P-1 (BS)

Verbal Ability 03
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Number of Questions : 160 CEX–5321/P1BS/19

Part – 1 6. All Greek to me

(a) Incomprehensible
Directions for questions 1 to 15: Select the (b) Foreign
meaning of the following idioms. (c) New to me
(d) Difficult
1. Kick the bucket
7. Cut to the chase
(a) To win a deal
(a) Run fast
(b) To throw a tantrum (b) Take part in the chase
(c) To get angry (c) Get to the point
(d) To die (d) Take a short cut

2. Feather one’s own nest 8. Field day

(a) To enrich oneself (a) A day of working in a field
(b) To prepare for a family (b) A day of hard work
(c) To beautify one’s house (c) An enjoyable situation
(d) To be greedy (d) An outdoor picnic

9. Gut feeling
3. To go off the deep end
(a) Feeling hungry
(a) To be silent
(b) Feeling unwell
(b) To fall into further trouble (c) Stomach ache
(c) To be caught doing a wrong act (d) Intuition
(d) To give way to anger or emotion
10. Give someone the slip
4. Call a spade a spade (a) To fire someone
(a) To be rude (b) To cheat someone
(b) To speak bluntly (c) To escape from someone
(c) To force your views on others (d) To hide from someone
(d) To support a theory
11. Have your back to the wall
(a) To talk to someone again in order to give
5. To sit on the fence
them some information
(a) To shirk off responsibility
(b) To have very serious problems that limit
(b) To become lazy the ways in which you can act
(c) To do no work (c) To not allow people to know about your
(d) To remain undecided intentions that you have kept secret
(d) To behave stubbornly or in a childlike
manner

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12. Can of worms 14. Put the hard word on
(a) A situation that causes a lot of problems (a) To raise a topic of conversation
for you when you start to deal with it (b) To make a mess of things
(b) A sight or situation which brings the (c) To adopt an aloof attitude
feeling of disgust or abhorrence (d) To ask a favour of someone
(c) To accept blame or take responsibility for
15. Be chilled to the marrow
something that goes wrong
(a) To be completely shameless
(d) To begin to worry because of a problem (b) To your innermost being
that you weren't expecting. (c) To be extremely cold
(d) To vigorously engage in an argument
13. Half the battle
(a) An important step towards achieving
something
(b) The slightest opportunity
(c) Not as much as you want but better than
nothing
(d) Most important part of something

Directions for questions 16 to 20: Match the idiom (in last column) with the correct meaning
(in first column).

16. Hand

A Freedom to do as desired 1 W ait on someone hand and

foot
B Tyranny, persecution, or oppression 2 A heavy hand
C To serve someone very well 3 A free hand
D Having only bare essentials 4 From hand to mouth

(a) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1 (b) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4 (c) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4 (d) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

17. Come

A To confess all 1 Come again

B To fail utterly 2 Come down on
C Used as a request to repeat what was 3 Come a cropper
said
D To punish, oppose, or reprimand 4 Come clean
severely and often with force

(a) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1 (b) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 (c) A-1, B-2, C-1, D-4 (d) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

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18. Pick

A To select with great care 1 Pick (someone) to pieces

B To seek and discover flaws or a flaw 2 Pick (one's) way

C To find passage and make careful 3 Pick holes in

progress through it
D To criticize sharply 4 Pick and choose

(a) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1 (b) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4 (c) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 (d) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

19. Give

A To yield to a more powerful force 1 Give (someone) a hard time

B Plus or minus a small specified 2 Give rise to
amount
C To be the cause or origin of 3 Give or take
D To make life difficult for 4 Give ground
(a) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1 (b) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4 (c) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 (d) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

20. Bring

A To make perfectly clear 1 Bring home

B To earn a living, especially for a family 2 Bring to bear

C To exert; apply 3 Bring home the bacon

D To reveal or disclose 4 Bring to light

(a) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1 (b) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4 (c) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 (d) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

Directions for questions 21 to 25: Select the idiom or phrase from the given alternatives that best
completes the sentence.

