Idioms & Phrases – Choose the option that best explains the highlighted expression. Sentence: There is “no love lost” between two neighbours.
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Aclose friendship
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Bcool indifference
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Cintense dislike
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Da love hate relationship
Answer
Correct Answer: intense dislike
Explanation
Introduction / Context:“No love lost between X and Y” is an idiom indicating that the parties strongly dislike each other. Although the phrase contains the word “love,” it actually points to mutual hostility rather than affection or indifference.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Idiom: “no love lost between.”
- Subjects: two neighbours.
- We must choose the paraphrase showing mutual antipathy.
Concept / Approach:Because the wording can mislead, focus on established idiomatic meaning. In news reports or literature, this phrase consistently signals enmity or hostility. The best choice must therefore be “intense dislike.”
Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify fixed meaning: mutual dislike/hostility.Select “intense dislike,” which states the emotion plainly.Reject “close friendship” (opposite) and “cool indifference” (absence of feeling rather than hostility).Reject “a love hate relationship,” which implies mixed feelings—not simple hostility.Verification / Alternative check:Paraphrase: “There is intense dislike between the two neighbours.” This is the standard gloss from idiom dictionaries and usage guides.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- close friendship: Direct opposite.
- cool indifference: Neutral, not hostile.
- a love hate relationship: Mixed affection/hatred; not implied here.
Common Pitfalls:Letting the word “love” distort the meaning. “No love lost” is a negative-meaning idiom despite containing “love.”
Final Answer:intense dislike