An idiom is a fixed group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words. For example, spill the beans does not mean to drop beans; it means to reveal a secret.
1. How Idiom Questions Are Asked
Pattern
What you see
What to do
Direct meaning
“Choose the meaning of the idiom Bolt from the blue.”
Pick the figurative meaning, not the literal one.
Sentence-based
A sentence with an idiom underlined; choose the correct meaning.
Read the sentence; the context often gives the meaning.
Replace the idiom
Replace the underlined idiom with a suitable word or phrase.
Test each option in the sentence.
Fill in the blank
A sentence with a missing word inside an idiom.
Recall the full idiom and choose the missing word.
2. Strategies to Solve Idiom Questions
Do not translate word by word. An idiom’s meaning is figurative.
Eliminate the literal option. If the idiom is kick the bucket, the option about kicking a bucket is wrong.
Use the sentence. Check whether the situation is positive or negative and eliminate options that do not fit the mood.
Learn the idiom with a picture. Imagine the scene (for example, a storm in a teacup) and attach the meaning to it.
Group idioms by theme. Animal, body-part and colour idioms are easier to remember in groups.
Revise often. Idioms are forgotten quickly; review each set after a day, a week and a month.
3. Idiom Bank
3.1 Everyday Idioms (A to F)
Idiom
Meaning
A piece of cake
Something very easy
A blessing in disguise
A good thing that seemed bad at first
Achilles’ heel
A person’s weak point
Add fuel to the fire
Make a bad situation worse
All at sea
Confused; not knowing what to do
At sixes and sevens
In a state of confusion or disorder
At the eleventh hour
At the last possible moment
Beat around the bush
Avoid coming to the main point
Bite the bullet
Face a painful situation bravely
Bolt from the blue
A sudden, unexpected event
Break the ice
Start a conversation in an awkward situation
Burn the midnight oil
Work or study late into the night
Bury the hatchet
Make peace after a quarrel
By hook or by crook
By any means, fair or unfair
Call it a day
Stop working for the day
Cold feet
Sudden fear or nervousness before an action
Crocodile tears
False or insincere sorrow
Cry over spilt milk
Regret something that cannot be changed
Cut corners
Do something cheaply or skip proper steps
Down in the dumps
Sad or depressed
Draw a blank
Fail to remember something
Eat humble pie
Admit a mistake and apologise
Eat one’s words
Take back what one has said
Face the music
Accept the punishment or criticism
Fish out of water
Uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
From pillar to post
From one place to another without success
3.2 Everyday Idioms (G to W)
Idiom
Meaning
Give the cold shoulder
Ignore someone deliberately
Hit the nail on the head
Be exactly right
Hit the sack
Go to bed
In a nutshell
In brief
In hot water
In trouble
Jump the gun
Act too soon
Keep one’s fingers crossed
Hope for good luck
Kick the bucket
Die
Let the cat out of the bag
Reveal a secret by mistake
Make hay while the sun shines
Use an opportunity while it lasts
Nip in the bud
Stop something at an early stage
Once in a blue moon
Very rarely
On cloud nine
Extremely happy
Out of the blue
Unexpectedly
Pull someone’s leg
Tease or joke with someone
Rain cats and dogs
Rain very heavily
Read between the lines
Understand the hidden meaning
Red-letter day
A memorable or important day
Rub salt into the wound
Make someone’s pain worse
Spill the beans
Reveal a secret
Steal the show
Attract the most attention
Storm in a teacup
A big fuss over a small matter
Take with a pinch of salt
Do not believe fully
The ball is in your court
It is your turn to decide
Throw in the towel
Give up
Turn a deaf ear
Refuse to listen
Turn over a new leaf
Start afresh and improve
Under the weather
Slightly unwell
Wild goose chase
A useless search
With flying colours
With great success
3.3 Animal Idioms
Idiom
Meaning
A dark horse
A person with hidden talents or an unexpected winner
A black sheep
A disgrace to the family or group
A white elephant
A costly possession that is of little use
A red herring
A misleading clue
Cock and bull story
An unbelievable, made-up story
Lion’s share
The largest part
To cry wolf
To raise a false alarm
To smell a rat
To suspect that something is wrong
To let sleeping dogs lie
Not to disturb a settled matter
To take the bull by the horns
To face a difficulty boldly
3.4 Body-Part Idioms
Idiom
Meaning
Apple of one’s eye
A very dear person
A feather in one’s cap
An achievement to be proud of
Elbow grease
Hard physical effort
Gift of the gab
Talent for speaking well
Hand in glove
In very close association
Iron hand
Strict control
To split hairs
To argue over very small details
To keep an eye on
To watch carefully
To pull one’s socks up
To make an effort to improve
To have a heart of gold
To be very kind
3.5 Colour Idioms
Idiom
Meaning
Blue blood
Noble birth
Green with envy
Very jealous
Red tape
Excessive official formalities
A white lie
A harmless, small lie
A grey area
A situation that is unclear
To see red
To become very angry
Yellow journalism
Sensational and exaggerated news reporting
Black and blue
Covered with bruises
3.6 Word-Pair Idioms
Idiom
Meaning
Bread and butter
Means of livelihood
Kith and kin
Friends and relatives
Odds and ends
Small, miscellaneous items
Part and parcel
An essential part
Spick and span
Clean and tidy
Tit for tat
Retaliation in equal measure
Ups and downs
Good and bad times
Hue and cry
Loud public protest
Rack and ruin
Complete destruction
Time and tide wait for none
Time does not wait for anyone
4. Idioms That Look Alike but Differ
Pair
Difference
Cry over spilt milk vs Cry wolf
The first means to regret the past; the second means to raise a false alarm.
Jump the gun vs Jump the queue
The first means to act too soon; the second means to push ahead of others unfairly.
Break the ice vs Break the bank
The first means to start a conversation; the second means to cost too much.
Hit the sack vs Hit the roof
The first means to go to bed; the second means to get very angry.
Out of the blue vs Once in a blue moon
The first means unexpectedly; the second means very rarely.
Red-letter day vs Red tape
The first is a special day; the second is excessive formality.
