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) |
| 801 | Keep a low profile | To avoid attracting attention to yourself |
| 802 | Keep abreast of | Keep oneself updated |
| 803 | Keep in check | To control something |
| 804 | Keep in touch (2) | To maintain contact with another person |
| 805 | Keep one’s head (3) | Remain calm |
| 806 | Keep someone in the loop | Give them all the information |
| 807 | Keep under one’s hat | To keep something a secret |
| 808 | Keep up appearances (2) | To pretend to be happier or richer so as to conceal the real situation |
| 809 | Keep your chin up | Remain cheerful in difficult circumstances. |
| 810 | Keep your shirt on | To remain cool |
| 811 | Keep your wig on | To calm down |
| 812 | Keep/hold something at bay (3) | To control something and prevent it from causing you problems |
| 813 | Keeps an open house | Welcomes all members |
| 814 | Kept a level head | Was sensible |
| 815 | Kept a stiff upper lip | Remained expressionless |
| 816 | Kick someone when they are down | To cause further trouble to someone already in a difficult situation |
| 817 | Kick the bucket (4) | To die |
| 818 | Kicked up a row (3) | Made a great fuss // created a fuss // cause a disturbance |
| 819 | Kicking his heels | Wasting time |
| 820 | Kill two birds with one stone (5) | To serve two purposes at one time // To achieve two results with a single effort |
| 821 | Kith and kin (2) | Relatives |
| 822 | Kitty-corner | Things located diagonally opposite each other |
| 823 | Knock down | To demolish |
| 824 | Know like the back of one’s hand | to have detailed knowledge of something |
| 825 | Know something inside out (2) | To know everything about something // To know something thoroughly |
| 826 | Knows how many beans make five | Well informed and intelligent |
| 827 | Laid down their arms | Surrendered |
| 828 | Lap up | Accept eagerly |
| 829 | Large-hearted | Generous |
| 830 | Last but not least | The last task is the most difficult of a big project. |
| 831 | Latched on to something | To become firmly attached |
| 832 | Late in the day | Too delayed to be of any use |
| 833 | Latin and Greek | Incomprehensible |
| 834 | laughs like a drain | Laugh loudly |
| 835 | Laurels | To earn great prestige |
| 836 | Lay out (2) | Spend |
| 837 | Laying it on thick | An exaggeration |
| 838 | Laying off | Dismissal from jobs of |
| 839 | Lead someone by the nose (3) | To dominate someone // To completely control someone |
| 840 | Lean and mean | Ready and efficient |
| 841 | Learn by heart | To memorize something |
| 842 | Learn/Know the ropes (3) | Learn to do particular jobs |
| 843 | Leave no stone unturned (10) | Try every possible course of action in order to achieve something |
| 844 | Leaves you in the lurch (5) | Leave someone in a helpless condition // desert someone in his difficulties |
| 845 | Left out in cold | to be ignored |
| 846 | Left, right and centre | Happening in a lot of places or to a lot of people |
| 847 | Lend me your ear (4) | To politely ask for someone’s full attention // to pay attention to |
| 848 | Lend someone a hand | To help or assist, especially voluntarily |
| 849 | Let bygones be bygones (2) | Forget past offences or causes of conflict and be reconciled. // To forgive and forget |
| 850 | Let down | To fail |
| 851 | Let off steam | To work or play off excess energy |
| 852 | Let sleeping dogs lie (4) | Do not bring up an old controversial issue |
| 853 | Let something slip through one’s fingers | To waste an opportunity to achieve something |
| 854 | Let the cat out of the bag (5) | Reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake |
| 855 | Let the chips fall where they may | Let something happen without bothering about the consequences |
| 856 | Let the grass grow under one’s feet (3) | To remain idle |
| 857 | Let your hair down (2) | Behave uninhibitedly // To take it easy and relax |
| 858 | Level playing field | A situation in which everyone has a fair and equal chance of succeeding |
| 859 | Lie low | Try not to be noticed |
| 860 | Like a dying duck in a thunderstorm | Dejected |
| 861 | Like a phoenix | With a new life |
| 862 | Like a shag on a rock | Completely alone |
| 863 | Like pulling teeth | Extremely difficult |
| 864 | Like talking to a brick wall | Inattentive |
| 865 | Like two peas in a pod (2) | Look very similar in appearance or character |
| 866 | Lion’s mouth | A dangerous situation |
| 867 | Little by little | gradually |
| 868 | Live from hand to mouth (5) | To have enough money to live on and nothing extra // miserably |
| 869 | Loaded words | Words that carry more significance than their literal meaning |
| 870 | Lock horns | Fight with someone |
| 871 | Lock, stock and barrel | Completely |
| 872 | Long in the tooth | Too old to do something |
| 873 | Look after (2) | Take care of |
| 874 | Look before you leap | Think carefully of the consequences |
| 875 | Look down upon (2) | Regard with contempt // To consider someone inferior |
| 876 | Look into | To investigate |
| 877 | Look out | be careful |
| 878 | Look sharp | Pay attention |
| 879 | Looking for greener pastures | Exploring new opportunities |
| 880 | Looking forward to | Expecting with pleasure |
| 881 | Loosen the purse strings (2) | To increase the money available for expenditure |
| 882 | Lose count of | forget the accurate total |
| 883 | Lose face | Become embarrassed |
| 884 | Lose one’s head (3) | To lose self control // Panic |
| 885 | Lose your marbles | To go insane |
| 886 | Lose your touch | Not being as successful as previously |
| 887 | Loudmouth | One who talks boastfully |
| 888 | Mad as a hatter | Eccentric |
| 889 | Made a clean breast of (3) | Confessed without reserve // confessed his crime |
| 890 | Made light of | Treated it lightly |
| 891 | Made off | ran away with |
| 892 | Made out of whole cloth | Entirely false and fabricated |
| 893 | Maiden speech (5) | First speech |
| 894 | Make a beeline for (5) | Go straight to |
| 895 | Make a dent in | to reduce an amount of something, esp. money or work |
| 896 | Make a fool of oneself | To be stupid |
| 897 | Make a fortune | To become rich |
| 898 | Make a living | To earn enough money for things you need |
| 899 | Make a mockery of | There was no serious outcome |
| 900 | Make a scene | Make a public disturbance or excited emotional display |
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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