Important Idioms and Phrases for Management Entrance Exams

Overview: Idioms and Phrases for management entrance exams like IPMAT, XET, JIPMAT, etc., comprise a high-scoring section. Start your preparation with this guide on 'Idioms & Phrases' to boost your score in the Verbal Ability/ English Language section across all the management entrance exams.

Idioms and phrases for management entrance exams are easy to learn but tricky to remember. However, these are prominent topics in the Verbal Ability/ English Language section included in almost every entrance test.

This section usually weighs about 20-30% in top management exams. Thus, it is one of the high-scoring sections to boost your final score. 

This article will familiarize you with preparation tips, common idioms, and phrases for competitive exams. Keep reading! 

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Idioms & Phrases for Management Entrance Exams 

Idioms and Phrases are an important part of the Verbal Ability/ Reading Comprehension/ English Language section for almost all management & competitive exams. The exams include:

• IPMAT 2025
• JIPMAT 2025
• St. Xavier's Entrance Test (XET) 2025
• SET Exam 2025
• CUET 2025

You can easily fetch a good score in the English section if you know important idioms and phrases for management entrance exams and their meanings. 

These examinations ask at least 5-6 questions related to idioms and phrases. We are sure you wouldn't want to lose even one mark to stay ahead of your competition, right? 

If you are preparing for any of the management or competitive exams, check the frequently asked idioms and phrases for entrance exam with answers given below to enhance your preparation:

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What are Idioms & Phrases? 

Idiom: An idiom is a phrase or expression with a figurative meaning distinct from its literal meaning. Idioms can be confusing because they often don't make sense when taken literally.

• For example: The idiom "it's raining cats and dogs" means it's raining heavily, not that cats and dogs are falling from the sky.

Phrases: Phrases are similar to idioms in that they combine words with a figurative meaning that differs from the literal meaning of the individual words.

• For example: "Face the music" means accepting the consequences of one's actions, not facing some music literally.

It is important for you to understand the meaning of idioms and phrases for management entrance exams so that you can answer questions accurately. If you go through the JIPMAT exam pattern 2025, you will see the Verbal Ability section carries the highest marks. 

Thus, recognizing when an idiom or phrase is used in a question is important.

• For example: What do you think the phrase 'biting off more than you can chew' means?" requires an understanding of the idiom to answer correctly.

The best way to understand idioms and phrases for competitive exams is to become familiar with common ones.

• Reading books, newspapers, and other materials that use idioms and phrases can help you to become familiar with them.
• Additionally, many resources online can help you get the most important idioms and phrases pdf for preparation. 

Important Idioms and Phrases for Management Entrance Exams

Once you go through the IPMAT Exam Pattern 2025, you will see that the Verbal Ability section has a negative marking. Thus, you should be well-versed in relevant idioms to avoid any wrong answers, especially related to idioms and phrases.

The following table consists of the essential idioms and phrases for management entrance exams, such as the CAT, IPMAT 2025, etc. 

Idioms/Phrases	Meaning	Usage
Ant in Your Pants	To be excited, anxious, or nervous	She had ants in her pants before the big presentation.
Cat Nap	A short sleep	I only had time for a quick cat nap before the meeting.
Cat’s Got One’s Tongue	One who does not speak due to shyness	The cat got her tongue whenever the teacher asked her a question.
Clam Up	One who becomes quite suddenly	He clammed up when the interviewer asked about his previous job.
Dropping like Flies	Dying up Quickly	With the flu going around, people are dropping like flies.
Dog Days	Hottest days	We stayed indoors during the dog days of summer to avoid the intense heat.
Eager Beaver	An enthusiastic person	Sarah is always the first to volunteer for any project; she's an eager beaver.
Have a Cow	Get extremely upset	Don't have a cow over a little spilled milk!
Hold your horses	Directly from the original source	Hold your horses! We can't leave until everyone is ready.
Riding a High Horse	Arrogant and Unyielding mood	Ever since he cleared IPMAT, he's been riding a high horse.
Look a gift horse in the mouth	Find a fault with the gift that is received	She was hesitant to accept the free tickets, always one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Pig Out	Eat a lot of something	After the race, we pigged out on pizza and ice cream.
In the dog house	In trouble with another person	He's been in the dog house since he forgot to apply for IPMAT.
Until the cow comes home	For a very long time	You can wait until the cows come home, but I'm leaving now.
Black Sheep	An odd member of the group	In a family of doctors, he's always been the black sheep pursuing art.
Dark Horse	A candidate who wins unexpectedly	He was a dark horse in the competition, clearing IPMAT against all odds.
A bull in China’s shop	A person who inflicts damage	He barges around like a bull in a china shop when angry, breaking things left and right.

