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500+ Idioms Phrases – SSC Exams

Hi friends, today I am posting the first part of the 500+ Idioms and phrases series (500+ Idioms Phrases – SSC Exams). All the questions have been asked in the various exams of ssc.

Directions: In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase printed in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/ Phrase.

Q1. For his alleged involvement in espionage, he is under a cloud these days.
(A) enjoying favorable luck
(B) experiencing cloudy weather
(C) under suspicion
(D) under observation

Ans: (C) Solution: under a cloud: under a suspicion l As he behaved in an abnormal way, his activities were under a cloud.

Q2. Because of his misbehavior, he is hound to face the music.
(A) get reprimanded
(B) get finished
(C) feel sorry
(D) listen to the music

Ans: (A) Solution: face the music: to accept or deal with criticism or punishment for something you have done l He is prepared to face the music for his conduct at the meeting.

Q3. By opposing his proposal he fell foul of him.
(A) felt annoyed with
(B) quarrel with
(C) agreed with
(D) got into trouble with

Ans: (D) Solution: fell foul of: to get into trouble with a person/an organization because of doing something wrong l The boy fell foul of his best friend, when he disagreed to his friends’ opinion.

Q4. He was all at sea when he began his new Job.
(A) sad
(B) happy
(C) puzzled
(D) triumphant

Ans: (C) Solution: all at sea: confused and not knowing what to do l I’m all at sea with these new rules and regulations.

Q5. The new manager thought that he would give employees enough rope for the first six months after which he would check the work done himself.
(A) sufficient advice
(B) many directives and orders
(C) all the material they needed
(D) enough freedom for action

Ans: (D) Solution: enough rope: to allow freedom to do what one wants. The question was so irrelevant that it gave the interviewee enough rope to frame her own answer.

Q6. The sweeping statement by the boss left the conscientious workers disgusted.
(A) unpremeditated statement
(B) rash statement
(C) thoughtless statement
(D) generalized statement

Ans: (C) Solution: sweeping statement: too general and failing to think about or understand l His sweeping statement left the board speechless.

Q7. The working of the factory was disrupted on account of a token strike by farm workers.
(A) carefully planned strike
(B) total strike
(C) short strike held as a warning
(D) sudden call of strike

Ans: (C) Solution: token strike: a brief strike intended to convey the strength of feeling on a disputed issue l The workers went on a one-day token strike to get their demands fulfilled.

Q8. Those who work by fits and starts seldom show good results.
(A) disinterestedly
(B) rarely
(C) irregularly
(D) regularly

Ans: (C) Solution: by fits and starts: impulsively and irregularly l A sincere student works regularly, not by fits and starts.

Q9. We have appealed to him again and again there is no use flogging a dead horse now.
(A) making him see reason
(B) repeating our request
(C) beating about the bush
(D) wasting time in useless effort

Ans: (D) Solution: flogging a dead horse: wasting your effort by trying to do something that is no longer possible l He was warned again and again, but now I think there is no use flogging a dead horse.

Q10. We shouldn’t look down upon the wretched of the earth.
(A) hate intensely
(B) sympathise with
(C) be indifferent to
(D) regard with contempt

Ans: (D) Solution: look down upon: think you are better than somebody/something l He always looks down upon his poor brother.

Q11. The failure of crops in successive years put the farmer in a tight corner.
(A) in a small field
(B) in a closed room
(C) In a difficult situation
(D) in a meadow

Ans: (C) Solution: in a tight corner: in a difficult situation l Unexpected excuses put him in a tight corner.

Q12. His statement is out and out a lie.
(A) simply
(B) totally
(C) merely
(D) slightly

Ans: (B) Solution: out and out: in every way; complete l What she said was an out and out a lie.

Q13. If you are fair and square in your work you will definitely prosper.
(A) honest
(B) active
(C) business like
(D) authoritative

Ans: (A) Solution: fair and square: honest and He is fair and square in his dealings.

Q14. Raj couldn’t pay the bill, so he asked the owner to put It on the cuff.
(A) against his credit card
(B) on credit
(C) In his bank account
(D) in his friend’s account

Ans: (B) Solution: on the cuff: on credit l I helped him clean up the shop, so the mechanic gave me an oil change on the cuff.

Q15. The effort to trace the culprit was a wild goose chase.
(A) futile search
(B) fruitful hunting
(C) ideal seeking
(D) genuine effort

Ans: (A) Solution: a wild goose chase: a search for something that is impossible for you to find or that does not exist, that makes you waste a lot of time l I cannot accompany you in this wild goose chase.

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500+ Idioms Phrases – SSC Exams

Q16. The heavy downpour played havoc in the coastal area.
(A) caused diseases
(B) caused destruction
(C) caused floods
(D) caused hardship

Ans: (B) Solution: played havoc: caused damage, destruction or confusion l The severe earthquake played havoc all around the area.

Q17. The luxury car that they bought turned out to be a white elephant.
(A) useful mode of transport
(B) a rare article
(C) costly or troublesome possession
(D) a proud possession

Ans: (C) Solution: a white elephant: a thing that is useless and no longer needed, although it may have cost a lot of money l The new office block has become an expensive white elephant.

