Choose the correct meaning of the idiom:
Beard the lion in his den
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Confront someone boldly in their own territory
Explanation
Core Meaning: The idiom "beard the lion in his den" means to directly confront, challenge, or face a powerful, dangerous, or influential person right in their own home, office, or stronghold where they feel most secure.
Other Options: "Tease a dangerous person" and "Attack from behind" misinterpret the bold, face-to-face nature of the confrontation. "Pet a lion" is an incorrect, literal reading of the words. The old verb "to beard" historically meant to pluck or pull someone's beard as an act of extreme defiance.
Key Points
Core Definition: Idiomatic language relies on vivid, metaphorical scenarios—like walking into a lion's lair to defy it—to describe courageous real-world actions.
Grammatical Role: Identifying a complex verbal idiomatic phrase functioning as a predicate to describe a deliberate act of bravery or confrontation.