At the formal board meeting, the junior intern's casual attire made him 'stick out like a sore thumb'. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To attract sympathy from others due to obvious disadvantage
• B. To be very noticeable because of being different from everyone else (Answer)
• C. To draw attention by behaving inappropriately in public
• D. To signal discomfort in an unfamiliar setting

'Stick out like a sore thumb' means to be conspicuously different or out of place — just as an injured thumb is impossible to ignore. Option C (inappropriate behaviour) might cause the same effect but the idiom is about visibility of difference, not the behaviour causing it.

With interest rates at a historic low, the financial advisor urged investors to 'strike while the iron is hot'. What is the advice?

• A. To act decisively before a favourable opportunity disappears (Answer)
• B. To be aggressive and competitive in all negotiations
• C. To invest only in industries that are currently very active
• D. To make rapid decisions without consulting others

'Strike while the iron is hot' means to act immediately when conditions are favourable — from blacksmithing, where iron can only be shaped while at the right temperature. Option B (aggressive in negotiations) adds a tone not in the idiom. Option D (without consulting) implies haste over judgement, which the idiom does not endorse.

The committee chose to 'sweep the corruption scandal under the carpet' rather than face a public inquiry. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To investigate a problem very secretly
• B. To conceal or ignore a problem instead of dealing with it openly (Answer)
• C. To clean up a mess made by a previous administration
• D. To punish only the lower-ranking individuals involved

'Sweep under the carpet' means to hide or suppress a problem to avoid dealing with it publicly — as dust swept under a carpet is hidden but not removed. Option C (cleaning up a mess) implies genuinely resolving a problem, which is the opposite of what the idiom describes.

The reported number of cyberattacks is only the 'tip of the iceberg' — most go unreported. What does this expression mean?

• A. The known cases are extremely rare and unusual
• B. The visible part is only a small fraction of a much larger problem (Answer)
• C. The problem is dangerous but manageable with proper tools
• D. The issue is found only in certain isolated areas

'Tip of the iceberg' means that what is visible or known is only a small part of a much larger hidden problem — as only about 10% of an iceberg is above the waterline. Option A (rare) describes frequency, not scale. Option C and D are unrelated to the idiom's core meaning.

Employees were expected to 'toe the line' and follow company policy without argument. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To physically stand in line for a procedure
• B. To conform to authority and follow the established rules (Answer)
• C. To give feedback on company policies through official channels
• D. To compete fairly in a professionally regulated environment

'Toe the line' means to conform to the rules and authority of an organisation or group — originally from runners who lined their toes at the starting line and waited for the signal. Note: it is 'toe', not 'tow' the line. Option D (compete fairly) is from a similar athletic image but captures a different meaning.

After spending three years in prison, he was determined to 'turn over a new leaf' and live honestly. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To change one's behaviour and make a fresh start (Answer)
• B. To destroy evidence of one's past
• C. To move to a new city and start a new life
• D. To confess to all previous wrongdoings

'Turn over a new leaf' means to change one's behaviour and start fresh — the 'leaf' refers to a page in a book. Turning a new page implies beginning a new, improved chapter. Options C and D describe specific actions that might accompany a fresh start but are not what the idiom means.

The investigative journalist managed to expose the corrupt deal by staying 'under the radar' for several months. What does this phrase mean?

• A. To work in an underground or hidden location
• B. To operate without drawing attention or detection (Answer)
• C. To use encrypted communication channels
• D. To travel frequently to avoid being traced

'Under the radar' means to operate without being noticed or detected — from radar technology that detects flying objects. Flying low (under radar range) means being undetected. Option C (encrypted communication) is a specific method of secrecy. Option D (frequent travel) is a tactic, not the meaning of the idiom.

The unexpected announcement of a new competitor completely 'upset the apple cart' for the established players in the market. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To cause a disruption or spoil a well-organised plan (Answer)
• B. To introduce a better product at a lower price
• C. To start a price war in a competitive market
• D. To acquire a rival company through a hostile takeover

'Upset the apple cart' means to disrupt a well-established arrangement or plan — like tipping over a cart of apples and scattering them everywhere. The idiom appears in Roman literature. Options B, C, and D describe specific competitive business actions, not the general meaning of disruption.

The graduate trainee was 'wet behind the ears' and made several avoidable errors in her first month. What does this idiom mean?

• A. Inexperienced and lacking the knowledge required for a task (Answer)
• B. Unable to cope with the pressures of a new role
• C. Nervous and lacking confidence in social situations
• D. Poorly trained due to an inadequate education

'Wet behind the ears' means inexperienced and naive — a newborn animal has moisture behind its ears before fully drying, symbolising recent arrival and lack of maturity. Option B (unable to cope) describes a consequence of inexperience. Option C (nervous) is an emotional state, not the inexperience itself.

After the meeting, the detective agency 'zeroed in on' the most likely suspect based on the financial trail. What does this expression mean?

• A. To reject all suspects except one
• B. To direct focus precisely onto a specific target (Answer)
• C. To reach a definitive conclusion in an investigation
• D. To count the number of suspects in a case

'Zero in on' means to direct attention precisely and with focus onto a specific target — from the military practice of adjusting weapon sights (zeroing) to hit a precise target. Option C (reach a conclusion) describes the outcome of such focused investigation; the idiom describes the act of directing focus itself.