Question

Choose the exact meaning of the idioms/phrases.

Our school is within a stone's throw of the railway station.

a)Very far off
b)Within a certain radius
c)At a short distance
d)Within a definite circumference

Answer 1

Hint: An idiom is a short phrase that has a definite meaning. The idiom “a stone’s throw” means the distance which is covered when you throw a stone. It is equivalent to the distance the stone will cover when you throw it.

Complete answer:

Option a is wrong because when you throw a stone, it does not go very far. Very far off implies a distance which is very far from the point of origin.
Option b is also wrong because “within a certain radius” means that the radius can be large or small. It is indefinite. It can be as close as two steps or away or as far as a bus can take you.
Option c is the correct answer because a stone when thrown covers a short distance. It does not go very far and you can see where it has landed. The given sentence means that the school is within a short distance of the railway station.
Option d is wrong because radius and circumference both imply the same thing. A circumference is two times the radius. A distance signified by its circumference is ambiguous and may be large or small.

Note: Idioms need to be memorized by the students. The question cannot be attempted until the meaning of the idiom is known. Though the meaning of some idioms can be made out of the words, many idioms are difficult to decipher. Therefore, it is suggested to students to learn idioms. They are also useful to be used in essays and compositions.