Basic Details
Word: Restrain
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To hold back or limit something or someone.
Synonyms: Contain, restrict, confine
Antonyms: Free, release, unleash
Idioms and Phrases
- Restrain oneself: To stop oneself from doing something. Example: "Even though he was excited, he had to restrain himself from shouting out the answer."
- Hold back the flood: To prevent something from happening or to stop a lot of emotions from coming out. Example: "She tried to hold back the flood of tears when she heard the sad news."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The teacher had to restrain the students from getting too noisy during the class.
Example 2: He used a seatbelt to restrain himself during the car ride to ensure safety.
Example 3: Sometimes, it's important to restrain our impulses and think before we act.
Fun Fact
The word "restrain" comes from the Latin word "restringere," which means to bind back or tie up. Over time, it evolved and made its way into Middle English as "restreinen," eventually becoming "restrain" in the modern English we use today.
Famous Quote
"The only way to deal with temptation is to yield to it. ... You can’t restrain it." Oscar Wilde
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "restrain" mean?
a) To let go
b) To hold back
c) To encourage
d) To teach
Answer: b) To hold back
2. Which of these is a synonym of "restrain"?
a) Unleash
b) Contain
c) Free
d) Release
Answer: b) Contain
3. Which is an antonym of "restrain"?
a) Contain
b) Restrict
c) Release
d) Confine
Answer: c) Release
4. Which sentence uses "restrain" correctly?
a) She had to restrain herself from eating the whole cake.
b) They restrain a bird in the sky.
c) The dog was restrain at the park.
d) He wants to restrain a fish with his hands.
Answer: a) She had to restrain herself from eating the whole cake.
5. Which idiom means to stop oneself from doing something?
a) Hold back the flood
b) Restrain oneself
c) Let go
d) Go for it
Answer: b) Restrain oneself
