Idioms and Phrases are vital for the English section, testing your knowledge of figurative language. Mastery of these will boost your score significantly in the vocabulary questions.
I. Understanding Idioms and Phrases
1. 💡 What are Idioms?
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An idiom is a group of words whose meaning is not easily predictable from the meanings of the individual words.
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The meaning is figurative (metaphorical), not literal.
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Example: To “kick the bucket” does not mean literally kicking a bucket; it means “to die.”
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2. 📝 What are Phrases (Types relevant to MPSC)?
For the MPSC exam, “phrases” often refer to:
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Phrasal Verbs: A verb combined with an adverb or a preposition, or both, which changes the verb’s meaning.
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Example: “Look up” (Search for information) vs. “Look after” (Take care of).
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Prepositional Phrases: Groups of words starting with a preposition that function as an adjective or adverb.
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Example: “In a nutshell” (Briefly).
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II. Strategy for Studying & Mastering Idioms
1. 📖 Contextual Learning is Key
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Avoid Rote Learning: Do not simply memorize lists of idioms and their meanings.
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See in a Sentence: Always study an idiom within a full sentence or a real-life context. This helps you understand when and how to use it.
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Incorrect: Bite the bullet $rightarrow$ To accept a difficult situation.
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Correct: After failing the mock test, he had to bite the bullet and start studying 10 hours a day.
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2. categorizing for Retention
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Group idioms by topic or theme (e.g., idioms related to colors, body parts, or time). This aids memory recall.
| Category Example | Idiom | Meaning |
| Colors | Black sheep | A person who is considered a disgrace to a family or group. |
| Body Parts | To get cold feet | To become nervous or fearful, making one hesitant. |
| Animals | A dark horse | A candidate or competitor about whom little is known, but who unexpectedly wins. |
3. Practice with PYQs and Mock Tests
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MPSC questions frequently repeat or use similar formats. Solve previous year’s questions (PYQs) to identify high-frequency idioms.
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Use mock tests to test your knowledge under time pressure.
III. High-Frequency Idioms and Phrases for MPSC Combine
Here are some essential idioms and phrasal verbs commonly tested in competitive exams:
A. Essential Idioms
| Idiom | Meaning (Simple) | Example Context |
| To burn the midnight oil | To work or study late into the night. | The aspirant had to burn the midnight oil to finish the syllabus. |
| A red letter day | An important or memorable day. | August 15th is a red letter day in Indian history. |
| To steal a march on | To gain an advantage secretly or unexpectedly. | She stole a march on her competitors by starting her revision early. |
| To leave no stone unturned | To try every possible course of action to achieve something. | The police left no stone unturned in their search for the missing documents. |
| To beat about the bush | To avoid coming to the point; speaking indirectly. | Stop beating about the bush and tell me what the actual problem is. |
| Through thick and thin | In spite of all the difficulties; in good times and bad times. | The friends supported each other through thick and thin. |
| To cut a sorry figure | To make a poor impression. | The politician cut a sorry figure after losing the election. |
B. Common Phrasal Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning (Simple) | Example Context |
| Call off | To cancel. | The meeting was called off due to heavy rain. |
| Look into | To investigate. | The committee will look into the allegations of fraud. |
| Bring up | To raise (a child) or to introduce (a topic). | She brought up the issue of unemployment during the debate. |
| Put up with | To tolerate; to endure. | I cannot put up with his constant complaining anymore. |
| Give in | To surrender; to yield. | Eventually, the protestors gave in to the police demands. |
IV. Dealing with Question Formats
MPSC Combine typically asks questions on idioms in two formats:
1. Direct Meaning Question
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Format: Select the correct meaning of the underlined idiom/phrase.
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Strategy: Recall the context or the thematic grouping to identify the most appropriate figurative meaning.
2. Sentence Substitution/Completion
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Format: Choose the correct idiom/phrase that best fits the blank or replaces the underlined part of a sentence.
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Strategy: First, understand the literal meaning of the sentence. Then, substitute the options to see which idiom’s figurative meaning matches the sentence’s required meaning.
Example:
The minister made a statement that was completely out of context. (Replace the bold part)
a) was caught red-handed.
b) went off the rails.
c) went off on a tangent.
d) was barking up the wrong tree.
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Answer: (c) Went off on a tangent (meaning: deviated suddenly from a line of thought).
