In the following question on idioms and phrases, choose the option that best explains the saying “A picture paints a thousand words”.

Introduction:
This idiom question focuses on the famous saying A picture paints a thousand words. Idioms and proverbs like this are widely used in English to express general truths or common experiences in a memorable way. Understanding this expression helps you interpret comments about communication, media, art, and presentations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Idiom: A picture paints a thousand words. - Four alternative explanations are provided. - One option must capture the idiomatic meaning, not just a literal interpretation.

Concept / Approach:
The saying A picture paints a thousand words means that a single image can communicate complex ideas, emotions, and information more quickly and effectively than a long verbal or written description. It does not claim that description is impossible or that only painters can express feelings. Instead, it emphasises the powerful impact of visual representation. Therefore, the correct option will refer to conveying meaning or essence more effectively than words alone.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Think about situations where a photograph, diagram, or painting instantly makes something clear without a long explanation. Step 2: Read option A: An image of a subject conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a description does. This matches the central idea of the idiom. Step 3: Check option B: It is impossible to describe a beautiful sight. This is too extreme; the idiom does not say impossible, only that images can be more effective. Step 4: Option C focuses on a painter versus a writer, but the idiom is about images in general, not about one profession being better. Step 5: Option D is about a beautiful poem creating a mental picture, which is a different point about poetry, not visual images themselves. Step 6: Thus, option A is the correct explanation.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider the use of diagrams in textbooks. A complex process is often understood much faster through a single labelled diagram than through pages of text. This is exactly what the idiom expresses. If we try to force option B, C, or D into these situations, they do not fully match the observed effect of visuals aiding understanding quickly and powerfully.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B exaggerates by claiming that description is impossible, which is not what the idiom implies. Option C tries to turn the proverb into a comparison between professions, which is never mentioned in the original saying. Option D shifts the focus to poetry and internal mental pictures rather than the direct power of an actual image or illustration, so it misses the core idea of the idiom.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students are attracted to options that mention beauty or creativity, thinking that the idiom must relate to art in that narrow sense. However, the saying is used in many practical contexts, such as data visualisation, presentations, and advertising. Always look for the option that captures the broader communication principle rather than a narrower or more emotional interpretation.

Final Answer:
An image of a subject conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a description does is the correct explanation of the idiom A picture paints a thousand words.