Idioms and Phrases in English Grammar - Complete Guide for SSC Exams

What are Idioms and Phrases?

Idioms and Phrases are groups of words whose meaning is different from the meaning of each individual word. Example: Break the ice means to start conversation, not to break ice literally. Piece of cake means very easy work, not a piece of cake to eat. Once in a blue moon means very rarely, not literally blue moon. Beat around the bush means to avoid main topic, not to beat bush. In SSC CGL, CHSL, CPO, Railway, Banking, CTET idioms and phrases questions are asked in two types. First type: Give idiom and ask meaning. Example: To spill the beans means to reveal secret. Second type: Give sentence and use idiom in sentence. Example: He kicked the bucket means he died. Idioms make English colorful and natural. Native speakers use idioms daily. If you say It is raining cats and dogs, it means raining heavily, not cats and dogs falling. If you say Cost an arm and a leg, it means very expensive, not literally arm and leg. Learning idioms improves vocabulary and speaking.

Types of Idioms and Phrases

Common Idioms, Common Phrases, Idioms Related to Actions

Common Idioms: Once in a blue moon - very rarely, Break the ice - start conversation, Piece of cake - very easy, Hit the sack - go to sleep, Under the weather - ill, On cloud nine - very happy, Cost an arm and a leg - very expensive, Spill the beans - reveal secret, Let the cat out of the bag - reveal secret, Kick the bucket - to die. Common Phrases: Look after - take care, Look for - search, Look into - investigate, Call off - cancel, Put off - postpone, Put on - wear, Take off - remove or fly, Give up - leave, Carry on - continue, Come across - meet unexpectedly. Idioms Related to Actions: Beat around the bush - avoid main topic, Cut corners - do quickly and cheaply, Break a leg - good luck, Hit the nail on the head - do exactly right, Burn the midnight oil - work late night, Throw in the towel - give up, Jump on the bandwagon - follow others, Pull someones leg - joke with someone.

Idioms Related to Emotions, People, Situations

Idioms Related to Emotions: On cloud nine - very happy, Over the moon - very happy, Under the weather - ill or sad, Feeling blue - sad, Green with envy - jealous, Butterflies in stomach - nervous, Heart of gold - kind hearted person, Cold feet - nervous before event. Idioms Related to People: Heart of gold - kind person, Cold shoulder - ignore someone, Hard nut to crack - difficult person, Hand in glove - very close with someone, Armchair critic - one who criticizes without doing, Jack of all trades - knows many things but master of none, Apple of ones eye - very dear person. Idioms Related to Situations: In hot water - in trouble, In cold blood - without emotion, Out of the blue - suddenly, Out of hand - out of control, In a nutshell - in short, At the eleventh hour - at last moment, Under the table - secretly, On thin ice - in risky situation.

Idioms Related to Success and Failure, Money, Time, Nature

Idioms Related to Success and Failure: Hit the jackpot - great success, Bear fruit - get success, Miss the boat - miss opportunity, Bite the dust - fail or die, Throw in the towel - accept failure, Back to square one - start again, Make a mark - get success, Go down the drain - fail completely. Idioms Related to Money: Cost an arm and a leg - very expensive, Break the bank - cost too much, Tighten ones belt - reduce spending, Born with silver spoon - born rich, Pay through nose - pay too much, Money does not grow on trees - money is limited. Idioms Related to Time: Once in a blue moon - rarely, At eleventh hour - last moment, In nick of time - just in time, Time flies - time goes fast, Around the clock - all day and night, Donkey years - very long time. Idioms Related to Nature: Raining cats and dogs - raining heavily, Under the weather - ill, Ray of hope - small hope, Calm before storm - quiet before trouble, Barking up wrong tree - looking at wrong place, Let sleeping dogs lie - do not disturb trouble.

Tips for Idioms and Phrases in SSC Exams

1) Learn 300 most frequent SSC idioms by heart - Break the ice, Piece of cake, Kick the bucket, Spill the beans, Cost an arm and a leg, Once in blue moon, Under the weather, On cloud nine, Beat around bush, Hit nail on head, Burn midnight oil, Throw in towel, In hot water, Out of blue, At eleventh hour. 2) Read idiom in sentence to remember meaning. Example: He finally broke the ice at party and talked to everyone. 3) Group idioms - Happiness group On cloud nine, Over the moon, On seventh heaven. Trouble group In hot water, In deep water, On thin ice. Easy group Piece of cake, Child play, Walk in park. 4) Practice previous year SSC papers - same idioms repeat every year. 5) Do not confuse similar idioms - Spill beans reveal secret, Let cat out of bag also reveal secret, both similar. Break a leg means good luck, not bad luck.