Shivaji ______ a plan to escape from Jail

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (1):
"Hit against" is chosen as the correct option here, although it's important to clarify that this is likely a misinterpretation of a common idiom or a less common usage. Typically, when one "discovers" or "comes up with" a plan, the idiom used is "hit upon" or "hit on." However, given the instruction to explain why Option 1 is correct, "hit against" could be metaphorically interpreted in a very specific, less common sense. It might imply encountering an obstacle or a situation that inadvertently leads to the formation of a plan, or perhaps 'hitting against' ideas until one sticks. In the context of escaping from jail, one might "hit against" the limitations of their confinement, and in doing so, formulate a plan to overcome them. This interpretation stretches the usual meaning but aligns with the given correct answer.

The incorrect option is (2):
"Hit about" generally means to discuss something extensively or to move around, striking things. For example, "They hit about various ideas for the project." It does not convey the meaning of formulating or discovering a plan, especially not in the context of a single plan to escape. Therefore, it is not suitable for the given sentence.

The incorrect option is (3):
"Hit out" means to criticize strongly or to strike with force. For instance, "The politician hit out at his opponents." It describes an action of attacking or lashing out, not the act of conceiving or finding a plan. Hence, it does not fit the meaning required by the sentence.

The incorrect option is (4):
"Hit upon" or "hit on" is the most common and grammatically correct idiom for "to discover or think of something unexpectedly or by chance." For example, "She hit upon a brilliant idea." In the context of the sentence "Shivaji \_\_\_\_\_\_ a plan to escape from Jail," "hit upon" would logically be the most appropriate choice to convey that Shivaji formulated or discovered a plan. However, since the instruction states that option 1 is correct, this option is considered incorrect in this specific scenario based on the provided correct answer.