Exercise 4: Idioms & Phrases in English- for SSC CGL, CHSL, Bank Po, UPSC & GMAT Exams

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31 Q) Ramesh takes after his father,
(1) Follows
(2) Imitates
(3) Obeys
(4) Resembles

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(4) Resembles 

32 Q) They made no bones about acknowledging their debt to his genius—
(1) Did not have any hesitation in
(2) Did not have any faith in
(3) Demanded compensation for
(4) Had problems in

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(1) Did not have any hesitation in 

33 Q) It is evident from the minister’s statement that heads will roll in the Secretariat.
(1) Transfers will take place
(2) Heads will be cut off
(3) People will die
(4) Dismissals will occur

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(1) ‘Heads will roll’means-some people will be punished because of something. Therefore, keeping in mind the sense of sentence, alternative (1) will be correct answer. 

34 Q) During the last moments of his life, the criminal made a clean breast of everything he had done.
(1) Showed his breast
(2) Fought like a hero
(3) Confessed without reserve
(4) Faced bravely

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(3) Confessed without reserve 

35 Q) She tries very hard to keep up with her rich neighbours.
(1) To imitate
(2) To keep in touch
(3) To avoid
(4) To be on par

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(4) The phrase 'keep up’ means to continue without stopping; to continue something at the same level. For example, Let's hope the sunny weather keeps up for tomorrow's match. The enemy kept up their bombardment day and night. Therefore, alternative (4) is the correct answer. 

36 Q) He went on sowing wild oats; he reaped suffering in his later life.
(1) inviting troubles as a boy
(2) warning others as a youngman
(3) irresponsible pleasure seeking in young age
(4) sowing grains called oats when young

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(3) The idiom ‘sow (one’s) wild oats' means go through a youthful period of careless, or reckless, pleasure-seeking'. For example, He sowed all his wild oats before he married. 

37 Q) I don't know why she has become stand-offish recently.
(1) angry
(2) hilarious
(3) indifferent
(4) unmanageable

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(3) The phrase ‘stand-offish’ means discouraging’ or distant. For example, The Association's stand-offish attitude towards Mr. Sen’s bid for the presidency in the last election hurt him. 

38 Q) Why don’t you put an end to blowing your own trumpet ?
(1) playing your own trumpet to produce music
(2) making too much noise
(3) praising your own abilities and achievements
(4) None of these

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(3) The idiom blow one’s own trumpet' means praise oneself; boast about oneself, one’s achievements. For example, Actors are good at trumpet blowing and the temptation increases as their popularity grows and their reputations are made. 

39 Q) I knew he had an axe to grind and turned down his offer of help.
(1) a blunt axe
(2) a sharp tongue
(3) a private interest to serve
(4) a tendency to fight

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(3) The idiom 'have an axe to grind' means to have private reasons for being involved in something. For example, She had no particular axe to grind and was only acting out of concern for their safety. 

40 Q) The saint’s life was an open book.
(1) an uncomplicated one
(2) one that held no secrets
(3) an example to all
(4) an interesting biography

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(2) The idiom 'an open book' means a person who is easily understood and has no secrets. For example, Mahatma Gandhi’s life is an open book.