CUET English - Vocabulary - Idioms | Free Questions - Page 3

Q1:

2026: 18 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Select the option which gives the most accurate meaning of the given Idiom:

Hobson's choice

To give up hope

To bend under pressure

To have no alternative

To do the right thing

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q2:

2026: 18 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Choose the meaning which best suits the proverb:

Nothing ventured nothing gained

taking a daring journey without knowing consequences

to do something dangerous and enterprising

to venture on an untrodden path

to take a risk and be benefitted

Correct Answer

Option 4

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q3:

2026: 18 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Match the idioms given in List-I with their meanings given in List-II

List-I (Idiom)	List-II (Meaning)
(A) Eke out	(I) tendency to delay decisions
(B) Fabian policy	(II) in disorder
(C) Hobson's choice	(III) no alternative
(D) At sixes and sevens	(IV) consuming it frugally to make it last longer

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A) - (IV), (B) - (III), (C) - (II), (D) - (I)

(A) - (I), (B) - (IV), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)

(A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)

(A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (I), (D) - (II)

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q4:

2026: 18 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Read the given sentences carefully. Choose the options that demonstrate the most appropriate usage of idioms:

(A) Ever so often, the minority shareholders squeaked and chattered but none of them dared to bell the cat.

(B) My new mop comes with numerous features that help me tidy up the house quickly; it really is a white elephant!

(C) Economic policymakers in Japan seem to be bereft of ideas for shaking the country out of the doldrums.

(D) The young woman, aware of her family's financial constraints, decided to sow her wild oats by getting a part-time job at the library.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A) and (D) only

(B) and (C) only

(B) and (D) only

(A) and (C) only

Correct Answer

Option 4

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q5:

2026: 18 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Hard

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:

Recent advances in language development, such as synthetic phonics, are said to be ______ with neuro-divergent children, who often struggle with language acquisition at a young age.

Gordian's knot

a Pyrrhic victory

the bee's knees

a stalking horse

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q6:

2026: 15 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Choose the option that best explains the given proverb:

"A stitch in time saves nine."

Doing a job early makes it easier to complete it.

It is important to learn how to stich properly.

Taking time to relax helps you avoid problems.

One small mistake leads to nine bigger ones.

Correct Answer

Option 1

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q7:

2026: 15 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Choose the idiom/idioms that mean:

An easy task

A. Great hand

B. Hobson's choice

C. Child's play

D. A piece of cake

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A and D only

A and B only

C and D only

B and D only

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q8:

2026: 15 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Choose an idiom that best expresses the underlined phrase in the given sentence:

After losing three games continuously in one set he decided to accept defeat.

Throw in the towel

Throw the towel around

Throw off the towel

Throw out the towel

Correct Answer

Option 1

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q9:

2026: 14 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Complete the sentences given in List-I with appropriate idioms given in List-II

LIST-I (Sentences)		LIST-II (Idioms)
A. The idea of installing solar panels in all apartments was like ______ for the President of RWA of Green Housing Society.	I.	a bee in one's bonnet
B. Mary died of grief as she was ______ owing to the tragic loss of her family members in a road accident.	II.	a storm in a teacup
C. The house was ______ as there had been no one to take care of it for ten years.	III.	cut to the quick
D. There was ______ when it was decided to use white tiles instead of beige ones for the floor.	IV.	in shambles

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II

A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III

A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I

A-IV, B-II, C-I, D-III

Correct Answer

Option 1

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q10:

2026: 14 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Match the idioms given in List-I with their meanings given in List-II

LIST-I (Idioms)		LIST-II (Meanings)
A. bee's knees	I.	an unwanted object of no great use or value
B. a red herring	II.	a thing of varying quality, part good and part bad
C. a white elephant	III.	something that diverts attention away from the main argument
D. a curate's egg	IV.	indisputably the best

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A-III, B-IV, C-I, D-II

A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II

A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III

A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV

Correct Answer

Option 2

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q11:

2026: 14 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Match the proverbs in List-I with their meanings in List-II

LIST-I (Proverb)		LIST-II (Meaning)
A. A watched pot never boils	I.	Indulging in angry actions which result in difficulties for yourself ought to be avoided.
B. As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.	II.	Time drags when something is eagerly awaited
C. There are none so blind as those who will not see.	III.	Consequences of unwise actions and decisions have to be accepted.
D. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.	IV.	Pointless to reason with a person who doesn't want to listen to sense

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A-III, B-II, C-I, D-IV

A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II

A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III

A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I

Correct Answer

Option 4

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q12:

2026: 14 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Choose the correct idiom to complete the following sentence given below:

Ashish said that he could handle the wedding invitations, decorations and catering all by himself, but as the day was approaching it appeared as if he had________ .

