The Staff Selection Commission Combined Higher Secondary Level (SSC CHSL) exam is one of India's most sought-after competitive exams. A crucial part of the English Language section is mastering idioms and phrases. To help you prepare, we've compiled a list of previous year's questions (PYQs) on idioms and phrases. Let's dive in and ace this section!
Why Focus on Idioms and Phrases?
Idioms and phrases play a crucial role in the SSC CHSL exam for several reasons:
Significant Weightage: Idioms and phrases are a regular feature in the English Language section of the SSC CHSL exam. Each correct answer in this section can significantly boost your overall score.
Language Proficiency: A strong grasp of idioms and phrases demonstrates a higher level of language proficiency. This is not only beneficial for the exam but also for effective communication in professional settings.
Score Boosters: Idioms and phrase questions are often straightforward if you know their meanings. Unlike other questions that may require complex reasoning or lengthy calculations, these can be answered quickly, allowing you to save time for other sections.
Repetition of Questions: Previous year questions on idioms and phrases are often repeated or rephrased in subsequent exams. Familiarity with these questions can give you an edge and make tackling similar questions in the exam easier.
Contextual Understanding: Knowing idioms and phrases helps in understanding the context of comprehension passages and other language-related questions. This holistic understanding can improve your performance across the entire English section.
Focusing on idioms and phrases is essential for maximizing your score in the SSC CHSL exam. Regular practice and a thorough understanding of these expressions will enhance your efficiency and accuracy on exam day.
Eat like a horse
- Meaning: To eat a lot.
- Example: After the workout, he ate like a horse.
Beat around the bush
- Meaning: To avoid talking about the main topic.
- Example: Stop beating around the bush and answer the question.
Red letter day
- Meaning: A very important or significant day.
- Example: The day I graduated was a red letter day for me.
Read between the lines
- Meaning: To understand the hidden meaning.
- Example: You need to read between the lines to understand what he really means.
A kick in the teeth
- Meaning: A severe setback or disappointment.
- Example: Losing the match in the final minute was a real kick in the teeth.
Donkey's years
- Meaning: A very long time.
- Example: They have been friends for donkey's years.
Go to the wall
- Meaning: To be destroyed or defeated.
- Example: Many small businesses went to the wall during the recession.
Under the weather
- Meaning: Feeling ill.
- Example: She has been under the weather since Monday.
By leaps and bounds
- Meaning: Very quickly.
- Example: Her English has improved by leaps and bounds.
Have a long face
- Meaning: To look sad or disappointed.
- Example: He had a long face after hearing the bad news.
The best of both worlds
- Meaning: To enjoy the advantages of two different things.
- Example: Living in the city and working from home gives her the best of both worlds.
Get away
- Meaning: To escape.
- Example: We decided to get away for the weekend.
Between Scylla and Charybdis
- Meaning: Having to choose between two dangerous situations.
- Example: He found himself between Scylla and Charybdis, having to choose between his job and his family.
Be at a loose end
- Meaning: Having nothing to do.
- Example: If you're at a loose end this weekend, come and visit us.
Have a soft spot for someone
- Meaning: To like someone very much.
- Example: She has a soft spot for her youngest son.
Pull the plug
- Meaning: To stop something; to bring something to an end.
- Example: They pulled the plug on the project due to lack of funding.
At loggerheads
- Meaning: In strong disagreement.
- Example: The two companies are at loggerheads over the new contract.
Playing devil's advocate
- Meaning: To argue against something for the sake of argument.
- Example: I'm not against the plan, but I'll play devil's advocate to see if we can find any flaws.
Back out
- Meaning: To withdraw from an agreement.
- Example: He decided to back out of the deal at the last minute.
Comparing apples with oranges
- Meaning: To compare two things that are not comparable.
- Example: Comparing those two cars is like comparing apples with oranges.
Lion’s share
- Meaning: The largest part of something.
- Example: He received the lion’s share of the inheritance.
Get the axe
- Meaning: To be fired from a job.
- Example: Many employees got the axe during the company's downsizing.
Wipe the floor with someone
- Meaning: To defeat someone completely.
- Example: She wiped the floor with her opponents in the debate.
To pay lip service
- Meaning: To say that you agree with something but do nothing to support it.
- Example: Many politicians pay lip service to environmental issues but do nothing about them.
Every dog has his day
- Meaning: Everyone will have their moment of glory eventually.
- Example: Don't be discouraged by your failures; every dog has his day.
Come about
- Meaning: To happen.
- Example: How did the accident come about?
Break a leg
- Meaning: Good luck (typically said to performers before they go on stage).
- Example: Break a leg! I’m sure your performance will be fantastic.
Miss the boat
- Meaning: To miss an opportunity.
- Example: He missed the boat when he didn't apply for the job in time.
On cloud nine
- Meaning: Very happy.
- Example: She was on cloud nine after winning the championship.
Sum and substance
- Meaning: The main point or gist of something.
- Example: The sum and substance of the debate was that both sides needed to compromise.
Under duress
- Meaning: Under pressure or threat.
- Example: He signed the confession under duress.
Apple of one’s eye
- Meaning: Someone who is very precious to you.
- Example: His daughter is the apple of his eye.
Up in arms
- Meaning: Very angry and ready to fight.
- Example: The residents are up in arms about the proposed new road.
Cut straight to the chase
- Meaning: To get to the point without wasting time.
- Example: Let's cut straight to the chase and discuss the main issue.
Make one’s blood boil
- Meaning: To make someone very angry.