21. It finally _______ him that she was the Principal’s daughter.
(a) dawned on (b) came on (c) came to (d) took to

22. Ritesh has started his own business and he has been ______ money since then.
(a) raking in (b) making in (c) raking for (d) taking in

23. You are not in a good mood today; _____?

(a) why aren’t you
(b) what is happening to you
(c) what’s eating you
(d) what’s picking you

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24. Rahul came into the kitchen and made a ________ the cookies.
(a) beeline for (b) beeline of (c) deck for (d) route at

25. Her poems are definitely a _______ the poems of other competitors.
(a) cut in (b) cut above (c) cut for (d) cut below

Directions for questions 26 to 30: In the given questions, some idioms or phrases are listed with their
meaning. One of the options does not have correct meaning attached to it. Identify the option.

26. (a) Come what may: To succeed in a venture

(b) Come to blows: To begin a physical fight
(c) Come across: To meet or find by chance
(d) Come off: To fall off

27. (a) Beat off: To drive away

(b) Cut a wide swath: To attract a lot of attention
(c) Cry over spilt milk: To avoid making mistakes
(d) Come home to roost: To have repercussions or after effects

28. (a) Rule the roost: To revel

(b) Bring to mind: To cause to be remembered
(c) Bring to (one’s) knees: To reduce to a position of subservience or submission
(d) Bring to terms: To force (another) to agree

29. (a) Call forth: To evoke or elicit

(b) Call in: To challenge someone
(c) Call off : To cancel or postpone
(d) Call on: To court someone

30. (a) Have eyes for: To be interested in

(b) In one’s mind’s eye: In imagination or memory
(c) In the public eye: Exposed to public curiosity or publicity
(d) Keep one’s eyes skinned: To ignore

Directions for questions 31 to 45: In each of the following questions, the given sentence contains an
idiom which has been underlined. From the given options, choose the one which gives the correct meaning
of the idiom.

31. Even during the holidays I had my hands full.

(a) was very busy (b) was extremely worried
(c) was tired (d) carried heavy loads

32. The long and the short of it is that it ended in a fiasco.

(a) the outcome or result (b) the whole matter in brief
(c) the multiple effects (d) the disastrous result

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33. There's no doubt that stress can lead to 40. The teenager spent hours cranking out
physical illness. volumes of bad poetry.
(a) begin a process (a) thinking about
(b) invite something (b) producing quickly
(c) upheld something (c) analyzing
(d) attract something (d) understanding the meaning of

34. He cut a poor figure at the presentation 41. Ted was feeling under the weather yesterday,
ceremony. so he decided not to go to work.
(a) spoke loudly (a) unwell
(b) used indecent language
(b) disappointed
(c) appear badly
(c) romantic
(d) was critical of the arrangement
(d) in a poetic mood
35. The labour strike is only the tip of the iceberg.
42. Don’t be so wishy-washy. Tell us how you
(a) indication of a big problem
(b) biggest hurdle really feel.
(c) cause of agitation (a) so irritated
(d) last problem (b) feeble in quality or character
(c) to evade from the main issue
36. Have you ever been talked out of doing (d) to make a fool of someone
something foolish?
(a) persuaded for not doing something 43. Mrs. Gill started acting like a bull in a China
(b) held responsible for doing something shop after getting drunk and ended up
(c) scolded for doing something breaking all the glasses.
(d) insulted for doing something (a) careless in walking or behaving
(b) shouting at someone
37. Can you put me up for the weekend? (c) hitting everyone
(a) give me company (d) accusing someone badly
(b) leave me alone
(c) accommodate me 44. That story is pretty far-fetched and I am not
(d) make friends with me going to excuse you this time.
(a) an old story
38. Last evening my sister Nidhi, had a whale of (b) implausible
a time. (c) something rare
(a) enjoyed greatly (d) unexpected
(b) wasted her time
(c) utilized her time
45. The terrible fiend pursued him everywhere and
(d) experienced the worst time
Yavakrida fled for his life, with the demon
hot on his heels.
39. They will change their tune as soon as they
(a) to run
learn that I am the director.
(a) change the approach (b) to run very fast
(b) reach a different conclusion (c) to follow someone and try to catch up
(c) be impartial (d) to be after someone’s life
(d) change their task

