Idioms and Phrases — NDA General Ability Test PYQs (2018–2026)

Q1MCQ2026

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives to each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

'Nuts and bolts'

(A)To complete the first step in a process

(B)To get down to practical details

(C)To receive harm or punishment for one's actions

(D)To irritate people and make them go away

Q2MCQ2026

Answer Logic

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives to each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

'Hat in hand'

(A)With humility

(B)Easy to use

(C)Available for anyone

(D)To marry someone

Q3MCQ2026

Answer Logic

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives to each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

'Straight from the horse's mouth'

(A)Ready and eager to engage in an activity

(B)Significantly disturbing business

(C)Information from reliable and authoritative source

(D)Sudden feelings of fear and embarrassment

Q4MCQ2026

Answer Logic

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives to each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

'Bite off more than you can chew'

(A)To suddenly wrap out of conversation

(B)To try to do more than you can manage

(C)To do something in the easiest or cheapest way

(D)To exaggerate something wildly

Q5MCQ2026

Answer Logic

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternatives to each. Select the most appropriate alternative which gives the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

'A piece of cake'

(A)Something difficult to extract from the original

(B)Something very difficult to understand

(C)Something that appears very inviting

(D)Something very easy to accomplish

Q6MCQ2026

Answer Logic

Read the following pairs :
Idiom/Phrase
I. Have one foot in the grave
II. Get your feet wet
III. Follow suit
Meaning
To be in the last stage of life
Establish yourself securely in an establishment
Correctly conform to another's action
Identify the pair(s) wherein the meaning is correctly stated and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

(A)I only

(B)III only

(C)I and III

(D)II and III

Q7MCQ2024

Answer Logic

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the most appropriate response from the options (a), (b), (c) or (d), and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

Be bad news

(A)feelings of hate

(B)someone who behaves in a dishonest way

(C)someone who is considered undesirable

(D)to be ill

Q8MCQ2024

Answer Logic

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the most appropriate response from the options (a), (b), (c) or (d), and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

Back to the drawing board

(A)to draw comparisons

(B)to be a member of planning group

(C)to start planning again because the previous plan has failed

(D)to be fast at understanding a situation

Q9MCQ2024

Answer Logic

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the most appropriate response from the options (a), (b), (c) or (d), and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

Be in the eye of the storm

(A)to look at something quickly

(B)to fail miserably at a sport

(C)to see something that you do not want to see

(D)to be in the midst of a controversy

Q10MCQ2024

Answer Logic

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the most appropriate response from the options (a), (b), (c) or (d), and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

Life in the fast lane

(A)to lead a selfless life

(B)to have a happy life without complaints

(C)life without money or comforts

(D)an exciting and eventful lifestyle

Idioms and Phrases — NDA General Ability Test PYQs

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