How To Solve Idioms & Phrases Questions Quickly

June 2, 2023

How to Solve Idioms and Phrases

Idioms are a collection of words or phrases which have a figurative meaning that is generally well established and known.
For example- More holes than Swiss cheese
Meaning- Something that has a lot of problems, it is incomplete or lacks important components.

Phrase is a small group of words that are like a unit. These units are a part of a bigger sentence or a clause.
For example – Picnic basket in hand, she set off for her date
Meaning – Taking the basket she went for her date.

how to solve idioms and phrases

How To Solve Idioms and Phrases Questions

Idiom is a set of certain words which when used together, brings out a meaning which is entirely different from the meaning of each word when it is used individually. To explain Phrases we can say that they are a counterpart of the Idioms. This means that both Idioms and phrases ca be used inter-changeably and with each other.

Idioms

In an idiom, the meaning arises from common usage. It means that the idiom will have no meaning if used with individual words but will make sense even if not used in a sentence.

For Example –

  • It’s a piece of cake
  • Let the cat out of the bag
  • Up in the air
  • Takes two to Tango
  • Call it a day …………………. and so on.

With these examples we now know how idioms can be used solely to describe a situation without the need of a sentence.

Phrases

Phrase is a small group of words that have a meaning when taken together. However, for phrases it means that they are just a phrase that needs the support of a clause to make complete sense in a sentence.

For example –

  • This situation is getting out of hand.
  • A pack of wolves is fatally dangerous.
  • After everything i will have go back to the drawing board
  • I should hit the sack now!
  • Speak of the devil and he is here!

So with the above examples we can see that phrases are a part of sentence.

How to Solve Idioms & Phrases Question Quickly

Question. 1

One proverb/Idiom is mentioned below together with its meaning. Choose the correct meaning of that particular Idiom from the given options:

Add fuel to the flames:

Options:

A.To burn something
B.To do or say something that makes someone react more strongly
C.To consider something
D.None of the above

Correct Option: B
Explanation: To add fume to flames means to over exaggerate anything that makes a bad situation more miserable.

Question. 2

One proverb/Idiom is mentioned below together with its meaning. Choose the correct meaning of that particular Idiom from the given options:

To smell a rat

Options:

A.To see a rat
B.To suspect foul dealings
C.To find plague in a specific area
D.None of the above

Correct Option: B
Explanation: To smell a rat means to suspect a nasty dealing or sensing something wrong in a particular situation. This can be better explained with the help of an example below:

If I don’t go to school today, then the teacher will smell a rat.

Question. 3

One proverb/Idiom is mentioned below together with its meaning. Choose the correct meaning of that particular Idiom from the given options:

Strike while the Iron is hot.

Options:

A.To beat the hot iron
B.To act promptly when the situation is in favour
C.To Extreme tensed situation
D.To raise objections

Correct Option: B
Explanation: It means to take advantage of any opportunity as and when it arises without waiting. It can be better explained with the help of an example:

Sam told Martha- You’ve got such a great job opportunity. If I were you, then I’d rather strike while the iron is hot.

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