Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom "to bid defiance" in standard English usage.

Introduction / Context:
Many English idioms come from older literary or legal expressions. The phrase to bid defiance is one such idiom, sometimes seen in older texts, formal writing, or exam questions. Even though it sounds slightly old fashioned, its core meaning is still important. Understanding this expression helps you interpret sentences where someone openly resists or challenges authority, rules, or danger.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The idiom is to bid defiance to someone or something.
• Bid here is used in the sense of give or offer, not in the sense of making a price offer.
• Defiance means open resistance or bold disobedience.
• The options offer contrasting ideas such as apologising, imitating, or bribing.

Concept / Approach:
To bid defiance means to show open resistance or to challenge someone boldly, usually by disregarding authority, rules, or even danger. It suggests a fearless, sometimes reckless attitude, where a person refuses to obey or yield. The phrase does not mean to apologise, to act similarly, or to bribe. Instead, it describes an act of confrontation. The idiom often appears in sentences like He bid defiance to the king's orders, showing that he openly refused to obey. Therefore, the option that matches this idea of reckless disregard and open opposition is the correct one.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Break down the phrase: bid (offer) + defiance (open resistance). The sense is to display or give open resistance. Step 2: Identify that this involves consciously ignoring or rejecting authority or rules. Step 3: Look at the options for a phrase that includes reckless or open disregard for something. Step 4: Option A, to disregard rules or authority recklessly and openly, clearly captures the meaning. Step 5: Ensure that none of the other options relate to open resistance; they concern apology, imitation, or bribery instead.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert each option into an example sentence. The rebels bid defiance to the government can be rephrased as The rebels disregarded the government's authority recklessly and openly, which preserves the meaning. Rewriting it as The rebels apologised, acted in a like manner, or bribed the government clearly changes the meaning completely. Literary examples also show that bid defiance is used when people stand up to rulers, laws, or dangers without fear, reinforcing that the correct sense is bold, often reckless opposition.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
To apologize sincerely for past mistakes: This is wrong because apologising is an act of regret and submission, the opposite of open defiance.
To act in a similar or like manner: This is wrong because imitation does not involve any resistance or confrontation.
To bribe someone in secret: This is wrong because bribery is a hidden attempt to influence, not an open challenge or refusal to obey.

Common Pitfalls:
The word bid can mislead students into thinking about financial bids or polite expressions such as bid farewell. Others may see defiance and think only of strong feelings of anger rather than active resistance. To avoid confusion, always treat bid defiance as a fixed phrase meaning to show open resistance to someone or something. Recognising that defiance is about bold disobedience helps you choose the correct option quickly.

Final Answer:
The idiom to bid defiance means To disregard rules or authority recklessly and openly.