SSC GD 2026 PYQ — Question 62

Correct Answer

To evoke strong emotions, usually feelings of sadness, pity, or sympathy, by causing deep emotional stirring

Explanation

The idiom "tug at the heartstrings" refers to deeply moving someone on an emotional level. Historically, before modern medicine, people believed that literal tendons or "strings" held the heart in place and were responsible for deep emotional feelings. Today, the phrase is used metaphorically to describe stories, music, movies, or events that evoke profound feelings of compassion, love, or sadness.

The other choices are incorrect. Keeping someone awaiting a decision is better described by the idiom "string someone along." Having great influence over someone's actions is closer to "pulling the strings." Extending or unwinding a physical cord is a completely literal trap option that misses the figurative meaning of the phrase.

Key Points

Idioms that feature biological parts combined with actions of movement (such as tug at the heartstrings, touch a nerve, or break one's heart) are systematically linked to psychological states, emotional responses, or deep mental sensations rather than physical objects.