Understanding the meaning of idioms and phrases used in management entrance exams can be essential to clearing the JIPMAT, SET, XET, and IPMAT cut-offs.

Knowing the meaning of these figures of speech can help you better understand the context and answer the questions accurately.

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Additional Idioms and Phrases for Management Entrance Exams: Meaning and Usage

Idiom/Phrase	Meaning	Usage
At the helm	In charge or command of a situation or group.	A CEO is often at the helm of a company, making key decisions to guide its direction.
Bottom line	The final total of an account or balance sheet; the primary or most important outcome.	Managers often focus on the bottom line to ensure the profitability of a project.
Thinking outside the box	Thinking creatively or from a new perspective.	Innovative solutions in business often come from thinking outside the box.
Low-hanging fruit	The easiest tasks or problems to solve.	Managers might prioritize the low-hanging fruit in a project to demonstrate quick wins.
Get the ball rolling	To start a project or initiative.	When launching a new campaign, clear communication and initial tasks are crucial.
In the same boat	In the same situation or facing the same challenges.	During organizational changes, employees might feel they are all in the same boat, facing uncertainty together.
Play hardball	To act aggressively or ruthlessly to achieve one's objectives.	A company might play hardball in tough negotiations to get the best deal.
Burn the midnight oil	To work late into the night.	Before a product launch, the team might have to burn the midnight oil to ensure everything is ready.
On the back burner	To prioritize something for later, to deal with something later.	Not all projects are of equal urgency, so some might be put on the back burner while immediate concerns are addressed.
The bigger picture	The overall, broader view of a situation.	While focusing on day-to-day operations, managers should consider the bigger picture to align with the company's long-term vision.

You must prepare idioms and phrases for management entrance exams from their sample papers and the previous year's papers. To understand this part, you may want to attempt IPMAT Mock Tests or JIPMAT mocks. 

5 Creative Ways to Memorize Idioms and Phrases for Management Entrance Exams?

Here are simple steps to help you understand Idioms and Phrases for management entrance exams.

• Read various books and articles that contain idioms and phrases for competitive exams. Pay attention to the context in which they are used, and take notes.
• To memorize the idioms and phrases, make flashcards or use other memory techniques, such as mnemonics or visualization.
• Use the idioms and phrases in conversations, writing and speaking exercises, and other activities. This will help you become more familiar with them and learn how to use them in different contexts.
• Take practice exams or quizzes on idioms and phrases. This will help you identify which ones you need to work on and which you understand better.

Here are effective ways to implement the tips mentioned above: 

Draw a comic strip depicting the idiom's meaning	Write a catchy song or create a silly dance to remember the idioms/phrases and their usage.
Write a catchy song or create a silly dance to remember the idiom and its definition	Play Pictionary with friends and use idioms/phrases instead of single words
Write a short story where you must creatively use multiple idioms/phrases throughout	Start your day by using an idiom/phrase in a conversation or social media post

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In summary, understanding idioms and phrases for management entrance exams is critical for admissions into top management colleges. Using effective and creative ways will help you memorize them well and have a higher recall value. 

Becoming familiar with common idioms and phrases for BBA entrance or MBA admission tests can help you understand the questions' context and answer them correctly, thus helping you achieve a high score overall.

Key Takeaways:

• Importance in Exams: Idioms and phrases are a vital part of the Verbal Ability section, carrying 20-30% weightage in exams like IPMAT and JIPMAT, offering a high-scoring opportunity.
• Preparation Strategies: Effective learning involves reading, using flashcards, and practicing with mock tests to master idioms and their meanings.
• Creative Memorization: Techniques like comic strips, storytelling, and games make memorization fun and improve recall.
• Accuracy is Key: Familiarity with idioms helps avoid errors, especially in exams with negative marking.
• Broader Impact: Understanding idioms enhances verbal skills and boosts performance in management entrance exams.