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) |
| 1401 | To look down one’s nose | To regard with contempt |
| 1402 | To lose ground (3) | Becoming less acceptable |
| 1403 | To lose one’s temper | To become angry |
| 1404 | To make a fuss about | An excessive display of attention or activity |
| 1405 | To make a mountain of a molehill (2) | To give great importance to little things // exaggerate a minor problem |
| 1406 | To make a pile | To make a lot of money |
| 1407 | To make amends (3) | To compensate // to correct a mistake |
| 1408 | To make both ends meet (5) | To live within one’s income // manage with just enough funds |
| 1409 | To make do | Manage |
| 1410 | To make matters worse | Make the situation worse |
| 1411 | To make one’s blood boil (3) | To make somebody furious // To be very angry |
| 1412 | To make up one’s mind (4) | To decide what to do // Decide firmly |
| 1413 | To measure swords | to engage in competition |
| 1414 | To meet one’s Waterloo | To experience defeat |
| 1415 | To mind one’s p’s and q’s | To be careful about one’s speech and behaviour |
| 1416 | To miss the boat/bus (6) | To miss an opportunity // lose an opportunity |
| 1417 | To not have a clue | To not know about something |
| 1418 | To paddle once own canoe (2) | Manage independently // Depend on oneself |
| 1419 | To pass away | Die |
| 1420 | To pay off old scores | To take revenge |
| 1421 | To pay through the nose (5) | Pay an extremely high price |
| 1422 | To pick holes (2) | To criticise someone |
| 1423 | To pick up the threads | To restart from the previous closing point |
| 1424 | To pigeon hole | To typecast someone |
| 1425 | To play fast and loose | To act in an unreliable way |
| 1426 | To play second fiddle (2) | Position has lesser importance than anybody else’s |
| 1427 | To play to the gallery | To seek to win approval |
| 1428 | To pour oil in troubled water | To calm a dispute |
| 1429 | To pull a fast one on someone | To cheat someone |
| 1430 | To put a spoke in one’s wheel (3) | To put a difficulty in the way of progress |
| 1431 | To put an end to | Stop |
| 1432 | To put in a nut-shell | To state something very concisely |
| 1433 | To put one out of countenance | To make one feel ashamed |
| 1434 | To put one’s foot in one’s mouth | To accidentally embarrass or upset someone |
| 1435 | To put one’s hand to plough | To take up a difficult task // get busy working |
| 1436 | To put something on hold | To postpone something |
| 1437 | To put up with (4) | Tolerate |
| 1438 | To quit on someone | To stop helping someone, especially when support is needed |
| 1439 | To raise a dust | To cause disruption or confusion |
| 1440 | To raise a few eyebrows | To cause surprise or shock |
| 1441 | To read between the lines (11) | Understand the hidden meaning // find more meaning than the words appear to express |
| 1442 | To roll out the red carpet | To give a grand welcome |
| 1443 | To rub salt in someone’s wound | To make a bad or painful situation worse |
| 1444 | To run across | To meet by chance |
| 1445 | To run amok | To run about in a frenzy |
| 1446 | To run around like a headless chicken | To do many things in a disorganised manner |
| 1447 | To run one down | To disparage someone |
| 1448 | To scale up | To increase the size, amount or importance of |
| 1449 | To set aside | To move sideways |
| 1450 | To set the Thames on fire | Do a heroic deed // To do wonderful or exciting things |
| 1451 | To shed crocodile tears (4) | To pretend to be sympathetic // to pretend grief // False tears |
| 1452 | To show a clean pair of heels (2) | To escape // ran away |
| 1453 | To shun | To avoid deliberately and especially habitually |
| 1454 | To smell a rat (14) | Suspect a trick or deceit // detected something wrong |
| 1455 | To sound red alert | To rise an alarm |
| 1456 | To sow the dragon’s teeth | To act foolishly |
| 1457 | To speak one’s mind (2) | To express one’s thoughts // to voice one’s thoughts plainly |
| 1458 | To stand on his feet | To be independent |
| 1459 | To stand one’s ground (3) | Refused to yield // refuse to change your opinion |
| 1460 | To stave off | Postpone |
| 1461 | To steal a march | To outshine |
| 1462 | To steal her brother’s thunder | Get more recognition than her brother for their success |
| 1463 | To steer clear of (2) | Avoid someone or something because it is dangerous |
| 1464 | To take a back seat (2) | To become less important or to give up control |
| 1465 | To take a chill pill | To calm down |
| 1466 | To take a stock of (4) | To assess and evaluate before taking a decision |
| 1467 | To take for granted (2) | To accept or assume without question |
| 1468 | To take French leave (3) | Absenting oneself without permission |
| 1469 | To take into account (2) | To consider |
| 1470 | To take one’s hat off (5) | To admire someone // Congratulations to |
| 1471 | To take pains (4) | To make efforts // Try hard |
| 1472 | To take someone for a ride | To deceive someone |
| 1473 | To take the bull by the horns (3) | To handle difficulties // To deal with a difficult situation directly |
| 1474 | To take to heart (4) | To grieve over // to be greatly affected // to consider seriously |
| 1475 | To take to one’s heels (5) | To run away // ran away in fear // ran off |
| 1476 | To take to task (6) | Punished // to rebuke // to scold someone |
| 1477 | To talk him over | To discuss something thoroughly // Convince |
| 1478 | To the letter | In every detail |
| 1479 | To the nines | To perfection |
| 1480 | To throw a fit | Express extreme anger |
| 1481 | To throw dust in one’s eyes (3) | To deceive // to mislead or confuse |
| 1482 | To toe the line (2) | To follow the lead // Follow the rules |
| 1483 | To turn a deaf ear (9) | Disregard // refused to obey // to be indifferent |
| 1484 | To turn over a new leaf (5) | To change one’s behaviour for better // To begin again |
| 1485 | To turn the corner | To pass the critical stage |
| 1486 | To walk on air | To be very happy |
| 1487 | To win laurels (2) | To achieve honours and glory |
| 1488 | To work like a dog | To work very hard |
| 1489 | To wrangle over an ass’s shadow (2) | To quarrel over trifles |
| 1490 | Toffee-nosed | A person who thinks he is of a high social class |
| 1491 | Token strike | Short strike held as a warning |
| 1492 | Tongue in cheek | In an ironic or insincere way |
| 1493 | Too close for comfort | So close to be a cause for worry because of being unwelcome |
| 1494 | Too close to call | A very narrow margin |
| 1495 | Too fond of her own voice | Does not listen properly to anyone else |
| 1496 | Too many chiefs and not enough Indians | An inefficient situation |
| 1497 | Too many irons in the fire | Is engaged in too many enterprises at the same time |
| 1498 | Took a leap in the dark | Took a risk |
| 1499 | Took exception | Objected |
| 1500 | Took to their heels | Ran away |
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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