Competitive Exams

25 Most Repeated Idioms and Phrases For Competitive Exams | CUET/SSC/CGL/Banking |

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25 Most Repeated Idioms and Phrases for Competitive Exams | CUET/SSC/CGL/Banking

Idioms and phrases play a crucial role in English language sections of competitive exams like CUET, SSC, CGL, and banking exams. They test your understanding of figurative language and your ability to use it appropriately. Here’s a list of 25 frequently repeated idioms and phrases, their meanings, and example sentences to help you ace your preparation.

Table of Contents

  1. What Are Idioms and Phrases?
  2. Why Are They Important for Competitive Exams?
  3. 25 Most Repeated Idioms and Phrases
  4. Tips to Learn Idioms Effectively
  5. Practice Questions

What Are Idioms and Phrases?

Idioms are expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say but convey a figurative meaning understood through common use.

Phrases are groups of words that work together to convey a particular meaning.

For example:

  • Break the ice doesn’t mean breaking actual ice but refers to making people feel comfortable in a conversation.

Why Are They Important for Competitive Exams?

  • Testing Comprehension: Idioms are often used in reading comprehension or cloze tests.
  • Enhance Writing Skills: Knowledge of idioms can help improve essay and letter writing skills.
  • Scoring Advantage: They are predictable, as many exams repeat the same idioms.

25 Most Repeated Idioms and Phrases

Idiom/Phrase Meaning Example Sentence
Break the ice To initiate a conversation in a tense situation. He cracked a joke to break the ice during the meeting.
Burn the midnight oil To work late into the night. She burned the midnight oil to prepare for her exams.
Once in a blue moon Something that happens rarely. I meet my school friends once in a blue moon.
Piece of cake Something very easy to do. Solving this puzzle was a piece of cake for her.
Spill the beans To reveal a secret. He accidentally spilled the beans about the surprise.
Hit the nail on the head To describe exactly what is wrong or needed. Her answer hit the nail on the head during the debate.
Bite the bullet To face a difficult situation bravely. He had to bite the bullet and admit his mistake.
Kick the bucket To die. The old man kicked the bucket peacefully.
Cut corners To do something cheaply or carelessly. Don’t cut corners on quality to save money.
Miss the boat To miss an opportunity. He missed the boat by not applying for the job on time.
Cost an arm and a leg Very expensive. The luxury watch cost an arm and a leg.
Raining cats and dogs Heavy rain. It was raining cats and dogs all afternoon.
Let the cat out of the bag To reveal a secret unintentionally. She let the cat out of the bag about the party plans.
Under the weather Feeling unwell. I couldn’t attend the meeting because I was under the weather.
On cloud nine Extremely happy. She was on cloud nine after winning the competition.
A blessing in disguise Something good that initially seemed bad. Losing the job was a blessing in disguise; it led to better opportunities.
Throw in the towel To give up or admit defeat. He threw in the towel after multiple failed attempts.
Add fuel to the fire To worsen a bad situation. Her rude comments added fuel to the fire.
Make ends meet To manage with the money available. It’s hard to make ends meet with rising prices.
Hit the books To study hard. Students need to hit the books before exams.
Pull someone’s leg To joke or trick someone playfully. Don’t take him seriously; he’s just pulling your leg.
The ball is in your court It’s your decision or responsibility to act. I’ve given you all the details; now the ball is in your court.
Caught red-handed Caught in the act of wrongdoing. The thief was caught red-handed stealing money.
A penny for your thoughts Asking someone what they’re thinking. You’ve been quiet; a penny for your thoughts?
Actions speak louder than words What you do is more important than what you say. He proved his loyalty because actions speak louder than words.

Tips to Learn Idioms Effectively

  1. Group by Theme: Learn idioms related to specific topics, like work, emotions, or weather.
  2. Visualize: Create mental images or stories around idioms to remember them better.
  3. Use Flashcards: Write the idiom on one side and its meaning on the other.
  4. Practice in Context: Use idioms in sentences or conversations to solidify their meanings.
  5. Review Regularly: Revisit idioms weekly to retain them.

Practice Questions

Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom:

  1. It was difficult, but I decided to ______ and finish the project.
  2. The repairs will ______; they’re way over budget.
  3. The teacher caught the student ______ while copying during the exam.
  4. After the presentation, she was ______ because of the applause she received.
  5. The new policy is a ______; it helped solve long-standing issues.

Answers:

  1. Bite the bullet
  2. Cost an arm and a leg
  3. Red-handed
  4. On cloud nine
  5. Blessing in disguise

By mastering these idioms and phrases, you’ll not only excel in competitive exams but also enrich your everyday communication skills. Which idiom do you find most interesting? Share your thoughts below!