MCQ ON IDIOMS & PHRASES

1. At one's wit's end

A. Perplexed
B. Clear Up
C. Explain
D. Enlighten
2. At one's fingertips
A. To take revenge
B. Matter of shame
C. Complete knowledge
D. None of above
3. At the spur of the moment
A. Difficult Moment
B. Without Delay
C. Great Moment
D. Very Slow
4. All in all
A. Every person
B. Particular thing same in all
C. Call all at once
D. Most important
5. At close quarters
A. close examinations
B. live near to each other
C. live far to each other
D. in love
6. Apple Pie Order
A. In random order
B. Related to fruits packing
C. Related to dry fruit packing
D. In perfect order
7. Above board
A. boasting person
B. honest and straightforward
C. a man with arrogance
D. a dishonest person
8. As fit as a fiddle
A. Very weak
B. Recovering from illness
C. Looks fit but not fit actually
D. None of above
9. At logger heads
A. In difficulty
B. to be at strife
C. very happy together
D. None of above
10. An apple of discord
A. cause of wealth
B. cause of illness
C. cause of happiness
D. cause of quarrel
11. At a loss
A. at a business loss
B. at a relation loss
C. to be unable to decide
D. none of above
12. At dagger's drawn
A. to have bitter enmity
B. to be very friendly
C. to be unknown
D. to be very familiar

13. At large
A. very famous
B. not famous
C. abscond
D. very far
14. At sea
A. baffled
B. very happy
C. very excited
D. very sad
15. A bigger bang for your buck
A. More for your money
B. Not for money
C. More for your nature
D. More for your smile
16. At sixes and sevens
A. in perfect order
B. very happy
C. in disorder
D. very sad
17. Argus eyed
A. Doubtful
B. Very Confident
C. Very Calm
D. Careful
18. A load of cobblers
A. Good news
B. Very famous
C. Rubbish
D. None of above
19. A pig in a poke
A. accept deal in a pressure
B. accept deal without knowing
C. accept deal after detail analysis
D. accept deal due to threat
20. At one fell swoop
A. After lots of thinking
B. In a single action
C. By mistake
D. Joint action
21. Away with the fairies
A. Not facing reality
B. On the basis of reality
C. Shocking stage
D. Very sad
22. Back of beyond
A. An ideal place for holidays
B. A place with certain memories
C. A religious place
D. A lonely forsaken place
23. By hook or by crook
A. by permission
B. by any means
C. by noble means
D. by request
24. Bandy words
A. to argue
B. to request
C. to give respect
D. to be polite

25. Break the ice

A. To do something with courage
B. To win a prize
C. To speak first after long silence
D. To win some one heart
26. Bad Blood
A. Wounded in scuffle
B. Bitter relations
C. Dishonest
D. Arrogant
27. Black and Blue
A. To put things in order
B. To put things in disorder
C. To trust someone
D. To beat very badly
28. Brow Beat
A. to bully
B. to respect
C. to praise
D. to rebuke
29. Bid defiance
A. to obey
B. to ignore
C. to follow
D. none of above
30. Blow one's trumpet
A. To praise other
B. To praise leader
C. To praise own-self
D. To praise community
31. Bury the hatchet
A. to break peace
B. joint operation of killing
C. to make peace
D. none of above
32. Bring to book
A. To punish
B. To serve
C. To praise
D. To write a story
33. Blaze the trail
A. To stop a movement
B. To join a movement
C. To protect a movement
D. To start a movement
34. Broken Reed
A. Continue support
B. Support that failed
C. Support endlessly
D. None of above
35. By dint of
A. By force of
B. By permission of
C. By fear of
D. By blessing of
36. Charley horse
A. Very rapid
B. Very weak
C. Stiffness
D. Boldness

PREPARED BY: MD. MIRAJUL ISLAM / DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING / UNIVERSITY OF BARISAL

01

37. Cart before the horse

A. To be ready to go
B. To be very active
C. To do things in reverse order
D. To do things in right order
38. Chalk and Cheese
A. Different from each other
B. Having same properties
C. Having fun together
D. Making plans
39. Cry for the moon
A. To wish for something impossible
B. To wish for something accessible
C. To try to have something by bad
means
D. None of above
40. Carry the day
A. To have great fun
B. To do something wrong
C. To win a victory
D. To lose something
41. Cloven hoof
A. the evil intension
B. the nice intension
C. to do something religious
D. to help someone silently
42. Cry over spilt milk
A. Approve
B. Be happy
C. Praise
D. Repent
43. Call names
A. To praise
B. To abuse
C. To respect
D. To order
44. Call a spade a spade
A. to disrespect
B. to say in anger
C. to speak plainly
D. to manipulate
45. Cut both ends
A. very big loss
B. very hard worker
C. in favor of both sides
D. against both sides
46. Cock sure
A. In doubt
B. Very uncertain
C. Very sure
D. None of above
47. Close shave
A. Very touching moment
B. A narrow escape
C. Nice service
D. Bad service
48. Crocodile tears
A. True tears
B. Insincere tears
C. Very angry
D. Very Sad

