Idioms & Phrases for SSC CGL
Topic-Wise + Previous Year Coverage
1. What are Idioms & Phrases?
Idioms
Expressions whose meanings cannot be understood literally
Example: Kick the bucket → To die
Phrases
A group of words forming a unit of meaning
Example: Break the ice → To start a conversation
SSC often asks meanings of idioms or choose correct idiom in a sentence
2. Topic-Wise High-Frequency Idioms & Phrases
A. Time & Opportunity
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| At the eleventh hour | At the last moment | He submitted the report at the eleventh hour |
| Make hay while the sun shines | Use opportunity wisely | You should make hay while the sun shines |
| In the nick of time | Just in time | He reached the station in the nick of time |
B. Luck & Fortune
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Born with a silver spoon | Born rich | He was born with a silver spoon |
| Pot luck | Random luck | Let's try our pot luck at the lottery |
| Stroke of luck | Unexpected success | Finding her wallet was a stroke of luck |
C. Effort & Work
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Burn the midnight oil | Work late at night | He burned the midnight oil to finish the project |
| Blood, sweat, and tears | Hard work | He put in blood, sweat, and tears for his success |
| Pull one's weight | Do one's share | Everyone should pull their weight in team work |
D. Character & Personality
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A man of straw | Weak character | He is a man of straw |
| Cold feet | Nervous or scared | He got cold feet before the interview |
| Loose tongue | Talks too much | Beware of loose tongue |
E. Danger & Problem
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Out of the frying pan into the fire | From bad to worse | Changing jobs without planning is like out of the frying pan into the fire |
| On tenterhooks | Anxious, suspense | We were on tenterhooks waiting for results |
| Between the devil and the deep sea | Difficult choice | He was between the devil and the deep sea |
F. Miscellaneous
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Break the ice | Start a conversation | He told a joke to break the ice |
| Cost an arm and a leg | Very expensive | This car costs an arm and a leg |
| Barking up the wrong tree | Blaming wrongly | Don't bark up the wrong tree |
3. SSC Exam Tips
Focus on idioms repeated in previous 5–10 years
SSC often gives the meaning, synonym, or correct usage
Learn idioms topic-wise → easier to remember
Watch for tricky options → words with similar meaning but not exact
Practice at least 100 high-frequency idioms
4. SSC CGL Previous Year Questions
Q1. Choose the correct meaning of Burn the midnight oil
Answer: Work late at night
Q2. Fill in the blank: He was between the devil and the deep sea when...
Answer: He had to choose between two difficult options
Q3. Select the correct meaning of Break the ice
Answer: Start a conversation
Q4. Fill in the blank: Winning the lottery was a stroke of luck
Answer: Unexpected success
Q5. Choose the correct meaning of Cold feet
Answer: Nervous or scared
5. Practice Questions
(Attempt yourself – answers hidden below)
Q1. Meaning of In the nick of time
Q2. Meaning of Barking up the wrong tree
Q3. Meaning of Blood, sweat, and tears
Q4. Meaning of Loose tongue
Q5. Meaning of Make hay while the sun shines
Click for Answers
1. Just in time
2. Blaming wrongly
3. Hard work
4. Talks too much
5. Use opportunity wisely
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