Govt Exam — English Language — Idioms & Phrases
SSC · UPSC · Bank PO · Railway · NDA — Government Exam MCQ Practice
8 Questions 10 Topics Take Test
Advertisement
Showing 1–8 of 8 questions in Idioms & Phrases
Q.1 Hard Idioms & Phrases
Identify the error: 'After months of hard work, the startup finally came to the forefront of the industry, and their success was not a flash in the pan.'
A No error; both idioms are correctly used
B 'Came to the forefront' is incorrect
C 'Flash in the pan' is misused here
D Should use 'flashed in the pan'
Correct Answer:  A. No error; both idioms are correctly used
Explanation:

Both idioms are correctly used. 'Came to the forefront' means became prominent, and 'not a flash in the pan' means it's not temporary success.

Take Test
Q.2 Hard Idioms & Phrases
Analyze the sentence: 'The marketing team tried to put all their eggs in one basket by focusing only on social media.' Identify the issue.
A Correct usage; idiom fits the context
B The idiom is inappropriate for business context
C Incorrect tense usage
D Missing preposition
Correct Answer:  A. Correct usage; idiom fits the context
Explanation:

'Put all eggs in one basket' means to risk everything on one strategy, which is correctly applied here to criticize the marketing team's approach.

Take Test
Q.3 Hard Idioms & Phrases
Identify the most suitable idiom: 'The negotiations were difficult, but finally both parties decided to _____ and reach a compromise.'
A bury the hatchet
B sharpen the hatchet
C throw the hatchet
D hide the hatchet
Correct Answer:  A. bury the hatchet
Explanation:

'Bury the hatchet' means to end a conflict and make peace, which perfectly fits the context of reaching a compromise.

Take Test
Q.4 Hard Idioms & Phrases
Identify the ERROR in idiom usage: 'The proposal was too good to be true; the management felt something was fishy and they decided to dig deeper into the matter.'
A No error; both idioms are correctly used
B 'too good to be true' is overused
C 'something was fishy' should be 'something smelled fishy'
D 'dig deeper' is not an idiom
Correct Answer:  A. No error; both idioms are correctly used
Explanation:

Both idioms are correctly used: 'too good to be true' and 'something is fishy' are appropriate and grammatically sound.

Take Test
Q.5 Hard Idioms & Phrases
In modern AI-driven workplaces (2024-25), the phrase 'on thin ice' could apply to employees who _______.
A refuse to adopt new technologies
B maintain consistent performance records
C develop innovative solutions
D collaborate effectively with teams
Correct Answer:  A. refuse to adopt new technologies
Explanation:

'On thin ice' means in a precarious position. Refusing to adapt to new technologies in 2024-25 would put employees in a vulnerable position.

Take Test
Advertisement
Q.6 Hard Idioms & Phrases
Which idiom CANNOT be substituted for 'level playing field' in a competitive context?
A equal opportunity
B fair competition
C crooked dealing
D unbiased evaluation
Correct Answer:  C. crooked dealing
Explanation:

'Level playing field' means fair and equal conditions. 'Crooked dealing' is its opposite, not a substitute.

Take Test
Q.7 Hard Idioms & Phrases
Which sentence demonstrates CORRECT usage of 'a tough row to hoe'?
A The agricultural company had a tough row to hoe establishing operations in new markets.
B The farmer used equipment to hoe a tough row in the field.
C The gardener faced a tough row to hoe while planning the landscape.
D Both A and C correctly use the idiom
Correct Answer:  D. Both A and C correctly use the idiom
Explanation:

'A tough row to hoe' (idiomatic) means a difficult task or problem to solve. Both A and C use it metaphorically and correctly in non-farming contexts.

Take Test
Q.8 Hard Idioms & Phrases
Advanced: In the 2024-25 context of remote work culture, which idiom BEST describes 'maintaining team cohesion despite geographical dispersion'?
A keeping the home fires burning
B burning the midnight oil
C breaking new ground
D skating on thin ice
Correct Answer:  A. keeping the home fires burning
Explanation:

'Keeping the home fires burning' symbolizes maintaining connection and loyalty despite distance. This metaphorically applies to remote teams maintaining organizational culture across locations.

Take Test

Subjects Asked in Government Job Exams

Boost your selection chances — practice these high-weightage MCQ topics

UPSC IAS / IPS 139 SSC CGL / CHSL / MTS 439 Bank PO / Clerk / RBI 494 Railway RRB / NTPC 418 NDA / CDS / AFCAT 100 Quantitative Aptitude 1,105 Reasoning Ability 552 English Language 745 General Knowledge 439 Current Affairs 295 Indian History & Polity 205 General Science 207 TNPSC (Tamil Nadu) 600 GPSC (Gujarat) 573 BPSC (Bihar) 468 View All Subjects →
All Govt Exams → All Exams → Current Affairs →
IGET
IGET AI
Online · Exam prep assistant
Hi! 👋 I'm your iget AI assistant.

Ask me anything about exam prep, MCQ solutions, study tips, or strategies! 🎯
UPSC strategy SSC CGL syllabus Improve aptitude NEET Biology tips