Lesson 16

Question 1

Jack of all trades

Answer 1

Jack of all trades – a person supposed to know everything
partially Ex. The CEO of Tesla seems to be a jack of all
trades as he participates across a range of businesses and
operations.

Question 2

Jail bird

Answer 2

Jail bird – a person who has been to jail many times
Ex. Most of our independence movement participants
had turned into jail birds over the passage of time.

Question 3

Jump down one’s throat

Answer 3

Jump down one’s throat – to reply in an angry manner
Ex. The Supreme Court jumped down the throat of the
lawyer trying to hijack the proceedings.

Question 4

Jump on

Answer 4

Jump on – to scold severely Ex. Don’t jump on me so
soon, said the father, as he tried to explain why he could
not be home in time for the birthday celebrations.

Question 5

Jump to the conclusion

Answer 5

Jump to the conclusion – to arrive at a conclusion soon
Ex. It seems that the Americans have jumped at the
conclusion that the Chinese high‐tech industry is a major
threat in the long run.

Question 6

Keep to

Answer 6

Keep to – stick to, adhere to Ex. The South Koreans are
keeping to the standard formula – beware the North
Koreans!

Question 7

Keep up with

Answer 7

Keep up with – to keep pace with Ex. In trying to keep up
with the world, we often are unable to keep up with
ourselves!

Question 8

Kick up the dust

Answer 8

Kick up the dust – to create disturbance Ex. It’s a wrong
notion to believe that the government never listens
unless people kick up the dust and create some
disturbance.

Question 9

Kith and kin

Answer 9

Kith and kin – relatives Ex. The kith and kin of the martyr

arrived at the spot in a state of disbelief.

Question 10

To keep a good table

Answer 10

To keep a good table – to entertain Ex. The Europeans

keep a good table when heads of state come visiting.

Question 11

To keep a straight face

Answer 11

To keep a straight face – to avoid smiling or laughing
Ex. Angela kept a straight face all through out the
President’s visit.

Question 12

To keep abreast of

Answer 12

To keep abreast of – to be familiar with Ex. Even the
keenest of students will find it tough to keep abreast of
the latest developments in the world.

Question 13

To keep body and soul together

Answer 13

To keep body and soul together – to remain alive Ex. On
the desolate island, they were forced to turn omnivorous
to keep body and soul together.

Question 14

To keep one’s head

Answer 14

To keep one’s head – to remain mentally calm in an
emergency Ex. In the worst of adversities, if we can keep
our head we’d do just fine.

Question 15

To keep one’s head above water

Answer 15

To keep one’s head above water – to tide over the difficulty,
to escape debt Ex. For the average worker today, success
and prosperity seem distant prospects; being able to keep
one’s head above water is all people strive for.

Question 16

To keep the ball rolling

Answer 16

To keep the ball rolling – to maintain interest of a
conversation Ex. In politics, every player tries to keep the
ball rolling to hog media limelight.

Question 17

To keep the powder dry

Answer 17

To keep the powder dry – to be ready for any work Ex. In

the office he keeps the powder dry.

Question 18

To keep the wolf from the door

Answer 18

To keep the wolf from the door – dry. To keep the wolf from the door – to keep hunger and
starvation away Ex. For the millions entering workforce
each year in India, to keep the wolf from the door will
demand a mighty effort.

Question 19

To keep up appearances

Answer 19

To keep up appearances – to maintain outward show Ex.
In today’s world, every military tries to keep up the
appearances in order to ensure others try no mischief.

Question 20

To kick up a row

Answer 20

To kick up a row – to make a great noise Ex. The Mexicans
kicked up a row when the Americans proposed making a
border wall with Mexican money!

Question 21

To knock down

Answer 21

To knock down – to defeat Ex. He was very angry when

he was knocked down in the competition.

Question 22

To knock off

Answer 22

To knock off – to reduce; stop working Ex. What time do

you knock off in this factory?