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 | Idiom / Phrase | Meaning (as per SSC Papers) |
| 1301 | To beat the air | To make efforts that are useless |
| 1302 | To beat the clock | To perform a task within the time limit |
| 1303 | To beat the rap | To be acquitted of a crime |
| 1304 | To bid defiance | To disregard recklessly |
| 1305 | To blaze a trail (4) | To lead the way as a pioneer // to initiate something new // To start a movement |
| 1306 | To blow hot and cold (2) | To be friendly and unfriendly at the same time // Vacillating |
| 1307 | To blow one’s own horn | To praise oneself |
| 1308 | To break a leg (3) | To wish good luck |
| 1309 | To break into tears | To cry suddenly |
| 1310 | To break loose | To escape |
| 1311 | To breathe one’s last | To die |
| 1312 | To bring to light (5) | To reveal clearly |
| 1313 | To burn all bridges (2) | To destroy all relations // doing something that makes it impossible to return |
| 1314 | To burn one’s fingers (3) | To suffer financial losses // To get into trouble |
| 1315 | To burn the candle at both ends | Work hard |
| 1316 | To burn the midnight oil (4) | To work till very late in the night |
| 1317 | To call a spade a spade (4) | To be frank // to speak in a straight forward manner // Say the truth |
| 1318 | To catch someone’s fancy | To appeal to someone |
| 1319 | To catch up with | To come to their level |
| 1320 | To clear the decks | To remove obstructions |
| 1321 | To clip one’s wings (2) | To restrict someone’s freedom |
| 1322 | To come clean | To make an honest disclosure |
| 1323 | To come round | To become conscious again |
| 1324 | To cross one’s mind | To think of something |
| 1325 | To cudgel one’s brains (2) | To think hard |
| 1326 | To cut a long story short (2) | To tell something briefly |
| 1327 | To cut both ends | To argue in support of both sides |
| 1328 | To cut my teeth on | To gain experience |
| 1329 | To cut one short | To interrupt one |
| 1330 | To cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth (2) | Live within one’s means |
| 1331 | To cut the crackle | To stop talking and start working |
| 1332 | To die in harness | To continue occupation till death |
| 1333 | To do the dishes | To wash and dry dishes |
| 1334 | To doctor the accounts (2) | To manipulate the accounts |
| 1335 | To draw the longbow | To exaggerate |
| 1336 | To eat a humble pie (8) | To accept defeat // suffer humiliation // yield under pressure |
| 1337 | To eat one’s own words (2) | Forced to retract one’s own statement |
| 1338 | To end in smoke (7) | To come to nothing // end without any practical result |
| 1339 | To explore every avenue | To try every opportunity |
| 1340 | To fan the flames | To make a bad situation worse |
| 1341 | To feel at home | To feel comfortable |
| 1342 | To fight tooth and nail (6) | To make every possible effort // Fight very fiercely |
| 1343 | To fish in troubled waters (2) | To make a profit out of disturbance |
| 1344 | To flog a dead horse (9) | To attempt to do the impossible // waste energy on unalterable situation |
| 1345 | To foam at one’s mouth (3) | To get very angry // To be enraged |
| 1346 | To gain ground | To make progress |
| 1347 | To gather roses only | To seek all enjoyments of life |
| 1348 | To get away with (2) | To escape from something |
| 1349 | To get cold feet (7) | To experience nervousness or anxiety // Lose confidence |
| 1350 | To get into hot water (8) | To get into trouble // To be in a difficult situation |
| 1351 | To get more kicks than half pence | Harsh treatment than rewards |
| 1352 | To get one’s own back | To get one’s revenge |
| 1353 | To gird up the loins (2) | To prepare for hard work // To prepare oneself |
| 1354 | To give the devil his due (2) | To give credit even to a notorious person |
| 1355 | To give the slip | To escape |
| 1356 | To go bananas (2) | To become very excited or angry // Become irrational |
| 1357 | To go nuts | To become crazy |
| 1358 | To go off the air | To stop broadcasting |
| 1359 | To go red in the face | To feel embarrassed |
| 1360 | To go scot-free (2) | To escape without punishment |
| 1361 | To go the whole hog | To do it completely |
| 1362 | To go to somebody’s head | To damage or weaken your judgment // Make dizzy |
| 1363 | To go/run around in circles (4) | To waste one’s time and energy doing trivial things |
| 1364 | To hail from (2) | To come from |
| 1365 | To hammer out (2) | To arrive at an agreement |
| 1366 | To hang together | To be connected with each other |
| 1367 | To have a blast | To have a good time |
| 1368 | To have a gut feeling (3) | Strong instinct // To feel an instinct or intuition |
| 1369 | To have a jaundiced eye | To be prejudiced |
| 1370 | To have a yen for | To have a very strong and continuous desire |
| 1371 | To have at one’s fingertips | Recall of factual information at one’s command |
| 1372 | To have eggs on one’s face | To be embarrassed because of one’s action |
| 1373 | To have second thoughts (2) | To reconsider |
| 1374 | To have something on the brain | To be obsessed with something |
| 1375 | To have something up one’s sleeve (3) | To have a secret plan // have an alternative plan |
| 1376 | To heave a sigh of relief (2) | To suddenly feel very happy because something unpleasant has not happened |
| 1377 | To his heart’s content | As much as he wanted to |
| 1378 | To hit below the belt (3) | To attack in an unfair manner |
| 1379 | To hit the jackpot (2) | To make money quickly // to find exactly what was sought |
| 1380 | To hit the road | Begin one’s journey |
| 1381 | To hit the sack (6) | To prepare for sleep // Went to bed |
| 1382 | To hold a brief for | To support someone’s cause |
| 1383 | To hold good | To remain valid |
| 1384 | To judge a book by its cover (3) | To evaluate people’s worth by their outward appearance |
| 1385 | To jump on the bandwagon (5) | To follow popular trends // Get involved because it’s likely to succeed |
| 1386 | To keep a good table | To offer sumptuous food to one’s guests |
| 1387 | To keep an eye on (2) | To be cautious // To watch over attentively |
| 1388 | To keep body and soul together (3) | To manage to live // to have just enough to sustain |
| 1389 | To keep in abeyance | In a state of suspension |
| 1390 | To keep someone at arm’s length (6) | To be at a distance // Avoid being too friendly |
| 1391 | To keep the ball rolling | To maintain progress |
| 1392 | To keep the wolf away from the door (6) | To keep off starvation // avoid starvation |
| 1393 | To keep under wraps (2) | Secret |
| 1394 | To keep up | To keep in touch |
| 1395 | To know what’s what | To know the facts of a situation |
| 1396 | To lag behind | To fail to maintain the pace or progress |
| 1397 | To land a job | To be hired |
| 1398 | To lead astray | To misguide |
| 1399 | To let someone off (2) | To release someone from blame // To punish someone lightly |
| 1400 | To look blue | To be disheartened |
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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