Match the idioms given in List-I with their appropriate meanings given in List-II :-
| LIST-I (IDIOMS) | LIST-II (MEANING) | ||
| A. | Play second fiddle | I. | To take revenge |
| B. | An apple of discord | II. | Unexpected shock |
| C. | Bolt from the blue | III. | Cause of quarrel |
| D. | Pay off old scores | IV. | Be in an inferior place |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I
| List-I | List-II | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Play second fiddle | IV. Be in an inferior place | From the orchestra, where the second violin plays a supporting part to the first: to take a less important role than someone else. | Tired of playing second fiddle to his elder brother, he started his own business. |
| B. An apple of discord | III. Cause of quarrel | From the Greek story of the golden apple marked "for the fairest", which set three goddesses quarrelling: something that causes a dispute. | The ancestral house became an apple of discord between the brothers. |
| C. Bolt from the blue | II. Unexpected shock | Like a flash of lightning from a clear blue sky: a sudden, completely unexpected event, usually an unpleasant one. | The news of the factory's closure came as a bolt from the blue. |
| D. Pay off old scores | I. To take revenge | To get even with someone for a wrong done in the past. | He used the meeting to pay off old scores with his rival. |
| Also asked in CUET (UG): play second fiddle – 29-05-2026 Slot 2 bolt from the blue – 11-05-2026 Slot 1, 07-06-2023 Slot 1 pay off old scores – 26-05-2026 Slot 1 |