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Idioms & Phrases SSC CHSL 50 MCQ SET:-1
Instructions : Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Q1. To run around like a headless chicken
(A) To do things methodically one by one
(B) To be lazy and unwilling to work
(C) To do many things in a disorganized manner
(D) To be unable to catch escaping chicken
Answer: To do many things in a disorganized manner
Explanation: To do many things in a disorganized manner Example :- Hemant ran around like a headless chicken after he missed his flight to Mumbai.
Q2. To leave no stone unturned
(A) To turn everything upside down
(B) To try everything possible to solve a problem
(C) To become furious with somebody
(D) To become accustomed to routine things
Answer: To try everything possible to solve a problem
Explanation: To try everything possible to solve a problem Example :- He said he will leave no stone unturned in order to prove her innocence.
Q3. In hot water
(A) In advantage
(B) In shower
(C) In trouble
(D) In suspense
Answer: In trouble
Explanation: In trouble Example :- A shopkeeper got himself in hot water after being accused of selling fake products.
Q4. Make big time
(A) Reach earlier than expected
(B) Attain fame and success
(C) Spend more than one earns
(D) Earn more than needed
Answer: Attain fame and success
Explanation: Attain fame and success Example :- The young leader has really made a big-time now.
Q5. Read between the lines
(A) read carefully each and every word written
(B) read very slowly enjoying each line
(C) read loudly each and every word given in the sentence
(D) understand what is implied but not stated directly
Answer: understand what is implied but not stated directly
Explanation: Read between the lines- understand what is implied but not stated directly Example: You should read between the lines when you sign a contract.
Q6. A good turn
(A) A great opportunity
(B) A helpful act
(C) A pleasant experience
(D) A lucky chance
Answer: A helpful act
Explanation: A good turn- a helpful act Example: Neeraj did a good turn by helping that poor.
Q7. Be glad to see the back of
(A) Be happy at another’s success
(B) Be relieved at another’s failure
(C) Be happy to see someone again
(D) Be happy when a person leaves
Answer: Be happy when a person leaves
Explanation: Be glad to see the back of- be happy when a person leaves Example: I never liked Raul so I was happy to see the back of him.
Q8. By the skin of one’s teeth
(A) With the help of someone
(B) By a very big margin
(C) By a very narrow margin
(D) Without anyone’s help
Answer: By a very narrow margin
Explanation: By the skin of one’s teeth- by a very narrow margin Example: Rahul was saved by the skin of one’s teeth in that fatal accident.
Q9. Go back to the drawing board
(A) get started on a new job as the old one wasn’t good
(B) look back at your achievements and learn from them
(C) withdraw support to someone whom you always supported
(D) start planning again because earlier plans failed
Answer: start planning again because earlier plans failed
Explanation: Go back to the drawing boardstart planning again because earlier plans failed Example- Rahul should have to go back to the drawing board and start preparing again for the exam.
Q10. Provide a blueprint
(A) Propose a plan of a secret meeting
(B) Submit a printed application for a blue-collared job
(C) Give a detailed plan or scheme
(D) Have a building plan printed in blue
Answer: Give a detailed plan or scheme
Explanation: Provide a blueprint- give a detailed plan or scheme Example: The manager told the employee to provide a blueprint of the project.
Q11. A bolt from the blue
(A) something causing a head injury
(B) something that is hotly debated
(C) a strange dream that wakes one up suddenly
(D) something that happens suddenly
Answer: something that happens suddenly
Explanation: A bolt from the blue- something that happens sudden Example: The news of his rejection in the interview came like a bolt from the blue.
Q12. Cost an arm and a leg
(A) Be easily available
(B) Be extremely expensive
(C) Be worthy of the cost
(D) Be rather cheap
Answer: Be extremely expensive
Explanation: Cost an arm and a leg- be extremely expensive Example: The price of that car costs Rahul an arm and a leg.
Q13. Get One’s Ducks in a Row
(A) have everything improperly disorganized
(B) have nothing properly organized though ready
(C) have everything messily arranged
(D) have everything properly organized
Answer: have everything properly organized
Explanation: Get one’s Ducks in a Row- have everything properly organized Example- Get all your ducks in a row otherwise the Boss will scold you.
Q14. Child’s play
(A) Something that is very easy to do
(B) Something for a child to play with
(C) Something that everybody knows
(D) Something children have made by themselves
Answer: Something that is very easy to do
Explanation: Child’s play- something that is very easy to do Example: Playing that trick is a child’s play for Rahul.
Q15. Terrorists kill thousands of innocent people in cold blood.
(A) in mountainous areas
(B) by freezing to death
(C) accidentally
(D) cruelly, without any emotions
Answer: cruelly, without any emotions
Explanation: In cold blood- cruelly, without any emotions
Q16. A sea change
(A) Going on a trip abroad
(B) Getting transferred overseas
(C) Complete transformation
(D) Health-related vacation
Answer: Complete transformation
Explanation: A sea change- a complete transformation Example: I saw a sea change in Neha when I met her last month.
