Choose the appropriate idiom to replace the underlined part of sentence.
He has taken his loss so seriously that he fell sick.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → taken to heart
To take something to heart means to be deeply affected or upset by something, to take it very seriously. It fits the underlined part: "He has taken his loss to heart so much that he fell sick."
Example: Don't take his rude remarks to heart.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: take the bull by its horns — Incorrect. To take the bull by the horns means to face a difficulty boldly and directly, the opposite of being crushed by a loss.
Example: She took the bull by the horns and complained to the manager.
Option 3: put in his mind — Incorrect. This is not an idiom; "put something in someone's mind" only means to make someone think of it.
Option 4: taken off and on — Incorrect. This is not an idiom. "Off and on" means from time to time, which has nothing to do with taking a loss seriously.
Example: It rained off and on all day.