Boost your SBI PO English preparation with 500 essential idioms and phrases. Learn meanings, see examples, and practice with live quizzes to improve exam readiness. The FREE PDF makes studying simple and convenient anytime.
Prepare for the SBI PO exam efficiently with our 500+ Idioms and Phrases eBook, available as a free downloadable PDF. This eBook includes 548 idioms across 10 thematic categories, each presented with its meaning and an example sentence. The eBook also includes an introduction with tips and strategies to help you maximize your learning and perform your best in the exam.
Test your knowledge with interactive quizzes based on the eBook. Regular practice enhances retention, comprehension, and your ability to apply idioms correctly in the exam.
Q1. A hard nut to crack
A. A very sweet person
B. A difficult problem or person
C. An easy solution
D. A risky investment
Q2. A piece of cake
A. Very expensive
B. Extremely difficult
C. Something very easy
D. Something confusing
Q3. Apple of one’s eye
A. A clever person
B. Someone very cherished
C. A strict teacher
D. A jealous friend
Q4. As cool as a cucumber
A. Very nervous
B. Very angry
C. Very calm under pressure
D. Extremely lazy
Q5. Bite the hand that feeds you
A. Help a benefactor
B. Harm a benefactor
C. Feed the poor
D. Ignore advice
Q6. Bread and butter
A. Luxury lifestyle
B. Main source of income
C. Expensive meal
D. Unhealthy habit
Q7. Bring home the bacon
A. Cook food
B. Earn the family income
C. Buy groceries
D. Celebrate success
Q8. Butter someone up
A. Criticise harshly
B. Ignore completely
C. Flatter to gain favour
D. Help financially
Q9. Carrot and stick
A. Reward and punishment strategy
B. Healthy diet
C. Strict discipline only
D. Political campaign
Q10. Cherry-pick
A. Reject everything
B. Select only the best
C. Harvest fruits
D. Hide information
Q11. Cream of the crop
A. Weakest group
B. Most expensive item
C. Best of a group
D. Agricultural product
Q12. Cry over spilt milk
A. Waste food
B. Regret something irreversible
C. Complain frequently
D. Become emotional
Q13. Cup of tea
A. A favourite activity
B. Tea break
C. Business meeting
D. Difficult task
Q14. Eat crow
A. Eat unhealthy food
B. Admit one was wrong
C. Hide the truth
D. Feel hungry
Q15. Eat humble pie
A. Celebrate victory
B. Admit a mistake and apologise
C. Eat simple food
D. Refuse responsibility
Q16. Egg on one’s face
A. Feeling embarrassed
B. Cooking mistake
C. Looking attractive
D. Winning unexpectedly
Q17. Food for thought
A. Expensive meal
B. Worthless advice
C. Something worth thinking about
D. Celebration dinner
Q18. Full of beans
A. Weak and tired
B. Lively and energetic
C. Rich and famous
D. Overconfident
Q19. Go bananas
A. Become crazy or angry
B. Eat healthy food
C. Travel abroad
D. Become successful
Q20. Have one’s cake and eat it too
A. Enjoy dessert
B. Want incompatible things
C. Save money wisely
D. Share resources
Q21. In a nutshell
A. Hidden safely
B. Briefly summarised
C. Extremely confusing
D. Very difficult
Q22. In the soup
A. Feeling cold
B. In trouble
C. Eating dinner
D. Relaxing peacefully
Q23. Like two peas in a pod
A. Completely different
B. Very similar
C. Always fighting
D. Difficult to understand
Q24. Not one’s cup of tea
A. Favourite hobby
B. Something one dislikes
C. Tea addiction
D. Relaxing moment
Q25. Pie in the sky
A. Delicious dessert
B. Unrealistic idea
C. Scientific discovery
D. Business strategy
Q26. Put all one’s eggs in one basket
A. Save carefully
B. Risk everything on one option
C. Work very hard
D. Share responsibilities
Q27. Salt of the earth
A. Wealthy businessman
B. Honest and good person
C. Famous athlete
D. Strict officer
Q28. Sour grapes
A. Healthy eating
B. Criticising what one cannot get
C. Angry behaviour
D. Sweet success
Q29. Spill the beans
A. Waste food
B. Reveal secret information
C. Make a mess
D. Start an argument
Q30. Sweet tooth
A. Dental problem
B. Love of sugary foods
C. Strong bite
D. Sweet smile
