The policeman said, "Don't worry. We'll find your stolen car. We'll leave no stone unturned."
What does the phrase "We'll leave no stone unturned" mean in the policeman's statement?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
They will search everywhere thoroughly.
Explanation
The question asks for the meaning of the common English idiom "leave no stone unturned" within the context of the policeman's statement.
The phrase "leave no stone unturned" is an idiom that means to do everything possible to achieve a result, to look everywhere, or to use every available resource to solve a problem. It evokes the image of someone looking for a tiny hidden object under rocks and literally flipping over every single stone so that nothing is missed. In the context of a police investigation for a stolen car, it signifies that the police will conduct a comprehensive, exhaustive, and highly thorough search. Therefore, Option 1 is the correct choice.
The other options are incorrect because they distort or contradict the meaning of the idiom:
They will return the car immediately is incorrect because finding a stolen vehicle takes time; the idiom promises an intense search effort, not an instant recovery.
They will not investigate the case is an absolute antonym, implying complete inaction.
They will only search in a few places describes a careless or limited search, which is the exact opposite of what the phrase implies.
Key Points
Idioms are heavily tested in competitive language exams because their meanings cannot be understood literally. To build your vocabulary, group similar idioms together. For instance, leave no stone unturned shares a theme with idioms like explore every avenue, leave no avenue unchecked, and go over with a fine-tooth comb, all of which mean to investigate or search with absolute thoroughness.