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Directions for questions 46 to 60: In the following 51. Having seen the flipside of instant fame and
questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom success he tried to hide his light under the
marked in bold. Choose the alternative which best bushel and stayed away from media
expresses the meaning of the idiom from the options attention.
given. (a) to avoid knowledge
(b) to hide the truth
46. On seeing the table piled with a variety of (c) to stay away from the limelight
dishes I realized that taking food to my (d) to hide one’s talents
grandmother’s house was like carrying coals
to Newcastle. 52. Being a swimming instructor, it felt like a
(a) to give something to someone who
busman’s holiday to me when my nephew
already has a lot of it
came home on Sunday and wanted swimming
(b) to perform a boring task
lessons.
(c) to do something essential
(a) a holiday where one is not able to rest
(d) to do something substandard
(b) a holiday spent in teaching others some
47. Due to lack of concerted effort to tackle global activity
warming, environmentalists have accused the (c) a holiday spent in doing that which one
government of fiddling while Rome burns. does for a living
(a) to be indecisive in an emergency (d) a holiday spent doing household chores
(b) to work as normal in a crisis
(c) to run away from trouble 53. Any celebrity scandal and the press rushes
(d) a late response to cover the story, like a moth to a flame.
(a) dangerously attracted to something
48. The aged actor admitted making a lot of wrong (b) to be in search of knowledge
choices in his salad days. (c) in a hurry to achieve
(a) time of youth and inexperience (d) impulsively seeking success
(b) the days of one’s first job
(c) period of unemployment 54. In spite of several warnings the general threw
(d) period of success caution to the wind and went ahead with
the attack on the enemy headquarters.
49. I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall during (a) to be impatient
the upcoming board meeting on the (b) to be ambitious
company’s future plans. (c) to behave in a reckless manner
(a) a significant participant
(d) to act suddenly, without warning
(b) a decision maker
(c) a secret observer
55. Facing multiple charges of corruption he finally
(d) a record keeper
agreed to surrender and talk turkey about
his misdeeds.
50. On going through his medical report the doctor
declared that the patient was out of the (a) to discuss frankly
woods and could go home. (b) to talk at length
(a) healthy (c) to speak under oath
(b) cured (d) to answer questions
(c) safe
(d) recovered

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56. There are wheels within wheels in the 62. Have feet of clay
system and most refugees do not know which (a) Have filthy feet
government agency to approach for (b) Have feet covered with clay
assistance. (c) Have hidden faults
(a) complex and intricate processes (d) Have feet made of clay
(b) complex technology
(c) difficult to understand 63. To be run off one’s feet
(d) lot of paperwork (a) To run very fast
(b) To run very slowly
57. Schools are riding a wave of renewed public (c) To give free rain to one’s feet
interest. (d) To be forced to work very hard or very fast
(a) receive appreciation for a short period
(b) relinquishing for a short period 64. Nail one’s colours to the mast
(c) enjoy for a short period (a) Paint the mast
(d) successful for a short period (b) Paste one’s flag to the mast
(c) Publicity state ones opinions on a subject
58. I caught her nosing around my desk. (d) Criticise publicity
(a) look around a place
(b) plan a visit to a place 65. To take the wooden spoon
(c) move freely (a) To pick up a spoon made of wood
(d) feel the aroma (b) Have a preference for things made of wood
59. I’d love to have lunch with you but we’re (c) To be born poor
rushed off our feet at the moment. (d) To finish last in a contest
(a) in a very difficult situation
(b) injured 66. To be in clover
(c) having no money (a) To be in the midst of summer
(d) extremely busy (b) To be in a fragrant field
(c) To be in a pleasant position especially
60. The refugees are living cheek by jowl in a financially
temporary camp. (d) To have sex
(a) depressed and unhappy
(b) very close together 67. To coin it
(c) full of optimism and hope (a) Stamp fresh coins at a mint
(d) in harmony (b) Design something new
(c) Earn a lot of money quickly
Part – 2 (d) Create a new phrase

