Choose the most appropriate option to replace the underlined phrase in the given sentences:-
The sprawling palaces of Indian royal families have become useless and expensive to maintain, so they have been converted to five-star hotels to generate revenue.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → white elephants
A white elephant is a possession that costs a great deal to keep but is of little use. The idiom comes from the story that the kings of Siam gave a white elephant to a courtier they disliked: the sacred animal could not be put to work, yet it had to be fed and cared for. Palaces that have become "useless and expensive to maintain" are white elephants, which is why they are turned into hotels.
Example: The huge stadium built for the games became a white elephant for the city.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: broken reeds — Incorrect. A broken reed is a person or thing that cannot be relied on when help is needed.
Example: Do not count on his support; he has proved a broken reed before.
Option 3: sword of Damocles — Incorrect. A sword of Damocles is a danger that hangs over someone all the time. In the ancient story, Damocles was made to sit at a feast under a sword hanging by a single hair.
Example: The pending court case hung over him like a sword of Damocles.
Option 4: shrinking violets — Incorrect. A shrinking violet is a very shy person who avoids attention.
Example: She is no shrinking violet; she spoke up at every meeting.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| white elephant | 14-05 S2 18-05 S1 24-05 S1 | – | – | – | – |