Question

Choose the most appropriate words or phrases that are equivalent in meaning to the above phrase:
Eat out of somebody's hand

• A. take advantage of generosity
• B. depend on charity
• C. hurt a benefactor
• D. trust somebody and be willing to obey

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The phrase "Eat out of somebody's hand" is an idiomatic expression in English. To understand its meaning, let's consider the imagery it conjures: a tame animal might eat directly from a person's hand, indicating a high level of trust and docility.

In the context of human relationships, this expression is typically used to describe a situation where someone trusts another person completely and is willing to comply with or obey them readily.

Given this understanding, let's evaluate the provided options:

• Take advantage of generosity - This option suggests exploiting someone's kindness, which does not align with the idea of trust and obedience inherent in the given phrase.
• Depend on charity - This implies reliance on others for support, particularly financial, which is unrelated to the notion of trust and obedience conveyed by the phrase.
• Hurt a benefactor - This would mean causing harm to someone who provides help, which contrasts sharply with the concept of trust and cooperation.
• Trust somebody and be willing to obey - This option best captures the essence of the phrase, as it directly indicates trust and a willingness to follow another person's guidance or wishes.

Thus, the most appropriate equivalent of the given idiomatic phrase "Eat out of somebody's hand" is trust somebody and be willing to obey.