Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank from the options given below:
His popularity as a political leader is now on the ______.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → wane
Wane means to become gradually smaller, weaker or less important, and "on the wane" means declining. The image is of the moon, which wanes after the full moon. The leader's popularity is now declining.
Example: Interest in the old game is on the wane.
Vane, vain, wane and vein sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: vane — Incorrect. A vane is a flat blade that turns in the wind to show its direction.
Example: The weather vane on the roof pointed north.
Option 2: vain — Incorrect. Vain means too proud of oneself, or useless (in vain).
Example: They searched in vain for the lost key.
Option 4: vein — Incorrect. A vein is a blood vessel that carries blood to the heart.
Example: The nurse found a vein in his arm.