Question:
Select the correct meaning of the italicized idiom or phrase out of the four choices given.
He burnt his fingers by interfering in his neighbor's affair.
Select the correct meaning of the italicized idiom or phrase out of the four choices given.
He burnt his fingers by interfering in his neighbor's affair.
He burnt his fingers by interfering in his neighbor's affair.
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Picture a hand reaching into a fire. The saying is used for anyone who meddles or takes a risk and comes off badly.
Updated On: Jul 17, 2026
- got himself into trouble
- burnt himself
- got himself insulted
- got rebuked
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The idiom "burn one's fingers" means to suffer loss or get into trouble by meddling in something, usually something that was none of your business. The picture behind it is of a person reaching into a fire and being hurt. Like every idiom, it must be read as a whole and not word by word.
- got himself into trouble: This is the accepted meaning. By interfering in a neighbour's affair, the man brought unpleasant consequences on himself, which is exactly what the idiom describes.
- burnt himself: This is the literal reading, and it is the trap the question sets. Nobody was near a flame here, and reading an idiom literally always drains it of its real sense.
- got himself insulted: An insult is only one narrow kind of harm. The idiom covers any loss or trouble, including money lost or a bad name earned, so this option is too limited.
- got rebuked: A rebuke is a scolding from another person. The idiom does not require anyone to scold him, it only says he came off badly. This is again too narrow.
The correct option is (A) got himself into trouble. The sentence means his meddling landed him in difficulty.
Let's summarize:
- Burn one's fingers means to suffer harm or loss, usually through meddling or a rash venture.
- The literal option is a decoy, while "insulted" and "rebuked" each pick out one narrow kind of harm instead of the general trouble the idiom means.
The answer is (A) got himself into trouble.
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