In this idiom question, choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the expression “lose face”.

Introduction / Context:
The idiom “lose face” is common in modern English, especially in discussions about reputation, prestige and honour. It appears frequently in news reports, office conversations and exam passages. This question asks you to pick the option that best explains the meaning of “lose face” in simple terms. Knowing such idioms helps you interpret subtle shades of meaning in real-life communication and in reading comprehension passages.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The idiom tested is “lose face”.
• You must select the alternative closest in meaning.
• The options are: become embarrassed, feel angry, get injured, feel surprised.
• No grammar trick is involved; it is purely semantic.

Concept / Approach:
The expression “lose face” does not literally refer to losing one’s physical face. Instead, it means losing respect, prestige or honour in front of others, usually because something embarrassing or dishonourable happens. When someone loses face, people think less highly of them. Among the options, we must choose the one that best captures this idea of embarrassment and loss of social standing, rather than physical harm or simple emotional reactions like anger or surprise.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Fix the meaning of “lose face” as losing respect or feeling deeply embarrassed in public. Step 2: Check option a) “become embarrassed”. When someone becomes embarrassed, they feel ashamed or awkward, often in front of others; this is very close to losing face. Step 3: Check option b) “feel angry”. Anger may arise when someone loses face, but the idiom itself does not mean “to feel angry”. Step 4: Check option c) “get injured”. This suggests physical harm and is unrelated to reputation or respect. Step 5: Check option d) “feel surprised”. Surprise is simply a reaction to the unexpected and does not involve loss of respect. Step 6: Conclude that “become embarrassed” is the best match for the sense of losing face.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a sentence: “The minister did not want to lose face by admitting his mistake in front of the media.” Here, “lose face” clearly means to appear weak, guilty or foolish before others and therefore feel embarrassed. If we replace it with “feel angry” or “get injured”, the sentence no longer makes sense. But replacing it with “become embarrassed” preserves the intended meaning. Thus, option a) is clearly correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Feel angry” is wrong because anger is a separate emotional reaction and not the meaning of the idiom itself. “Get injured” misinterprets “face” as a purely physical body part rather than a metaphor for reputation. “Feel surprised” is too neutral and does not indicate loss of honour or shame. These options are included to test whether you are thinking literally and emotionally instead of understanding the fixed idiomatic meaning.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that idioms must always have strong or dramatic meanings and may look for options that sound more intense, such as anger or injury. Another mistake is to focus on only one part of the phrase (for example, just “face”) and imagine all possible meanings. Remember that idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings should be learned as units. Practice by noting idioms when you read and writing their explanations in your own words to strengthen memory.

Final Answer:
“Lose face” means become embarrassed or lose respect in the eyes of others.