In the following English idiom question, the phrase "Pay lip service" is given. Out of the four options, choose the alternative that best expresses the true meaning of this expression in the context of attitudes and behaviour.

Introduction / Context:
The idiom "pay lip service" is frequently used in English to criticise people or organisations that express support for an idea only in words, without taking real action. Exam questions about this idiom evaluate whether students can interpret attitudes such as hypocrisy, superficial agreement, or lack of genuine commitment. Understanding this phrase helps in reading opinion pieces, political commentary, and social discussions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The idiom in question is "Pay lip service".
- The options are: candidly, pretend to regard, encouraging, and to defend.
- Only one option correctly reflects the idiomatic sense of insincere verbal support.
- We assume contexts such as public speeches, policies, or social issues where people may claim to support a cause.

Concept / Approach:
To "pay lip service" means to express approval or support only through words, without any real intention to act on those words. The term "lip" signals that the support is only at the level of the mouth, not from the heart or from genuine effort. Therefore, the correct answer must include the idea of pretending to value or support something without actually doing anything meaningful about it.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall example sentences such as "The company pays lip service to environmental protection but continues to pollute" or "Many leaders pay lip service to equality without changing unfair laws". Step 2: Interpret these sentences. The criticism is that the people involved only make hollow statements and do not back them up with real actions. Step 3: Examine option B, "Pretend to regard". Although the wording is brief, it suggests pretending to care about or respect something, which fits the idea of insincere verbal support. Step 4: Evaluate option A, "Candidly". This means speaking honestly and openly, which is the opposite of pretending; it cannot represent lip service. Step 5: Evaluate option C, "Encouraging". This is a positive attitude, but it does not capture the idea of superficial or hypocritical support. Step 6: Evaluate option D, "To defend". This implies actively protecting or arguing for something, which indicates real commitment rather than empty words. Step 7: Therefore, only option B expresses the central idea of acting as if one regards something but only in appearance, not in sincere practice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard definitions describe "pay lip service to something" as "to say that you approve of or support something, but not to prove it by what you actually do". If we restate option B more fully as "pretend to regard or support", it aligns perfectly with this explanation. Substituting "pretend to regard" into examples like "They only pretend to regard environmental issues" preserves the criticism of insincerity. The other options, when substituted into those sentences, either change the meaning completely or make them illogical.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- "Candidly" suggests honest and straightforward speech, without hiding anything, which clashes directly with the idea of hypocritical pretence.
- "Encouraging" indicates offering support in a positive way, but it does not necessarily imply that this support is only verbal and insincere.
- "To defend" describes strong, active support, such as arguing in favour of a person or cause, and therefore is opposite to the weak, superficial support implied by lip service.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may misinterpret "lip service" as simply "speaking in favour of something", ignoring the negative implication of insincerity. Others may focus only on the word "service" and think about helpful actions, when in fact the idiom criticises lack of action. To avoid these mistakes, it is important to remember that the expression almost always appears in negative or critical contexts, often with verbs like "only", "merely", or "just", signalling that the support is not genuine.

Final Answer:
The idiom "Pay lip service" means pretend to regard, that is, to show insincere verbal support without real commitment.