Select the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom: 'Be bad news'
- (a)feelings of hate
- (b)someone who behaves in a dishonest way
- (c)someone who is considered undesirable
- (d)to be ill
Answer
C
Why
Correct — C, someone who is considered undesirable. To 'be bad news' describes a person or thing seen as likely to cause trouble or harm, so 'someone who is considered undesirable' captures it. The phrase is not about feelings of hate, about dishonest behaviour specifically, or about being unwell.
Why the others are wrong
- (a)feelings of hate — 'Be bad news' labels a person or thing as undesirable or trouble-causing; it does not name an emotion such as hatred.
- (b)someone who behaves in a dishonest way — The idiom means undesirable or likely to cause trouble in general, not dishonesty specifically — a dishonest person would be a 'con artist' or 'crook', not simply 'bad news'.
- (d)to be ill — 'Be bad news' has nothing to do with health or being unwell; it describes a troublesome person or thing.
Concept
An idiom item — to 'be bad news' means a person or thing regarded as likely to cause problems or trouble.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
The idiom 'a fair-weather friend' means:
- (a)a loyal lifelong friend
- (b)a friend only in good times
- (c)a friend who forecasts weather
- (d)a childhood friend
Answer(b) a friend only in good times — one who deserts you in difficulty.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The idiom 'a wet blanket' refers to:
- (a)a generous person
- (b)a person who spoils others' fun
- (c)a very shy person
- (d)a careless person
Answer(b) a person who spoils others' fun — a killjoy.