Best 400+ Idioms Asked by SSC (PDF)

THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC THE PUNDITS Best 400+ IDIOMS (Out of 2000 + IDIOMS Asked in all SSC Exams from 1999 to September 2023) Useful in Quick Revision for All Competitive Exams JOIN - https://telegram.me/ThePundits_Official YouTube - https://yo...

THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC THE PUNDITS Best 400+ IDIOMS (Out of 2000 + IDIOMS Asked in all SSC Exams from 1999 to September 2023) Useful in Quick Revision for All Competitive Exams JOIN - https://telegram.me/ThePundits_Official YouTube - https://youtube.com/@ThePundits_Official?feature=shared 1  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Hello SSCians, From 1999 to 2023, SSC has asked approximately a total of 2000+ Idioms & Phrases. Some of them are easy to remember, while some of them require multiple revisions to retain them till exam. Usually, aspirants highlight such Idioms so that they can revise them easily before exam in minimum time. In this PDF, We have picked up such confusing or hard 400+ Idioms & Phrases which need multiple revisions. Revise this PDF as many times as you can & Share it with other aspirants too. Regards, - Team ‘THE PUNDITS’ For more such relevant PDFs, JOIN - https://telegram.me/ThePundits_Official 2  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC A big draw — Huge attraction A bull in a china shop — An extremely awkward, clumsy person A cold fish — Someone who seems unfriendly and who does not share feelings A cut above something — Superior to A damp squib — A disappointment result A dog’s breakfast — A total mess A fine state of affairs — An unpleasant situation A gentleman at large — A man without a job A hot potato - a controversial situation A house of cards — An insecure scheme A kick in the teeth — A grave setback A lean patch — A period of poor performance A little bird told me — Used to indicate that that the speaker knows something but chooses to keep the identity of their informant Secret A man of straw — A man of no substance/ A weak person A moot point — Disputed 3  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC A nig – nog — A fool A Penelope’s web — Endless A penny for your thoughts — A way of asking what someone is thinking A rainy day — Time of difficulty A shot in the arm — An encouraging stimulus A stiff – necked person — An obstinate person A stuffed shirt — a conservative / Pompous person A vexed question — Controversial Adam’s ale — Water Aid and abet — To help someone to commit a crime Alive and kicking — In good health All agog — Amazed All and sundry — All included All hat and no cattle — One who is full of big talk but lacks substance and action Alphabet soup — A metaphor for an abundance of acronyms 4  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC An arm chair critic — Someone who gives advice based on theory not practice An arrow in the quiver — Strategies that can be followed Argus eyed — Observant As bald as a cue ball — Completely bald As daft as a brush — Extremely silly As high as a kite — Intoxicated with alcohol As the crow flies — The shortest route As thick as two short planks — Extremely stupid Asleep at the wheels — Not attentive to one’s duties Assume airs — Pretend superiority At a loss — Unable to decide At beck & call - At his disposal/ to be dominated by someone At daggers drawn — Enemies/hostile At each other’s throats — Arguing angrily At large — A criminal escaped or not yet captured At loose ends — In an uncertain situation 5  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC At sixes and sevens — In disorder or confusion At the drop of a hat — Without any hesitation/ instantly At the top of your lungs — Extremely loud Babe in the woods — A young defenceless person Back in saddle — Resume duty Back to the drawing board — plan it all over again Banana oil — Nonsensical talk Bang for the buck — More value of money Batten down the hatches - Prepare for a difficult situation Be a dab hand at something — Skilled in a particular area Be a dead meat — To be in serious trouble Be all one to — Make no difference Be down with — Suffering from Be glad to see the back of — Be happy when a person leaves Be going places — Talented and successful Be in the red — To be in loss or debt Be left stranded — To be the last person on whom blame falls 6  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Be off — To go away Be on the air — Broadcast over the radio or on tv Bear down — To move quickly towards someone in a determined & threatening way Bear fruit — Produce positive results Bear the brunt of — Suffer the worst of something Bear the palm — To win Beat one’s brains out — To put forth one’s maximum effort Been nipped in the bud — Dropped at an early stage Beside the mark — Irrelevant Best thing since sliced bread - Most useful innovation in long time Beyond the pale — Unreasonable or unacceptable Big bucks — A lot of money Bite someone’s head off — Speak angrily without any reason Bite the bullet — To force yourself to do something unpleasant Black ox - misfortune Blow a fuse — To react very angrily 7  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Blow his top — Be very angry Blue – blooded — Of noble birth Boils down — sums up to Break new ground — Do or discover something new Breathing down his neck — Watching all his actions closely Bring home the bacon — To be successful Bring the house down — Made audience applaud enthusiastically Broke a lance with — To argue against Broke Priscian’s head — To use bad grammar Broken reed — Support that failed Brought up — Introduced for discussion Brown study — A mood of deep absorption or thoughtfulness Bugs me — Irritates me Burn your boats — Do something that makes impossible to return to the previous situation Butt in — Interrupt By a whisker — By a small margin 8  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC By courtesy of — Given or allowed by By the same token — In the same way Call down — To scold Call it a day — Decide or agree to stop doing something Call off — Cancel something Calls the shots — To be in control Came out of his shell — Became more sociable Can’t cut the mustard — To be unable to do a job Cap in hand — In a respectful manner Carry the ball — Be in charge Carry the can — To take the responsibility of some misdemeanour Carry weight — Be important Carve out a niche — Developed a specific position for himself Cast a slur upon — Damaged Casting pearls before swine — Offering good things to undeserving people Catch 22 — A particular situation in which one cannot do any thing 9  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Catch a tartar — To deal with a person who is more than one’s match Catch time by the forelock — Seize opportunity Cat’s whiskers — To be highly impressive Cheek by jowl — Very close together Chew something over — Discuss or consider something at length Chicken feed — Very little money Chicken out — To decide not to do something because you are too frightened Chinks in the armour - A weakness that can be taken advantage of Cloak and dagger — An activity that involves mystery and secrecy Cloven hoof — The evil intention Cold comfort — Slight satisfaction Come hell or high water — No matter what/In spite of obstacles Come off — Be separated Come to blows — Get into fight physically Come to grief — Have an accident/meet with disaster 10  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Come to terms with something — To gradually accept a sad situation Cook the books — To falsify financial records Cool about working — Ready to work Cool your heels — To be kept waiting Cordoned off — Isolated Cross out - Eliminate Cry down - To Depreciate Cut and dried – Already Decided Cut in/Cut one short - Interrupt someone while he is speaking Cut the mustard - To perform well Damp squib - complete failure Died in harness - To die while in service Down and Out - Without Money Dressing Down – Give a scolding Drive Home - To emphasize an important point Egg on - to Encourage 11  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Eye wash - a deception Face the music - to bear the consequences Fall back on - to seek support out of necessity Falling head over heels - Falling deeply in love with someone Feeding frenzy - an episode of frantic competition Finding their feet – to begin to understand the work, feel confident Flea market - a market selling second hand goods Floor – Puzzled Fly off at a tangent – to start discussing something irrelevant Flying off the handle – Suddenly becoming enraged For Good – Permanently Fuddy Duddy - a very old fashioned person Full of hot air - Full of nonsense Gall and wormwood - hateful Give vent to something - to express a negative emotion in a forceful and often unfair way Get cracking - to start doing something 12  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Get down to brass tacks - to start discussing the important facts Get into a soup - to make things difficult Get someone’s goat - to irritate someone Get the hang of - learn how to use Get the sack - to be dismissed Getting in someone’s hair - to annoy someone Give in - to accept defeat/yield Give up ghost - to die Give way - to collapse Go belly up - to go bankrupt Go dutch - divide the cost Go for a song - to be sold cheaply Go for the jugular - attack all out Go haywire - to become out of control God’s ape - a born fool God’s acre - A cemetery besides church Grin from ear to ear - to smile a lot 13  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Hang up your boots - to take retirement Haul over the coals - to scold Head in the clouds – to daydream Helter-skelter - in disorderly haste High and dry – neglected High and low – everywhere High on the hog - to live in a luxurious way Hold out - to endure a difficult situation Horse around - to behave in a silly and noisy way In a flutter - in a nervous state In a jiffy - something that is done very