From the sublime to the ridiculous means from something excellent or serious to something absurd. The correct answer is this meaning because the expression is used figuratively, not only by its literal words.

Examples:

• The meeting went from the sublime to the ridiculous.
• In an HSC essay, From the sublime to the ridiculous can express this meaning: from something excellent or serious to something absurd.
• When this expression appears in a passage, connect From the sublime to the ridiculous with the idea of from something excellent or serious to something absurd.