The idiom “in apple pie order” is used in the sentence “On the eve of Christmas, all the things are kept in apple pie order”. Which option best explains the meaning of this idiom in this context?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on English idioms, specifically the phrase “in apple pie order”. Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot always be guessed from the literal meanings of the individual words. The sentence describes preparations on the eve of Christmas and uses the idiom to convey the condition of “all the things”. The task is to choose the option that correctly captures what this idiom means in everyday usage.

Given Data / Assumptions:
1) The sentence under consideration is: On the eve of Christmas, all the things are kept in apple pie order.2) Options include “with neatness”, “in perfect order”, “in jumbled order”, “Both A and B” and “None of these”.3) We are asked to interpret the idiom “in apple pie order”, not to change the structure of the sentence.4) Use standard dictionary meaning of the idiom in general English.

Concept / Approach:
The idiom “in apple pie order” means extremely neat, tidy and well arranged. People use it to describe situations where everything is properly set in its place and organised. When you see two options that both point to neatness and perfect order, it often indicates that both are intended to be correct interpretations. Contrasting options that obviously contradict this meaning, such as “in jumbled order”, can be safely eliminated. Therefore, analysing the semantic overlap between the idiom and the options is the key.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Recall or look up the established meaning of “in apple pie order”. It means very neat and in excellent order.2) Compare this meaning to option A, “with neatness”. This clearly aligns with the idiom because it emphasises neat arrangement.3) Compare with option B, “in perfect order”. This also expresses the same idea that everything is arranged in a very correct and tidy sequence.4) Option C, “in jumbled order”, is the exact opposite of neatness and therefore cannot be correct.5) Option D, “Both A and B”, suggests that the idiom carries both the sense of neatness and perfect order, which matches standard usage.6) Option E, “None of these”, is ruled out because we already see that A and B are individually consistent with the idiom.7) Because both “with neatness” and “in perfect order” correctly reflect the idiom, the best choice is the combined option “Both A and B”.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider replacing the idiom in the original sentence with each candidate meaning to see which ones preserve the intended sense. “All the things are kept with neatness” and “all the things are kept in perfect order” both convey that the Christmas preparations are tidy and well arranged. In contrast, “in jumbled order” implies chaos and disorganisation, which contradicts the tone normally associated with careful festive preparation. Since idiom explanations in exams often have a joint option when two paraphrases are equally valid, choosing Both A and B is consistent with typical question patterns and dictionary definitions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“with neatness” and “in perfect order” each capture a part of the full sense, but the question expects the most complete interpretation, so selecting just one is less precise.“in jumbled order” means disordered and confused, which is opposite to the idiom.“None of these” fails because two listed options clearly match the accepted meaning of the idiom.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners guess idiom meanings from individual words and may think apple pie order refers to something related to food or sequence of dishes. Others may rush to choose only one of the similar looking positive options without noticing that the combined option is available and more accurate. Developing familiarity with common idioms through reading newspapers, novels and curated vocabulary lists helps avoid such confusion, because you will have seen the expressions used in context before facing them in exams.

Final Answer:
The idiom “in apple pie order” means that everything is neat and well arranged, so the correct choice is Both A and B.