Select the most appropriate meaning of the idiom given in bold in the following sentence. The minister is a little hard of hearing.
partially deaf
Understanding the Idiom "Hard of Hearing"
The question asks for the most appropriate meaning of the idiom "hard of hearing" as used in the sentence, "The minister is a little hard of hearing." Idioms are phrases or expressions that have a figurative, non-literal meaning, which is different from the literal meaning of the words themselves. To understand an idiom, you often need to know its conventional meaning.
Meaning of Hard of Hearing
The idiom "hard of hearing" is a common phrase used to describe someone who has difficulty hearing. It means that a person's hearing is not very good, and they may need things to be spoken more loudly or clearly for them to understand. It implies a partial loss of hearing ability, not complete deafness.
Analyzing the Options
Let's look at the given options and compare them with the meaning of "hard of hearing":
- inaccessible: This means difficult or impossible to reach, get to, or use. This meaning has nothing to do with hearing ability.
- callous: This describes someone who is insensitive and cruel disregard for others. This relates to a person's emotional or moral nature, not their physical hearing.
- partially deaf: This means someone has lost some, but not all, of their ability to hear. This directly aligns with the meaning of having difficulty hearing or being "hard of hearing."
- insensitive: This means lacking sensitivity or feeling. While being hard of hearing might sometimes lead to someone missing something and appearing insensitive, the idiom itself describes the physical condition of hearing difficulty, not a personality trait of being unfeeling.
Identifying the Most Appropriate Meaning
Based on the analysis, the phrase "hard of hearing" is a polite way to say that someone is partially deaf or has difficulty hearing. The sentence "The minister is a little hard of hearing" means the minister has some difficulty with their hearing.
Conclusion
The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "hard of hearing" among the given options is "partially deaf".
| Idiom | Meaning | Context Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hard of hearing | Having difficulty hearing; partially deaf | You need to speak up, Grandma is a little hard of hearing. |
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Term | Definition/Explanation | Relation to Idiom |
|---|---|---|
| Idiom | A phrase whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of its words. | "Hard of hearing" is an idiom. |
| Hard of Hearing | Experiencing difficulty in hearing sounds clearly. | The specific idiom in question. |
| Partially Deaf | Having a degree of hearing loss. | The direct meaning of "hard of hearing". |
Additional Information: Understanding Idioms in English
Idioms are an important part of learning English. They add color and expressiveness to the language. Here are a few points about idioms:
- Idioms often cannot be understood by looking up the individual words in a dictionary.
- They need to be learned as whole phrases.
- Using idioms correctly can make your English sound more natural.
- Many idioms have historical origins that explain their meanings, but sometimes the origin is obscure.
Examples of other common idioms:
- Break a leg: Good luck (used especially before a performance).
- It's raining cats and dogs: It's raining very heavily.
- Piece of cake: Something very easy to do.
Important Questions from Miscellaneous
A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a 20 m high building with a speed of 12 m/s. It hits the ground at a distance R from the building. Taking g = 10 m/s2 and neglecting air resistance will give :
A mass is attached to a spring that hangs vertically. The extension produced in the spring is 6 cm on Earth. The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Moon is one-sixth of its value on the surface of the Earth. The extension of the spring on the Moon would be:
Directions: Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words (a), (b), (c), and (d). Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response in your Answer Sheet accordingly.
The deluge affected the population.The major source of vitamins and minerals for vegetarians is
Which of the following statements about the Deccan Riots Commission is/are correct?
1. The Commission did not hold enquiries in the districts which were not affected.
2. The Commission did record the statements of ryots, sahukars and eye-witnesses.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