Directions for questions 61 to 85: In the following 68. To be at the coalface

questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom (a) To be down in a mine
marked in bold. Choose the alternative which best (b) To be close to a mine
expresses the meaning of the idiom from the options (c) To be a coal miner
given. (d) To do the actual work involved in a job
61. Get cold feet
(a) Feel very cold 69. Like clock work
(b) Have a chilling sensation in the feet (a) Very intricate
(c) Be suddenly frightened to do something (b) Very highly skilled
one had planned to do earlier (c) Regular and predictable
(d) Develop an aversion for (d) Very organized

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70. Take the cloth 77. Have your knife into somebody
(a) Buy the cloth offered (a) To murder someone.
(b) Take away the table cloth (b) To be accused of having murdered
(c) Become a journey man someone.
(d) Become a priest (c) Hide your knife in somebody’s belongings.
(d) To try to cause problems for someone.
71. Cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth.
(a) Design the coat in keeping with the type 78. A king’s ransom.
of cloth. (a) Ransom paid by a king to free the prince.
(b) Be a type of priest in accordance with the (b) To be held to ransom by a king.
type of education one has received. (c) To be abducted by a king.
(c) Limit one’s spending according to one’s (d) A very large amount of money.
resources.
(d) Practise what one preaches. 79. The penny drops
(a) The penny falls from one’s hand.
72. A close call (b) One loses money.
(a) A call from close quartes. (c) To finally understand something.
(b) A call to close ranks. (d) To loosen one’s grip on the financial
(c) A situation where something unpleasant resources of an organisation or family.
or somthing dangerous nearly happened.
(d) Behaviour that is all but indecent. 80. To be upto speed.
(a) To have the necessary speed
73. Be as clear as mud (b) To build up one’s speed
(a) Can be seen plainly (c) To do drugs
(b) Be free of pebbles like mud (d) To have all the latest information
(c) Be completely smooth
(d) Impossible to understand 81. Go pear-shaped
(a) Look like a pear
74. Bite the bullet (b) To assume the shape of a pear
(a) Separate the bullet from the cartridges (c) To ripen
(b) Hang on to the bullet. (d) To fail
(c) To make yourself do or accept something
difficult or unpleasant 82. If you pay peanuts you get monkeys
(d) To do the impossible. (a) It you propose to raise monkeys on a large
scale you have to spend a lot on peanuts.
75. Another bite at the cherry. (b) Unless you throw peanuts you cannot
(a) A chance to enjoy something good. attract monkeys.
(b) A missed opportunity. (c) Monkeys run after peanuts.
(c) To enjoy something sweet (d) If you pay measly wages you will get only
(d) Another opportunity to achieve something stupid people to work for you.
or to get something.
83. Not be a patch on someone or something.
76. To get your knickers in a twist (a) Not be subservient to someone.
(a) To feel very hot (b) Not be a camp follower of someone.
(b) To feel very itchy (c) Not be as good as someone or something
(c) To become very upset. else
(d) To become very combative. (d) Not be a leech.

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84. Pass muster 89. You can go to Chennai by Rajdhani or you
(a) Attend drill can take a flight which is quicker. You pay
(b) Take part in a parade. your money and take your choice.
(c) To take an examination
(d) To be of acceptable standard. (a) Since you are spending your hard earned
money no one else can decide.
85. To put out to pasture. (b) Put the money on the table & decide.
(a) To let an animal graze. (c) Unless you pay you do not do either.
(b) To unsaddle a horse. (d) In this situation you make your decisions
(c) To make someone stop working because since no decision is better than the
they are too old. others.
(d) To take an animal to a grass land.
90. She is young, pretty, well-educated and has
Directions for questions 86 to 100: In each of the a good job but she’s not a patch on you.
following questions, the given sentence contains an (a) Not your rival.
idiom which has been underlined. From the given (b) Not interested in you
options, choose the one which gives the correct (c) Not as good as you
meaning of the idiom. (d) Not as smart as you

