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Question

Select the option that best conveys the meaning of the underlined idiom in the sentence.

By holding talks with the rebel leaders who were planning protests, they managed to nip things in the bud.

This question was previously asked in
SSC-JHT Paper 1 2018 Question Paper (13-Jan-2019)
The correct answer is

Stop things at an early stage

Understanding the Idiom "Nip in the Bud"

The question asks to identify the meaning of the idiom "nip things in the bud" as used in the sentence: "By holding talks with the rebel leaders who were planning protests, they managed to nip things in the bud."

Meaning of "Nip in the Bud"

The idiom "nip in the bud" means to stop something, like a problem or an unpleasant situation, at a very early stage before it has a chance to develop further or become more serious. Think of stopping a plant from growing (its bud) before it becomes a problem.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at each option in the context of the sentence and the idiom:

  • Option 1: Plant trees together

    This option describes a literal gardening activity. It doesn't relate to the figurative meaning of the idiom "nip in the bud," which is about stopping problems early.

  • Option 2: Stop things at an early stage

    This option accurately captures the meaning of the idiom. By holding talks, the leaders prevented the planned protests from happening or escalating, effectively stopping the situation before it grew.

  • Option 3: Defeat them completely

    While stopping the protests might be a form of defeating the rebels' immediate plan, the idiom "nip in the bud" specifically focuses on preventing development at the beginning. "Defeat completely" implies a final resolution or destruction, which isn't the core meaning here.

  • Option 4: Write everything in ink clearly

    This option refers to writing clearly and permanently. It has no connection whatsoever to the idiom "nip in the bud" or the context of the sentence.

Conclusion

The action of holding talks with the rebel leaders was intended to prevent the protests from occurring or escalating. Therefore, the phrase "nip things in the bud" means to stop things at an early stage. This makes Option 2 the best fit.

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