CBSE Class 11 English Idioms and Phrases MCQs

In the following questions four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Question. It is high time he came out of his shell.
(a) Appeared suddenly
(b) Became more sociable
(c) Became a loser
(d) Removed his clothes
Answer : B

Question. Every political party is at present playing to the gallery
(a) Adopting cheap tactics
(b) Befooling the common man
(c) Fighting for votes
(d) Appeasing the masses
Answer : D

Question. His blood ran cold when he heard his uncle was murdered.
(a) He was frightened
(b) He was horrified
(c) He was disgusted
(d) He was depressed
Answer : A

Question. This is so simple that even a man in the street can understand it.
(a) An ordinary person
(b) An illiterate person
(c) An unknown person
(d) A stranger
Answer : A

Question. When he went to claim insurance for his car, the agent said he hadn’t a leg to stand on.
(a) Had been injured in an accident
(b) Was lame
(c) Did not have much hope of getting it
(d) Would have to wait for some time
Answer : C

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Question. Tagore was a man of letters.
(a) Of wide contacts
(b) An excellent letter dictator
(c) A great writer of letters
(d) Proficient in literary art
Answer : D

Question. His friends beat the boy to pay off old scores.
(a) To refund old dues
(b) To take revenge
(c) To force him to be a scorer in a match
(d) Because he had not scored well earlier
Answer : B

Question. Chintan is so innocent that he wears his heart on his sleeve.
(a) Wears dress that does not match
(b) Expresses his feelings openly
(c) Wears colourful dresses
(d) Expresses his feelings with the shape of a heart printed on its sleeve
Answer : B

Question. It was a red-letter day in the history of the world.
(a) A day with bloodshed.
(b) A dangerous note about the destruction
(c) A day memorable for some joyful event
(d) A day with love and warmth
Answer : C

Question. The poor subordinates are made scapegoats by their superiors.
(a) Punished for others misdeeds
(b) Developed poor relations
(c) Treated humbly and respectfully
(d) Scolded with arrogant reactions
Answer : A

In the following questions four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold the- sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Question. The angry hockey players gave vent to their feelings.
(a) To express
(b) To emphasize
(c) To suppress
(d) To dismiss
Answer : A

Question. I trust you will bear with me a few minutes more.
(a) Have patience with
(b) Support
(c) Carry the burden for
(d) Be in control for
Answer : A

Question. As usual he is blowing his own trumpet.
(a) Refusing to use anybody else’s trumpet
(b) Playing a tune on the trumpet
(c) Praising himself
(d) Praising himself and others
Answer : C

Question. When trade was brisk, he worked hard and made his fortune; he believes in making hay while the sun shines.
(a) Taking advantage of a favourable opportunity
(b) Earning money through dishonest means
(c) Earning money at the cost of others
(d) Taking advantage of the inflationary trends
Answer : A

Question. When they were surrounded from all sides, the dacoits laid down their arms.
(a) Put their arms on the ground
(b) Fought bravely
(c) Surrendered
(d) Became nervous
Answer : C

In the following questions four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/phrase.

Question. Helena was over head and ears in love with Demetrius.
(a) Carefully
(b) Completely
(c) Brilliantly
(d) Cautiously
Answer : B

Question. Gopi works by fits and starts.
(a) Consistently
(b) Irregularly
(c) In high spirits
(d) Enthusiastically
Answer : B

Question. Naresh Goyal had to stand on his feet very early in his life.
(a) To be physically strong
(b) To be independent
(c) To stand erect
(d) To be successful
Answer : B

Question. The possession of Jerusalem is a bone of contention between Israel and Palestine.
(a) A subject of peace
(b) A subject of trade
(c) A subject of dispute
(d) A subject of exports
Answer : C

Question. My friend turned a deaf ear to my tale of loss and refused to help me.
(a) Paid no heed
(b) Went far away
(c) Listened carefully
(d) Turned his ear away
Answer : A

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the given Idiom/Phrase.

Question. She was on the horns of a dilemma as she had either to leave her job or divorce her husband.
(a) In nervous condition
(b) In terrible mood
(c) In difficult situation
(d) In suspense
Answer : C

Question. He died in harness.
(a) Ceased to live
(b) Died of a disease
(c) Died for his country
(d) Died while working
Answer : D

Question. All his schemes ended in smoke.
(a) Came to nothing
(b) Got on fire
(c) Burnt up
(d) Attracted everybody
Answer : A

Question. The young boy was kicking his heels inspite of his mother’s stern warnings.
(a) Playing happily
(b) Kicking someone
(c) Wasting time
(d) Passing a gesture of disrespect
Answer : C

Question. Fathima felt that she had been made a scapegoat for her son’s incompetence.
(a) Fool
(b) Witness
(c) Fall guy
(d) Proxy
Answer : C

Question. She denied point-blank her involvement in the crime.
(a) Directly
(b) Desperately
(c) Stubbornly
(d) Rudely
Answer : A

Question. It is hard to strike a bargain with a woman.
(a) To finalize a deal
(b) To negotiate a deal
(c) To negotiate
(d) To deal
Answer : B

Question. You had better get up now or you will be late for school.
(a) Should
(b) May
(c) Might
(d) Can
Answer : A

Question. He took his father’s advice to heart.
(a) Casually
(b) Patiently
(c) Seriously
(d) Quietly
Answer : C

Question. Can you give me a hand with this luggage?
(a) Keep a watch on
(b) Handle
(c) Provide me with
(d) Help me with
Answer : D

In the following questions four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Question. Even though the new clerk was given a difficult task, he remained cool as a cucumber.
(a) Not nervous or emotional
(b) Caught cold
(c) Was happy
(d) Was scared 
Answer : A

Question. The car broke down just as it reached the edge of a cliff It was indeed a close shave
(a) To share one’s brand
(b) Very risky
(c) Narrow escape from danger
(d) To be happy
Answer : C

Question. When she realised that she had bought a fake product, she knew that her money had gone down the drain
(a) Was lost forever
(b) Dropped in the drain
(c) Got washed away
(d) Her money was safe
Answer : A

Question. George Bernard Shaw was blessed with the gift of the gab.
(a) Enormous wealth
(b) Ability to work hard
(c) Ability to speak impressively
(d) Luck on one’s side
Answer : C

Question. You have been caught cheating: now you must face the music.
(a) Face the unpleasant consequences
(b) Stand up to unpleasant consequences
(c) Be debarred
(d) Be insulted publicly
Answer : A

Question. His position in the company was on the brink of disaster.
(a) At the top of
(b) At the point of
(c) On the side of
(d) On the back of
Answer : B

Question. The parents are in high spirits as their son has got a decent Job.
(a) In good position
(b) Drunk
(c) Cheerful
(d) Shocked
Answer : C

Question. The police caught the thief red handed.
(a) In a red uniform
(b) With blood in hands
(c) At the time of committing the crime
(d) After reading the rules
Answer : C

Question. I was so disappointed when my close friend left me in the lurch.
(a) Went away without waiting for me
(b) Helped me in difficult times
(c) Abandoned me when I needed help
Answer : C

Question. Some people do not grease anybody’s paint on any account.
(a) Bribe
(b) Flatter
(c) Cheat
(d) Fight
Answer : A

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Question. Having no arguments to defend his point, the speaker began to beat about the bush.
(a) Wander across the words
(b) Speak in a haphazard manner
(c) Speak in a round-about manner
(d) Make use of irrelevant reference
Answer : C

Question. They were offered six months’ rent in lieu of notice to vacate the building
(a) In spite of
(b) In place of
(c) Despite of
(d) In addition to
Answer : B

Question. The reputed company is in the red due to the recession
(a) Making money
(b) Losing money
(c) In danger
(d) Spending money
Answer : B

Question. When the Principal was entering the class, all my friends quietly disappeared, leaving me alone to face the music.
(a) To listen to him
(b) To enter into the class
(c) To bear the criticism
(d) To listen to a favourable comment
Answer : C

Question. The Kenyan team proved to be the dark horse in the ICC World Cup Cricket.
(a) A strong intruder
(b) A skilled team
(c) The most powerful
(d) An unexpected winner
Answer : D

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the bold or given idiom/ phrase. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the bold or given idiom/phrase.

Question. His parents cut him off without a shilling.
(a) Disinherited him
(b) Snubbed him
(c) Gave him only a shilling
(d) Sent him away with a shilling
Answer : A

Question. The carefully worked-out plan fell through because of an unexpected event.
(a) Came out successfully
(b) Had a steep fall
(c) Was shattered
(d) Failed
Answer : D

Question. He has too many irons in the fire.
(a) Is engaged in too many enterprises at the same time
(b) Has several problems
(c) Has many ideas in his head
(d) Has a fire burning constantly in his house
Answer : A

Question. We wanted to give Rita a surprise party but John let the cat out of the bag.
(a) Spoilt the party with a cat
(b) Gave her a party himself
(c) Told her about it unintentionally
(d) Prevented her from attending it
Answer : C

Question. Why should you read between the lines whenever I say this to you?
(a) Read the lines with great speed
(b) Interpret the lines wrongly
(c) Find more meaning than the words appear to express
(d) Read a text line-by-line slowly
Answer : C

Question. The Earl of Leicester threw down the glove.
(a) Accepted defeat
(b) Rejected the prize
(c) Resorted to wrong tactics
(d) Gave a challenge
Answer : D

Question. Ravi fought to the bitter end.
(a) Fought to the last point of enemy’s position
(b) Died fighting
(c) Carried on a contest regardless of the consequences
(d) Fought a losing battle
Answer : C

Question. I joined college late and found it difficult to catch up with other students.
(a) To compete with
(b) To come to their level
(c) To overtake them
(d) To hold them and stop
Answer : B

Question. They have made many changes in the policy, but how many of these changes are going to affect the man in the street?
(a) The homeless man
(b) The ordinary man
(c) The man who works on the street
(d) The man who repairs roads
Answer : B

Question. The students wanted a holiday, but the Principal put his foot down and said, ‘No’.
(a) Asserted his authority
(b) Kicked them
(c) Stepped out
(d) Came downstairs
Answer : A

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternatives which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Question. The Manager doctored the accounts of the company.
(a) To make changes in account books
(b) To clear the doctors bill
(c) To verify the accounts in detail
(d) To manipulate the accounts
Answer : D

Question. She could never measure up to her parent expectation.
(a) Reach the level
(b) Work as hard
(c) Assess the amount
(d) Increase her height
Answer : A

Question. The little girl with her flawless performance stole the show.
(a) Stole something from the show
(b) Crept into the show
(c) Won everybody’s praise
(d) Disappeared from the show
Answer : C

Question. The thief was on good terms with the police.
(a) Kept terms and conditions
(b) Was friendly
(c) Followed the rules
(d) Agreed with them
Answer : B

Question. John’s offer of help was turned down by the police.
(a) Sent back
(b) Twisted around
(c) Refused
(d) Handed over
Answer : C