A red letter day (CHSL 2012) (CGL 2015) (CPO, 2015)
Meaning:- An important day, Happy and significant day (Gala day)
Sentence:- Getting married was a red letter day in Geeta’s life, and she celebrated it with a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends.
An open book (CHSL 2011)
Meaning:- someone or something that is easy to understand or transparent, with no secrets or hidden motives
Sentence:- Tom is like an open book; he’s always honest and shares his thoughts and emotions openly with his friends.
A closed book (CGL 2013)
Meaning:- something or someone that is difficult to understand or remains a mystery because they keep their thoughts, feelings, or information private
Sentence:- Despite her efforts to get to know him better, his past remained a closed book, and she couldn’t uncover much about his life before they met
A man of letters (CGL 2015) (CGL 2016)
Meaning:- an individual who is well-educated, scholarly, and knowledgeable in literature, writing, and the humanities.
Sentence:- Professor Smith is not only a renowned scientist but also a man of letters, with a vast collection of books on art, history, and literature in his personal library.
A house of cards (CGL 2016)
Meaning:- a situation, plan, or structure that is fragile, unstable, and likely to collapse or fail easily (An insecure scheme / plan)
Sentence:- The company’s financial stability was like a house of cards, built on risky investments and debt, and it eventually crumbled when the market crashed.
A wild-goose chase (CHSL 2014) (CPO 2014) (CGL 2015) (CGL 2016)
Meaning:- a situation where someone is chasing after something with little or no chance of success (Futile search)
Sentence:- After hours of searching for his lost keys in the park, John realized it was a wild-goose chase, and he had to admit defeat and retrace his steps to find them at home.
A dark horse (CHSL 2010) (CGL 2016)
Meaning:- a person or thing that is relatively unknown or unremarkable but possesses hidden talents, abilities, or qualities that make them unexpectedly successful or impressive (Unexpected winner, An unforeseen competitor)
Sentence:- Although she was considered a dark horse in the competition, her outstanding performance and determination led her to win the championship.
A white elephant (CPO 2014)
Meaning:- something that is costly, burdensome, and difficult to maintain (A costly but useless possession)
Sentence:- The historic mansion they inherited turned out to be a white elephant, requiring constant repairs and costing them a fortune in maintenance expenses.
A black sheep (CHSL 2014)
Meaning:- a person who is considered different, eccentric, or deviates from the norm within a particular group or family (A person with bad reputation)
Sentence:- John was always considered the black sheep of the family because while everyone else pursued careers in law and medicine, he chose to become an artist.
A sacred cow (CHSL 2015)
Meaning:- a person or thing never to be criticised
Sentence:- In the world of politics, tax reform has long been seen as a sacred cow, with many politicians reluctant to propose any changes to the existing tax system, despite its flaws.
A dog’s breakfast (CHSL 2015)
Meaning:- something that is a complete mess or chaotic, often referring to a situation or an object that is disorganized, confusing, or poorly done.
Sentence:- The presentation they gave was a real dog’s breakfast; the slides were out of order, there were spelling errors, and the overall message was confusing.
A fish out of water (CGL 2013)
Meaning:- In uncomfortable situation
Sentence:- John grew up in a small, rural town, so when she moved to the bustling city for her new job, she felt like a fish out of water, navigating the busy streets and fast-paced lifestyle.
A cuckoo in the nest (CGL 2016)
Meaning:- someone who is an outsider or intruder in a particular group, family, or situation (An unwelcomed intruder)
Sentence:- Among the serious and hardworking team members, Tom’s constant jokes and lack of commitment to the project felt like a cuckoo in the nest, making it difficult for the group to achieve its goals.
Shake in shoes
Meaning:- to feel extremely frightened or anxious (Tremble with fear)
Sentence:- When he found out he had to give a presentation in front of a thousand people, he started to shake in his shoes at the thought of speaking in public.
To smell a rat (CGL 2013) (CGL 2016)
Meaning:- to suspect that something is wrong or that someone is being deceitful or dishonest.
Sentence:- When she noticed that her colleague was suddenly being overly friendly and offering to help with her work, she began to smell a rat and decided to investigate his true intentions.
Flogging a dead horse (CGL 2011)
Meaning:- to waste time, effort, or resources on something that is no longer productive, useful, or viable (Wasting time in useless effort)
Sentence:- After spending hours trying to fix the old computer, he realized he was flogging a dead horse, as it was beyond repair and would never work again.
