Question

Choose the best option to complete the conversation.
Jayati: Oops! Did I say, Meghalaya is in Assam? That was _______.

• A. on the tip of my tongue
• B. a tongue lashing
• C. a slip of the tongue
• D. so forked tongue

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

a slip of the tongue

The expression, 'Oops! Did I say, Meghalaya is in Assam?' tells us that Jayati realises that what she said is incorrect. Her next sentence, 'That was ___' would convey, 'That was a mistake'. The expression, 'slip of the tongue' means 'a minor mistake in writing or speech'. Given this meaning, this expression meaningfully completes the given sentence. Hence, option C is correct.

The expression, 'on the tip of one's tongue' means 'almost but not quite brought to mind or spoken'. It means that you think you know something and that you will be able to remember it very soon; however, at the moment, you are unable to recall it'. The expression, 'tongue lashing' means 'a loud or severe scolding'. The expression, 'forked tongue' means 'to tell lies or say one thing and mean something else'. Given these meanings, the expressions in options A, B and D do not meaningfully complete the given conversation. Hence, options A, B and D are incorrect.