Tips and Tricks: Phrases and Idioms | English Language & Comprehension for SSC CGL PDF Download

Introduction

Idioms and phrases play a significant role in questionnaires, particularly in competitive exams. The key to mastering the skill of solving such questions lies in consistent reading, discovering new phrases, noting down interesting and essential ones, and regularly committing them to memory.

Idioms 

Are a collection of words or phrases which have a figurative meaning that is generally well established and known.
For example, 

• Penny for your thoughts – Asking someone what is on their minds.
• A blessing in disguise – Something good that seemed bad earlier
• Get out of hand – getting beyond control

Phrase

Is a small group of words that are like a unit. These units are a part of a bigger sentence or a clause.
For example:- 

• The children were giggling and laughing when the teacher left the room
• Her best friend advised her to pull herself together and get back to work.
• She said me to be careful while driving

Tips and Tricks and Shortcuts

1. Continuous reading :
Gaining proficiency in solving such questions is exclusively achieved through extensive reading of numerous books. Reading not only provides entertainment but also serves as an excellent means to stimulate our brain.

2. Understand the meaning of each idioms and phrases:
The subsequent crucial step involves not just acquiring new idioms and phrases but also comprehending their meanings, delving into their origins, and understanding the typical contexts in which they are employed.

Meaning of some idioms:

• Make a long story short – Tell something in brief
• Wrap your head around something – Understand something that is complicated

Meaning of some phrases:

• Keep texting me from time to time on your way back home – be in contact.
• She gets off of work at 6 – works till 6.

3. Jot down the ready reckoners (Most commonly used Idioms and words) for revision:

Another simple strategy to excel in tackling such questions is to simply jot down commonly used idioms, words, or phrases along with their corresponding meanings and consistently review them.

Some commonly used idioms are:

• To make matters worse
• Time flies when you’re having fun
• Better late than never

Some commonly used phrases are:

• I beg to differ
• I have zero tolerance for this untidiness
• My sixth sense says that it’ll rain today.

4. Avoid cramming

The primary emphasis should be on grasping the fundamental concept of a specific idiom or word, steering clear of attempting to learn an excessive number of idioms simultaneously.

It is advisable to limit the daily quota to 6-7 phrases. Alternatively, one can organize idioms with similar meanings or themes and memorize them by section or theme.

5. Using visual imaginary

The ultimate piece of advice is to leverage our visual imagination, as many idioms have intriguing histories. It is not only important to delve into the stories behind their origins but also to connect them with specific images and link those images to the stories. This proves to be an effective method for memorizing a diverse array of idioms and phrases. 

Examples

Direction: One proverb/Idiom is mentioned below together with its meaning. Choose the correct meaning of that particular Idiom from the given options:

Q1: All in All
(a) Each person
(b) Every one
(c) Call everyone at the same time
(d) Most important
Ans: (d)
All in all signifies the crux or the minutes of any meeting or the most important points of any discussion.
Hence option D is the correct one.

Q2: To throw dust in one’s eyes
(a) To cheat someone
(b) To make blind
(c) To harm someone
(d) To mislead
Ans: (d)
It means to seek to mislead or deceive someone by misrepresentation or distraction.

Q3: To be rolling in money
(a) Very rich
(b) Borrowing money
(c) Wasting money
(d) Spending more than his income
Ans: (a)
It means to be very rich
If they can donate Rs. 5 lakhs for charity, they must be rolling in money.

Q4: To pull one’s socks up
(a) To depart
(b) To interfere
(c) To try hard
(d) To prepare
Ans: (d)
It means that one should start working or studying harder, because they have been lazy or careless.
 He must pull his socks up, if he wants to achieve success.

Q5: To see eye to eye with
(a) To love someone
(b) To agree
(c) To be angry
(d) To take revenge
Ans: (b)
It means to be in full agreement.
His friends never see eye to eye with his decisions.