To feather one’s nest (CGL 2011) (CHSL 2014) (CGL 2015) (CGL 2016)
Meaning:- to accumulate wealth or resources, often through hard work or clever actions. (To enrich oneself when opportunity occurs) (CHSL 2014)
Sentence:- The CEO was accused of using the company’s funds to feather his own nest, buying expensive cars and luxurious properties while employees struggled with low wages and job cuts.
Bird’s eye view (CPO 2015)
Meaning:- a perspective or viewpoint from high above (An overview)
Sentence:- From the top of the mountain, we had a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the entire valley, with its winding river and lush forests spreading out below us.
Eat like a horse (CHSL 2014)
Meaning:- consume large quantities of food.
Sentence:- After a long day of hiking, he sat down at the dinner table and ate like a horse, finishing multiple plates of food without any hesitation.
Go to the dogs (CHSL 2014) (CGL 2014)
Meaning:- a situation or thing has deteriorated or become worse over time (Ruin / to go to in very bad situation) (CGL 2014)
Sentence:- Once a thriving and respected company, their business has gone to the dogs in recent years due to mismanagement and declining product quality.
Cock and bull story (CHSL 2015) (CGL 2016) (Stenographer 2016)
Meaning:- a highly exaggerated or unbelievable tale or explanation
Sentence:- His excuse for being late to work was just a cock and bull story about being abducted by aliens, and no one took it seriously.
Take the bull by the horns (CHSL 2015)
Meaning:- to confront a difficult or challenging situation directly and with determination, rather than avoiding it (to face a difficulty courageously)
Sentence:- She decided to take the bull by the horns and confront her fear of public speaking by signing up for a public speaking course.
Shed crocodile tears (CHSL 2011) (CHSL 2015)
Meaning:- to pretend to cry or show false or insincere sympathy or sadness
Sentence:- After he was caught cheating on the exam, he shed crocodile tears, claiming he didn’t mean to cheat and was truly sorry, but nobody believed his insincere apology.
Snake in the grass (CGL 2015)
Meaning:- someone who appears to be friendly or harmless but is actually treacherous, deceitful, or untrustworthy. (A hidden enemy)
Sentence:- I thought he was my friend, but he turned out to be a snake in the grass, spreading rumors about me behind my back.
Donkey’s year (CGL 2013) (CGL 2016)
Meaning:- a very long period of time
Sentence:- I haven’t seen her in donkey’s years; we used to be classmates back in elementary school.
Cat-nap (CGL 2016)
Meaning:- Short sleep
Sentence:- After a long and tiring morning at work, she decided to take a quick catnap during her lunch break to recharge her energy.
Horse sense (CGL 2015)
Meaning:- practical, down-to-earth wisdom or common sense
Sentence:- Her horse sense told her not to invest in that risky business venture, and she avoided losing her money when it eventually failed.
Pour cats and dogs (Constable 2013)
Meaning:- Rain heavily
Sentence:- When I left the house this morning, it was pouring cats and dogs, so I had to grab an umbrella.
Chicken out (CGL 2013)
Meaning:- to decide not to do something because you are afraid or nervous about it. It implies a lack of courage or willingness to take a risk.
Sentence:- I was going to participate in the talent show, but I chickened out at the last minute because I was too nervous to perform in front of such a large audience.
Swan song (CPO 2014)
Sentence:- Last prayer (at funeral or farewell)
Meaning:- After decades of teaching, her retirement speech was her swan song, a heartfelt farewell to her students and colleagues, and a reflection on her long and fulfilling career.
Hold one’s horses (CGL 2014)
Sentence:- to wait, be patient, or stop rushing into a situation. It’s used to advise someone to slow down and exercise patience rather than acting hastily.
Meaning:- Before you make any decisions about your future, you should hold your horses and carefully consider all your options.
Other fish to fry (CHSL 2014)
Meaning:- someone has more important or pressing matters to attend to. It suggests that the current situation or task is not a priority compared to other things they need to deal with.
Sentence:- I know you want me to help you with your project, but I have other fish to fry right now, like finishing my own report by the end of the day.
Dog in a manger (CGL 2015)
Meaning:- someone who selfishly prevents others from enjoying or using something that they themselves do not need or want.
Sentence:- She had no interest in the book, but she kept it on her desk like a dog in a manger, refusing to let anyone else borrow or read it.
