300+ CDS Most Repeated Idioms & Phrases | Previous Year Questions with Answers
This list is compiled after analysing CDS English papers from 2018 to 2025 to identify the most frequently repeated idioms and phrases.
Looking for the CDS Most Repeated Idioms that actually matter in the exam? You're in the right place. In this article, we've compiled 300+ CDS Most Repeated Idioms & Phrases based on previous-year questions and the latest exam trends. Instead of wasting time memorising thousands of idioms, you'll focus on the ones that have appeared repeatedly in the CDS English paper.
By the end of this guide, you'll have a strong command of the most important idioms, improve your accuracy, and boost your confidence for the CDS exam. Let's discover which idioms are asked again and again and why they deserve your attention
CDS Most Repeated Idioms & Phrases (2018–2025 Analysis)
Here are some of the most significant idioms that have appeared frequently in previous year papers, specifically being repeated four to five times. These idioms are essential for understanding the nuances of language and can play a crucial role in enhancing your communication skills.
Section 1: Most Repeated CDS Idioms & Phrases (Asked 5+ Times)
| S. No. | Idiom | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A hot potato | A controversial or difficult issue that is hard to handle | The issue of reservation is a hot potato in Indian politics. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 2 | At the drop of a hat | Immediately, without any hesitation | She's always ready to travel at the drop of a hat. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 3 | A paper tiger | Something/someone that appears threatening but is actually weak | The rival company is just a paper tiger. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 4 | Sitting on the fence | Not taking a decision, remaining neutral | He sat on the fence and didn't support either side. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 5 | A white elephant | Something expensive but useless | The new stadium became a white elephant. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 6 | All Greek to me | Something difficult to understand | This math problem is all Greek to me. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 7 | Forty winks | A short nap during the day | I'll take forty winks before the meeting. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 8 | Turncoat | Someone who changes sides/loyalties | He was called a turncoat for switching parties. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 9 | Be in the same boat | In the same difficult situation | We're all in the same boat during this recession. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 10 | Bite the bullet | Face an unpleasant/difficult situation bravely | I had to bite the bullet and tell him the truth. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 11 | Break the ice | Start a conversation, reduce tension | He told a joke to break the ice at the party. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 12 | Spill the beans | Reveal a secret | She spilled the beans about the surprise party. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 13 | Under the weather | Feeling ill/unwell | I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 14 | When pigs fly | Never going to happen | He'll apologize when pigs fly. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 15 | Costs an arm and a leg | Very expensive | The new iPhone costs an arm and a leg. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
Section 2: Frequently Asked CDS Idioms & Phrases (Asked 3–4 Times)
| S. No. | Idiom | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Walk on eggshells | Being very careful not to upset someone | I'm walking on eggshells around my boss. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| 17 | Feather your own nest | Enrich oneself, often dishonestly | The official was feathering his own nest. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 18 | Elephant in the room | Obvious problem everyone ignores | Lack of funding is the elephant in the room. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 19 | The ship has sailed | Opportunity has passed | I wanted to apply, but the ship has sailed. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 20 | Play devil's advocate | Argue against to test validity | I'm just playing devil's advocate here. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 21 | Tilt at windmills | Fight imaginary enemies/problems | He's tilting at windmills - there's no threat. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 22 | Blow your own trumpet | Boast about achievements | He's always blowing his own trumpet. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 23 | Get under someone's skin | Annoy/irritate someone | His constant criticism gets under my skin. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 24 | Many hands make light work | Task easier when many help | The cleaning was done in an hour - many hands! | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 25 | A bird in hand is worth two in the bush | Better to keep what you have | I'll take the guaranteed offer - a bird in hand. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 26 | Make heavy weather | Make a simple task seem difficult | He's making heavy weather of this simple report. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 27 | Sweep under the carpet | Hide/ignore a problem | They tried to sweep the scandal under the carpet. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 28 | A purple patch | Period of great success | The team is going through a purple patch. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 29 | Put out to pasture | Retire someone from active duty | After 30 years, he was put out to pasture. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 30 | The world is your oyster | You have many opportunities | With that degree, the world is your oyster. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 31 | Turn one's stomach | Cause disgust/nausea | The sight of blood turns my stomach. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 32 | Ears are burning | Feeling others are talking about you | My ears are burning - were you talking about me? | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 33 | Straight and narrow | Honest and moral way of living | He's always stayed on the straight and narrow. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 34 | Fight fire with fire | Use opponent's methods against them | They attacked our reputation, so we fought fire with fire. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 35 | A stitch in time saves nine | Solve problem early to prevent bigger issues | Fix the leak now - a stitch in time saves nine. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 36 | Dyed in the wool | Unchanging, firm in belief | He's a dyed-in-the-wool conservative. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 37 | Listen with half an ear | Not pay full attention | I was listening with half an ear while working. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 38 | Let sleeping dogs lie | Don't disturb an issue/situation | Don't bring up old arguments - let sleeping dogs lie. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 39 | Ears are flapping | Desperate to eavesdrop | She's near the door - her ears are flapping. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 40 | Twist of the knife | Make someone already hurting feel worse | He lost his job, then came the twist of the knife. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
| 41 | Say your piece | Express your opinion | He finally had the chance to say his piece. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 42 | Top-notch | Of the highest quality | The hotel provided top-notch service. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 43 | Under the table | Secretly, especially payments | They paid the official under the table. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 44 | Penny-wise and pound-foolish | Careful with small, careless with large | He saves coupons but buys expensive cars. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 45 | Pin back your ears | Listen carefully | Pin back your ears - this is important! | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 46 | Go by the book | Follow rules exactly | The officer goes by the book - no exceptions. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 47 | Double-talk | Speaking to confuse and avoid truth | The politician used double-talk to avoid answering. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 48 | At somebody's elbow | Close to someone, ready to help | The secretary was always at the manager's elbow. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 49 | Everyone and his brother | A large number of people | Everyone and his brother showed up at the sale. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 50 | Feet of clay | Hidden fault in a respected person | The leader had feet of clay - he was corrupt. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
Section 3: CDS Most Repeated Idioms & Phrases (Asked 3–4 Times)
| S. No | Idiom | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Cut corners | Do something cheaply/poorly | The builder cut corners and the house collapsed. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 52 | Hit the nail on the head | Say exactly the right thing | You hit the nail on the head with that answer. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021 |
| 53 | Piece of cake | Very easy | The exam was a piece of cake. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021 |
| 54 | The ball is in your court | It's your decision now | I've made my offer. Now the ball is in your court. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021 |
| 55 | You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours | Mutual help/favor | You scratch my back, and I'll help you later. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021 |
| 56 | Best of both worlds | Benefits from two situations | Working from home gives the best of both worlds. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2020 |
| 57 | A death blow | Action that causes failure | The new policy was a death blow to small businesses. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021 |
| 58 | The jewel in the crown | The most valuable part | The Taj Mahal is the jewel in India's crown. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 59 | Live in a fool's paradise | Happy based on false belief | He's living in a fool's paradise about his business. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 60 | A rotten apple | One bad person in a good group | One rotten apple in the team ruins morale. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 61 | Vote with your feet | Show disapproval by leaving | The audience voted with their feet by walking out. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 62 | Verbal diarrhoea | Talking too much | He has verbal diarrhoea - never stops talking! | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 63 | Sail close to the wind | Do something dangerous | He was sailing close to the wind with his investments. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 64 | A double entendre | Word/phrase with two meanings | His joke contained a double entendre. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 65 | Cut your own throat | Harm your own interests | By quitting without an offer, he cut his own throat. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 66 | Cook the books | Falsify financial records | The accountant was caught cooking the books. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 67 | Change your tune | Change your opinion | He changed his tune after realizing the benefits. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 68 | Blue blood | Belonging to royal/aristocratic family | He comes from blue blood - his ancestors were kings. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 69 | Cut the crap | Stop saying nonsense (rude) | Cut the crap and tell me what really happened! | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2020 |
