With both children in college and mounting medical bills, the retired couple was barely able to 'keep the wolf from the door'. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To earn just enough to survive and meet basic needs (Answer)
• B. To protect one's home from intruders
• C. To maintain a high standard of living despite hardship
• D. To avoid dangerous situations in a neighbourhood

'Keep the wolf from the door' means to earn or have just enough money to survive and avoid poverty. The wolf is a symbol of hunger and poverty — keeping it from the door means barely preventing destitution. Option C (high standard) is the opposite; the idiom implies bare sufficiency.

Her mentor advised her to 'look before she leaps' before accepting the high-risk venture capital offer. What principle does this idiom convey?

• A. Physical safety requires preparation and foresight
• B. Think carefully about the consequences before taking action (Answer)
• C. Consult an expert before making any financial decision
• D. Avoid all risks by not making decisions too quickly

'Look before you leap' means to consider the possible consequences or risks carefully before taking action. Option C (consult an expert) is one application of this principle, but the idiom is about personal foresight and caution. Option D (avoid all risks) is too absolute — the idiom recommends caution, not risk avoidance.

On a teacher's salary in an expensive city, she struggled to 'make ends meet' each month. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To earn enough money to cover one's expenses (Answer)
• B. To complete a long and difficult project successfully
• C. To find a balance between work and personal life
• D. To pay off debts gradually over time

'Make ends meet' means to have just enough money to pay for necessary expenses — the two 'ends' being income and expenditure, which must meet (balance). Option D (pay off debts) implies prior debt; the idiom simply describes maintaining financial balance month to month.

The doctor recommended 'nipping the infection in the bud' with a course of antibiotics rather than waiting for it to worsen. What does this mean?

• A. To remove the source of a problem surgically
• B. To stop a problem at an early stage before it develops (Answer)
• C. To treat a problem with the minimum possible intervention
• D. To identify the root cause before prescribing treatment

'Nip something in the bud' means to stop a problem or bad situation at its earliest stage before it can develop or worsen — as a gardener nips off a bud to prevent unwanted growth. Option D (identify root cause) is a diagnostic step, not the action of early stopping the idiom describes.

When her promotion was finally announced after years of waiting, Rekha was 'on cloud nine'. What does this expression mean?

• A. Feeling uncertain and anxious about the future
• B. Extremely happy and elated (Answer)
• C. Feeling overwhelmed by the new responsibility
• D. Feeling smug and proud of defeating rivals

'On cloud nine' means to be extremely happy and euphoric. The number nine in cloud classification traditionally referred to the highest type of cloud (cumulonimbus). Option D (smug) adds a competitive dimension the idiom does not carry — it is simply about personal joy.

By raising the issue of pension reforms, the opposition leader unwittingly 'opened a can of worms'. What does this idiom convey?

• A. To introduce a topic that is interesting to many people
• B. To create an unexpectedly complicated and messy situation (Answer)
• C. To reveal corruption within a government department
• D. To mislead the public with false information

'Open a can of worms' means to introduce a topic or take an action that leads to a range of difficult, complicated problems — just as opening a can of worms releases many wriggling, tangled creatures. Option C (reveal corruption) is a possible outcome but far more specific than the idiom's general sense of creating messy complications.

Customers at the exclusive resort were 'paying through the nose' for even basic amenities. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To pay reluctantly after a long period of negotiation
• B. To pay an excessively high and unreasonable price (Answer)
• C. To pay in instalments over a long period
• D. To pay without knowing the exact cost in advance

'Pay through the nose' means to pay a very high and unreasonable price for something. The origin is uncertain, but one theory links it to a 9th-century Danish tax in Ireland — those who refused had their noses slit. Option A (reluctant payment) focuses on willingness rather than amount. Option C (instalments) is a payment structure, not a price level.

When her teenage son refused to study, she finally 'put her foot down' and cancelled his internet connection. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To take a firm stand and refuse to accept further disobedience (Answer)
• B. To become physically aggressive in a conflict
• C. To impose a punishment without giving a warning
• D. To walk away from a difficult situation

'Put one's foot down' means to assert authority firmly and insist on obedience — to take a decisive, non-negotiable stance. Option B (physical aggression) takes the idiom literally. Option C implies no warning; the idiom is about the stance taken, not the absence of prior communication.

The new factory licence was delayed by months due to endless 'red tape'. What does this phrase refer to?

• A. A physical boundary marking a restricted government area
• B. Excessive bureaucratic rules and formalities that cause delays (Answer)
• C. A legal dispute over a business licence
• D. A security clearance required by the government

'Red tape' refers to excessive official rules, procedures, and formalities that slow down processes. The phrase originates from the practice of tying official government documents with red ribbon or tape in England. Option C (legal dispute) and D (security clearance) are specific administrative situations, not the general bureaucratic obstruction the idiom describes.

As a 'rule of thumb', the chef added one teaspoon of salt per litre of pasta water. What does this expression mean?

• A. A measurement made using the thumb as a unit
• B. A practical, approximate guideline based on experience (Answer)
• C. A strict rule that must be followed without exception
• D. An official standard set by a professional body

'Rule of thumb' refers to a rough, practical guideline based on experience rather than precise measurement or theory. One popular theory traces it to an old carpenter's practice of using the thumb's width as a rough measure. Option C (strict rule without exception) is the opposite — the idiom implies approximate, flexible guidance. Option D (official standard) implies formal authority.