After each of the following sentence, a list of possible interpretations is given. choose the interpretation…

Analyze the question The sentence "He was given the boot by the chairman" contains an idiom. You are asked to choose the meaning that fits it best.

Explain the concept "To give someone the boot" is an informal English idiom that means to dismiss someone from a job or position, or to get rid of them. The idiom comes from the image of kicking someone out with a boot. Idioms like this should never be read literally. Their meaning is figurative.

Solution

• A. offered a pair of boots: This is a literal reading, and the idiom is not literal.
• B. promoted: This is the opposite of the idiom's meaning, since being "given the boot" is a negative outcome.
• C. sacked: "Given the boot" means dismissed from work, which is the same as sacked or fired.
• D. sent to buy boots: This is also a literal reading and is not the idiom's meaning.

The chairman is the person in authority, so he is the one who can dismiss someone. This supports the meaning "sacked."

Answer: C. sacked

Tip For idiom questions, first ask whether the literal meaning makes sense. If it sounds odd, look for the figurative meaning. Related idioms about leaving a job include "given the sack," "given the axe," and "shown the door." They all mean dismissed. Learn them together so you can recognise them quickly in the exam.