49. Carrot and stick policy

A. reward and punishment
B. dishonest
C. arrogant
D. selfish policy
50. Dig the grave
A. to make space to rest
B. to destroy
C. to make space for planning
D. to build something
51. Damp squib
A. Great honor
B. Great win
C. Complete failure
D. None of above
52. Die-hard
A. very weak
B. about to die
C. living life full
D. persistent in struggle
53. Down and out
A. poor and ruined
B. defeated
C. begging
D. out of style
54. Die in harness
A. die in a war
B. die while working
C. die in a plane crash
D. suicide
55. Days of reckoning
A. time to celebrate
B. time to answer for quiz questions
C. great moments of life
D. time to answer for one's action
56. Eat humble pie
A. to forgive
B. to apologize
C. to request
D. to order
57. Ever and Anon
A. true promise
B. false promise
C. frequent
D. sometimes
58. End in smoke
A. come to nothing
B. end with a death
C. end with a compromise
D. end after fulfilling objective
59. Eke out
A. tired off
B. supplement income
C. out of the game
D. no more
60. Face the music
A. dance at a party
B. unpleasant consequences
C. compose a song
D. none of above

61. Flesh and blood

A. Non vegetarian
B. Animals which eat non veg
C. Human nature
D. Animal nature
62. Fish in troubles waters
A. to take revenge
B. to take advantage of trouble of
others
C. to take risk
D. to get high profits
63. Flash in the pan
A. sudden success
B. sudden problem
C. sudden pain
D. sudden excitement
64. Fly off the handle
A. to be optimistic
B. to be in hurry
C. to lose one's temper
D. to calm down
65. Fabians policy
A. policy of enjoying at work
B. policy of do work seriously
C. policy of quick decisions
D. policy of delaying decisions
66. Flog the dead horse
A. to weep for something lost
B. to enjoy even if something lost
C. to revive interest in old matters
D. to forget old matters
67. Fly in the face of
A. coward
B. to defy
C. do acting
D. do not follow instructions
68. Full tilt
A. with maximum energy
B. eating maximum
C. thinking of eating
D. with no demand
69. Gain ground
A. to get a shelter
B. to get a piece of land
C. to succeed slowly
D. to give excuses
70. Giddy goat
A. to act bravely
B. to act slowly
C. to act foolishly
D. to act as advised
71. Give up the ghost
A. give up a fear
B. give up in the war
C. to pass away
D. to rest for some time
72. Good Samaritan
A. Good salesman
B. Good sailor
C. Good person who help all
D. Good person who speaks lie

PREPARED BY: MD. MIRAJUL ISLAM / DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING / UNIVERSITY OF BARISAL

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73. Go to the dogs

A. to be ruined
B. to be in danger
C. to take risk
D. to disobey elders
74. Grid up the lions
A. to get ready to protect
B. to prepare for hard work
C. to get ready for attack
D. none of above
75. Grease the palm
A. to break promise
B. to break trust
C. to help
D. to bribe
76. Give a wide berth
A. to welcome
B. to applaud
C. to motivate
D. to avoid
77. Give one a long rope
A. to give a big helping hand
B. to let someone commit mistakes
C. to support a person
D. to make issues of small matters
78. Good turn
A. an act of kindness
B. very professional
C. an act of player
D. resolving a matter
79. Hanky-Panky
A. Jugglery
B. To
C. To be friendly
D. To be a cheater
80. Hold one's tongue
A. to appreciate
B. to keep quiet
C. to tease
D. to give fake smile
81. Hang fire
A. In anger
B. Calm
C. Solved issue
D. Unresolved issue
82. Hope against hope
A. Very happy
B. Very Sad
C. hope in-spite of disappointment
D. hoping great results
83. Hard-nosed attitude
A. quality to forgive
B. protective
C. calm
D. aggressive
84. Herculean task
A. very easy
B. very difficult
C. not willing to do
D. need to be done

85. Halcyon days

A. Peaceful days
B. Tragic days
C. Days spent at picnic
D. Days spent out of country
86. Have feet of clay
A. Very innocent
B. No noise of walking
C. Hiding something
D. Full of faults
87. Hold and corner
A. a secret
B. a joke
C. a lesson
D. a preach
88. Helter-Skelter
A. to be in touch
B. here and there
C. to go away
D. to come back
89. Hold in abeyance
A. to break trust
B. to make smile
C. to tell a story
D. to postpone
90. Ill at ease
A. Very comfortable
B. Uncomfortable
C. Trust worthy
D. Cruel
91. In a fix
A. fixed the issue
B. losing hope
C. in a dilemma
D. very confident
92. In a lurch
A. to leave a friend in difficulty
B. to enjoy a party
C. to have a fun time
D. to show kindness
93. In a red
A. to be very angry
B. to be in a loss
C. to be in profit
D. just a reference to color
94. In a flutter
A. to be depressed
B. in low spirits
C. excited
D. prominent
95. In a tight corner
A. Very secret
B. Very urgent
C. In absence of
D. In difficult situation
96. Ins and Outs
A. secrets
B. to frown
C. to bribe
D. in dumps

