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Idioms / Phrasal Usage

English Language · Usage & Vocabulary

Useful for: SSC CGL, IBPS Banking, OSSC RHT — Regular High School Teacher, UPSC NDA/NA, UPSC CDS, OSEPA Primary Teacher / JT Category-I, OSEPA Upper Primary — Arts, OSEPA Upper Primary — Science

and 8 more exams

OSSC English, OSSSC Govt Physical Education Teacher (PET), OSSSC Govt TGT Arts, OSSSC Govt TGT Science — CBZ, OSSSC Govt TGT Science — PCM, SSB Language Teachers, SSB Lecturer (Degree Colleges), SSB TGT Arts

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Overview

Idioms have meanings that differ from their literal words; recognising common idioms and using context solves most items.

Key points

A blessing in disguise: something good that first seemed bad.
To burn the midnight oil: to work or study late at night.
In hot water: in trouble.
To beat around the bush: to avoid the main point.
Once in a blue moon: very rarely.

Explanation

Context gives the tone: positive or negative situation.
Group idioms by theme (money, time, effort, trouble) to remember them.
Phrasal verbs change meaning with the particle: put off (postpone), put up with (tolerate).
Do not choose the literal option unless the sentence is literal.

Step by step

Read the sentence.
Reject literal meanings.
Pick the figurative one that fits.

Examples

"Losing that job was a blessing in disguise" → a hidden benefit.
"He is in hot water with his boss" → in trouble.
"Stop beating around the bush" → stop avoiding the point.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Choosing the literal meaning.
Trap: Ignoring the tone of the sentence.
Trap: Confusing similar phrasal verbs.

Quick revision

Figurative, not literal.
Learn by theme.
Check with context.

Practice MCQs

Fill in the blank: “The Kochi office recorded ____ applications this month than last month.”
1. fewest
2. less
3. fewer
4. little
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Answer: (c) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Lucknow office recorded ____ books this month than last month.”
1. fewer
2. little
3. less
4. fewest
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Answer: (a) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Mysuru office recorded ____ complaints this month than last month.”
1. fewer
2. fewest
3. less
4. little
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Answer: (a) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Nagpur office recorded ____ errors this month than last month.”
1. fewest
2. fewer
3. less
4. little
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Answer: (b) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
Fill in the blank: “The Patna office recorded ____ files this month than last month.”
1. little
2. less
3. fewest
4. fewer
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Answer: (d) fewer. Use “fewer” with countable plural nouns.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Patna, Nisha used the expression “beat around the bush” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. avoid the main point
2. reveal a secret
3. say exactly the right thing
4. very rarely
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Answer: (a) avoid the main point. Avoid the main point.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Pune, Pooja used the expression “back to square one” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. do something cheaply or carelessly
2. in trouble
3. stop working for the day
4. return to the beginning
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Answer: (d) return to the beginning. Return to the beginning.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Indore, Meera used the expression “hit the nail on the head” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. say exactly the right thing
2. extremely happy
3. joke with someone
4. very easy
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Answer: (a) say exactly the right thing. Say exactly the right thing.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Mysuru, Asha used the expression “cost an arm and a leg” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. do something cheaply or carelessly
2. be very expensive
3. in trouble
4. stop working for the day
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Answer: (b) be very expensive. Be very expensive.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Nagpur, Ravi used the expression “cut corners” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. work late into the night
2. something apparently bad that turns out useful
3. feeling ill
4. do something cheaply or carelessly
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Answer: (d) do something cheaply or carelessly. Do something cheaply or carelessly.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Lucknow, Kabir used the expression “bite the bullet” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. face a difficult situation bravely
2. do something cheaply or carelessly
3. work late into the night
4. stop working for the day
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Answer: (a) face a difficult situation bravely. Face a difficult situation bravely.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Bhopal, Tara used the expression “through thick and thin” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. in good and bad times
2. it is your turn to act
3. be very expensive
4. face a difficult situation bravely
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Answer: (a) in good and bad times. In good and bad times.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Jaipur, Nisha used the expression “call it a day” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. stop working for the day
2. be very expensive
3. avoid the main point
4. miss an opportunity
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Answer: (a) stop working for the day. Stop working for the day.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Bhopal, Ravi used the expression “back to square one” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. be very expensive
2. face a difficult situation bravely
3. in good and bad times
4. return to the beginning
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Answer: (d) return to the beginning. Return to the beginning.
In the sentence “During an English workshop in Lucknow, Arjun used the expression “break the ice” while discussing a case.”, what does the idiom mean?
1. it is your turn to act
2. start a friendly conversation
3. face a difficult situation bravely
4. in good and bad times
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Answer: (b) start a friendly conversation. Start a friendly conversation.