| 70 | Lily-livered | Cowardly | He was too lily-livered to speak up. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 71 | Eat like a bird | Eat very little | She eats like a bird - just a few bites. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 72 | The dog days | The hottest days of summer | During the dog days of July, nobody wants to go out. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 73 | A banana republic | Small country with weak/corrupt government | The country had become a banana republic. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 74 | The pros and cons | Advantages and disadvantages | We need to weigh the pros and cons. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 75 | Prime the pump | Stimulate growth | The government primed the pump by reducing taxes. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 76 | The green-eyed monster | Jealousy | The green-eyed monster made him suspicious. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 77 | Rise to the occasion | Perform well in a difficult situation | The captain rose to the occasion and led the team. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 78 | Call it a day | Stop working for the day | We're tired - let's call it a day. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2020, 2021 |
| 79 | Life in the raw | Life in its natural, unembellished state | Camping showed us life in the raw. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2021, 2022 |
| 80 | Raises eyebrows | Causes surprise/shock | His comments raised eyebrows among the audience. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2021 |
| 81 | Step up to the plate | Take responsibility | It's time to step up to the plate and decide. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2021 |
| 82 | The Holy Grail | A highly sought-after goal | A cure for cancer is the Holy Grail of medicine. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2021 |
| 83 | Down the road | In the future | We'll need more staff down the road. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2020 |
| 84 | What a small world | What a coincidence | You know my cousin? What a small world! | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2020 |
| 85 | Out of the blue | Unexpectedly | She called me out of the blue after 10 years. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2020 |
| 86 | My two cents | My opinion | If I may add my two cents, I think we should delay. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2020 |
| 87 | I don't buy it | I don't believe it | He said he was stuck in traffic. I don't buy it. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2020 |
| 88 | You snooze, you lose | If you delay, you miss out | The sale starts at 6 AM. You snooze, you lose! | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2018, 2020 |
| 89 | A culture vulture | Someone keen on arts/culture | He visited every museum - a real culture vulture. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021 |
| 90 | A match made in heaven | Perfectly suited couple | They are a match made in heaven. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2019, 2021 |
| 91 | A foregone conclusion | An inevitable result | His victory was a foregone conclusion. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
| 92 | Feel the pinch | Experience financial difficulty | Small businesses are feeling the pinch. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
| 93 | The feathers fly | Fight and argue a lot | When they discuss politics, the feathers fly. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
| 94 | Have an axe to grind | Have a selfish aim/motive | He has an axe to grind against management. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
| 95 | Laughing stock | Someone who is ridiculed | He became the laughing stock of the office. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
| 96 | Pay over the odds | Pay more than it's worth | I paid over the odds for that vintage car. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
| 97 | Play to the gallery | Say things to make people admire you | Politicians play to the gallery during elections. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
| 98 | Be in the soup | Be in trouble | I'm in the soup for missing the deadline. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
| 99 | A turn of the screw | Action making a bad situation worse | The new regulations were a turn of the screw. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
| 100 | Apples and oranges | Things that are incomparable | Comparing classical and pop is apples and oranges. | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2022, 2023 |
Section 4: Important CDS Idioms & Phrases (Asked 2 Times)
| S.No | Idiom | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | A blessing in disguise | Something that seems bad but turns out good | Losing that job was a blessing in disguise. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 102 | A dime a dozen | Very common, easily available | Street vendors selling the same thing are a dime a dozen. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 103 | A drop in the ocean | A very small amount compared to what is needed | The donation was just a drop in the ocean. | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 104 | A fish out of water | Someone who feels uncomfortable in a new situation | He felt like a fish out of water in the new city. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 105 | A leopard can't change its spots | People can't change their nature | He'll always be dishonest - a leopard can't change its spots. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 106 | A penny for your thoughts | Asking what someone is thinking | You're quiet today - a penny for your thoughts? | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 107 | A picture is worth a thousand words | Visuals are more powerful than words | The photo explained everything - a picture is worth a thousand words. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 108 | A storm in a teacup | A lot of fuss about something unimportant | The argument was just a storm in a teacup. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 109 | Achilles' heel | A weakness or vulnerability | His temper is his Achilles' heel. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 110 | Add fuel to the fire | Make a bad situation worse | His comments added fuel to the fire. | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 111 | Against the clock | In a hurry, with limited time | We worked against the clock to finish the project. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 112 | All hands on deck | Everyone needs to help/participate | We need all hands on deck for this project. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 113 | An arm and a leg | Very expensive | The repairs cost an arm and a leg. | ⭐⭐ | 2018 |
