Question 1

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase: 'The CEO's decision to downsize the company was a bitter pill to swallow for the employees.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'bitter pill to swallow' is an idiom meaning something unpleasant or difficult that one must accept. The sentence uses it correctly to describe the employees' reaction to downsizing. Select the option that best replaces this idiom with formal language.

Question 2

Which option correctly replaces the underlined phrase: 'The company's financial troubles are not a walk in the park, and recovery will require significant effort.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'walk in the park' is an idiom meaning something easy or effortless. In this sentence, it's used with negation ('not a walk in the park') to mean something difficult. Choose the option that best replaces this phrase with appropriate formal language.

Question 3

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase: 'The manager decided to put all his eggs in one basket by investing the entire budget in a single project.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'put all eggs in one basket' is an idiom meaning to risk everything on one venture. The sentence uses it correctly to show the manager's risky decision. However, in formal business English, this idiom is often considered too informal. The best replacement would be a phrase that conveys the same meaning in more professional language.

Question 4

Which option correctly replaces the underlined phrase: 'The employee's constant mistakes have made him a thorn in the flesh for the entire department.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'thorn in the flesh' (or 'thorn in one's side') is an idiom meaning someone or something that causes persistent annoyance or trouble. The sentence uses it correctly. Choose the option that best replaces this idiom with an appropriate formal alternative.

Question 5

Select the best replacement for the underlined phrase: 'The new policy is a double-edged sword that will benefit some employees while harming others.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'double-edged sword' is an idiom meaning something that has both positive and negative consequences. The sentence uses it correctly to describe a policy with mixed effects. Choose the option that best replaces this idiom with formal language.

Question 6

Which option best replaces the underlined phrase: 'The project deadline is fast approaching, and we need to pull up our socks to complete it on time.'

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'pull up one's socks' is an idiom meaning to make an effort to improve one's performance or work harder. The sentence uses it correctly. Choose the option that best replaces this idiom with appropriate formal language.

Question 7

Which option correctly replaces the underlined phrase?

The new policy proved to be a **double-edged sword** for the organisation.

a) a solution that creates new problems
b) a sharp and effective tool
c) a controversial decision
d) a strategy that benefits some but harms others

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'double-edged sword' is an idiom meaning something that has both positive and negative consequences—a solution or action that benefits in one way but causes harm in another. Option (d) 'a strategy that benefits some but harms others' is the most accurate definition. Option (a) is close but slightly narrower (it emphasises new problems rather than simultaneous benefits and harms). Options (b) and (c) miss the core meaning of the phrase.

Question 8

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase:

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

a) invest money wisely across multiple ventures
b) risk everything on a single venture
c) distribute resources equally among teams
d) concentrate efforts on the most profitable option

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. Option (b) correctly captures this meaning. The sentence context shows the manager made a risky decision by committing the entire budget to one project, which aligns with the idiom's meaning of concentrated, undiversified risk.

Question 9

Which option correctly replaces the underlined phrase?

The company's financial troubles came to a **head** when the auditors discovered the accounting fraud.

a) reached a critical point
b) became visible to everyone
c) required immediate intervention
d) were finally understood by management

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'come to a head' means to reach a critical or decisive point, often when a problem becomes impossible to ignore or must be addressed. Option (a) 'reached a critical point' is the correct definition. In the sentence, the discovery of fraud represents the moment when the financial troubles became critical and unavoidable, which matches the idiom's meaning.

Question 10

Select the option that best replaces the underlined phrase:

The team's performance has been 'hit or miss' throughout the season, making it difficult for the coach to predict their consistency.

A) consistently excellent and reliable
B) unpredictable and inconsistent in quality
C) improving steadily with each match
D) declining due to poor training methods

Accepted Answer

'Hit or miss' is an idiom meaning unpredictable, inconsistent, or unreliable—sometimes successful, sometimes not. The sentence correctly uses it to describe a team whose performance is unpredictable, making consistency difficult to predict. Option B ('unpredictable and inconsistent in quality') accurately captures this meaning. Option A suggests reliability, C suggests steady improvement, and D suggests decline—none matching the idiom's meaning of random, variable results.

Question 11

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase:

The manager decided to 'put all eggs in one basket' by investing the entire company fund into a single project.

A) diversify the investment portfolio
B) take a calculated risk with limited resources
C) concentrate all resources into one venture
D) spread the financial burden equally

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'put all eggs in one basket' is an idiom meaning to risk everything on a single venture or outcome, which is generally considered unwise. The sentence uses it correctly to describe the manager's decision to invest all funds into one project. Option C accurately captures this meaning, while A suggests the opposite (diversification), B misrepresents the risk as 'calculated,' and D suggests equal distribution rather than concentration.

Question 12

Select the option that best corrects the phrase in bold:

The company has been 'burning the midnight oil' for three weeks, and the employees are now completely exhausted and demotivated.

A) working excessively hard
B) wasting company resources
C) operating during night shifts only
D) making poor financial decisions

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'burning the midnight oil' is an idiom meaning to work very hard, especially late into the night. In the given sentence, it correctly describes employees working intensively for three weeks, leading to exhaustion. Option A ('working excessively hard') accurately captures this meaning. Option B suggests waste, C implies only night work, and D refers to financial decisions—none of which match the idiom's actual meaning.

Question 13

Which option best corrects the phrase in bold:

The startup founder decided to 'take the bull by the horns' and personally handle the failing project instead of delegating it.

A) avoid confrontation and responsibility
B) face a difficult situation directly and courageously
C) make hasty decisions without planning
D) transfer authority to subordinates

Accepted Answer

'Take the bull by the horns' is an idiom meaning to face a difficult situation directly and courageously, taking decisive action. The sentence correctly uses it to describe the founder personally handling a failing project. Option B ('face a difficult situation directly and courageously') accurately captures this meaning. Option A suggests avoidance, C suggests recklessness, and D suggests delegation—all contradicting the idiom's meaning of direct, courageous action.

Question 14

Choose the option that correctly replaces the underlined phrase:

After the scandal, the company's reputation was 'in the doldrums' and required immediate strategic intervention.

A) experiencing rapid growth and expansion
B) in a state of decline and stagnation
C) facing minor operational challenges
D) undergoing planned restructuring

Accepted Answer

'In the doldrums' is an idiom meaning to be in a state of depression, inactivity, or stagnation. The sentence correctly uses it to describe the company's damaged reputation requiring intervention. Option B ('in a state of decline and stagnation') accurately captures this meaning. Options A suggests growth, C suggests minor issues, and D suggests planned change—none matching the idiom's negative connotation of being stuck or depressed.

SSC MTS Phrase Replacement

Phrase Replacement— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

Exam-Specific Tips

Phrase Replacement — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Phrase Replacement