The English/Language section of AISSEE and the RMS CET tests grammar, vocabulary and usage. These 10 MCQs on Idioms and Phrases follow the official syllabus. Solve them first, then compare with the answer key and short explanations at the end.
Quick facts: AISSEE 2027 will be held on Sunday, 31 January 2027. There is no negative marking, so attempt every question. Online applications are open until 2 December 2026 on exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society.
Practice Questions
Q1. What does the idiom "a piece of cake" mean?
(A) a sweet dish
(B) a small share
(C) something very easy
(D) a costly item
Q2. What does "to break the ice" mean?
(A) to break something cold
(B) to fight
(C) to start a conversation in an awkward situation
(D) to feel cold
Q3. What does "to bite the dust" mean?
(A) to be defeated or fail
(B) to clean the floor
(C) to win easily
(D) to eat dirt
Q4. What does "once in a blue moon" mean?
(A) at full moon
(B) every night
(C) every month
(D) very rarely
Q5. What does "to burn the midnight oil" mean?
(A) to waste oil
(B) to work or study late at night
(C) to cook at night
(D) to sleep early
Q6. What does "to let the cat out of the bag" mean?
(A) to get angry
(B) to set a pet free
(C) to make a mistake
(D) to reveal a secret
Q7. What does "to hit the nail on the head" mean?
(A) to say exactly the right thing
(B) to do carpentry
(C) to hurt oneself
(D) to fail badly
Q8. What does "a blessing in disguise" mean?
(A) a hidden gift
(B) something that seems bad but turns out good
(C) a costume
(D) a prayer
Q9. What does "to keep one's fingers crossed" mean?
(A) to hope for a good result
(B) to refuse
(C) to be afraid
(D) to count
Q10. What does "to turn over a new leaf" mean?
(A) to plant a tree
(B) to change one's behaviour for the better
(C) to clean a garden
(D) to read a book
Answer Key with Explanations
(C) something very easy — "The test was a piece of cake" means it was very easy.
(C) to start a conversation in an awkward situation — People "break the ice" to make others feel comfortable.
(A) to be defeated or fail — It means to fall, fail or be defeated.
(D) very rarely — It describes something that happens very rarely.
(B) to work or study late at night — Students preparing for exams often burn the midnight oil.
(D) to reveal a secret — It means to tell a secret by mistake.
(A) to say exactly the right thing — It means to describe a situation exactly right.
(B) something that seems bad but turns out good — A blessing in disguise brings good results unexpectedly.
(A) to hope for a good result — We keep our fingers crossed while waiting for exam results.
(B) to change one's behaviour for the better — It means to make a fresh start and improve.
How did you score?
9–10 correct: excellent — move on to a full-length mock test. 6–8: good — revise the explanations of the questions you missed. Below 6: study this topic again from your NCERT book and retry these questions after two days.
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