Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: No matter what
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on the idiom "come hell or high water", a colourful expression commonly used to show firm resolve. Examinations often test such idioms because they check whether candidates understand figurative language, commitment, and tone in English usage. Knowing these phrases helps you interpret speeches, editorials, and conversations more accurately.
Given Data / Assumptions:
We have one idiom in the stem and four possible meanings.
We must identify which option matches the generally accepted meaning.
We assume neutral, standard English without regional distortion.
Concept / Approach:
The idiom combines two extreme images: "hell", symbolising severe difficulty or suffering, and "high water", suggesting floods or natural obstacles. Together they emphasise that even the worst situations will not stop the speaker. So the core idea is: "I will do it anyway, regardless of what happens." That is more than merely mentioning obstacles; it expresses determination in spite of them.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the idiom expresses a strong emotional attitude.
Step 2: Recall common sentences such as "I will be there, come hell or high water."
Step 3: Interpret this as "I will be there, whatever happens" or "No matter what."
Step 4: Examine the options and look for the one capturing this sense of unconditional determination.
Step 5: Option A, "No matter what", perfectly matches that idea, so it is correct.
Verification / Alternative check:
To double-check, think of whether the idiom could ever mean "feeling ill" or "something good and useful". In all typical contexts, it appears when someone promises to act in spite of problems. You can also compare it with similar expressions like "come what may" or "at any cost". These all share the idea of continuing regardless of circumstances, confirming Option A as the right answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, "Feeling ill", is about physical condition and has no connection with determination. Option C, "Possible obstacles in one's path", mentions difficulties but does not contain the crucial idea that the person will go ahead anyway. It describes the problems, not the determination. Option D, "Something good and useful", is completely unrelated to the dramatic tone of the idiom. Hence, these options do not match the real meaning.
Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to select an option that mentions "obstacles" and stop there, because the words "hell" and "high water" sound like problems. However, the idiom is more about attitude than about the problems themselves. Another pitfall is guessing based on one word like "high" or "water" without considering the expression as a fixed whole. Always treat idioms as set phrases whose meaning must be learned as a unit.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is "No matter what".
Discussion & Comments