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Idioms & Phrases (English) Solved Questions & Notes (2026) - Apex Rankers

General Competitive Exams > English > Idioms & Phrases

269 Total Solved Questions
~404 mins Estimated Reading Time
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Idioms & Phrases

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25 Questions in this set
Choose an idiom at the bottom to replace the expression in the brackets below:
Q. 1 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He is (not very good) when he tries to repair something in his house.
A
All thumbs
✓ Correct
B
About time
C
All ears
D
An arm and a leg
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"All thumbs" means clumsy or awkward, especially with one's hands.
Q. 2 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He was (all ready) to leave the house when his friend came over.
A
As a rule
B
About
✓ Correct
C
At heart
D
Absent-minded
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"About to" (contextually "About") means just on the point of doing something.
Q. 3 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The teacher said the little boy was (her favorite).
A
The apple of her eye
✓ Correct
B
An arm and a leg
C
As well as
D
At odds
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"The apple of one's eye" refers to a person or thing that is greatly loved or treasured.
Q. 4 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
(Without warning) it began to rain.
A
At his beck and call
B
All of a sudden
✓ Correct
C
At heart
D
At fault
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"All of a sudden" means suddenly or without warning.
Q. 5 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
That car must have cost him (an incredibly large amount of money).
A
At heart
B
At home
C
The apple of his eye
D
An arm and a leg
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"An arm and a leg" refers to a very large amount of money.
Q. 6 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
She is always (available) when he wants her.
A
As a rule
B
At heart
C
All thumbs
D
At his beck and call
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"At someone's beck and call" means always ready to obey or serve someone.
Q. 7 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
Okay I'm (listening). Please continue with your story.
A
All ears
✓ Correct
B
All thumbs
C
As a rule
D
At heart
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"All ears" means listening eagerly or attentively.
Q. 8 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
I don't think that he is (to blame) for breaking the computer.
A
At last
B
At fault
✓ Correct
C
All thumbs
D
Absent-minded
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"At fault" means responsible for an undesirable situation; to blame.
Q. 9 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He is (very forgetful) and is always losing his glasses.
A
Absent-minded
✓ Correct
B
All thumbs
C
All ears
D
As a rule
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Absent-minded" means showing a habitual lack of attention or being forgetful.
Q. 10 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He is always (fighting) with his boss about something.
A
As usual
B
At last
C
At odds
✓ Correct
D
At heart
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"At odds" means in conflict or at variance; fighting or disagreeing.
Q. 11 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
(Usually) I get up and go jogging before breakfast every Sunday.
A
At heart
B
All in all
C
All of a sudden
D
As a rule
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"As a rule" means usually or generally.
Q. 12 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
I am going to go to night school to (review) my English.
A
Bank on
B
Brush up on
✓ Correct
C
Better off
D
Bring to mind
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Brush up on" means to improve one's knowledge of something or to review it.
Q. 13 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
I wish he would say exactly what he means rather than (talking and not getting to the point).
A
Biting off more than he can chew
B
Breaking the news
C
Bringing the house down
D
Beating around the bush
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Beating around the bush" means avoiding the main topic or not getting to the point.
Q. 14 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He always (makes a great effort) to do a good job.
A
Brings up the rear
B
Barks up the wrong tree
C
Burns his bridges behind him
D
Bends over backwards
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Bends over backwards" means to make every effort to achieve something or to be helpful.
Q. 15 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He refused my proposal so I will have to (start over from the beginning).
A
Go back to the drawing board
✓ Correct
B
Bury the hatchet
C
By the skin of my teeth
D
Bring to mind
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Go back to the drawing board" means to start planning again because a previous attempt failed.
Q. 16 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
She (separated from) her boyfriend after a big fight last week.
A
Bailed out
B
Beat around the bush
C
Broke down
D
Broke up with
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Broke up with" means to end a romantic relationship.
Q. 17 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The clothes in that store are a little (old fashioned).
A
Behind the times
✓ Correct
B
Brand new
C
Broke
D
Better off
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Behind the times" means old-fashioned or out of date.
Q. 18 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He is always spending his money drinking so he is always (without money).
A
Backed out
B
Banked on
C
Broke
✓ Correct
D
Behind the times
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Broke" means having no money; bankrupt.
Q. 19 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
She is (in a better position) since she sold her car.
A
Blown over
B
Beating around the bush
C
Backing out
D
Better off
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Better off" means in a more fortunate or advantageous position.
Q. 20 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
It is time to (tell) her about the company's plans to move.
A
Burn the candle at both ends to
B
Break the news to
✓ Correct
C
Bend over backwards to
D
Burn the midnight oil to
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Break the news" means to inform someone of something (usually significant or unpleasant).
Q. 21 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
I think that I (decided to do too much) when I said I'd help with the party.
A
Bit off more than I can chew
✓ Correct
B
Broke the bank
C
Brought to mind
D
Had a brush with the law
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Bit off more than one can chew" means to take on a task that is way too big to handle.
Q. 22 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
His father must (eliminate) fat from his diet because of his health.
A
Cancel out
B
Calm down
C
Cut out
✓ Correct
D
Carry over
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Cut out" means to stop doing, using, or eating something; to eliminate.
Q. 23 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
Let's (stop work) for today and come back tomorrow.
A
Chip in
B
clear the air
C
Call it quits
✓ Correct
D
Come across
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Call it quits" means to stop doing something or to finish for the day.
Q. 24 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
I would like to buy a new car so I have begun to (economize) on my daily expenses.
A
Come clean
B
Count on
C
Cut out
D
Cut corners
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Cut corners" means to do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often at the expense of quality.
Q. 25 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
You can (be sure of) her helping you with the cleaning.
A
Cross out
B
Count on
✓ Correct
C
Come up with
D
Clear the air with
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Count on" means to rely on or trust someone to do something.
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