In the idiom "The cricket match proved to be a big draw," what does the phrase "big draw" mean?

Introduction / Context:
Idioms and phrases in English often use everyday words in special meanings that cannot be understood by literal translation alone. The phrase “big draw” appears in contexts like sports, shows and events. In this question, it is used in connection with a cricket match. To answer correctly, you must recall or infer how native speakers use this expression when describing events that attract people's interest.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence is “The cricket match proved to be a big draw.”
• The options include meanings related to attraction, no result, keen contest, spectacle and sudden ending.
• We assume standard idiomatic usage of the phrase “big draw.”
• The context involves a cricket match drawing spectators or attention.
• The correct option should represent an event that pulls many people.

Concept / Approach:
In idiomatic English, a “draw” in sports can mean a tie game, but the phrase “big draw” has a different sense. When we say that a performer, match or show is a big draw, we mean it attracts a large number of people or a lot of attention. For example, a famous singer is a big draw at a concert because many fans come to see them. Therefore, when the sentence says the cricket match proved to be a big draw, it implies that the match attracted huge crowds or strong interest, not that it was tied or had no result.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that “big draw” in everyday usage refers to an event or person that draws in many people.Step 2: Examine option A: “A huge attraction that pulls in a large crowd or audience.” This matches the idiomatic sense exactly.Step 3: Examine option B: “A game played without any result or without a winner.” This describes a draw as a tie, but the sentence uses “big draw” as a noun phrase describing the match itself, not the result.Step 4: Examine option C: “A very keen and closely contested match.” This focuses on competition intensity, not on attracting people.Step 5: Examine option D: “A lovely spectacle with beautiful scenery.” This emphasizes appearance, which may be true but is not the meaning of the idiom.Step 6: Examine option E: “A match that ends suddenly due to bad weather,” which has no relation to the phrase. Therefore, option A is the correct interpretation.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the meaning by considering other contexts where “big draw” is used. For instance, we might say, “The fireworks show is always a big draw at the festival,” meaning it attracts many visitors. Advertisements might refer to a celebrity as a big draw for a movie or event. In all these cases, “big draw” emphasises strong attraction and high turnout, not the closeness of the contest or the result. This matches option A and differs from the sports term draw meaning tie. Understanding this distinction confirms that the correct answer is about attraction rather than outcome.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option B confuses the idiom “big draw” with the sports result “a draw,” which means a tie.
• Option C describes a keen contest but says nothing about audience attraction.
• Option D focuses on visual beauty, which is not implied by the phrase “big draw.”
• Option E introduces the idea of a match ending due to weather, which is unrelated to the phrase.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to latch onto the familiar sports meaning of draw (tie) and ignore the broader idiomatic use. Another pitfall is interpreting “big” only as intense or exciting instead of “great in pulling power.” To avoid these errors, pay attention to how the phrase is used in everyday language: a big draw is something that draws people in. Recognising such idiomatic patterns will improve your comprehension of English phrases in real contexts and on exams.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is a huge attraction that pulls in a large crowd or audience, which is the meaning of “big draw” in the given sentence.