Set 3

Question 1

Come home to

Answer 1

Come home to - to understand clearly

Example-
She wanted to be the teacher in the college but soon it came home to her that she was not fit for the job.

Question 2

Call a spade a spade

Answer 2

Call a spade a spade - to speak frankly or say the truth about something- even if it is not polite or pleasant

Example-
1) People often get angry when one calls a spade a spade.
2) Let’s call a spade a spade. The man is a liar.

Question 3

Cut a sorry figure

Answer 3

Cut a sorry figure - to give a poor show

Example-
1) The speaker cut a sorry figure in the meeting.
2) She cut a sorry figure in her maiden speech.

Question 4

Call names

Answer 4

Call names - to call someone by an abusive and insulting name

Example- I was afraid that if I wore glasses to school, the other kids would call me names.

Question 5

Curtain lecture

Answer 5

Curtain lecture - wife’s tough talk

Example-
1) A reprimand that a wife gives her husband.
2) The husband seemed to have a curtain lecture at home.

Question 6

Cave in

Answer 6

A) Cave in - to collapse - for a roof or ceiling

Example-
Because of the explosion, the roof of the building caved in, trapping several
people.

B) To give in to someone or something दबाव मेंआत्मसमपषण करना

Example-
1) Finally the manager caved in to the customer’s demand.
2) I refuse to cave in under pressure from my opponent.

Question 7

Cloven hoof

Answer 7

Cloven hoof - evil intention/ The sign of devilish character

Example- He showed cloven hoof by cheating his parents.

Question 8

Clinch the issue/deal

Answer 8

Clinch the issue/deal - (to clear the controversy)

Example-
1) The minister clinched the issue by accepting the genuine demand of the students.
2) After two weeks of negotiations, we were finally able to clinch the deal with the other firm.

Question 9

Checkered/chequered career

Answer 9

Checkered/chequered career - full of ups and downs (A background that includes many changes, especially of employment)

Example-
1) Parth had a checkered career, hopping from one city to another and one job to another.
2) I had a checkered career after college, taking any kind of work that I could find.

Question 10

Cut both ends

Answer 10

Cut both ends - argue in favour of both sides

Example-
1) While participating in debate you should not cut both ends.
2) He is ambiguous because he always cut both ends.

Question 11

Cock a snook

Answer 11

Cock a snook - to show contempt

To show that you do not respect something or someone by doing something that insults them

Example- She is so proud of her wealth that she always cocks a snook at the acts of her
husband.

Question 12

Chapter and verse

Answer 12

Chapter and verse - in full detail or to give proof

Example-
1) I know all about it, chapter and verse.
2) He has such a sharp memory that he can narrate the story chapter and verse.

Question 13

Cool one’s heels

Answer 13

Cool one’s heels - to keep waiting / to wait for someone

Example- I spent an hour cooling my heels in the waiting room while the doctor saw the other patients.

Question 14

Come in handy

Answer 14

Come in handy - to be useful

Example-
1) This money will come in handy when we go on vacation.
2) Take some woollen clothes. They may come in handy in Shimla.
3) I think that this gadget will come in handy in the kitchen.

Question 15

Draw the long bow

Answer 15

Draw the long bow - to exaggerate

Example-
1) In calling him the best politician of the world, his followers draw the long bow.

Question 16

Dutch courage

Answer 16

Dutch courage- Bravery under alcoholic influence

Example-
1) The confidence that some people get from drinking alcohol before they do
something that needs courage.
2) It was the Dutch courage that made the football fan attack the policeman.

Question 17

Down and out

Answer 17

Down and out - poor and ruined

Example-
1) Someone who has no job, no home, no money.
2) I just assumed he was down and out, begging on the street corner.
3) After a slump in share market he is down and out these days.

Question 18

Days of reckoning

Answer 18

Days of reckoning - time to answer for one’s actions
Time when something must be dealt with

Example-
1) You may commit crime after crime but days of reckoning are never far off.
2) Taking out a further loan to cover your debts will only postpone the day of
reckoning.

Question 19

Down in the mouth

Answer 19

Down in the mouth - to be sad or depressed/out of elements

Example-
1) Now-a-days he is down in the mouth because he has suffered heavy loss in
the business.
2) He looks a bit down in the mouth. Shall we try to find out what’s wrong with
him?

Question 20

Egg on

Answer 20

Egg on - to urge someone to do something, usually something unwise
To provoke, encourage, to incite someone

Example-
1) Don’t egg him on! He gets himself into enough trouble without your
encouragement.
2) The two boys kept throwing stones because the other children were egging
them on.