97. Ivory Tower

A. Difficult Road
B. Imaginary world
C. Realistic
D. Referred to a joke
98. Jaundiced eye
A. Weakness
B. In trouble
C. Prejudice
D. Having doubt
99. Knit the brow
A. To frown
B. To take revenge
C. to act bravely
D. To be ready
100. Kick one's heels
A. to dance
B. to never stop
C. to be quick
D. to waste time in waiting
101. Kick the bucket
A. To lose something
B. To die
C. To maintain peace
D. To be in trouble
102. Lost in the clouds
A. To enjoy
B. To wait
C. Confused
D. Very much sure
103. Long and short
A. In a length
B. In brief
C. Gift
D. Soft spoken
104. Laugh in one's sleeves
A. To laugh secretly
B. To laugh openly
C. To laugh at some weak
D. To laugh occasionally
105. Leaps and bounds
A. In brief
B. Delay
C. Rapidly
D. Financial crisis
106. Lion's share
A. To be normal
B. To be very angry
C. Small part
D. Large part
107. Mealy Mounted
A. Laughing
B. Losing temper
C. Harsh
D. Soft Spoken
108. Mend one's fences
A. To scuffle
B. To make peace
C. To make people happy
D. To go away

PREPARED BY: MD. MIRAJUL ISLAM / DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING / UNIVERSITY OF BARISAL

03

109. Make amends

A. To console
B. To make corrigendum
C. To give compensation
D. To abuse
110. Moot point
A. a debatable point
B. a common point
C. a condition
D. a tribute
111. Mince matters
A. Make use of opportunity
B. Hide the truth and pretend
C. To be calm
D. To be ruined
112. Neck and crop
A. At starting
B. At ending
C. Completely
D. Partially
113. Nip in the bud
A. To destroy in the very beginning
B. To destroy at the end
C. To make use of time
D. To waste time
114. Off hand
A. Ready or quick
B. Without preparation or delay
C. Bias
D. None of above
115. Oily tongue
A. Abuse
B. Harsh words
C. Flattering words
D. Praise
116. Out of the woods
A. Out of the city
B. Out of control
C. Out of stock
D. Out of the danger
117. Out and out
A. Out of the game
B. Completely
C. Out of the area
D. Out of city
118. On that score
A. for that reason
B. at a particular point
C. at a fixed destination
D. at a alarm
119. One's Achilles heel
A. Dancing steps
B. Go away fast
C. Waiting
D. Weak point
120. Off the hook
A. starting hating
B. related to ships
C. out of trouble
D. related to airplane

121. Pell-mell
A. In a jumbled
B. Great honor
C. Great news
D. Great feeling
122. Palmy days
A. Bad days
B. Prosperous days
C. Days spend out of home
D. Days spend with special one
123. Pass the buck
A. To blame each other
B. To co-operate
C. To motivate
D. To make someone fool
124. Play ducks and drakes.
A. Play like children
B. Play with friends
C. To waste time
D. To squander money
125. Play truant
A. To be happy
B. To be away from home
C. To be absent from duty without
permission
D. To be sad
126. Pay lip service
A. false appreciation
B. pretend to regard
C. true relation
D. false commitment
127. Pyrrhic victory
A. Great victory
B. Victory with a policy
C. Much awaited victory
D. Victory at a high cost
128. Queer fish
A. Strange person
B. Pretty girl
C. Handsome boy
D. None of above
129. Quixotic project
A. Exciting project
B. Project which makes lots of money

C. Foolishly ideal
D. Interesting project
130. Rise to the occasion
A. To act as occasion demands
B. To disturb
C. To advice
D. To calm down
131. Rank and file
A. Punishment
B. Common Man
C. High status man
D. Bold man
132. Red rag to a bull
A. To appreciate
B. To solve the issue
C. Anything that makes you happy
D. Anything that provokes

