QUESTION
In each sentence, the highlighted word is used in different ways. Choose the option/ options in which the usage of the word is correct.
- B and D
- C only
- A and D
- All of the above
ANSWER
Option 4.
The usage is correct in all the sentences.
In A – down pat means mastered or learned perfectly.
In B – ten pounds down means lacking a specified amount (here 10 pounds)
In C – play down means to treat as of little importance; belittle
In D – tone down means to make less vivid, harsh, or violent; moderate
More on B:
Do 10 pounds short and 10 pounds down mean the same ?
In formal context, yes. They both mean the same thing.
But in modern usage, 10 pounds down would be used in context of betting, or trading where one party is losing money on the principal amount wagered / invested.
10 Pounds Short is used when:
In the above context. When I am low on cash.
Say you and your friends go out to eat, and the bill amounts to Rs. 1000.
Now, you only have Rs. 900.
In this, context, you can say that you're Rs 100 short.
That's in modern English usage. In this question, the expression 10 pounds down is good as well.
You can use it in the above example as being Rs 100 down.
I mentioned that because these expressions are used differently in formal and informal / common language use. just FYI, nothing testable here.
Both expressions are correct. It's that "Down" is generally used with betting and investing and short is generally used to show a lack of money. Both can be used interchangeably.
And in this example. we have disregarded "Short" because the word we are concerned with is "Down"