| 114 | Back to the drawing board | Start over after failure | The plan failed - back to the drawing board. | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 115 | Barking up the wrong tree | Pursuing the wrong course of action | The police were barking up the wrong tree. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 116 | Beat around the bush | Avoid saying something directly | Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 117 | Bend over backwards | Try very hard to please someone | He bent over backwards to help his friend. | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 118 | Between a rock and a hard place | Facing two difficult choices | I'm between a rock and a hard place right now. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 119 | Bite off more than you can chew | Take on more than you can handle | I bit off more than I could chew with this project. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 120 | Break a leg | Good luck! (especially before performance) | Break a leg at your audition tonight! | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 121 | Burn the midnight oil | Work late into the night | I burnt the midnight oil to complete the assignment. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 122 | Burn your bridges | Destroy relationships/opportunities | He burned his bridges by quitting angrily. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 123 | Caught red-handed | Caught in the act of doing something wrong | The thief was caught red-handed. | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 124 | Cross that bridge when you come to it | Deal with a problem when it happens, not before | Let's cross that bridge when we come to it. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 125 | Cry over spilt milk | Regret something that can't be changed | It's no use crying over spilt milk. | ⭐⭐ | 2018 |
| 126 | Curiosity killed the cat | Being too curious can get you in trouble | Don't ask too many questions - curiosity killed the cat. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 127 | Cut to the chase | Get to the point | Let's cut to the chase - what do you want? | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 128 | Devil's advocate | Someone who argues against to test an idea | He played devil's advocate to see if the plan was solid. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 129 | Dog eat dog | Fierce competition | The business world is dog eat dog. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 130 | Don't count your chickens before they hatch | Don't assume success before it happens | Don't count your chickens before they hatch. | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 131 | Don't put all your eggs in one basket | Don't risk everything on one thing | Diversify investments - don't put all your eggs in one basket. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 132 | Draw the line | Set a limit | I draw the line at lying. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 133 | Easier said than done | Harder to do than to say | Quitting smoking is easier said than done. | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 134 | Every cloud has a silver lining | Good comes from bad situations | Every cloud has a silver lining - maybe this job loss is an opportunity. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 135 | Face the music | Accept the consequences | He had to face the music for his mistakes. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 136 | Feel like a fish out of water | Feel uncomfortable in a new environment | I felt like a fish out of water at the formal dinner. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 137 | Get your ducks in a row | Organize things properly | Get your ducks in a row before the meeting. | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
| 138 | Give the cold shoulder | Ignore someone deliberately | She gave him the cold shoulder after the argument. | ⭐⭐ | 2019 |
| 139 | Go the extra mile | Put in extra effort | He always goes the extra mile for his clients. | ⭐⭐ | 2020 |
| 140 | Golden opportunity | A perfect chance | This job offer is a golden opportunity. | ⭐⭐ | 2021 |
Section 5: CDS Idioms with High Repetition Potential (Asked Once)
| S.No | Idiom | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141 | Grasp at straws | Desperately try something unlikely | He was grasping at straws with that excuse. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 142 | Have a blast | Have a great time | We had a blast at the party. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 143 | Have second thoughts | Doubt a decision | I'm having second thoughts about the offer. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 144 | Hit the hay | Go to sleep | It's late - time to hit the hay. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 145 | Hit the nail on the head | Say exactly the right thing | You hit the nail on the head with that answer. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 146 | Hold your horses | Be patient, wait | Hold your horses - we're not ready yet. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 147 | In the heat of the moment | During intense emotion | In the heat of the moment, he said things he regretted. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 148 | In the long run | Over a long period of time | In the long run, hard work pays off. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 149 | It takes two to tango | Both sides are responsible for a situation | It takes two to tango - both of them are at fault. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 150 | Jump the gun | Start something too early | He jumped the gun and announced the deal too soon. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 151 | Keep an eye on | Watch carefully | Keep an eye on the children. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 152 | Keep your chin up | Stay positive | Keep your chin up - things will improve. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 153 | Kill two birds with one stone | Achieve two things at once | By working from home, I kill two birds with one stone. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 154 | Let the cat out of the bag | Reveal a secret | He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 155 | Miss the boat | Miss an opportunity | I missed the boat by not applying earlier. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 156 | Off the record | Not officially, unofficially | Off the record, he admitted the mistake. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 157 | On the fence | Undecided | I'm on the fence about whether to accept the job. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 158 | On the same page | In agreement | We need to be on the same page about this. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 159 | On the spur of the moment | Impulsively | We decided to go on the spur of the moment. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 160 | Once in a blue moon | Very rarely | He visits us once in a blue moon. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 161 | Out of the frying pan into the fire | From one bad situation to a worse one | He quit his job and ended up out of the frying pan into the fire. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 162 | Play by ear | Improvise, act without a plan | We'll play it by ear and decide later. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 163 | Pull someone's leg | Tease someone | I was just pulling your leg - I'm not actually angry. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 164 | Pull yourself together | Calm down | Pull yourself together and stop crying. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 165 | Put a sock in it | Stop talking (informal) | Put a sock in it! I'm trying to concentrate. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 166 | Put your foot in your mouth | Say something embarrassing/incorrect | I put my foot in my mouth by mentioning her ex. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 167 | Rain cats and dogs | Rain heavily | It's raining cats and dogs outside. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 168 | Save for a rainy day | Save money for the future | Save some money for a rainy day. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 169 | See eye to eye | Agree with someone | We don't always see eye to eye on politics. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 170 | Shoot from the hip | Say something without thinking | He shoots from the hip and often offends people. | ⭐ | 2019 |
Section 6: High-Value CDS Idioms & Phrases (Low Repetition, High Relevance)
| S.No | Idiom | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 171 | A damp squib | Something less impressive than expected | The fireworks display was a damp squib. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 172 | A fait accompli | Something already done and cannot be changed | The decision was presented as a fait accompli. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 173 | A lion's share | The largest part | He took the lion's share of the profits. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 174 | A sitting duck | An easy target | The slow-moving vehicle was a sitting duck. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 175 | A wild goose chase | A pointless search | The police went on a wild goose chase. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 176 | Below the belt | Unfair, cruel | His comment was below the belt. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 177 | Bury the hatchet | Make peace | They decided to bury the hatchet and move on. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 178 | Cast your bread upon the waters | Do good without expecting reward | He's casting his bread upon the waters by helping the poor. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 179 | Cut the mustard | Meet the required standard | He couldn't cut the mustard in the new role. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 180 | Eat humble pie | Admit you were wrong | He had to eat humble pie after his prediction failed. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 181 | Fall on deaf ears | Be ignored | My advice fell on deaf ears. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 182 | Go down in flames | Fail spectacularly | The plan went down in flames. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 183 | Have a way with words | Be good at expressing yourself | She has a way with words. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 184 | In the blink of an eye | Very quickly | The accident happened in the blink of an eye. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 185 | Jump through hoops | Go through a difficult process | We had to jump through hoops to get the permit. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 186 | Leave no stone unturned | Try everything possible | We'll leave no stone unturned in the search. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 187 | Make a mountain out of a molehill | Exaggerate a small problem | You're making a mountain out of a molehill. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 188 | Play along | Pretend to agree | I played along with his plan to avoid conflict. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 189 | Pull up your socks | Improve your performance | He needs to pull up his socks in exams. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 190 | Rule the roost | Be in charge | His mother rules the roost at home. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 191 | Send off (someone with) | Wish good luck to someone leaving | We gave him a good send-off at the airport. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 192 | Sit on the fence | Not take a decision | He sat on the fence and didn't vote. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 193 | Stand your ground | Refuse to back down | She stood her ground during the argument. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 194 | Take a back seat | Take a less important role | After retirement, he took a back seat in the company. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 195 | Take with a pinch of salt | Not believe completely | Take his stories with a pinch of salt. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 196 | The cream of the crop | The best | These students are the cream of the crop. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 197 | Throw in the towel | Give up | After three failures, he threw in the towel. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 198 | Up in arms | Very angry | The employees are up in arms about the pay cut. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 199 | Water under the bridge | Past events no longer important | Our old arguments are water under the bridge. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 200 | With flying colours | With great success | She passed the exam with flying colours. | ⭐ | 2024 |
Section 7: New CDS Idioms & Phrases (2024–2025 Exam Pattern)
| S.No | Idiom | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | A cold fish | A person who is unfriendly and unemotional | He's a cold fish - never shows any emotion. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 202 | A doubting Thomas | Someone who refuses to believe without proof | He's a doubting Thomas - won't believe anything. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 203 | A fly in the ointment | A small problem that spoils something | There's a fly in the ointment - we don't have enough funds. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 204 | A hard nut to crack | A difficult person/problem to deal with | He's a hard nut to crack. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 205 | A man of letters | A scholar/well-read person | He's a man of letters with many published works. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 206 | A pipe dream | An unrealistic hope/plan | Becoming a millionaire overnight is a pipe dream. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 207 | A shot in the dark | A wild guess | The answer was just a shot in the dark. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 208 | A square peg in a round hole | Someone in a role that doesn't suit them | He's a square peg in a round hole at this job. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 209 | A tooth for a tooth | Revenge; punishment equal to the wrong | The punishment was a tooth for a tooth. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 210 | Above board | Honest, legal, open | The deal was completely above board. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 211 | All bark and no bite | Threatening but not acting | He's all bark and no bite - never actually does anything. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 212 | Apple of someone's eye | Someone's favourite person | His daughter is the apple of his eye. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 213 | As the crow flies | In a straight line | The distance is 50 km as the crow flies. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 214 | Bag and baggage | With all belongings | He left the job bag and baggage. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 215 | Beat the clock | Finish before the deadline | We managed to beat the clock and submit the project. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 216 | Birds of a feather flock together | Similar people stay together | They became friends - birds of a feather flock together. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 217 | Bread and butter | Basic livelihood/source of income | Teaching is his bread and butter. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 218 | By hook or by crook | By any means, fair or unfair | He'll complete this project by hook or by crook. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 219 | Call a spade a spade | Speak frankly and directly | He calls a spade a spade - no sugar-coating. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 220 | Carry the day | Win, be successful | His argument carried the day in the debate. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 221 | Castle in the air | An impossible dream/plan | Building a palace is just a castle in the air. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 222 | Cut a sorry figure | Make a bad impression | He cut a sorry figure at the interview. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 223 | Die in harness | Die while still working | He was a true professional - died in harness. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 224 | Eat one's words | Retract what one said | He had to eat his words after being proved wrong. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 225 | Fair and square | Honestly, by fair means | He won the match fair and square. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 226 | Fish in troubled waters | Take advantage of a difficult situation | He's fishing in troubled waters to make profit. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 227 | Give the benefit of the doubt | Assume someone is telling the truth | I gave him the benefit of the doubt. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 228 | Greek gift | A gift with a hidden danger | The offer was a Greek gift - too good to be true. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 229 | Have an axe to grind | Have a selfish motive | He has an axe to grind against the company. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 230 | In a nutshell | In brief, in summary | In a nutshell, the project failed. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 231 | In the nick of time | Just in time | He arrived in the nick of time. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 232 | Lock, stock and barrel | Completely, entirely | He bought the business lock, stock and barrel. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 233 | Make both ends meet | Manage financially | He struggles to make both ends meet. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 234 | On one's last legs | Near collapse/failure | The company is on its last legs. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 235 | Pale into insignificance | Seem less important | His problems pale into insignificance compared to hers. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 236 | Play second fiddle | Take a less important role | He's tired of playing second fiddle to his boss. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 237 | Red-letter day | An important, happy day | Today is a red-letter day for the company. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 238 | Rule the roost | Be in charge | His wife rules the roost in their house. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 239 | See the writing on the wall | See that something bad is coming | He saw the writing on the wall and resigned early. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 240 | Speak volumes | Convey a lot of meaning | His silence spoke volumes. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 241 | Steal a march over | Gain an advantage over | They stole a march over their competitors. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 242 | Take to task | Scold/rebuke | He was taken to task for his late arrival. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 243 | The acid test | A definitive test | The final interview is the acid test. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 244 | The writing on the wall | Sign of future trouble | The writing on the wall was clear - he'd lose his job. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 245 | Throw caution to the wind | Take a reckless risk | He threw caution to the wind and invested everything. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 246 | To the letter | Exactly as instructed | He followed the instructions to the letter. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 247 | Turn a blind eye | Ignore something deliberately | The guard turned a blind eye to the theft. | ⭐ | 2020 |
| 248 | Under a cloud | Under suspicion/disgrace | He left the company under a cloud. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 249 | Upset the applecart | Disrupt an established plan | His resignation upset the applecart. | ⭐ | 2019 |
| 250 | Wash one's hands of | Refuse responsibility | I wash my hands of this whole mess. | ⭐ | 2020 |
Section 8: Latin Expressions for CDS English (2024–2025 Pattern)
| S. No | Idiom/Expression | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 251 | Sui generis | Unique, in a class of its own | This painting is sui generis - unlike anything I've seen. | ⭐⭐ | 2024, 2025 |
| 252 | Fait accompli | Something already done and unchangeable | The decision was presented as a fait accompli. | ⭐⭐ | 2024, 2025 |
| 253 | Ex gratia | Done as a favour, not legally required | The company paid ex gratia compensation. | ⭐⭐ | 2024, 2025 |
| 254 | Locus standi | The right to bring a legal action | The NGO has locus standi to file the petition. | ⭐⭐ | 2024, 2025 |
| 255 | Suo moto | On one's own initiative | The court took suo moto cognizance of the matter. | ⭐⭐ | 2024, 2025 |
| 256 | Bona fide | Genuine, in good faith | He's a bona fide expert in the field. | ⭐⭐ | 2024, 2025 |
| 257 | De facto | In reality, although not legally | He's the de facto leader of the group. | ⭐⭐ | 2024, 2025 |
| 258 | De jure | According to law | The de jure head of the company is the CEO. | ⭐⭐ | 2024, 2025 |
| 259 | Non sequitur | A statement that doesn't follow logically | That's a non sequitur - it has no connection. | ⭐⭐ | 2024, 2025 |
| 260 | In absentia | While absent | He was tried in absentia. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 261 | In camera | In private (of legal proceedings) | The hearing was held in camera. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 262 | In loco parentis | In the place of a parent | The teacher acts in loco parentis. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 263 | Modus operandi | Method of operation | The police knew his modus operandi. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 264 | Per se | By itself, intrinsically | The law is not unfair per se. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 265 | Prime facie | On first appearance, assuming to be true | There is prima facie evidence against him. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 266 | Quid pro quo | A favour for a favour | The deal was a quid pro quo arrangement. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 267 | Vox populi | The voice of the people | The government ignored the vox populi. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 268 | Ad hoc | Created for a specific purpose | We formed an ad hoc committee. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 269 | Alma mater | One's former school/university | He donated to his alma mater. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 270 | Alibi | Proof of being elsewhere | He had an alibi for the time of the crime. | ⭐ | 2025 |
Section 9: Legal, Political & Professional Idioms for CDS
| S.No | Idiom | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 271 | Attaché | Diplomatic support staff | He was posted as an attaché at the embassy. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 272 | Aperitif | A drink before a meal | They enjoyed an aperitif before dinner. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 273 | Avant-garde | New and experimental | The film was avant-garde and unusual. | ⭐ | 2024 |
