A group of words that has a special meaning

that is different from the ordinary meaning of

each separate word.

सुट्यासुट्या शब्दांच्या अर्थापेक्षा भिन्न अर्थथ असणारा शब्दबंध

वाकप्रचार.
 ❑ SSC (CGL) PT 2015 PSI/STI/Asst. 2010

▪ A snake in the grass-hidden enemy.

गुप्त शत्रू.

1. A snake in the grass is more dangerous than an

open enemy.
2. I saw a snake in the grass .(Idiom नाही)
3. My friend turned out to be a snake in the grass.
▪ A dark horse-An unexpected winner.
(from horse racing) अनपेक्षित विजेता.

1. Anil: How did the election go?

Sunil: Very exciting till the last minute our
candidate proved to be a dark horse.
2. The Kenyan team proved to be the dark
horse in the ICC world cup cricket.
 ❑ MPSC Clerk 2017, PSI 2019, Forest 2017,
PSI/STI/Asst. 2009, CGL(Re.Ex) 2013
▪ Achilles heel-A weak point.
कमजोरी, िममस्थळ.

1. Grammar is his Achilles’ heel.

2. He was very brave but fear of spider was his
Achilles’ heel.
 ❑ Tax Asst. 2015, PSI/STI/Asst. 1998, LDC
2017, SSC(10+2) 2011
▪ To shed crocodile tears-Hypothetical show of sympathy.
नाटकी अश्रू.

1. The step mother shed crocodile tears at the death

of her step son.
2. She shed crocodile tears over his death.
 ❑ LDC 2015

▪ As the crow flies-In a straightway, straight line.

सरळ.

1. My house is five kilometers away from

here as the crow flies.
 ❑ LDC 2011, SSC DEO 2008, FCI 2012

▪ At the eleventh hours-At last moment.

ऐनिेळी, शेिटच्या िणी.

1. At the eleventh hour, she refused to marry

him.
2. At the eleventh hour, he withdrew.
 ❑ LDC 2014, CPO(mains) 2012,
Stenographer 2011
▪ A close shave-A narrow escape.
थोडक्यात बचािणे.

1. It was a close shave otherwise he would

have run into the bus.
 ❑ CGL (tier2) 2015
▪ A dog in the manger-A person who prevents others from
enjoying something useless to himself. (A policy for no one)
एखादया गोष्टीचा आपल्यालाही आणण दुसऱ्यालाही फायदा न करून
देण्याची पद्धती.

1. Radha is a real dog in the manger, she can’t

drive but she will not lend anyone her car.
 ❑ Forest 2019, MES 2011, Tax Asst.
2019, PSI/STI/Asst. 2001, CGL 2011
▪ A fish out of water-in uncongenial; a person out of
accustomed environment.
आपल्याशी न जुळणारी पररस्तिथी वकिंिा िातािरण.

1. He was feeling like a fish out of water at the

party.
 ❑ PSI 2011, 2017
▪ The tip of the iceberg-A small part of a problem
which is larger than it seems.
मोठया प्रश्नाचा लहान सा भाग/रहमनगाचा तुकडा.

1. What you have just seen now is the tip of the

iceberg.
 ❑ CGL Re. Exam 2013, PSI/STI/Asst. 1987
▪ To add fuel to the fire-To aggravate a dispute; To
make a problem worse.
आगीत तेल ओतणे; अजून पररस्तिथी वबकट.

1. Do not add fuel to the fire.

 ❑ CGL Tier 2013

▪ Donkey’s years-A long time.

बराच कालखंड

1. The scientist worked for donkey’s years to arrive at

the formula.
2. I have been a vegetarian for donkey’s years.
▪ At a snail’s pace-very slowly.
अत्यंत हळू , सािकाश

This idiom described the

pace (speed) of the snail’s
movement.

1. Traffic was moving at a snail’s pace.

 ❑ PSI/STI/Asst. 2010, Stenographer 2014
▪ To play with fire-To do something
dangerous or risky.

1. If you accuse her of stealing, you will be playing

with fire.