Question

Find the meaning of the underlined words.
While they were away on vacation, they allowed their mail to pile up at the post office.
a) be delivered
b) accumulate
c) get lost
d) be returned
e) dispel

Answer 1

Hint: The phrase ‘pile-up’ refers to ‘cause something to increase in quantity’. Another synonymous phrase for this would be ‘to let grow’.

Complete answer:
An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase.
The given phrase means to let objects increase in quantity. So, the sentence is saying that because they were away on vacation and no one was tending to their mail, it started to increase in quantity. This is an example of a ‘literal idiom’, i.e. it describes itself in a literal sense.
Now, we know what idioms are and we know the meaning of the given idiom. Let’s look at the given options-
a) be delivered - The phrase ‘to be delivered’ refers to ‘to be taken and handed over to or leave for another'. This phrase does not have the same meaning as the given phrase. This is not the required answer. So, it is an incorrect option.
b) accumulate - The word ‘accumulate’ refers to ‘gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of'. This word has the same meaning as the given phrase. This is the required answer. So, it is the correct option.
c) get lost - The phrase ‘get lost’ refers to ‘lose one’s way’. This phrase does not have the same meaning as the given phrase. This is not the required answer. So, it is an incorrect option.
d) be returned - The phrase ‘be returned’ refers to ‘come or go back to a place or person'. This phrase does not have the same meaning as the given phrase. This is not the required answer. So, it is an incorrect option.
e) dispel - The word ‘dispel’ refers to ‘make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear'. This word does not have the same meaning as the given phrase. This is not the required answer. So, it is an incorrect option.

Note:
 Find the phrase that is the literal meaning of the underlined phrase. Choose the option with the closest meaning. Using them in a sentence will help to clear up the meaning.