Pariksha SaathiIdioms and Phrases Questions with Solutions
Idioms can’t be worked out from their individual words — "break the ice" has nothing to do with ice — so this topic is pure recognition, built up one phrase at a time. Here’s the approach, four fully worked examples using some of the most common idioms tested, and a few to try yourself.
The approach, quickly
- An idiom is a fixed phrase whose overall meaning isn’t the literal sum of its words — these have to be learned as whole units, the same way vocabulary is learned.
- Context still matters: once you have a candidate meaning, check that substituting it back into the sentence still makes sense in context.
- Many idioms cluster around familiar domains — weather, body parts, animals, cooking. Recognising a phrase as "idiom-shaped" (an unusual combination that wouldn’t quite make literal sense) is often the first clue that a fixed meaning is intended.
- Don’t try to guess an idiom’s meaning from its literal words — "once in a blue moon" has nothing to do with the moon’s colour. These are better memorised directly from repeated exposure than reasoned out.
Worked examples
1. Choose the meaning of the idiom "to break the ice": (A) To start a fight (B) To make the first move in an awkward or formal situation (C) To cause an accident (D) To end a relationship
Solution
- "Break the ice" means to ease tension or initiate conversation in an awkward or formal setting.
Answer: (B) To make the first move in an awkward or formal situation
2. Choose the meaning of the idiom "to cost an arm and a leg": (A) To be very expensive (B) To cause an injury (C) To take a long time (D) To be free of charge
Solution
- "Cost an arm and a leg" means to be extremely expensive.
Answer: (A) To be very expensive
3. Choose the meaning of the idiom "once in a blue moon": (A) Every full moon (B) Very rarely (C) Every night (D) Regularly, once a month
Solution
- "Once in a blue moon" means something that happens very rarely, almost never.
Answer: (B) Very rarely
4. Choose the meaning of the idiom "to let the cat out of the bag": (A) To release an animal (B) To accidentally reveal a secret (C) To escape from danger (D) To cause confusion
Solution
- "Let the cat out of the bag" means to accidentally reveal a secret.
Answer: (B) To accidentally reveal a secret
Try these yourself
Work through these the same way, then check against the answer.
1. Choose the meaning of the idiom "to hit the nail on the head": (A) To make a mistake (B) To say or do something exactly right (C) To work very hard (D) To finish a task quickly
Answer: (B) To say or do something exactly right
2. Choose the meaning of the idiom "to burn the midnight oil": (A) To waste resources (B) To work or study late into the night (C) To start a fire (D) To wake up early
Answer: (B) To work or study late into the night
3. Choose the meaning of the idiom "a piece of cake": (A) A small reward (B) Something very easy to do (C) A tasty dessert (D) A difficult challenge
Answer: (B) Something very easy to do
Where this comes up
Idioms and Phrases is a regular topic in the English Language section of every exam Pariksha Saathi covers — SSC CGL, SSC MTS, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO and SBI Clerk.
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