Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom or phrase:
To keep the wolf from the door.
a)To keep off starvation
b)To distinguish oneself
c)To be earnest
d)Confusing situation

Answer 1

Hint: An idiom refers to a group of words or a phrase that has a different meaning from the literal meaning of its words.

Complete step-by-step answer:

To keep the wolf from the door refers to having sufficient money to prevent hunger and starvation. The idiom was originally used as a saying in the 15th century, as ‘To keep the wolf from the gate’. Later, in the late 16th century the saying was introduced as ‘To keep the wolf from the door’.
Now, let’s look at the given options to find the correct meaning of the idiom:
a)To keep off starvation- It refers to having enough money to ward off hunger. It has the same meaning as the idiom. Hence, it is the correct option.
b)To distinguish oneself- It means to do something that deserves appreciation. It has a different meaning from the idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
c)To be earnest- It refers to being serious and humorless. It has a different meaning from the idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
d)Confusing situation- It refers to a situation that puzzles someone. It has a different meaning from the idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
The correct answer is Option ‘a’.

Note: Whenever you are unable to understand the meaning of an idiom or a phrase, use the elimination method to eliminate the options that hold a different meaning.