Question

Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the given idiom/phrase.
The robbery was committed in the wee hours of the day.

• A. After midnight
• B. At dawn
• C. At noontime
• D. In the evening
• E. Before sunset

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The phrase "in the wee hours of the day" is an idiomatic expression used to describe the very early hours of the morning, typically during or shortly after midnight but before sunrise. In this context, "wee hours" generally refers to those hours after midnight but before the early morning times when dawn approaches.

Let's analyze the options:

• After midnight: This refers to the time just after the clock hits 12:00 AM, continuing into the early hours of the morning. This could fall under the category of "wee hours." However, most commonly, idiomatic expressions of "wee hours" aim to imply a timeframe closer to morning light than just after midnight.
• At dawn: This represents the time when the first light of the day appears in the sky, which can be considered part of the "wee hours," as it is still considered very early morning. While technically a little later than the traditional midnight, it fits the context of early morning hours that are obscurely lit.
• At noontime: This is 12:00 PM, clearly not during the early morning period, hence it cannot express the meaning of "wee hours."
• In the evening: This part of the day comes after the afternoon and before night, which doesn't align with the early morning aspect.
• Before sunset: This is a time frame in the latter part of the day before the sun begins to disappear, unrelated to the early morning sense inferred by "wee hours."

Thus, the option that best matches the meaning of the idiom "in the wee hours of the day" is At dawn, as it connotes early morning light when it is still part of nighttime to some extent.