Question:
He promised to __ the discrepancies in the ledger before the auditors arrived.
He promised to __ the discrepancies in the ledger before the auditors arrived.
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Think of any problem, misunderstanding, or mathematical discrepancy as an ugly wrinkle on a clean shirt. To make the situation perfect and professional, you need to use your tools to iron out those wrinkles!
Updated On: May 21, 2026
- iron out
- clear off
- gloss over
- wipe out
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The context involves a "ledger" containing "discrepancies" (errors, inconsistencies, or mismatches) that need to be dealt with before an official review by "auditors". To satisfy auditors, accounting errors must be actively resolved, corrected, or smoothed out so that everything balances correctly.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the figurative meanings of the choices: Iron out (Correct): To resolve, smooth over, eliminate, or find a solution for minor problems, errors, or discrepancies. Just as an iron removes wrinkles from fabric to make it smooth, "ironing out discrepancies" means fixing accounting errors so the ledger is smooth and accurate. Clear off: To remove items from a surface (e.g., "clear off the table") or to pay off a debt. It does not mean solving specific line-item discrepancies. Gloss over: To deliberately ignore, conceal, or treat an error lightly to avoid trouble. While a dishonest accountant might try to do this before auditors arrive, "promising" to do so usually implies a constructive action to rectify errors rather than an act of active concealment, making (a) the standard professional expression tested here. Wipe out: To completely destroy or erase something. You cannot simply erase portions of an official ledger without creating more auditing issues. Thus, "iron out" is the most precise and idiomatic choice.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct phrasal verb to fill the blank is "iron out".
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