A list of idioms came in exams in previous years’ papers of West Bengal Civil Services Exams.

1. A dance attendant means to be subservient
2. A good Samaritan means someone who tries to help people
3. A load of cobbles means nonsense
4. A piece of mind means to express love
5. A shot in the arm means the great encouragement
6. A slap on the wrist means a mild punishment
7. A wild goose chase means to go on a foolish, fruitless search
8. At daggers drawn means violently opposed to each other
9. At sixes and sevens means disordered
10. At the eleventh hour means at the last possible moment
11. Beside the point means not relevant
12. Bolt from the blue means an unexpected shock
13. By dint of means by means of
14. By hook or by crook means by any means fair or foul
15. Call in question means a challenge
16. Cutting in fine means nerve-racking
17. Dark horse means processing a secret ability
18. Feather in the cap means achievement to be proud of
19. Fly by night means is interested only in making quick profits
20. For a consideration means against payment
21. Gift of the gab means fluency of speech
22. Hobson’s choice means must accept what is offered as there is no alternatives
23. Hold fire means to delay doing something
24. Holier than thou means sanctimonious
25. In a fix means confused
26. In a nutshell means briefly
27. In character means in keeping
28. In fine means in conclusion
29. In hot water means in trouble or disgrace
30. In the blank means was kept secret
31. Ins and outs means all the details
32. Iron out their differences means find a solution
33. Losing ground means becoming less acceptable or popular
34. Made light means treated lightly
35. Made short work means disposed of quickly
36. Made up one’s mind means resolved
37. Make both ends meet means get by
38. No love lost means not on good terms
39. Not fit to hold a candle means not to be name in comparison with
40. Not in voice means not sing well
41. Null and void means invalid
42. Of no avail means useless
43. On no account means by all means
44. On one’s toes means alertness
45. Other fish to fry means to play the second fiddle
46. Out of the way means strange
47. Playing havoc means ruining completely
48. Poles apart means totally different in views
49. Pull yourself together means calm down by oneself
50. Put on record means put in writing
51. Puts one means in mind reminds
52. See eye to eye means agree with someone
53. Sitting on the books means doing nothing with the books
54. Stood his ground means maintained his position
55. Sweat of his brow means very hard work
56. Take the bull by the horns means face the situation boldly
57. The man in the street means the average ordinary people
58. To blow one’s own trumpet means to be boastful of oneself
59. To come to the fore means prominent
60. To eat humble pie means apologize
61. To go to the dogs means to be off one’s head
62. To make headway means make progress
63. To see red means to be mad with anger
64. To take stock of means to survey
65. To take up the gauntlet means to accept the challenge
66. To turn a cold shoulder means ignore one
67. Turnover a new leaf means start a new and a better life
68. Under the carpet means keep something secret
69. Under the weather means feeling unwell
70. Waiting with bated breath means feel very excited
71. With blues means sadness
72. With the pink courtesy means very sweetly