Question

In the following question, choose the option that best describes the phrase in quotes:

His winning the talent-hunt show was not a 'flash in the pan'.

• A. A noticeable achievement
• B. Something that could be ignored
• C. Indicative of his ability
• D. A brief moment of success or brilliance

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

A brief moment of success or brilliance

'Idiomatic expressions are a type of informal English that have a meaning different from the meaning of the words in the expression.'

"Flash in the pan" is an idiomatic expression that means: 'someone whose success and popularity is short-lived'.

Option D gives a similar explanation for the idiom. Also, it relates to the given sentence: that his winning the talent show was not short-lived. Hence D is the correct option.

Option A also gives an explanation, but it is incomplete. It does refer to a noticeable achievement, but it doesn't refer to it as short-lived. This meaning 'achievement that does not last long' is essential to the idiom.

Option A does not express the complete meaning.

B and C: These options each do not give the correct explanation for the idiomatic expression. They give meanings that are derived from this expression.
Hence options A, B and C are incorrect.