Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank:
Counsellors say that children who ______ their fears for years often find it hard to talk about them later.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → bottle up
A phrasal verb is a verb joined with a small word such as up, out or together. The two words together have a new meaning.
Complete sentence: Counsellors say that children who bottle up their fears for years often find it hard to talk about them later.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) blurt out | to say something suddenly, without thinking | Rahul blurted out the secret before anyone could stop him. |
| (2) bottle up (answer) | to keep strong feelings hidden inside instead of showing them or talking about them | Meera bottled up her anger and said nothing at the meeting. |
| (3) pour out | to tell someone all one’s feelings or troubles freely | Sita poured out her worries to her elder sister late at night. |
| (4) give away | to show or tell something hidden, often by mistake | Her red eyes gave away that she had been crying. |