Q31. Take with a pinch of salt
A. Believe fully
B. Ignore completely
C. Be sceptical about
D. Celebrate happily
Q32. The best thing since sliced bread
A. A poor invention
B. Something outdated
C. A very good invention
D. A bakery product
Q33. Tough cookie
A. Delicious snack
B. Strong and determined person
C. Difficult situation
D. Angry manager
Q34. Turn up the heat
A. Cook food
B. Increase pressure
C. Raise temperature physically
D. Start an argument
Q35. Worth one’s salt
A. Wealthy person
B. Competent and deserving
C. Honest friend
D. Poor worker
Q36. Bite the bullet
A. Fight bravely
B. Endure pain stoically
C. Win a battle
D. Take revenge
Q37. Half-baked
A. Deliciously cooked
B. Not fully thought out
C. Very intelligent
D. Extremely expensive
Q38. On the back burner
A. Immediate priority
B. Forgotten forever
C. Not the immediate priority
D. Cooking food
Q39. Out of the frying pan into the fire
A. Escaping danger
B. From one bad situation to a worse one
C. Learning a lesson
D. Becoming successful
Q40. Over a barrel
A. In a helpless position
B. Extremely rich
C. Very energetic
D. Completely confused
Q41. Pick of the bunch
A. Worst option
B. Best in a group
C. Random selection
D. Group leader
Q42. Small potatoes
A. Important issue
B. Trivial matter
C. Farming activity
D. Large investment
Q43. Souped up
A. Damaged badly
B. Enhanced or improved
C. Extremely weak
D. Outdated version
Q44. Toast of the town
A. Poorly treated person
B. Widely celebrated person
C. New businessman
D. Famous chef
Q45. A race against time
A. Relaxed schedule
B. Urgent effort before deadline
C. Sporting event
D. Time management skill
Q46. Against the clock
A. Working urgently before a deadline
B. Opposing technology
C. Delaying work
D. Ignoring time
Q47. At the drop of a hat
A. Slowly and carefully
B. Instantly without hesitation
C. Under pressure
D. Very secretly
Q48. At the eleventh hour
A. Very early
B. At the last possible moment
C. During lunch break
D. After completion
Q49. Behind the times
A. Very modern
B. Old-fashioned
C. Extremely fast
D. Highly educated
Q50. Better late than never
A. Never do anything late
B. It is better to do something late than not at all
C. Time is precious
D. Avoid delays always
Quiz Summary
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Q51. Buy time
A. Purchase a clock
B. Delay something to gain time
C. Waste valuable time
D. Finish work quickly
Q52. Call it a day
A. Declare a holiday
B. Stop working for the day
C. Start a meeting
D. Celebrate success
Q53. Catch someone off guard
A. Protect someone
B. Surprise someone
C. Criticise openly
D. Warn in advance
Q54. Day in, day out
A. Occasionally
B. Every day repeatedly
C. During daytime only
D. Rarely happening
Q55. Dead on time
A. Extremely late
B. Exactly on time
C. Very confused
D. Completely tired
Q56. In the long run
A. In a short race
B. Over a long period
C. During exercise
D. At the final stage
Q57. In the nick of time
A. Too early
B. At the last possible moment
C. During office hours
D. After a delay
Q58. In no time
A. Never
B. Very quickly
C. Slowly and steadily
D. At midnight
Q59. Kill time
A. Waste opportunity
B. Occupy oneself while waiting
C. Stop working permanently
D. End a conversation
Q60. Lose track of time
A. Forget how much time has passed
B. Lose a watch
C. Arrive early
D. Waste money
Q61. Make up for lost time
A. Create a timetable
B. Compensate for wasted time
C. Ignore delays
D. Work less
Q62. Never in a million years
A. Very frequently
B. Absolutely never
C. After a long wait
D. Once in a lifetime
Q63. Now or never
A. Delay the decision
B. The only chance available
C. Choose anytime
D. Work slowly
Q64. On borrowed time
A. Using borrowed money
B. Surviving beyond expected end
C. Wasting time
D. Borrowing a watch
Q65. On the spur of the moment
A. Carefully planned
B. Spontaneously
C. Under pressure
D. Very angrily
Q66. Once in a while
A. Every day
B. Occasionally
C. Never
D. Constantly
Q67. Pressed for time
A. Having very little time
