Introduction / Context:
This question is about the idiom “beggar description”. Idioms often have meanings that cannot be guessed from the individual words. Here, “beggar” is used as a verb in an older sense, meaning “to defeat or exhaust”, not referring literally to a poor person. The idiom is frequently used in literary or formal writing to emphasise that something is so extraordinary that words are insufficient to describe it.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Idiom: “beggar description”.
- Options:
- “Cannot be described”
- “Something described by a beggar”
- “A poor account of something”
- “A description of a beggar”
- We assume standard idiomatic meaning as used in textbooks and newspapers.
Concept / Approach:
In this idiom, “to beggar” means to defeat or go beyond. Thus “beggar description” means “to go beyond all possible description; to be impossible to describe adequately”. It is used for things that are exceptionally good, bad, beautiful, horrible, or shocking. Therefore, the option that best captures this meaning is “cannot be described”. The other options treat “beggar” literally or misunderstand the structure of the expression.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that in idioms, words often take special meanings. Here, “beggar” does not mean a poor person but a verb meaning “to exhaust or surpass”.
Step 2: Understand the whole phrase: if something “beggars description”, it exceeds anything that can be described in words.
Step 3: Compare with options: “cannot be described” matches this idea exactly.
Step 4: “Something described by a beggar” is a literal misreading and has nothing to do with the idiom.
Step 5: “A poor account of something” would suggest a bad or weak description, which is different. The idiom is not about the quality of the description but about the impossibility of describing the thing fully.
Step 6: “A description of a beggar” again misinterprets “beggar” as a noun, not as a verb.
Verification / Alternative check:
Look at example sentences: “The beauty of the sunset beggars description”, meaning the beauty cannot be adequately described.
Another example: “The cruelty of the dictator beggars description.” The sense is of something beyond words.
In both, the idea “cannot be described” fits perfectly.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B: Treats “beggar” literally and ignores the idiomatic verb use, so it changes the meaning entirely.
Option C: Suggests that the description itself is poor, rather than the subject being beyond description.
Option D: Again misreads the idiom as referring to the subject of description, not the quality of describability.
Common Pitfalls:
Students often translate idioms word by word and end up with literal meanings that are completely different from the idiomatic sense.
The word “beggar” strongly suggests a poor person, which distracts from its rarer verb meaning “to exhaust or defeat”.
Not seeing idioms in context in real reading practice makes such questions harder, so regular exposure to passages is important.
Final Answer:
The idiom “beggar description” means “cannot be described”.
Discussion & Comments