Inspector BaBa - Top Idioms Asked by SSC

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering top 400 idioms asked in SSC exams from Inspector BaBa notes.

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Buy the farm'?

stop living

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Five-finger discount'?

to steal from a shop

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Care a hang'?

Showing no interest

What is the meaning of the idiom 'On the fence'?

Unable to decide between two options or positions

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Bite the bullet'?

Face a difficult situation with courage

What is the meaning of the idiom 'At a low ebb'?

In a depressed or weak state

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Jaundiced eye'?

Resentment

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A bitter pill'?

Facing a distressing situation

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Cook one's goose'?

To interfere with, disrupt or ruin something for someone

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Chip on shoulder'?

A tendency to be easily angered or resentful due to a perceived grievance

What is the meaning of the idiom 'When pigs fly'?

Something that will never happen

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Babe in the woods'?

A young defenceless person

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Queer pitch'?

Ruined the plan

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Blowing smoke'?

To lie to perplex others

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Have a bee in your bonnet'?

Be preoccupied or obsessed with something

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Like two peas in a pod'?

Very similar to each other

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A bolt from the blue'?

A sudden and unexpected event

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A sting in the tail'?

An unexpected, typically unpleasant or problematic end to something

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Back in saddle'?

Resume duty

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A bull in a china shop'?

An extremely awkward, clumsy person

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Casting pearls before swine'?

Offering good things to undeserving people

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Beat one's brains out'?

To put forth one's maximum efforts

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Bells and whistles'?

Attractive but unnecessary features added to products

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Get the sack'?

Be dismissed

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Red herrings'?

Clever bluff

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Rift in the lute'?

A small problem that spoils everything

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Hornet's nest'?

A troublesome or hazardous situation

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Throw in the towel'?

To give up or surrender

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Pull someone's leg'?

To tease or play a joke on someone

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Pie in the sky'?

Something not possible

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Be in the air'?

When an emotion or idea is on everyone's mind

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Burst someone's bubble'?

Destroy someone's illusions or false beliefs

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Green thumb'?

To have a natural interest in gardening

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Put my nose to the grindstone'?

To work very hard

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Roll up my sleeves'?

Prepare to work hard

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Sacred cow'?

Something that cannot be criticized

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Bite someone's head off'?

Speak angrily without any reason

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Best thing since sliced bread'?

Most useful innovation in long time

What is the meaning of the idiom 'As the crow flies'?

The shortest route

What is the meaning of the idiom 'At a loss'?

Unable to decide

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Catch 22'?

A particular situation in which one cannot do anything

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Died in harness'?

To die while in service

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Cut the mustard'?

To perform well

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Take a rain check'?

To politely decline with the implication that they may come at a later date

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Yeoman's service'?

Excellent and reliable service

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A vicious cycle'?

A sequence of events that compound each other

What is the meaning of the idiom 'At loggerheads'?

In disagreement

What is the meaning of the idiom 'As genuine as a three-dollar bill'?

Completely fake

What is the meaning of the idiom 'All wet'?

Completely mistaken

What is the meaning of the idiom 'By and large'?

In general

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Cat's in the cradle'?

complicated relationship

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Burn my boats'?

to commit oneself to a course

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Egg on'?

to Encourage

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Damp squib'?

complete failure

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Get down to brass tacks'?

to start discussing the important facts

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Helter-skelter'?

in disorderly haste

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Hang up your boots'?

to take retirement

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Get itchy feet'?

to want to travel or do something new

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Keep your pants on'?

be patient

What is the meaning of the idiom 'In the fast lane'?

a life filled with great excitement

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Have your head in the clouds'?

to be unrealistic

What is the meaning of the idiom 'From cradle to grave'?

throughout one's life

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Drill into your heads'?

to emphasize repeatedly

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Down for the count'?

feeling tired and give up

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Blue blood'?

aristocratic lineage

What is the meaning of the idiom 'At his disposal'?

available for use

What is the meaning of the idiom 'In the soup'?

to be in trouble

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Ivory towers'?

detachment and seclusion

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Keep abreast of'?

keep oneself updated

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Let your hair down'?

to take it easy and relax

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Make waves'?

to cause trouble

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Nerves of steel'?

An absence of fear or anxiety

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Receiving a kickback'?

getting an illegal payment

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Slack off'?

to ease pressure on something

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A cog in the machine'?

small part of big organisation

What is the meaning of the idiom 'On the breadline'?

be very poor

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A broth of a boy'?

energetic person

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A brown study'?

a mood of deep thoughts

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A bull market'?

market where prices are rising

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Break a leg'?

To wish good luck

What is the meaning of the idiom 'A pipe dream'?

an unreal hope

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Poker face'?

An expressionless face that hides one's true feelings or intentions

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Aladdin's cave'?

a place having many interesting objects

What is the meaning of the idiom 'An olive branch'?

gesture of peace

What is the meaning of the idiom 'As dead as a doornail'?

completely obsolete/out of trend

What is the meaning of the idiom 'As phony as a 3 dollars bill'?

something that is fake

What is the meaning of the idiom 'To shake in one's shoes'?

To be afraid

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Over and above'?

In addition to

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Ace in the hole'?

A major advantage that one keeps hidden until an ideal time

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Dead ringer'?

An exact duplicate

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Water under the bridge'?

Anything from the past that isn't significant or important anymore

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Out and Out'?

totally

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Bad iron'?

bad luck

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Be like chalk & cheese'?

completely different from each other

What is the meaning of the idiom 'To hit the jackpot'?

To achieve great success or luck

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Beside oneself'?

out of one's senses

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Bob's your uncle'?

easily & quickly achievable

What is the meaning of the idiom 'To beat around the bush'?

To avoid getting to the point

What is the meaning of the idiom 'To take the bull by the horns'?

To confront a challenge directly

What is the meaning of the idiom 'Jump on the bandwagon'?

to join others in doing something popular