English: Idioms and Phrases Set 28

Important Idioms and Phrases useful for various exams like Banking, SSC CGL 2017, CPO, CHSL, RRB NTPC, High Court and other exams.
Though the topic Idioms and Phrases is asked in SSC and related exams, but it is important for other exams as well as a part of general English

1. Null and void
   A) empty
   B) ineffective
   C) insufficient
   D) indelible
   
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   Option B
   Usage:
   The court declared the law to be null and void.
   
2. Pandora’s box
   A) a source of extensive but unforeseen happiness
   B) a source of extensive but unforeseen troubles
   C) jackpot
   D) a mind full of ideas
   
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   Option B
   Usage:
   When I asked him to come with me I did not know I had opened a Pandora’s box.
   
3. Pay the Piper
   A) to bear the cost of one’s actions
   B) to clear the bill
   C) to be liable for some harm done
   D) to bear someone’s else expenses
   
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   Option A
   Usage:
   If you stay up late at night you will have to Pay the Piper in the morning.
   
4. Play ducks and drakes
   A) unfair means
   B) to go to any extent
   C) to waste money
   D) to play day and night
   
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   Option C
   Usage:
   He lost his job for playing ducks and drakes with the funds of the corporation.
   
5. Put the cart before the horse
   A) to do things perfectly
   B) to be deep engrossed in thought
   C) to do things wrongly
   D) to be nepotistic
   
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   Option C
   Usage:
   Don’t put the cart before the horse by investing in new shop before selling the old one.
   
6. Queer fish
   A) strange person
   B) interesting person
   C) selfish person
   D) credulous person
   
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   Option A
   Usage:
   They have invariably chosen the queer fish in preference to the more or less recognizable member of the human race
7. Rest on one’s laurels
   A) to depend on the achievement made in the past
   B) to depend upon someone else
   C) to be complacent
   D) to go bankrupt
   
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   Option A
   Usage:
   Despite our success, this is no time to rest on our laurels.
8. Sail under false colours
   A) to sail in a bad weather
   B) to do things wrongly
   C) to be under a wrong impression of someone/something
   D) to pretend to be something that you are not
   
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   Option D
   Usage:
   He felt the waiters could see that in his cashmere tweed jacket he is sailing under false colours
9. With a grain of salt
   A) a pinch of salt
   B) a large quantity of salt
   C) to accept with misgiving
   D) to accept whole heartedly
   
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   Option C
   Usage:
   I have read the article, but I take it with a grain of salt.
10. Word of mouth
    A) words of wisdom
    B) informal oral communication
    C) words of truth
    D) formal communication
    
    View Answer

    Option B
    Usage:
    I don’t trust things I hear about by word of mouth.

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