English Idioms and Phrases: Check Their Meaning and Learn How to Use Them With Solved Examples
Ashutosh Sharma
| Updated: May 27, 2021 13:22 IST
An idiom is a common word or a phrase that means something different but can be understood because of its popular use. Idioms embellish the language. Idioms are made of normal language words that have a special meaning known to almost everyone. They are tools of the English language that help us describe a particular situation in a more creative way. They have a cultural and historical etymology behind them. Often, there are stories. English Idioms and phrases are significant because they can convey more meaning in fewer words and broaden the understanding of the examiner.
For details on the Para Jumbles, refer to the linked article.
Importance of Idioms and Phrases:
When it comes to IBPS PO, CLERK SO, SSC, CDS, RRB, and Defence Exams there are direct questions based on idioms and phrases. Candidates are supposed to choose the correct meaning of a particular idiom from the options. Since the options can be very similar, a good understanding and practice is a must. On the other hand, when it comes to written papers like UPSC Mains, the use of idioms make a good impression on the examiner. It will showcase that the candidate is not only fluent in the language but also has the required amount of creativity in him or her. In addition, it saves your space and time with fewer words to write.
For details on the Cloze Test, refer to the linked article.
Example:
- If we see and analyze the current situation collectively from a higher perspective, we will realize the following:
This statement can be replaced with:
- The current scenario will tell us the following:
It makes the text and the writer or sayer more impactful.
To get details on Idioms and Phrases, candidates can visit the linked article.
Commonly Used English Idioms and Phrases: Learn How to Use Them
A lot of students try to learn all the idioms and phrases out there. However, there are thousands of them and you don’t need all of them. So here are the idioms and phrases that are asked commonly in the competitive exams.
| Idiom / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| sweet tooth | love sweet things | She has a sweet tooth. She always eats ice cream after dinner. |
| take a rain check | To reschedule at another time | Can I take a rain check? I don’t have time to go out tonight. |
| take my hat off to someone | honour someone | I take my hat off to Rahul. He was the best singer at the party. |
| take no prisoners | ruthlessly aggressive | To be successful in business, you need to take no prisoners and beat the competition. |
| take the bull by the horns | be brave and face a challenge | If you want to be the CEO of the company, take the bull by the horns and work harder. |
| take the cake | especially good or outstanding | His slap shot definitely takes the cake. It’s the best in the league! |
| take the wind out of my sails | to feel deflated | Your comment took the wind out of my sails when you laughed at my new invention. |
| take with a grain of salt | don’t believe it is completely accurate | I always take whatever I read in the news with a grain of salt. |
| talk a blue streak | talk a lot | Women who are close friends can talk a blue streak on the phone. |
| the big time | a situation involving fame or success | The actress was ready for the big time when she was nominated for the award. |
| the birds and the bees | sex education | I remember learning about the birds and the bees in middle school. |
| the eleventh-hour | last chance to do something | Just before the deadline, the student submitted the assignment at the eleventh hour. |
| the home stretch | near the end | We’re on the home stretch now. We’ll be there in a few minutes. |
| the lion’s share | the majority | She was upset because her sister got the lion’s share of the inheritance. |
| the tip of the iceberg | a small part of a bigger problem | Tax evasion was just the tip of the iceberg. The company has committed countless other crimes. |
| the whole nine yards | everything | We covered the whole nine yards in the meeting. There’s nothing left to do. |
| thick in the head | stupid or foolish | Tommy is so thick in the head. He keeps licking the wall. |
| third time’s a charm | the third time is usually successful | I tried unlocking the door twice already. I hope the third time’s a charm. |
| through thick and thin | in good and bad times | He loved his wife through thick and thin. |
| throw caution to the wind | to let go of all responsibilities and have fun | Let’s throw caution to the wind, quit our jobs, and go on vacation! |
| throw in the towel | give up | Rocky never threw in the towel during his fighting career. |
| throw the baby out with the bathwater | removing something good while trying to remove something bad | Keep writing your novel. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Most of what you have written is great. |
| throw under the bus | sacrifice someone as a scapegoat | The player threw the goaltender under the bus saying he was the reason they lost the game. |
| tick for tack | retaliation | The team lost the first game but won the second. Tick for tack. |
| tie the knot | get married | Are you ever going to tie the knot? You aren’t getting any younger. |
| time flies | time goes very fast | Our vacation is over already? Time flies! |
| time is money | time is valuable | We can’t wait here all day. Time is money! |
| time of your life | an enjoyable time of your life | Did you have the time of your life when you were a teenager? |
