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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

During the parliamentary inquiry, it was revealed that the official had used his appointment to feather his own nest rather than serve the public interest. Which of the following best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expression?

  1. A
    construct a comfortable residence for his family
  2. enrich himself financially through improper meansAnswer
  3. C
    boast publicly about his administrative accomplishments
  4. D
    relinquish his official duties ahead of schedule

Answer

enrich himself financially through improper means
The idiomatic expression 'to feather one's nest' means to promote one's own material interests or accumulate personal wealth, typically by taking advantage of a position of trust or authority. In the sentence context, it directly describes the official using his position for corrupt financial gain.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target idiomatic expression within the sentence.
The phrase to interpret is 'feather his own nest'.
Idioms must be evaluated as fixed figurative units rather than individual words.
2
Analyze the contextual contrast provided in the stem.
The contrast between using an official position to 'feather his own nest' versus 'serve the public interest' highlights self-serving financial gain.
Contextual clues in JAMB questions help reinforce the established figurative sense of the idiom.

Key Concept

Interpretation of Idiomatic Expressions
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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