CAT’s Verbal Ability Section is up to the brim with idioms and phrases. It may not be your cup of tea, but idioms and phrases are not rocket science. With enough hard work and dedication, you can crack CAT with flying colors. As they say - no pain no gain. When it comes to CAT preparation, Time is money, so let us not beat around the bush and get straight to some of the most commonly asked Idioms and Phrases in CAT VARC -
- Piece of Cake
Meaning - Very Easy
Example - These assignments are a piece of cake.
- Face the Music
Meaning - Facing Consequences
Example - Rahul will face the music during the mid terms for wasting all his time.
- A Damp Squib
Meaning - Something much less impressive than imagined.
Example - The cake was a damp squib.
- Backseat Driver
Meaning - Someone who gives unsolicited advice for something they are not responsible for.
Example - My mother was acting like a backseat driver when I took over the kitchen for one day.
- An arm and a leg
Meaning - Very Expensive
Example - The new iPhones cost an arm and a leg.
- Throw in the towel
Meaning - to give up
Example - After his 25th attempt, he threw in the towel.
- To smell a rat
Meaning - To be suspicious
Example - Raj’s behaviour made Ganesh smell a rat.
- In Hot Water
Meaning - To be in trouble
Example - After breaking all his promises, Pintu is in Hot Water with Mother.
- Put your foot down
Meaning - to draw boundaries
Example - It is time to put your foot down, now that our puppy has become too aggressive.
- All Greek to me
Meaning - Not Understanding anything.
Example - All this legal speak is Greek to me.
- To get bent out of shape
Meaning - To get angry or agitated
Example - Prince got all bent out of shape because his car seats got dirty.
- Spill the beans
Meaning - To reveal something
Example - Joseph finally spilled the beans about his new job.
- A Perfect Storm
Meaning - Worst Case Scenario
Example - The new Exam Pattern was a Perfect Storm for all the aspirants.
- Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning - Taking more than one can handle
Example - Looks like Farhad bit off more than he can chew with three jobs.
- Go on a wild goose chase
Meaning - Start something futile, pointless
Example - He set out on a wild goose chase by trying to look for the limited edition shoes.
- The best thing since sliced bread
Meaning - A very good invention
Example - The Back Scratcher is the best thing since sliced bread.
- The whole nine yards
Meaning - Going all the way
Example - He went the whole nine yards when it comes to CAT Preparation.
- Throw caution to the wind
Meaning - To be reckless
Example - He threw caution into the wind when he quit his job for his startup.
- Against the Clock
Meaning - in Hurry
Example - With the deadlines so close, we are working against the clock.
- Adding fuel to the fire
Meaning - Making something worse than it already is
Example - He added fuel to the fire by accusing his competitor of fraud.
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension is a very scoring section if you can go all out on your vocabulary and reading skills. Wishing you luck for CAT!