5 Years CSS Solved Past Papers : Phrasal verbs / Idioms

 Phrasal verbs/idioms 2019

5 Years  CSS  Solved Past Papers :  Phrasal verbs / Idioms   

To cast pearls before swine: Offer valuable things to people who do not appreciate them

• Dialogue between Pakistan and India without discussing the issue of Kashmir is like casting pearls before swine.
• Trump considers climate change a hoax, so discussing anything about it is like casting pearl before swine.

To step into one's shoes: Take control of a task or job from another person

• The political crisis after the death of Quaid e Azam showed that nobody was well prepared to step into his shoes.

Stuff and nonsense: Utter foolishness or absurdity

• President asserted that any allegation of corruption against him is stuff and nonsense, so he welcomes the investigation.

A wild goose chase: a foolish and hopeless search for or pursuing something unattainable.

• Scientists looking for the extra-terrestrial life may be on a wild goose chase.

To be ill at ease: feeling anxious and uncomfortable

• Stage fright is a real thing. Many people usually feel ill at ease when addressing a large crowd. 

Sit on the fence: avoid making a decision or choice.

• The government has been sitting on the fence about legalizing marijuana for the past several years.
• Climate change is increasingly becoming an existential threat to humans, so politicians should stop sitting on the fence and start making stringent laws to curb carbon emissions.

In a jiffy: a concise period

• Just ring the bell, and the waiter will be with you in a jiffy.

To preen oneself: to spend time making yourself look attractive or to behave or speak with evident pride or self-satisfaction

• The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes
• He preened himself on having been graduated with honors

Phrasal verbs/idioms 2018

Show and tell: 

A visual presentation accompanied by an oral explanation.

• Leading software developers will provide technical show and tell sessions about their products.
• The salesman has given an excellent show and tells session on the working of this new gadget.

Helter-skelter: Haphazardly; in a chaotic fashion.

• People were screaming and running helter-skelter down the corridor to escape the flames
• The helter-skelter situation at the polling station made it impossible to cast a vote.

To the death: until somebody dies or is defeated or to the very end (of a struggle, quarrel, etc.)

• Some parents do not want the school to be closed and say they will fight to the death for it.
• Do not mess with the Punjabis. They have a reputation for taking the matter to death.

Tilt at windmill: to use time and energy to attack an enemy or problem that is not real or important

• The CEO seems to be tilting at windmills lately, flinging accusations at members of the press for no reason.

Het up: 

excited, angry, or anxious about something.

• Employees were all het up at the government when increment in the salary was not announced in the budget.
• The boss got all het up when I said my project would be late.

The whole ball of wax: Everything, the entirety of something.

• The report released by the UNO regarding renewable energy covers the whole ball of wax of policies.

It is about time: 

• It is about time that schools started to teach their students about the global warming issue.

2017

Wrath: extreme anger

• People are more inclined toward evil, but God's wrath bars them from doing /indulging it.

Worth: having a particular value, especially in money

• Heroin worth about $5 million was seized during the last night's raid.

Veracity: the quality of being trustworthy, honest, or accurate

• Doubts were cast on the veracity of her alibi.

Voracity: the quality or state of being voracious - wanting or devouring significant quantities of food

• Owing to his voracity and great taste in food, he visits more restaurants looking for buffets.
• Owing to the smaller size of the male and the greater voracity of the female, the male makes his advances on his mate at the risk of his life.

Subtler: something that is more difficult to detect

• Her subtler way of presenting ideas makes her unique from everybody else.
• His psychological analysis was subtler and more scientific.

Sutler: An army camp follower who peddled provisions to the soldiers.

• Everybody gets their provisions on time because the new sutler is more efficient and tidier.
• We have a new sutler, and he has such a pleasant personality.

Retenue: self-restraint: reserve

• His retenue behavior will go a long way in his career.
• I found her retenue in behavior, and this made me like her.

Retinue: a group of people who travel with an important person to help them

• The country is going through a financial crisis, yet the ministers still travel with large retinue costing the exchequer millions of rupees.
• The president travels with a large retinue of aides and bodyguards.

Minute: very small or of minor importance

• A very tiny or minute stain was found on my glasses.

Minuet: A slow, stately pattern dance

• Last night, we saw an attractive minute show of villagers.

Furor: frenzy or an outrage

• The research results created a furor in the medical press.

Furore: a sudden excited or angry reaction to something by many people.

• The government's decision to raise taxes has caused a great furor.

2016

Adverse: having a negative or harmful effect on something

• The match has been canceled due to adverse weather conditions.

Averse: strongly disliking or opposed to

• Few MPs are averse to the attention of the media.

Altogether: Completely, Entirely

• When he first saw the questions in the examination, he was altogether baffled.

All together: In a group

• The wedding guests were gathered all together in the garden.

Allude: To make an indirect reference

• The finance minister alluded to more taxes when discussing the IMF deal.
• He alluded to the problem but did not mention it.

Elude Meaning: To evade or escape from.

• The politician smartly eludes the press pretending to be on the call.
• The clever thief eluded the police by keeping them busy with other people.

Braise: Fry (food) lightly and stew it slowly in a closed container.

• He braised the beef in a wine sauce.

IBraze: Form, fix, or join by soldering with an alloy of copper and zinc at high temperatures.

• Each joint is turned up tightly and well pinned or brazed.

Kerb: The edge of a raised path nearest the road

• Police fined the shopkeeper for putting his stall on the kerb and creating a nuisance.
• She tripped over the kerb.
  

Curb: Meaning: To control or to limit.

• We must curb our spending next month.

Faze: To disturb, bother, or embarrass, To disrupt the composure of

• Fireworks did not faze the sleeping baby.

Phase: Any distinct period in a sequence of events

• The reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system.

Maybe: An adverb meaning "perhaps" or "possibly.

• Maybe I will go out tonight.

May be: A verb phrase meaning "might be" or "could be."

• I may be going out tonight.

Moat: Ditch dug as a fortification and usually filled with water

• The moat was found around the castle.

Mote: A tiny piece of anything

• There are millions of tiny dust motes in the air.

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