Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom / phrase.
 In the blues
 a. Being colourful
b. Melancholy and low spirited
c. Behave like a lord
d. Cheerful and happy

Answer 1

Hint: The student should go through the options carefully. After reading the given phrase, the student should try to recall the meaning it holds and then check which of the options is closest in meaning to it.

Complete answer:
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.
In the given question, the phrase ‘in the blues’ refers to ‘being in a state of depression’.
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question-
Option (a.), 'Being colourful', refers to ‘being striking in variety and interest’.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as it is not at all similar to what the definition of ‘in the blues’ says.
Option (b.), ‘Melancholy and low spirited', refers to ‘a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed’. Therefore, option (b.) is correct as it is similar to the meaning of ‘in the blues’.
Option (c.), ‘Behave like a lord’, refers to ‘acting like a person who has general authority over others’. Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as it is not synonymous to that of ‘in the blues’s definition.
Option (d.), ‘Cheerful and happy’, refers to ‘being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits’. Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as it is not similar to what ‘in the blues’ 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 ‘in the blues’ is used.