Idioms & Phrases – CSS Times

1) vis-a-vis :
(a) similar
(b) face to face
(c) contrary to the fact
(d) in good faith
Answer: (b)

2) Modus operandi
(a) successful operation
(b) unsuccessful mission
(c) mode or manner of doing a thing
(d) a clandestine operation
Answer: (b)

3) Ad valorem
(a) according to the-value
(b) according to utility
(c) according to cost
(d) according to demand
Answer: (b)

4) Aide-mémoire
(a) hearing aid
(b) without memory
(c) with sound memory
(d) notes to aid memory
Answer: (c)

5) Ad interim :
(a) finally
(b) ultimately
(c) unanimously
(d) in the mean time
Answer: (b)

Back out — to withdraw from a promise, contract : I felt grieved when he backed out of his promise to help me.

Back up — to support; to sustain : He backed up his report with relevant statistics.

Bear upon — to be relevant to : This argument does not bear upon the subject under discussion.

Blow up — to explode : The mine blew up and all the labourers working inside were killed.

— to reprimand or scold : If you continue to be negligent, the teacher will blow you up.

Break down — of a car; a piece of machinery; to go wrong so that it will not function : The car broke down on our way to Mumbai.

— to collapse; to succumb to uncontrollable weeping : She broke down completely on hearing the news of her husband’s death.

— to succumb to a nervous collapse through overwork or worry : He worked so hard that his health broke down near the examination.