Q18. The story does not hold water.
(A) does not fulfill the requirements
(B) does not deserve appreciation
(C) cannot be believed
(D) cannot be valued

Ans: (C) Solution: does not hold water: cannot be believed l His argument is baseless and does not hold water.

Q19. There is no love lost between
(A) not on good terms
(B) stop loving
(C) forming a group
(D) have good understanding

Ans: (A) Solution: no love lost between: do not like each other l These is no love lost between them.

Q20. To have a green thumb means
(A) one is artistic
(B) one’s nails are painted green
(C) to have a natural interest in gardening
(D) one has a green tattoo on the thumb

Ans: (C) Solution: green thumb: a person good at making plants grow l Her beautiful garden shows that she has a green thumb.

Q21. When he saw the snake he took to his heels.
(A) went slowly
(B) ran away in fear
(C) walked in fear
(D) jumped fast

Ans: (B) Solution: took to his heels: ran away l As soon as the thief saw the police, he took to his heels.

Q22. He has to abide by the hard and fast rule of the company.
(A) strict
(B) flexible
(C) difficult
(D) honest

Ans: (A) Solution: hard and fast: that cannot be changed in any circumstances l One must abide by the hard and fast rules of this organization.

Q23. If he phones again, I am going . ‘ to give him a piece of my mind.
(A) To take revenge on him
(B) To be nice to him
(C) To reprimand him
(D) To support him

Ans: (C) Solution: to give him a piece of my mind: to tell somebody that you disapprove of his behaviour or angry with him l I’ve had enough of Raju. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.

Q24. Indians was going places in the field of software technology.
(A) going to spaces
(B) going abroad
(C) talented and successful
(D) friendly and amicable

Ans: (C) Solution: going places: to be getting more and more successful in your life or career l Maria writes very well. She is definitely going places.

Q25. My neighbour had to pay through his nose for a brand new car.
(A) Pay a reasonable price
(B) Pay huge loans
(C) Pay an extremely high price
(D) Make a quick buck

Ans: (C) Solution: play through his nose: to pay too much money for something l We paid through the nose for that vacation.

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Q26. She goes to her mother’s house off and on.
(A) rarely
(B) frequently
(C) occasionally
(D) sometimes

Ans: (C) Solution: off and on: from time to time; now and again; occasionally l She always remains sick. She has to visit the doctor off and on.

Q27. The party high command wanted to stave off an open battle.
(A) wait and see
(B) postpone
(C) allow it to take its own course
(D) prevent

Ans: (B) Solution: to stave off: to prevent something bad from affecting you for a period of time; to delay something l He could stave off an open argument.

Q28. The poet drew on his fancy not his knowledge of nature, when he wrote his poem on birds.
(A) used his knowledge
(B) used his understanding
(C) used his imagination
(D) used his skill

Ans: (C) Solution: drew on his fancy: used his imagination l Painters draw on their fancy in their sketches and paintings.

Q29. The robber murdered, the woman in cold blood for the sake of the jewels.
(A) a murder done in revenge
(B) a murder done without feeling
(C) a murder done in great anger
(D) a murder done in enmity

Ans: (B) Solution: murdered in cold blood: murdering in a way that is deliberately cruel/with no pity l The whole family was murdered in cold blood.

Q30. Very ambitious people do not like to rest on their laurels.
(A) To be motivated
(B) To be unhappy
(C) To be impatient
(D) To be complacent

Ans: (D) Solution: rest on their laurels: to feel so satisfied with what you have already achieved that you do not try to do any more. (A) complacent: too satisfied with yourself or with a situation, so that you may not feel that any change is necessary l Despite our success, this is not the time to rest on our laurels.

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500+ Idioms Phrases – SSC Exams

Q31. Ramesh takes after his father.
(A) imitates
(B) follows
(C) obeys
(D) resembles

Ans: (D) Solution: takes after: to look or behave like an older member of your family, especially your mother or father l John takes after his grand father.

Q32. They made no hones about acknowledging their debt to his genius.
(A) did not have any faith in
(B) did not have any hesitation in
(C) demanded compensation for
(D) had problems in

Ans: (B) Solution: made no bones about: to be honest and open about something; not to hesitate to do something l She made no bones about in accepting her defeat at the Olympics.

Q33. It is evident from the minister’s statement that heads will roll in the Secretariat.
(A) heads will be cut off
(B) transfers will take place
(C) people will die
(D) dismissals will occur

Ans: (B) Solution: heads will roll: will be punished because of something that has happened l When the company’s year-end results are known, heads will roll.

Q34. During the last moments of his life, the criminal made a clean breast of everything he had done.
(A) fought like a hero
(B) showed his breast
(C) confessed without reserve
(D) faced bravely

Ans: (C) Solution: made a clean breast of: to tell the truth about something so that you may no longer feel guilty l You’ll feel better if you make a clean breast of the incident.

Q35. She tries very hard to keep up with heir rich neighbours.
(A) to keep in touch
(B) to imitate
(C) to avoid
(D) to be on par

Ans: (A) Solution: to keep up: to continue to be in contact with somebody l He couldn’t keep up with his friends who went into business.

