VERY IMPORTANT IDIOM AND PHRASES FOR SSC,SBI,IBPS,UPSC,SSC CGL,CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS (SECTION 1)

This section will be asked for 5 marks in all competitive exam English papers click here for section 2

 NOTE: Correct answers for all the questions are marked bold.

1. The new economic policy is likely to run into rough weather.

A. create problems 

B. encounter difficulties

C. confuse matters 

D. makes things difficult

2. If you give John all your money, you are likely to burn your fingers.

A. be unhappy 

B. be happy

C. suffer 

D. be ill

3. I am sure they will fight tooth and nail for their rights.

A. with all their might  

B. without any other weapon

C. resorting to violence 

D. very cowardly

4.The road being zigzag we had to cut off a corner to reach in time.

A. To cut a portion of the road

B. To take a short cut

C. To go fast

D. To take an alternative route

5.I felt that it was a tall order to expect Monisha to go home alone at twelve in the night.

A. Difficult  

B. Too much

C. Customary 

D. Simple

6. I cannot get along with a man who plays fast and loose.

A. behaves in an unreliable and insincere way

B. has a loose tongue

C. lives a life of ease and luxury

D. does not know how to behave himself

7.The question of abolition of private property is still a most point.

A. undecided  

B. uncertain

C. unknown 

D. not clear

8.This regular absenteeism is a bad business since on work is being completed.

A. Bad for business 

B. Non-business like

C. An unfortunate event  

D. Creating ill-will

9.When he tells stories about himself, he is inclined to draw the long bow.

A. understate 

B. get emotional

C. exaggerate  

D. get excited

10.Vikram said that he has got a problem to square up with the manager. 

A. consider 

B. discuss

C. settle 

D. workout

11.Although both the parents are running the show for the last ten years but their business is now on its last legs. 

A. About to fructify  

B. About to perish

C. About to produce results 

D. About to take off

12.The time is running out, you must look sharp.

A. be careful  

B. make haste

C. be punctual 

D. be sensible

13.He is in the habit of throwing dust in his superiors eyes

A. To put sand into eyes 

B. To make blind

C. To deceive 

D. To show false things

14. He was in high spirits when I met him in the restaurant.

A. He was in a drunken state

B. He was very cheerful

C. He talked incoherently

D. He was deeply engrossed in thoughts

15. In his youth, he was practically rolling in money

A. Spending more than his income

B. Borrowing money liberally

C. Very rich

D. Wasting a lot of money

16. The sight of the accident made my flesh creep.

A. draw my attention 

B. confused me

C. frightened me  

D. worried me

17.There is no hard and fast rule regarding this subject.

A. rule that is difficult

B. rule that is fat changing

C. rule that cannot be broken or modified

D. rule that can be broken or modified

18.He went to his friend's house in the evening as was his wont.

A. as usual 

B. as he wanted

C. as his want was 

D. as he wanted that day

19.Why do you wish to tread on the toes?

A. To give offense to them 

B. To follow them grudgingly

C. To treat them indifferently 

D. To be kicked by them

20.He intends setting up as a lawyer in the adjoining district.

A. To establish himself 

B. To migrate

C. To join 

D. To settle

21.The speaker gave a bird's eye view of the political conditions in the country.

A. a personal view  

B. a general view

C. a biased view 

D. a detailed presentation

22.As a politician he is used to being in the limelight all the time.

A. giving speeches 

B. the object of admiration

C. the center of attraction 

D. an object of public notice

23.Having sold off his factory, he is now a gentleman at large.

A. Has no serious occupation

B. Is living comfortably

C. Is respected by everybody

D. Is held in high esteem

24.Though he has lot of money, yet all his plans are built upon sand.

A. established on insecure foundations 

B. based on inexperience

C. resting on cheap material  

D. resting on immature ideas

25. To smell a rat

A. To see signs of plague epidemic

B. To get bad small of a bad dead rat

C. To suspect foul dealings

D. To be in a bad mood

26.To hit the nail right on the head

A. To do the right thing

B. To destroy one's reputation

C. To announce one's fixed views

D. To teach someone a lesson

27.To set one's face against

A. To oppose with determination  

B. To judge by appearance

C. To get out of difficulty 

D. To look at one steadily

28.A man of straw

A. A man of no substance 

B. A very active person

C. A worthy fellow 

D. An unreasonable person

29. To be the question

A. To refer to  

B.To take for granted

C. To raise objections 

D. To be discussed

30.To play second fiddle

A. To be happy, cheerful and healthy

B. To reduce importance of one's senior

C. To support the role and view of another person

D. To do back seat driving

31.To leave someone in the lurch

A. To come to compromise with someone

B. Constant source of annoyance to someone

C. To put someone at ease

D. To desert someone in his difficulties

32.To pick holes

A. To find some reason to quarrel

B. To destroy something

C. To criticize someone

D. To cut some part of an item

33.To put one's hand to plough

A. To take up agricultural farming

B. To take a difficult task

C. To get entangled into unnecessary things

D. Take interest in technical work

34.To be above board

A. To have a good height

B. To be honest in any business deal

C. They have no debts

D. To try to be beautiful

35.To end in smoke

A. To make completely understand

B. To ruin oneself

C. To excite great applause

D. To overcome someone

36.To drive home

A. To find one's roots 

B. To return to place of rest

C. Back to original position  

D. To emphasize

37.To catch a tarter

A. To trap wanted criminal with great difficulty

B. To catch a dangerous person

C. To meet with disaster

D. To deal with a person who is more than one's match

38.To keeps one's temper

A. To become hungry  

B. To be in good mood

C. To preserve ones energy 

D. To be aloof from

39.To make clean breast of

A. To gain prominence

B. To praise oneself

C. To confess without of reserve

D. To destroy before it blooms

40.Strained every nerve

A. worked very hard 

B. spent a huge amount

C. tried all tricks 

D. bribed several persons

41.He is always picking holes in every project.

A. creating problems in

B. finding fault with

C. suggesting improvement in

D. asking irrelevant questions on

42.The die is cast and now let us hope for the best.

A. project is over  

B. decision is made

C. death is inevitable 

D. cloth has been dyed

43.The prince did not take after the king.

A. run after 

B. follow

C. precede  

D. resemble

44.Don't lose patience, things will improve by and by

A. soon 

B. finally

C. gradually  

D. unexpectedly

45.pulled up

A. elevated 

B. rewarded

C. punished  

D. reprimanded

46.fair and square

A. Careful 

B. Considerate

C. Polite  

D. Upright

47.high time

A. already late 

B. appropriate time

C. desired occasion 

D. auspicious moment

48.give a wide berth

A. give publicity to 

B. publicly condemn

C. keep away from  

D. not sympathize with

49.small talk

A. whispering 

B. backbiting

C. gossip 

D. light conversation

50.My car broke down on way to the railway station.

A. stopped  

B. met with an accident

C. ran out of petrol 

 D. failed to work