86. It’s time you realized that you are not the 91. The BJP was quick to attack UPA for bribery
only pebble on the beach and cannot always in the Augusta Westland affair but is now
have everything your way. hoist with its own petard as the names of a
(a) only person. few earlier NDA ministers have tumbled out.
(b) only decision makers. (a) Caught on the wrong foot
(c) the only important person who counts. (b) Discomfited.
(d) the only intelligent person. (c) Discredited
(d) Suffering greater damage that than the
87. The Aam Aadmi Party is a broad church and U.P.A.
you should not be surprised at any noises
coming from the party. 92. Following the killing of the young couple
(a) It has no official set of principles. belonging to the same Gotra it appears to
(b) It is not squeamish about values be open season again on Khap Panchayats.
(c) It is not too choosy or picky about its (a) Free for all in Khap Panchayats.
members. (b) Vociferous profession of Khap views.
(d) It has members professing all kinds of (c) Flexing of muscles by Khap Panchayats.
beliefs. (d) A period of time when everyone criticises
or unfairly treats the Khap Panchayats.
88. In our organization there is no clearly
established pecking order. 93. The professor will not take the literature class
(a) Distribution of power. today as he is slightly under the weather.
(b) Distribution of authority. (a) Depressed. (b) In an angry mood.
(c) Order of importance or precedence. (c) Felling ill. (d) Disinclined.
(d) Seniority.

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94. Many of the civil service officers of today 100. Many people think that a defence
can’t hold a candle to the civil service officers consultant’s job is money for old rope.
of yore. (a) Surest way to the gallows.
(a) Can not assist. (b) Cannot enlighten. (b) An uncertain profession.
(c) Cannot train. (d) Are not as good as. (c) Easy way of earning money.
(d) A dishonest profession.
95. I met the illustrious author in his last days Directions for questions 101 to 112: In the given
and was struck by the sheer brilliance of some questions, some idioms or phrases are listed with
of his remarks but honestly felt that he was their meanings. One of the options does not have
not all there . the correct meaning attached to it, identify the option.
(a) He was not paying any attention to me.
(b) He was lost in his own world of thoughts 101. (a) Beat about the bush - To avoid talking
(c) Slightly rude. about a difficult or embarassing subject.
(d) Slightly crazy. (b) Beat your breast - To publicly pretend that
you feel sad or guilty.
96. Six months after our C.E.O. was hired at an (c) Beat somebody to it - To do something
before somebody else does it.
astronomical salary we gradually realized that
(d) Beat swords into ploughshares - To urge
he was all fur coat and no knickers .
the citizenry to prepare for war.
(a) A no-nonsense executive.
(b) Long on brilliance and short on application. 102. (a) Put something to bed - To finish writing a
(c) Extremely sensitive to criticism. book etc.
(d) Looks very attractive but is not of high (b) Get out of bed on the wrong side- To be in
quality. a bad word.
(c) Be a bed of nails - Extremely difficult &
97. My young friend always talks about taking a unpleasant.
shot at the Civil Service exams and C.A.T. (d) Between you, me and the bed post -
but I think he is all mouth & no trousers. Something known to everyone.
(a) He is not very firm 103. (a) To have the bit between your teeth -
(b) He is not committed To start doing something in a very keen
(c) He wastes all his energy in chatter. way.
(d) He only talks but he will never do anything. (b) Bite your tongue - To stop yourself from
saying something because it would be
98. When my fairly rich friend resigned from his better not to speak.
job I did not expect him to do a moonlight flit. (c) What’s biting somebody - Why is
(a) Take up part time jobs someone in a bad mood?
(b) Avoid friends and acquaintances. (d) In black and white - The situation is as
(c) Leave secretly at night to avoid creditors. complicated as it seems.
(d) Take up the first job that came his way
104. (a) Blind somebody with science - Confuse
after he had resigned.
someone by using technical language that
they are not likely to understand.
99. He will not clear his French Diploma exam,
(b) Not take a blind bit of notice - Not pay
not in a month of Sundays. any attention at all.
(a) Not during his leave period. (c) Blow hot and cold - Be extremely
(b) Not in a month’s time. interested.
(c) Not in couple of weekends (d) Out of the blue - A sudden and unexpected
(d) Never. occurrence.