| time to run | time to leave | It’s time to run. I need to go and pick up my kids from school. |
| time will tell | the outcome will soon be known | Only time will tell what happens to the human race. |
| to be off base | not making a fair statement | Mandy was off base when she said that I needed a hair transplant to get the acting role. |
| to fancy someone | to think someone is very attractive | Do you fancy Molly? She likes you too. |
| tongue in cheek | not meaning what one is saying | When I said to fly to Hawaii, I was speaking tongue in cheek. I didn’t think you would book a ticket! |
| true colours | actual character or personality | I saw her true colours when she donated to the local charity. |
| two-time | cheat or betray | His girlfriend was two-timing him by sleeping with the plumber. |
| under my thumb | under my control | Mick said the girl was under his thumb. She was the sweetest pet in the world. |
| under the table | concealed or by secret | We should keep this under the table until we know it’s safe to tell everyone. |
| under the weather | feel sick | Sorry, I can’t come to work today. I’m feeling a bit under the weather. |
| until the cows come home | for a long time | She can watch Netflix until the cows come home. |
| up the creek | in trouble | If I don’t wash the dishes tonight, I’ll be up the creek. Mom said to wash them two days ago. |
| walk out on someone | to end a relationship | My girlfriend walked out on me, so I was depressed. |
| wash my hands of something | stop dealing with a problem | I’m washing my hands of his troubled past and moving on with life. |
| water off a duck’s back | a harmful remark that does not affect someone | She insulted me but I didn’t care. It was like water off a duck’s back. |
| water under the bridge | a past problem that no longer affects the present | He cheated on her 10 years ago, but that is water under the bridge now. |
| wear the pants | be in charge | She wears the pants in the family. Her husband stays home and sleeps all day. |
| wear your heart on your sleeve | show emotions openly | You always wear your heart on your sleeve and give annual donations to charity. |
| when it rains, it pours | many misfortunes often occur all at once | Last week, my dog died and I broke my leg. When it rains, it pours. |
| whisper sweet nothings | to say romantic things to someone | Sue likes it when I whisper sweet nothings to her. |
| white elephant | useless possession | My old DVD player is a white elephant. I only watch Netflix now. |
| a hot potato | a controversial issue or situation | The voting ballot has become a hot potato in the country. |
| A piece of cake | An easy task | Being a good teacher, handling students was a piece of cake for him. |
| Once in a blue moon | A very rare event | A referendum occurs once in a blue moon. |
| A bed of roses | An easy option or way | Life isn’t a bed of roses. |
| Raining cats and dogs | Heavy rains | It rained cats and dogs during the cyclone |
| When pigs fly | An impossible task or event | The time machine will be invented when pigs fly. |
| Devil’s advocate | one who presents a counter-argument | John always plays the devil’s advocate in every plan we make. |
| Miss the boat | Miss an opportunity or chance | If you won’t study you will miss the boat to your dream college. |
| Apple of the eye | someone very precious or dear | A child is an apple of the parents’ eyes |
| zip your lip | Shut up or stop talking | The angry teacher asked the students to zip their lips |
| Second wind | A second burst of energy after being tired | He felt a second wind surging through his body. He grabbed the shovel and started digging again. |
| dog’s life | A miserable life. | In the 1800s, slaves led a dog’s life |
Also, check out Reading Comprehension
Idioms And Phrases– Sample Questions For Verbal Ability
Statements given below have a few words or phrases highlighted in bold. Choose the correct option that is grammatically correct and conveys the same meaning as the highlighted word/phrase.
Q1. Can I take a rain check on your offer? Options:
- think on it
- check the weather
- Predict the weather
- Buy an umbrella.
Ans. Option A is correct.
For details on the Types and Rules of Tenses, refer to the linked article.
Q2. The manager asked me to wear the pants while he was on leave. Options:
- Change clothes
- Wear a pair of pants
- Be in charge
- Work hard
Ans. Option C is correct.
Q3. The broken car was a white elephant in the garage. Options:
- Costly possession
- Unnecessary item
- A big white object
- A burden
Ans. Option D is correct. Did you understand the use of different idioms and phrases? Then it’s time to practice.
Download the Testbook App and practice all the concepts through mock tests, and notes free!
Attempt the Phrase or idiom meaning Questions for SSC Exam here.
English Idioms and Phrases FAQs
Q.1 What are idioms?
Ans.1 Idioms are sentences that are used to convey a different meaning than their literal meaning.
Q.2 Why are idioms used?
Ans.2 Idioms are used to convey more meaning in fewer words effectively.
Q.3 What is the difference between idioms and phrases?
Ans.3 Idioms are well-established words with a historical or cultural background to them. Phrases are a group of words that act as one unit.
Q.4 What is an example of a phrase?
Ans.4 “A taste of your own medicine” – This is a phrase and it means “When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others”
Q.5 What are the different types of phrases?
Ans.5 The different types of phrases are noun, verb, gerund, infinitive, appositive, participial, prepositional, and absolute.