Q36. He went on sowing wild oats; he reaped suffering in his later life.
(A) warning others as a youngster
(B) Inviting troubles as a boy
(C) irresponsible pleasure seeking In young age
(D) sowing grains called oats when young

Ans: (C) Solution: souring wild oats: (of young men) to go through a period of wild behaviour while young, especially having a lot of romantic or sexual relationships l He sowed his wild oats in early life, but has become sober now.

Q37. I don’t know why she has become stand-offish recently.
(A) hilarious
(B) angry
(C) indifferent
(D) unmanageable

Ans: (C) Solution: stand-offish: not friendly towards other people; aloof l He can be quite stand-offish and rude, even to his friends.

Q38. Why don’t you put an end to blowing your own trumpet ?
(A) making too much noise
(B) playing your own trumpet to produce music
(C) praising your own abilities and achievements
(D) None of these

Ans: (C) Solution: blowing your own trumpet: to praise your own abilities and achievements; boast l Anyone will tell you she’s one of the best journalists we have got, although she never blows her own trumpet.

Q39. I knew he had an axe to grind
(A) a sharp tongue
(B) a blunt axe
(C) a private interest to serve
(D) a tendency to fight

Ans: (C) Solution: an axe to grind: to have private reasons for being involved in something or for arguing for a particular cause l He claimed to be disinterested, but I knew he had an axe to grind.

Q40. The saint’s life was an open book.
(A) On that held no secrets
(B) an uncomplicated one
(C) an example to all
(D) an interesting biography

Ans: (A) Solution: an open book: can easily understand and know everything about somebody l Your health secrets will be an open book to anyone who can do an online search. Directions: In the following questions, four alternatives are given for

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500+ Idioms Phrases – SSC Exams

Q41. Reading between the lines I realised that my friend wanted to keep something from me.
(A) reading carelessly
(B) looking for meanings that are not actually expressed
(C) reading with anxiety
(D) glancing over the lines

Ans: (B) Solution: reading between the lines: looking for or discovering a meaning Reading between the lines of the letter, she realised that her friend was in great trouble.

Q42. Sometimes, it happens that we have to give the devil his due.
(A) to give encouragement even to the enemy
(B) to give credit to even a notorious person
(C) to invite the devil
(D) to stand in the way of the devil

Ans: (A) Solution: to give the devil his due: said when you admit that someone you don’t like or admire does have some good qualities l I don’t like her views, but still I give the devil her due; she has always something important to say.

Q43. The king had been made to eat humble pie.
(A) to have an excellent dish
(B) to eat slowly (C) to eat a good pie
(D) to apologies

Ans: (D) Solution: to eat humble pie: to say and show that you are sorry for a mistake that you made l The producers of the advertisement had to eat humble pie for misrepresenting the facts.

Q44. He was given Hobson’s choice
(A) no real choice at all
(B) excellent choice
(C) choice to live or die
(D) first choice

Ans: (A) Solution: Hobson’s choice: a situation in which somebody has no choice because if he does not accept what is offered, he will get nothing l We didn’t really want that particular hotel, but it was a case of Hobson’s choice.

Q45. He has a very nice manner, but you would better take what he says with a grain of salt.
(A) to talk sensibly
(B) to listen to something with considerable doubt
(C) to criticise
(D) to complement

Ans: (B) Solution: take with a grain of salt: to hear/ listen/believe with some doubt l You must take anything she says with a grain of salt. She doesn’t always speak the truth.

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Q46. He didn’t tell me directly, but reading between the lines. I think he is not happy with them.
(A) understanding the sense rather than the actual words
(B) reading slowly and haltingly
(C) understanding the meaning of words and not the sense
(D) reading superficially

Ans: (A) Solution: reading between the lines: looking for or discovering a meaning; something that is not openly stated l Reading between the lines of the letter, she realised that her friend was in great trouble.

Q47. Gopi works by fits and starts.
(A) irregularly
(B) consistently
(C) in high spirits
(D) enthusiastically

Ans: (A) Solution: by fits and starts: impulsively and irregularly l A sincere student works regularly, not by fits and starts

Q48. I cannot put up with your misconduct any longer.
(A) refuse
(B) excuse
(C) accept
(D) tolerate

Ans: (D) Solution: put up with: to accept somebody/something that is annoying, unpleasant, etc. without complaining l I cannot put up with your constant complaining any longer.

Q49. I did not mind what he was saying, he was only talking through his hat.
(A) talking ignorantly
(B) talking nonsense
(C) talking irresponsibly
(D) talking Insultingly

Ans: (B) Solution: talking through his hat: to say silly things while you are talking about a subject you do not understand l He was talking through his hat when he described the shipwreck.

Q50. He is so furious that he would go through fire and water to revenge himself on his foe.
(A) avail himself of any opportunity
(B) approach everybody for help
(C) use any conceivable method
(D) undergo any risk

Ans: (D) Solution: go through fire and water: face any difficulty l They went through fire and water to ensure the child’s safety.

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