Idioms and Phrases Notes for Competitive Exams

Idioms and phrases are groups of words whose meaning is different from the meaning of the individual words. For example, "to spill the beans" has nothing to do with beans; it means to reveal a secret. Questions on idioms and phrases are a regular part of the English section of SSC, banking, railways, defence and state-level examinations, and they also add colour to your own speaking and writing. This note explains what idioms are, gives a list of the 50 most frequently asked idioms with meanings and example sentences, covers proverbs and phrasal verbs, and shares a strategy for answering the questions, in simple language.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning cannot be understood just by knowing the meaning of each word. It has a figurative meaning that has developed through use over a long time. Idioms should not be changed: we say "kick the bucket" and not "kick the pail". They are mostly used in informal writing and speech, and they must be used with care in formal essays or reports. A proverb is a short, popular saying that gives advice or a truth about life, such as "A stitch in time saves nine". A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a preposition or an adverb, such as "give up" or "put off", which has a new meaning. All three types appear in exams.

Fifty Important Idioms With Meanings

Idioms in Sentences

Learning idioms with sentences makes them stick. "Losing his job turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as he started his own business." "The test was a piece of cake for her." "Do not beat around the bush; tell me what happened." "The students burnt the midnight oil before the examination." "After years of silence, the two brothers finally buried the hatchet." "The shopkeeper shed crocodile tears when the customer left without buying." "No one expected Mohan to win, as he was a complete dark horse." "The company cut corners to save costs, and the bridge collapsed." "I was in hot water for coming home late." "He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party." "It was raining cats and dogs, so we stayed indoors." "Searching for the lost file was a wild goose chase." Write two sentences of your own for each new idiom.

Important Proverbs

Many examinations ask for the meaning or the completion of common proverbs. A few examples are: "A stitch in time saves nine" (solve a problem early to avoid bigger trouble); "All that glitters is not gold" (appearances can deceive); "Honesty is the best policy"; "Prevention is better than cure"; "Slow and steady wins the race"; "Where there is a will, there is a way"; "Actions speak louder than words"; "Too many cooks spoil the broth" (too many people on a task spoil it); "Strike while the iron is hot" (act at the right moment); "Birds of a feather flock together" (similar people stay together); "Empty vessels make the most noise" (foolish people talk the most); "A rolling stone gathers no moss" (a person who keeps moving cannot settle). Link each proverb with a short real-life story, and it will become easy to recall.

Common Phrasal Verbs

• Call off: cancel. Put off: postpone. Give up: stop trying.
• Look after: take care of. Look into: investigate. Look up to: respect.
• Turn down: refuse. Carry out: perform. Break down: stop working.
• Bring up: raise a child. Come across: meet or find by chance. Get along: have a good relation.
• Run out of: use up. Set up: establish. Take after: resemble a family member.

Strategy for Answering Questions

If you know the idiom, choose the option directly. If not, use the context: read the full sentence and see whether the meaning of the options fits the sense. Guess the tone: a positive idiom is likely to have a positive meaning. Eliminate options that are literally linked to the words in the idiom (for example, for "spill the beans", ignore options about food) because idioms are rarely literal. When the question asks you to select the correctly used idiom in a sentence, check the meaning, not only the grammar. Do not change an idiom, as in "bite the bullets". For fill-in-the-blank idioms, remember the exact preposition: in hot water, on cloud nine, at the eleventh hour.

How to Learn Idioms Efficiently

Learn 6 to 8 idioms a day in groups of related meaning (for example, idioms of secrecy: spill the beans, let the cat out of the bag; idioms of difficulty: bite the bullet, face the music). Make flashcards with the idiom on one side and the meaning plus a sentence on the other. Draw a funny picture of the literal meaning, as it helps you remember the figurative one. Read news and stories, and note the idioms used by writers. Revise on a weekly basis, and practise with previous year papers to see the types of idioms asked.

Common Mistakes

Students often choose the literal meaning of an idiom, confuse similar idioms such as a blue moon and a bolt from the blue, change the words of the idiom, or use an idiom in the wrong situation. Another mistake is to learn long lists without example sentences. Revision of mistakes is the best way to fix these.

Where Idioms Come From

Knowing the story behind an idiom helps you remember it. "Break the ice" is often traced to the old practice of ships breaking the frozen sea so that others could pass, and now it means to make people feel at ease. "Face the music" is believed to come from an actor who had to face the orchestra and the audience on stage. "Bury the hatchet" is often traced to a Native American custom of burying weapons to mark peace. "Turn a blind eye" is linked to Admiral Nelson, who is said to have put a telescope to his blind eye to avoid seeing a signal he did not want to obey. "Dark horse" is taken from horse racing, where an unknown horse wins unexpectedly. Such small stories turn a dry list into an interesting subject, and they also make it easier to guess the meaning of an idiom you meet for the first time.

Using Idioms in Writing

Idioms make speech lively, but too many idioms make writing look artificial. In essays and formal letters, use them sparingly and only when they add clarity. Avoid clichés that have lost their force, and never mix idioms in the same sentence, as in "burning the candle at both ends in hot water". For examinations, focus first on understanding the meaning of each idiom and next on using it correctly in a sentence.

Quick Revision

• Idioms have figurative meanings and should not be changed.
• Learn idioms in groups, with example sentences and flashcards.
• Proverbs give advice; phrasal verbs combine verbs with particles and change meaning.

Idioms add life to language. Learn a few every day, use them in your own sentences and revise often, and you will find that this section of the examination turns into a quick and enjoyable source of marks.

Related Notes to Read Next

Continue your preparation with these related notes from the same subject:

• Reading Comprehension Notes for Competitive Exams
• Active-Passive Voice and Direct-Indirect Speech Notes
• Articles, Prepositions and Sentence Improvement Notes
• All English notes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is an idiom?

An idiom is a fixed group of words whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of the individual words, such as "spill the beans".

What is the difference between an idiom and a proverb?

An idiom is a figurative phrase that fits into a sentence, while a proverb is a complete short saying that gives advice or a general truth.

What does "a blessing in disguise" mean?

It means something that seems bad or unlucky at first but later turns out to be good.

What does "burn the midnight oil" mean?

It means to work or study late into the night.

What does "once in a blue moon" mean?

It means very rarely or almost never.

What is the meaning of "at the eleventh hour"?

It means at the very last moment, just before it is too late.

What is the meaning of "the ball is in your court"?

It means that it is your turn to make a decision or take action.

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb used with a preposition or adverb that together has a meaning different from the verb alone, such as "give up" or "call off".

What does "call off" mean?

"Call off" means to cancel something, such as a meeting or an event.

How can I learn idioms quickly?

Learn 6 to 8 idioms a day in related groups, write your own sentences, use flashcards and revise them every week.

What is the meaning of "wild goose chase"?

It means a useless and hopeless search or pursuit.

How do I answer idiom questions if I do not know the idiom?

Use the context of the sentence, guess the tone, avoid literal options and eliminate choices that do not fit the sense of the sentence.