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Question

Difficulty: HardIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

Rather than addressing the core administrative corruption in the ministry, the newly appointed director spent his entire tenure tilting at windmills.

Which of the following best conveys the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expression as used in the sentence?

  1. engaging in futile attempts to defeat imaginary or exaggerated adversariesAnswer
  2. B
    operating industrial grain equipment without official authorization
  3. C
    successfully eliminating deep-rooted fraudulent practices across departments
  4. D
    strictly complying with established governmental codes of conduct

Answer

engaging in futile attempts to defeat imaginary or exaggerated adversaries
The correct answer accurately defines 'tilting at windmills', an idiomatic expression meaning to confront or fight imaginary, exaggerated, or unbeatable opponents. In the context of the sentence, it describes the director pursuing irrelevant or useless struggles instead of dealing with actual administrative corruption.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual clues in the sentence stem.
The phrase 'Rather than addressing the core administrative corruption' indicates that the director's actions were ineffective and diverted from real issues.
Contextual contrast helps narrow down whether the expression carries a positive, negative, or unproductive connotation.
2
Identify the figurative meaning of the idiomatic phrase 'tilting at windmills'.
The expression means attacking imaginary enemies or pursuing futile, impractical causes.
Idioms cannot be interpreted literally by their component words; their established figurative meanings must be applied.
3
Match the figurative definition with the option that best reflects this concept.
The choice describing 'engaging in futile attempts to defeat imaginary or exaggerated adversaries' accurately matches the idiom.
It captures both the element of futility and the imaginary nature of the target.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Interpretation in Context
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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