B. Working overtime
C. Feeling relaxed
D. Waiting patiently
Q68. Procrastinate
A. Work efficiently
B. Delay unnecessarily
C. Finish quickly
D. Organise neatly
Q69. Race against the clock
A. Relax comfortably
B. Work urgently before time runs out
C. Participate in sports
D. Ignore deadlines
Q70. Run out of time
A. Gain extra time
B. Have no time left
C. Buy more time
D. Start early
Q71. Stitch in time saves nine
A. Sewing is important
B. Timely action prevents bigger problems
C. Hard work always succeeds
D. Time is precious
Q72. Take one’s time
A. Hurry up
B. Not hurry
C. Waste time deliberately
D. Miss deadlines
Q73. The time is ripe
A. Fruit is ready
B. The right moment has arrived
C. Time is wasted
D. Delay the plan
Q74. Time flies
A. Time moves slowly
B. Time passes quickly
C. Birds migrate seasonally
D. Clocks stop working
Q75. Time is money
A. Time should not be wasted
B. Money buys time
C. Business is profitable
D. Time creates wealth
Q76. Time is of the essence
A. Time is unlimited
B. Time is crucial
C. Time heals everything
D. Time is expensive
Q77. Turn back the clock
A. Repair a clock
B. Return to the past
C. Change schedule
D. Delay a meeting
Q78. Up to date
A. Outdated
B. Current and modern
C. Very old
D. Difficult to understand
Q79. Wasting time
A. Spending time productively
B. Spending time unproductively
C. Managing schedules
D. Planning efficiently
Q80. While away the time
A. Work continuously
B. Pass time pleasantly
C. Sleep heavily
D. Avoid responsibilities
Q81. A stopgap measure
A. Permanent solution
B. Temporary solution
C. Expensive decision
D. Strong barrier
Q82. Behind schedule
A. Ahead of time
B. Late compared to plan
C. Working efficiently
D. Travelling slowly
Q83. Crunch time
A. Lunch break
B. Critical period of pressure
C. Relaxation period
D. Team celebration
Q84. Down to the wire
A. Finished early
B. Until the last moment
C. Very easy task
D. Sudden cancellation
Q85. Fast track
A. Delay progress
B. Accelerate progress
C. Travel slowly
D. Ignore procedures
Q86. Long overdue
A. Recently completed
B. Much delayed
C. Finished early
D. Carefully planned
Q87. On the clock
A. Watching time
B. Being timed or at work
C. Late for office
D. Waiting for results
Q88. Point in time
A. Exact moment
B. Sharp object
C. Future event
D. Long period
Q89. Running late
A. Exercising quickly
B. Behind schedule
C. Winning a race
D. Working overtime
Q90. A golden opportunity
A. Rare metal
B. Excellent chance
C. Difficult challenge
D. Business loss
Q91. At stake
A. Completely safe
B. At risk
C. Under discussion
D. In celebration
Q92. Back to square one
A. Reach success
B. Start again from beginning
C. Win a competition
D. Complete the task
Q93. Ball is in your court
A. Play a sport
B. Your turn to take action
C. Ignore the issue
D. Win the game
Q94. Bankroll
A. Save money secretly
B. Financially support
C. Borrow heavily
D. Spend carelessly
Q95. Bear market
A. Animal exhibition
B. Falling stock market
C. Rising economy
D. Strong investment
Q96. Break even
A. Make huge profit
B. Neither profit nor loss
C. Shut down business
D. Face bankruptcy
Q97. Bull market
A. Falling stock market
B. Rising stock market
C. Illegal trading
D. Weak economy
Q98. Burn bridges
A. Build relationships
B. Permanently destroy relationships
C. Travel abroad
D. Start a project
Q99. Call the shots
A. Play games
B. Make the decisions
C. Give speeches
D. Solve disputes
Q100. Cash cow
A. Dairy business
B. Profitable product or business
C. Financial crisis
D. Risky investment
Quiz Summary
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Hi, I’m Tripti, a senior content writer at Oliveboard, where I manage blog content along with community engagement across platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. With 3+ years of experience in content and SEO optimization related to banking exams, I have led content for popular exams like SSC, banking, railway, and state exams.
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