Question

Match the idioms given in List-I with the meanings in List-II

List-I (Idiom)	List-II (Meaning)
(A) To cool one’s heels	(I) with great difficulty
(B) To bury the hatchet	(IV) to forget the enmity
(C) By the skin of his teeth	(I) with great difficulty
(D) To meet one’s Waterloo	(II) one’s final defeat

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• (A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (I), (D) - (II)
• (A) - (I), (B) - (III), (C) - (II), (D) - (IV)
• (A) - (I), (B) - (II), (C) - (IV), (D) - (III)
• (A) - (II), (B) - (I), (C) - (III), (D) - (IV)

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To solve the problem of matching the idioms in List-I with their meanings in List-II, follow these steps: 

• To cool one’s heels: This idiom means to wait or to be kept waiting. However, no exact match is found in List-II, so it is incorrectly matched as (A) - (III).
• To bury the hatchet: The idiom means to forget the enmity or to make peace, which corresponds to (IV) to forget the enmity. Therefore, the correct match is (B) - (IV).
• By the skin of his teeth: This idiom refers to doing something with great difficulty, matching with (I) with great difficulty. Thus, its correct pairing is (C) - (I).
• To meet one’s Waterloo: This idiom means to face one’s final and decisive defeat, aligned with (II) one’s final defeat. The appropriate match is (D) - (II).

The correct answer from the options given is (A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (I), (D) - (II).

Answer 2

To cool one’s heels: to wait and rest for some time.

Context: This idiomatic expression is used to describe a situation where someone is waiting for a period of time, usually because they have no immediate tasks to complete or because they are waiting for someone or something.

To bury the hatchet: to forget the enmity.

Context: This phrase refers to putting aside old grievances or conflicts. It originates from the practice of Native American tribes who would literally bury their weapons, the hatchet, as a symbol of peace.

By the skin of his teeth: with great difficulty.

Context: This idiom describes a narrow escape or a situation where someone succeeds or survives, but only just. It implies that the success was not guaranteed and was only achieved with minimal margin.

To meet one’s Waterloo: one’s final defeat.

Context: This expression refers to experiencing one's ultimate defeat or failure. It originates from the Battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon Bonaparte faced his final defeat, marking the end of his reign.