All at sea (CGL 2016)
Meaning:-someone is confused, bewildered, or uncertain about a situation
Sentence:-
Sweeping Statement
Meaning:- a generalization or assertion that covers a wide range of topics or situations without considering the specific details or nuances of each case. (Thoughtless statement)
Sentence:- His sweeping statement that all politicians are corrupt overlooks the fact that there are many honest and dedicated public servants in government.
Green thumb
Meaning:- a person’s natural ability or skill in gardening or growing plants
Sentence:- My neighbor has such a green thumb that her garden is always filled with beautiful, healthy flowers and vegetables.
Played havoc
Meaning:- cause chaos, disorder, or disruption in a situation, often resulting in a negative impact or a state of confusion
Sentence:- The unexpected snowstorm played havoc with the transportation system, causing delays and cancellations of flights and trains.
Run riot
Meaning:- to behave in an unrestrained and disorderly manner, often resulting in chaotic or uncontrollable actions.
Sentence:- After the team won the championship, the fans in the stadium ran riot, celebrating by dancing on the field and setting off fireworks.
Good Samaritan
Meaning:- a person who selflessly helps others in need, often without expecting anything in return
Sentence:- When the car accident happened, several Good Samaritans rushed to the scene to provide first aid and comfort to the injured passengers until the paramedics arrived.
Stand-offish
Meaning:- someone who is aloof, reserved, distant, or unfriendly in their interactions with others
Sentence:- Although Jane was new to the office, she came across as stand-offish, rarely participating in team activities or engaging in conversations with her colleagues.
Enough rope
Meaning:- allow someone to have the freedom or opportunity to make mistakes or reveal their true intentions, often leading to their downfall or exposing their flaws
Sentence:- The manager decided to give the inexperienced employee enough rope by letting them lead the project, hoping they would either prove themselves capable or reveal their limitations.
Token strike
Meaning:- strike or protest action in which a small number of workers or participants are involved, often symbolic in nature, and may not significantly disrupt the normal operation of an organization (Short strike held as warning)
Sentence:- The employees decided to stage a token strike for a few hours to draw attention to their demands for better working conditions, but they were willing to return to work afterward if their concerns were addressed.
Bad blood (Stenographer 2011)
Meaning:- feelings of resentment, hostility, or animosity between individuals or groups due to past conflicts, disagreements, or negative interactions.
Sentence:- There has been bad blood between the two families for generations due to a dispute over land ownership, and it seems unlikely that they will ever reconcile their differences.
Hobson’s choice
Meaning:- a situation in which someone is given only one option or choice, and that choice is essentially no choice at all because it is the only available option.
Sentence:- When it came to choosing a dessert at the restaurant, they offered us Hobson’s choice – only one option on the menu: chocolate cake or nothing else.
Mince matters
Meaning:- express something in a careful or overly polite manner, often to avoid offense or confrontation
Sentence:- During the sensitive meeting, the manager decided to mince matters and approached the topic with great care to avoid upsetting the team.
Herculean task
Meaning:- very difficult or challenging undertaking that requires an extraordinary amount of effort, strength, or determination
Sentence:- Completing the project within the tight deadline felt like a Herculean task, but the team managed to pull it off with dedication and hard work.
Helter-Skelter
Meaning:- something that is in a chaotic, disorderly, or haphazard manner, lacking a clear structure or organization
Sentence:- After the unexpected storm, the picnic area was left in a helter-skelter state, with overturned tables, scattered food, and wet blankets everywhere.
Yeoman’s service (CGL 2011)
Meaning:- dedicated and valuable service or effort, often performed with diligence and competence (Social work)
Sentence:- During the charity event, Sarah provided yeoman’s service by organizing volunteers, managing logistics, and ensuring everything ran smoothly.
Cold Comfort (CGL 2011)
Meaning:- describe a situation where something might be mildly comforting or reassuring (Slight satisfaction)
Sentence:- After losing the game, the coach’s words of encouragement were cold comfort to the disappointed team, as they had really hoped for a victory.
Soft option
Meaning:- an easier or less challenging choice
Sentence:- Choosing to work part-time while pursuing a degree is often seen as a soft option compared to studying full-time and managing a heavy course load.
Cross swords
Meaning:- a heated argument, dispute, or conflict with someone, often involving a clash of opinions, ideas, or interests
Sentence:- During the meeting, the two department heads crossed swords over the allocation of resources for their respective projects, leading to a tense and lengthy debate.