Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: To take the responsibility of some misdemeanor
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This idiom question is based on the expression "Carry the can," which is more common in British English but also understood in many exam contexts. It is frequently used when someone has to accept blame or responsibility, often for something that others have also done or that is not entirely their fault.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To "carry the can" means to accept blame or responsibility for something that has gone wrong. It often implies that the person taking the blame may not be the only one at fault or may even be taking the blame on behalf of others (becoming a kind of scapegoat). In exam language, this is neatly captured by "To take the responsibility of some misdemeanor."
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall a typical sentence: "When the project failed, the junior manager had to carry the can for the entire team."
Step 2: Understand that this means he had to accept the blame or responsibility for the failure.
Step 3: Examine option D: it directly mentions "take the responsibility of some misdemeanor," which aligns well with the idea of accepting blame when something goes wrong.
Step 4: Check that the other options do not involve responsibility or blame.
Step 5: Select option D as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a headline: "Minister forced to carry the can for policy disaster." Rephrasing it as "Minister forced to take responsibility for policy disaster" leaves the meaning unchanged. This shows that the idiom "carry the can" is indeed about bearing responsibility, especially when things have gone wrong.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: "To listen to something with considerable doubt" is more like "take with a pinch of salt," not "carry the can."
Option B: "To be impatient" has nothing to do with blame or responsibility.
Option C: "To be in touch" refers to maintaining contact or communication, which again is not the sense of the idiom.
Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse this idiom with phrases involving "can" as a container or as ability ("can do"). It helps to think of "carrying the can" as carrying the burden or load of blame. Whenever you see the idiom in articles, it almost always appears in contexts of scandals, failures, or mistakes, reinforcing the idea of taking responsibility or becoming the one who is officially blamed.
Final Answer:
The idiom "Carry the can" means: To take the responsibility of some misdemeanor (often to accept blame for something that has gone wrong).
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