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105. (a) Have a bone to pick with somebody - 110. (a) Catch somebody on the hop -
To have a minor dispute with someone. Do something when they are not ready
(b) Bone of contention - Issue or point over for it and may not be able to deal with it
which people fight or quarrel. well.
(c) Be cut to the bone - Of expenditure - (b) Cause célêbre - Arrange a celebration
be reduced to the absolute minimum. (c) Be caught short - To have a sudden urgent
(d) Bring somebody to book - Make him study need to go to the toilet.
hard. (d) To chafe at the bit - Be very keen to start
an activity.
106. (a) Bring somebody / something to mind -
To cause you to think of someone or 111. (a) Cheese - paring - Adding cheese
something. generously
(b) Bring home to - Reward with a gift. (b) Cheese rainbows - Waste one’s time
(c) Bring the house down - Make the people trying to achieve something impossible.
watching a play or show laugh or clap very (c) The chattering classes - The educated
loudly. classes who like to discuss and give their
(d) To bring a lump to your throat - Make you opinions on political & social matters.
feel like crying. (d) Chew the fat - Have a long, friendly
conversation with someone.
107. (a) Not go a bundle on - Not like something
(b) Burn the candle at both ends - To work 112. (a) Run rings round - To have much more skill,
extremely hard at something ability or intelligence than someone else.
(c) Burn the midnight oil - To work very late (b) Run the gauntlet - Keep running till one
into the night. becomes thin and guant.
(d) A bus man’s holiday - A rare event. (c) Run somebody to ground - Find someone
offer searching for a long time.
108. (a) Cack - handed - Lacking skill with your (d) Have the run of some place - To be allowed
hands. to go anywhere in an area.
(b) Be in the can - Of a film: Be completed
and ready for showing. Directions for questions 113 to 117: In the following
(c) Have a card up your sleeve - Have an questions match the phrasal verbs with their
advantage that no one knows something meanings.
about.
(d) Carry a torch for somebody - To lead the 113. 1. Bear down on A. To bear adversity
away for someone. bravely
2. Bear upon B. Corroborate
109. (a) Be on the case - Doing what needs to be 3. Bear out C. To be directly
done in a particular situation. connected to
(b) Cast a pall over - Cover something with a something
counterpane. 4. Bear up D. To move threateningly
(c) Be like a cat on a hot tin roof - Be nervous or determinedly
and unable to keep still.
(d) Set the cat among the pigeons - Cause (a) 1D, 2C, 3B, 4A (b) 1A, 2B, 3C, 4D
trouble and make a lot of people angry. (c) 1B, 2D, 3A, 4C (d) 1A, 2D, 3B, 4C

