In English idioms and phrasal expressions, choose the option that best conveys the meaning of the phrase "Make room".

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Make space

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The phrase "make room" is a common expression used in everyday English. It appears in spoken language, written texts, and competitive exam questions. It does not refer to building a room, but rather to creating space, either physically or figuratively, for someone or something. Understanding such phrases is important for idiom and vocabulary questions in exams.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Phrase: "Make room".
  • Task: Choose the best meaning among four options.
  • Options refer to cleaning, making space, attaining a room, or making a clean sweep.
  • We assume typical usage where someone is asked to make room for others to sit or for something to be placed.


Concept / Approach:
When we say "make room", we usually mean to create space by moving or removing things or by adjusting positions. For example, "Please make room for the new guest on the sofa" clearly means "create some space so that the guest can sit." The correct option must reflect this idea of creating or providing space, not just cleaning or acquiring a room.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall real life contexts: "Make room for him at the table", "Make room in your schedule". In all these, the sense is "create space". Step 2: Examine "Clean the room". That focuses on tidying, sweeping, or dusting, which is not the essential meaning of "make room". Step 3: Examine "Make space". This directly matches the idea of creating space, whether physical or metaphorical. Step 4: Examine "Attain the room". This does not correspond to any common English expression and does not fit the usage of "make room". Step 5: Examine "Make a clean sweep". This is another idiomatic expression, meaning to remove everything or to win completely, but it is not the same as "make room". Step 6: Conclude that "Make space" is the only option that accurately matches the usual meaning of "make room".


Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the meaning by placing "make room" in different sentences: "The teacher asked the students to make room for the new boy", or "We will have to make room in the budget for this expense." In both examples, replacing "make room" with "make space" keeps the meaning intact, while replacing it with "clean the room" or "make a clean sweep" breaks the sense of the sentence. This confirms that "make space" is the correct equivalent.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Clean the room: This focuses on tidiness and cleanliness, not on creating space. The two ideas are different, even though cleaning may sometimes result in more space.
  • Attain the room: This is not a standard English phrase and does not capture the idea of creating space. It sounds awkward and incorrect.
  • Make a clean sweep: This idiom means completely removing or defeating everything, often used in sports or politics, not simply making space.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners may confuse "make room" with cleaning because of the word "room". Exam setters deliberately include distractors related to cleaning to mislead candidates. Always focus on the full phrase and its usage in context, rather than guessing from a single word. Reading more English texts and observing phrases in context will help you avoid these traps in idiom-based questions.


Final Answer:
The phrase "Make room" most nearly means make space.

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