The Alpha and Omega (CGL T-1 2013)

Meaning - Beginning and end

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In order to do well in the exam, you need to know
the alpha and omega of the textbook.
This phrase has its origins in the Bible. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters
of the Greek alphabet, respectively. In the New Testament, which was written in
Greek, God says I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, signifying the
omnipresent nature of God.
 Pull a fast one (CGL T-1 2016)

Meaning - To succeed in an act of deception ()

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My brother pulled a fast one when he said he has a headache and
cant go to the school.
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Origin - The phrase may have originated with deception by sleight of
hand, in which a victim is fooled by some movement too fast to see.
Feather ones own nest (CGL T-1 2016)

Meaning - To make oneself richer in a dishonest or

improper way
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The politician was accused of feathering his own nest with
party funds.
 Donkeys years (CGL T-1 2016)

Meaning A long time

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I have been a member of that club for donkeys years.
 As daft as a brush (CGL 2016)

Meaning - Extremely silly, Very foolish

Daft - silly; foolish
Dont ask such daft questions
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His teacher believes that he is daft as a brush.
 Put up the shutters (CGL T1 2016)
Meaning - to close a shop or business at the end of the day, or to
close it permanently, go out of business
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We have to adapt to these economic developments, not by putting
up the shutters, but by managing, controlling and selecting.
 Beyond the pale (CGL T1 2016)

Meaning - Unacceptable; outside agreed standards of

decency
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Racist comments are beyond the pale in developed
countries.
 In the blues (CGL T 1 2016)

Meaning Feeling sad or depressed, cheerless

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I tried to cheer him up but he was in the blues
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If you are sad and describe yourself as "feeling blue," you are
using a phrase coined from a custom among many old
deepwater sailing ships. If the ship lost the captain or any of
the officers during its voyage, she would fly blue flags
 Catch a Tartar (CGL T1 2016)
Meaning To encounter or be forced to reckon with someone or
something that proves more powerful, troublesome, or formidable
than one expected
Tatars are Turkic-speaking people living in Asia
_____________________________________________
My neighbour thinks he can intimidate me, but he will soon realise
that he has caught a tartar.
 A golden mean
Meaning - Middle course between two extremes
_______________________________________________
India strives to find a golden mean between capitalism and
socialism.
 Catch time by the forelock
Meaning - seize an opportunity
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The enemy is weak, we must catch time by the forelock and
attack with all our strength
 Alma mater CGL T-1, 2015

Meaning - a school, college, or university at which one has studied

and, usually, from which one has graduated.
______________________________________________________
Rogers alma mater was The University of The West of England.
 Carry out

Meaning - put something into action, to accomplish

something, to do something.
_________________________________________
The scientist wanted to carry out several experiments
before announcing the sending of human to the planet
mars.
 On cloud nine (CHSL, 2015)

Meaning - Extremely happy, Having strong feelings of

happiness or satisfaction.
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Virat Kohli was on cloud nine after scoring a triple
century.
 Sail in the same boat (CHSL 2015)

Meaning - To be in same situation/unpleasant situation

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My friend and I are broke, were in the same boat
 A dogs breakfast (CHSL, 2015)

Meaning - a poor piece of work; a mess.

___________________________________________________________

The team was given a simple task, but the ended up making
a dogs breakfast out of it.
 Stir up a Hornets nest (CGL T-2, 2014)

Meaning - to create a lot of trouble.

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U.S stirred up the hornets by attacking Iraq and
toppling the government.
 Penelopes web (CHSL, 2014)

Meaning - An endless job

_________________________________________
Fixing Indias infrastructure woes seems like a
Penelopes web
 A close shave
Meaning A narrow escape from danger
___________________________________________
I thought the car would hit us, luckily for us it was a close
shave.
 Salad days

Meaning - The days of one's youthful inexperience.

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I was as daft as a brush in my salad days
 On the same page

Meaning Thinking in a similar way

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The Prime Minister called a meeting to make sure
every minister is on the same page on the issue
 Dont Know beans about something

Meaning - to know nothing about something

_________________________________________
He might act like an expert but he doesnt know beans
about the subject
 Plain sailing

Meaning - smooth and easy progress in a process or

activity
_________________________________________
Becoming the Prime Minister of the Country was not
plain sailing for Mr. Narendra Modi
 A bolt from the blue

Meaning - A complete surprise

________________________________________
Trumps decision to ban immigrants was a bolt
from a blue for many.
 The gift of the gab

Meaning - Ability to speak well

As a verb, gab means to chatter, prattle, talk.
____________________________________________
One might question Trumps intellect, but there is
denying that he possesses the gift of the gab
 Live-wire

Meaning - A person who is lively or energetic

_______________________________________
He might seem like a timid man, but on stage he is a
live-wire
 Apple of discord

Meaning - something that causes trouble or unhappiness,

anything that causes discord or jealousy
____________________________________
The right to host the next Olympic games has become an
apple of discord between the two countries.
 Break the ice

Meaning Initiate a talk

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I decided to break the ice and said hello to
him.
 Bull in a China shop
Meaning - A clumsy() person, a very clumsy
creature in a delicate situation
_________________________________________
I never know what to say at funerals, I feel like a bull in
a China shop
 On the horns of dilemma

Meaning - having to decide between two things,

people, etc.
___________________________________________
The doctor found himself on the horns dilemma when
he had to save either the mother or the unborn child.
 Go scot-free

Meaning - To escape without punishment

_____________________________________
Its sad to see corrupt politicians go scot-free.
 Leave in the lurch

Meaning - to leave someone waiting for or anticipating

your actions.
___________________________________________
There are suggestions that lurch is a noun that originated
from lich - the Old English word for corpse. Lych-gates are
roofed churchyard entrances that adjoin many old English
churches and are the appointed place for coffins to be left
when waiting for the clergyman to arrive to conduct a
funeral service.
 In lieu of

Meaning - instead of something( )

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 Stole the show

Meaning to win everyones heart

__________________________________________
Shah Rukh Khan had a small role in Batman vs
Superman, but he stole the show with his
magnificent acting
 Cross swords
Meaning - to have an argument with someone
________________________________________
The political rivals crossed sword during a debate
about economic policy
 Blow ones own trumpet

Meaning - To praise oneself

______________________________________
Trump has a habit of blowing his own Trumpet
 At snails pace

Meaning to do things very slowly

______________________________________
The workers are going at snails pace because of
bad weather
 Done for

Meaning Ruined
__________________________________
He is addicted to drugs and according to his
friends, he is done for
 Best of both worlds

Meaning - a situation in which you can enjoy the advantages

of two very different things at the same time
______________________________________________
He works for both the rival countries and makes millions. He
gets the best of both worlds.
 Best thing since sliced bread

Meaning - if someone or something is described as the best

thing since sliced bread, people think they are extremely
good
______________________________________________
Laptops are the best thing since sliced bread for
programmers.
 Catch-22

Meaning - a situation in which its impossible to succeed

because of conflicting rules or conditions
__________________________________________________
Getting your first job is a catch-22 because companies want
to hire someone with experience, but how can I get
experience unless someone gives me a job?
 The Crux Of The Matter

Meaning - the most essential or main part of the problem

_______________________________________________
Of course there are a number of things that the country
needs to improve, but the crux of the matter is that the
politicians are corrupt.
 Dodged A Bullet

Meaning - barely escaped from a dangerous/disastrous

situation
_________________________________________
One of her ex-boyfriends later became a drug dealer!
Im glad she broke up with him she definitely dodged
a bullet.