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Difficulty: HardCollocations and Fixed Phrases

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

Answer:During the budget review session, the managing director gave short 【shrift】 to the auditor's minor objections, dismissing them instantly without further debate.

Answer

The correct word to fill the blank is 'shrift'.
The idiomatic expression 'give short shrift to' means to deal with something hastily or give it little attention or sympathy. In the sentence context, dismissing the auditor's objections instantly requires the precise fixed noun 'shrift'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context to identify the required idiomatic phrase.
The sentence describes an action where minor objections are dismissed instantly with minimal attention or consideration.
The context requires a specific noun that combines with 'give short' and 'to' to form a standard fixed expression.
2
Select the precise lexical item that forms the valid fixed collocation.
The established fixed idiom in English is 'give short shrift to'.
No other English word forms a recognized collocation within this exact structural frame.

Key Concept

Collocations and Fixed Phrases
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Topics

Collocations and Fixed Phrases

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