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114. 1. Beat down A. Thrash severely Directions for questions 118 to 142: In the following
2. Beat off B. Force someone to questions select the right phrasal verb from the
reduce the price options given.
3. Beat out C. To repel an attacker
4. Beat up D. To stop a fire from 118. On hearing the table of my stupidity and
burning by hitting it consequent humiliation my friend ______
with something peals of laughter.
(a) Went into (b) Let go
(a) 1A, 2B, 3C, 4D (b) 1C, 2D, 3A, 4B (c) Broke into (d) Exploded
(c) 1D, 2A, 3B, 4C (d) 1B, 2C, 3D, 4A
119. When John _______ Jane it was a major
115. 1. Boil down A. A boiling liquid
happening
overflows the pan
(a) quarreled (b) broke off with
2. Boil over B. (Of a bad emotion)
(c) broke up (d) parted
become
uncontrollable
3. Boil down to C. Reduce by boiling 120. The physician finally managed to ______ the
4. Boil up D. Reduce to a main robust athlete who had collapsed on the floor
point of the gymnasium.
(a) bring down (b) wake
(a) 1A, 2B, 3C, 4D (b) 1C, 2A, 3D, 4B (c) bring around (d) bring up
(c) 1D, 2A, 3B, 4C (d) 1B, 2D, 3A, 4C
121. The manager of the hotel told John to ____ in
116. 1. Turn round A. Refuse to allow half an hour if he wished to meet the owner.
someone to enter (a) call away (b) respond
2. Turn away B. To refuse an offer or (c) call back (d) call out
request
3. Turn down C. Go to bed 122. As “I” am small in size my class mates
4. Turn in D. To make an invariably _______ me whenever something
unsuccessful goes wrong.
business successful (a) Pick on (b) Pick out
(c) Hit (d) Pick through
(a) 1B, 2C, 3D, 4A (b) 1C, 2A, 3B, 4D
(c) 1D, 2A, 3B, 4C (d) 1A, 2C, 3B, 4D 123. After looting the bank the robbers ______ the
forest.
117. 1. Put By A. Place clothing or (a) joined (b) fled
make up on your body
(c) sought out (d) made for
2. Put Down B. Post pone
3. Put off C. To save an amount of
124. Ramesh escaped being branded a thief at
money
school only because all his friends _____ for
4. Put on D. To make someone
him.
feel stupid or
unimportant (a) Defended (b) Stuck up
(c) Spoke (d) rallied
(a) 1C, 2D, 3A, 4B (b) 1A, 2C, 3B, 4D
(c) 1D, 2C, 3A, 4B (d) 1C, 2D, 3B, 4A

Page 12 VA – 03
125. One does not enjoy a novel unless one _____ 133. The local government anticipates a lot of
some hard earned money. violence in _________ the panchayat
(a) Shaves off (b) Sheers off elections.
(c) Shells out (d) Puts by (a) conjunction with (b) view of
(c) the run-up to (d) anticipation of
126. The BJP and AAP have left ______ to whittle
away each other’s support base. 134. Narendra is expected to win this year’s tennis
(a) no chance trophy as he is _________ the rest
(b) no opportunity (a) deadlier than (b) acquainted with
(c) no stone unturned (c) older (d) a cut above
(d) no slip-ups
135. In view of the gravity of your misdemeanors
127. Reputedly Bill Clinton _______ anyone who your only hope lies in meeting the principal
finds fault with Hillary Clinton. and ________.
(a) Head butts (b) Sues (a) supplicating
(c) Abuses (d) Lays into (b) kowtowing
(c) making a clean breast of it
128. When drivers have a chance meeting in a (d) beating about
lay-by they sometimes _____ each other.
(a) race (b) eye up 136. I would like to __________ you if
(c) avoid (d) growl you have the time.
(a) run a few ideas by
129. I was busier than a bee because all the guests (b) test some ideas
had arrived and I had _____ lunch. (c) share some ideas
(a) Commence (b) Serve (d) dilate on
(c) To see about (d) To ensure
137. Usha can _______ a fancy dress on her new
sewing machine in a jiffy.
130. Perry Mason unlatched the gate and was
(a) cut (b) stitcj
immediately _________ by a huge dog.
(c) run up (d) design
(a) Greeted (b) Licked
(c) Picked on (d) Set upon
138. Suresh is a heavy sleeper and his wife has to
________ of bed every morning.
131. The fete organized on the open lawns was
(a) shout him (b) run him
was ruined as it _______ the whole day.
(c) force him (d) rout him out
(a) Sizzled (b) Blew
(c) Teemed down (d) Swirled up
139. Jay ______ to the party in a bizarre dress.
(a) joined (b) rocked up
132. Sunny is upset at not being able to converse
(c) attended (d) dropped
with his wife because she has the habit of
_______ him. 140. It is customary to have lunch in the dining
(a) shouting at (b) talking at room and then _________ the study for a cup
(c) clamming up (d) shutting of coffee.
(a) enter (b) sidle up to
(c) repair to (d) resort to

