Question

Choose the correct meaning of the given phrase:
‘Gall and wormwood’
a. A source of annoyance
b. A very pleasant experience
c. Unexpected calamity
d. Unexpected reward
e. Bribery

Answer 1

Hint: The given phrase is an idiom. It gives a figurative meaning to something that causes discomfort.

Complete step by step answer:
Idioms are phrases that are used to give a non-literal, figurative meaning to a statement. It is often used in a sentence to provide it a meaning not deducible at a glance.
Example: 'Wrap your head around something' is an idiom that means to understand something complicated.
The idiom ‘gall and wormwood’ indicates strong feelings of bitterness and resentment. It can be used in a sentence as - "Her words are always gall and wormwood to me."
That being the case, option a gives us the correct explanation of the idiom. A source of annoyance, resentment, and bitterness can be expressed with this idiom. Hence, option a is the right answer.
Option b is wrong because it gives the meaning opposite to ‘gall and wormwood’.
Option c is also wrong as we use the idiom ‘out of the blue’ to refer to an unexpected calamity.
Similarly, option d is incorrect as it does not give the correct explanation of the given idiom.
Bribery in option e is also wrong as ‘gall and wormwood’ does not mean the same.

Note: More than one idiom can have the same meaning. Idioms like chip on the shoulder, bitter pill shows bitterness and resentment over someone or something.