Idioms and Phrases

 

Idioms and Phrase

 

SSC CGL Main Examination contains questions (usually 10) based on Idioms and Phrases. These questions are asked in two different ways. In the first type of questions the aspirants are required to choose the option which best expresses the meaning of the given idiom/phrase. In the second type of questions, a sentence is given with an idiom/a phrase printed in bold, italic or underlined. The aspirants are required to choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.                                

These questions are designed to test the aspirant's ability to express things in an effective and impressive manner.

 

Quick tallies

§  Read the sentence to grasp its meaning.

§  Read all the given options and choose the proper meaning of the idiom/phrase.

§  If you don't know the meaning, try to guess it according to the sense of the sentence.

§  Try to recall whether you have heard or read the idiom/phrase before and in what context or sense.

§  You can also reach the correct answer by eliminating the wrong ones.                                    

 

Heart and soul (the central core of something) He threw himself heart and soul to pass the examination.

Head and shoulder (above all): Shri Man Mohan Singh is head and shoulder above his counter parts.

Helter skelter (disorderly): On arrival of the police the strikers ran helter skelter.

First and foremost (first of all): To be sincere and devoted is the first and foremost requirement for this job.

Might and main (great physical strength): If you study with might and main you will positively secure the success. Milk and water (insipid weak): The foreign policy of India is nothing more than a milk and water policy.

Live-wire (energetic person): India needs live-wire scientists who can put the country on the fast track of progress.

Ins and outs (the intricate details of situation): Before starting any new business you must know all ins and outs of it.

Intents and purposes (almost + completely): My wife is the in charge of the house for all intents and purposes.

To be weak or vacant in the upper story (lack in willpower) I can't assign such work to him, as he is vacant in the upper story.

To be under one's thumb (under the control of someone): She is no more under the thumb of her mother in law.

To be at daggers drawn (to be angry with each other):

Both (he brothers are at daggers drawn.

To pull a long face (look sad): My son pulled a long face when he was scolded by his mother.

To play truant (absent from school without leave): It is a very bad habit of the students to play truant from class.

To flag a dead horse (to waste time to do something): The rivals always flag a dead horse to insult their enemies.

 

To fall flat (to fail miserably): The Principal's speech fell flat on the students.

To get into hot water (in trouble): The manager got into hot water participating in the union meeting.

Fair field and no favour Honesty and sincerity all the staff, want fair field and no favour in the matter of transfer.

Far and wide (having great extent) Many tourists come to see the Taj from far and wide.

To move heaven and earth (do everything possible to bring): Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh is move heaven and earth to find the solution of Kashmir problem.

To make light (to treat as in significant): of She is in the habit of making light of the advice of the doctors.

To make both ends meet (to spend no more than the money one has) Sudden increase in prices has made it difficult for the employees to make both ends meet.

To gild the pill (to cover a disagreeable fact with on agreeable scenario): On one hand he was issued charge sheet and the officer gild the pill by verbally praising his sincere working.

To stem the tide of (to resist): As a true social worker, first of all you stem the tide of poverty and unemployment.

To speak volumes for (to express something clearly and completely): The sacrifice made by freedom fighters speak, volumes for their true love for the country.

Rhyme or reason (without meaning): He resigned from the service without any rhyme or reason.

Right and left (on all sides or everywhere): The robbers looted the village right and left and fled away.

Safe and sound (unharmed) She reached there safe and sound.

To go on fool's errand (a fruitless mission): The key was in his pocket and he sent me on a fool's errand to search the same at the shopping complex. .

To gain ground (to progress or increase): The belief in the abolition of Sati rites has gained ground.

The last nail in the coffin (to shorten life): The reservation policy of VP Singh was the last nail in the coffin of Janta Party.

Thick and thin (good and bad times): I shall support you through thick and thin.

To make sure (to ensure): I went to the college to make sure if our exams would commence from the next week.

To make neither head nor tail (to fail to understand): The leader spoke so rapidly that the audience could make neither head nor tail of his lecture.

To nip in the bud (to check): The militancy must be nipped in the bud.

Tooth and nail (with every available resourced): Students of general caste opposed the reservation policy tooth and nail but of no avail.

To knit the brow (to frown): My father always knits the brow at everything I do.

To kick the bucket (to die): She had kicked the bucket after suffering from cancer for several years.

To keep someone at arm's length (to avoid): She is not a good girl and must be kept at arm's length.

Confusion worse confounded (a still worse state of disorder): Such demonstrations and communal speeches in present situation make confusion worse confounded.

Cut and dried (fixed): There is no cut and dried method of English speaking.

To keep abreast of (to have recent information): It is very important for the young persons to keep abreast of all current events.

To keep one's fingers crossed (to wish someone well for event): We should keep our fingers crossed till the last ball is bowled.

Nook and corner (at every corner): I searched her in every nook and corner.

Now and then (sometimes): I visit church now and then.

Stuff and nonsense (foolishness) The judge found all his arguments stuff and nonsense.

Sum and substance (a summary): The sum and substance of the paragraph must be reflected in a good precis.

To put all eggs in one basket (to believe completely): It is a wrong policy to put all eggs in one basket.

To pour oil on troubled water (to calm someone down): Both of them were fighting for the property but the justified decision of their mother poured oil on troubled- water.

To go with tail between the legs (being shy): The Minister was talking a lot about the values of honesty etc. but when Ramesh reminded him about the money paid to him for the work, he went away with his tail between the legs.

To get off scot free (free from harm or penalty): He got off scot free for lack of evidence.

To be worth its weight in gold (very useful): For a hungry man a piece of bread is often worth its weight in gold.

To be lost in clouds (lost in thoughts) Philosophers are often lost in clouds.

Pins and needless (in a state of tense anticipation): It is unwise to use swords and scissors where pins and needless can do.

Pin money (cash for day to day): My wife asked me to enhance her pin money.

Out of gear (in worse condition): The strike of employees always put the Government machinery out of gear.

Out and out (absolute or definitely): Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader out and out.

Hornet's nest (unusual difficulty): The speaker of Lok Sabha stirred up hornet's nest by referring to impending changes in several rules.

Hole and corner policy (secret): The officer adopted hole and corner to get his personal assistant transferred.

To live in a fool's paradise (foolish ideas): It is wrong to live in a fool's paradise and do not put hard to achieve success.

To lie in the bed one has made (suffer for one's misdeed): He has made his fortune so he must lie in the bed he has made.

To give one a long rope (to allow a person full scope to defeat): He never gives his employees a long rope and so you will find his office neat and tidy.

To give currency (to help spread something): The Government refused to give currency to a number of a secrets relating to national security.

To grease the palm (to give money as bribe): You cannot get this contract unless you grease the palm of the officials.

To have gift of the gab (the ability to talk readily): Ram is simply middle pass but he has the gift of the gab.

To have an iron will (strong will): A person with iron will can achieve anything.

Once and again (a few times): I have told you once and again that I have no money to purchase the car at the J moment.

One's Achilles heel (the most weak point): Her involvement in corruption scandal has been her Achilles' heel.

To turn the corner (to advance beyond a difficult stage):

He turned the corner by passing the examinations with good marks.

To take to one's heels (fled away): On seeing the police, the thief took to his heels.

Over and above (in addition to): I paid him rupees ten thousand over and above what he demanded.

Overhead and ears (completely / wholly): He is over head and ears in debt.

To make much ado about nothing (make a fuss): He is a quarrelsome man, he makes much ado about nothing.

To make hay while the sun shines (make the best of a good situation): As the congress party came into power, he became chairman of UTI. He rightly says to make hay while the sun shines.

To make the most of (to use the greatest advantaged) Students should make the most of their time if they want to secure good marks.

To be at a loss (to not know what do or say): In interview he found himself at a loss, could not answer even very simple questions.

To be at one's wit's end (not knowing what to do): Seeing the income tax officer at his shop, he was at his wit's end.

To come to a standstill (to come to stay): As the car came to stand still for want of petrol the thief ran away on foot.

Open and above board (in the open): He believes in open and above board discussion on every point before arriving at a conclusion.

Seamy side of life (the most unpleasant): The present day cinema depicts the seamy side of life.

Spick and span (neat and clean): Mr. Jawahar Lal Nehru was always spick and span in his dressing style.

Null and void (having no legal effect): The law passed by legislature was declared and void by the Supreme Court.

Often and often (sometimes): She visits her parents often and often.

To steal a march (to gain advantage unserved): Shalini stole a march on her friend in marketing her products slowly and steadily.

To steer clear of You should try to steer clear of such nasty people.

To give the devil his dues (to given you enemy a proper credit): No doubt he is a naughty man, but to give the devil his dues he is dedicated and hard working.

To give chapter and verse for a thing (a detailed source for an opinion): He can give chapter and verse for all the allegations, he made against the minister.

To add a new feather in one's cap (great achievement):

His success in his ICFAI exams has added a new feather in his cap.

To be at sea (confused): My wife is quite at sea in maths. To be in fix (to be in dilemma): The police department was in a fix about the threatening calls sent by the militants.

To lead up the garden path (deceive someone): The tricky traders try to lead the customers up the garden path by assuring them of warranty and good discount.

To hang fire (to hold back as if in suspense): The problem of poverty has been hanging fire for the last fifty five years.

To have feet of clay (a weakness which was previously unsuspected): The inquiry has revealed that most of the politicians have feet of clay.

To have thing at one's finger tips (complete knowledge): He has all the statistics of employment at his fingertips.

To have an axe to grind (self-interest): I am sure, he has an axe to grind in this proposal.

Watch and ward (a continuous watch): At least three guards are required to have perfect watch and ward of the building.

Whips and spur He completed the project whips and spur.

Willy silly (weather one agrees or not): Willy silly you are to obey the orders of your parents.

Take bull by horns (handle difficult situation): One should have courage to take bull by horns if one wants to succeed in life.

The die is cast The die is cast there is not point of discussing over it now.

Flesh and blood (physical existence): I am only flesh and blood as anybody else.

Gall and worm wood (bitter resentment): Her remarks about his father were gall and worm wood to him.

To rub one the wrong way (to irritate): If you rub him the wrong way, he will oppose the proposal. Seriously, you, will be able to read between the lines.

To rule the roost (to be the boss or manager): Today the scheduled caste minister rules the roost in the Government.

Yellow press (sensational journalism): These days newspapers with yellow press are earning like anything.

To add fuel to the flame or fire (make a problem worse): The arrest of the leader of agitators, the Government only added fuel to the flame.

To assume airs (to be proud of): He is in the habit of assuming airs in the presence of his in-laws.

Pick and choose (to select with a great case): The management adopted pick and choose policy in the promotions from clerical to assistant cadre.

Through fire and water (endure danger): He can go through fire and water to achieve his goal.

Time and tide (time and opportunity) Time and tide waits for none.

To and from (back and forth): What are the to and from taxi charges for Alwar to Delhi?

To be not worth one's salt (not deserving): You should not help Ramesh, he is not worth his salt.

To be in tune (agreeing): The Principal asked the students if they were in tune for organizing the annual function.

To be out of sorts (to feel slightly ill): She had been out of sorts for several days and so could not do her office work.

Herculean task (a difficult task): Getting selected in LAS is a herculean task for everybody.

Hit below the belt (to deal someone an unfair blow): By making his private secretes public he hit him below the belt.

Hither and thither (everywhere, here and there): He is in the habit of putting his goods hither and thither.

To take people by storm (impress greatly): The refusal

by Soniya to accept the Prime Minister ship took the nation by storm.

To the backbone (the roughly): We need leaders who are honest to the backbone.

Toil and moil (to hard work) It require too much of toil and moil to secure first position.

Tom, Dick and Harry (everyone): Every Tom, Dick and Harry knows that MS Dhoni is a wonderful cricketer.

Ups and downs (the mixture of good and bad): There are ups and downs in every business.

Uphill task (to perform well): Passing CAT examination is an uphill task.

Warp and woof (a base or a foundation): Blood and bones are warp and woof of human body.

To put a spoke in one's wheel (hinder someone): Every competitor in the market is trying to put spoke in the wheel of others.

To ripe up old sores (reopen the quarrel): Ramesh and his wife can't live in peace, they are always ripping up old soros

Fire and brimstone (to punish): The USA has threatened Iraq with fire and brimstone if she refuses follow the resolutions of UNO.

Fire and fury (full of haughty temper): The speech of the leader was full of fire and fury.

To be in the good books A good student is always in the good books of his teachers.

To be under a cloud (under suspicious): His connections with the militants have brought him under a cloud.

To be at large (to be free): The man who tried to kill her is still at large.

To get oneself into a mess (get into muddle): He seems to have got himself into a mess because of the involvement of his wife in a criminal case.

To go the dogs (to ruin): He went to the dogs because of his son's involvement in the murder of a girl.

To keep body and soul together (to manage to keep existing): Because of the inflation it has become difficult to keep body and soul together.

To keep the wolf from the door (to prevent starvation): In our country the poor have to struggle hard to keep the wolf from the door.

To break the news (to tell someone some important news): He broke the news of her husband's death very cautiously in order to lessen the shock.

To burn the midnight oil (to work very hard): I have to bur the midnight oil for several days in order to complete the work in time.

To be up to (to be equal): He is not up to all the tricks of this new business.

To be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth (to be born in wealhy family): Indira Gandhi born with a silver spoon in her mouth,

To lose ground (fail to hold): He has lost ground and so his opponent has won the election.

To leave no stone unturned (to make every possible effort): The Prime Minister has assured the country that he shall leave no stone unturned to uplift the condition of the countrymen.

To get down to brass tacks (to begin to discuss the important details): Instead of wasting time in discussion please get down to brass tacks.

To give wide berth (to keep far away): I try my best to give a wide berth to such a selfish person.

To see a thing through coloured glasses (to see only the pleasant things): A prejudiced man will see the thing through coloured glasses. He can't judge the things properly.

To show the white feather (to betray cowardice): He will show the white feather when the real time or action comes.

Ivory tower (practical affairs): Those who talk of non-violence as a useful tool in tackling the militants live in ivory tower.

Kith and kin (one's relatives): All kith and kin were invited the marriage of his son.

To hold a candle to (compare to): She is the daughter of a famous dancer, but she does not hold a candle to her mother.

To have brush with (to have a brief contact with something): Our neighbours had a brush with one another over the matter of throwing the garbage.

To pay one back in the same coin (return to one the some kind or injury): I believe in the policy of paying back in the same coin.

To put the cart before the horse (to do things in improper order): He made a contract with the publisher without getting the book ready. He put the cart before the horse as such.

By and by (soon): She is recovering by and by after long illness.

Hue and cry (commotion): A lot of hue and cry was raised in Parliament against this bill. I am move heaven and earful to bring him to justice.

Hush money (a bribe paid to keep something secret): He managed to escape punishment by paying hush money.

Goods and chattels (any property that is not free hold): On transfer he brought all goods and chattels by road.

To play fast and loose (playing with feeling): You should not trust her, she is used to play fast and loose with her friends.

To pay off old scores (to get revenge): By suspending the clerk on frivolous grounds the officer paid off old scores.

