Idioms & Phrases 1000+ MCQ with answer for UPSC CDS

1. To set one's face against
A. To oppose with determination
B. To judge by appearence
C. To get out of difficulty
D. To look at one steadily
Answer : A

2. My sincere advice to my maidservant fell on stony ground.
A. was counter productive
B. had a strong impact
C. made on stubborn
D. had little success
Answer : D

3. To wrangle over an asss shadow :
A. To act in a foolish way
B. To do something funny
C. To quarrel over trifles
D. To quarrel over the possession of an ass
Answer : C

4. To set the thames on fire :
A. To do something remarkable
B. To try to do the impossible
C. To burn something to ashes
D. To fling inonical remarks
Answer : B

5. A tall order :
A. A task difficult to perform
B. A bid problem
C. A royal summon
D. A big demand
Answer : A

6. To snap ones fingers :
A. To speak abruptly
B. To accept immediately
C. To grasp eagerly
D. To become contemptuous of
Answer : D

7. The mother always insists on keeping the house spick and span .
A. open
B. locked
C. safe
D. tid
Answer : D

8. He has all his ducks in a row ; he is complacent.
A. has everything ready
B. is well organised
C. always scores a zero
D. never gets confused
Answer : B

9. Hobsons choice :
A. Feeling of insecurity
B. Accept or leave the other
C. Feeling of strength
D. Excellent choice
Answer : B

10. In the teeth of
A. in the end
B. real cause
C. in the face of
D. to chase
Answer : C

11. To catch a tartar
A. To trap wanted criminal with great difficulty
B. To catch a dangerous person
C. To meet with disaster
D. To deal with a person who is more than one's match
Answer : B

12. To wrangle over an asss shadow :
A. To act in a foolish way
B. To quarrel over trifles
C. To waste time on petty things
D. To do something funny
Answer : B

13. To bear the palm :
A. To win
B. To accept a challenge
C. To accept defeat
D. To endure something
Answer : A

14. We had (had) better batten down the hatches . The weather is unpredictable.
A. stay in-door
B. prepare for a difficult situation
C. go somewhere safe
D. face the obstacles
Answer : B

15. To turn over a new leaf :
A. To change completely ones course of action
B. To shift attention to new problems
C. To cover up ones faults by wearing new marks
D. To change the old habits and adopt new ones
Answer : D

16. Above board
A. honest and straightforward
B. a dishonest person
C. boasting person
D. a man with arrogance
Answer : A

17. Hard-pressed :
A. Bewildered
B. Insulted
C. Hard discipline
D. In difficulties
Answer : D

18. Harp on :
A. To comment
B. To criticise
C. To keeep on talking
D. To keep on insulting
Answer : C

19. All agog :
A. Everybody
B. All ready
C. Restless
D. Almighty
Answer : C

20. To hit the jackpot :
A. To gamble
B. To get an unexpected victory
C. To be wealthy
D. To make money unexpectedly
Answer : B

21. out and out
A. slightly
B. totally
C. simply
D. merely
Answer : B

22. To have ones heart in ones boots :
A. To be deeply depressed
B. To be frightened
C. To get angry
D. To keep a secret
Answer : A

23. does not hold water
A. Cannot be belived
B. cannot be valued
C. does not fulfil the reqiurements
D. does not deserve appreciation
Answer : D

24. Despite his initial arrogance he had to eat humble pie .
A. he had to yield under pressure
B. he maintained composure
C. he failed to protest eventually
D. he accepted the food oflfered
Answer : A

25. A critic's work is to read between the lines .
A. to comprehend the meaning
B. to appreciate the inner beauty
C. to understand the inner meaning
D to read carefully
Answer : C

26. The sailors nailed their colours to their mast.
A. put up a colourful mast
B. refused to climb down
C. took over the ship
D. decided to abandon the ship
Answer : B

27. To let off steam , my friend started murmuring.
A. to release his tension
B. to show his anger
C. to show his approval
D. to show his disple
Answer : B

28. She wanted to go hitch-hiking but her mother put her foot down and now she's going by bus.
A. took a firm stand
B. expressed her displeasure
C. scolded her badly
D. got irritated
Answer : A

29. To drive home .
A. To find one's root
B. To return to place of rest
C. Back to original position
D. To emphasise
Answer : D

30. To drink like a fish :
A. To drink little
B. To drink alone
C. To be a drunkard
D. To drink in the company of others
Answer : C

31. At one's wit's end
A. Clear Up
B. Perplexed
C. Explain
D. Enlighten
Answer : B

32. To be above board.
A. To have a good height
B. To be honest in any business deal
C. Having no debts
D. To try to be beautiful
Answer : B

33. To have an axe to grind
A. A private end to serve
B. To fail to arouse interest
C. To have no result
D. To work for both sides
Answer : A

34. a tight corner
A. in a difficult situation
B. in a closed room
C. in a small field
D. in a meadow
Answer : A

35. At arm's length
A. Insult
B. Length of arm
C. At a distance
D. Very near
Answer : C

36. A man of straw
A. A man of no substance
B. A very active person
C. A worthy fellow
D. An unreasonable person
Answer : A

37. A black sheep
A. An unlucky person
B. A lucky person
C. An ugly person
D. None of these
Answer : D

38. To keeps one's temper
A. To become hungry
B. To be in good mood
C. To preserve ones energy
D. To be aloof from
Answer : B

39. He is on the wrong side of seventy.
A. more than seventy years old
B. less than seventy years old
C. seventy years old
D. eighty years old
Answer : A

40. To oil the knocker :
A. To instigate a person to do a job
B. To do a work with increased pace
C. To tip the office-boy
D. To revive old enmity
Answer : C

41. To live fast :
A. To lead a life of dissipation
B. To accomplish a purpose
C. to do a task hurriedly
D. To use up ones income as fast as it comes in
Answer : A

42. To split hours :
A. To sidetrack the issue
B. To quarrel over trifles
C. To indulge in over-refined arguments
D. To find faults with other
Answer : C

43. Adolescence is a period of halcyon days.
A. hard days
B. of mental pressure
C. happy days
D. days of preparation
Answer : C

44. To be in abeyance :
A. To be in trouble
B. Dual minded
C. In a fighting mood
D. Insuspense
Answer : D

45. Be in the mire :
A. Be under dept
B. Be in love
C. Be in difficulties
D. Be uneasy
Answer : C

46. My sincere advice to my maidservant fell on stony ground .
A. was counter productive
B. had a strong impact
C. made on stubborn
D. had little success
Answer : D

47. To set the people by ears :
A. To box the people
B. To insult and disgrace the people
C. To punish heavily
D. To excite people to a quarrel
Answer : D

48. To take with a grain of salt :
A. To take with some reservation
B. To take with total disbelief
C. To take whole heartedly
D. To take seriously
Answer : A

49. To read between the lines :
A. To concentrate
B. To read carefully
C. To suspect
D. To grasp the hidden meaning
Answer : D

50. To mind ones Ps and Qs :
A. To be cautious
B. To be accurate and precise
C. To be careful of ones accounts
D. To be careful of ones personality
Answer : B