Match each phrasal verb listed on the left with its corresponding contextual meaning on the right.
- stave offTo temporarily avert or delay an impending undesirable situation
- pass offTo falsely present an item or identity under a fraudulent guise
- zero in onTo direct concentrated attention and scrutiny toward a specific focal point
- gloss overTo treat serious defects or mistakes casually in order to minimize their importance
Answer
The correct matching pairs are: 'stave off' matches 'To temporarily avert or delay an impending undesirable situation'; 'pass off' matches 'To falsely present an item or identity under a fraudulent guise'; 'zero in on' matches 'To direct concentrated attention and scrutiny toward a specific focal point'; and 'gloss over' matches 'To treat serious defects or mistakes casually in order to minimize their importance'.
'Stave off' denotes delaying or holding off a negative event; 'pass off' denotes misrepresenting something fraudulently; 'zero in on' denotes concentrating scrutiny on a central target; and 'gloss over' denotes downplaying or superficially covering up mistakes.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Idiomatic nuances and particle combinations in phrasal verbs