Idioms & Phrases
🔒 Log in to trackOne idiom per shift, four meanings, and the literal option always planted as bait. Idioms are frozen pictures — animals, body parts, colours, food — and every bank below decodes them into families so that even a half-remembered idiom yields its meaning. 130+ idioms with meanings written for daily 15-minute banking.
One page per subtopic: detailed notes, every question type, formulas, tricks and practice sets.
Every formula on one printable page, grouped by subtopic.
3 exam-level questions worked step by step.
83 questions — untimed practice or a timed test with analysis.
Track record in the exam
Questions per shift in recent SSC CGL papers.
Test difficulty mix (83 questions)
Question patterns exams keep repeating
Taken from previous-year papers. If a pattern is marked "very common", expect to see it in your exam.
Meaning of an idiom
very commonOne idiom is given and you choose its meaning; one option usually repeats the literal words.
Cross out the literal options first.
Then think what the picture stands for.
Meaning of the idiom: To throw in the towel
A towel thrown into the ring stops a boxing match
So it means giving up
The 'clean up after a game' option is only the literal meaning
Answer: to admit defeat and give up
Idiom inside a sentence
commonThe idiom sits inside a sentence, and the options are meanings.
Decide if the sentence is about good or bad news.
Put each option in place of the idiom to test it.
The minister's promise ended in smoke. What does 'ended in smoke' mean?
A promise that 'ends in smoke' disappears
It did not lead to anything
Answer: it came to nothing
Animal and body-part idioms
very commonThe idiom has an animal (bull, crocodile) or a body part (ear, eye, neck).
Think of the animal's common nature or the body part's job.
This usually gives the meaning.
Meaning of the idiom: Crocodile tears
Crocodile stands for something fake
So 'crocodile tears' are not real tears
The idiom means fake sorrow
Answer: pretended sorrow
Colour and food idioms
commonA colour (red, blue, green) or food (cake, nut) is in the idiom; one option is the meaning of a similar idiom.
Recall the idiom as a whole, not word by word.
Note the similar ones: see red, red tape, red-letter day.
Meaning of the idiom: Red tape
'Red tape' is about official rules
Too many forms and steps cause delay
'A memorable day' is 'red-letter day'
Answer: too many official rules causing delay
Fill the blank with an idiom
commonA sentence has a blank and the four options are idioms.
Say what the sentence needs in plain words.
Pick the idiom with that meaning.
Seeing the police, the pickpocket ___. Options: took to his heels / broke the ice / kept his chin up / turned a deaf ear
The thief saw the police
He would run away
'took to his heels' means ran away
Answer: took to his heels
Idioms from stories
occasionalThe idiom has a name or story object: Achilles, Pandora, a Trojan horse.
Recall the story in one line.
Turn its main point into a general meaning.
Meaning of the idiom: Achilles' heel
In the story, Achilles could be hurt only at his heel
That was his one weak spot
So the idiom means a weak point
Answer: a weak point in a strong person or system
Replace the words with an idiom
commonSome words in a sentence are marked and the options are idioms that could replace them.
Say the bold words in two or three plain words.
Pick the idiom with that meaning.
Choose the idiom for 'dismissed from their jobs': The workers were dismissed from their jobs. Options: got the sack / saw eye to eye / broke the ice / gave a hand
'dismissed from their jobs' means fired
'got the sack' means lost a job
The others mean agreed, started a talk, helped
Answer: got the sack
Opposite of an idiom
occasionalThe question asks for the opposite meaning of an idiom.
Write the meaning of the idiom first.
Then choose the option that means the reverse.
Opposite of the idiom: To keep one's chin up
'Keep one's chin up' means stay cheerful in trouble
The opposite is to feel hopeless
That is to give up hope
Answer: to lose heart
Phrasal verbs
commonA verb + small word (call off, put up with) is asked for its meaning, or a blank needs up / off / out / down.
Use the small word's idea: off = cancel or stop, out = finish, down = stop working or fail.
Try each option in the sentence.
Our car broke ___ on the highway. Options: up / down / out / off
We want 'stopped working' for a machine
'broke down' means this
'broke up' and 'broke out' mean different things
Answer: down