A. bitten off more than he could chew

B. hit the jackpot

C. his hands in his pockets

D. made a mountain out of a molehill

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A only

B only

C only

D only

Correct Answer

Option 1

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q13:

2026: 14 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Match the Idioms given in LIST-I with the most appropriate meanings given in LIST-II

LIST-I		LIST-II
A.	Hand in glove	I.	Weak and cowardly
B.	Gordian Knot	II.	A paradoxical situation from which it's difficult to escape
C.	Catch 22	III.	Working together
D.	Lily-livered	IV.	Solve a difficult problem

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A - I, B - II, C - IV, D - III

A - II, B - I, C - III, D - IV

A - III, B - IV, C - II, D - I

A - IV, B - III, C - I, D - II

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q14:

2026: 14 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Choose the correct idiom to replace the underlined phrase in the following sentence:

Prakhar is obsessed with sustainable living. He is always lecturing someone or another about the benefits of composting and waste management.

A. has a chip on his shoulder about

B. has wind in his sails about

C. has a bee in his bonnet about

D. has a bun in the oven about

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A only

B only

C only

D only

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q15:

2026: 13 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Match the idioms given in List-I with their meanings in List-II:-

List-I (Idioms)	List-II (Meaning)
(A) bandy words	(I) to wrangle or to argue
(B) fish in troubled waters	(II) to support or defend
(C) meet one's Waterloo	(III) to take advantage of the troubles of others
(D) take up the cudgels	(IV) to face final defeat

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:-

(A) - (IV), (B) - (II), (C) - (I), (D) - (II)

(A) - (I), (B) - (II), (C) - (III), (D) - (IV)

(A) - (I), (B) - (III), (C) - (IV), (D) - (II)

(A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (I), (D) - (II)

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q16:

2026: 13 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Choose the most appropriate option to replace the underlined phrase in the given sentences:-

The sprawling palaces of Indian royal families have become useless and expensive to maintain, so they have been converted to five-star hotels to generate revenue.

broken reeds

white elephants

sword of Damocles

shrinking violets

Correct Answer

Option 2

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q17:

2026: 13 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Hard

Read the given sentences carefully. Choose the options that demonstrate correct usage of the underlined idioms:-

(A) The global economy has been in the doldrums ever since armed conflicts began on multiple fronts.

(B) Being up with the lark always leaves me in a foul mood as I am a morning person.

(C) Accessibility to artificial intelligence and large language models has led to the unfortunate practice of students copying lock, stock and barrel from them, rather than doing their own research.

(D) Bureaucrats and politicians who indulge in unethical practices such as corruption do justice to their positions.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:-

(A) and (C) only

(A), (B) and (D) only

(B) and (C) only

(B), (C) and (D) only

Correct Answer

Option 1

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q18:

2026: 12 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Match the idioms in List-I with their meanings in List-II

List-I	List-II
(A) The road to hell is paved with good intentions	(I) doing many things at a time
(B) Even Homer sometimes nods	(II) being optimistic is man's nature
(C) Have too many irons in the fire	(III) the most gifted ones are also not at their best all the time
(D) Hope springs eternal in the human breast	(IV) to be counted, good thoughts require meaningful action

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A) - (II), (B) - (III), (C) - (IV), (D) - (I)

(A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (II), (D) - (I)

(A) - (IV), (B) - (III), (C) - (I), (D) - (II)

(A) - (I), (B) - (II), (C) - (III), (D) - (IV)

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q19:

2026: 12 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Select the sentence from the given options that has used the correct idiomatic expressions of color :-

The boss sees everything in black and white.

Her mistakes left her pink faced.

We saw her turning yellow when her competitor walked the ramp with aplomb.

My new car is like a gray elephant.

Correct Answer

Option 1

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q20:

2026: 12 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Match the idioms given in List-I with the correct meanings given in List-II :-

List-I (Idioms)	List-II (Meanings)
(A) On pins and needles	(I) To apologize
(B) Fabian policy	(II) To ignore
(C) To eat a humble pie	(III) Very anxious and tense
(D) To give a cold shoulder	(IV) Strategy of deliberate delay

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A)-I, (B)-II, (C)-III, (D)-IV

(A)-IV, (B)-I, (C)-II, (D)-III

(A)-II, (B)-III, (C)-IV, (D)-I

(A)-III, (B)-IV, (C)-I, (D)-II

Correct Answer

Option 4

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q21:

2026: 12 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

From the given options, identify the meaning of the underlined phrase in the given sentence:

Akarshan is a resourceful person who can help us with the project. Moreover, he has the gift of the gab.

Someone who is unreliable.

Someone who has the ability to speak with eloquence and fluency.

Someone who does the opposite of what is expected of them.

Someone who overshadows every other person.

