1.

Answer: (a) 

From stem to stern = from the front to the back especially of a ship

Look at the sentence : Surges of water rocked their boats from stem to stern

2. Answer: (a) 

add unnecessary details to make better or worse.

Over egg the pudding = to spoil something by trying too hard to improve it.

Look at the sentence : As a director, I think he has a tendency to over-egg the pudding, with a few too many
gorgeous shots of the country side.

3. Answer: (a) 

change one’s behaviour for the better

Turn over a new leaf = start to act or or behave in a better or more responsible way; improve; to start behaving
in a better way.

Look at the sentence : Apparently he has turned over a new leaf and he is not smoking any more.

4. Answer: (d) 

prepare for or go to war

Take up the hatchet = to make or declare war

Look at the sentence : He induced the tribes to take up the hatchet against the English.

5. Answer: (c) 

in an uncertain situation

At a loose end = to have nothing to do At loose ends = not knowing what to do, especially because of an
upsetting change.

Look at the sentences : If you find yourself at loose ends, you could always clean the bathroom.

I was at loose ends after finishing school and not being able to find a job.
 6. Answer: (b) 

with full force

With might and main = with all one's power or strength; to the best of one's ability; with as much effort as
possible.

Look at the sentence : They shouted with might and main but nobody came to rescue them.

7. Answer: (c)

annoy somebody

Ruffle somebody’s feather = to cause someone to be upset.

Look at the sentence : Mohan ruffled a few feathers when he suggested cutting the teacher’s salaries.

8. Answer: (c)

interrupt

Cut short = to have to stop doing something before it is finished.

Look at the sentence : Their conversation was cut short by the arrival of more guests.

9. Answer: (b) 

ill feeling

Bad blood = feelings of hate between people because of arguments in the past.

Look at the sentence : There has been bad blood between the two families for years.

10. Answer: (a) 

an object of laughter

A laughing stock = someone or something that seems stupid or silly, especially by trying to be serious or
important and not succeeding.

Look at the sentence : Another performance like that and this team will be the laughing stock of the league.
 11. Answer: (b) at loggerheads : in strong disagreement.

⇒ The two governments are still at loggerheads over the island.

The best option is disagreeing on everything

12. Answer: (d)

under the weather : slightly ill/sick and not as well as usual.

⇒ l She said she was under the weather and couldn’t make it to the meeting.

The best option is sick

13. Answer: (b) 

keep a level head : to remain calm and sensible in a difficult situation.

⇒ l You have to keep a level head during business negotiations.

The best option is was sensible

14. Answer: (d)

go for the jugular : to attack somebody’s weaker point during a discussion , in an aggressive way.

⇒ l She went straight for the jugular at the end of the game.

The best option is attack all out

15. Answer: (d) 

make believe that... : to pretend that something is true.

⇒ l Let’s make believe we’re elves. (dwarfs)

The best option is pretence.

 16. Answer: (c) 

dog eat dog : a situation in politics, business etc. where there is a lot of competition and people are willing to
harm each other in order to succeed.

Here, ruthlessly competitive is the right option.

Look at the sentence :

⇒ We’re operating in a dog eat dog world.

17. Answer: (a) 

gift of the gab : the ability to speak easily and to persuade other people with your words.

eloquent (Adj.) : expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively

Here, eloquent is the right option.

Look at the sentence :

⇒ l Joe’s got the gift of the gab - he can sell anything.

18. Answer: (d)

to eat one’s own words : to admit that what you said was wrong ; forced to retract one’s own statement; misfit

Here, forced to retract one’s own statement is the right option.

Look at the sentence :

⇒ l They will eat their words when I win.

19. Answer: (a) 

steal someone’s thunder : to get the attention, success etc. that somebody else was expecting ; take credit for
something someone else did.

Here, take credit for something someone else did is the right option. 

Look at the sentence :

⇒ l They all worked together on the pocket, but while submitting it, one of them stolen the thunder.
 20. Answer: (a) 

red tape : official rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quickly.

Here, official procedures causing delay is the right option.

Look at the setence :

⇒ l You have to go through endless red tape to get a residence permit.

21. Answer: (b) 

unrelenting

As hard as nails = very tough ; callous, unbending ; hard-hearted ; unforgiving ; inflexible ; strict

22. Answer: (c) 

had many professional difficulties

Strike several bad patches = to experience a lot of problems in a period of your life

23. Answer: (c) 

discussed

Talk over = to exchange thoughts ; to discuss something

24. Answer: (d) 

Cut a sorry figure = made a poor impression

Look at the sentence : He cut a sorry figure in his outdated jacket.

25. Answer: (b) 

Bring to light = to make new information known to public; reveal.

Look at the sentence : These facts have only just been brought to light
 26. Answer: (c)

Make a mockery of something : to make something seem ridiculous or useless.

⇒ The film made a mockery of a serious illness.

The best option is there was no serious outcome

27. Answer: (c) 

an about turn : a complete change of opinion, plan or behaviour etc.

⇒ The government did an about turn over nuclear energy.

The best option is complete change of opinion.

28. Answer: (d) 

for good : permanently

⇒ This time she’s leaving for good.

The best option is permanently

29. Answer: (c) 

to grease the palm : to give somebody money in order to persuade them to do something dishonest; bribe.

⇒ Some of those candidates spent money greasing the palms of local political bosses.

The best option is to bribe

30. Answer: (b)

black sheep : a person who is considered bad or embarrassing.

⇒ He is the black sheep of the family.

The best option is person with bad reputation

31. Answer: (d) 

a bird’s eye view : a view of something from a high position looking down

⇒ From the top of the church tower you get a splendid bird’s eye view of the village.

The best option is a general view from above.

32. Answer: (a)

lay it on thick : to talk about somebody/something in a way than they really are; exaggerate

⇒ Praise them when necessary, but don’t lay it on too thick.

The best option is an exaggeration

33. Answer: (d) 

be taken aback : to be shocked surprised and confused

⇒ She was completely taken aback by his anger.

The best option is shocked

34. Answer: (b)

play ducks and drakes : to waste/squander

⇒ He lost his job for playing ducks and drakes with the fund of corporation.

The best option is spent lavishly

35. Answer: (b) 

to eat humble pie : to say sorry for mistakes. 

⇒ I think I’m right, but, if I’m wrong, I’ll eat humble pie.

The best option is suffer humiliation

36. Answer: (b) 

under a cloud : being subject to suspicion ; a state of disgrace

⇒ As he behaved in an abnormal way, his activites were under a cloud.

The best option is in disgrace.

37. Answer: (d) 

in a pickle : in a difficult or unpleasant situation

⇒ I was in a pickle, when I missed my flight to Canada.

The best option is in an embarrassing or awkward situation.

38. Answer: (c) 

got on well : had a friendly relationship

⇒ She doesn’t get on well with her room – mate.

The best option is had a friendly relationship

39. Answer: (c) 

slip off : to leave quietly

⇒ They slipped off and no one saw them leave.

The best option is leave quietly.

40. Answer: (b) 

looking forward to : to be thinking with pleasure about something that is going to happen

⇒ I’m really looking forward to your visit next week.

The best option is expecting with pleasure.

41. Answer: (d)

42. Answer: (a)

‘To chew someone out’ — Reprimand someone severely.

43. Answer: (d)
44. Answer: (a)
45. Answer: (a)
46. Answer: (c)
47. Answer: (b)
48. Answer: (c)
49. Answer: (d)
50. Answer: (d)