Introduction: The Strategic Importance of Idioms in JKSSB Exams
In the highly competitive landscape of JKSSB recruitments—whether you are eyeing a post in the Patwari, Junior Assistant, Police Constable, or Finance Inspector cadres—every single mark is a step closer to your dream career. While most aspirants dedicate months to mastering Jammu & Kashmir GK and Mathematics, the General English section often remains the “silent separator” in the final merit list.
Among the various components of English, Idioms and Phrases frequently pose the greatest challenge. Unlike standard vocabulary, the meaning of an idiom cannot be deduced by looking at individual words. For instance, “crying over spilled milk” has nothing to do with dairy, and “beating around the bush” has nothing to do with gardening. In the heat of the examination hall, these figurative expressions can become “stumbling blocks” if you aren’t well-prepared.
However, mastering idioms is not about memorizing a dictionary; it is about recognizing patterns and understanding their contextual usage. This comprehensive guide is designed to simplify that process. We have filtered through Previous Year Questions (PYQs) and the official JKSSB syllabus to bring you a curated selection of idioms that are most likely to appear in your 2026 exams.
By the end of this post, you will not only understand the meanings of these phrases but also how to apply them accurately in “fill-in-the-blanks” and “sentence correction” formats. Let’s turn this “Herculean task” into a “piece of cake.”
Essential Idioms and Phrases: Categorized for JKSSB Aspirants
To make this section truly comprehensive, don’t just dump a list of words. Break them down into thematic categories. This helps the brain build associations, making it much easier to remember them during the high pressure of the exam.
| SN | Idioms / Phrases | Meaning (as per SSC Papers) |
| 1001 | On the wrong side of sixty | To be older than sixty |
| 1002 | On thin ice | In a precarious or risky situation |
| 1003 | Once and for all | Bring to an end // finally // conclusively |
| 1004 | Once bitten, twice shy | An unpleasant experience induces caution // a bitter experience making one cautious |
| 1005 | Once in a blue moon | Rarely and infrequently |
| 1006 | One track mind | always thinking of only one thing |
| 1007 | Open-ended | Having no planned ending |
| 1008 | Out and out | Totally |
| 1009 | Out at the elbows | Poor |
| 1010 | Out for the count | In a deep, insensible sleep |
| 1011 | Out of bounds | Forbidden |
| 1012 | Out of date | Something old fashioned |
| 1013 | Out of my wits | Greatly confused |
| 1014 | Out of print | A book no longer available from the publisher |
| 1015 | Out of sorts | To be unwell |
| 1016 | Out of spirits | Gloomy or sad |
| 1017 | Out of the blue | Completely unexpectedly |
| 1018 | Out of the question | Impossible |
| 1019 | Out of the woods | No longer in trouble // out of danger |
| 1020 | Out of thin air | Appear suddenly |
| 1021 | Out of this world | Extraordinary |
| 1022 | Over and over again | Do something repeatedly |
| 1023 | Over egg the pudding | To spoil something by trying too hard to improve it |
| 1024 | Over head and ears | Completely |
| 1025 | Over my dead body | Used to emphasize that one completely opposes something // Opposing fiercely |
| 1026 | Pale into insignificance | Seemed less important |
| 1027 | Palm off | To dispose off with the intent to deceive |
| 1028 | Pandora’s Box | A prolific source of trouble |
| 1029 | Paper over the cracks | To hide problems |
| 1030 | Part and parcel | Essential element // important part |
| 1031 | Parthian shot | Parting hit |
| 1032 | Pass the baton | shift responsibility to others |
| 1033 | Pass the buck | Refuse to accept responsibility // Blame someone for what you did wrong |
| 1034 | Pass the hat | To collect money |
| 1035 | Pat on the back | Praise or approval for doing something good |
| 1036 | Pay heed to | Listen carefully with attention |
| 1037 | Pay lip service | Pretend to regard // To be insincere // Saying they agree although they do not support it |
| 1038 | Pay on the nail | Pay promptly |
| 1039 | Peas in a pod | Very similar |
| 1040 | Pedal to the metal | To drive very fast |
| 1041 | Pick a quarrel | to start a disagreement or argument |
| 1042 | Pick and choose | Select only the best from choices |
| 1043 | Pick to pieces | Analyse critically |
| 1044 | Picking holes in | Finding fault with |
| 1045 | Picks on someone | Treats badly |
| 1046 | Pie in the sky | Something not possible |
| 1047 | Pillar to post | One place to another |
| 1048 | Pin-money | Allowance made to a lady for her expenses // a small amount of money |
