Idioms & Phrases · NDA previous year questions

Fill in the blanks $(X,Y)$ in the following sentences with the appropriate word/phrase given in the brackets: I. I spent $X$ (less/the least) money on clothes in the whole family. II. The people who work the hardest make $Y$ (a few/the fewest) mistakes. Select the option that provides the correct combination of words/phrases for blanks X and Y.

1. A.I - the least, II - the fewest
2. B.I - the least, II - a few
3. C.I - less, II - a few
4. D.I - less, II - the fewest

Read the following pairs: $$\begin{array}{ll}\text{Idiom/Phrase}& \text{Meaning}\\ \text{Have one foot in the grave}& \text{To be in the last stage of life}\\ \text{Get your feet wet}& \text{Establish yourself securely in an establishment}\\ \text{Follow suit}& \text{Correctly conform to another’s action}\end{array}$$ Select the pair(s) wherein the meaning is correctly stated.

1. A.I only
2. B.III only
3. C.I and III
4. D.II and III

Directions: Each of the following sentences has word/words underlined. Identify which word class the underlined word/words belongs/belong to. He succeeded $\underline{\text{by dint of}}$ perseverance and sheer hard work.

1. A.Conjunctival phrase
2. B.Adjectival phrase
3. C.Prepositional phrase
4. D.Adverbial phrase

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase. 'A piece of cake'

1. A.Something difficult to extract from the original
2. B.Something very difficult to understand
3. C.Something that appears very inviting
4. D.Something very easy to accomplish

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase. 'Bite off more than you can chew'

1. A.To suddenly wrap out of conversation
2. B.To try to do more than you can manage
3. C.To do something in the easiest or cheapest way
4. D.To exaggerate something wildly

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase. 'Straight from the horse's mouth'

1. A.Ready and eager to engage in an activity
2. B.Significantly disturbing business
3. C.Information from reliable and authoritative source
4. D.Sudden feelings of fear and embarrassment

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase. 'Hat in hand'

1. A.With humility
2. B.Easy to use
3. C.Available for anyone
4. D.To marry someone

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase. 'Nuts and bolts'

1. A.To complete the first step in a process
2. B.To get down to practical details
3. C.To receive harm or punishment for one's actions
4. D.To irritate people and make them go away

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the response (a), (b), (c) or (d), which is the most appropriate meaning and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. A white lie

1. A.An offensive way of describing something
2. B.To do something completely impossible
3. C.A lie that is absolutely and universally true
4. D.A lie that you tell to avoid hurting someone

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the response (a), (b), (c) or (d), which is the most appropriate meaning and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. Bad blood

1. A.Feelings of hatred between people
2. B.A situation which goes from bad to worse
3. C.A fatal accident
4. D.To accept the unpleasant situation

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the response (a), (b), (c) or (d), which is the most appropriate meaning and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. Count your blessings

1. A.to start to understand how badly something has affected you
2. B.an event which gradually becomes worse
3. C.to be grateful for good things in your life
4. D.something that you say in order to warn someone

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the response (a), (b), (c) or (d), which is the most appropriate meaning and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. Have the last laugh

1. A.to be the worst example of something
2. B.to succeed when others thought that you would not
3. C.to solve all the problems of life
4. D.to laugh at someone secretly

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the response (a), (b), (c) or (d), which is the most appropriate meaning and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. Sit on the fence

1. A.to make someone suddenly notice you
2. B.to fail completely
3. C.to delay making a decision
4. D.to behave very badly

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d). Disappear into thin air

1. A.Lost forever
2. B.Become forgetful
3. C.Become uncaring
4. D.Disappear suddenly

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d). Put the screws on

1. A.Forcing someone to do what you want
2. B.Never letting go of things
3. C.Keep the past alive
4. D.Using someone's trick for own benefit

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d). Sit on the fence

1. A.Avoid meeting someone
2. B.Waiting patiently
3. C.Avoid taking sides
4. D.Hiding from someone

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d). Heath Robinson

1. A.Very complicated system or machine for doing a simple task
2. B.Treating everyone as enemy, when they are not
3. C.Sleeping all day, doing nothing
4. D.Very lazy person, slow in action

Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d). As thick as thieves

1. A.Dumb person
2. B.Good for nothing
3. C.Someone who uses everyone for personal gain
4. D.Very close friends who are looked upon with suspicion

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) and (d). A queer fish

1. A.A strange person
2. B.A good person
3. C.An unlucky person
4. D.A lucky person

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) and (d). Eat like a bird

1. A.Eat very quickly
2. B.Eat a lot
3. C.Eat continuously
4. D.Eat very little

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) and (d). Lock horns

1. A.Be like a bull
2. B.Argue about something
3. C.Agree with someone
4. D.Think about the horns

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) and (d). Early bird

1. A.Low flying
2. B.Latest
3. C.Ancient avian
4. D.First arrival

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) and (d). Be in the pink

1. A.To be very healthy
2. B.To be very colourful
3. C.To be very sad
4. D.To be very rich

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) and (d). Be in the running

1. A.In a very bad state to speak
2. B.In a powerful position
3. C.In a good position to win
4. D.In a losing position

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) and (d). A sea change

1. A.Change in the sea tides
2. B.A complete change
3. C.Change like sea
4. D.Changed sea with pollution