LOEP Idiomatic and Phrasal Expressions Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project is facing major, unavoidable budget cuts, making it extremely difficult to complete. The manager tells the team they must proceed and finish the project with the limited resources. Which idiomatic expression best describes what the team is being asked to do?
- Get the ball rolling
- Go the extra mile
- Bite the bullet (Correct answer)
- Cut corners
Correct answer: Bite the bullet
The idiom 'to bite the bullet' means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and determination because it is necessary. [10, 13]
Question 2: In a business meeting, a department head states, "I'll have to **look into** why our production costs have increased this quarter." What does the phrasal verb 'look into' mean in this context?
- To investigate or examine the facts about the issue. [23, 29] (Correct answer)
- To quickly glance at the financial reports.
- To change the data to reflect lower costs.
- To ignore the problem for the time being.
Correct answer: To investigate or examine the facts about the issue. [23, 29]
The phrasal verb 'to look into' means to investigate, research, or examine a problem or situation to discover the facts. [23, 25, 29]
Question 3: Which of the following sentences correctly uses a phrasal verb to mean 'cancel'?
- We need to bring up the afternoon conference call.
- Management decided to take on the new building project.
- The team will have to put up the client dinner.
- Due to the CEO's unexpected travel, we must call off the weekly leadership meeting. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Due to the CEO's unexpected travel, we must call off the weekly leadership meeting.
The phrasal verb 'to call off' correctly means to cancel a planned event or arrangement. [6, 27]
Question 4: A new hire is spending their first few weeks attending training sessions and shadowing experienced colleagues to understand the company's complex software and internal processes. What is this employee in the process of doing?
- Touching base
- Learning the ropes (Correct answer)
- Pulling the plug
- Being on the same page
Correct answer: Learning the ropes
The idiom 'learning the ropes' refers to the process of learning the fundamental skills, procedures, and details of a new job or activity. [1, 7, 16]
Question 5: If two team leaders who previously had very different ideas about a marketing strategy finally **see eye to eye**, what has happened?
- They have reached an agreement. [3, 5] (Correct answer)
- They have decided to stop working together.
- They have had a serious argument.
- They have physically looked at each other's eyes.
Correct answer: They have reached an agreement. [3, 5]
The idiom 'to see eye to eye' means to agree with someone or share the same opinion. [3, 5, 9]
Question 6: An employee develops a new idea for improving workflow. Before creating a formal proposal, she briefly explains the concept to her manager to get some initial feedback. Which phrasal verb best describes this action?
- Figuring it out with her manager
- Turning it down to her manager
- Running it by her manager (Correct answer)
- Falling through with her manager
Correct answer: Running it by her manager
The phrasal verb 'to run something by someone' means to tell them about an idea or plan so they can give their opinion on it. [8, 15, 17]
LOEP Idiomatic and Phrasal Expressions Questions and Answers
A project is facing major, unavoidable budget cuts, making it extremely difficult to complete.
The manager tells the team they must proceed and finish the project with the limited resources.
Which idiomatic expression best describes what the team is being asked to do?