Question:
Select the correct meaning of the italicized idiom or phrase out of the four choices given.
Mr. Gupta, who is one of the trustees of a big charity, is suspected of feathering his own nest.
Select the correct meaning of the italicized idiom or phrase out of the four choices given.
Mr. Gupta, who is one of the trustees of a big charity, is suspected of feathering his own nest.
Mr. Gupta, who is one of the trustees of a big charity, is suspected of feathering his own nest.
Show Hint
Think of a bird lining its own nest while it should be doing something else. Note that Mr. Gupta handles money that belongs to others.
Updated On: Jul 17, 2026
- being lazy in doing his work
- being too generous
- neglecting his job
- making money unfairly
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
"Feather one's own nest" means to enrich oneself, especially by taking advantage of a position of trust. The image comes from a bird lining its own nest with soft feathers while it should be busy elsewhere. The sentence sets it in a charity, where a trustee handles other people's money, so the idiom points to dishonest gain.
- being lazy in doing his work: The idiom is about taking, not about slacking. Someone feathering his nest may in fact be very busy, just busy in the wrong direction, so laziness misses the point.
- being too generous: This is the reverse of the idiom. Generosity means giving away, while feathering one's nest means pulling in for oneself.
- neglecting his job: This is the closest of the wrong options, since a trustee who profits privately is also failing his duty. But neglect is only a side effect. The idiom names the profit itself, which is why it does not go far enough.
- making money unfairly: This states the meaning plainly. A trustee suspected of feathering his own nest is suspected of using charity funds or his position to enrich himself.
The correct option is (D) making money unfairly. The word "suspected" and the mention of a trusteeship both point to gain taken improperly.
Let's summarize:
- Feather one's own nest means to profit for oneself, usually by abusing a position of trust.
- "Lazy" and "neglecting his job" describe failures of effort rather than acts of gain, and "too generous" is the opposite of the idiom.
The answer is (D) making money unfairly.
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