Idioms & phrases: English Language Notes for RPF Constable

Idioms & Phrases – RPF Constable English Study Notes

Term	What it means
Idiom	A group of words whose meaning is not obvious from the individual words. Example: “spill the beans” → to reveal a secret.
Phrase	A short group of words that functions as a single unit in a sentence (e.g., “in the long run”, “on the basis of”). Idioms are a type of phrase, but not all phrases are idioms.

Idioms are often culturally specific and used in everyday conversation, writing, and exams to show a deeper grasp of English.

#	Point	Why It Matters
1	Structure – Idioms can be fixed (words rarely change) or slightly flexible (e.g., “break a leg”).	Helps you spot them on paper.
2	Literal vs. figurative – The literal meaning is almost meaningless.	Avoid confusion when interpreting.
3	Common categories –
	• Time (e.g., “once in a blue moon”)
	• Emotion (e.g., “on cloud nine”)
	• Actions (e.g., “hit the books”)
	• Finance (e.g., “break the bank”)	Recognise patterns.
4	Usage in sentences – Usually placed where a verb or adjective would go.	Improves fluency.
5	Context matters – Some idioms are formal, others informal.	Choose the right tone.
6	Common phrases – Often pre‑positions + nouns (e.g., “in the meantime”)	Helpful for exam cloze tests.
7	Practice – Write or speak sentences using each idiom.	Reinforces memory.
8	Revision technique – Create flashcards or a mind‑map linking idioms to images or synonyms.	Quick recall under exam stress.

Idiom / Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
Spill the beans	Reveal a secret	“When I asked her about the surprise party, she spilled the beans.”
Break the ice	Initiate conversation in a social setting	“He told a joke to break the ice.”
Burn the midnight oil	Work late at night	“She burned the midnight oil to finish the report.”
Piece of cake	Very easy	“The test was a piece of cake.”
Under the weather	Feeling ill	“I’m feeling under the weather today.”
The ball is in your court	It’s your turn to act	“I’ve done my part; now the ball is in your court.”
Hit the books	Study hard	“I need to hit the books before the exam.”
Once in a blue moon	Very rarely	“She visits us once in a blue moon.”
On cloud nine	Extremely happy	“He was on cloud nine after the promotion.”
Break the bank	Exceed a budget	“That luxury car will break the bank.”
In the long run	Over time	“Investing now pays off in the long run.”
On the basis of	Because of	“They hired her on the basis of her experience.”
At the drop of a hat	Immediately	“She left for Paris at the drop of a hat.”
Up in the air	Uncertain	“The future of the project is still up in the air.”

(Tip: Pick 5–10 from this list and practise them in different contexts.)

Task: Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom or phrase from the list below.

Sentence	Idiom / Phrase
1. The new policy will _____ the funding for the community centre.
2. She has to _____ her exams next week.
3. The team's victory was a _____, as they had never won before.
4. He was _____ after the accident, and couldn't drive.
5. We should _____ the situation before making a decision.

Answers

Break the bank
Hit the books
Piece of cake (or a piece of cake) – but for idiom use piece of cake
Under the weather
In the long run – In the long run is a phrase; if you want a phrase meaning “before deciding” use in the meantime or after considering – but for practice use In the long run (fits the clue “before making a decision” – you might re‑word: “We should consider the situation in the long run before deciding.”)

Explanation

The idioms chosen are fixed expressions that convey the intended meaning in a concise way.
Notice how each idiom replaces a longer phrase (e.g., “break the bank” ≈ “exceed the budget”).