quickly In cahoots with - in a partnership with In deep water - in great difficulty In the blues - cheerless and depressed In the offing - appear so on In the running – contesting the seat In the soup - to be in trouble 14  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC In the swim - well informed & up to date In the teeth of - in direct opposition to Ivory towers - detachment and seclusion Jump the gun - to act hastily Jumping down the throat – to scold angrily Keep abreast of – keep oneself updated Keep your wig on - to calm down Keep a stiff upper lip - remained expressionless Kicking his heels - wasting time Kith and Kin – relatives Learn/know the ropes - learn to do particular jobs Let off steam - to work or play off excess energy Let your hair down - to take it easy and relax Like a shag on a rock - completely alone Lock, stock and barrel - completely Look out – be careful Made off - ran away with 15  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Made out of whole cloth - entirely false & fabricated Make believe that - to pretend Make off with – run away Mealy mouthed - afraid of speaking frankly Nail your colours to their mast – to tell what are you thinking No dice – no chance of success No man is an Island - no one is self sufficient Not mince matters – tell your opinion clearly Of the first water – of the best quality Off the cuff - without preparation Off the hook - out of trouble On Shank’s mare - on foot On the cuff - on credit On the level - honest Out and Out - totally Out at the elbows - poor Out of bounds – Forbidden 16  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Out of the woods - out of danger Over head and ears - completely Palm off - to dispose off with the intent to deceive Pandora’s box - A prolific source of trouble Parthian shot - an unpleasant remark at the end of a conversation Peas in a pod - very similar Pick to pieces - Analyse critically Pie in the sky - something not possible Pound the pavement - hunt for a job on street Pull a fast one – to trick someone Pull strings – to use personal influence Pull yourself together - To calm oneself down Put up with - Tolerate Run into - Meet accidently Run Riot - Act without restraint Reap the whirlwind – Face negative consequences of one’s actions Rip up old sores – to revive forgotten quarrel 17  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Root and branch - completely Rose coloured glasses - a positive outlook on life Salad days – adolescence Seize the nettle - dealt firmly Shake off - to get rid of Shooting fish in a barrel - very easy task Silver bullet - A simple solution to a complicated problem Sleep on it - to wait before making a decision Stand – offish - indifferent Standstill - Complete halt Straw in the wind - An indication of what might happen Swollen headed - Pride Take exception to – to object strongly Take heart - to take courage Take up the hatchet - prepare to go to war Take after - Similar to The ayes have it – majority of votes are in favour 18  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC The bee’s knees - Extraordinary The die is cast - the decision has been taken The Gnomes of Zurich – big international bankers The nitty gritty - the most important aspect of a subject The seamy side - the unpleasant aspect Thin end of wedge – Start of harmful development The wheels have come off – things starting to go wrong Threw a spanner - to prevent a plan from succeeding Thumb one’s nose - to express hatred Throw up the sponge - to surrender Til the cows come home – for a long time To angle - to fish To be in a quandary – in a confusing situation To be pushing up daisies - to be dead and buried To be taken aback - to be surprised To be under the weather - to feel sick To beat a retreat - to run away in fear 19  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC To beat the rap - to be acquitted of a crime To break a leg - to wish good luck To carry the day - to succeed To clear the decks - to remove obstructions To cut my teeth on - to gain experience To cut the crackle - to stop talking and start working To get wind - come to know To grid up the loins - to prepare for the hard work To go down like a lad balloon – a poorly received joke To hammer out – To arrive at an agreement To have a blast - To have a good time To hit the sack - to go to sleep To jump on the bandwagon – to follow popular trends To keep in abeyance - in a state of suspension To keep up - to be in touch To make a pile - to make a lot of money To nip in the bud – to stop something at the start 20  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC To pay off old scores – to take revenge To pick holes - to criticise someone To pick up the threads - to restart from the previous closing point To pigeon hole - unfairly think of someone (less than his ability) To play to the gallery - to seek to win approval To put one out of countenance - to make one feel ashamed To put up with - Tolerate To run amok - to run about in a frenzy To shoot the breeze - to have a casual conversation To shun - to avoid deliberately To sleep with the fishes - to be dead To sow the dragon’s teeth - to act foolishly To stave off – postpone To steal a march - to outshine To steer clear of - avoid To take the cake - to degrade To take someone for a ride - to deceive someone 21  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC To take to task – to scold someone To the letter - in every detail To throw a fit - express extreme anger To toe the line - to follow the lead To turn over a new leaf – to change one’s behaviour for better Tongue in cheek – in an ironic way Touch and go – uncertain Turn turtle - turn upside down Turn up – appear Up in the arms – to be angry Vis-à-vis - face to face Wag the dog - to divert attention from something important Water under the bridge – no more important Weal and woe - good and bad times Wear the green willow - suffer unrequited love Weigh anchor - to prepare ship to sail Wet his whistle - to get drunk 22  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC What a small world ! – What a coincidence When pigs fly – never going to happen Whistle in the dark - pretend to be unafraid Whoop it up – enjoy in a noisy way Will-o-the wisp – impossible to achieve Wipe the nose – to cheat/rob With a fine tooth comb - carefully Yeoman’s service - excellent service On the breadline - be very poor To dodge a bullet - to narrowly avoid a situation Pen and Ink – Smells foul Crack someone up - to make someone laugh A plum job - an easy and pleasant job Made a pig’s ear - made a mess Second wind - burst of energy Grist to the mill - provide useful advantage Loaves and fishes - materialistic wealth 23  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC To a T - Exactly Call the shots - to tell others what to do In the fast lane - a life filled with excitement Sly as a fox - smart and clever Be like chalk & cheese - completely different from each other As phony as a 3 dollars bill - something that is fake Have egg on your face - to look foolish Grasping at straws - desperate attempt to succeed Run of the mill - average Scrape the barrel - to use one’s last resource Bad iron – bad luck Up the creek – in trouble On the ball - doing a job quickly/ alert As dead as a doornail - completely obsolete/out of trend A pipe dream – an unreal hope Dance attendance - obey someone’s every wish Buy a lemon - to buy something worthless 24  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC In the groove - starting to perform very well Dead ringer - similar thing/person Crossed the rubicon – made an irreversible change Go bananas – to become excited or angry Rust bucket - an old vehicle Hit the hay - to go to bed A broth of a boy - energetic person Chew the fat – to gossip or chat casually Keep someone posted – keep sharing the latest information Ruffle someone’s feathers - to annoy I don’t buy it – I am not convinced Slap on the wrist - a mild punishment A bull market - market where prices are rising To meet one’s water loo - to be badly defeated Slack off - to ease pressure on something Pig in a poke - bought without proper examination To twiddle one’s thumbs - to be idle 25  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Neck of the woods - neighbourhood To lay someone by heels - to confine somebody in poison Cast someone adrift - To leave someone without support A brown study - a mood of deep thoughts Mumbo jumbo - nonsense speech Fly into a passion - to become angry suddenly Bob’s your uncle - easily & quickly achievable Latin and Greek - incomprehensible Yellow bellies - cowards An olive branch - gesture of peace Down the tubes - failing completely Lose your marbles - go insane Went pear shaped - went terribly wrong Aladdin’s cave - a place having many interesting objects Charley horse - a painful cramp Beside oneself - out of one’s senses At the drop of dime - happening fast without hesitation 26  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC In Vogue - in fashion Hornet’s nest - Difficult situation Mincing walk - small steps Toffee nosed - a person who thinks himself of high class Want to curl up & die - to feel sorry To the nine - to perfection On the horizon - event that is likely to happen soon A cog in the machine - small part of big organisation No spring chicken - no longer young Sweat of his brow - hard work When the crunch comes – at the time of decision Play it by ear – to perform without rehearsals Memory like sieve – poor memory Queer Fish - Strange person Have a bash - to make an attempt Queer Pitch - Spoil someone’s chance of doing something Pell mell - Great confusion 27  THE PUNDITS – Best 400+ IDIOMS asked by SSC Lily Livered - not brave Drive someone up the wall - make someone extremely angry Share the PDF & KEEP REVISING …… For more such relevant PDFs, JOIN - https://telegram.me/ThePundits_Official YouTube - https://youtube.com/@ThePundits_Official?feature=shared 28