Choose the correct meaning of the idiom:
"A brown study"
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Lost in thought or daydreaming
Explanation
Idiomatic Meaning: The phrase "a brown study" is a classic English idiom used to describe a state of deep, serious, or melancholy absorption in one's own thoughts, often to the point of being entirely oblivious to one's surroundings.
Etymological Root: The idiom dates back to the 16th century, where the word "brown" was historically used to describe gloomy, dark, or serious moods (similar to how we use "blue" today to describe feeling sad). Combining it with "study" (which historically meant a state of mental contemplation) created a term for being deeply lost in thought.
Literal Traps: The other choices ("A room with brown furniture," "A plan for redecorating," and "A study related to earth sciences") are literal interpretations of the individual words and do not reflect the figurative, established meaning of the idiom.
Key Points
Word: A brown study
Meaning: A state of deep abstraction, reverie, or daydreaming.
Grammatical Role: Idiomatic noun phrase (functions to describe someone's mental state).