21. “Live from hand to mouth” means:
Correct Answer: C. Live poorly
Explanation: Living “from hand to mouth” means having only just enough money or food to live on, with nothing left over for the future.
22. “Long and short of a thing” means:
Correct Answer: A. Summary of something
Explanation: The “long and short of it” is a way of summarizing the most important points of a story or situation.
23. “Look a gift horse in the mouth” means:
Correct Answer: B. Complain about a gift
Explanation: To “look a gift horse in the mouth” means to be ungrateful or critical about something given to you for free.
24. “Look askance” means:
Correct Answer: D. Look with suspicion
Explanation: To “look askance” at someone or something means to view them with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval.
25. “Lynch law” means:
Correct Answer: C. Death without trial
Explanation: “Lynch law” refers to the punishment (often execution/hanging) of an alleged offender by a mob without a legal trial.
26. “To read between the lines” means:
Correct Answer: B. Understand the hidden meaning
Explanation: To “read between the lines” means to look for or understand a meaning that is implied but not explicitly stated.
27. “To lose ground” means:
Correct Answer: B. Grow weaker or less popular
Explanation: To “lose ground” means to become less powerful, successful, or popular compared to others.
28. “No love lost between them” means:
Correct Answer: D. Mutual dislike
Explanation: If there is “no love lost” between two people, they intensely dislike each other.
29. “At loggerheads” means:
Correct Answer: B. In strong disagreement
Explanation: Two people or groups “at loggerheads” are in strong disagreement or in a state of quarreling.
30. “Pay lip service to” means:
Correct Answer: C. Praise without meaning it
Explanation: To “pay lip service” to something means to say you agree with or support it without actually doing anything to show your support.
31. “A left-handed compliment” means:
Correct Answer: B. Praise with a hidden insult
Explanation: A “left-handed compliment” (or backhanded compliment) is an insult disguised as a bit of praise.
32. “Let someone off” means:
Correct Answer: C. Forgive or excuse
Explanation: To “let someone off” means to decide not to punish them for something they have done wrong.
33. “Look green” means:
Correct Answer: C. Look sick or nauseous
Explanation: To “look green about the gills” or just “look green” means that someone looks as if they are about to vomit or feel very sick.
34. “Lose one’s head” means:
Correct Answer: C. Panic and lose calm
Explanation: To “lose one’s head” means to lose control of one’s emotions and act in a panicky or irrational way.
35. “To meet someone halfway” means:
Correct Answer: C. Make a compromise
Explanation: To “meet someone halfway” means to reach an agreement by making a compromise where both sides give up something.
36. “To mind one’s p’s and q’s” means:
Correct Answer: C. Be polite and careful
Explanation: This idiom means to be very careful to behave correctly and politely in a particular situation.
37. “On last legs” means:
Correct Answer: C. Near the end or collapse
Explanation: If something/someone is “on its last legs,” it is near the end of life or is about to stop functioning/fail.
38. “To look down upon” means:
Correct Answer: D. To despise or show contempt
Explanation: To “look down on/upon” someone means to consider them to be inferior or not worthy of respect.
39. “To let down” means:
Correct Answer: B. To fail or disappoint
Explanation: To “let someone down” means to fail to support or help them; to disappoint them.
40. “Let bygones be bygones” means:
Correct Answer: C. Forget past grievances
Explanation: This means to agree to forget past arguments or mistakes and to be friendly again.