Banking Notes / English Language / Chapter 15
Chapter 15 of 20

Idioms & Phrases

Fixed expressions whose meaning can't be worked out word-by-word — a memorisation-heavy chapter best learned through context and repetition.

📖 ~8 min read ✍️ Banking English Language

Introduction

An idiom is a fixed phrase whose overall meaning is different from the literal meaning of its individual words ("break the ice" doesn't involve actual ice). Since idioms can't be reasoned out from grammar rules, the fastest way to build this chapter is repeated exposure in context.

Frequently Tested Idioms

IdiomMeaning
Break the iceInitiate conversation in a socially awkward situation
Cut cornersDo something in the easiest/cheapest way, often sacrificing quality
Hit the nail on the headDescribe exactly what is causing a situation or problem
Once in a blue moonVery rarely
Under the weatherFeeling slightly unwell
Back to square oneStarting over after an unsuccessful attempt
Bite the bulletFace a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage
Q. "After months of negotiation, the two companies finally decided to bite the bullet and finalise the merger." What does "bite the bullet" mean here?
The phrase means to face something difficult or unpleasant directly, with courage — here, committing decisively to the merger despite the difficulty of the decision. Answer: To face a difficult decision/situation courageously.
⚠️ Key Insight: Never try to interpret an idiom literally in an exam context — the entire phrase functions as a single unit of meaning, and picking an option based on individual words within it is the most common idiom-question error.
💡 Exam Tip: Learn idioms in short example sentences rather than as isolated definitions — seeing an idiom used in context makes it far easier to recall its meaning during the exam.
✅ Practice Focus: Building a working list of 100-150 frequently tested idioms · Practicing idiom meaning-in-context questions · Avoiding literal-word interpretation traps.

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