English Competitive: How to Solve Idioms and Phrases in Sentences

Introduction

"Mastering idioms and phrases can fetch you 10-15 marks in competitive exams, which can be a game-changer in securing a top rank. So, let's dive into the crystal-clear method to solve idioms and phrases in sentences."

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST

Before we begin, make sure you have the following grammar and vocabulary basics at your fingertips:

1. Common prepositions: Familiarize yourself with prepositions like 'in', 'on', 'at', 'by', 'with', etc.
2. Subject-verb agreement rule table: Understand the rules for subject-verb agreement, such as 'I am' (singular), 'we are' (plural), etc.
3. Tense chart: Review the different tenses, including present, past, and future simple, continuous, and perfect tenses.

CRYSTAL‑CLEAR METHOD (Step-by-Step)

To solve idioms and phrases in sentences, follow these steps:

1. Read the sentence carefully: Read the sentence multiple times to understand the context and the idiom or phrase used.
2. Identify the idiom or phrase: Look for words or phrases that are not literal, such as 'kick the bucket' or 'bend over backwards'.
3. Understand the meaning: Research the meaning of the idiom or phrase and how it is used in the sentence.
4. Analyze the sentence structure: Identify the subject, verb, and object in the sentence and how they relate to the idiom or phrase.
5. Choose the correct answer: Based on your understanding of the idiom or phrase and the sentence structure, choose the correct answer.

WORKED EXAMPLES

Example 1 – Easy

Question: The company is going through a tough time, but the CEO is trying to keep afloat.

Step-by-Step Reasoning:

1. Read the sentence carefully: The sentence mentions the company is going through a tough time.
2. Identify the idiom or phrase: The phrase 'keep afloat' is not literal.
3. Understand the meaning: 'Keep afloat' means to stay afloat or survive in a difficult situation.
4. Analyze the sentence structure: The subject is the company, and the verb is 'going through'.
5. Choose the correct answer: The correct answer is that the CEO is trying to keep the company afloat.

Tip to remember: When you see a phrase like 'keep afloat', think of staying afloat in water, but in this context, it means staying afloat in a difficult situation.

Example 2 – Medium

Question: The new policy is a drop in the ocean compared to the overall budget.

Step-by-Step Reasoning:

1. Read the sentence carefully: The sentence mentions a new policy and compares it to the overall budget.
2. Identify the idiom or phrase: The phrase 'a drop in the ocean' is not literal.
3. Understand the meaning: 'A drop in the ocean' means a small amount compared to the overall amount.
4. Analyze the sentence structure: The subject is the new policy, and the verb is 'is'.
5. Choose the correct answer: The correct answer is that the new policy is a small amount compared to the overall budget.

Tip to remember: When you see a phrase like 'a drop in the ocean', think of a small amount of water compared to a large ocean.

Example 3 – Exam-Style

Question: The company's profits have taken a hit due to the economic downturn.

Step-by-Step Reasoning:

1. Read the sentence carefully: The sentence mentions the company's profits and the economic downturn.
2. Identify the idiom or phrase: The phrase 'taken a hit' is not literal.
3. Understand the meaning: 'Taken a hit' means to suffer a loss or a setback.
4. Analyze the sentence structure: The subject is the company's profits, and the verb is 'have'.
5. Choose the correct answer: The correct answer is that the company's profits have suffered a loss due to the economic downturn.

Tip to remember: When you see a phrase like 'taken a hit', think of a physical hit, but in this context, it means suffering a loss.

Common Mistakes

Here are 5 common mistakes students make when solving idioms and phrases in sentences:

1. MISTAKE → Not understanding the meaning of the idiom or phrase. WHY IT HAPPENS → Lack of research or familiarity with the idiom or phrase. CORRECT APPROACH → Research the meaning of the idiom or phrase before analyzing the sentence.
2. MISTAKE → Not analyzing the sentence structure. WHY IT HAPPENS → Rushing through the question or not paying attention to the sentence structure. CORRECT APPROACH → Analyze the sentence structure before choosing the correct answer.
3. MISTAKE → Not choosing the correct answer based on the analysis. WHY IT HAPPENS → Not following the correct approach or not understanding the idiom or phrase. CORRECT APPROACH → Choose the correct answer based on your analysis of the idiom or phrase and the sentence structure.
4. MISTAKE → Not considering the context of the sentence. WHY IT HAPPENS → Not reading the sentence carefully or not understanding the context. CORRECT APPROACH → Read the sentence carefully and consider the context before analyzing the idiom or phrase.
5. MISTAKE → Not using the correct tense. WHY IT HAPPENS → Not paying attention to the tense of the verb or not understanding the tense chart. CORRECT APPROACH → Use the correct tense based on the context and the sentence structure.

EXAM TRAPS

Here are 3 exam traps examiners set for this topic:

1. Trap → Using a literal meaning of the idiom or phrase. How to Spot it → Look for phrases that are not literal, such as 'kick the bucket' or 'bend over backwards'. How to Avoid it → Research the meaning of the idiom or phrase before analyzing the sentence.
2. Trap → Not considering the context of the sentence. How to Spot it → Read the sentence carefully and consider the context before analyzing the idiom or phrase. How to Avoid it → Use the correct approach and analyze the sentence structure before choosing the correct answer.
3. Trap → Not using the correct tense. How to Spot it → Pay attention to the tense of the verb and use the correct tense based on the context and the sentence structure. How to Avoid it → Use the correct tense chart and analyze the sentence structure before choosing the correct answer.

TIME‑SAVING SHORTCUTS

Here are 3 time-saving shortcuts to help you solve idioms and phrases in sentences:

1. Shortcut → Use a dictionary or a thesaurus to research the meaning of the idiom or phrase. Why it saves time → You can quickly look up the meaning of the idiom or phrase and avoid wasting time trying to figure it out.
2. Shortcut → Analyze the sentence structure before choosing the correct answer. Why it saves time → You can quickly identify the subject, verb, and object in the sentence and choose the correct answer based on your analysis.
3. Shortcut → Use the correct tense chart to identify the correct tense. Why it saves time → You can quickly identify the correct tense based on the context and the sentence structure and avoid wasting time trying to figure it out.

1‑MINUTE RECAP

"Alright, let's recap the crystal-clear method to solve idioms and phrases in sentences. First, read the sentence carefully and identify the idiom or phrase. Then, research the meaning of the idiom or phrase and analyze the sentence structure. Next, choose the correct answer based on your analysis. Remember to use the correct tense and consider the context of the sentence. Don't fall for exam traps like using a literal meaning of the idiom or phrase or not considering the context. Use time-saving shortcuts like researching the meaning of the idiom or phrase, analyzing the sentence structure, and using the correct tense chart. Now, go out there and ace your exam!