Choose the option which best completes the sentence.
When her daughter didn't come home on the last bus with the other girls, Mrs Mehta was _____, she was terrified that something dreadful had happened to her.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
at her wits' end
Explanation
Idiomatic Alignment: The idiom "at one's wits' end" means to be so worried, confused, or anxious that you do not know what to do next. This perfectly matches the context of a mother who is terrified because her daughter missed the last bus home.
Distinction from Alternatives:
At the last straw is a misinterpretation of "the last straw," which refers to the final problem in a series of troubles that makes a situation unbearable. Furthermore, it does not grammatically fit the preposition "at" in this manner.
At sixes and sevens means a state of total confusion, disarray, or disagreement, which does not accurately capture intense personal terror or worry.
At the drop of a hat means doing something instantly or without any hesitation, which is completely unrelated to anxiety or fear.
Key Points
Word: at her wits' end
Meaning: A state of extreme distress, anxiety, or worry where a person feels they have exhausted all options or coping mechanisms.
Grammatical Role: Idiomatic prepositional phrase (functions as a subjective complement completing the predicate after the linking verb "was").