Idioms & Phrases MCQ Solved Paper for UPSC IES

1. The students found it hard to go at equal speed with the professor.
A. get away from
B. put up with
C. keep up with
D. race ag
Answer : B

2. 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

3. 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

4. The students of that group have assured their project guide that they will all work against the clock .
A. work while keeping patience
B. work with vigour to finish in limited time
C. work with enthusiasm
D. work hard to go against the time
Answer : B

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

6. 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

7. Once the case reached the court, the police washed their hands off it.
A. waited for a response to
B. claimed credit for
C. disassociated themselves from
D. seemed eager to continue
Answer : C

8. To plough the sands :
A. To work hard to achieve ones aim
B. To afford hope or ground for expecting a good result
C. To busy oneself in a way which cannot lead to any profitable result
D. To advance ones position in life
Answer : C

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

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

11. 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

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

13. To cast pearls before a swine :
A. To spend recklessly
B. To spend a lot of money on the unkeep of domestic hogs
C. To waste monkey over trifles
D. To offer to a person a thing which he cannot appreciate
Answer : D

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. To take people by storm :
A. To put people in utter surprise
B. To captivate them unexpectedly
C. To exploit peoples agitation
D. To bring out something sensational attracting peoples attention
Answer : B

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

22. We must work with all our might and main, otherwise we cannot succeed.
A. full force
B. complete trust
C. exceptional skill
D. full unity
Answer : A

23. To hold somebody to ransom :
A. To keep captive and demand concession
B. To humiliate somebody
C. To offer bribe
D. To blackmail and extract money
Answer : A

24. He made my day by telling me how important I was to him.
A. gave me great pleasure
B. displeased me
C. spoiled my day
D. made me resentful
Answer : A

25. To save ones face :
A. To hide oneself
B. To oppose
C. To avade disgrace
D. To say plainly
Answer : C

26. 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

27. It is difficult to have a sensible discussion with her as she flies off at a tangent.
A. gets carried away
B. starts discussing something irrelevant
C. loses her temper easily
D. does not really understand anything
Answer : B

28. You need to have something up your sleeve if the present plan does not work.
A. have some honest means
B. have some hidden sources of money
C. have a secret pocket in the sleeve
D. have an alternative plan
Answer : D

29. To strike ones colours :
A. To fight vigorously
B. To work hard
C. To surrender
D. To make a rude gesture
Answer : C

30. With great difficulty, he was able to carve out a niche for himself.
A. became a sculptor
B. did the best he could do
C. destroyed his career
D. developed a specific position for himself
Answer : D

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

32. To end in smoke
A. To make completely understand
B. To ruin oneself
C. To excite great applause
D. To overcome someone
Answer : B

33. 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

34. A fools errand :
A. A blunder
B. An impossible task
C. A useless undertaking
D. None of these
Answer : C

35. 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

36. To speak daggers :
A. To abuse someone
B. To indulge in varacious talks
C. To speak to a person with hostility
D. None of these
Answer : C

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

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

39. 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

40. A bakers dozen :
A. Twelve
B. Charity
C. Thirteen
D. Allowance
Answer : C

41. The pros and cons :
A. For and aginst a thing
B. Foul and fair
C. Good and evil
D. Former and latter
Answer : A

42. We must work with all our might and main, otherwise we cannot succeed.
A. full force
B. complete trust
C. exceptional skill
D. full unity
Answer : A

43. To pour oil in troubled water :
A. To forment trouble
B. To add to the trouble
C. To instigate
D. To calm a quarrel with sooting words
Answer : D

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

45. To drive home.
A. To find ones root
B. To return to place of rest
C. Back to original position
D. To emphasise
Answer : D

46. 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

47. 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

48. 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

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

50. With great difficulty, he was able to carve out a niche for himself.
A. became a sculptor
B. did the best he could do
C. destroyed his career
D. developed a specific position for himself
Answer : D