September 13, 2024
Overview: Discover effective techniques to learn Idioms and Phrases for IPMAT 2025. Improve your skills with mnemonics, context insights, and free study resources.
Are you preparing for the IPMAT exam but don't know how to learn idioms and phrases in seconds?
Well, some simple techniques like mnemonics and contextual understanding can help you learn complex idioms and phrases in a matter of seconds.
Are you wondering how?
Read through the post to thoroughly understand the idioms and phrases for IPMAT, as well as IPM Aptitude Questions and Answers based on idioms.
An idiom is a phrase, saying, or group of words with a metaphorical (not literal) meaning that has become accepted in common usage. example You can’t judge a book by its cover.
Idiom is a phrase where its meaning is different from the collective meaning of its constituent words, generally 2-3 questions are asked from this topic. To make the best of this section, you should strengthen your understanding of Idioms and phrases. It is one area where students frequently struggle.
You cannot answer these questions unless you properly understand Idioms. Some of the best ways to learn Idioms are mentioned below.
Contextual Understanding
The best way to prepare for idioms and phrases for IPMAT is to understand the context or situation where a particular idiom is used. Whenever you read an idiom and go through its meaning, try to link that idiom with a particular situation or context in your knowledge so that whenever that word comes up again, you have a glimpse of the situation.
For example, "storm in a teacup" means something that is not very important, but a lot of people are giving it importance. You can link this to the wedding of a Bollywood star.
Mnemonics
In this method, we associate idioms with a mnemonic device that can help us remember their definition and proper use. "Do a Devon Loch" means "fail when you're almost there. For example, "Devon Loch, the horse that collapsed just before the finish line.” and “It was shocking how Nadal did a Devon Loch in the last minute of the match against Federer.”
Clustering
Learning idioms in groups or clusters, like clusters of idioms meaning almost the same but differing in intensity or referring to a similar kind of situation, like Cut From The Same Cloth, Like Two Peas In A Pod, The Mirror Image Of, and Much Of The Muchness. All of them refer to similarities, basically how two things have very similar attributes.
Visual Recognition
We, as humans, have the ability to recall those things that we have seen visually and for a longer length of time. You will always recall phrases that make you think of anything aesthetically beautiful. Interestingly, information and expertise given via the use of those items would have been kept in our memory to this day.
As a result, visual learning has been shown to be a valuable and successful technique. You can refer to some of the best examples of learning idioms and phrases for IPMAT through IPMAT 2025 live classroom batches.
Following are some of the examples of the idioms:
Idiom | Meaning | Example |
Storm in a teacup | It is something that is not that important, but a lot of people are talking about it. | Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif’s wedding was a storm in a teacup. |
It never rains but it pours | When something bad happens, other bad things usually happen at the same time. | It never rains but it pours. A lot of people suffered from COVID and also lost their jobs at the same time. |
At drop of a Hat | Immediately, without delay | As soon as the teacher enters, students stop doing whatever they were doing at the drop of a hat. |
Back to square one | Having to start all over again | I failed to save my documents while working. Now I’m back to square one. |
Barking up the wrong tree | This means that you are working in the wrong direction towards achieving your goal. | The political parties that lost the elections this year were not acting towards the right cause; they were barking up the wrong tree. |
Blood is thicker than water | The family bond is closer than anything else. | When you get into trouble, usually your family will be the ones to bail you out, not your friends. After all, blood is thicker than water. |
Cast Iron Stomach | Someone who has no problems, complications, or ill effects with eating or drinking anything. | Rahul eats a lot of chillies and spicy food that I can’t even think of. He has a cast iron stomach. |
Chew someone out | To verbally scold someone | The coach has already chewed out two players for arriving late to practice. |
Dead Ringer | 100% Identical or duplicate | Shweta is a dead ringer for her grandmother. |
Drive someone up the wall | Irritating someone very much | My neighbor plays his drum in the night, and it drives me up the wall. |
Finger Licking good | A very tasty food or meal | Mom's soup was so delicious that I had three bowls, it was finger-lickin' good |
Following are some of the examples of the idioms with their themes:
Theme | Idiom | Meaning | Example |
Power | Rule with an iron fist | To exercise strict or authoritarian control over others; to govern or lead with absolute power and severity. | The dictator ruled the country with an iron fist, suppressing any dissenting voices. |
Horror | Skeletons in the Closet | Hidden or secret aspects of a person's past that are shameful or unsettling. | No one knew about his criminal record until the skeletons in his closet were revealed. |
Laughter | In Stitches | To be laughing uncontrollably, often with great amusement or joy. | The silly antics of the children had their parents in stitches as they watched from the sidelines. |
Kindness | Bend over backward | To make a great effort to help or accommodate someone. | Even though she was busy with her own work, Emily bent over backward to assist her colleague with the project. |
Pity | Pathetic fallacy | The attribution of human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or nature, often to reflect or evoke pity. | The stormy weather outside seemed to mirror Sarah's sorrowful mood, a perfect example of pathetic fallacy. |
Hardships | Weather the storm | This idiom means to endure a difficult situation or hardship, often with patience and perseverance, until it passes. | During tough times, it's important to stay strong and weather the storm together as a family. |
Confidence | Full of oneself | Excessively self-confident or arrogant; having an inflated sense of one's importance or abilities. | Ever since he got promoted, he's been full of himself, acting like he's better than everyone else. |
Work | Go the extra mile | To make an additional effort or exert more energy than is required or expected. | She always goes the extra mile to ensure that her clients are satisfied with her work. |
Here are some important idioms and phrases for IPMAT that is based on IPMAT 2025 exam pattern.
Directions: Some idioms are given below together with their meanings. Choose the correct meaning of idiom, If there is no correct meaning given, 'None of these' will be the answer.
Q1. The prices are going up by leaps and bounds.
Answer: b. Rapidly.
Q2. His dealings are all above the board.
Answer: d. Open.
Q3. To play foul
Answer: b. To do something wrong.
Q4. in deep water
Answer: d. In real trouble.
Q5. to be fair and square pays in the long run.
Answer: c. Honest.
Q6. Flesh and blood can bear it no longer.
Answer: d. Human nature.
Q7. to chew the end
Answer: d. To think deeply.
Q8. Apple of discord
Answer: a. A source of quarrel.
Q9. A white elephant
Answer: b. A very costly possession.
Q10. At the eleventh hour
Answer: c. at the last moment.
Following are the idioms and phrases questions asked in the IPMAT question paper:
Q1. If you ask me to give you a rough estimate for the cost of the project, ___________ I would say thirty lakhs.
Answer: a) off-the-mark
Q2. The nasty comments made by strangers on the social media platforms about the actor made him__________.
Answer: d) ill at ease
Q3. The new car has disappointed its buyers in many ways, and good mileage is its only ___________.
Answer: b) saving face
Q4. Meena is very arrogant and class-conscious; she refuses to acknowledge Sunil because she feels he is a man ___________.
Answer: a) of no importance
Q5. Some big shots know how to escape the law even after they violate it. It is, however, the ___________ who are more often apprehended and punished.
Answer: a) small fry
Q6. A few brands tailor their pants in such a way that it is easy for people with prosthetic legs to put them on. This is how they__________.
Answer: c) go the extra mile
Learn more about the Important topics for the IPMAT exam to ace your preparations.
Mastering idioms and phrases is important for excelling in the IPMAT 2025. By adopting strategic learning methods and utilizing available resources, candidates can significantly enhance their understanding and recall of idiomatic expressions. This not only boosts exam performance but also sharpens language skills in a broader sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
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