Idioms and Their Use
Idioms and Their Use
Idioms supply two to three questions and give the highest return within the vocabulary block. The paper usually asks either for the meaning or for the correct use in a sentence, so an idiom should never be learnt on its own but always along with a sentence built around it.
What an Idiom Is
An idiom is a phrase that leaves behind its literal sense and carries a special meaning, and it becomes complete only when used inside a sentence. It never forms a sentence by itself — and that is exactly what separates it from a proverb.
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आँखों का तारा होना | to be very dear |
| नाक में दम करना | to trouble greatly |
| अंगूठा दिखाना | to refuse outright |
| आँखें बिछाना | to await eagerly |
| ईद का चाँद होना | to appear after a long time |
| घी के दिए जलाना | to rejoice greatly |
✗ अंगूठा दिखाना means to give consent | ✓ It means to refuse outright
More Important Idioms
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आस्तीन का साँप | a treacherous friend |
| लोहे के चने चबाना | to do something very difficult |
| नौ दो ग्यारह होना | to run away |
| थाली का बैंगन | a person without principles |
| टेढ़ी खीर | a hard task |
| दाल न गलना | for a plan not to succeed |
थाली का बैंगन does not merely mean unsteady; it means one who changes sides every time. That fine difference is exactly what the options test, so learn the meaning in full rather than in half.
Use in a Sentence
- वह अपने माता-पिता की आँखों का तारा है.
- इस परीक्षा को पास करना लोहे के चने चबाना है.
- चोर पुलिस को देखते ही नौ दो ग्यारह हो गया.
- जिस पर भरोसा किया, वही आस्तीन का साँप निकला.
One trap is repeated again and again in these questions — the literal meaning is also placed among the options. लोहे के चने चबाना will show its literal sense as one choice, but the correct answer is always the figurative one. Strike out the literal option first and one of the five is gone at once.
परीक्षा की विधि: मुहावरे को कभी अकेले याद मत कीजिए। एक छोटा वाक्य साथ बना लीजिए — वाक्य याद रहेगा तो अर्थ अपने आप याद रहेगा।
TRE pointer: Learn idioms with a sentence, not only with a meaning, because the paper asks about use as well. आस्तीन का साँप, लोहे के चने चबाना, थाली का बैंगन and नौ दो ग्यारह होना come up most often. Remember that an idiom never forms a sentence on its own — that is what separates it from a proverb.
60-Second Recap
- An idiom leaves its literal sense and carries a special meaning.
- It becomes complete only when used inside a sentence.
- आँखों का तारा means very dear and अंगूठा दिखाना means to refuse.
- आस्तीन का साँप means a treacherous friend.
- लोहे के चने चबाना means to do something very difficult.
- थाली का बैंगन means one who changes sides every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an idiom and a proverb?
An idiom is a phrase and becomes complete only when placed inside a sentence, as with नौ दो ग्यारह होना. A proverb is a complete sentence in itself and conveys a lesson, as with नाच न जाने आँगन टेढ़ा. That is the most basic distinction and it is asked directly.
What does आस्तीन का साँप mean?
A person who stays close and appears trustworthy but does harm, that is, a treacherous friend. It is asked very often, and the options usually include hidden enemy as well, which is near the meaning but not complete, since the treachery of a supposed friend is the whole point.
What is the best way to learn idioms?
Build a short sentence around each one. Inside a sentence the idiom stays alive, so it is learnt faster and remembered longer. This single habit also prepares both kinds of question at once, since the paper asks for the meaning in some places and for the correct use in others.
Who is called थाली का बैंगन?
A person who does not hold to his own view and changes sides according to circumstances. Calling him merely unsteady is only half the meaning; the full sense is one without principles who shifts every time, and it is exactly this difference that the options test.