- Example: The unfair treatment he received made his blood boil.
Hard of hearing
- Meaning: Not able to hear well.
- Example: She's a bit hard of hearing, so please speak louder.
Elbow grease
- Meaning: Hard physical effort.
- Example: It took a lot of elbow grease to clean the old house.
Donkey’s years
- Meaning: A very long time.
- Example: They have been friends for donkey's years.
Make someone’s flesh crawl/creep
- Meaning: To cause someone to feel scared or disgusted.
- Example: The eerie sound of the wind made my flesh crawl.
Eat like a horse
- Meaning: To eat a lot.
- Example: After the workout, he ate like a horse.
Beat around the bush
- Meaning: To avoid talking about the main topic.
- Example: Stop beating around the bush and answer the question.
Red letter day
- Meaning: A very important or significant day.
- Example: The day I graduated was a red letter day for me.
Read between the lines
- Meaning: To understand the hidden meaning.
- Example: You need to read between the lines to understand what he really means.
A kick in the teeth
- Meaning: A severe setback or disappointment.
- Example: Losing the match in the final minute was a real kick in the teeth.
Donkey's years
- Meaning: A very long time.
- Example: They have been friends for donkey's years.
Go to the wall
- Meaning: To be destroyed or defeated.
- Example: Many small businesses went to the wall during the recession.
Under the weather
- Meaning: Feeling ill.
- Example: She has been under the weather since Monday.
By leaps and bounds
- Meaning: Very quickly.
- Example: Her English has improved by leaps and bounds.
Have a long face
- Meaning: To look sad or disappointed.
- Example: He had a long face after hearing the bad news.
The best of both worlds
- Meaning: To enjoy the advantages of two different things.
- Example: Living in the city and working from home gives her the best of both worlds.
Get away
- Meaning: To escape.
- Example: We decided to get away for the weekend.
Between Scylla and Charybdis
- Meaning: Having to choose between two dangerous situations.
- Example: He found himself between Scylla and Charybdis, having to choose between his job and his family.
Be at a loose end
- Meaning: Having nothing to do.
- Example: If you're at a loose end this weekend, come and visit us.
Have a soft spot for someone
- Meaning: To like someone very much.
- Example: She has a soft spot for her youngest son.
Pull the plug
- Meaning: To stop something; to bring something to an end.
- Example: They pulled the plug on the project due to lack of funding.
At loggerheads
- Meaning: In strong disagreement.
- Example: The two companies are at loggerheads over the new contract.
Playing devil's advocate
- Meaning: To argue against something for the sake of argument.
- Example: I'm not against the plan, but I'll play devil's advocate to see if we can find any flaws.
Back out
- Meaning: To withdraw from an agreement.
- Example: He decided to back out of the deal at the last minute.
Comparing apples with oranges
- Meaning: To compare two things that are not comparable.
- Example: Comparing those two cars is like comparing apples with oranges.
Lion’s share
- Meaning: The largest part of something.
- Example: He received the lion’s share of the inheritance.
Get the axe
- Meaning: To be fired from a job.
- Example: Many employees got the axe during the company's downsizing.
Wipe the floor with someone
- Meaning: To defeat someone completely.
- Example: She wiped the floor with her opponents in the debate.
To pay lip service
- Meaning: To say that you agree with something but do nothing to support it.
- Example: Many politicians pay lip service to environmental issues but do nothing about them.
Every dog has his day
- Meaning: Everyone will have their moment of glory eventually.
- Example: Don't be discouraged by your failures; every dog has his day.
Come about
- Meaning: To happen.
- Example: How did the accident come about?
Break a leg
- Meaning: Good luck (typically said to performers before they go on stage).
- Example: Break a leg! I’m sure your performance will be fantastic.
Miss the boat
- Meaning: To miss an opportunity.
- Example: He missed the boat when he didn't apply for the job in time.
On cloud nine
- Meaning: Very happy.
- Example: She was on cloud nine after winning the championship.
Sum and substance
- Meaning: The main point or gist of something.
- Example: The sum and substance of the debate was that both sides needed to compromise.
Under duress
- Meaning: Under pressure or threat.
- Example: He signed the confession under duress.
Apple of one’s eye
- Meaning: Someone who is very precious to you.
- Example: His daughter is the apple of his eye.
Up in arms
- Meaning: Very angry and ready to fight.
- Example: The residents are up in arms about the proposed new road.
Cut straight to the chase
- Meaning: To get to the point without wasting time.
- Example: Let's cut straight to the chase and discuss the main issue.
Make one’s blood boil
- Meaning: To make someone very angry.
- Example: The unfair treatment he received made his blood boil.
Hard of hearing
- Meaning: Not able to hear well.
- Example: She's a bit hard of hearing, so please speak louder.
Elbow grease
- Meaning: Hard physical effort.
- Example: It took a lot of elbow grease to clean the old house.
Donkey’s years
- Meaning: A very long time.
- Example: They have been friends for donkey's years.
Make someone’s flesh crawl/creep
- Meaning: To cause someone to feel scared or disgusted.
- Example: The eerie sound of the wind made my flesh crawl.
Conclusions
Focusing on idioms and phrases is essential for doing well in the SSC CHSL exam. These questions are usually straightforward and can help you score higher with less effort. Since they often repeat from previous exams, knowing them gives you an advantage. Plus, they improve your overall language skills, which is beneficial beyond the exam. Regular practice and familiarity with these idioms and phrases will make you more confident and efficient on exam day. Keep practicing, and you'll be well-prepared to ace this section!
