Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase-
At one’s wit end

a) To be very witty
b) To confuse others
c) To be completely confused
d) To minimise expenses

Answer 1

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

Complete answer:

 ‘At one’s wit end’ refers to being extremely confused or worried that a person is unable to decide what to do next. The idiom has been derived from William Langland’s 1377 poem, Piers Plowman.
We know the meaning and the origin of the given idiom. Now, let’s look at its usage:
Example- I am at my wit’s end with my mother. She has become quite bossy and oppressive. Here, we can comprehend that X is confused or perplexed with her mother’s bossy behavior and oppressions towards her. X is unable to decide what he should do next.
Let’s examine the given options:
Option a- ‘To be very witty’ refers to being humorous and amusing. It is completely different in meaning to the given idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option b- ‘To confuse others’ refers to puzzling or perplexing others. It is different in meaning to the given idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option c- ‘To be completely confused’ refers to being baffled or mystified by something. It is similar in meaning to the given idiom. Hence, it is the correct option.
Option d- ‘To minimize expenses’ refers to limiting or decreasing the amount of money spent by a person. It is completely different in meaning to the given idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
The correct answer is Option ‘c’.

Note: Do not get confused between the different options. Read and understand the meaning of the given options. Thereafter, you can use the elimination method to choose the most suitable answer. We generally use idioms in informal or casual conversation, but it is unlikely to use such terms as informal conversations.