Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase:
A snake in the grass.

A. A very poisonous snake
B. A secret agent
C. An unrecognisable enemy or danger
D. Not a reliable person

Answer 1

Hint:The idiom “a snake in the grass” means a treacherous person, someone who is deceptive, characterised by unfaithfulness. Someone who can not be trusted, the person would say something and do something else. We will look for an option that expresses this meaning in the best possible way.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse each option individually in detail to figure out the correct answer with the help of the above stated hint.

A very poisonous snake: A very poisonous snake means a dangerous reptile which carries poison. This is not similar to the meaning of the given phrase. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

A secret agent: A secret agent is a person who pretends to be someone else and has hidden motives to fulfil to intrude and know our secrets. This is different from the desired meaning. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

An unrecognisable enemy or danger : An recognisable enemy or danger is something or someone we would think as harmless but actually it is not. This is close in meaning to the given phrase but still not the exact meaning. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

Not a reliable person: A person who is not reliable is someone who cannot be trusted and is deceitful. This is the closest in meaning to the given phrase. Therefore, this is the correct option.

Hence, the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note:Idioms or phrases are a group of words that have cultural meanings associated with them and they might not mean the same as the independent words forming the idiom or the phrase. Example: “born with a silver spoon” doesn’t mean that someone is born with a spoon that is silver, it rather means that someone is born in a rich household where they are subject to all the luxury and extravagance right from their birth.