Correct Answer

Option 2

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q22:

2026: 12 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Match the idioms in List-I with their meanings in List-II:

List-I (Idioms)	List-II (Meanings)
(A) a little bird told me	(I) in close intimacy
(B) warts and all	(II) making no attempts to hide defect
(C) Aunt Sally	(III) a scapegoat or an easy target to blame
(D) cheek by jowl	(IV) something conveyed by a secret source

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A) - (I), (B) - (III), (C) - (II), (D) - (IV)

(A) - (II), (B) - (I), (C) - (IV), (D) - (III)

(A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (I), (D) - (II)

(A) - (IV), (B) - (II), (C) - (III), (D) - (I)

Correct Answer

Option 4

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q23:

2026: 12 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

From the following options, identify the underlined phrase in the given sentence:

It seems as if the designer store has made this bag for someone like me who likes to carry around everything but the kitchen sink.

one's entire wardrobe

unnecessary baggage

the bare minimum

absolutely everything

Correct Answer

Option 2

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q24:

2026: 11 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Choose the appropriate meaning from the options given for the following idiom:

To be at the end for one's tether.

Unable to deal with difficult situations because you are too tired, worried, or annoyed.

When there is nothing more that can be said or done about something.

The point at which something can no longer continue in the same way.

After a prolonged period or a sequence of events

Correct Answer

Option 1

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q25:

2026: 11 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Match the idioms given in List-I with the appropriate meanings given in List II

	LIST-I (Idioms.)		LIST-II (Meanings)
A.	in a pickle	I.	an easy target
B.	to keep one's shirt on	II.	a shameful secret
C.	a sitting duck	III.	in a difficult situation
D.	a skeleton in the closet	IV.	to keep calm

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV

A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I

A-III, B-IV, C-I, D-II

A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q26:

2026: 11 May Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Easy

Choose the appropriate expression from the options to fill in the blank of the following sentence:

I'll just have to ___ and hope no one sees that I'm upset.

be full of beans

put on a brave face

feel at sea

go ballistic

Correct Answer

Option 2

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q27:

2026: 11 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Fill in the blanks in the sentences given in List I with the appropriate idioms given in List II :-

	LIST-I (Sentences)		LIST-II (Idioms)
A.	Harassed by the repeated rebukes by the manager, the salesman decided to __________.	I.	tall order
B.	It is a __________ to control pollution in the cities.	II.	my cup of tea
C.	Swimming is not __________ as I have no courage.	III.	bone of contention
D.	The new flat is a __________ between the two brothers.	IV.	put his foot down

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A - I, B - III, C - II, D - IV

A - I, B - II, C - IV, D - III

A - II, B - III, C - I, D - IV

A - IV, B - I, C - II, D - III

Correct Answer

Option 4

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q28:

2026: 11 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Match the idioms in List-I with their appropriate meanings in List-II

	LIST-I (IDIOMS)		LIST-II (MEANINGS)
A.	Black and blue	I.	Sudden or unexpected shock
B.	Bolt from the blue	II.	To be the first to do something
C.	Blaze a trial	III.	To beat mercilessly
D.	Blue blood	IV.	Belong to the royal family

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A - I, B - II, C - III, D - IV

A - III, B - I, C - II, D - IV

A - I, B - III, C - II, D - IV

A - II, B - IV, C - III, D - I

Correct Answer

Option 2

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q29:

2026: 11 May Shift 1

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Match the idioms given in List-I with the appropriate meanings in List-II

	LIST-I (IDIOMS)		LIST-II (MEANINGS)
A.	Get into hot waters	I.	Inexperienced
B.	Green horn	II.	To bribe
C.	Give a wide berth	III.	Get into trouble
D.	Grease the palm	IV.	To avoid

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A - II, B - IV, C - I, D - III

A - I, B - II, C - III, D - IV

A - III, B - I, C - IV, D - II

A - I, B - III, C - IV, D - II

Correct Answer

Option 3

Correct Answer

Explanation

Q30:

2025: 3 June Shift 2

Vocabulary

>

Idioms

Medium

Fill in the blanks in the sentences given in List-I with the appropriate idioms given in List-II:

List-I (Sentences)	List-II (Idioms)
(A) The police came to the scene ______ to avoid embarrassment.	(I) from hand to mouth
(B) There is still a large population in the country who live ______ and can hardly make ends meet.	(II) smell a rat
(C) Rohit is a bit ______, you have to explain things to him several times.	(III) in the nick of time
(D) Although Ajay clarified his stand, I still ______ in his behaviour.	(IV) slow on the uptake

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A) - (I), (B) - (II), (C) - (III), (D) - (IV)

(A) - (III), (B) - (I), (C) - (IV), (D) - (II)

(A) - (I), (B) - (II), (C) - (IV), (D) - (III)

(A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)

Correct Answer

Option 2

Correct Answer

Explanation

CUET English: VocabularyIdioms. Free, no login required.

Q1:

Q2:

Q3:

Q4:

Q5:

Q6:

Q7:

Q8:

Q9:

Q10:

Q11:

Q12:

Q13:

Q14:

Q15:

Q16:

Q17:

Q18:

Q19:

Q20:

Q21:

Q22:

Q23:

Q24:

Q25:

Q26:

Q27:

Q28:

Q29:

Q30:

CUET English Past Year Questions (Topic-Wise)