In each of the following questions, an idiom or phrase is given. Choose the alternative that best expresses its meaning in simple English. The expression here is: To play fast and loose.

Introduction / Context:
This question examines the meaning of the idiom to play fast and loose, which is a fixed expression in English. Idioms often have meanings that cannot be directly understood from the individual words, so learners must rely on prior exposure and memory. This particular idiom is used to criticise behaviour that is careless, irresponsible, or untrustworthy, especially in dealing with people or important matters. Understanding such idioms improves comprehension of newspapers, literature, and advanced spoken English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Idiom given: To play fast and loose.
• Options: To be narrow minded, To play a good game, To act in an unreliable way, To defeat a person.
• No supporting sentence is provided, so we rely on the standard definition of the idiom.
• The task is to select the option that captures the recognised meaning in everyday and literary usage.

Concept / Approach:
The idiom to play fast and loose historically referred to dishonest or inconsistent behaviour, often in games of chance or in keeping promises. In modern usage, it means to behave in a way that is not reliable, to treat rules, promises, or people in a careless or deceptive manner, and to shift one's position for convenience. The approach is to match this concept with the options and to eliminate choices that describe unrelated qualities, such as being narrow minded or physically defeating someone.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the general meaning of the idiom: behaving irresponsibly or without regard for commitments. Step 2: Compare this with the option To act in an unreliable way. This directly reflects careless and untrustworthy behaviour. Step 3: Examine To be narrow minded, which refers to being intolerant or unwilling to consider new ideas, and does not match the idiom. Step 4: Consider To play a good game, which is literal and has no relation to dishonesty or inconsistency. Step 5: Consider To defeat a person, which suggests victory but not the specific idea of unreliable or deceitful behaviour. Step 6: Conclude that To act in an unreliable way is the correct interpretation of the idiom.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, place the idiom in sample sentences. For example, the manager was accused of playing fast and loose with company funds, which clearly does not mean that he was narrow minded or that he defeated anyone in a game. Rather, it implies that he dealt with money in a careless or dishonest way. Another example is you should not play fast and loose with people's feelings, meaning you should not treat emotions lightly or insincerely. In both examples, the central idea is unreliability and lack of seriousness, which matches the chosen option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
To be narrow minded: This describes a lack of openness or tolerance but does not express the idea of inconsistent or deceptive behaviour.
To play a good game: This could be a literal description of sports or competition and is unrelated to the idiom's critical sense.
To defeat a person: This refers to winning or overcoming someone, which is not the meaning of playing fast and loose in moral or behavioural contexts.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may incorrectly assume that idioms with the word play relate to games or sports, or they might select an option that sounds serious without checking the actual meaning. Another pitfall is ignoring the historical and figurative nature of such expressions. To avoid mistakes, it is important to learn idioms in context, note their typical usage in sentences, and connect them with real life situations where the behaviour described would be criticised or praised.

Final Answer:
The idiom To play fast and loose means To act in an unreliable way.