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 |
| 401 | Come of age | Reach maturity |
| 402 | Come off | Be separated |
| 403 | Come rain or shine | Under any circumstances // whatever happens |
| 404 | Come to blows | Get into a fight physically |
| 405 | Come to grief | Have an accident // meet with disaster |
| 406 | Come to light | Been revealed // To be known publicly |
| 407 | Come to terms with something | To gradually accept a sad situation |
| 408 | Come to the point | To speak plainly about the real issue |
| 409 | Come true | To happen in the way you had hoped |
| 410 | Come what may | No matter what happens |
| 411 | Cook the books | To falsify financial records |
| 412 | Cool about working | Ready to work |
| 413 | Cool as a cucumber | Not nervous or emotional // to be calm and composed // cool as ice |
| 414 | Cool it | To relax |
| 415 | Cool your heels | To be kept waiting // Unwillingly wait for something or someone |
| 416 | Cope with | Handle |
| 417 | Copycat | One who imitates another closely |
| 418 | Cordoned off | Isolated |
| 419 | Cost (someone) dearly | To bring one suffering |
| 420 | Cost an arm and a leg | Very expensive // A large amount of money |
| 421 | Couch potato | A lazy person // a person who watches too much television |
| 422 | Count one’s blessings | Be grateful for what one has |
| 423 | Cover up | Hide or conceal |
| 424 | Crack up | Laugh out loud |
| 425 | Crash and burn | To fail completely |
| 426 | Creature comforts | Luxuries |
| 427 | Cross out | Eliminate |
| 428 | Cross that bridge | Solve the problem |
| 429 | Cross that bridge when you come to it | Deal with something only when necessary // deal with a problem when and if it arises |
| 430 | Cross your fingers | To hope that things will happen in the way that you want them to |
| 431 | Crossed swords | Disagreed |
| 432 | Crunch time | A critical moment near the end of a game when decisive action is needed |
| 433 | Cry down | To depreciate |
| 434 | Cry in the wilderness | An unrealistic demand // unpopular opinion // an unheeded warning |
| 435 | Cry over spilt milk | To complain about a loss from the past // to regret about that which cannot be rectified // Feeling sorry over a mistake that cannot be changed |
| 436 | Cry wolf | To ask for help when you don’t need it // To raise a false alarm |
| 437 | Crying for the moon | To make an impractical or unreasonable request |
| 438 | Cup of tea | One’s chosen or preferred thing // Something that pleases one |
| 439 | Currying favour with | Ingratiate oneself with someone through obsequious behaviour |
| 440 | Cut a poor figure | To put a bad impression |
| 441 | Cut a sorry figure | Created a wrong impression |
| 442 | Cut and dried | Ready made // Already decided |
| 443 | Cut corners | Not do a thing well in order to save money or effort // Do something perfunctorily so as to save time or money // saving money |
| 444 | Cut down on | reduce |
| 445 | Cut him off, without a shilling | Disinherited him |
| 446 | Cut in | Interrupt someone while they are speaking |
| 447 | Cut no ice with me | Had no influence on me |
| 448 | Cut one short | To interrupt someone |
| 449 | Cut short | Make shorter as if by cutting off |
| 450 | Cut the Gordian knot | Removed the difficulty // to perform a difficult task |
| 451 | Cut the mustard | To perform well // To succeed |
| 452 | Cut to the chase | To start talking about the important aspects of something // come to the point |
| 453 | Cut to the quick | Hurt intensely |
| 454 | Dance to someone’s tune | Do what others want you to do |
| 455 | Dead heat | Close contest that ends in a tie |
| 456 | Dead in the water | No chance of succeeding or making any progress |
| 457 | Dead set against | Disapproved |
| 458 | Deep pockets | A lot of money |
| 459 | Die hard | Unwilling to change |
| 460 | Died in harness | Died while working // to die while in service |
| 461 | Dig up dirt on someone | Discover damaging information about someone |
| 462 | Do a good turn | To help someone // Render a service |
| 463 | Do a roaring trade | Highly successful |
| 464 | Do away with | To abolish |
| 465 | Do or die | To make a final effort |
| 466 | Dog eat dog | Ruthlessly competitive |
| 467 | Dog in a manger | Selfish |
| 468 | Done for | Ruined |
| 469 | Donkey’s years | A long time |
| 470 | Don’t count your chickens before they hatch | Do not count on a good thing that has not yet happened |
| 471 | Don’t put all your eggs in one basket | Don’t put all your resources in one place |
| 472 | Dot one’s i’s and cross one’s t’s | Be detailed and exact |
| 473 | Down and out | Without money |
| 474 | Down in the dumps | Sad and depressed |
| 475 | Down in the mouth | To be depressed |
| 476 | Down the drain | Wasted or lost |
| 477 | Down the tubes | Failing completely |
| 478 | Down to earth | To be realistic // Practical and direct |
| 479 | Draconian law | Extremely severe law |
| 480 | Drag one’s feet | Be reluctant to act // Do something deliberately at a slow pace |
| 481 | Draw a blank | To be unsuccessful // find no favour |
| 482 | Draw a line | To fix a limit // Accept something up to a particular point |
| 483 | Draw first blood | Be the first to gain an advantage or score against an opponent |
| 484 | Dressed to kill | Dressed to attract attention |
| 485 | Dressing-down | Give a scolding |
| 486 | Drew on his fancy | Used his imagination |
| 487 | Drive home | Emphasise // to emphasize an important point |
| 488 | Drive someone up the wall | Make someone very irritated or angry |
| 489 | Drop in | Pay a casual visit |
| 490 | Drop names | Name famous people to impress others // Hinting at high connections |
| 491 | Dropping like flies | Collapsing in large numbers |
| 492 | Dust and ashes | Something that is very disappointing |
| 493 | Eager beaver | A keen and enthusiastic person |
| 494 | Eagle eye | An eye with sharp visual powers |
| 495 | Ease somebody’s mind | Alleviate someone’s anxiety |
| 496 | Easier said than done | Be more easily talked about than put into practice |
| 497 | Easy money | Make money without much effort, maybe illegally |
| 498 | Eat anyone’s salt | To be one’s guest |
| 499 | Eats like a horse | Eats a lot of food |
| 500 | Egg on | encourage |
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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