All of our efforts to secure that house ended in smoke, so we're back to house…
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All of our efforts to secure that house ended in smoke, so we're back to house hunting again. This sentence could be interpreted to mean:
- A.
All the efforts made by them went in vain as they lost the house and had to search for another one.
- B.
All the efforts made by them were fruitful as they lost the house and had to search for another one.
- C.
All the efforts made by them reaped success as they got the house and had to search for another one.
- D.
No efforts made by them went in vain as they got the house and had to not search for another one.
Attempted by 31 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Answer: All the efforts made by them went in vain as they lost the house and had to search for another one.
Explanation: The idiom "end in smoke" means to culminate in failure or ruin.
Why the chosen interpretation is correct: The sentence says they are "back to house hunting again," which shows the attempt to secure the house failed. Saying the efforts "went in vain" matches the idiom meaning failure.
Why the interpretation that the efforts were fruitful is wrong: Describing the efforts as "fruitful" (successful) contradicts the fact they lost the house and must keep searching; that contradicts the idiom.
Why the interpretation that the efforts "reaped success" is wrong: If the efforts had succeeded and they got the house, they would not be back to house hunting. That contradicts both the sentence context and the idiom.
Why the interpretation saying no efforts went in vain is wrong: That statement implies success and no further searching, which is the opposite of the sentence meaning; additionally, the phrasing is confusing.
Summary: The idiom indicates failure, so the correct interpretation is that their efforts failed and they must search for another house.