Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Idiom matching exercises evaluate your comprehension of metaphorical expressions. These phrases carry figurative meanings established through historical use or storytelling, and cannot be decoded literally from their individual components.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's find the correct definition for each idiom in Column A:
1. Bury the hatchet: This expression comes from a Native American tradition where negotiating parties physically buried their weapons to signify a truce. It means to make peace or end a conflict. This matches definition R.
2. Bolt from the blue: This idiom evokes the imagery of a lightning bolt striking down from a clear blue sky. It refers to a sudden and completely unexpected event. This matches definition P.
3. Spill the beans: This phrase historically refers to ancient voting methods using colored beans where a dropped jar exposed the results early. It means to reveal a secret prematurely. This matches definition Q.
4. Apple of discord: This expression comes from the Greek myth of Eris throwing a golden apple that caused a fierce argument among goddesses, leading to the Trojan War. It means a cause or subject of dispute. This matches definition S.
Combining these matches in order gives the sequence: 1-R, 2-P, 3-Q, 4-S. This matches option (A).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct combination is 1-R, 2-P, 3-Q, 4-S, which corresponds to option (A).