Free Idioms and Phrases MCQs with Answers

211. A man of straw _________?

• A. A man of no substance
• B. A very active person
• C. A worthy fellow
• D. An unreasonable person

Explanation: A man of straw is a person without real ability, influence, or substance. The phrase may also describe a person set up as a weak or nominal representative.

212. To leave someone in the lurch _________?

• A. To come to compromise with someone
• B. Constant source of annoyance to someone
• C. To put someone at ease
• D. To desert someone in his difficulties

Explanation: To leave someone in the lurch means to abandon them when they are in difficulty or need help. The idiom therefore implies desertion at a critical moment.

213. To pick holes _________?

• A. To find some reason to quarrel
• B. To destroy something
• C. To criticize someone
• D. To cut some part of an item

Explanation: To pick holes means to find and point out faults or weaknesses, usually in someone’s work or argument. Option c is the broad meaning, while finding a reason to quarrel is only a possible consequence.

214. To put one's hand to plough __________?

• A. To take up agricultural farming
• B. To take a difficult task
• C. To get entangled into unnecessary things
• D. Take interest in technical work

Explanation: To put one’s hand to the plough means to begin or undertake a demanding task or course of action. The agricultural image supplies the idiom, but the intended meaning is not merely farming.

215. To cry wolf __________?

• A. To listen eagerly
• B. To give false alarm
• C. To turn pale
• D. To keep off starvation

Explanation: To cry wolf means to raise a false alarm, referring to the boy in the fable who repeatedly claimed that a wolf was present when it was not.

216. To have an axe to grind ___________?

• A. A private end to serve
• B. To fail to arouse interest
• C. To have no result
• D. To work for both sides

Explanation: A person who has an axe to grind has a private interest or personal purpose to promote, often while pretending to be impartial.

217. To make clean breast of ________?

• A. To gain prominence
• B. To praise oneself
• C. To confess without of reserve
• D. To destroy before it blooms

Explanation: To make a clean breast of something means to confess it fully and frankly, without concealing details. The phrase is normally followed by “of,” as in “make a clean breast of the matter.”

218. "Hornet's nest" means:___________?

• A. A bee's house
• B. A violent situation
• C. A good situation
• D. A dangerous place

Explanation: A hornet’s nest is a situation likely to cause trouble, conflict, or angry reactions. “A violent situation” is closer than a literal bee’s house or an ordinary dangerous place.

219. "Cap it all" means:____________?

• A. To cover everything
• B. To seize everything
• C. To finish
• D. To occur

Explanation: To cap it all means to add a final or usually surprising event, often completing a series of events. Among these choices, “to finish” is the closest meaning.

220. Pull your socks up:

• A. To get ready
• B. To finish
• C. To start
• D. To improve

Explanation: “Pull your socks up” means to improve your effort or performance, often after doing poorly. It does not simply mean to get ready or start.