Question 1

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To BREAK THE ICE'

Accepted Answer

'Break the ice' means to initiate conversation or interaction in a social situation where people are shy or uncomfortable. The metaphor comes from the literal breaking of ice on frozen water to allow passage. In social contexts, it refers to overcoming initial awkwardness or formality.

Question 2

Choose the word most OPPOSITE in meaning to: MEAGRE

Accepted Answer

MEAGRE (British spelling) means scanty, insufficient, or lacking in quantity/quality. It derives from Latin 'macer' (thin). This word appears frequently in SSC CGL Tier-1 reading passages describing inadequate resources or poor conditions.

Question 3

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To CALL IT A DAY'

Accepted Answer

'To call it a day' means to stop work or end an activity for the day. It originated from workers in the 19th century who would literally 'call' the end of the working day. The correct answer reflects this meaning of stopping or finishing.

Question 4

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To BREAK THE ICE'

Accepted Answer

'To break the ice' means to initiate conversation or overcome awkwardness in a social situation. The metaphor compares social tension to frozen ice that must be 'broken' to allow interaction. The correct answer captures this meaning of starting communication.

Question 5

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW'

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'bite off more than one can chew' means to take on a task or responsibility that is too difficult or too large to handle successfully. It comes from the literal image of putting too much food in one's mouth at once, making it impossible to chew properly. In context: 'He bit off more than he could chew by accepting three projects simultaneously.' The correct answer is 'to undertake an impossible task,' which captures the core meaning of overcommitting oneself.

Question 6

What does the idiom 'Beat around the bush' mean?

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'Beat around the bush' means to avoid talking about the main topic or to not speak directly about the matter at hand. Its origin traces back to hunters who would beat the bushes to scare out birds, delaying the actual hunt. In SSC papers, this phrase is commonly tested to check whether candidates understand indirect speech in a practical context. Options like 'to work hard' and 'to roam in a forest' are traps based on literal interpretation of the words 'beat' and 'bush'.

Question 7

Choose the word most SIMILAR in meaning to: BENIGN

Accepted Answer

BENIGN means kind, gentle, or (in medical contexts) not harmful/non-cancerous. It comes from Latin 'benignus' (well-born, kind). In SSC exams, it appears in both general vocabulary and medical/scientific reading passages.

Question 8

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To HAVE A CHIP ON ONE'S SHOULDER'

Accepted Answer

'To have a chip on one's shoulder' means to feel resentful or have a grievance, often due to past mistreatment or perceived injustice. The metaphor compares emotional burden to a physical chip (piece of wood) carried on the shoulder. The correct answer captures this meaning of harbouring resentment.

Question 9

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To SPILL THE BEANS'

Accepted Answer

'To spill the beans' means to reveal a secret or disclose confidential information. The metaphor compares secrets to beans in a container that, once spilled, cannot be easily recovered. The correct answer reflects this meaning of revealing secrets.

Question 10

Choose the word most SIMILAR in meaning to: CANDID

Accepted Answer

CANDID means frank, honest, and straightforward in expression. It comes from Latin 'candidus' (white/pure), historically used to describe someone with pure or clear intentions. In SSC/Banking exams, it frequently appears in reading comprehension and vocabulary sections.

Question 11

Choose the idiom/phrase most OPPOSITE in meaning to: 'TO BREAK THE ICE'

Accepted Answer

'To break the ice' means to initiate conversation or interaction in a social situation, especially when people are shy or uncomfortable. The opposite would be to maintain awkwardness or silence.

Question 12

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To CALL IT A DAY'

Accepted Answer

'Call it a day' means to stop work or an activity and go home, typically because you've done enough or are tired. The phrase originated in the 19th century when workers would literally 'call' the end of the working day. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

Question 13

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To SPILL THE BEANS'

Accepted Answer

'Spill the beans' means to reveal a secret or disclose confidential information, often unintentionally. The phrase's origin is debated, but it may derive from ancient Greek voting practices where beans were used as ballots. In modern usage, it refers to accidentally or deliberately revealing something that was meant to be kept secret.

Question 14

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To BEAT AROUND THE BUSH'

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'beat around the bush' means to avoid discussing the main point directly; to speak in a roundabout or indirect manner. The correct answer 'to avoid the main issue' captures this meaning precisely. 'To beat a dead horse' refers to wasting effort on something already settled. 'To let the cat out of the bag' means to reveal a secret. 'To break the ice' means to initiate conversation or ease tension.

Question 15

Choose the idiom/phrase most SIMILAR in meaning to: 'To BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW'

Accepted Answer

'Bite off more than one can chew' means to take on more responsibility or work than one is capable of handling. The phrase uses a literal eating metaphor to describe overcommitment. It's commonly used in professional and personal contexts to warn against overambition or poor planning.

Question 16

Choose the word most OPPOSITE in meaning to: VERBOSE

Accepted Answer

VERBOSE means using or containing more words than necessary; wordy or long-winded. It comes from Latin 'verbosus' (full of words). This word frequently appears in SSC CGL reading comprehension and style-related questions.

Question 17

Choose the idiom/phrase that best matches the meaning of: 'TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE'

Accepted Answer

'To beat a dead horse' is an idiom meaning to waste effort on something that is already finished or hopeless. It appears frequently in SSC comprehension and verbal ability sections.

Question 18

Choose the word most SIMILAR in meaning to the idiom: 'TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE'

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'to beat a dead horse' means to waste effort on a futile or pointless task; to persist in discussing or doing something that is already settled or hopeless. It originates from the literal futility of striking an already dead animal—no useful result can be achieved. The correct answer is 'to pursue a hopeless cause' because it captures the essence of wasting energy on something that cannot succeed. 'To acknowledge defeat' is passive and doesn't convey persistence. 'To show physical strength' is literal and irrelevant. 'To criticise harshly' focuses on negative judgment rather than futility. Context: 'Stop beating a dead horse; the project was cancelled months ago.'

Question 19

Choose the word most SIMILAR in meaning to the idiom: 'TO BEAT AROUND THE BUSH'

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'to beat around the bush' means to avoid discussing the main point directly or to speak in a roundabout way. The correct answer is 'to prevaricate' (to speak evasively or avoid the truth). This idiom frequently appears in SSC CGL Tier-1 reading comprehension and vocabulary sections.

Question 20

Choose the idiom/phrase that best matches the meaning of: 'To BREAK THE ICE'

Accepted Answer

'To break the ice' means to initiate conversation or interaction in a social situation; to overcome initial awkwardness. Origin: 17th century, from the literal act of breaking frozen water to allow passage. Frequently tested in SSC CGL verbal ability sections and reading comprehension passages about social interactions.

RPF Sub-Inspector Idioms & Phrases

Idioms & Phrases— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

Exam-Specific Tips

Idioms & Phrases — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Idioms & Phrases