Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence. Many people in our country like to feather their own nest from the money they raise for social work.
enrich oneself by dishonest means
Understanding the Idiom: Feather One's Own Nest
The question asks for the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom "to feather their own nest" in the context of the given sentence: "Many people in our country like to feather their own nest from the money they raise for social work."
What does the idiom 'to feather one's own nest' mean?
The idiom "to feather one's own nest" means to enrich oneself, often selfishly and dishonestly, by taking advantage of one's position or situation. It implies improving one's own financial or personal situation, frequently at the expense of others or through improper means.
Analyzing the Sentence Context
The sentence states that people "feather their own nest" from money raised for "social work". Money intended for social work is meant to help others or society, not for personal gain. Using these funds for oneself strongly suggests taking advantage of a position of trust or responsibility for personal enrichment, which fits the negative connotation of the idiom.
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at the provided options and compare them to the meaning of the idiom in this specific context:
-
Option 1: provide comforts in one's house
While feathering one's nest might result in comforts, this option is too general. It doesn't necessarily imply that the comforts were gained improperly or dishonestly, which is a key part of the idiom's meaning in the given sentence.
-
Option 2: make one's family comfortable
Similar to Option 1, this describes the potential outcome but lacks the crucial element of how the comfort is achieved. The idiom emphasizes the act of enriching oneself, often by questionable means, rather than just the state of the family being comfortable.
-
Option 3: achieve something and be proud of it
This option is incorrect. The idiom "to feather one's own nest" has a negative connotation and is associated with selfish or dishonest actions, not proud achievements.
-
Option 4: enrich oneself by dishonest means
This option aligns perfectly with the meaning of the idiom "to feather one's own nest," especially in the context of misusing funds designated for social work. It captures both the self-enrichment aspect and the implication of improper or dishonest methods.
Based on the analysis of the idiom and its usage in the sentence, the most appropriate meaning is to enrich oneself by dishonest means, particularly by misusing funds intended for social work.
Conclusion
The idiom "to feather one's own nest" in this sentence means to enrich oneself using the money raised for social work, which implies dishonest or improper means. Therefore, Option 4 is the correct meaning.
Revision Table: Key Idioms for Exam Prep
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Feather one's own nest | To enrich oneself, often dishonestly or selfishly. | He was accused of feathering his own nest while in public office. |
| Beat around the bush | To avoid coming to the point. | Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want. |
| Break a leg | Good luck (used especially in theatre). | "Break a leg!" the director told the actors before the show. |
| Let the cat out of the bag | To reveal a secret. | She accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party. |
Additional Information: Understanding Idioms
Idioms are phrases or expressions whose meaning cannot be deduced simply by knowing the definitions of the individual words. They have a figurative meaning that is different from their literal meaning. Understanding idioms is important for comprehending native English speakers and improving fluency.
- Idioms are a type of figurative language.
- They often have cultural or historical origins.
- Learning idioms helps in understanding nuances in communication.
- Using idioms appropriately can make language more vivid and interesting.
The idiom "feather one's own nest" is derived from the behavior of birds collecting soft materials to build a comfortable nest. Figuratively, it applies this idea to a person collecting wealth or comforts for themselves, often in a way that is seen as selfish or unfair.
Important Questions from Phrase Replacement
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”
My old teacher gave many poor students money in spite of he was poor.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
You should to read the newspaper regularly if you want to be well-informed.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
If he had listening to me he would not have got lost.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”
He asked for a bank loan also he didn't have sufficient resources.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
I went to the shop to buy some stationeries .
