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Question

Directions : Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings to each. Select the most appropriate response from the options provided and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

Play possum

This question was previously asked in
CDS 2 2026 Maths Question Paper (13-Sep-2026)
The correct answer is
Pretend to be dead

Play Possum Idiom Meaning Explained

The idiom "Play possum" describes the act of pretending to be asleep or dead, often to avoid trouble or deceive someone.

This behavior mimics the opossum, an animal known to feign death when threatened by predators.

Analyzing the Options

  • Option 1: Pretend to be dead - This directly matches the meaning of the idiom.
  • Option 2: Take big risks - This relates to courage or recklessness, not deception.
  • Option 3: Behave in a stupid way - While deception can sometimes seem foolish, it's not the core meaning.
  • Option 4: Be excessively happy - This is unrelated to the idiom's meaning.

Therefore, the most appropriate meaning for "Play possum" is to pretend to be dead.

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Important Questions from Idioms and Phrases

  1. In each of the questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
    To give oneself airs
  2. In each of the questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
    At a stone's throw
  3. In each of the questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase.
    Bone of contention
  4. The sentences given with blanks are to be filled with an appropriate word(s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question. For each question, choose the correct alternative and click the button corresponding to it.
    Food was packed, and they__________, a merry, delighted party.

  5. In each of the questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase and click the button corresponding to it.
    pull a fast one

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