Question

Choose the correct meaning of the phrase given-
To fall short of.
a)To quarrel with
b)To disagree with
c)To be less than or below
d)To deteriorate

Answer 1

Hint: To fall short of refers to being insufficient or failing to meet a goal or a requirement.

Complete step-by-step answer:

We have been able to understand the meaning of the above phrase with the help of the hint. Now, let’s look at its usage:
Example- This year’s economy will fall short of 20%. Here, we can understand that this year’s economy would be insufficient by 20%.
Let’s examine the given options to find the correct meaning of the phrase-
To quarrel with- It means to argue or disagree with someone. It has a different meaning from the given phrase. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
To disagree with- It refers to having to contradict or opposing views. It has a different meaning from the given phrase. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
To be less than or below- It means to be inadequate or insufficient to meet the desired goal. It has the same meaning as the phrase. Hence, it is the correct option.
To deteriorate- It means to decline or decay. It has a different meaning from the phrase. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
The correct answer is Option ‘c’.

Note: Eliminate the options that are least likely to have the same meaning as the given phrase.