Question

Choose the correct meaning of the given phrase:
“To put one’s hand to the plough.”
a. To take up agricultural farming
b. To take a difficult task
c. To get entangled in unnecessary things
d. To take interest in technical work
e. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: The meaning of the idiom ‘To put one’s hand to the plough’ is to start a task or to begin with something that might be difficult.
Example - We've spent a lot of time planning, but now it's time to put our hand to the plow.
Idiom means a combination of words which has an underlying meaning completely different from the words it is made up of.

Complete solution:
Option a ‘To take up agricultural farming’ literally translates the words of the given idiom presenting that it is the activity that is involved in agricultural farming. So, option a is the incorrect option.
Option b ‘To take a difficult task’ is the correct option. Though the idiom exactly means ‘To begin with a task’ but many relate the act of ploughing difficult and from there deduce the nature of the said task to be difficult. So, option b is the correct option.
Option c ‘To get entangled in unnecessary things’ presents a different picture from what this idiom actually means and thus this option is also incorrect.
Option d ‘To take interest in technical work’ is the incorrect option. The meaning of the given idiom has no relation with the meaning stated in the option. So, this option is also incorrect.

Note: Idioms should always be explained with the help of examples for better understanding. The two options a and b might be confusing as option literally means what is given in the question but option b actually defines the meaning underlying it.