Test: SSC CGL Previous Year Questions: Idioms/Phrases (2023-18) - 1 - SSC CGL MCQ

Bury the hatchet - to agree to end the disagreement that has divided two people or groups.

A storm in a teacup -
a big fuss about a small problem.

Rule the roost - to be in charge.

Scrape the barrel - To be forced to use one's last and weakest resource.
E.g.- After months of searching, they had to scrape the barrel to nd any remaining job candidates.

Beat about the bush - to avoid giving a denite answer or position.

Back against the wall - Be in a dicult situation from where escape is dicult.
E.g.- With his back against the wall, John had no choice but to confront his fears and take a stand.

To prime the pump - Encourage the growth or action of something.
E.g.- To get more people to join the club, they offered free snacks as a way to prime the pump.

Bad iron - bad luck.
E.g.- Spilling coffee on my white shirt before the presentation was another instance of bad iron.

Get into a scrape - Involved in a problem.
E.g.- Tommy got into a scrape when he borrowed his sister's bike without asking and then accidentally damaged it.

On the ball- Doing a job in a quick and competent manner.
E.g.- The project manager is always on the ball and ensures that every task is completed eciently.

Jumped the gun - to act prematurely or before the appropriate time.

A perfect storm - the worst possible situation.
E.g.- The shortage of ingredients and a busy evening rush in the restaurant kitchen created a perfect storm of chaos.

Take it with a grain of salt - Not to take things seriously.

To weather the storm - To deal with a dicult situation without being harmed.

speaks his mind - to express thoughts, opinions, or feelings openly and honestly.

Apple pie order - In a perfect order.

You snooze, you lose - If you are not alert, you are likely to miss opportunities.
E.g. - She missed out on the special discount because she didn't make a decision quickly. You snooze, you lose!

Saves for a rainy day - Saves money for later.

Treading on thin ice - To be in a dangerous risky position.
E.g.- Driving without a seatbelt is like treading on thin ice.

to get so strong that one cannot control them
‘Fever pitch’ is a phrase that means a state of extreme excitement. The given sentence states that by the end of the football match, feelings had reached a state of extreme excitement. Hence, ‘fever pitch’ is the most appropriate answer.

Himalayan blunder- a very serious mistake or error, grave error.

A rolling stone gathers no moss- a person who does not settle in one place for a long time, does not gain wealth, name or fame.

Come in handy- be useful.

Put his foot down - refused to yield.

Went pear shaped- went terribly wrong.

Aladdin’s cave - a place lled with a great number and variety of strange or precious items.

Clam up - to become silent.
E.g.- Teenagers should always clam up in a heated argument.

On the wane - on the decline.
E.g.- The combat was on the wane after the death of the commander.

Hold the key - to have control of something.
E.g.- The two main parties have won almost the same votes in the recent election, and now the minority group holds the key to the result.

Easy money - make money without much effort, maybe illegally.
E.g.- The perfect example of making easy money is winning a lottery.