English Proverbs — Meaning in Context Choose the BEST interpretation of the proverb as applied in the sentence. Sentence: “Women should be paid the same as men when they do the same job, for, surely what is ‘sauce for the goose’ is ‘sauce for the gander.’”

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: What is thought suitable pay for a man should also be for a woman

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Proverbs condense social principles into memorable phrases. “What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander” asserts that rules applied to one group should apply equally to another, especially when circumstances are comparable. In the given sentence, the topic is equal pay for equal work across genders.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Context: equal remuneration for the same job.
  • Proverb: equal treatment for comparable cases.
  • We must pick the interpretation that fits this pay context most precisely.


Concept / Approach:

While the proverb has a broad meaning (option D), the sentence makes a specific claim about pay parity between men and women. Therefore, the best answer is the concrete application: “What is thought suitable pay for a man should also be for a woman.” Other options are either literal (B), too general (D), or add conditions not stated (E). Option C is close but vague compared with the explicit pay-focus in the sentence.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Extract principle: equal treatment in like cases.2) Bind to context: pay for the same job across genders.3) Prefer the option that states that pay parity directly.4) Eliminate literal or overly general restatements.


Verification / Alternative check:

Paraphrase: “If a man earns a given rate for a job, a woman doing the same job should earn the same rate.” This mirrors the chosen option.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

B: Literal food image; irrelevant.C/D: Vague compared with the sentence’s pay focus.E: Introduces a stricter criterion than the statement (identical jobs vs same job already noted).


Common Pitfalls:

Choosing the general proverb meaning when a context-specific application is asked. Always tie the proverb to the given scenario.


Final Answer:

What is thought suitable pay for a man should also be for a woman

More Questions from Idioms and Phrases

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion