List of Idioms and Phrases Asked in SSC Exams

Bookmark This page (Control + D) and read contents it rather than just saving...

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with A

1. Achilles heel
Meaning: vulnerable spot, a small fault or weakness in a person or system that can result in its failure.
Example: The corrupt minister is regarded as the government’s Achilles heel and is expected to resign.
2. A bone of contention
Meaning: if there is an issue that always causes tension and arguments
Example: A bone of contention between the husband and wife is that the husband always spends too much money.
3. A dead letter
Meaning: An argument or law not followed by anyone.
Example: The blue laws here are a dead letter; all the stores open on Sundays and holidays
4. At the eleventh hour
Meaning: be too late.
Example: She always turned her term papers in at the eleventh hour.
5. A queer fish
Meaning: a strange person
Example: I knew his father and he was a queer fish too.
6. A worm's eye view
Meaning: having very little knowledge about something
Example: The novel provides us with a worm's eye view of society.
7. At (on) the heels of
Meaning: close behind or soon after something
Example: As in Mom's birthday comes on the heels of Mother's Day
8. Apple of someone's eyes
Meaning: someone loved very much.
Example: His youngest son was the apple of his eye.
9. Ask for the Moon
Meaning: to ask for too much.
Example: There's no point hoping for a permanent peace in the area. It's like asking for the moon.
10. Asleep at the switch
Meaning: not to be alert on opportunity
Example: Health experts were asleep at the switch when the disease began to spread rapidly again.
11. At sixes and sevens
Meaning: to be lost and bewildered
Example: Riya is at sixes and sevens since the death of her husband.
12. At someone's beck and call
Meaning: to be always ready to serve
Example: Imagine what it's like to have a cook and a maid at your beck and call.
13. At an arm's length
Meaning: to keep at a distance
Example: Ram always keeps his friends at arm's length, so that no one gets close enough to hurt his feelings.
14. A red letter day
Meaning: an important day
Example: A special occasion, as in When Ram comes home from his tour of duty, that'll be a red-letter day
15. A nine days wonder
Meaning: pleasure for a short time
Example: His music was derided by an older generation convinced that he was a nine-day wonder.
16. Alma Mater
Meaning: Institution where i got my education
Example: She has been offered the position of professor of international economic policy in Delhi , her alma mater.
17. At the drop of a hat
Meaning-Willingness to do something instantly
Example: She expects me to make dinner at the drop of a hat even if I am very busy with office work
18. A cold Fish
Meaning: A person devoid of emotions
Example: Ram isn't very demonstrative, but his mother was a cold fish so he probably gets it from her.
19. A cock and bull story
Meaning: An improbable excuse
Example: She told me some cock-and-bull story.
20. Above board
Meaning: straight; without concealment, legitimate; open.
Example: No tricks, please. We want the deal to be above board completely.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with B

1.Back to square one
Meaning: To be back at the starting point of something.
Example: I picked up all the leaves and branches from my lawn yesterday but there was a storm last night and now I’m back to square one.
2.Back on one’s feet:
Meaning: to be healthy again after sickness.
Example: I couldn’t do anything for two weeks while I had the flu but now I’m back on my feet.
3.By hook or by Crook
Meaning: At any cost /by fair or unfair mean.
Example: I decided that I was going to get that job by hook or by crook.
4.Blow one's trump
Meaning- self praise
Example: Anyone will tell you she's one of the best journalists we've got, although she'd never blow her own horn.
5.Beat the air
Meaning- do useless effort
Examples: The candidates for office were so much alike that we thought our vote amounted to beating the air .
6.Bed of thorns
Meaning: Full of difficulties
Examples: Life of an ill person always remains a bed of thorns.
7.Beat about the bush
Meaning :To discuss a topic without being specific about anything
Examples: Don't beat around the bush. Just tell me where my brother is
8.Bag and baggage
Meaning: (with) all one’s belongings.
Example: Tired of their tantrums, the landlady asked her tenants to vacate the house, bag and baggage, in a week’s times.
9.Blue eyed boy
Meaning: a man who is liked and admired by somebody in authority.
Example: She gets the charge of all the assignment except the finance, which is kept for the blue-eyed boy.
10.Bread and Butter
Meaning: someone’s livelihood.
Example: Teaching classic music to young boys and girls is her bread and butter.
11.Bear the brunt of
Meaning: take the main force, often of a criticism or unpleasant event.
Example: When the teachers and other government employees went on a strike, they did not realize they’d have to bear the brunt of public anger when they go back to work.
12.Burn the candle at both the ends
Meaning: exhaust someone’s energies or resources by leading a hectic life.
Example: She has been burning the candle at both ends by doing a full-time job and preparing for her International English Language Test exams.
13.Bury the hatchet
Meaning: make peace; end a quarrel, settle one’s differences to become friends again.
Example 1: The two neighboring countries India and Pakistan have often been advised by the world bodies to bury the hatchet for their own progress.
14.Bury head in the sand
Meaning: refuse to think about an unpleasant situation, hoping that it will improve so that you will not have to deal with it.
Example: Parents and Principal said ragging was being ignored and accused the girls hostel’s warden of burying her head in the sand, in Perth city of Australia.
15.Blue blood
Meaning: descent from nobility, aristocrat.
Example: She often tell her friends that she has blue blood flowing through her veins.
16.By dint of
Meaning: as result of something.
Example: Mark got what he wanted by dint of requesting and threatening
17.Break a leg
Meaning: good luck, best wishes
Example:
to wish someone luck especially before a performance
“Break a leg!” I shouted out to him before he rushed in for his auditions.
18.Born with a silver spoon in mouth
Meaning: To be born to parents who are rich and have a good social rank.
Example: He does not need this job as much as I do, he is born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
19.Beyond the pale
Meaning
An unacceptable way to express something.
Something that is not considered decent.
Example:
They broke up because her behaviour was simply beyond the pale.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with C

1. Call a spade a spade
Meaning: Speak frankly and directly
Example: Well, I believe it's time to call a spade a spade.
2. Come through with flying colours
Meaning: Be highly successful
Example: The officer training was grueling, but he came through with flying colours.
3. Cock and bull story
Meaning: Made up story that one should not believe
Example: Don't give me that cock-and-bull story
4. Cross one’s t’s and dot
Meaning: Be precise, careful and one’s i’s exact
Example: The negotiations are nearly finished, but we still have to dot the i's and cross the t's.
5. Chew the cud
Meaning: Ponder over something
Example: He sat for a moment chewing the cud before he spoke.
6. Close But No Cigar
Meaning: Coming close to a successful outcome only to fall short at the end.
Example: It was close but no cigar for Johnny as he came second once again
7. Cry Over Spilt Milk
Meaning: One shouldn’t worry over things that have already happened and that cannot be changed.
Example: Yes, we made a mistake, but there’s no point in crying over spilled milk.
8. Cry Wolf
Meaning: someone is calling for help when it’s not really needed.
Example: If you cry wolf too often, people will stop believing you.
9. Curiosity Killed The Cat
Meaning: mind your own business, as too much poking and prodding could lead to harm.
Example: 'Why are you going away so suddenly?' 'Curiosity killed the cat.'
10. Cut To The Chase
Meaning: To get to the point, leaving out all of the unnecessary details. Similar to popular sayings such as “beating around the bush.
Example: I didn't have long to talk so I cut to the chase and asked whether he was still married.
11. Call out
Meaning: to shout
Example: I called out to him but he disappeared in the dark.
12. Call upon
Meaning: to order;
Example: to require: I was unfortunately called upon to give evidence against him.
13. Carry on
Meaning: to continue
Example: If you carry on working hard, your business will soon flourish.
14. Cast away
Meaning: to throw aside
Example:You must cast away all your apprehensions and accept the offer.
15. Catch up with
Meaning: to overtake
Example:Last week I had to stay late at the office to catch up with some pending files.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with D

1. Donkey’s year
Meaning: a very long year
Example: Nowadays one has to wait donkey’s years to get justice.
2. Dog days
Meaning: hottest days of summer
Example: The dog days of summer are a difficult period for those who have to work out in the open.
3. Dead ringer
Meaning: A duplicate of the exact things.
Example: The car that is parked in that garage is a dead ringer of the car that my dad used to own a couple of years back.
4. Dark horse
Meaning: One who was previously unknown but is now prominent
Example: You never can tell, some dark horse many come along and win a House of Lords seat.
5. Dog's life
Meaning: a miserable, unhappy existence.
Example: I have to work everyday from dawn to sunset and come back home to take care of the children. It's really a dog's life.
6. Down to earth
Meaning: simple, decent, realistic; practical and straightforward.
Example: She is very down to earth person, not at all attracted by the glamour world.
7. Down at heel
Meaning: Out of luck, shabbily dressed
Example: Since Ashok lost his job, he is always down at heel.
8. Doom and Gloom
Meaning: A feeling of pessimism and despondency, often with regard to business or political prospects.
9. Drive up the wall
Meaning: to make someone angry or irritated
Example: The loud music played by my neighbours is driving me up the wall.
10. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: don’t put all your resources into one thing
Example: It would be better if you applied to several companies instead of just one; don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
11. Dead and buried
If something is dead and buried, it has all long been settled and is not going to be reconsidered.
12. Dead in the water
If something is dead in the water, it isn't going anywhere or making any progress
13. Dip your toe in the water
Meaning: (also dip a toe in the water) said when you start something carefully because you are not sure whether it will work or not.
Example: I am doing some volunteer work at the new school to try and dip my toe in the water of working in the education field
14. Devil of a time
Meaning: If you have a devil of a time, you have a very difficult time.
Example: Before she divorced, Ann had had a devil of a time with my her husband.

15. Devil's Advocate
Meaning: To present a counter argument Don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched
Example: He offered to play devil’s advocate and argue against our case so that we could find out any flaws in it.
16. Don't give up the day job
Meaning: You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally.
Example: I watched your performance at the theater today. My advice is don’t give up your day job.
17. Down in the dumps
Meaning: a gloomy, unhappy
Examples: Little Jon is down in the dumps because all her friends are gone away with their parents
18. Do for
Meaning: Fulfill the purpose
Example: This book will do for the IAS Examination.
19. Draw up
Meaning: To draft
Example: I was engaged in drawing up plans for new business.
20. Drop a line
Meaning: Send a brief letter
Examples: If you’ve got a few minutes to spare you could always drop her a line.
21. Dot the i’s and cross the t’s
Meaning: To do something very carefully and in a lot of detail
Examples: She writes highly accurate reports – she always dots her i’s and crosses her t’s.
22. Dig own grave
Meaning: do something stupid that will seriously harm oneself, cause one’s own ruin or downfall.
Example: If she continues to behave like this to her senior officer, she’ll be digging her own grave.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with E

1. Every Dog has his day
Meaning: Sooner or later, everyone has his share of good fortune
Example: You may become successful in your business someday. Every dog has his day.
2. Early bird
Meaning: A person who gets up early or arrives early for something
Example: My sister is an early bird and gets up very early every morning.
3. Egg on
Meaning: to urge or push someone to do something
Example: The boy is always egging his friend on to do stupid things.
4. Eye of the storm
Meaning: The center of a problem
Example: The politician was in the eye of the storm because of the accounting scandal.
5. Excuse (someone)
Meaning: to forgive someone
Example: We excused the man for his rude comments because he did not know any better.
6. Eagle eye
Meaning: Quick to discover ( Unusually keen sight)
Example: A good students has an eagle eyes for his errors.
7. Empty vessels make the most noise
Meaning: Those who know or have little knowledge often shout the loudest
Example: Ram tells as if he's an expert on everything, but empty vessels make most noise.
8. Earn one's keep
Meaning: To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with F

1.For Good
Meaning: Forever or permanently
Example: I am leaving for good this time.
2. Few and Far between
Meaning: Not very many or not appearing very frequently
Example: He grew up at a time when jobs were few and far between.
3. Fancy Price
Meaning: Very high price
Example: I have paid a fancy price for this ordinary pen.
4. Flogging a dead horse
Meaning: to waste time trying to do something that will not succeed
5. Fish out of water
Meaning: In bad condition
Example: In the company old men I felt like a fish out of water.
6. Fool 's paradise
Meaning: in false wish
Example: If you hope to pass, you are in a fool's paradise
7. Forty winks
Meaning: little sleep in day
Example: one likes to enjoy forty winks in summer.
8. Flesh and blood
Meaning: Human nature, a normal human being
Example: we're going to need some fresh blood if we want to remain a viable company in today's market.
9. Fight tooth and nail
Meaning: to use a lot of effort to oppose someone or achieve something
Example: we try tooth and nail to clear SSC Exam.
10. Friend at court
Meaning: Help on time
Example: At the time of my brother's appointment, I found in Ram a friend at court.
11. Face the music
Meaning: Go through an unpleasant experience
Example: He was part of an illegal racing gang, and had to face the music when they were busted
12. Feather in one’s cap
Meaning: It means to have an achievement in one’s name.
Example: One does not get chances to add a feather in their cap too often. So the opportunity to do so should be utilized well.
13. Feel under the weather
Meaning: to be ill or feel ill
Example: She has just returned from her vacation, but is feeling under the weather and has a sore throat and running nose.
14. Fit as a fiddle
Meaning: A very healthy person
Example: The team had partied late into the night, but on match day, each of them was as fit as a fiddle.
15. Freudian Slip
Meaning: A speaker's unintentional mistake revealing his true thoughts
Example: The reporter made a Freudian Slip and said "condom" instead of "condemn".

Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with G & H

1. Get away scot – free
Meaning: To avoid the punishment that you deserve
Example: If you don't take out a complaint against him he'll get off scot-free!
2. Good Samaritan
Meaning: person who unselfishly helps others,
Example: He's such a good Samaritan. He used to take after my grandmother when she was ill.
3. Green eyed monster
Meaning: jealousy
Example: I 'd no idea you were so susceptible to the green-eyed monster.
5. Green Horn
Meaning: an untrained or inexperienced person.
6. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.
Example: Vipin is a nice guy, always ready to go the extra mile for his friends
7. Go out on a limb
Meaning: Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone/ something.
Example: You can't find your dog? I'm going to go out on a limb and say he jumped over the fence and got loose.
8. Have an axe to grind
Meaning: To have a dispute with someone.
Example: As a novelist, he has no political axe to grind.
9. Hell in a hand basket
Meaning: Deteriorating headed for complete disaster.
10. Hale and hearty
Meaning: very healthy and strong
Example: At 80 Nitish is hale and hearty, getting up at six every morning to walk five miles.
11. Hold your horse
Meaning: Be patient.
Example: You must hold your horse to clear any exam.
12. Hit the bull’s eye
Meaning: get something exactly right, or be on target.
Example: The finance minister’s speech on attracting new investments hit the bull’s eye.
13. head over heels
Meaning: fall deeply and completely in love, especially suddenly
Example: She and her husband make an amazing couple. They are head over heels in love and are very supportive of each other.
14.Hit the sack or hit the hay
Meaning: to go to bed, to go to sleep
Example: After I hit the sack, I read for sometime before turning off the lights and going to sleep.
15. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: be accurately right about something
Example: He is a smart debugger. Every time you take a broken code to him, he will hit the nail on the head and tell you the exact problem.
16. High on the hog
Meaning: Living in luxury.
Example: He will not be able to live in these conditions because he has always had it from high on the hog.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with I

1. In a trice
Meaning: Without causing any delays.
Example:I will be there in a trice, stop calling me so often.
2. In a tight corner
Meaning: to be in a difficult situation
Example: She had been in tight corners before and had always managed to get out of them.
3. In deep water
Meaning: in difficulty, in problem.
Example: I’m going to bein deep waterif my boss refuses to approve the project done by me after the hard work of a week.
4. In a nut shell
Meaning: to state something very concisely
Example: The explanation is long and involved, but let me put it in a nutshell for you. To put it in a nutshell: you are fired!
5. In the dark
Meaning: uninformed, a state of ignorance.
Example: We’re still in the dark about the company’s layoff policy.
6. In cold blood
Meaning: in a planned way and without pity or other emotion.
Example: One young lady was shot dead in cold blood inside the premises of shopping complex.
7. look on the bright side
Meaning: try to see something good in a bad situation.
Example: Nothing is impossible for Junior John Sinha if he learn to look on the bright side.
8. In the blink of an eye
Meaning: in an instant.
Example: In the blink of an eye the robber disappeared from the bank with the bag of Gold jewelry.
9. In black and white
Meaning: formally, on paper and in writing.
Example: He asked his old mother not to worry as the terms of the hand agreement were spelled out in black and white.
10.In the good books
Meaning: be in somebody’s favour or good opinion.
Example: The fact that he always managed to be in the good books of the bosses surprised one and all.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with J

1.Jump the gun
Meaning: Do something too early, especially without thinking
Use: The media jumped the gun and gave out their verdict of the scandal even before the investigation was complete.
2.Jack of all trades
Meaning: somebody who has many skills or who is versatile in ever field.
Use: Sandeep is the jack of all trades as he can teach, sung and do many different job at a time.
3.Jump to conclusion
Meaning: form an opinion or judgement hastily.
Use: Wait till we get the report; don’t jump to a conclusion.
4.Jam on the brakes
Meaning: to press the brakes suddenly and in a hard way.
Use: I had to jam on the brakes because a kid suddenly appeared from nowhere and crossed the road.
5.John Hancock
Meaning: A person's signature.
Use: Put your John Hancock at the bottom of the will.
6.Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To profit from a craze; to join a trend.
Use:After the incredible success of the new product, the company has jumped on the bandwagon, and released a new version of it.
7.Jump the lights
Meaning:Pass traffic lights, when they are red.
Use:Don’t jump the lights as it may be fatal for you.
8.Justice is blind
Meaning:This expression means that justice is impartial and objective.
Use:No matter who you are, you must respect the law. Justice is blind!
9.Jangle someone’s nerves
Meaning:Annoy someone or make them nervous.
Use:The noise of the dog jangled my nerves.
10.Jump for joy
Meaning:To be extremely happy:
Use:The blood tests so far show my mother doesn't have cancer, but it's still too early to jump for joy because she has to have more tests.
11.Just deserts
Meaning::Get what one deserves.
Use:After a lot of hard work he got his just deserts.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with K & L

1. Keep the wolf from the door
Meaning: To have enough money to be able to ward off poverty or hunger.
Example: They were really very poor, but they had enough to keep the wolf from the door.
2. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: accomplish two different things at the same time
Example: I have to go to the bank, and on the way back, I’ll pick up the groceries also, killing two birds with one stone.
3. Keep your chin up
Meaning: be stalwart and courageous in a tough situation
Example: Don’t let the difficulties intimidate you; keep your chin up.
4. Keep fingers crossed
Meaning: hope that things will happen in the way you want them to.
Example: I’m keep my fingers crossed that my husband clears the written interview this Monday to join British Intelligence Bureau.
5. Keep at arm’s length
Meaning: keep a distance, avoiding intimacy or familiarity.
Example: He always had the feeling that she was keeping him at arm’s length.
6. Keep an eyes on him
Meaning: You should carefully watch him.
Example: Carol asked me if I would mind keeping an eye on her houseplants while she was in Cuba.
7. Keep body and soul together
Meaning: To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive.
Example: He earns barely enough to keep body and soul together.
8. Knee Jerk reaction
Meaning: A quick reaction that doen’t allow you time to consider something carefully (It is always disapproving)
9. Knock on wood
Meaning: Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.
10. Kick the bucket
Meaning: to die.
Example: Sad news! He kicked the bucket.
11. Len me your ear
Meaning: To politely ask for some’s full attention
Example: Lend an ear to me and I will tell you a story. Lend your ear to what I am saying.
12. Let bygones be bygones
Meaning: To forget about a disagreement or argument.
Example: There is a feeling here that we should let bygones be bygones and move on to more important things.
13. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To share a secret that wasn’t suppose to be shared.
Example:Amazingly, not one of the people who knew about the surprise let the cat out of the bag.
14. Level Playing field
Meaning: A fair competition where no side has an advantage
Example: If we started off with a level playing field, everyone would have an equal chance.
15. Long in the tooth
Meaning: Old people or horses
Example: Don't you think she's a bit long in the tooth to be a romantic heroine?

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with M

1.Make a clean breast of
Meaning: To confess
Use: He made a clean breast of his crime.
2.Make one's way
Meaning: Advance in life by one's own efforts.
Use: He had to make his own way in the world as his family was very poor.
3.Man in the street
Meaning:An ordinary person
Use:Ram is a man in the street.
4.Man of his word
Meaning:One who keeps his promises.
Use: Sandeep by helping me, proves that he is a man of his word.
5.Man of straw
Meaning:A weak person.
Use:When his wife needed his support, he run away and left her facing all the problems all alone. That is why; she called him a man of straw after all.
6.Mark my words
Meaning:Listen to me
Use:Mark my words; this boy is going to become a great ruler.
7.Marry money
Meaning:To marry a rich person
Use:She married to sandeep Ambani and got rich.
8.Meet one's death
Meaning:To die.
Use:A friend of mine met his death when he got hit by a train.
9.Minting it
Meaning:Earning a lot of money quickly.
Use:The company is minting it is only due to new manager.
10.Miss the boat
Meaning:To fail to take advantage of an opportunity.
Use:A good business opportunity comes in ram’s life but ram miss the boat.
11.Maiden voyage
Meaning:The first voyage of a ship or boat
Use:The maiden voyage of the Titanic ship was very popular.
12.Make a beeline for
Meaning:To hurry directly toward someone or something
Use:When ram enter a party, he always make a beeline for the dessert section.
13.Make a comeback
Meaning:To return to one's former (successful) career or situation
Use:Yuvraj singh make a comeback in word cup tournament after a lot of hard work.
14.Make a difference
Meaning:To cause a change in a situation
Use:It does not make a difference whether our boss comes to the meeting or not.
15.Make a fool out of
Meaning:To make someone look foolish
Use:The secretary made a fool out of her boss when she criticized him at the meeting.
16.Make a fuss
Meaning:To worry about
Use:My grandmother always makes a fuss over me when I visit her.
17.Make eyes at
Meaning:To flirt with someone, to look at someone to try and attract him or her
Use:The boy was making eyes at the girl in maths class.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with N

1.No spring chicken
Meaning: Who is no longer young.
Use: Although Sachin Tendulkar is no spring chicken, he runs fast between the wickets.
2.Not hold water
Meaning: Not true of relevant
Use: Her reasons for her absent yesterday didn't hold water.
3.Nothing to sneeze at
Meaning: Not bad, Acceptable
Use: Their music may not be worthy of radio time, but it's nothing to sneeze at.
4.No love lost
Meaning: A feeling of hatred or dislike
Use: There is no love lost between two neighbours.
5.Night owl
Meaning: Someone who is vigilant late at night
Use: When exam started ram become a night owl.
6.Not give a damn
Meaning: Irresponsible
Use: Most industrial houses don’t give a damn about the environment.
7.Null and Void
Meaning: Not effective
Use: Her speech in the seminar is null and void.
8.Neck and Crop
Meaning: Completely
Use: Mob destroyed the monument neck and crop.
9.Nuts and Bolts
Meaning: Essential and important
Use: Governor is the nuts and bolts of a state government.
10.Not my cup of tea
Meaning: Dislike, not interested
Use: Cricket is not my cup of tea.
11.Nitty-gritty
Meaning: The most important aspects or practical details of a subject or situation
Use: I am unable to understand the nitty-gritty of everyday politics.
12.Nip in the bud
Meaning: End a problem in starting
Use: Many serious illnesses can be nipped in the bud if they are detected early enough.
13.Nineteen to the dozen
Meaning: Talking very quickly
Use: Ram speech during the annual function is nineteen to dozen.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with O.

1.On the table
Meaning: something being discussed or considered
Use: The plan of opening a new branch of SBI in villages is on the table.
2.Once bitten, twice shy
Meaning: Afraid of doing a thing again
Use: After he left her she refused to go out with anyone else for a long time - once bitten, twice shy, I suppose.
3.Out of the blue
Meaning: Something unexpected
Use: The result of my exam comes out of the blue, as it is expected after 6 months.
4.Over the hill
Meaning: Too old to perform as well as before
Use: Some judges who are 80 may be over the hill, but others still have energy galore.
5.Off hand
Meaning: Without any preparation
Use: Arjun started the battle with off hand.
6.Off the mark
Meaning: Irrelevant, incorrect
Use: Your question in this debate is off the mark.
7.Olive branches
Meaning: Offer of reconciliation.
Use: Pakistan walked out with my olive-branch after I realized that victory was not possible anymore
8.Over and above
Meaning: In addition to something
Use: We spend 1000 rs on movie which is over and above of our budget.
9.On your toes
Meaning: Alert,
Use: You must be on your toes, if you want success in your exam.
10.Out of hand
Meaning: Uncontrolled
Use: The situation in flooded area is out of hand.
11.On the cuff
Meaning: On credit
Use: He enjoyed his tour more as it was on the cuff.
12.Once in blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely
Use: He visits his home once in blue moon.
13.On the cards
Meaning: Possible or likely
Use: Our visits to London is on the on the cards.
14.Off colour
Meaning: Sick
Use: Sandeep is feeling off colour as he was suffering from viral fever.
15.Out and Out
Meaning: Completely
Use: He is lying out and out about his police case.
16.Out of woods
Meaning: Out of problem
Use: After he gives bribe to the officer, he is out of woods.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with P

1.Pay your dues
Meaning: Earn a position after a hard work
Use: They want me to resign, but everybody knows that I paid my dues to get this post.
2.Play away from home
Meaning: To have fun with someone else
Use: She divorced her husband because he has a habit of playing away from home.
3.Play second fiddle
Meaning: To acts as a subordinate to someone
Use: Ram plays a second fiddle in his own company.
4.Put the cart before the horse
Meaning: To put a thing in wrong order.
Use: Mohit always put the cart before the horse, when he practices maths.
5.Put one's shoulder to the wheel
Meaning: To do a lot of hard work
Use: In constructing this house labours put their shoulder to the wheel.
6.Put the cat among the pigeons
Meaning: Create a disturbance in calm situation
Use: Company put the cat among the pigeons when it announced the new policy.
7.Put years on
Meaning: To look old
Use: Family problem put years on mohit .
8.Part and Parcel
Meaning: Unavoidable part
Use: Ram is the part and parcel of this company.
9.To play fast and loose
Meaning: Betray someone
Use: Mohit has a habit of playsing fast and loose.
10.Past master
Meaning: Expert in something
Use: Ram is the past master in maths.
11.Petticoat government
Meaning: Rule of a woman
Use: When there is a petticoat government, there will be a cat fight.
12.Piece of cake
Meaning: A very easy task
Use: To clear SSC is not a piece of cake.
13.Pie in the sky
Meaning: Fictional, impracticable
Use: Clearing SSC CGL is not pie in the sky.
14.Put down
Meaning: Reduce instantly
Use: After army operation the numbers of terrorist are put down.
15.Pick holes in another’s coat
Meaning: To find fault in someone else
Use: We should refrain ourselves from the habit of picking holes in another’s coat.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with Q & R

1.Queer fish
Meaning: Strange person
Use: Mohan is a queer fish for the persons in this area.
2.Quite the thing
Meaning: Very fashionable and popular
Use: Baggy jeans have become quite the thing among teenager these days.
3.Question of time
Meaning: Something will surely happen
Use: The terrorist will be killed; it’s a question of time.
4.Quake in one's boots
Meaning: To be frightened or nervous
Use: The thought of climbing Mount Everest make quake in his boot.
5.Rags to riches
Meaning: Start as poor but after sometimes become rich
Use: He was homeless and went on to create the largest and most successful service company in the country. It's really a rags-to-riches story.
6.Rain cats and dogs
Meaning: To rain heavily
Use: It was raining cats and dogs, so all flights were cancelled
7.Red handed
Meaning: Caught while doing crime
Use: She was caught red handed when she is stealing a diamond ring.
8.Red-letter day
Meaning: An important day
Use: Monday is a red letter day for Mohan as he got his joining letter.
9.Root and branch
Meaning: Completely
Use: They have shifted their business root and branch to India.
10.Rough time
Meaning: Hard or difficult time
Use: The time of illness is rough time for him
11.Run out of steam
Meaning: Lose energy or enthusiasm
Use: After a lot of hard works he runs out of steam.
12.Running battle
Meaning: An argument that continues for an extended period
Use: He is fired from the company as he has a running battle with his boss.
13.Run helter-skelter
Meaning: Carelessly hurried; confused, disorderly
Use: Books and papers were scattered on the desk in a helter-skelter manner.
14.Red Tape
Meaning: Official rule which acts as hurdle
Use: My application for driving license was held by red tape.
15.Rule the roost
Meaning: Acts as dominant over other, or act as boss
Use: Ram might be the boss in office, but at home, his wife rules the roost.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with S.

1.Smell a rat
Meaning: To suspect something
Use: She smelled a rat when she phoned him at the office where he was supposed to be working late and he wasn't there.
2.Seylla and Charydis
Meaning:Between two danger
Use: Whenever you feel seylla and charydis in your life, the only God can help you.
3.Spick and Span
Meaning: Clean and Tidy
Use: Every European country is spick and span.
4.Show cold shoulder
Meaning: A show of deliberate indifference or disregard.
Use: I tried to be pleasant to her, but she gave me the cold shoulder.
5.Spill the beans
Meaning: Reveal the secrets.
Use: Ram spilled the beans of marrying affair with Shyam.
6.See eye to eye
Meaning: Agree with someone
Use: My brother doesn’t see eye to eye with me on picnic programs.
7.A slip of the tongue
Meaning: An error while speaking, say something unintentionally
Use: Be careful talking to the police tomorrow; one slip of the tongue could get us into big trouble.
8.Shake in one’s shoes
Meaning: Afraid
When he faced the cops, he started shaking in his shoes.
9.At Stone’s throw
Meaning: Very near, short distance
Use: Rama house is at stone’s throw from Mahesh house.
10.A slap on the wrist
Meaning: A small punishment
Use: They someone in the school and got a slap on the wrist.
11.Small fry
Meaning: Not so important
Use: He is a famous politician at the district level, but at state level, he is a small fry.
12.Spit blood
Meaning: To speak in an angry way.
Use: I think he was going to spit blood when he heard about his loss, but he is calm.
13.Spin a yarn
Meaning: Tell a fanciful story
Use: Don’t try to spin a yarn, I know your truth.
14.Show one’s wild oats
Meaning: A time of full enjoyment when you are young
Use: Go through a period of wild or promiscuous behaviour while young
More from us:

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with T

1.Turn the tables
Meaning:Reverse the condition
Use:A good politician often turns the table on the opposite sides by his follower.
2.Take the cudgels
Meaning:To support or defend
Use:One of my lawyer friends took up the cudgels on my behalf to defend me.
3.Tooth and nail
Meaning:violently
Use:All the worker revolted tooth and nail against the company owner.
4.Throw in a towel
Meaning:To be defeated
Use:When the Akbar could not resist the Maharana pratap, he had to throw in a towel
5.To and fro
Meaning:forward and backward
Use:He is moving the car to and fro.
6.Take to heels
Meaning:To run away
Use:The Thief took to heels when he saw the owner.
7.Throw cold water
Meaning:To discourage someone
Use:Ram has a habit of throwing cold water, whenever we talk about some new business plan.
8.Throw out of gear
Meaning:Not working properly
Use:Many small scale industries have been thrown out of gear due to lack of electricity problem.
9.Turn to account
Meaning:Turn to advantage
Use:Maharana Pratap turns his failure to account.
10.Take a forty winks
Meaning:Take a nap for a short period
Use:He always takes the forty winks after lunch.
11.Tender age
Meaning:A young age
Use:At present ram is in tender age.
12.Turn over a new leaf
Meaning:To changed entirely
Use:After the sudden death of party leader, some MLA turns over a new leaf for their benefit.
13.Through and Through
Meaning:Completely
During war there is a financial crisis in the country through and through.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with U

1.Under the cloud
Meaning:Suspicious
Use: In our country politician are always under the cloud.
2.Under the rose
Meaning:Secretly
Use:They used to meet each other under the rose.
3.Under one’s nose
Meaning:Directly in front of
Use:Terrorist fled from jail under the nose of the superintendent.
4.Under duress
Meaning:Under pressure
Use:He claimed that he signed the confession under duress.
5.Underdog
Meaning:Weak person in comparison to other
Use:He always supports the underdog people in his constituency.
6.Uncharted waters
Meaning:A situation that is new and not known
Use:For arts, student differentiation and integration are uncharted water.
7.Under fire
Meaning:Being criticised
Use:After coal scam,UPA government is under fire.
8.Upper crust
Meaning:High-class people, often rich and high social status
Use:Ambani brothers are the upper crust in India.
9.Upper hand
Meaning:Dominating and controlling position
Use:The USA has an upper hand on the world.
10.Under lock and key
Meaning:Stored securely
Use:Money in the bank is under lock and key, so there is no harm in depositing your money.
11.Under someone heel
Meaning:Under control of someone else
Use:The ram is under the heels of Mohan.
12.Under the knife
Meaning:Undergo a surgery
Use:Ashok is under the knife in City hospital for his heart surgery.
13.Under the weather
Meaning:Feel sick and lack of energy
Use:He is under the weather due to climate change.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with V & W

1.Vanish into the air
Meaning: To disappear
Culprit vanished into the air. Police can’t find him anywhere.
2.Virgin territory
Meaning: A territory that hasn’t been explored or touched
Use:There is no sign of human in Himalayas, it’s a virgin territory.
3.Volte-face
Meaning: Complete reversal of opinion and attitude.
Use:He has a complete volte-face about him, when he knew the truth.
4.Vent the spleen
Meaning: To express anger
Use:Politicians used the press conference as an opportunity to vent their spleen on reporters.
5.To wash Dirty lining in public
Meaning: Discuss or argue about one's private affairs in public.
Use:She decided not to take the family dispute to court as she feared it would only lead to a lot of washing of dirty linen in public.
6.Wild goose chase
Meaning: A foolish and Hopeless search
Use:After two hours spent wandering in the snow, I realized we were on a wild goose chase.
7.Wear one’s heart on one’ sleeves
Meaning: To display one’s feeling openly
Use:Mohan always has his heart on his sleeves so that everyone knows how he feels.
8.With a high hand
Meaning: Oppressively
Use:Teacher handles the naughty students with a high hand.
9.A windfall
Meaning: A sudden and unexpected profit
Use:The money donated by the Minister was really a windfall for the poor.
10.A wet blanket
Meaning: Who discourages enjoyment and enthusiasm
Use:Ram acts as a wet blanket in Sohan love life.
11.Wrong foot
Meaning: To begin in a way that is likely to fail
Use:The company was completely wrong-footed by the dollar's sudden recovery.
12.Walking on air
Meaning: Extreme happiness
Use:After cracking SSC CGL exam he is walking on air.
13.Willy or nilly
Meaning: Whether one wishes or not
Use:We have to accept some job willy or nilly.

List of Important Idioms and Phrases Beginning with X, Y & Z

1.X marks the spot.
Meaning: Said to show the exact spot.
Use: Would you like to jump from here- X marks the spot
2.X-rated
Meaning: Not suitable for children
Use: This horror movie is X-rated, so they are advised not to watch this movie.
3.Yoke around someone's neck
Meaning: A type of burden, pressure
Use: They buy a house on installments and it becomes a yoke around the neck.
4.Yeoman's service
Meaning: Very good service,
Use: Providing food to hungry is a yeoman's service.
5.Young Turk
Meaning: A rebellion, an anarchist
Use: Ram is a young Turk as he tries to change the politics of his region.
6.You got me there
Meaning: Unable to answer
Use: I don’t know what to say, you got me there.
7.Young at heart
Meaning: To have a spirit of youth even in old age.
Use: Although he is 90 years old, he is young at heart.
8.Zero hour
Meaning: The time when something is already planned to start.
Use: This is the zero hour for the attack, said the major.
9.Zero tolerance
Meaning: Non-acceptance of antisocial behaviour in a strict manner
Use: I will be chairing an organisation that will always take a zero tolerance approach to drug abuse in sport

Click Here to Download the list in PDF

Sharing is caring

Best SSC CGL 2018 Tier-1 Mock Tests Weekly Free Live Tests

QMaths Official Online Test Series