Understanding Idioms and Phrases: "Dance Attendance"

The question asks us to select the most appropriate idiom or phrase to complete the sentence: "He is rich and famous and expects everyone to ______ on him." The sentence describes a rich and famous person who has expectations about how others should behave towards him. We need an idiom that reflects this expectation of others catering to him or serving him.

Let's analyze the given options:

• Option 1: tap dance like mad
• This idiom means to act frantically or excitedly, often in an exaggerated or over-the-top manner. This does not fit the context of someone expecting others to serve them.
• Option 2: dead duck
• This idiom refers to a person or thing that is doomed to fail or is no longer functioning effectively. This meaning is completely irrelevant to the sentence.
• Option 3: give a song and dance
• This idiom means to make a fuss or give a complicated or insincere explanation, often to avoid doing something or as an excuse. This does not fit the context of someone expecting service or attention from others.
• Option 4: dance attendance
• This idiom means to be constantly available to someone, eager to please them, and catering to their needs or wishes. This phrase perfectly captures the idea of someone rich and famous expecting others to wait on them, serve them, or cater to their demands.

Comparing the meanings of the idioms with the context of the sentence, the idiom "dance attendance" is the most suitable choice. It describes the behaviour expected by the rich and famous person from others – a constant readiness to serve and please.

Therefore, the completed sentence reads: "He is rich and famous and expects everyone to dance attendance on him."

Revision Table: Key Idioms Analyzed

Additional Information: Understanding Idioms

Idioms are phrases or expressions whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meanings of the individual words. They are a crucial part of mastering any language, including English, as they add richness and nuance to communication. Using appropriate idioms can make your language sound more natural and fluent.

Some common idioms and their meanings:

• Break a leg: Good luck (used especially before a performance).
• Bite the bullet: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.
• Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret.
• Cost an arm and a leg: Very expensive.

Understanding the context in which an idiom is used is key to choosing the correct one to fill in blanks in sentences.