JAMB English Language questions: Idioms and figurative expressions

32 questions with answers and explanations. Tap an option to check yourself.

1. Question 21· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

   'The rumour spread like wildfire' means that it spread

   • Aslowly
   • Bvery quickly
   • Cdangerously
   • Dsecretly

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2. Question 22· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

   'Our principal calls a spade a spade' means that the principal

   • Aspeaks frankly and directly
   • Bis a gardener
   • Cis very polite
   • Davoids hard truths

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3. Question 23· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

   'Students burn the midnight oil before examinations' means that they

   • Astudy late into the night
   • Bwaste fuel
   • Ccause fires
   • Dsleep early

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4. Question 24· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

   'Emeka burnt his boats when he resigned' means that he

   • Aset fire to his property
   • Btravelled by sea
   • Cmade a decision he could not reverse
   • Dlost his temper

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5. Question 25· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

   'We must not let the cat out of the bag' means we must not

   • Areveal a secret
   • Brelease an animal
   • Cstart a quarrel
   • Dwaste money

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6. Question 26· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

   'The new hostel project is still in the pipeline' means that the project is

   • Abeing planned or prepared
   • Babandoned
   • Ccompleted
   • Dabout water supply

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7. Question 27· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

   'Tobi has been on cloud nine since her admission' means that she has been

   • Aflying abroad
   • Bvery worried
   • Cextremely happy
   • Dunable to sleep

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8. Question 28· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

   'Do not invite Jide; he is a wet blanket' means that Jide

   • Anever bathes
   • Bis always cold
   • Cis very kind
   • Dspoils other people's fun

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9. Question 29· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

   'Emeka has a chip on his shoulder' means that Emeka

   • Ahas an injury
   • Bworks as a carpenter
   • Cfeels resentful because he thinks he was treated unfairly
   • Dis very proud of his success

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10. Question 30· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

    'His rude reply only added fuel to the fire' means that the reply

    • Aended the quarrel
    • Bstarted a fire
    • Cmade a bad situation worse
    • Dwas ignored

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11. Question 31· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

    The expression in capitals means: The opposition is FISHING IN TROUBLED WATERS.

    • Acalming tension
    • Bfishing during floods
    • Ctrying to gain from a confused situation
    • Davoiding politics

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12. Question 32· Idioms and figurative expressions· JAMB

    'The governor decided to take the bull by the horns' means that he decided to

    • Aface the difficulty boldly
    • Brear cattle
    • Cavoid the problem
    • Dfight a bull

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    Explanation and discussion