Question

Identify the meaning of the given phrase/idiom:
Clown around
A) Make others feel silly and stupid
B) Be an object of ridicule
C) Join a circus company
D) Behave in a silly way

Answer 1

Hint:In the given question, we have to identify the synonym. A synonym is a word or phrase in the same language that has the same or almost the same meaning as another word or phrase, such as close and near.

Complete answer:
A phrase is a small group of words that function as a single unit. These units are components of a larger sentence or clause. In contrast to idioms, phrases are direct and to the point. They do not have figurative meanings; the expression means exactly what the words indicate.

In this question, we have to identify the meaning of the idiom: Clown around
Idioms are a group of words or phrases that have a well-established and well-known figurative meaning. As a result, these words cannot be taken literally because they would sound farcical. Idioms can also appear grammatically unusual at times.

Let us evaluate the options:
Option A) Make others feel silly and stupid – This option is incorrect because clown around is used for oneself and not for others. It refers to engaging in playful activities to provide entertainment and not to make others feel silly and stupid.
Option B) Be an object of ridicule – This option is inaccurate since it implies being subjected to nasty jokes or being mocked in a hurting manner. A person will not clown around to get harsh treatment.
Option C) Join a circus company – This option is incorrect because the word “clown” in the idiom is not to be taken literally. Idioms are common expressions that have a different meaning from their literal form.
Option D) Behave in a silly way – This option is correct because 'clown around' means 'to join someone in acting silly' or 'to act in a silly way'. Thus, it is the most appropriate answer for this sentence. An example of it used in a sentence is - As a youngster, he was always clowning around in the classroom.

Hence option D is correct i.e. the meaning of the idiom clown around is to behave in a silly way.

Note: The given question requires one-word substitution. We have to find out the meaning of “clown around” and then correlate it with the most appropriate option. It is to be noted that idioms are not to be taken as per their exact meaning; rather their context and intention are to be looked at.