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Question

Difficulty: HardIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

Which word correctly completes the idiomatic expression in the sentence below?

Answer:When tempers flared during the parliamentary debate on fiscal policy, the elder statesman attempted to 【pour】 oil on troubled waters by proposing a bipartisan committee.

Answer

The word 'pour' correctly completes the fixed idiom 'pour oil on troubled waters'.
The expression 'pour oil on troubled waters' is a recognized idiom meaning to bring peace or calm to a heated situation. In the given context, proposing a committee serves to calm the raging debate.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual clues in the sentence.
The sentence describes a high-tension scenario ('tempers flared') where an intervention ('proposing a bipartisan committee') aims to soothe anger and restore order.
Understanding context determines the figurative meaning required.
2
Identify the standard idiomatic expression for pacifying a conflict.
The established English idiom meaning to soothe anger or settle a disturbance is 'to pour oil on troubled waters'.
Idioms rely on fixed combinations of words that cannot be substituted arbitrarily.
3
Insert the required verb to complete the expression.
The required verb is 'pour'.
Using alternative verbs breaks the conventional structure of the idiomatic phrase.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Expressions and Fixed Collocations
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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