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Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

In his address to the board of directors, the chief auditor revealed that the former manager had been using lucrative procurement contracts to feather his own nest. Which of the following best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expression?

  1. enrich himself improperly using his position of authorityAnswer
  2. B
    gather avian materials to construct a private nature reserve
  3. C
    donate his personal assets to corporate welfare initiatives
  4. D
    tender his resignation without providing formal prior notice

Answer

The expression 'feather one's nest' means to enrich oneself dishonestly or selfishly, especially while occupying a position of trust.
The idiomatic expression 'feather one's nest' means to provide for oneself selfishly or enrich oneself improperly while holding a position of trust. In the sentence context, using company procurement contracts to gain personal wealth exemplifies this meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context and identify the idiomatic phrase
The underlined phrase 'feather his own nest' describes the manager's misuse of procurement contracts.
Idioms cannot be interpreted literally; their established figurative meanings must be derived from context and vocabulary knowledge.
2
Determine the figurative meaning of the idiom
To 'feather one's nest' specifically means to use a role or privilege to secure improper personal financial gain.
Comparing the options reveals that acquiring improper personal wealth directly matches this established definition.

Key Concept

Interpretation of English Idioms in Context
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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