133. Red tapism

A. Official delay
B. Associated with a brand
C. Make someone angry
D. Extreme love
134. Red herring
A. Something to make you
concentrate
B. Something to distract attention
C. Something to appease you
D. Something to help you
135. Stand in good stead
A. To be on a good Rank
B. Member of high society
C. Honest
D. To be helpful in need
136. Show white feather
A. To talk for peace
B. Asking for debate
C. To show cowardice
D. To show miracles
137. See eye to eye
A. to be against
B. to agree
C. to pacify
D. none of above
138. Spartan life
A. Living life full
B. Life of ascetic
C. Live life under someone
D. Very painful life
139. Set people by ears
A. to incite people
B. to listen carefully
C. to give long speech
D. to abuse
140. A stalking horse
A. To make someone happy
B. To take order
C. To follow
D. Pretense
141. Spick and span
A. In order
B. Disorder
C. All qualities
D. No quality
142. Sow wild oats
A. give a surprise
B. donate something
C. irresponsible pleasure seeking
D. take away something
143. Spill the beans
A. to take information
B. to give information
C. not to share information
D. information of a topic
144. Turn the tables
A. give warning
B. to welcome
C. to reverse the condition
D. to take revenge

PREPARED BY: MD. MIRAJUL ISLAM / DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING / UNIVERSITY OF BARISAL

04

145. Take up the cudgels

A. to disturb
B. to support
C. to follow
D. to appreciate
146. Turn the corner
A. to be at one side
B. to pass a critical stage
C. to make someone feel happy
D. to make space to rest
147. Tall talk
A. Exaggerate the matters
B. Free Advice
C. Nonsense
D. Lengthy talk
148. Take with a pinch of salt
A. related to food
B. to be a little sad
C. to be a little happy
D. to accept with a doubt
149. Take the floor
A. to dismiss
B. take land of someone
C. make a speech
D. presence
150. Throw up the sponge
A. to love
B. to hate
C. to surrender
D. to attack
151. Throw cold water
A. to discourage
B. to make someone calm
C. to listen
D. to get a loss
152. Take to heels
A. to wait
B. to run away
C. to dance
D. to follow
153. Throw a spanner
A. to execute a plan
B. to sabotage a plan
C. to do something evil
D. to make feel good
154. Under the rose
A. something beautiful
B. someone bold
C. like a corn
D. secretly
155. Under the cloud
A. to be a secret
B. amazing
C. to be under suspicion
D. feel good factor
156. Wrangle over an ass shadow
A. to quarrel over the trifles
B. to be happy together
C. to play
D. to watch something together

157. Win laurels

A. to lose something
B. to take as fate
C. to win distinction
D. none of above
158. White elephant
A. very attractive
B. very powerful
C. less utility more expenditure
D. very much helpful
159. Well-disposed to
A. useless
B. helpful to somebody
C. very much excited
D. to be settle for less
160. When the church comes
A. moment of decision
B. destination
C. dotage
D. win something
161. Willy-Nilly
A. In hurry
B. Slowly
C. To wait for uncertain time
D. Whether one wishes or not
162. Weal and woe
A. all the happiness
B. joy and sorrow
C. all about sadness
D. to be very quick
163. Wild-goose chase
A. collective effort
B. hard work
C. very profitable
D. unprofitable
164. Yeoman's service
A. excellent work
B. very slow work
C. hard word
D. pending work

1-A
6-D
11-C
16-C
21-A
26-B
31-C
36-C
41-A
46-C
51-C
56-B
61-C
66-C
71-C
76-D
81-D
86-D
91-C
96-A
101-B
106-D
111-B
116-D
121-A
126-B
131-B
136-C
141-A
146-B
151-A
156-A
161-D

2-C
7-B
12-A
17-D
22-D
27-D
32-A
37-C
42-D
47-B
52-D
57-D
62-B
67-B
72-C
77-B
82-C
87-A
92-A
97-B
102-C
107-D
112-C
117-B
122-B
127-D
132-D
137-B
142-C
147-A
152-B
157-C
162-B

Answers
3-B
8-D
13-C
18-C
23-B
28-A
33-D
38-A
43-B
48-B
53-A
58-A
63-A
68-A
73-A
78-A
83-D
88-C
93-B
98-C
103-B
108-B
113-A
118-A
123-A
128-A
133-A
138-B
143-B
148-D
153-B
158-C
163-D

4-D
9-B
14-A
19-B
24-A
29-B
34-B
39-A
44-C
49-A
54-B
59-B
64-C
69-C
74-C
79-A
84-B
89-D
94-C
99-A
104-A
109-C
114-B
119-D
124-D
129-C
134-B
139-A
144-C
149-C
154-D
159-B
164-A

PREPARED BY: MD. MIRAJUL ISLAM / DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING / UNIVERSITY OF BARISAL

5-A
10-D
15-A
20-B
25-C
30-C
35-A
40-C
45-C
50-B
55-D
60-B
65-D
70-C
75-D
80-B
85-A
90-B
95-D
100-D
105-C
110-A
115-C
120-C
125-C
130-A
135-D
140-D
145-B
150-C
155-C
160-A

05