Egg on (urge on): The captain egged the players on to continue the struggle.

Fair and square (just and honest): He is fair and square in his dealings.

Fabian policy (a policy of delays and cautions): Mr. Narsimha Rao always followed a Fabian policy in all political issues.

Few and far between His visits to his parents are few and far between because of his busy schedule.

Pros and cons (considering all the fact): Before signing this agreement you must understand all pros and cons well.

Queer fish (odd person): He is such a queer fish that we can't expect anything positive from him,

Rank and ruin (complete destruction): The present drought has put the farmers at the verge of rank and ruin.

Oily tongue (too smooth of speech): One should be aware of the persons with oily tongue."

Part and parcel (something interred with a whole): Each employee should feel himself part and parcel of the business enterprises.

Foot the bill (to pay the bill): Although she hosted the feast, her father had to foot the bill.

Free and easy (regardless of formalities): The principal found his arguments free and easy.

To take heart (to be confident or courageous): You must take heart and face the failures boldly.

To take up arms (commence host ties): We must not shy for taking up arms against the misdeeds of the public departments.

To have no backbone (lacking strength): The movement against the reservation based on caste, had no backbone and to collapsed soon.

To harp on the same string (to dwell upon one subject with disagreeable): Every new speaker had nothing new to say, everyone harped on the same string of his predecessor.

Loaves and fish (personal profit): Now-a-days Government servants are concerned with the loaves and fish of the office than to solve the problems of common public.

Lock and key (full security): He keeps jewellery under lock and key.

Length and breadth (somewhere): Anti English agitation spread through the length and breadth of country.

Life and Soul (of the party): Soniya Gandhi is the life and soul of congress (I).

Like a fish out of water (in a very awkward manner): Ram was given an remunerative post. He is feeling like a fish out of water.

To sail under false colours (disguise your true nature): We should not believe the politicians because they sail under false colours.

To set Thames on fire (do something remarkable work): Qualifying civil services examination for you is like setting Thames on fire.

To say ditto to (a copy): You are bound to say ditto to what your boss says.

Neck and crop (altogether): The Pak army ruined the border village neck and crop.

Need of the hour (require): Providing full security for the residents of border area is the need of the hour.

To cry for the moon (ask for impossible thing): Your hope for marrying with Aishwarya is like a cry for the moon.

To curry favour (gain favour by flattery): By giving present and visiting again and again, you are trying to curry his favour.

To draw the long bow: In calling her the best racer of the world, her admirers draw the long bow.

Fishy (suspicious): They seems to be something fishy going on.

Call a spade a spade (to speak clearly): He believes in calling a spade a spade.

Cats and dogs (the sky pouring): It has been raining cats and dogs for the last three hours.

Cock and bull story (concoction story): All his excuses seem a cock and bull story.

To play ducks and drakes (to waste/foolishly): He is playing ducks and drakes with parental money.

To pass the buck (pass the blame): Political parties pass the buck on to one another on all small or big matters.

To play the gallery (try to win approval): Every action of the political leaders aimed to play the gallery.

To send about one's business (unceremoniously): His employer sent him about his business when he was caught involved in forgery.

To stand ones ground (to maintain one's position): He did not yield to pressure and stood his ground till he won the game.

Gird up the loin (to get ready): We should gird up the loin to fight the poverty and menace of dower.

Give in (give up): He is a brave man, he will not give in easily.

Hard and fast (fixed): There are no hard and fast rules to sanction the loan in the banks.

Haughty and naughty (rude and old): The haughty and naughty attitude of the president is not liked by any member of the society.

dig the grave (do something foolish): By taking a side of the thief, he dug the grave of his honest image.

To end in smoke fiasco (to ruin completely): He spoke a lot about his new book but it all ended in fiasco, when the book was in the market.

To feather one's own nest (to grow wealthy by taking advantage of one position): Our leaders are busy feathering their own nests and have no concern for the general mass.