Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: To be involved in a large and varied number of activities or enterprises
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This idiom based question checks your understanding of a colourful English expression: to have a finger in every pie. Idioms cannot be interpreted literally; instead, each has a fixed meaning built up from repeated usage. Here, pies symbolise different activities, projects, or ventures, and fingers symbolise involvement. You must choose the option that captures this figurative meaning rather than what the individual words might suggest.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To have a finger in every pie means to be involved in many different activities, projects, or areas of life, often at the same time. It can be used neutrally, positively, or negatively depending on context, but the central idea is extensive involvement across various things. It does not inherently mean conflict, mockery, or carelessness; those are additional judgements that are not built into the idiom itself. Therefore, the best explanation among the options is the one that mentions a large and varied number of activities or enterprises.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the figurative meaning of the idiom: fingers in many pies equals participation in many matters.
Step 2: Evaluate option A: To fight with everybody. This is about conflict and has nothing to do with taking part in many activities.
Step 3: Evaluate option C: To make fun of everybody. This is about mocking others, again unrelated to the idea of broad involvement.
Step 4: Evaluate option D: To leave every job unfinished. This suggests carelessness or lack of commitment, which is not the idiom's core idea.
Step 5: Evaluate option B: To be involved in a large and varied number of activities or enterprises, which directly reflects the established meaning.
Verification / Alternative check:
Use the idiom in a sentence: She seems to have a finger in every pie at the office, from marketing to finance to event planning. This clearly means she is involved in many different departments and tasks. Replacing the idiom with option B, she is involved in a large and varied number of activities at the office, gives essentially the same meaning. No other option can be substituted without changing the idea completely.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, To fight with everybody, might be associated with someone who interferes a lot, but fighting is not part of the idiom's standard meaning. Option C, To make fun of everybody, describes a mocking attitude, not multi tasking or broad involvement. Option D, To leave every job unfinished, introduces the idea of poor follow through, which the idiom does not necessarily imply. Someone can have a finger in every pie and still complete tasks successfully.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes misinterpret idioms based on literal images: having a finger in every pie might sound like interfering too much, so they choose an option suggesting conflict or trouble. While the idiom can carry a slightly negative tone in some contexts (as in interfering in everything), most exam questions focus on the neutral core meaning of being involved in many things. It is always wise to study idioms with example sentences rather than relying on literal translation.
Final Answer:
The idiom to have a finger in every pie means to be involved in a large and varied number of activities or enterprises.
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