Question

Select the correct meaning of the phrase/idiom.
Keep one’s eyes open
a) to remain awake
b) to fall asleep
c) to remain alert
d) to look at something

Answer 1

Hint: The idiom ‘keep one’s eyes open’ refers to ‘be on the lookout; watch carefully or vigilantly for something’. This is a very frequently used idiom in the English language.

Complete answer:
An idiom is a collection of words made popular by usage as having a meaning not understood from those of each individual word. They are usually metaphorical and are not to be taken in the literal sense. For example, the idiom ‘call it a day’ refers to ‘to get it over with’.
The given idiom is describing the act of being vigilant and careful so as to not make a mistake.

Now, we know the meaning and usage of the given idiom. Let’s look at the available options-
a) to remain awake - This phrase refers to not falling asleep, so this has a completely different meaning to the given idiom. They do not have the same meaning. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
b) to fall asleep - This phrase refers to going to sleep, so this has a completely different meaning to the given idiom. They do not have the same meaning. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
c) to remain alert - This phrase refers to being watchful, which is the meaning of the given idiom. This has the exact same meaning as the given idiom. This is the required answer. So, this is the correct option.
d) to look at something - This phrase refers to taking a glance at something, so this has a completely different meaning to the given idiom. They do not have the same meaning. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.

Note:
 Identify the context of the idiom and choose the most relevant option. Idioms are predetermined, and they cannot be edited. Try to understand the context of the given sentence and choose the correct option accordingly.