SSC CGL English · Idioms and Phrases
Idioms: Work and Money
Idioms about how work is done (hard, carelessly, from the start, without a plan) and about saving, sharing and the value of things.
Why this matters
Twenty-five questions in the bank, 10 from the 2023 shifts, 11 from the 2024 shifts and 4 from the 2025 shifts. A rainy day was asked three times and call it a day, cut corners and a dime a dozen twice each, so this list repeats more than most.
Concept 1 of 2: Work and effort
Definition
The groups:
- Effort: pull one's socks up (try harder), move heaven and earth (do everything possible), make a beeline for (go straight to).
- Shortcuts and improvising: cut corners (do a job cheaply or carelessly), play it by ear (act without a plan).
- Starting and stopping: start from scratch, call it a day (stop work).
- Order and importance: in apple-pie order (neat and tidy), have bigger fish to fry (have more important things to do).
- Getting help: pull a few strings (use influence).
| Idiom | Meaning | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| Call it a day | Stop working for now | 2023 (twice) |
| Cut corners | Do something cheaply or carelessly | 2023, 2024 |
| In apple-pie order | In perfect order | 2023 |
| Prime the pump | Encourage something to start or grow | 2023 |
| Have bigger fish to fry | Have more important things to deal with | 2024 |
| Start from scratch | Begin again from the very beginning | 2024 |
| Pull one's socks up | Make more effort | 2024 |
| Make a beeline for | Go straight and quickly towards | 2024 |
| Penelope's web | A task that never ends | 2024 |
| Not in my line | Not in my area of skill | 2025 |
| Pull a few strings | Use one's influence to get something done | 2025 |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 1 · Idioms and Phrases · Idioms: Work and Money
Reading 'cut corners' as saving time well
Reading 'pull your socks up' literally
Concept 2 of 2: Money, saving and value
Definition
The groups:
- Saving and need: save for a rainy day, keep the wolf from the door (have just enough to live on).
- Value: a dime a dozen (common and of little value), the lion's share (the biggest part).
- Pointless supply: carry coals to Newcastle (bring something where there is plenty already).
- Stealing: a five-finger discount (stealing from a shop).
| Idiom | Meaning | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| For a rainy day | For a future time of need | 2023 (twice), 2024 |
| Keep the wolf from the door | Have just enough to live on | 2024 |
| The lion's share | The biggest part | 2024 |
| A five-finger discount | Stealing from a shop | 2024 |
| Carry coals to Newcastle | Supply something where it is already plentiful | 2025 |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 2 · Idioms and Phrases · Idioms: Work and Money
Reading 'a rainy day' as weather
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)
Work and effort11 rows
| Idiom | Meaning | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| Call it a day | Stop working for now | 2023 (twice) |
| Cut corners | Do something cheaply or carelessly | 2023, 2024 |
| In apple-pie order | In perfect order | 2023 |
| Prime the pump | Encourage something to start or grow | 2023 |
| Have bigger fish to fry | Have more important things to deal with | 2024 |
| Start from scratch | Begin again from the very beginning | 2024 |
| Pull one's socks up | Make more effort | 2024 |
| Make a beeline for | Go straight and quickly towards | 2024 |
| Penelope's web | A task that never ends | 2024 |
| Not in my line | Not in my area of skill | 2025 |
| Pull a few strings | Use one's influence to get something done | 2025 |
Money, saving and value5 rows
| Idiom | Meaning | Asked in |
|---|---|---|
| For a rainy day | For a future time of need | 2023 (twice), 2024 |
| Keep the wolf from the door | Have just enough to live on | 2024 |
| The lion's share | The biggest part | 2024 |
| A five-finger discount | Stealing from a shop | 2024 |
| Carry coals to Newcastle | Supply something where it is already plentiful | 2025 |
Watch out for (3)
- Reading 'cut corners' as saving time well→ Work and effort
- Reading 'pull your socks up' literally→ Work and effort
- Reading 'a rainy day' as weather→ Money, saving and value
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.