Q17. To drag one’s feet
(A) To walk unsteadily
(B) To walk with a limp
(C) To pull someone’s legs
(D) To delay taking a decision
Answer: To delay taking a decision
Explanation: To drag one’s feet- To delay taking a decision Example- Neha is dragging her feet on the decision of marriage with Rahul.
Q18. To make both ends meet
(A) To have just enough money to live
(B) To try to do two different things at the same time
(C) To try to bring two parties together
(D) To try to solve a problem between friends
Answer: To have just enough money to live
Explanation: To make both ends meet- to have just enough money to live Example: In the times of the Corona pandemic poor people faced difficulties to make both ends meet
Q19. Getting butterflies in one’s stomach
(A) To be confident of oneself
(B) To be anxious and nervous
(C) To be suspicious of someone
(D) To be very angry with someone
Answer: To be anxious and nervous
Explanation: Getting butterflies in one’s stomach- to be anxious and nervous Example: As the result date is near Neha is having butterflies in her stomach.
Q20. A Herculean task
(A) An important task
(B) An immediate task
(C) A task requiring great effort
(D) A task for brave people
Answer: A task requiring great effort
Explanation: A Herculean task- a task requiring great effort Example: Cracking the Civil Service examination is a herculean task.
Q21. A grey area
(A) An unclear situation
(B) A special part of the brain
(C) An unspoken truth
(D) An unusual spot
Answer: An unclear situation
Explanation: A grey area- An unclear situation Example: Do not create a grey area if you want to clear this controversy.
Q22. To be in the dark
(A) to always be in a bad mood about darkness
(B) to learn to face dark places without fear
(C) to be afraid of darkness and refuse to go out at night
(D) to not know something others are aware of
Answer: to not know something others are aware of
Explanation: To be in the dark- to not know something others are aware of Example: The husband has kept his wife in the dark about his extramarital affair.
Q23. Under wraps
(A) under estimate
(B) double layered
(C) secretly
(D) underhand
Answer: secretly
Explanation: Under wraps: kept hidden from other people/secretly Ex: The plans for the new space mission are still under wraps.
Q24. On tenterhooks
(A) Very sad
(B) Very tense
(C) Very happy
(D) very angry
Answer: Very tense
Explanation: On tenterhooks: Very tense Ex: He was still on tenterhooks waiting for his directors’ decision about the job.
Q25. To go red in the face
(A) To shout at someone for doing something wrong
(B) To feel embarrassed
(C) To feel very happy and proud
(D) To feel extremely irritated
Answer: To feel embarrassed
Explanation: To go red in the face: To feel embarrassed. Ex: I could hear people making fun of me during my speech, so I was pretty red in the face by the time I finished.
Q26. His jokes fell flat on the audience.
(A) deeply touched
(B) failed to have an effect
(C) irritated
(D) provoked laughter
Answer: failed to have an effect
Explanation: fell flat: to fail to produce the effect that you wanted./ failed to have an effect Ex: His jokes failed to have an effect on the audience.
Q27. Pull something off
(A) Drag something forcibly
(B) Take out the cover or lid
(C) Make something happen
(D) Make a lot of noise
Answer: Make something happen
Explanation: Pull something off: Make something happen Ex: If you pull off the highway at Exit 5, you’ll be able to reach the town in less than an hour.
Q28. Go to the dogs
(A) Fail miserably
(B) Deteriorate shockingly
(C) Want something badly
(D) Go crazy
Answer: Deteriorate shockingly
Explanation: Go to the dogs: Deteriorate shockingly Ex: It seems that the reputation of your business has gone to the dogs.
Q29. To have eggs on one’s face
(A) To be embarrassed because of one’s action
(B) To apply egg yolk on one’s face for making it look beautiful
(C) To throw eggs on a speaker’s face
(D) To buy eggs and break them
Answer: To be embarrassed because of one’s action
Explanation: To have eggs on one’s face: To be embarrassed because of one’s action Ex: Amisha had an egg on his face after boasting that the examinations were really easy, but ended up failing most of his papers
Q30. Thick as thieves
(A) Having a close friendship
(B) Being very dishonest
(C) Never helping anyone
(D) Telling lies all the time
Answer: Having a close friendship
Explanation: Thick as thieves: Having a close friendship. Ex: Ram and Shyam became thick as thieves, opening a cafe and committing crimes together.
Q31. Butter fingers
(A) To be very efficient
(B) To like rich food
(C) To cook well
(D) To be clumsy
Answer: To be clumsy
Explanation: Butter fingers : To be clumsy Butterfingers refer to a clumsy person, especially one who tends to drop things. Ex: Ram dropped another plate! He is such a butterfingers today.
Q32. Large-hearted
(A) Corrupt
(B) Unhealthy
(C) Overweight
(D) Generous
Answer: Generous
Explanation: Large-hearted :Generous Ex: The large hearted mayor helped the typhoon victims.
Q33. To poke one’s nose into
(A) To clean one’s nose with a twig
(B) To bury oneself in another matter
(C) To insert something in another’s nose
(D) To take interest in others’ affairs
Answer: To take interest in others’ affairs
Explanation: To poke one’s nose into : To take interest in others’ affairs Ex: I wish our neighbors would quit poking their noses in and just leave us alone.
