Question

Choose the correct meaning of the given phrase.
 “To cut quick”
 a) To make a flourish
 b) To destroy
c) To shorten
d) To cause acute pain
e) To cut sharp

Answer 1

Hint: A phrase refers to an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up. For example- ‘be up’ refers to being out of bed.

Complete answer:
In the given question, the phrase ‘to cut quick’ refers to ‘deeply wound or distress’.
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question:
Option (a.), 'to make a flourish', refers to ‘making a showy gesture’.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as it is not at all similar to what the definition of ‘to cut quick’ says.
Option (b.), ‘to destroy', refers to ‘do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of’.
Therefore, option (b.) is incorrect as it is not similar to the meaning of ‘to cut quick’.
Option (c.), ‘to shorten’, refers to ‘make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration.’
Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as it is not synonymous with that of ‘to cut quick’s definition.
Option (d.), ‘to cause acute pain’, refers to ‘causing extremely sharp or severe pain.’
Therefore, option (d.) is correct as it is similar to what ‘to cut quick’ means.
Option (e.), ‘to cut sharp’, refers to ‘to cut such that it is keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point’ and is incorrect as it is not similar to what ‘to cut quick’ means.

Note:
In this type of question, the student must always recall that phrases should not be taken literally, as they seldom mean what the words in the phrase collectively portray to mean. Let’s now look at an example where the given phrase ‘to cut quick’ is used- Her criticism cut him to the quick.