Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct word that completes the idiomatic expression.

Answer:When the independent audit exposed systemic procurement irregularities within the ministry, the director-general was left with no choice but to fall on his 【sword】 and tender his immediate resignation.

Answer

The word 'sword' completes the idiomatic expression 'fall on one's sword'.
The idiomatic expression 'to fall on one's sword' means to accept full responsibility or blame for a wrongdoing or failure, typically by resigning from a position. The context of an executive resigning following an audit cleanly dictates the use of the word 'sword'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The context describes a high-ranking official taking ultimate responsibility for systemic errors and resigning.
Understanding the situational context helps identify the specific figurative phrase being used.
2
Identify the standard English idiomatic phrase
The expression 'fall on one's sword' originates from ancient Roman military tradition and figuratively means accepting full responsibility or blame for a defeat or failure, often leading to resignation.
The noun required following 'fall on his...' in this fixed expression is 'sword'.

Key Concept

Meaning and completion of fixed idiomatic expressions in formal English context
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

More questions from this topic