Q34. The friends quarrelled some time ago but now they are trying to make up with each other.
(A) to part forever
(B) to blame each other
(C) to compete with one another
(D) to settle their differences
Answer: to settle their differences
Explanation: to make up: to settle their differences The friends quarrelled some time ago but now they are trying to make up with each other.
Q35. To add insult to injury
(A) to make fun of someone
(B) to work hard on making up
(C) to make something worse
(D) to wound physically
Answer: to make something worse
Explanation: To add insult to injury : act in a way that makes a bad situation worse. Ex: First, the basement flooded, and then, add insult to injury, a pipe burst in the kitchen
Q36. He is very impulsive and does things without rhyme or reason.
(A) without proper planning
(B) without a reasonable explanation
(C) without any resources
(D) without anyone’s help
Answer: without a reasonable explanation
Explanation: without rhyme or reason means without a reasonable explanation .
Q37. Hard nut to crack
(A) a difficult person or problem
(B) someone who solves puzzles easily
(C) someone who needs guidance
(D) a person who likes to joke around
Answer: a difficult person or problem
Explanation: Hard nut to crack- a difficult person or problem Example: Getting permanent membership in UNSC has become a hard nut to crack for India due to China.
Q38. know inside out
(A) To know a little about something
(B) To know everything by rote memory
(C) To know something thoroughly
(D) To always know a lot about every topic
Answer: To know something thoroughly
Explanation: Know inside out-to know something thoroughly Example- Mahendra Singh Dhoni knows inside out of the game of cricket.
Q39. Organic food seems to be in vogue these days.
(A) readily available
(B) out of stock
(C) in fashion
(D) very expensive
Answer: in fashion
Explanation: In vogue- in fashion
Q40. To play with fire
(A) To act in a dangerous and risky way
(B) To hold a revenge against someone
(C) To fight fires like a fireman
(D) To pour oil on a burning fire
Answer: To act in a dangerous and risky way
Explanation: To play with fire- to act in a dangerous and risky way Example- Neeraj is not aware of the fact that playing with that dog is equivalent to playing with fire.
Q41. To cut corners
(A) cut something easily without spoiling it
(B) cut something into pieces
(C) be able to do a job effortlessly
(D) not do a thing well in order to save money or effort
Answer: not do a thing well in order to save money or effort
Explanation: To cut corners- not do a thing well in order to save money or effort Example- The pathetic condition of the road in our village clearly indicates that the authority has cut corners while building it.
Q42. Cook the books
(A) To falsify financial records
(B) To be a good writer
(C) To write books on cooking
(D) To be a good editor
Answer: To falsify financial records
Explanation: Cook the books- to falsify financial records Example- When the manager found that the clerk had cooked the books he immediately suspended him.
Q43. Poke one’s nose
(A) Not be careful about one’s health
(B) Interfere or meddle
(C) Do unhygienic things
(D) Tease or irritate
Answer: Interfere or meddle
Explanation: Poke one’s nose- Interfere or meddle Ram is always poking his nose into Shyam.s affairs.
Q44. A fire in someone’s belly
(A) one who is energetic and enthusiastic about something
(B) one who is rich and powerful and exploits the poor
(C) one who comes from a middle class background
(D) one who continues to work without wanting a reward
Answer: one who is energetic and enthusiastic about something
Explanation: A fire in someone’s belly- one who is energetic and enthusiastic about something Example- Whenever I meet Varun I feel that he has a fire in his belly for cricket.
Q45. A blessing in disguise
(A) something good that isn’t recognised at first
(B) someone who comes disguised
(C) a person who blesses others quietly
(D) an event that is unknown
Answer: something good that isn’t recognised at first
Explanation: A blessing in disguisesomething good that isn’t recognized at first Example- Nervousness is a blessing in disguise.
Q46. Needle in a haystack
(A) Someone having vast opportunities
(B) Someone in trouble
(C) Something impossible to
(D) Something very trivial
Answer: Something impossible to
Explanation: Needle in a haystacksomething impossible to find Example- Finding that piece of jewelry in the dense grass is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Q47. Rank and file
(A) The manager of a personnel department
(B) Ordinary workers in a company
(C) Financial activities in a firm
(D) A very well-organised company
Answer: Ordinary workers in a company
Explanation: Rank and file- Ordinary workers in a company Example: The rank and file will vote tomorrow for the legislative assembly elections.
Q48. My brother has decided to settle in London for good.
(A) forever
(B) briefly
(C) for a better income
(D) for a promotion
Answer: forever
Explanation: For good- forever
Q49. Burn the midnight oil
(A) burn things using oil
(B) work many nights at a stretch
(C) create problems in the night
(D) work late into the night
Answer: work late into the night
Explanation: Burn the midnight oil – work late into the night Nowadays Ritik is burning the midnight oil because his exam is getting tough day by day.
Q50. To come round
(A) To meet someone by chance
(B) To spend a lot of time with someone
(C) To go round and round
(D) To become conscious again
Answer: To become conscious again
Explanation: To come round – recover consciousness. After that horrific accident, Ram came around after 2 hours.