Question 1
I was very relieved when all the trouble died down.
Die down means to become gradually weaker or quieter until it almost ends, so it means the same as subsided: The storm finally died down. Not got worse, which is the opposite.
Question 2
She stood out among the crowd.
Stand out means to be easy to see or notice because you are different from others, so was noticeable is right: Her red coat stood out in the crowd.
Question 3
In order to get ahead in life, one must study in school and not be afraid to work hard.
Get ahead means to be successful in your life or job, so it means succeed. Not win, which is about a game or competition with a winner.
Question 4
Please hold on. I'll call Tom to the phone.
On the phone, hold on means wait for a short time: Hold on, I'll get him.
Question 5
The lorry broke down in the middle of the road and stopped traffic for hours.
When a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working: Our car broke down on the motorway. Not fell apart, which means it broke into pieces.
Question 6
The teacher waited for the class to settle down before starting the lesson.
Settle down means to become quiet and calm after being noisy or excited. The teacher waits until the class is calm before starting.
Question 7
It took me three hours of explanation before the new assistant caught on to how the machine worked.
Catch on (to something) means to finally understand it, often after some time: He didn't get the joke at first, but then he caught on. Not held onto, which means kept holding something.
Question 8
All the students decided to pitch in and give the teacher a going-away present.
Pitch in means to join with others and give money or help for a shared goal. Here each student gives some money, so contribute money is right. Not add, which does not mean giving something as part of a group effort.
Question 9
I believe in Joe. He’s never disappointed me.
Believe in someone means to trust them and feel sure they will do the right thing. The clue is He's never disappointed me.
Question 10
I ran into an old friend the other day. We hadn't seen each other since high school.
Run into someone means to meet them unexpectedly, by chance: I ran into my teacher at the shop. Not bumped: only bumped into has this meaning; bumped alone means hit.
Question 11
The only person he could turn to was his mother.
Turn to someone means to go to them for help or advice, so it means get help from. Not trust: you may trust someone without asking them for help.
Question 12
He got over the flu in a week.
Get over an illness means to recover from it and become healthy again. Not came down with, which means started to have an illness.
Question 13
After the plane crash the surviving passengers had to go without food or water for days.
Go without something means to live without it or lack it: They had to go without electricity for a week. Not get by, which means to manage with very little.
Question 14
He has had to put up with the neighbour's noise for two years now.
Put up with means to tolerate something unpleasant without complaining: I can't put up with this noise any longer.
Question 15
We wanted to play a joke on him so we led him on with a silly story that he believed.
Lead someone on means to make them believe something that is not true, so it means misled. The clue is a silly story that he believed.
Question 16
I had to do over the report because my instructor did not think it was up to my standard.
Do something over means to do it again because it was not good enough, so it means repeat (or redo). Not complete, which means to finish it once.
Question 17
Some people have a great deal of difficulty trying to tell apart the twins.
Tell apart means to see the difference between two similar people or things, so it means distinguish: I can't tell the twins apart.
Question 18
We went to the airport to see off Jane.
See someone off means to go with them to the airport or station to say goodbye to them before they leave.
Question 19
George refused to get married because he didn’t want to be tied down.
Tied down means restricted in freedom by duties or responsibilities: He doesn't want to be tied down by a family yet. Not imprisoned, which means really locked up.
Question 20
I've been considering taking up the sport of horseback riding.
Take up a sport or hobby means to start doing it: She took up tennis last year. Not stopping, which is the opposite (give up).
Question 21
We expected her to carry on, even after the loss of her father.
Carry on means to continue with your life or activity, even after something difficult has happened.
Question 22
I want to give up smoking but I don’t know how to.
Give up a habit means to stop doing it: He gave up smoking last year. Not start, which is the opposite (take up).
Question 23
The skunk gives off a most unpleasant odour.
Give off a smell, heat or light means to send it out, so it means emits. Not has: the sentence is about the skunk sending the smell into the air.
Question 24
I haven’t been able to find out where Jonas went.
Find out means to learn or discover a fact that you did not know: I found out where he lives.
Question 25
Don't hold it against me if you can't solve this problem. I’ve tried to help you as well as I could.
Hold something against someone means to blame them or think badly of them because of it. The clue is I've tried to help you as well as I could.
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