Top 200 Idioms & Phrasesfor Competitive Exams

Endure a painful or difficult situation without complaining

“She had to bite the bullet and accept the harsh feedback from her supervisor.”

Deliberately ignore something one knows to be wrong

“The inspector turned a blind eye to the minor violations at the factory.”

Become nervous or hesitant about doing something

“He got cold feet just before signing the contract and backed out.”

Watch carefully or monitor something or someone

“Please keep an eye on the luggage while I buy the tickets.”

Help someone with a task

“Could you lend a hand with carrying these heavy boxes upstairs?”

An expression used to wish someone good luck

“Break a leg at your job interview this afternoon!”

Be extremely expensive

“The repairs to the historic building cost an arm and a leg.”

Say something embarrassing or tactless by mistake

“He put his foot in his mouth by mentioning her failed exam in public.”

Be extremely kind and generous

“She has a heart of gold and always volunteers at the local shelter.”

Accept full responsibility for a mistake or failure

“The team captain shouldered the blame for the poor performance.”

Accidentally reveal a secret

“She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise farewell party.”

Accomplish two things with a single action

“I killed two birds with one stone by meeting a client on my way to the airport.”

A person who feels uncomfortable or out of place in their surroundings

“He felt like a fish out of water at the formal state banquet.”

Harm or act against the very person or organisation that supports you

“Criticising your sponsor publicly is biting the hand that feeds you.”

A dangerous or wicked person who pretends to be harmless

“The seemingly generous investor turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.”

Pursuing the wrong course of action based on a mistaken assumption

“If you think Rahul took the file, you are barking up the wrong tree.”

Avoid coming to the main point of a matter

“Stop beating around the bush and tell me exactly what went wrong.”

Wait a moment or slow down

“Hold your horses — let me finish explaining before you react.”

The largest or best portion of something

“The senior partner took the lion's share of the credit for the deal.”

Something that will never happen

“He will clean his room when pigs fly.”

Work late into the night

“She burned the midnight oil to finish the project before the deadline.”

Describe or identify something exactly correctly

“You hit the nail on the head with that analysis of the problem.”

Admit defeat and give up

“After three failed attempts to raise funds, he threw in the towel.”

Use personal influence to gain an advantage or achieve something

“He pulled strings to get his son admitted to the prestigious college.”

Do something innovative or pioneering

“This research breaks new ground in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections.”

Start a plan or project from the very beginning after a failure

“The prototype was rejected, so the engineers had to go back to the drawing board.”

Make a start on something

“Let us get the ball rolling on the new marketing campaign today.”

Do something in an easy or cheap way that reduces quality

“They cut corners in construction, which led to a structurally weak building.”

Follow a popular trend without necessarily believing in it

“Every company is jumping on the bandwagon of integrating artificial intelligence.”

Very rarely

“He visits his hometown once in a blue moon.”

Start something quickly and energetically from the very beginning

“She hit the ground running on her first day and completed three tasks by noon.”

At the last possible moment; just in time

“The ambulance arrived in the nick of time to save the patient.”

Occupy oneself while waiting for something

“He read a novel to kill time during the long layover at the airport.”

All day and all night without stopping

“The rescue team worked around the clock to locate survivors of the landslide.”

Immediately and without any hesitation

“She is always ready to help her friends at the drop of a hat.”

Delay something in order to gain more time

“He asked unnecessary questions to buy time and avoid the difficult decision.”

Very slowly

“The government project moved at a snail's pace due to bureaucratic delays.”

Hurry to do something before a strict deadline

“The surgeons were in a race against time to perform the life-saving operation.”

Finish a task before the available time runs out

“She beat the clock and submitted the assignment with five minutes to spare.”

The last possible moment for taking action

“The peace accord was signed at the eleventh hour, averting further conflict.”

Reveal secret or confidential information, either accidentally or deliberately

“Do not spill the beans about the surprise promotion ceremony.”

Something one does not like or enjoy

“Attending lengthy official functions is simply not my cup of tea.”

Not take something too seriously or literally; be sceptical

“Take his dramatic accounts of the incident with a pinch of salt.”

Take on a task or responsibility that is too large to handle

“He bit off more than he could chew by managing five projects simultaneously.”

In a very brief or concise summary

“In a nutshell, the entire plan collapsed because of poor communication.”

A person's basic livelihood or primary source of income

“Freelance translation has been her bread and butter for the past decade.”

