Idioms and Phrases
About 6 min · English Language · English
Time worked out from the lesson's 441 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.
Idioms and Phrases can appear in IBPS PO Prelims within Reading Comprehension passages, Cloze Tests, or as standalone vocabulary questions. Unlike straightforward vocabulary, idioms carry meanings that cannot be deduced from their individual words—"kick the bucket" has nothing to do with buckets or kicking.
Key ideas
- Idiom vs. Phrase: An idiom has a figurative meaning different from its literal words ("break the ice" = start conversation, not shatter frozen water). A phrase is any meaningful word group, which may or may not be idiomatic.
- Phrasal Verbs: Verbs combined with prepositions/adverbs that create new meanings. "Look after" (care for) differs entirely from "look" alone.
- Context determines correctness: Many idioms sound similar but mean opposite things. "In the red" (debt) vs. "in the black" (profit). Always check surrounding sentence tone.
- Fixed structure: Idioms rarely allow word changes. "A piece of cake" cannot become "a slice of cake" and retain meaning. Spotting wrong variations is a test strategy.
- Formal vs. informal register: Banking exams prefer idioms suitable for professional writing. "Beat around the bush" is acceptable; slang idioms rarely appear.
Watch out for
- Confusing similar-sounding idioms: "A far cry from" (very different) is confused with "within crying distance" (very close). Fix: Learn idioms in contrasting pairs.
- Assuming literal meanings: "Throw in the towel" (give up) gets interpreted as something about towels. Fix: Treat every idiom as a single vocabulary unit with its own definition.
- Wrong preposition in phrasal verbs: "Look after" (care for) vs. "look for" (search) vs. "look into" (investigate). The preposition completely changes meaning. Fix: Memorise verb + preposition as one unit.
Quick reference
- "Break the ice" = initiate conversation / ease awkwardness
- "In the nick of time" = at the last possible moment
- "Spill the beans" = reveal a secret
- "Call off" = cancel; "Put off" = postpone; "Turn down" = reject
- "Leave no stone unturned" = try every possible option
Check yourself: 3 questions
1. The new manager decided to 'call it a day' after the team had worked for ten hours straight. What does the idiom 'call it a day' mean?
2. During the meeting, the CEO told everyone not to 'beat around the bush' and address the main issue directly. What does 'beat around the bush' mean?
3. When asked about the company's financial situation, the spokesperson said, 'We are not out of the woods yet.' What does the phrase 'out of the woods' mean?
This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 21 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.
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