Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idioms and phrases:
To bite the dust.
A. Thoroughly depressed
B. To suffer defeat
C. To do something wrong
D. To fall down

Answer 1

Hint: An idiom is a word or term that usually has a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase, but although maintaining the literal meaning of the phrase, certain phrases become figurative idioms. The figurative sense of an idiom, categorised as formulaic language, is distinct from the literal meaning.

Complete answer:
The correct answer is option B, because 'to bite the dust' means 'to die or give up.' Option B 'to suffer loss' is therefore the correct interpretation of the idiom given.
Option A is wrong since 'in the depths of' means 'thoroughly depressed.' Thus, the correct interpretation of the idiom given is not choice A.
Choice C is incorrect since it means 'to botch up' to 'do something wrong'. Thus, the correct interpretation of the given idiom is not choice C.
Option D is wrong since it means 'to knock down' to 'fall down.' Therefore, choice D is not the correct meaning of the idiom given.

Additional information:
A phrase is "a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit," while an idiom is "a group of words generated through use as having a meaning that is not deductible from those of the individual words." This is the distinction between an idiom and a phrase. "A herd of cats" is an idiom but not an expression.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’

Note:An employer or boss might say the idiom shape up or ship out, which is like saying change your conduct or quit if you don't, to an employee, but not to other people. Idioms are not similar to slang. Idioms are made up of ordinary words familiar to almost all with a special meaning.