The director sees Tim as the joker in the pack. This means that the director considers Tim to be

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks about the idiom "the joker in the pack." We need to find the option that best matches what the director thinks of Tim.

Step 2: Explain the concept In a pack of playing cards, the joker is the odd card. It is not part of the four regular suits, and in many games it can take on any value. So "the joker in the pack" describes a person or factor whose behaviour or effect is unpredictable and who may upset plans or change a situation unexpectedly.

The idiom does not simply mean "a funny person," even though the word "joker" suggests humour. This is a common trap in exams.

Step 3: Test each option

• A. unpredictable: This matches the idiom. The joker is the wild card, and no one can be sure what Tim will do or how he will affect things.
• B. humourous: This is the literal-meaning trap. "Joker" suggests jokes, but the idiom is not about being funny. (It is also misspelt, and the correct spelling is "humorous".)
• C. nonchalant: This means calm and unconcerned. It is not related to the idiom.
• D. unimportant: A joker can be very important because it can change the outcome. So this is not the meaning.

Step 4: Answer The director considers Tim to be unpredictable, which is option A.

Exam tip: With idioms, don't be misled by the literal words. Think about the image behind the phrase. A joker is the wild card in a deck, so "joker in the pack" means the unknown or unpredictable factor. Similar idioms are "wild card" and "dark horse."