SSC CGL English · Idioms and Phrases
Idioms: People and Character
Idioms that describe what a person is like (honest, cowardly, sharp, secretive) and how people stand with others (in charge, in second place, blamed, flattering).
Why this matters
Twenty-seven questions in the bank, 8 from the 2023 shifts, 9 from the 2024 shifts and 10 from the 2025 shifts. Most turn on one quality, good or bad, so deciding whether an idiom praises or blames someone settles most options.
Concept 1 of 2: What a person is like
Character idioms name one quality: honest (a straight shooter), dishonest (sharp practice), brave or cowardly (lily-livered, show the white feather), alert (on the ball, nobody's fool), loyal only in good times (a fair-weather friend). Decide whether the idiom praises or blames before you read the options.
Definition
The groups:
- Honest or not: a straight shooter (upright and direct), sharp practice (dishonest dealing), show one's true colours (reveal one's real nature).
- Brave or not: lily-livered and show the white feather (cowardly), throw caution to the wind (take a risk).
- Alert and shrewd: on the ball, nobody's fool.
- Habits and secrets: a creature of habit, keep one's cards close to one's chest (keep plans hidden).
- Unreliable friends: a fair-weather friend (loyal only when things go well).
| Idiom | Meaning | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| Show one's true colours | Reveal one's real nature | 2023 |
| Throw caution to the wind | Take a risk | 2023 |
| Sharp practice | Dishonest dealing | 2023 |
| Lily-livered | Cowardly | 2023 |
| Nobody's fool | Not easily deceived | 2024 |
| On the ball | Alert and quick to react | 2024 |
| A creature of habit | Someone who always does things the same way | 2024 |
| A fair-weather friend | A friend only in good times | 2024 |
| Keep one's cards close to one's chest | Keep one's plans hidden | 2024 |
| Show the white feather | Act cowardly | 2025 |
| Mad as a hatter | Completely mad or very odd | 2025 |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
SSC CGL · 2024 · Tier I, 13 Sep 2024, Shift 2 · Q84Easy
Example 1 · Idioms and Phrases · Idioms: People and Character
Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.
All his friends admired him because he was a straight shooter.
Reading 'sharp practice' as skill
Sharp can mean clever, but sharp practice is dishonest dealing, not skilful work.
Taking 'show the white feather' as surrender with honour
A white feather stands for cowardice in this idiom. It means to act like a coward.
Concept 2 of 2: Standing and dealings with others
These idioms describe a person's place among others: in charge (rule the roost), in second place (play second fiddle), blamed (a scapegoat), shifting blame (pass the buck), flattering (curry favour), obeying (toe the line), or meeting someone stronger than expected (catch a tartar).
Definition
The groups:
- Power and place: rule the roost (be in charge), play second fiddle (take a lesser role), dance attendance on (wait on someone eagerly).
- Blame: pass the buck (shift blame to another), make someone a scapegoat (blame them for others' faults).
- Pleasing and obeying: curry favour (flatter to win approval), toe the line (obey the rules).
- Comparisons: not fit to hold a candle to (far inferior to).
- Bad company and bad timing: sup with the devil, fiddle while Rome burns (waste time on trifles in a crisis).
| Idiom | Meaning | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| Catch a tartar | Meet someone stronger or tougher than expected | 2023 |
| Pass the buck | Shift the blame to another person | 2023 |
| Dance attendance on | Wait on someone eagerly | 2023 |
| Rule the roost | Be in charge | 2023 |
| Make someone a scapegoat | Blame someone for others' mistakes | 2024 |
| A henpecked husband | A husband ruled by his wife | 2024 |
| Curry favour | Seek approval by flattery | 2025 |
| Toe the line | Obey the rules exactly | 2025 |
| Come of age | Reach adulthood | 2025 |
| Fiddle while Rome burns | Waste time on trifles during a crisis | 2025 |
| Not fit to hold a candle to | Far inferior to | 2025 |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
SSC CGL · 2025 · Tier I, 22 Sep 2025, Shift 3 · Q79Easy
Example 2 · Idioms and Phrases · Idioms: People and Character
Choose the correct meaning of idiom:
To play the second fiddle
Reading 'curry favour' as cooking
Curry here comes from an old word for grooming a horse. To curry favour is to flatter someone for their approval.
Taking 'play second fiddle' as music
It means to take a lesser role under someone else, whatever the field.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (2)
What a person is like11 rows
| Idiom | Meaning | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| Show one's true colours | Reveal one's real nature | 2023 |
| Throw caution to the wind | Take a risk | 2023 |
| Sharp practice | Dishonest dealing | 2023 |
| Lily-livered | Cowardly | 2023 |
| Nobody's fool | Not easily deceived | 2024 |
| On the ball | Alert and quick to react | 2024 |
| A creature of habit | Someone who always does things the same way | 2024 |
| A fair-weather friend | A friend only in good times | 2024 |
| Keep one's cards close to one's chest | Keep one's plans hidden | 2024 |
| Show the white feather | Act cowardly | 2025 |
| Mad as a hatter | Completely mad or very odd | 2025 |
Standing and dealings with others11 rows
| Idiom | Meaning | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| Catch a tartar | Meet someone stronger or tougher than expected | 2023 |
| Pass the buck | Shift the blame to another person | 2023 |
| Dance attendance on | Wait on someone eagerly | 2023 |
| Rule the roost | Be in charge | 2023 |
| Make someone a scapegoat | Blame someone for others' mistakes | 2024 |
| A henpecked husband | A husband ruled by his wife | 2024 |
| Curry favour | Seek approval by flattery | 2025 |
| Toe the line | Obey the rules exactly | 2025 |
| Come of age | Reach adulthood | 2025 |
| Fiddle while Rome burns | Waste time on trifles during a crisis | 2025 |
| Not fit to hold a candle to | Far inferior to | 2025 |
Watch out for (4)
- Reading 'sharp practice' as skill→ What a person is like
- Taking 'show the white feather' as surrender with honour→ What a person is like
- Reading 'curry favour' as cooking→ Standing and dealings with others
- Taking 'play second fiddle' as music→ Standing and dealings with others
Test yourself on Idioms and Phrases
20 past SSC CGL questions from this chapter, timed at 12 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.