2024 SSC Idioms
Goes hard - to be difficult.
E.g.- He goes hard with one and all.
keep body and soul together - to get enough food and money to survive.
E.g.- Extreme inflation in the country has led to a hike in the price of day-to-day commodity. It has made it difficult to keep body and soul together.
up against the wall - in a critical position in which failure seems imminent.
E.g.- Unless sales improve next month, the company will be up against the wall.
Your guess is as good as mine - to have no idea of the answer.
E.g.- I asked him when the train would arrive, and he replied that his guess was as good as mine.
Loose canon - someone who is unpredictable and liable to cause problems.
E.g.- The new manager is a loose cannon. He makes sudden decisions without consulting anyone.
Diamond in the rough - an unsophisticated person with potential.
E.g.- Despite his lack of formal training, Jake is a diamond in the rough with exceptional artistic talent.
Armed to the teeth - well-equipped or prepared.
E.g.- The sergeant ordered the soldiers to be armed to the teeth as he expected it to be a tough fight.
Head and shoulders above - much better than others.
E.g.- The winner’s performance was head and shoulders above all other participants’ in the dance competition.
Made his mark - to distinguish himself.
E.g.- She made her mark in the art world with her unique and captivating painting style.
Milk of human kindness - compassion.
E.g.- Despite her struggles, she showed the milk of human kindness by helping the homeless in her community.
Food for thought - a lot to think about.
E.g.- Today’s managers’ meeting has given me Food for thought as I decide whether or not to stay with this company
Stumbling block - obstacle (बाधा)
To show the white feather - to act cowardly.
E.g.- He showed the white feather by backing out of the challenge at the last minute.
Eats like a horse - eats in large quantity.
E.g.- Bheem has been shown in the popular culture as someone who eats like a horse.
In stitches - laughing uncontrollably.
Blue in the face - exhausted.
Like a bat out of hell - very fast and wildly.
E.g.- He ran out of the building like a bat out of hell when the alarm went off.
Straight from the horse’s mouth - directly from the person involved.
In the same boat - facing the same problem.
Hold someone’s feet to the fire - insist that someone fulfil their promises or obligations.
E.g.- The voters are holding the politician’s feet to the fire to deliver on his campaign promises.
Ivory tower - a place or situation where you are separated from the problems and practical aspects of normal life.
E.g.- We hear the judges from their Ivory tower that only CNG buses should run in Delhi
Like a dying duck in a thunderstorm - dejected or hopeless (हताश या आशाहीन।).
E.g.- After losing the match, the team walked off the field like a dying duck in a thunderstorm.
A square peg in a round hole - a person who does not fit the job.
E.g.- John is a square peg in a round hole as a quiet person in a sales job.
Baker’s dozen - one unit extra with one dozen.
E.g.- The shopkeeper smiled and added an extra egg to make it a baker’s dozen.
Hanging by a thread - perilously close to failing, dying or resulting in a bad outcome (असफल होने, मरने या बुरे परिणाम के बहुत करीब होना।).
E.g.- The company is losing money and is hanging by a thread.
Neck of the woods (जंगल का किनारा) - particular part of town or country (शहर या देश का विशेष भाग).
To look black - to seem unfavourable.
E.g.- Things looked black for the team after they lost their best player to injury.
End of her rope - limit of her patience.
E.g.- After the long and tedious project, Sarah felt like she was at the end of her rope.
under your thumb - completely under your influence or control.
E.g.- That’s great! You keep everything under yourthumb.
Drop a line - send a brief letter.
E.g.- The salesman informed the customers that if they had any questions, they could drop a line.