Select the option that is closest in meaning to the underlined idiom/phrase in the given sentence. Please cut down on your expenses now or you will face difficulties in the future.
reduce
Understanding the Idiom "Cut Down On"
The question asks us to find the closest meaning of the underlined idiom/phrase "cut down on" as used in the sentence: "Please cut down on your expenses now or you will face difficulties in the future."
Let's analyze the sentence carefully. The speaker is advising someone about their expenses and the potential negative consequences in the future if they don't take action now. The phrase "cut down on" is used in relation to "expenses."
Meaning of "Cut Down On"
The idiom "cut down on" means to reduce the amount, size, or quantity of something. When applied to expenses, it means to spend less money, to decrease the amount of money being spent.
Analyzing the Options for "Cut Down On Expenses"
Now, let's examine the given options to see which one best matches the meaning of "cut down on" in the context of expenses:
- recover: To recover means to return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength, or to get back something that was lost or stolen. This meaning does not fit the context of reducing expenses.
- raise: To raise means to increase the amount, level, or strength of something. Raising expenses would mean spending more, which is the opposite of what the sentence advises to avoid future difficulties.
- refuse: To refuse means to indicate that one is not willing to do something or accept something. While one might refuse certain expenses, "cut down on expenses" refers to reducing the overall amount spent, not just refusing a specific item.
- reduce: To reduce means to make something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size. Reducing expenses means spending less money. This meaning perfectly aligns with the context of the sentence, where decreasing spending is advised to prevent future financial problems.
Conclusion: Finding the Closest Meaning
Based on the analysis of the idiom "cut down on" and how it is used in the sentence about expenses, the option that is closest in meaning is "reduce". Cutting down on expenses means reducing expenses.
| Idiom/Phrase | Context | Meaning of Idiom | Option | Meaning of Option | Fit with Idiom Meaning? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cut down on | expenses | to reduce the amount of something | recover | return to normal/get back | No |
| cut down on | expenses | to reduce the amount of something | raise | increase | No (Opposite) |
| cut down on | expenses | to reduce the amount of something | refuse | decline to do/accept | No (Specific, not general reduction) |
| cut down on | expenses | to reduce the amount of something | reduce | make smaller/less | Yes |
Revision Table: Key Idioms and Phrases
Understanding common English idioms and phrases is important for vocabulary and comprehension. Here's a quick review of the idiom discussed:
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| cut down on (something) | To reduce the amount or quantity of something. | She is trying to cut down on sugar. |
| cut back on (something) | Similar meaning to "cut down on", often used for reducing expenditure or consumption. | We need to cut back on unnecessary spending. |
Additional Information: Using Context Clues
When encountering an unfamiliar idiom or phrase, using context clues from the surrounding sentence can be very helpful in understanding its meaning. In the given sentence:
"Please cut down on your expenses now or you will face difficulties in the future."
The phrase "face difficulties in the future" suggests a negative outcome that will result from not doing something about the expenses now. This implies that the action needed is something positive or preventative, like reducing expenses, rather than increasing them or recovering from them.
Context clues allow you to make educated guesses about the meaning of unfamiliar words or phrases, improving your reading comprehension.
Important Questions from Match the Following
In the following question, two columns are given containing incomplete sentences. In the first column, the phrases are (A), (B), and (C), and in the second column the phrases are (D), (E), and (F). You have to match the phrases of column (1) with those of column (2) and make grammatically and contextually correct sentences. If none of the options given forms a correct sentence after combination, select ‘None of these’ as your answer.
Column (1)
Column (2)
A-If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
D-Stuart was often hard to find around the house
B-Her mom came home tired
E-perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer
C-Because he is so small,
F-but she still cooked dinner for her family
- In the following question, two columns are given containing three phrases each. The phrases are labelled A, B, and C in the first column and P, Q, and R in the second column. A phrase from the first column may or may not connect with a phrase in the second column to make a grammatically and contextually meaningful sentence. Identify the correct option given below that gives the correct sequence in which one or more sentence can be formed. If none of the options makes it possible for a meaningful sentence to be formed, indicate 'None of these' as your answer.
Column 1 Column 2 (A) The Delhi High Court has ordered the DSLSA (P) Thereafter, he switched off his phone. (B) Justice M. Singh ordered that DSLSA should proceed (Q) The Crime Branch on Sunday conducted multiple raids (C) He left behind his wife and two minor daughters (R) He said the Kejriwal government wasted six months Select the option that can be used as a one-word substitute for the given group of words.
A person who investigates and solves crimes
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
In the heat of the moment
Select the option that can be used as a one-word substitute for the given group of words.
Strong taste or liking for something