Be forced to admit a humiliating mistake and accept a lower position

“After his bold prediction proved completely wrong, he had to eat humble pie.”

Waste time feeling sorry about past mistakes that cannot be undone

“There is no point crying over spilt milk — focus on what you can change now.”

A difficult problem, or a person who is very difficult to deal with

“The final question in the examination was a hard nut to crack.”

Make an already bad or tense situation even worse

“His dismissive remark only added fuel to the fire during the argument.”

Feeling very jealous or envious

“She was green with envy when she heard about her colleague's promotion.”

Become suddenly and intensely angry

“He saw red when he discovered that his report had been submitted under someone else's name.”

A member of a group who is considered a disgrace or does not fit in

“Despite coming from a family of doctors, he became an artist — the black sheep.”

Reveal one's real character or intentions, especially when unpleasant

“When the company faced financial trouble, many employees showed their true colours.”

Go out and celebrate in a lively or extravagant way

“After passing the civil services examination, they went out to paint the town red.”

A possession that is costly to maintain and has little practical value

“That unfinished flyover has become a white elephant for the municipal corporation.”

A situation or subject that is unclear, ambiguous, or not covered by existing rules

“Whether freelance gig work qualifies for benefits remains a gray area in labour law.”

Caught in the act of doing something wrong

“The shoplifter was caught red-handed by the store's security guard.”

A person who is a favourite of someone in authority and receives preferential treatment

“He has always been the director's blue-eyed boy and gets the best assignments.”

In very good health or the best possible condition

“After two weeks of rest, the athlete was completely in the pink.”

Take an action that permanently destroys a relationship or future opportunity

“By leaving so angrily, she burned her bridges with one of the best firms in the city.”

Begin a journey or leave a place

“We need to hit the road by 5 AM to avoid the rush-hour traffic.”

A situation in which no further progress is possible

“The investigation reached a dead end when the only witness refused to testify.”

Make an irrevocable decision or pass a point of no return

“By publicly announcing his candidacy, he crossed the Rubicon and could not step back.”

Make more effort than what is expected or required

“She always goes the extra mile for her students, offering extra revision sessions.”

Experience the same unpleasant treatment one inflicts on others

“When the bully was finally ridiculed, he got a taste of his own medicine.”

Decide to do something risky or difficult after hesitating

“After years of deliberation, she finally took the plunge and launched her startup.”

Uncertain, undecided, or not yet resolved

“The schedule for the new branch inauguration is still completely up in the air.”

The final problem in a series that makes a situation unbearable

“His persistent absences were the last straw that led to his dismissal.”

In a risky or precarious situation where any mistake may cause serious trouble

“After three warnings, she knew she was on very thin ice with the management.”

Stop oneself from saying something one wants to say

“I had to bite my tongue to avoid arguing with my supervisor in front of the team.”

Raise false alarms so often that genuine warnings are no longer believed

“No one took him seriously because he had cried wolf on too many occasions.”

Suddenly lose one's temper without much provocation

“He tends to fly off the handle whenever someone questions his decisions.”

Suppress one's pride and do something humbling when necessary

“He had to swallow his pride and ask his younger brother for financial help.”

Start behaving in a better way; make a fresh start

“After the court hearing, he genuinely decided to turn over a new leaf.”

Great anger or fuss made about something trivial or unimportant

“Their heated argument over office supplies was just a storm in a teacup.”

Remain calm and composed in a difficult or stressful situation

“Despite the chaos, the experienced pilot kept his cool and landed safely.”

Exaggerate a small problem or treat a minor issue as if it were a major one

“You are making a mountain out of a molehill — it is just a minor typographical error.”

End a quarrel and make peace with someone

“After years of rivalry, the two neighbouring countries finally agreed to bury the hatchet.”

Regain one's composure and self-control after a setback

“After the devastating loss, she took a deep breath and pulled herself together.”

A hidden advantage or secret resource kept for the right moment

“His fluency in three languages was his ace in the hole during the negotiations.”

Act at the most favourable moment without delay

“We must strike while the iron is hot and submit the proposal today.”

Return to the very beginning after a failure with no progress made

“When the main investor withdrew, the entire project went back to square one.”

Get to the most important point without wasting time on preliminaries

“We are short on time, so let me cut to the chase: the merger is off.”

Be completely ignored or go unheeded

“His repeated warnings about the safety hazard fell on deaf ears.”

