "to put one's hand to plough" is to take a difficult task (Option B).

Answer: C: To suspect foul dealings Explanation: - The idiom "to smell a rat" is used when someone suspects that something is wrong or that there are dishonest or deceitful activities happening. - It does not literally mean smelling a dead rat or seeing signs of a plague epidemic. - This idiom is often used in situations where someone feels that something is not as it seems or that there might be hidden motives behind certain actions. - It also does not refer to being in a bad mood.