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IBPS Clerk Idioms & Phrases Questions with Answers & Explanations

20 Idioms & Phrases questions from the English Language section of IBPS Clerk, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. Try each question first, then tap Show answer to check. When you're ready, take the timed chapter-wise test to see your all-India rank.

Question 1

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "To be in the same boat"

  1. ATo be rivals
  2. BTo go fishing
  3. CTo be in the same difficult situation
  4. DTo travel together
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) To be in the same difficult situation "To be in the same boat" means To be in the same difficult situation.
Question 2

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Hit the nail on the head"

  1. ATo describe exactly what is causing a problem
  2. BTo make a wild guess
  3. CTo hurt oneself
  4. DTo work as a carpenter
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (A) To describe exactly what is causing a problem "Hit the nail on the head" means To describe exactly what is causing a problem.
Question 3

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "A bolt from the blue"

  1. AA blue sky
  2. BA lightning strike
  3. CAn expected event
  4. DA complete surprise
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) A complete surprise "A bolt from the blue" means A complete surprise.
Question 4

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Throw in the towel"

  1. ATo clean up
  2. BTo start again
  3. CTo give up
  4. DTo take a bath
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) To give up "Throw in the towel" means To give up.
Question 5

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Turn a blind eye"

  1. ATo look closely
  2. BTo wink at someone
  3. CTo ignore something deliberately
  4. DTo lose eyesight
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) To ignore something deliberately "Turn a blind eye" means To ignore something deliberately.
Question 6

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "To smell a rat"

  1. ATo dislike someone
  2. BTo find a rat
  3. CTo be very hungry
  4. DTo suspect something is wrong
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) To suspect something is wrong "To smell a rat" means To suspect something is wrong.
Question 7

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Burn the midnight oil"

  1. ATo cause a fire
  2. BTo sleep early
  3. CTo waste fuel
  4. DTo work late into the night
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) To work late into the night "Burn the midnight oil" means To work late into the night.
Question 8

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "To be in the same boat"

  1. ATo go fishing
  2. BTo travel together
  3. CTo be rivals
  4. DTo be in the same difficult situation
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) To be in the same difficult situation "To be in the same boat" means To be in the same difficult situation.
Question 9

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Cry over spilt milk"

  1. ATo waste money
  2. BTo be very hungry
  3. CTo complain about food
  4. DTo regret something that cannot be undone
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) To regret something that cannot be undone "Cry over spilt milk" means To regret something that cannot be undone.
Question 10

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Once in a blue moon"

  1. AVery often
  2. BDuring a full moon
  3. CVery rarely
  4. DEvery night
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) Very rarely "Once in a blue moon" means Very rarely.

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Question 11

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "To hit the sack"

  1. ATo go shopping
  2. BTo lose a job
  3. CTo go to bed
  4. DTo punch a bag
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) To go to bed "To hit the sack" means To go to bed.
Question 12

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Barking up the wrong tree"

  1. AClimbing a tree
  2. BPursuing a mistaken idea
  3. CShouting at someone
  4. DTraining a dog
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (B) Pursuing a mistaken idea "Barking up the wrong tree" means Pursuing a mistaken idea.
Question 13

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Hit the nail on the head"

  1. ATo hurt oneself
  2. BTo make a wild guess
  3. CTo work as a carpenter
  4. DTo describe exactly what is causing a problem
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) To describe exactly what is causing a problem "Hit the nail on the head" means To describe exactly what is causing a problem.
Question 14

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Bury the hatchet"

  1. ATo hide a weapon
  2. BTo start a fight
  3. CTo make peace
  4. DTo dig a hole
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) To make peace "Bury the hatchet" means To make peace.
Question 15

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Pull someone's leg"

  1. ATo injure someone
  2. BTo trip someone
  3. CTo joke with someone
  4. DTo help someone walk
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) To joke with someone "Pull someone's leg" means To joke with someone.
Question 16

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Keep one's fingers crossed"

  1. ATo refuse help
  2. BTo feel pain
  3. CTo be dishonest
  4. DTo hope for good luck
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) To hope for good luck "Keep one's fingers crossed" means To hope for good luck.
Question 17

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Beat around the bush"

  1. ATo avoid talking about the main point
  2. BTo search a garden
  3. CTo clean bushes
  4. DTo speak directly
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (A) To avoid talking about the main point "Beat around the bush" means To avoid talking about the main point.
Question 18

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Face the music"

  1. ATo avoid punishment
  2. BTo attend a concert
  3. CTo enjoy oneself
  4. DTo accept the consequences of one's actions
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) To accept the consequences of one's actions "Face the music" means To accept the consequences of one's actions.
Question 19

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "Under the weather"

  1. AFeeling unwell
  2. BStanding in the rain
  3. CFeeling sleepy
  4. DVery happy
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (A) Feeling unwell "Under the weather" means Feeling unwell.
Question 20

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "In hot water"

  1. AVery comfortable
  2. BTaking a bath
  3. CIn trouble
  4. DFeeling feverish
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) In trouble "In hot water" means In trouble.

These are RankerClub practice questions written in the IBPS Clerk pattern. They are not official SSC/IBPS/RRB papers.

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