Introduction
Idioms and phrasal verbs have meanings that can't be deduced from their individual words — "kick the
bucket" has nothing to do with kicking or buckets. This chapter is pure memorisation, organised into the
highest-frequency SSC expressions.
High-Frequency Idioms
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|
| Break the ice | To initiate conversation in an awkward situation |
| Once in a blue moon | Very rarely |
| Cost an arm and a leg | Very expensive |
| Hit the nail on the head | To describe exactly what is causing a situation |
| Let the cat out of the bag | To reveal a secret accidentally |
| A blessing in disguise | Something that seems bad but turns out good |
| Add fuel to the fire | To make a bad situation worse |
| Beat around the bush | To avoid getting to the point |
| Burn the midnight oil | To work/study late into the night |
| Call it a day | To stop working on something |
Q. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: "He always beats around the bush instead of answering directly."
"Beat around the bush" means to avoid the main point/be evasive → he avoids giving direct answers
High-Frequency Phrasal Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|
| Bring up | To raise a topic / to raise a child |
| Call off | To cancel |
| Carry on | To continue |
| Come across | To find unexpectedly |
| Give up | To stop trying / quit |
| Look after | To take care of |
| Look into | To investigate |
| Put off | To postpone |
| Turn down | To reject |
| Break down | To stop functioning / to lose emotional control |
| Bring about | To cause something to happen |
| Come up with | To think of/produce an idea |
Q. Choose the correct phrasal verb replacement: "The meeting was ___ due to bad weather." (postponed)
"Postponed" = put off
Separable vs Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
| Type | Rule | Example |
|---|
| Separable | Object can go between the verb and particle, or after both | Turn the offer down / Turn down the offer |
| Inseparable | Object must always come after the full phrasal verb | Look after the child (not "look the child after") |
💡 Note: With separable phrasal verbs, if the object is a pronoun (it, him, her), it MUST go between the verb and particle — "Turn it down," never "Turn down it."
Phrases (Fixed Expressions, Not Full Idioms)
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|
| In the long run | Eventually, over a long period |
| On the other hand | Presenting a contrasting point |
| By and large | Generally speaking |
| Out of the blue | Unexpectedly |
✅ Practice Focus: Building a running list of high-frequency idioms with meanings · Common phrasal verbs and their non-literal meanings · Separable (pronoun-object goes between) vs inseparable phrasal verb rule.