Idioms & Phrases MCQ Solved Paper for GMAT

1. 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

2. At the spur of the moment
A. Great Moment
B. Without Delay
C. Very Slow
D. Difficult Moment
Answer : C

3. To take umbrage :
A. To feel depressed
B. To be offended
C. To be satisfied
D. To be pleased
Answer : B

4. 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

5. To pay off old scores :
A. To have ones revenge
B. To settle a dispute
C. To repay the old loan
D. None of these
Answer : B

6. Lions share
A. look angrily
B. minor share
C. heart of the prey
D. major share
Answer : D

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

8. 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

9. The convict claimed innocence and stood his ground in spite of the repeated accusations.
A. knelt
B. surrendered
C. kept standing
D. refused to yield
Answer : D

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

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

12. An apple of discord
A. cause of happiness
B. cause of quarrel
C. cause of wealth
D. cause of illness
Answer : B

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

14. The convict claimed innocence and stood his ground in spite of the repeated accusations.
A. knelt
B. surrendered
C. kept standing
D. refused to yield
Answer : D

15. All and sundry :
A. Greater share
B. All of a sudden
C. Completion of work
D. Everyone without distinction
Answer : D

16. green thumb
A. one has a green tatto on the thumb
B. to have a natural intrest in gardening
C. one is articstic
D. ones nails are painted green
Answer : B

17. 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

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

19. Swan-song :
A. Music as sweet as a song of birds
B. A melodious song in praise of someone
C. Praise of a woman by her lover
D. Last work of a poet or musician before death
Answer : D

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

21. 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

22. To pull strings :
A. To exert hidden influence
B. To tease someone
C. To speed up
D. To start something
Answer : A

23. 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

24. 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

25. a white elephant
A. a proud possession
B. a rare article
C. useful mode of transport
D. costly or truoblesome possession
Answer : D

26. The mn changed colours when I questioned him on the allocation of funds.
A. turned pale
B. got numbed
C. turned happy
D. get motivated
Answer : A

27. To give/get the bird :
A. To get the awaited
B. To have good luck
C. To send away
D. To get the impossible
Answer : C

28. All and Sundry
A. only rich person
B. together
C. selected people
D. Everybody without distinction
Answer : D

29. played havoc
A. caused destruciton
B. caused disease
C. caused hardship
D. caused floods
Answer : A

30. To cast pearls before a swine :
A. To offer some a thing which he cannot appreciate
B. To bring something good before the eyes of a greedy person
C. To spend racklessly on a useless fellow
D. To indulge in fruitless endeavours
Answer : A

31. To hit the nail right on the head
A. To do the right thing
B. To destroy one's reputation
C. To announce one's fixed views
D. To teach someone a lesson
Answer : A

32. 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

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

34. Spick and span :
A. Neat and clean
B. Outspoken
C. A ready-made thing
D. Garrulous
Answer : A

35. To keep the ball rolling :
A. To earn more and more
B. To work constantly
C. To keep the conversation going
D. To make the best use of
Answer : C

36. 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

37. To cry wolf.
A. To listen eagerly
B. To give false alarm
C. To turn pale
D. To keep off starvation
Answer : B

38. As fit as a fiddle
A. Looks fit but not fit actaully
B. Recovering from illness
C. Very weak
D. None of above
Answer : D

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

40. To give a rap on the knuckles :
A. To eulogise
B. To chatise
C. To condemn
D. To rebuke
Answer : D

41. To beg the question
A. To refer to
B. To take for granted
C. To raise objections
D. To be discussed
Answer : B

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

43. By the rule of thumb :
A. By the use of force
B. By the use of trickery
C. By cheating and deception
D. By practical experience which is rather rough
Answer : D

44. To be at ones fingers end :
A. To be hopeless
B. To be highly perplexed
C. To be completely conversant with
D. To count things
Answer : C

45. Bag and baggage
A. Without any belonging
B. All the clothing
C. With all one's belongings
D. Leave
Answer : C

46. At a loss
A. at a relation loss
B. at a business loss
C. none of above
D. to be unable to decide
Answer : D

47. 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

48. To play second fiddle
A. To be happy, cheerful and healthy
B. To reduce importance of one's senior
C. To support the role and view of another person
D. To do back seat driving
Answer : C

49. 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

50. Where discipline is concerned I put my foot down .
A. take a firm stand
B. take a light stand
C. take a heavy stand
D. take a shaky stand
Answer : A