Through thick and thin

Correct — D, through difficult times. 'Through thick and thin' means staying steadfast under all conditions, favourable and adverse alike, so among the options 'through difficult times' best captures the enduring-hardship sense in which the phrase is used.

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  in genuine friendship — Loyalty is the usual setting for the phrase, but the idiom itself denotes persevering through all circumstances, not friendship as such.
• (b)
  through the best of everything — This keeps only the 'good times' half and drops the hardship the phrase is chiefly used to convey.
• (c)
  among people both fat and slim — A literal misreading of 'thick' and 'thin' as body types rather than as good and bad conditions.

An idiom item — 'through thick and thin' means remaining steadfast in all conditions, good and bad alike, so the answer is its figurative meaning.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Choose the option that best states the meaning of the idiom 'come rain or shine'.

  • (a)only in good weather
  • (b)whatever the circumstances
  • (c)during the monsoon
  • (d)very rarely
  Answer(b) whatever the circumstances — one stays committed regardless of conditions.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  Choose the option that best states the meaning of the idiom 'to stand by someone'.

  • (a)to stand near them
  • (b)to remain loyal and supportive
  • (c)to ignore them
  • (d)to overtake them
  Answer(b) to remain loyal and supportive — especially in times of difficulty.