IDIOMS — Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiom in standard English usage. Sentence: 'The thief took to his heels when he saw a policeman on the beat.'

Introduction / Context:
Idioms condense rich meaning into compact phrases that cannot be decoded literally. The expression “to take to one’s heels” appears in crime reports, thrillers, and everyday storytelling to describe what a suspect does when trying to avoid capture. The sentence provides context: a thief notices a policeman “on the beat” (patrolling) and reacts immediately.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Subject: a thief notices a patrolling policeman.
• Idiom: “took to his heels.”
• Pragmatic implication: the thief wants to avoid arrest or questioning.

Concept / Approach:
“Take to one’s heels” is an established idiom meaning “run away quickly; flee.” It evokes the image of turning on one’s heels and sprinting off. Because idioms are non-literal, we should not interpret “heels” as physical pain. Instead, we map it to the notion of flight and evasion, a common collocation in police narratives.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify the trigger: presence of a policeman on patrol.2) Recognize idiom: “took to his heels.”3) Recall conventional meaning: to flee or run away.4) Select the best paraphrase: “ran away from the scene.”

Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute the idiom with its meaning: “The thief ran away when he saw a policeman.” The sentence remains coherent and natural, confirming the choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A) Physical pain is a literal misread and not idiomatic.C) “Confronted” contradicts the idea of fleeing.D) Indecision does not match the decisive action implied.

Common Pitfalls:
Interpreting idioms literally or confusing them with similar-sounding expressions. Always check whether the phrase is a set expression with a fixed figurative sense.

Final Answer:
ran away from the scene