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📚 Idioms and Phrases Practice
Choose an answer, then open the short learning card. Learn the meaning of common idioms and phrases with short examples, memory clues, and exam-focused explanations.
Q1. The MP from our constituency is fond of blowing his own trumpet whenever he gets a chance.
parading his own good deeds
The phrase means someone talks proudly about their own achievements to gain praise or attention, just like blowing a trumpet about themselves.
Think: trumpet = showy self-praise.
He kept boasting about his awards, clearly parading his own good deeds.
Q2. He cannot make both ends meet.
C. earn enough
The phrase means you do not have enough money to pay for basic needs, so you struggle to "make ends meet."
Think of ends needing to meet when money is tight.
They are trying to cut costs to earn enough for rent and groceries.
Q3. His ghost story was beyond belief.
Incredible
“Beyond belief” means something is so amazing you can hardly believe it; “incredible” fits this idea.
Think: incredible = hard to believe, very amazing.
His ghost story was so exciting, it was incredible.
Q4. My friend was a person apt to act suddenly without thinking.
Impulsive
Someone who acts suddenly without thinking is described as impulsive.
Think of "in the moment" actions before you consider the consequences.
Her impulsive choice to quit without a plan surprised everyone.
Q5. No one dare call in question his honesty.
Challange
To call something in question means to challenge or doubt it; here, no one dares to doubt his honesty.
Think: if you question someone, you challenge their honesty.
No one dares to call his honesty into question.
Q6. It is bad to try to fish in troubled waters.
C) make a profit out of a disturbance.
The saying means taking advantage of a difficult situation to gain something, usually not a good idea.
Think: trouble is not for profit.
During the market panic, some traders tried to fish in troubled waters and make quick profits.
Q7. He promised to look into the matter.
Click the button below to create a short explanation for this question.
Q8. Thousands put on a daily fight to keep the wolf from the door.
A. avoid starvation
The phrase means people are struggling to have enough food and money, so they must work hard to avoid starving.
Think of "wolf" as hunger at your doorstep—you must feed yourself.
During the drought, many families fought to keep the wolf from the door.
Q9. How did you break the ice in the party?
Initiate something
To break the ice means to start something that makes people feel more comfortable, usually a conversation.
Think of starting a small action to melt the awkwardness.
He told a joke to break the ice at the party.
Q10. The policy has been declared to be null and void.
A. Invalid
When something is null and void, it has no legal effect and is not valid.
Null and void = not valid.
The contract was declared null and void, so it is invalid.