Select the appropriate idiomatic expression from the options to replace the…
2014
Select the appropriate idiomatic expression from the options to replace the underlined word or words:
For the sake of domestic peace we should abide by wife’s advice.
Answer: C. curtain lecture — Concept: Idiom-replacement questions ask you to match the figurative sense of an underlined word or phrase to the one listed idiom whose established,…
- A.
cold feet
- B.
cold water
- C.
curtain lecture
- D.
call a spade a spade
Attempted by 37 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept: Idiom-replacement questions ask you to match the figurative sense of an underlined word or phrase to the one listed idiom whose established, dictionary meaning best captures that sense — even when the underlined wording is a loose real-world paraphrase rather than a literal gloss of the idiom.
Application: The sentence describes a husband who, for the sake of keeping peace at home, submits to private counsel or reproof from his wife. ‘Curtain lecture’ is the established idiom for exactly this situation — a private reprimand a wife delivers to her husband at home, the term dating from the curtained four-poster bed where such talks historically took place. TPSC’s own official answer key for this paper marks ‘curtain lecture’ as the answer to this question.
Cross-check: The other three idioms describe unrelated situations:
‘Cold feet’ denotes sudden nervousness or reluctance felt just before doing something, not domestic counsel.
‘Cold water’ (as in ‘pour/throw cold water on’ something) denotes discouraging someone’s plan or enthusiasm, not receiving counsel from them.
‘Call a spade a spade’ denotes speaking the plain truth bluntly, describing a manner of speech rather than a specific piece of domestic advice.
Hence ‘curtain lecture’ is the only offered idiom that matches the sentence’s sense.