In the following question, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which gives the meaning of the given idiom or phrase. To strain at a gnat and swallow a camel

Correct — A. The phrase sets a tiny thing against a huge one: a gnat is a small fly, a camel is enormous.

Someone who strains at the gnat but swallows the camel makes a fuss over the trifle and lets the far bigger thing pass.

That is To fuss over trifles while ignoring big issues, option (a).

Why the others are wrong

• (b)
  To have a very large appetite — A very large appetite reads swallow a camel literally and ignores the gnat. The phrase contrasts two sizes; it says nothing about eating a lot.
• (c)
  To be meticulous in everything — Meticulous in everything keeps only the first half. The idiom criticises care over small things combined with neglect of large ones, the opposite of care in everything.
• (d)
  To be extremely physically weak — Physically weak reads strain as physical effort. In the phrase, straining at the gnat means making a fuss over it, not lacking strength.

The idiom comes from the King James Bible, Matthew 23:24, where Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees "blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

The picture is of someone filtering a drink to catch a tiny insect, then gulping down a camel. It describes misplaced care: great fuss over small matters, none over serious ones.

Key facts

• Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel: fuss over trifles while accepting something far more serious.
• Source: Matthew 23:24 in the King James Bible.
• Gnat: a small fly.

Common traps

• Choosing the meticulous option because it matches the first half of the phrase.
• Reading swallow a camel literally, as greed or appetite.

No directly related past PYQ was found.