Question 1

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase:

The manager decided to **put all eggs in one basket** by investing the entire budget in a single project.

A) concentrate all resources in one area
B) take a calculated and diversified approach
C) distribute funds across multiple ventures
D) maintain a balanced portfolio strategy

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'put all eggs in one basket' is an idiom meaning to risk everything on a single venture or outcome, without diversification. It carries a negative connotation of poor risk management. In the sentence, the manager is making a risky decision by investing the entire budget in one project. Option A correctly captures this meaning: concentrating all resources in one area (implying risk). Options B, C, and D all suggest diversification or balanced approaches, which contradict the idiom's actual meaning of putting everything into one place.

Question 2

Which option correctly replaces the underlined phrase: 'The manager decided to call it a day after the long meeting.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'call it a day' is an idiom meaning to stop work or activity for the day, to end something for now.

Question 3

Choose the option that correctly replaces the underlined phrase: 'The manager decided to put off the meeting because he was not feeling well.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'put off' means to postpone or delay something. In this context, it is correctly used to mean the manager postponed the meeting. Option B maintains this meaning accurately.

Question 4

Which option correctly replaces the underlined phrase: 'The employee's poor performance was a thorn in the side of the department head.'

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'a thorn in the side' means a persistent source of irritation or annoyance. It describes something or someone that causes continuous trouble.

Question 5

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase: 'The new policy will help us to get the ball rolling on infrastructure development.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'get the ball rolling' is an idiom meaning to start or initiate something, to get a process underway.

Question 6

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase: 'The team decided to bite the bullet and accept the difficult project deadline.'

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'bite the bullet' means to face a difficult situation courageously or to accept something unpleasant that must be done.

Question 7

Which sentence correctly uses the phrase 'come hell or high water'?

A) The project will be completed come hell or high water, unless the budget is cut.
B) Come hell or high water, the team is determined to meet the deadline.
C) The manager said come hell or high water, but then cancelled the meeting.
D) Come hell or high water, the plan might be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'come hell or high water' means 'no matter what happens' or 'under any circumstances'. It expresses absolute determination and should not be followed by conditions or qualifications that contradict this meaning.

Question 8

Identify the sentence where the phrase 'beat around the bush' is used correctly:

A) The politician beat around the bush and directly answered all the questions.
B) Instead of beating around the bush, the CEO presented the facts clearly.
C) The teacher beat around the bush by explaining the concept in detail.
D) He tends to beat around the bush whenever he wants to avoid a topic.

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'beat around the bush' means to avoid discussing something directly or to waste time with irrelevant talk. It is used correctly only when it describes avoidance or indirect communication.

Question 9

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: 'The company's financial crisis was so severe that the board decided to _____ and restructure the entire organisation.'

A) take the bull by the horns
B) take the bull in the horns
C) hold the bull by the horns
D) take the cow by the horns

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'take the bull by the horns' means to confront a difficult situation directly and courageously. This question tests both the correct form of the idiom and its appropriate usage in context.

Question 10

Select the option that best replaces the underlined phrase in the sentence below:

The manager's decision to **cut corners on quality** has resulted in numerous customer complaints.

a) reduce expenses carefully
b) compromise on standards
c) trim unnecessary costs
d) streamline operational procedures

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'cut corners on quality' is an idiom meaning to compromise on standards or reduce quality to save time or money. Option (b) 'compromise on standards' is the most accurate replacement that preserves the idiomatic meaning and context. Option (a) suggests careful reduction, which contradicts the negative connotation of 'cutting corners'. Option (c) focuses only on cost reduction without addressing quality compromise. Option (d) suggests efficiency improvement, which is unrelated to the original meaning.

Question 11

Identify the sentence where the phrase 'beat around the bush' is used correctly:

A) The consultant beat around the bush and provided a direct, comprehensive solution to the problem.
B) Instead of stating his opinion directly, the manager beat around the bush for twenty minutes.
C) The team beat around the bush by completing the project ahead of schedule.
D) She beat around the bush by admitting her mistake immediately.

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'beat around the bush' means to avoid stating something directly or to delay getting to the point. It carries a negative connotation of evasiveness or procrastination.

Question 12

Choose the option that correctly replaces the underlined phrase: 'The employee's repeated mistakes have made him a liability to the team, and his supervisor decided to let sleeping dogs lie rather than address the performance issues.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'let sleeping dogs lie' is an idiom meaning to avoid disturbing a situation that is currently peaceful, even if problems exist beneath the surface. The sentence's context suggests the supervisor is avoiding confrontation despite clear performance problems.

Question 13

Identify the option that best replaces the underlined phrase: 'The startup founder's decision to pivot the business model proved to be a blessing in disguise when the new strategy generated unprecedented revenue growth.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'blessing in disguise' is an idiom meaning something that initially appears negative or unfortunate but ultimately turns out to be beneficial or advantageous.

Question 14

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase in the sentence:

The manager's decision to overlook the employee's misconduct has **set a bad precedent for the entire department**, and now junior staff members are becoming increasingly lax with their responsibilities.

A) created a negative example that others will follow
B) established a poor standard for future behaviour
C) opened a can of worms in the workplace
D) put the cart before the horse regarding discipline

Accepted Answer

The underlined phrase 'set a bad precedent' means to establish a negative standard or example that others will imitate in the future. Option B ('established a poor standard for future behaviour') is the most precise and formal replacement that preserves the exact meaning. Option A ('created a negative example') is close but less formal and slightly shifts focus from 'standard' to 'example'. Option C ('opened a can of worms') means to create unforeseen problems or complications—a different idiom altogether. Option D ('put the cart before the horse') means to reverse the logical order of events, which is unrelated to the context of setting standards.

IBPS Clerk Phrase Replacement

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Phrase Replacement — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Phrase Replacement