Question

Choose the correct option to complete the proverb:
The grass is always _________ on the other side.

a)dry
b)wet
c)shining
d)greener

Answer 1

Hint: Grass has a particular quality which indicates positivity. It is believed to be derived from the color of grass being pleasing to the eye, or indicating prosperity.

Complete answer:

There are a number of idioms in the English language that are set phrases that have an assigned meaning. They cannot be changed and their context is always well-defined.
In this case, the idiom is ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’. This is a concrete idiom that cannot be changed. The meaning is easy to guess. The idiom means that other people’s circumstances or belongings always seem more desirable than one’s own.

The original sentence was ‘the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence’. The above idiom is a shortened form of this proverb. There are many other similar proverbs which have the same meaning, such as ‘blue are the faraway hills’.

This answer might be easy to guess due to the notoriety of this proverb. However, even without context, we can understand that this is an idiom. So, the answer that makes the most sense is option ‘d’ - ‘greener’, because green is the color of grass and it denotes more lushness and luxe.

It can be used in a sentence in the following way:
For example, in the sentence ‘Sometimes, I wish I lived in a different country, but well, the grass is always greener on the other side!’, the phrase indicates that others’ circumstances are always more desirable than your own.

Note: Identify the context of the sentence and choose the most relevant option. Idioms are predetermined, and they cannot be edited.