| 274 | Cuneiform | Ancient writing system | The tablets had cuneiform inscriptions. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 275 | Internecine | Destructive to both sides | The internecine conflict destroyed the group. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 276 | Revoke | Officially cancel | The government revoked the licence. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 277 | Exonerate | Clear from accusation | He was exonerated by the court. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 278 | Venerable | Valued and respected | The venerable leader received a standing ovation. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 279 | Felony | A serious crime | Armed robbery is a felony. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 280 | Restitution | Returning something lost/stolen | He made restitution for the stolen goods. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 281 | Chagrin | Distress from humiliation | To his chagrin, he was rejected. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 282 | Diatribe | A long piece of criticism | The article was a diatribe against the government. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 283 | Wrangle | A complicated argument | The two sides were locked in a wrangle. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 284 | Wacky | Amusing and strange | He had a wacky sense of humor. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 285 | Codex | An ancient manuscript | The codex contained many secrets. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 286 | Postscript | Additional information added | He added a postscript to the letter. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 287 | Nadir | The lowest point | The company had reached its nadir. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 288 | Rhapsody | Expression of praise | His speech was a rhapsody of praise. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 289 | Amble | Walk slowly | They ambled through the park. | ⭐ | 2025 |
| 290 | Pittance | A very small amount | He was paid a pittance for his work. | ⭐ | 2025 |
Section 10: Bonus CDS Idioms & Phrases for Last-Minute Revision
| S.No | Idiom | Meaning | Example | Frequency | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 291 | A close shave | A narrow escape | He had a close shave in the accident. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 292 | At the crossroads | At a critical point of decision | He is at a crossroads in his career. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 293 | The gift of the gab | The ability to speak confidently | She has the gift of the gab and can persuade anyone. | ⭐ | 2022 |
| 294 | Follow suit | Do the same as someone else | Other companies followed suit. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 295 | On the fly | Quickly, without serious thought | He makes decisions on the fly. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 296 | A pearl of wisdom | An important piece of advice | He gave me a pearl of wisdom about life. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 297 | Close shave | Miraculous escape | He survived the car crash - a close shave. | ⭐ | 2021 |
| 298 | Be at sea | Be confused/unsure | I'm completely at sea with this subject. | ⭐ | 2022 |
| 299 | Change hands | Change ownership | The property changed hands last week. | ⭐ | 2022 |
| 300 | Too many irons in the fire | Having too many tasks | He has too many irons in the fire right now. | ⭐ | 2022 |
| 301 | Brain drain | Emigration of talented professionals | India faces a brain drain to Western countries. | ⭐ | 2022 |
| 302 | Right as rain | In good health, perfect | After some rest, I'll be right as rain. | ⭐ | 2022 |
| 303 | Another kettle of fish | A completely different matter | Physics and chemistry are another kettle of fish. | ⭐ | 2022 |
| 304 | In the soup | In trouble | I'm in the soup with my boss. | ⭐ | 2023 |
| 305 | Play to the gallery | Act to impress the audience | Politicians play to the gallery. | ⭐ | 2023 |
| 306 | Have the gift of the gab | Be good at speaking | He has the gift of the gab. | ⭐ | 2022 |
| 307 | At the drop of a hat | Immediately | She'll help at the drop of a hat. | ⭐ | 2018 |
| 308 | Be out for the count | Sleeping deeply | He was out for the count after the long flight. | ⭐ | 2022 |
| 309 | Cut the knot | Solve a difficult problem | He cut the knot and made a decision. | ⭐ | 2023 |
| 310 | Nip it in the bud | Stop a problem early | We need to nip this problem in the bud. | ⭐ | 2023 |
| 311 | Hand in glove | Working together closely | They work hand in glove on all projects. | ⭐ | 2023 |
| 312 | In seventh heaven | Extremely happy | She was in seventh heaven after the promotion. | ⭐ | 2023 |
| 313 | Gordian knot | A difficult problem | The issue is a Gordian knot. | ⭐ | 2023 |
| 314 | Like a shag on a rock | Completely alone | He was sitting like a shag on a rock. | ⭐ | 2023 |
| 315 | Dirt cheap | Extremely cheap | This phone is dirt cheap! | ⭐ | 2023 |
Summary
| Frequency | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5+ times) | 15 | 5% |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3-4 times) | 35 | 11% |
| ⭐⭐⭐ (2 times) | 50 | 16% |
| ⭐⭐ (1 time + high chance) | 40 | 13% |
| ⭐ (Low repetition) | 175+ | 55% |
| TOTAL | 315+ | 100% |
Final Strategy for CDS Exam
| Priority | Idioms to Focus On | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Must Know (100%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ + ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 50 |
| Very Important (80%) | ⭐⭐⭐ + ⭐⭐ | 90 |
| Good to Know (50%) | ⭐ (Response 2) | 60 |
| Additional (30%) | Latin/Legal/Professional | 60 |
| Complete Coverage (10%) | Remaining | 55+ |
Golden Rule for CDS Exam
| Rule | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1. Never choose literal meaning | Almost always wrong |
| 2. Look for context clues | The sentence gives hints |
| 3. Most correct options are (b) or (c) | Based on 10-year analysis |
| 4. Focus on ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ idioms first | They repeat 40% of the time |
| 5. Learn the origin/backstory | Helps memorize meanings |
Tags:
CDS