Miss an opportunity by being too slow or late to act

“She missed the boat by not applying for the scholarship before the deadline.”

More advanced or innovative than others in one's field

“By adopting renewable energy early, the company stayed ahead of the curve.”

Something that seems unfortunate at first but turns out to have a positive outcome

“Losing that position was a blessing in disguise — it led to a far better opportunity.”

Exhaust oneself by working extremely hard with little rest

“She has been burning the candle at both ends all month and is now completely drained.”

Every difficult or unpleasant situation has a positive aspect

“He failed the exam but discovered a passion for writing — every cloud has a silver lining.”

Attract someone's attention

“Her confident walk and unusual outfit caught everyone's eye at the ceremony.”

A notable achievement or honour one can be proud of

“Winning the national gold medal was a feather in his cap.”

Thirteen; one extra item added to a group of twelve

“The generous baker always gave a baker's dozen — thirteen rolls for the price of twelve.”

Boast about or publicise one's own achievements

“She never misses a chance to blow her own trumpet about her latest accolades.”

Suspect that something is wrong, dishonest, or deceitful

“When nobody turned up for the meeting, I began to smell a rat.”

In strong and persistent disagreement

“The two departments have been at loggerheads over the budget allocation for months.”

Avoid raising a topic that could cause trouble or reopen old disputes

“Do not bring up the old argument again — just let sleeping dogs lie.”

Say or do something to reduce tension or awkwardness in a social situation

“He told a light-hearted anecdote to break the ice at the start of the seminar.”

Deal with a difficult situation in a direct and courageous manner

“Instead of avoiding the confrontation, she took the bull by the horns and resolved it.”

Employed or used for a purpose, especially urgently when needed

“The old town hall was pressed into service as an emergency relief centre.”

Accept an insult or injury without retaliating

“Even after the harsh criticism, she chose to turn the other cheek and remain professional.”

Be extremely expensive

“The repairs to the antique clock cost an arm and a leg, but it was worth it.”

Be very kind, generous, and caring by nature

“Despite his gruff appearance, the old librarian had a heart of gold.”

Tease or joke with someone in a playful way

“He told me he had won a lottery, but he was only pulling my leg.”

Deliberately ignore or show indifference to someone

“After the argument, she gave him the cold shoulder for an entire week.”

Stay out of trouble and avoid doing anything wrong

“After his last warning, he decided to keep his nose clean at the workplace.”

Refuse to acknowledge a problem or danger by ignoring it

“You cannot bury your head in the sand and hope the financial crisis will resolve itself.”

Accept or take on a duty or burden

“As the senior officer, she had to shoulder the responsibility for the team's error.”

An instinctive feeling about something not based on logical reasoning

“My gut feeling told me not to sign the contract, and I was right to hesitate.”

Without any hesitation; immediately and without needing to be asked twice

“He would drop everything and help a friend at the drop of a hat.”

A person who feels uncomfortable or out of place in a given situation

“At the formal banquet, the young engineer felt like a fish out of water.”

Avoid coming directly to the point; speak in a roundabout way

“Stop beating around the bush and tell me directly what the problem is.”

A person who appears friendly and harmless but is actually dangerous or deceitful

“The charming investor turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing — he defrauded everyone.”

Make a wrong assumption about something; pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action

“If you think I took the files, you are barking up the wrong tree.”

Accidentally reveal a secret that was meant to be kept

“He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party before it could be organised.”

Achieve two objectives with a single effort or action

“By attending the conference, she killed two birds with one stone — learning and networking.”

Introduce a complicated and troublesome issue that creates many problems

“Raising the question of land ownership opened a can of worms no one was prepared to deal with.”

Insincere expressions of sorrow or sympathy; false grief

“He shed crocodile tears at the farewell party, though everyone knew he was glad to see her leave.”

Exaggerate the importance of a small problem

“It was a minor delay — you are making a mountain out of a molehill.”

The final problem in a series that makes a situation intolerable

“His constant tardiness was the last straw that led to his dismissal.”

Work or study late into the night

“She burned the midnight oil for a week preparing for the civil services examination.”

Earn just enough money to cover one's basic expenses

“With rising prices, many families struggle to make ends meet.”

In debt; spending more than one earns

“After years of poor management, the company's accounts remained deep in the red.”

Pay for something, especially an expensive one

“The government agreed to foot the bill for the flood rehabilitation programme.”