| 1049 | Pipe dream | A dream or idea that is unlikely to happen // An illusory plan |
| 1050 | Plain as day | Very obvious and easy to understand |
| 1051 | Plain sailing | Was very easy |
| 1052 | Play devil’s advocate | To argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument |
| 1053 | Play for time | To make excuses or do things to gain time |
| 1054 | Play it by ear | To do something without special preparation |
| 1055 | Play one’s ace | To use one’s best weapon or resource |
| 1056 | Play safe | Avoid risks and take precautions |
| 1057 | Play truant | Stay away from duty |
| 1058 | Play with fire | To do something dangerous/risky |
| 1059 | Played ducks and drakes | Spent lavishly // squandered // to use recklessly |
| 1060 | Played havoc | Caused destruction |
| 1061 | Playing to the gallery | Appeasing the masses |
| 1062 | Playing with fire | To act in a dangerous and risky way |
| 1063 | Pocket an insult | bear an insult quietly // Tolerate insult without protest |
| 1064 | Point-blank | Directly // Close enough to hit the centre of the target |
| 1065 | Poke one’s nose | To take interest in others’ affairs // Interfere or meddle |
| 1066 | Pore over | Go through |
| 1067 | Pot-luck dinner | Dinner where everybody brings something to eat |
| 1068 | Poured cats & dogs | Rained heavily |
| 1069 | Pouring cold water on | To discourage doing something |
| 1070 | Provide a blueprint | Give a detailed plan or scheme |
| 1071 | Pull a fast one | Play a trick // Trick someone |
| 1072 | Pull a long face | Look dejected // look sad |
| 1073 | Pull a rabbit out of a hat | To do something unexpected |
| 1074 | Pull someone up | Criticise someone // Reprimand |
| 1075 | Pull someone’s leg | To make fool of // playing a joke with someone // To tease someone |
| 1076 | Pull something off | Make something happen |
| 1077 | Pull strings | Use personal influence |
| 1078 | Pull the plug | Prevent something from happening or continuing |
| 1079 | Pull the wool over someone’s eyes | Deceive someone by telling lies |
| 1080 | Pull together | Work harmoniously |
| 1081 | Pull up your socks | To put in extra effort |
| 1082 | Pull yourself together | To calm oneself down and begin to think or act appropriately // Regain composure |
| 1083 | Pulled all the stops | To do something with maximum effort or ability |
| 1084 | Pulled the chestnuts out of fire | Accomplishing a difficult job for someone else |
| 1085 | Pulls no punches | Speaks frankly |
| 1086 | Put across | Effectively conveyed |
| 1087 | Put into action | To execute |
| 1088 | Put off | To delay |
| 1089 | Put one’s foot down | Take a firm stand // asserted his authority // refuse very firmly |
| 1090 | Put one’s cards on the table | To be honest |
| 1091 | Put our heads together | Consult and work together // work in consultation |
| 1092 | Put someone’s back up | To irritate someone |
| 1093 | Put something by | Saves |
| 1094 | Put two and two together | Reason logically // To deduce from given fact |
| 1095 | Put up the shutters | Went out of business |
| 1096 | Put your best foot forward | Try as hard as one can |
| 1097 | Putting the cart before the horse | Doing a thing in the wrong way |
| 1098 | Quicken the pulse | made some people excited or interested |
| 1099 | Rained on the new bride’s parade | To spoil a moment |
| 1100 | Raining cats and dogs | Raining extremely heavily |
Conclusion: Turning Knowledge into Results
Mastering idioms and phrases is often described as a “Herculean task” by many JKSSB aspirants, but as we have seen, it is entirely manageable with the right approach. In the context of the OMR-based or CBT exams conducted by the Board, these questions are designed to test your “linguistic intuition” rather than just your memory.
The secret to scoring full marks in this section lies in context. Instead of rote learning, try to visualize the scenarios where these idioms are used. Whether you are sitting for the Patwari, Junior Assistant, or Constable exams, remember that the English section is your best opportunity to save time for more complex sections like Mathematics or Mental Ability.
Final Revision Strategy:
- The 5-a-Day Rule: Don’t try to learn 100 idioms in one sitting. Master five idioms every morning and try to use them in a sentence before the day ends.
- Analyze PYQs: JKSSB has a habit of repeating themes. Keep an eye on idioms related to “Hard Work,” “Success,” and “Conflict.”
Success in JKSSB exams is a marathon, not a sprint. By “burning the midnight oil” today and refining your vocabulary, you are ensuring that on the day of the result, you are not just a candidate, but a selected officer.
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