Question

Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase:
'To strain every nerve'

• A. to make utmost efforts
• B. to feel week and tired
• C. to be a diligent worker
• D. to be methodical in work

Hint:

Idioms involving physical body parts (like "nerves", "backbone", "finger", "shoulder") often describe the intensity of work or attitudes:
- "To strain every nerve" = to make the utmost effort.
- "To keep one's chin up" = to remain optimistic.
Visualizing the physical action can help you deduce the figurative meaning.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the correct figurative meaning of the common English idiom "To strain every nerve".
Idiomatic expressions should not be interpreted literally; rather, their established figurative meanings must be identified.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• Meaning of the Idiom: The phrase "to strain every nerve" dates back to physical exertions where a person exerts their body so intensely that every muscle and nerve is tensed and working. In modern figurative language, it means to use all of one's strength, resources, energy, and determination to accomplish a difficult task or objective.

• To make utmost efforts (Correct Option): This matches the definition precisely, representing the act of trying with the maximum possible energy, dedication, and determination.

• To feel weak and tired: This option describes a physical state of exhaustion. While straining every nerve may lead to tiredness, the idiom itself refers to the active exertion of effort, not the passive feeling of exhaustion.

• To be a diligent worker: Diligence represents steady, earnest, and energetic effort over time. While related, it refers to a general personality trait rather than a specific, intense attempt to achieve a task, which is what the idiom signifies.

• To be methodical in work: Methodical work refers to being systematic, orderly, and organized. It does not carry the connotation of extreme exertion and struggle that the idiom implies.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The idiom "To strain every nerve" corresponds directly to "to make utmost efforts".
Therefore, the correct option is (A).