The hard-working consultant admitted she was 'burning the candle at both ends' — working until midnight and rising again at five. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To waste resources carelessly on a project
• B. To exhaust oneself by working too hard with insufficient rest (Answer)
• C. To work on two competing projects simultaneously
• D. To stay at the office throughout the night without sleep

'Burn the candle at both ends' means to exhaust oneself by sleeping too little and working excessively — spending energy at both ends of the day (very early and very late). A candle burned at both ends runs out twice as fast. Option C (two competing projects) misuses 'both ends' as two tasks, not two ends of the day.

After years of heavy smoking, he finally decided to quit 'cold turkey'. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To stop a habit gradually using a step-by-step plan
• B. To stop a habit abruptly and completely without gradual reduction (Answer)
• C. To seek professional medical help to overcome an addiction
• D. To replace one bad habit with a healthier alternative

'Cold turkey' means to stop a habit or addiction suddenly and completely, without gradual reduction or substitute. The origin likely refers to the pale, goosebumped skin of someone going through withdrawal — resembling cold turkey meat. Option A (gradually) is the opposite of what the idiom describes.

The otherwise excellent holiday package had one 'fly in the ointment' — the resort had no Wi-Fi. What does this idiom mean?

• A. A small but significant flaw that spoils something that is otherwise good (Answer)
• B. An unexpected and serious problem that ruins everything
• C. A minor inconvenience that is quickly resolved
• D. A hidden fee that increases the overall cost

'Fly in the ointment' refers to a small defect or problem that spoils something that would otherwise be excellent — from the Book of Ecclesiastes (10:1): 'Dead flies cause the ointment to send forth a stinking savour.' Option B (ruins everything) overstates the severity; a fly in the ointment is notable but not catastrophic.

The experienced mountaineer suddenly 'got cold feet' just before the final ascent to the summit. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To suffer from frostbite in extreme cold conditions
• B. To feel sudden loss of confidence and become reluctant to proceed (Answer)
• C. To receive bad news about weather conditions ahead
• D. To choose a safer alternative route at the last moment

'Get cold feet' means to lose one's nerve or confidence about doing something at the last moment. The idiom may originate from the literal discomfort of cold feet causing hesitation. Option D (choose safer route) describes a specific action; the idiom is about the feeling of reluctance, not the decision taken.

When the excited junior team members rushed to implement the new system, the senior engineer told them to 'hold their horses'. What does this idiom mean?

• A. To slow down, be patient, and not act too hastily (Answer)
• B. To continue with the current plan without making changes
• C. To delegate the task to more experienced colleagues
• D. To hold a formal meeting before taking any steps

'Hold your horses' means to slow down, be patient, and wait before taking action — originally from horse-riding, where pulling back the reins slows the horses. Option B (continue the current plan) is opposite to the instruction, which asks for a pause. Option D (formal meeting) is one possible next step but not what the idiom means.

After a lengthy explanation of the project's technical details, the manager asked for the key conclusions 'in a nutshell'. What does this idiom mean?

• A. In a very brief and concise summary (Answer)
• B. In a format suitable for non-technical audiences
• C. In the form of a written report
• D. Using simple language without any jargon

'In a nutshell' means in a very concise summary — fitting everything into the tiny space of a nutshell. The phrase appears in Pliny the Elder's Natural History. Option D (simple language) is related but the idiom is about brevity, not simplicity. Option B (non-technical format) is a specific application, not the core meaning.

The company's new app was so easy to use that even the oldest employees quickly 'got the hang of it'. In a new project, the team was told they needed to 'break new ground'. What does 'break new ground' mean?

• A. To begin construction work at a building site
• B. To do something innovative that has not been done before (Answer)
• C. To overturn a previous policy or decision
• D. To enter a new market for the first time

'Break new ground' means to do something original and innovative that has not been attempted before — from the agricultural image of breaking (ploughing) uncultivated land for the first time. Option D (enter a new market) is a business application that may involve breaking new ground, but the idiom is broader and not limited to market entry.

After resisting cigarettes for three months, the stress of the new job made her 'kick the habit' seem impossible. What does the expression 'kick the habit' mean?

• A. To develop a new routine to replace an old one
• B. To permanently give up an addictive or bad habit (Answer)
• C. To reduce the frequency of a harmful behaviour
• D. To seek support from a rehabilitation programme

'Kick the habit' means to permanently stop doing something harmful or addictive. 'Kick' here implies forcefully expelling the habit from one's life. Option C (reduce frequency) describes gradual reduction; the idiom implies full cessation. Option D (rehabilitation programme) is a method, not the meaning.

When the director of the play began demanding unrealistic changes just two days before opening night, the producer told him he was 'losing the plot'. What does this idiom mean?

• A. Forgetting the narrative structure of the play
• B. Behaving irrationally and losing touch with reality (Answer)
• C. Making unnecessary changes to a successful production
• D. Taking too long to make important creative decisions

'Lose the plot' (chiefly British) means to behave in an irrational or confused manner, losing one's grip on reality or practical reasoning. While the context involves a literal plot, the idiom describes the person's behaviour and mental state. Option C (unnecessary changes) is the observable action; the idiom describes the underlying irrationality.

The defence attorney promised to build the entire case 'from scratch' after discovering that key evidence had been contaminated. What does this expression mean?

• A. To gather all evidence again through a fresh investigation
• B. To start completely anew from the very beginning (Answer)
• C. To appeal a case to a higher court
• D. To rebuild a case using only undisputed facts

'From scratch' means to begin from the very beginning with nothing already in place. The phrase may originate from sporting contests where a competitor starting with no advantage begins at the scratch line — the starting mark. Option A (fresh investigation) describes one aspect of starting over. Option D (undisputed facts) limits the scope in a way the idiom does not.