Direction.
In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom / phrase underlined in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom / phrase and mark it in the Answer Sheet.
The sailors nailed their colours to their mast.
put up a colourful mast
refused to climb down
took over the ship
decided to abandon the ship
Correct Answer :
B. refused to climb down
THe idiom nailed their colours to their mast means to defiantly display ones opinions and beliefs. Also, to show ones intention to hold on to those beliefs until the end. Its origin dates back to 17th century. In 17th century nautical battles colours (flags) were struck (lowered) as a mark of submission. It was also the custom in naval warfare to direct ones cannon fire at the opponents ships mast, thus disabling it. If all of a ships masts were broken the captain usually had no alternative but to surrender. If the captain decided to fight on this was marked by hoisting the colours on the remnants of the ships rigging, that is, by nailing his colours to the mast.
Related Questions
She wanted to go hitch-hiking but her mother put her foot down and now she's going by bus.
took a firm stand
expressed her displeasure
scolded her badly
got irritated
To leave someone in the lurch
To come to compromise with someone
Constant source of annoyance to someone
To put someone at ease
To desert someone in his difficulties
A tall order :
A task difficult to perform
A bid problem
A royal summon
A big demand
To cry wolf .
To listen eagerly
To give false alarm
To turn pale
To keep off starvation
At the spur of the moment
Great Moment
Without Delay
Very Slow
Difficult Moment
To take the bull by the horns :
To punish a person severly for his arrogance
To grapple courageously with difficulty that lies in our way
To handle it by fierce attack
To bypass the legal process and take action according to ones own whims
a tight corner
in a difficult situation
in a closed room
in a small field
in a meadow
To hit the nail right on the head
To do the right thing
To destroy one's reputation
To announce one's fixed views
To teach someone a lesson
The mother always insists on keeping the house spick and span .
open
locked
safe
tid
To oil the knocker :
To instigate a person to do a job
To do a work with increased pace
To tip the office-boy
To revive old enmity
To pull strings :
To exert hidden influence
To tease someone
To speed up
To start something
Where discipline is concerned I put my foot down .
take a firm stand
take a light stand
take a heavy stand
take a shaky stand
To worship the rising sun :
To honour a man who is coming into office
To honour to promising people
To indulge in flattery
To welcome the coming events
To split hours :
To sidetrack the issue
To quarrel over trifles
To indulge in over-refined arguments
To find faults with other
To hit the jackpot :
To gamble
To get an unexpected victory
To be wealthy
To make money unexpectedly
To bring ones eggs to a bad market :
To face on humiliating situation
To bring ones commodities to a market where there is no demand for them
To show ones talents before audience which is incapable of appreciating them
To fail in ones plans because one goes to the wrong people for help
Harp on :
To comment
To criticise
To keeep on talking
To keep on insulting
Spick and span :
Neat and clean
Outspoken
A ready-made thing
Garrulous
To pour oil in troubled water :
To forment trouble
To add to the trouble
To instigate
To calm a quarrel with sooting words
To be above board
To have a good height
To be honest in any business deal
They have no debts
To try to be beautiful
To cut the gordian knot :
To solve a difficult problem
To be victorious
To break ties with someone
To defeat to powerful person
To be in abeyance :
To be in trouble
Dual minded
In a fighting mood
Insuspense
To give/get the bird :
To get the awaited
To have good luck
To send away
To get the impossible
The students found it hard to go at equal speed with the professor.
get away from
put up with
keep up with
race ag
To beg the question
To refer to
To take for granted
To raise objections
To be discussed
To keeps one's temper
To become hungry
To be in good mood
To preserve ones energy
To be aloof from
To drive home.
To find ones root
To return to place of rest
Back to original position
To emphasise
To cry wolf
To listen eagerly
To give false alarm
To turn pale
To keep off starvation
By the rule of thumb :
By the use of force
By the use of trickery
By cheating and deception
By practical experience which is rather rough
My sincere advice to my maidservant fell on stony ground .
was counter productive
had a strong impact
made on stubborn
had little success