Do something inadequately or cheaply in order to save time or money

“The contractor cut corners on materials, and the building showed cracks within a year.”

Return to the starting point because progress failed; begin again from the beginning

“The new evidence invalidated all their findings, taking the investigation back to square one.”

Take on more responsibility or work than one is able to handle

“By accepting three projects at once, he bit off more than he could chew.”

It is now your responsibility or turn to take action

“I have submitted my proposal. The ball is now in your court to decide.”

Act at the most opportune moment; take advantage of favourable conditions

“Prices are low right now — strike while the iron is hot and invest.”

A very favourable chance that is unlikely to recur

“Getting selected for the fellowship was a golden opportunity she could not afford to miss.”

Just in time; at the very last possible moment

“The ambulance arrived in the nick of time and saved the patient's life.”

Moving or progressing very slowly

“The construction work proceeded at a snail's pace due to constant strikes.”

At the last possible moment before a deadline

“The peace agreement was signed at the eleventh hour, averting a potential conflict.”

Do something to create more time or to delay an event

“The negotiations were merely a tactic to buy time while reinforcements arrived.”

Over a long period of time; eventually, after everything is considered

“Investing in quality infrastructure is costly now but beneficial in the long run.”

Miss an opportunity; be too late to take advantage of something

“He hesitated too long over the job offer and missed the boat completely.”

Finish a task within the time allowed; succeed before the deadline

“The team beat the clock and submitted the tender proposal just before midnight.”

After an unpleasant experience, one becomes more cautious about similar situations

“She refused to invest in another start-up — once bitten, twice shy.”

Old-fashioned; not keeping up with modern ideas or practices

“The company's policies were behind the times and needed to be updated urgently.”

Time passes very quickly, especially when one is busy or happy

“It's already December — how time flies when you are immersed in meaningful work.”

Make a humble apology and accept one's own wrongness or defeat

“After his arrogant predictions proved wrong, the commentator had to eat humble pie.”

Be sceptical about something; not take it too seriously or literally

“His assurances should be taken with a pinch of salt — he has broken promises before.”

An added benefit that makes an already good situation even better

“Winning the best paper award was the icing on the cake after a successful conference.”

Reveal confidential information accidentally or without intending to

“She accidentally spilled the beans about the surprise party by mentioning the decorations.”

Summarised briefly; in the fewest possible words

“In a nutshell, the plan involves three phases — research, development, and launch.”

Flatter someone excessively in order to gain a favour

“He kept buttering up the manager to secure a promotion.”

One's main or basic source of income or livelihood

“Tourism is the bread and butter of many hill-station economies.”

Become extremely angry, excited, or crazy

“The crowd went bananas when their favourite singer appeared on stage.”

A problem that is very difficult to solve, or a person who is difficult to understand

“The ancient inscription proved a tough nut to crack for the team of linguists.”

The true quality of something can only be judged by trying or experiencing it

“Our methods may seem unconventional, but the proof is in the pudding — results speak.”

Unexpectedly, without any warning or advance notice

“Out of the blue, she received a job offer from a company she had never applied to.”

Feeling very jealous of someone else's possessions or success

“Her colleagues were green with envy when she was chosen for the overseas assignment.”

Become very angry suddenly

“He saw red when he discovered that his report had been submitted under someone else's name.”

A situation or topic that is not clearly defined or is open to interpretation

“The question of intellectual property in AI-generated content remains a grey area.”

A member of a family or group who is considered a disgrace or disappointment

“Despite his troubled past, the black sheep of the family eventually built a successful business.”

Very pleased, amused, or delighted

“She was tickled pink when her students performed so well in the national competition.”

Clearly stated in writing; in an unambiguous form

“The terms of the agreement were all laid out in black and white in the contract.”

A tendency to see things more optimistically than they really are

“She views her hometown through rose-tinted glasses, forgetting its many problems.”

Discovered in the very act of committing a crime or wrongdoing

“The thief was caught red-handed trying to steal from the warehouse.”

Describe something in an overly optimistic or idealised way

“The minister painted a rosy picture of the economy, but the ground reality was different.”

Do something that permanently destroys a relationship or makes return impossible

“By resigning so abruptly and publicly, he burned his bridges with the entire department.”

Begin a journey; depart or set off

“We packed our bags, said our goodbyes, and hit the road before dawn.”

