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Question

Read the passage given below and answer the questions  that follow :

We sallied out at three o’clock in the afternoon, having finished our tiffin and coffee. The main job for the day was to mount and frame the photograph. Uncle carried it in his hand delicately, enclosed in an old envelope, as if it were fragile and likely to perish at a finger’s pressure. As we went down the street, a neighbour standing at his door hailed us and demanded, "Where are you taking the young fellow?" He was an engineer who worked in some distant projects on the hills, coming home once in a while and then again disappearing from our society. He was a particular friend of my uncle as they occasionally gathered for a game of cards in my house. He asked, "I am here for a few days. Can’t we have a session some time?"

"Of course, of course," said my uncle without much fervour, "I will let you know", and moved on.

"Won’t aunt get angry?" I asked, remembering the arguments they had had after every card session. The card players would have been sitting around in the middle of the hall, demanding coffee and edibles, and playing far into the night. My aunt would complain after the company had dispersed, "Sitting there with your friends, you lock me up in the kitchen all day! What madness seizes you people when you touch a pack of cards, I wonder!" Worn out by her attacks, my uncle began to avoid his friends, the company gradually dwindled and disappeared. But it did not prevent them from dreaming about cards or luxuriating in visions of a grand session. Somewhere my uncle was supposed to have lost a lot of money through the card games, and my aunt was very definite that he should never go near cards again, although he kept saying, "We play only Twenty-eight, and not Rummy, after all, Twenty-eight..."

What does the expression, ‘We sallied out ...’ mean in the context?

The correct answer is
To leave in a determined manner

Understanding the Phrase 'Sallied Out'

The phrase "sallied out" is an idiom. To understand its meaning, consider its common usage.

Meaning of "Sallied Out":

  • "Sally" or "sally forth" means to rush out energetically, often from a place of defense or safety, usually with a specific purpose. It implies a sudden, active departure.
  • "Sallied out" specifically refers to the act of having done this.

Analyzing the Options

Let's evaluate the given options based on the meaning of "sallied out":

  • Option 1: To rush out in a hurry - While "sallying out" involves rushing, it emphasizes purpose and energy more than just haste.
  • Option 2: To walk in a lethargic manner - This is the opposite of the active and energetic meaning of "sallied out".
  • Option 3: To leave in a determined manner - This option captures the essence of purpose and energy inherent in the idiom. Departing with determination aligns with the active, often bold, nature of a "sally".
  • Option 4: To go out for a jaunt - A "jaunt" is a leisurely pleasure trip, which does not fit the typically purposeful and energetic meaning of "sallying out".

Therefore, the most accurate meaning of "We sallied out..." in context is to depart with a clear intention and energy.

Correct Option: 3. To leave in a determined manner
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Important Questions from Phrase or Idiom Meaning

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    The lion's share

  2. Directions: Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d).

    Spill the beans

  3. Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d).

    Disappear into thin air

  4. Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d).

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  5. Directions: Given below are some idioms/phrases followed by four alternative meanings for each. Choose the most appropriate answer from among the options (a), (b), (c) or (d).

    Sit on the fence

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