Choose the correct meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.

The accident site had become a bear garden by afternoon.

A place of noise and disturbance

The correct meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence is a place of noise and disturbance.

The idiom "bear garden" is used to describe a place that is noisy and chaotic. It is thought to have originated from the practice of bear-baiting, which was a popular entertainment in England in the 17th and 18th centuries. Bear-baiting involved baiting a bear with dogs in a public arena, and it was often a very noisy and violent spectacle.

In the sentence, the accident site has become a bear garden because of the noise and disturbance caused by the accident. There are probably many people shouting and talking, and the sound of emergency vehicles arriving and departing. The atmosphere is likely to be very chaotic and stressful.

The other options are not correct.

• A peaceful place: This is the opposite of a bear garden.
• A soothing environment: This is not the same as a bear garden.
• Unclean and dirty: This can be part of a bear garden, but it is not the whole meaning.