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 (#R) | Meaning (as per SSC Papers) |
| 1201 | Sum and substance | Essence |
| 1202 | Swan song | Last performance |
| 1203 | Sweeping statement | Generalised statement |
| 1204 | Swept under the carpet | Kept hidden |
| 1205 | Swim with the tide | Agree with the popular opinion |
| 1206 | Swollen-headed (2) | Pride |
| 1207 | Sword of Damocles (3) | Imminent danger // A constant threat // An impending threat |
| 1208 | Take a cue from someone (2) | Learnt acting // Be strongly influenced by someone |
| 1209 | Take a dim view of | Disapprove of |
| 1210 | Take away your breath | Astonishing |
| 1211 | Take exception to (3) | To object strongly |
| 1212 | Take heart (3) | To take courage // To gain confidence |
| 1213 | Take in their stride | Handle calmly |
| 1214 | Take something at face value | Accept something as it looks without thinking about whether it might, in fact, not be quite what it appears |
| 1215 | Take the bull by the horns (3) | To face a difficulty courageously // To face danger boldly |
| 1216 | Take the heat | Receive criticism |
| 1217 | Take thee at thy word | Truly believe you |
| 1218 | Take up room | Occupy space |
| 1219 | Take up the hatchet | Prepare for or go to war |
| 1220 | Take with a pinch/grain of salt (5) | Not believe completely something that you are told // To listen to something with considerable doubt |
| 1221 | Taken fancy | Developed liking for |
| 1222 | Takes after (5) | To resemble // To be similar in appearance |
| 1223 | Taking a toll on (2) | To harm or damage someone or something, especially in a gradual way |
| 1224 | Talked over | Discussed |
| 1225 | Talking through her hat (2) | Talking nonsense |
| 1226 | Tall tales | Boasting |
| 1227 | Teething problems (2) | Problems at the start of a new project |
| 1228 | Tell upon | To affect adversely |
| 1229 | That ship has sailed | Too late to do something |
| 1230 | The apple of discord (3) | Reason for quarrel // Cause of animosity // Something that causes friction |
| 1231 | The ayes have it | The affirmative votes are in the majority |
| 1232 | The bad egg (2) | A dishonest or ill-behaved person |
| 1233 | The bee’s knees | Extraordinary |
| 1234 | The big fish | Main leaders |
| 1235 | The calm before the storm | A period of quiet that comes before a time of activity, excitement, violence, etc. |
| 1236 | The crux of the matter | The most important / critical point |
| 1237 | The devil is beating his wife | The sun is shining while it rains |
| 1238 | The die is cast | The decision has been taken |
| 1239 | The elephant in the room (3) | A big problem everyone is ignoring or afraid to talk about // An obvious issue left unaddressed |
| 1240 | The gnomes of Zurich | Big international bankers |
| 1241 | The grass is greener on the other side | Things appear better for others |
| 1242 | The graveyard shift | To work shift during the night, often from midnight to 8 A.M. |
| 1243 | The green-eyed monster | Jealousy |
| 1244 | The jury is out | No decision has been reached |
| 1245 | The last straw (5) | Final problem in the series // A minor difficulty but coming on top of a series of difficulties, that makes a situation unbearable |
| 1246 | The Lion’s share (6) | The biggest and best part of a whole // The greatest and most desirable portion |
| 1247 | The man in the street (3) | Simple man // The ordinary man |
| 1248 | The movers and shakers | People who have a lot of power and influence |
| 1249 | The nitty-gritty | The most important aspects or practical details of a subject or situation |
| 1250 | The pros and cons (3) | For and against // Advantages and disadvantages // Consider all facts |
| 1251 | The seamy side (2) | The unpleasant aspects |
| 1252 | The straw that broke the camel’s back | To be the last in a series of events leading one to feel that it is intolerable |
| 1253 | The tail is wagging the dog | The less important or subsidiary factor, person, or thing dominates a situation |
| 1254 | The thin end of the wedge | Start of harmful development |
| 1255 | The tip of an iceberg | Something which is a small part of something much bigger |
| 1256 | The wheels have come off | Things start to fail or go wrong, especially after a period of success |
| 1257 | Thick as thieves | Having a close friendship |
| 1258 | Think on your feet | Adjust quickly to changes and make fast decisions |
| 1259 | Threw a spanner | To do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding // Sabotage |
| 1260 | Threw down the glove | Gave a challenge |
| 1261 | Through and through | Completely |
| 1262 | Through thick and thin (11) | Support under all circumstances // In times of good and bad fortune |
| 1263 | Throw caution to the winds (4) | To do something without worrying about the risk // To behave recklessly |
| 1264 | Throw cold water (2) | To discourage by showing indifference |
| 1265 | Throw in the towel (4) | Acknowledge defeat // To admit defeat or failure |
| 1266 | Throw over | To refuse to accept // Reject |
| 1267 | Throw up cards | Gave up my plan |
| 1268 | Throw up the sponge | To surrender |
| 1269 | Tick all the boxes | To fulfil the required norms |
| 1270 | Tickled pink | Very pleased |
| 1271 | Tide over | To overcome |
| 1272 | Tide someone over | Give temporary help, usually financial |
| 1273 | Tie the knot | Get married |
| 1274 | Tighten one’s belt | To cut one’s expenditure |
| 1275 | Till the cows come home | For a long, long time |
| 1276 | Time and again | Often |
| 1277 | Tit for tat (2) | To do harm as done to you // Counter attack |
| 1278 | To accept the gauntlet (2) | To accept challenge |
| 1279 | To add fuel to the fire (7) | Make things worse // Worsened the difficult situation |
| 1280 | To aim for the stars | To set high goals |
| 1281 | To air / to wash dirty linen in public (2) | To discuss private affairs in public |
| 1282 | To and fro | Forward and backward |
| 1283 | To angle | To fish |
| 1284 | To be all at sea (5) | Puzzled // state of confusion // lost and confused |
| 1285 | To be at home | To be at ease |
| 1286 | To be devil’s advocate (2) | To present a counter argument just for the sake of it |
| 1287 | To be fair and square (4) | To be honest // According to the rules |
| 1288 | To be in a fix (3) | In a difficult situation // in puzzling state |
| 1289 | To be in a quandary | To be in a confusing situation |
| 1290 | To be light years away | To be too distant for human beings to reach |
| 1291 | To be moved to tears | To be overwhelmed with emotion |
| 1292 | To be off your food | To have no appetite |
| 1293 | To be on a roll | To be experiencing a successful period |
| 1294 | To be on pins and needles | To be in an agitated state of suspense |
| 1295 | To be taken aback (4) | To be surprised // shocked |
| 1296 | To be thrown in at the deep end | Learn to do the difficult things too soon |
| 1297 | To be tight-lipped | To keep quiet |
| 1298 | To be under the weather (14) | To not feel well // To feel sick or unhealthy // To be in low spirits |
| 1299 | To beat a dead horse (2) | To uselessly dwell on a subject far beyond its point of resolution // a futile effort |
| 1300 | To beat a retreat (3) | To run away in fear |
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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