Idioms and Phrases

The phrase 'Brevity pays in debate' means that being concise and to the point is beneficial in debate. 'Conciseness' directly reflects the meaning of brevity, making option A correct.

The phrase 'I am not cut out for the banking job' means the person believes they are not suited or qualified for the banking job. None of the given options correctly express this meaning, so 'None of these' is the correct choice.

The phrase "swims like a fish" is a common English simile used to describe someone who is a very good swimmer. The other options do not make sense in this context.

The plural form 'hypotheses' correctly matches with the plural noun 'bases' to indicate multiple reasons. The phrase 'on the bases of the evidence and witnesses' is the correct idiomatic expression, making option C the correct choice.

The phrase 'cake and pie' is not a recognized idiom in English with the meaning 'very easy to eat.' None of the provided options correctly define a known idiom involving 'cake and pie.' Therefore, 'None of these' is the most accurate choice.

The correct phrasal verb in this context is 'ran him off,' which means to cause someone to leave or be driven away, especially in public. 'Ran him over' typically means to hit someone with a vehicle, which does not fit the sentence meaning here.

The correct idiomatic expression is "pull through," which means to survive or recover from a serious illness or difficult situation. Therefore, "Saif's father managed to pull through" is the correct phrase.

The idiom 'Hobson's choice' means having no real choice at all, essentially taking what is offered or nothing. This matches option C, 'No choice at all.'

The idiom "hanging fire" means that something is delayed or taking longer than expected, which aligns with option A, "going on slowly." The other options do not accurately capture the meaning of the idiom.

The idiom 'Pull your socks up' means to make an effort to improve your performance or behavior. Therefore, option D, 'To improve,' is the correct meaning of this phrase.

The phrase "out and out" means "thoroughly" or "completely." Therefore, saying "He is 'out and out' a reactionary" means he is thoroughly a reactionary, making option B the correct choice.

The phrase "backstairs influence" refers to secret, indirect, and often unfair influence used to achieve a goal, which matches option D. This idiom implies using hidden or unofficial channels rather than open or proper means.

The phrase "a big draw" means something that attracts a large audience or crowd, making option B, "a huge attraction," the correct interpretation. The other options do not capture the idiomatic meaning of "a big draw."

"Mano a mano" is a Spanish phrase meaning "hand to hand," often used to describe a direct confrontation or competition between two people. Therefore, option A is the correct synonym.

The phrase "put a spoke in my wheel" means to obstruct or hinder someone's plans or efforts, which aligns with option C, "thwarted in the execution of the plan."

The phrase 'hold out bright prospects' means to 'promise' or 'offer hope or good opportunities.' Among the options, 'promise' best captures the meaning of 'hold out' in this context, making D the correct answer.

The idiom 'let the grass grow under his feet' means to delay taking action or to hesitate, which aligns best with 'loitered around' as it implies lingering without moving forward. The other options do not capture this meaning accurately.

The idiom 'to play fast and loose' means to behave irresponsibly or deceitfully, often by misleading or beguiling others. Therefore, option A, 'To beguile others,' best captures the meaning of the phrase.

The phrase 'prices are looking up' means that prices are increasing or improving, which fits the context of an oil crisis causing commodity prices to rise. The other options do not form correct or meaningful phrases in this context.

The phrase "very different about" is incorrect and likely intended to mean "very diffident about," which means lacking self-confidence. Therefore, option C, "Lacking self confidence about," is the correct interpretation.

"Play to the gallery" means to attempt to appeal to popular taste, often by seeking approval from the general public rather than focusing on artistic or intellectual merit. Option C best captures this meaning.

The idiom 'stew in one's own juice' means to suffer the consequences of one's own actions, which aligns with option D. The other options do not correctly reflect the meaning of the idiom.

The idiom "plough a lonely furrow" means to do something independently without assistance, which aligns best with option B, "do without the help of others."

The idiomatic expression 'boil down to' means to reduce something to its essential point or to mean 'to amount to' or 'to result in.' The sentence should be 'Our plan boils down to success' or 'boils down to succeeding' to be grammatically correct. The other options are not valid idioms or do not fit the context. Therefore, option C is correct as it contains the correct idiom 'boil down to.'

"Never-never land" commonly refers to a fictional or dream-like place, often associated with fantasy or imagination, making "Dream land" the correct meaning.