Find the correct meaning for the underlined idiom. Choose the appropriate answer from below :- The thief was beaten black and blue by the people. To beat black and blue means - To beat _________.

with a black belt mercilessly with a blue belt with a whip

mercilessly

The correct meaning for the idiom "to beat black and blue" is: mercilessly. So, the sentence means "The thief was beaten mercilessly by the people."