Analogy — “Nuts : Bolts”. Choose the pair that mirrors a fixed, conventional word duo that forms a well-known collocation or complementary set.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Nitty : Gritty

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
“Nuts and bolts” is a set phrase referring to the essential practical details of something and also names two complementary hardware items commonly paired. The analogy requires recognizing a similarly entrenched, conventional pairing rather than an antonym pair or an adjective–noun phrase that is not a fixed collocation.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Nuts and bolts are complementary and form a stock phrase.
  • The correct choice should be a well-known fixed duo rather than an arbitrary or opposite pairing.
  • Only one option should match the collocation/complement pattern closely.


Concept / Approach:
Test each option for set-phrase status and complementarity. A strong collocation is recognizable, idiomatic, and used as a unit (similar to “nuts and bolts”).


Step-by-Step Solution:

“Nitty : Gritty” — classic collocation meaning the practical/core aspects, directly paralleling “nuts and bolts.”“Bare : Feet” — adjective + noun; not a conventional set phrase in the same idiomatic sense.“Naked : Clothes” — semantic opposition; not a fixed pair.“Hard : Soft” — antonyms; not a complementary duo.“Salt : Pepper” — complementary items and a common pair; plausible, but “nitty-gritty” more precisely mirrors the idiomatic-phrase nature of “nuts and bolts.”


Verification / Alternative check:
Both “Nitty : Gritty” and “Salt : Pepper” are strong pairs. However, “nuts and bolts” and “nitty-gritty” share the idiomatic meaning “practical essentials,” making this the best semantic parallel.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
They are either not idiomatic duos, are antonyms, or are adjective–noun descriptions rather than fixed collocations with shared semantic force.


Common Pitfalls:
Selecting any two commonly co-occurring words without checking for idiomatic unity and meaning equivalence.


Final Answer:
Nitty : Gritty

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