VA – 03 Page 13
141. No company can survive if it ________ losses 147. If the court rules in favour of Modi, Kejriwal
of a thousand crores or more every year. will have to eat humble pie
(a) runs out (b) foots (a) Eat his words
(c) forks out (d) racks up (b) Eat pie
(c) Drop all humility
142. I refuse to _________ your stupid tantrums (d) Admit he was wrong and apologise
any more.
(a) accede to (b) concede to 148. If the present G.M. cannot cut the mustard
(c) put up with (d) put in we will have to look for someone else.
(a) Does not like the job
Directions for questions 143 to 160: In each of the (b) Cannot get along with colleagues
following questions the given sentence has an idiom (c) Cannot deal with the problems
which has been underlined. From the given options, (d) Cannot innovate
choose the one which gives the correct meaning of
the idiom. 149. Aware that the M.D. would not give me more
than ten minutes to explain my plan I quickly
143. When it came to wizardry in speech the late, cut to the chase
lamented Mr Nath Pai ran rings around the (a) Come to the details
other parliamentarians. (b) Gave an overview
(a) Encouraged (c) Explained the important paints
(b) Discouraged (d) Dealt with the finer points at length.
(c) Displayed much greater skill than
(d) Avoided. 150. Mary was cut to the quick by the harsh
remarks of her son
144. The ex cathedra policy pronounce ments of (a) Injured (b) Angered
Raghu Ram Rajan have angered many people.
(c) Annoyed (d) Extremely upset
(a) Off the record
(b) In formal
151. In an election year the government lowers
(c) Off the cuff
taxes to curry favour with the voters.
(d) Sounding official & binding.
(a) Oblige
(b) Impress with exotic offerings
145. Today English is the lingua franca of the
(c) Hood wink
business world.
(d) Please the voters and make them like the
(a) Frank language
government
(b) Reviled language
(c) Secret language
152. Of late Subramanian Swami has emerged as
(d) accepted language of communication.
the eminence grise of the B.J.P.
(a) Bad boy
146. When the climbers of the Indian Navy ran into
(b) Principal spokes man
a landslide on their way to Mount Everest they
were saved by esprit de corps- (c) Eminent leader
(a) Physical spirits (d) A person with a lot of power & influence
(b) Spirited climb but no official position
(c) Feeling of pride & loyalty
(d) Support of the parent unit.

Page 14 VA – 03
153. Usha has tried all means unsuccessfully to 157. I really put my foot in it when unknowingly
break her son’s drug habit and now I recommended Karim’s Kebabs to a
at the end of her tether, she can do nothing true-blue vegetarian like Onkar.
but shed copious tears. (a) Scored a bulls eye
(a) At the end of the day (b) Made a mistake
(b) After trying everything (c) Hurt myself
(c) Unable to deal with the problem (d) Blurted out something upsetting or
(d) Angry embarrassing

154. The knowledge that the relics were lost for 158. In primary school our principal used to put us
good brought me out in a cold sweet. over his knee if we were caught telling lies.
(a) Feeling chilly (a) Punish us
(b) Feeling feverish (b) Hit with his knee
(c) Suffocated (c) Punish us by hitting on our bottoms
(d) Very frightened and anxious (d) Immobilise us

155. For Ravi learning Sanskrit was like shelling 159. Ajay put the principal’s back up by interrupting
peas his lecture.
(a) An unusual activity (a) Caught the eye of
(b) A repulsive activity (b) Annoyed
(c) A boring activity (c) Aroused
(d) Very easy (d) Made him laugh

156. During Diwali people go out on the razzle. 160. Arun did not accept the job because he was
(a) Shopping not prepared to play second fiddle to the
(b) Enjoy themselves by going out to parties C.E.O.
(c) Eating out (a) Carry out the C.E.O’s orders
(d) Drop all inhibitions (b) Praise the C.E.O.
(c) Generally assist the C.E.O.
(d) Yield pride of place to the C.E.O

VA – 03 Page 15