Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase.
A good samaritan
a) a genuinely helpful person
b) an honest politician
c) a clever person
d) a priest

Answer 1

Hint:
 The phrase ‘a good samaritan’ refers to ‘someone who tries to help people in trouble or need, a compassionate person who helps others unselfishly’. This phrase is used very often in the case of aiding and selfless individuals.

Complete answer:
 This particular idiom comes from Biblical Literature. In the parable, a Samaritan helps a poor man and is selfless. The phrase "Good Samaritan", meaning someone who helps a stranger, derives from this parable, and many hospitals and charitable organizations are named after the Good Samaritan.

Now, we know the meaning and origin of the given idiom. Let us look at the given options:

a) a genuinely helpful person - This phrase refers to a person who is actually willing to help people in need without any ulterior motive. This phrase has the exact same meaning as the given idiom. This is the required answer. So, this is the correct option.
b) an honest politician - This phrase refers to a public servant who is truthful. This phrase has nothing to do with the idiom ‘a good samaritan’. It has a completely unrelated meaning. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
c) a clever person - This phrase refers to a person who is smart or intelligent. This has a very different meaning to the phrase ‘a good samaritan’. This is completely unrelated to the given idiom. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
d) a priest - This phrase refers to a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. This is completely unrelated to the given idiom. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.

Note:
 Idioms are metaphorical and are not usually literal. Try to find the option that most
resembles the meaning of the given idiom. Use it in a sentence to fully understand the
context.