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
A red herring is something that draws attention away from the real issue, a false or misleading point. The demand for an inquiry has "no truth in it" and only diverts attention, so "red herring" fits.
Example: The anonymous letter turned out to be a red herring that wasted a week of the police's time.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: red-tapism — Incorrect. Red-tapism means too many official rules and procedures that cause delay. It is about delay in offices, not about a false demand.
Example: Red-tapism delayed the approval of the project.
Option 3: pell-mell — Incorrect. Pell-mell means in a hurried, disorderly way. It describes disorder, not a misleading claim.
Example: The children ran pell-mell out of the classroom.
Option 4: mare’s nest — Incorrect. A mare's nest is 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.
Example: The reporter's great discovery turned out to be a mare's nest.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| red herring | 14-05 S2 | – | – | – | – |