In the same difficult situation as others

“All the candidates were in the same boat — none had received their hall tickets.”

Something that proceeds easily and without difficulty

“After the first week of training, it was plain sailing for the rest of the course.”

At a point in one's life where an important decision must be made

“After completing her doctorate, she stood at a crossroads — academia or industry.”

Make extra effort to achieve a goal or satisfy someone

“Our team always goes the extra mile to ensure clients are completely satisfied.”

Progressing in the correct direction; doing the right thing

“The initial results were encouraging — the scientists felt they were on the right track.”

A point or situation from which no further progress is possible

“Every lead in the investigation reached a dead end, and the case was shelved.”

With all possible speed, energy, and determination

“With the funding secured, the project moved full steam ahead.”

Become confused about one's position or situation

“Amid the rapid organisational changes, many employees lost their bearings entirely.”

Remain calm and composed in a stressful or difficult situation

“Despite the hostile questioning, the witness kept her cool throughout the hearing.”

Become suddenly and uncontrollably angry

“He flew off the handle when he discovered his presentation had been modified without consent.”

Release pent-up energy, frustration, or anger in an outburst

“After the stressful week, he went to the gym to let off steam.”

Be extremely careful in one's behaviour to avoid upsetting someone

“Around the new director, everyone was walking on eggshells for fear of saying the wrong thing.”

Feeling sad, depressed, or dejected

“She had been down in the dumps ever since she received the rejection letter.”

Remain brave and show no emotion in the face of difficulty

“Despite losing everything in the flood, the family kept a stiff upper lip and rebuilt.”

Feel very nervous or anxious about something

“She had butterflies in her stomach as she waited outside the interview room.”

Feel encouraged or hopeful; draw comfort from something

“The struggling students took heart from the teacher's reassuring words.”

Change one's behaviour for the better; make a fresh start

“After the incident, he resolved to turn over a new leaf and be more responsible.”

Do something that disrupts or prevents a plan from proceeding smoothly

“The unexpected audit threw a spanner in the works of the merger negotiations.”

Become progressively more successful and confident

“After a slow start, the start-up went from strength to strength and now leads the sector.”

Fail completely to produce the intended effect or response

“The comedian's best jokes fell flat in front of the international audience.”

Achieve great and unexpected success or gain a large prize

“By partnering with a top distributor, the small firm hit the jackpot.”

A task or goal that is very difficult to achieve and requires great effort

“Convincing the traditionalists to embrace digital methods was an uphill battle.”

Be so satisfied with past achievements that one stops making further effort

“Having topped the board exams, she must not rest on her laurels but keep pushing forward.”

Admit defeat; abandon a struggle and give up

“After months of failed negotiations, the management threw in the towel.”

Despite very low probability or great difficulty; contrary to all expectations

“Against all odds, the small team won the national robotics championship.”

Produce a better result than expected; succeed when success seems unlikely

“The reserve batsman came up trumps and steered the team to victory.”

Not naturally suited or talented enough for a particular role or activity

“He soon realised he was simply not cut out for the demanding life of a surgeon.”

Fail in a very dramatic and public manner

“The highly anticipated product launch went down in flames due to a software glitch.”

Understand a hidden or implicit meaning not directly stated

“If you read between the lines, the report is actually criticising the government's policy.”

Join a popular trend or activity after it has already become successful

“Several politicians jumped on the bandwagon of environmental activism before the elections.”

Alternate between enthusiasm and lack of interest; be inconsistent in one's attitude

“He kept blowing hot and cold about the partnership, making it impossible to plan ahead.”

By any means necessary, whether fair or unfair

“She was determined to clear the examination by hook or by crook.”

Ultimately succeed or prevail after being mocked or doubted by others

“After years of dismissal, the inventor had the last laugh when his patent sold for millions.”

Something that misleads or distracts attention from the real issue

“The suspect's alibi turned out to be a red herring that delayed the investigation.”

Overcome, defeat, or gain an advantage over someone or something

“His fear got the better of him and he could not deliver the speech.”

The detailed facts and workings of something; all aspects of a matter

“After years in the department, she knew the ins and outs of the entire filing system.”

Work excessively long hours — both early in the morning and late at night — leading to exhaustion

“She burned the candle at both ends preparing for the UPSC Mains and her job simultaneously.”

A situation or task that is very difficult and requires much effort to deal with

“Rebuilding public trust after the scandal is going to be a hard row to hoe for the party.”