Choose the most appropriate idiom to complete the sentence:
The demand of inquiry into his conduct is just a ______ as there is no truth in it.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → red-herring
The demand for an inquiry has "no truth in it" and only diverts attention, so "red herring" fits.
Complete sentence: The demand of inquiry into his conduct is just a red-herring as there is no truth in it.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) red-herring (answer) | something that draws attention away from the real issue, a false or misleading point | The anonymous letter turned out to be a red herring that wasted a week of the police's time. |
| (2) red-tapism | too many official rules and procedures that cause delay. It is about delay in offices, not about a false demand. | Red-tapism delayed the approval of the project. |
| (3) pell-mell | in a hurried, disorderly way. It describes disorder, not a misleading claim. | The children ran pell-mell out of the classroom. |
| (4) mare’s nest | a supposed discovery that turns out to be false or worthless, or a confused mess. It names a "find" that proves empty, while the sentence describes a demand raised to divert attention. | The reporter's great discovery turned out to be a mare's nest. |
| Also asked in CUET (UG): red herring – 14-05-2026 Slot 2 |