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A. Let’s try and select their correct meaning from the options given below.

a. stop short

i. failing to meet an expectation or standard

ii. coming close to doing something and stopping

iii. lasting or living for a small time
b. take shape

i. develop into something definite ii. deal with a serious matter

iii. distribute in different forms
c. stare into space

i. observe the stars in the sky ii. maintain focus silently

iii. let your thoughts wander

These phrases are called idioms. The meaning of the phrase is different from the
individual meanings of the words in it.

Take a look at some more examples and their meanings.

Idioms Meaning

used jokingly to say that you are even better at
1. eat your heart out
something than a particular famous person

2. get to the heart of the matter to find the most important facts of something

3. hard nut to crack a difficult problem or person

4. crack a smile to break a serious face with a smile
5. dawn on (somebody) to realise something for the first time

6. a false dawn a promising situation which comes to nothing

B. Now, fill in the blanks with the suitable idioms given above. Make changes in

the tense wherever required.
1. The fall in COVID cases was a as the second wave hit soon.

2. Even after trying for a full thirty minutes, Manav couldn’t solve the maths
problem. It was definitely a .

3. ‘I just won the prize for best actor in the school play,
Shahrukh Khan!’

4. It suddenly Sherry that she had forgotten her report card at home.

5. The detective decided that he wouldn’t rest till he of the recent
robbery case.
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