117 Most Repeated CSS Idioms

To achieve great distinction or honour.

سرخرو ہونا، عزت حاصل کرنا

“The young diplomat won laurels for negotiating the trade agreement single-handedly.”

In a state of intense hostility.

سخت دشمنی میں مبتلا

“The two coalition partners have been at daggers drawn since the budget dispute began.”

Very rapidly.

تیزی سے، جست بہ جست

“Exports of the textile sector have grown by leaps and bounds over the past two years.”

Deliberately and without mercy or remorse.

سوچے سمجھے انداز میں، بے رحمی سے

“The report accused the militia of executing prisoners in cold blood.”

A disgraceful or disreputable member of a family or group.

کالی بھیڑ، بدنام فرد

“Every political party has its black sheep who bring the whole organization into disrepute.”

A very difficult problem or person to deal with.

مشکل مسئلہ یا شخص

“Reforming the tax bureaucracy has proven a hard nut to crack for successive governments.”

A state of happiness based on false hope or a mistaken belief.

خوش فہمی کی دنیا

“Officials who believe the economy has stabilized are living in a fool's paradise.”

To withdraw from a difficult or losing situation.

پسپا ہونا، پیچھے ہٹنا

“Facing public backlash, the ministry quietly beat a retreat on the fuel price hike.”

Faced with a choice between two equally unwelcome options.

دوراہے پر، مشکل انتخاب میں

“The central bank found itself on the horns of a dilemma: raise rates and slow growth, or hold them and fuel inflation.”

To avoid getting to the point; to speak evasively.

اِدھر اُدھر کی باتیں کرنا

“Stop beating about the bush and tell the committee exactly why the project was delayed.”

To make peace after a conflict.

صلح کرنا

“The rival factions finally agreed to bury the hatchet and form a coalition government.”

Irregularly, in short bursts rather than continuously.

کبھی کبھار، بے قاعدگی سے

“Progress on the housing scheme has moved by fits and starts, stalling every time funding runs short.”

By any means necessary, fair or unfair.

جیسے تیسے، ہر ممکن طریقے سے

“The contractor was determined to finish the bridge by hook or by crook before the election.”

To be forced to admit one's own mistake or failure, humbly.

اپنی غلطی تسلیم کرنا

“After the policy backfired, the minister had to eat humble pie and reverse the decision publicly.”

To act unfairly or cruelly, especially in an argument.

غیر منصفانہ وار کرنا

“Attacking a rival candidate's family in a campaign speech is widely seen as hitting below the belt.”

In perfect order; neatly and carefully arranged.

نہایت ترتیب سے

“The auditors found the department's financial records in apple pie order, a rare achievement in the public sector.”

To abandon someone in a difficult situation without help.

مشکل وقت میں چھوڑ دینا

“The contractor left the flood victims in the lurch by abandoning the reconstruction project midway.”

To confess something fully and openly.

سب کچھ صاف صاف بتا دینا

“Under cross-examination, the witness finally made a clean breast of the entire scheme.”

To stop a problem or bad habit before it can grow.

بروقت روک دینا

“Regulators moved quickly to nip the currency speculation in the bud before it destabilized the market.”

To go completely unpunished for a wrongdoing.

بغیر سزا کے، بچ نکلنا

“Critics complained that the officials responsible for the scandal walked away scot free.”

To sense that something is wrong or suspicious.

شک ہونا، بو آنا

“Auditors smelled a rat when the same contractor won every tender for three consecutive years.”

Through good times and bad; under all circumstances.

ہر مشکل و آسانی میں ساتھ دینا

“The two allied parties have stood by each other through thick and thin since independence.”

To begin to improve after a difficult period.

بہتری کی طرف موڑ آنا

“Economists believe the economy has finally turned the corner after two years of contraction.”

To not accept something as entirely true; to view with skepticism.

شک کی نگاہ سے دیکھنا

“Analysts advised investors to take the government's growth projections with a grain of salt.”

An extremely difficult task requiring great strength or effort.

انتہائی مشکل کام

“Rebuilding the flood-hit infrastructure within a year is a Herculean task for any administration.”

Someone who feels awkward or out of place in an unfamiliar situation.

اجنبی ماحول میں بے چین

“The career bureaucrat looked like a fish out of water at the televised political debate.”

An action whose consequences cannot be predicted.

اندھیرے میں چھلانگ، غیر یقینی اقدام

“Devaluing the currency without a broader reform plan was widely criticized as a leap in the dark.”

A constant source of irritation or trouble.

مسلسل تکلیف دہ عنصر

“The opposition's relentless questioning in parliament remained a thorn in the government's side.”

Always ready to obey someone's orders immediately.

ہر وقت حکم بجا لانے کو تیار

“Junior officers were expected to be at the minister's beck and call at all hours.”

One's main source of income or livelihood.

روزی روٹی، ذریعہ معاش

“Agriculture remains the bread and butter of the rural population in much of the country.”

To exhaust oneself by overworking or living too intensely.

دن رات محنت کر کے خود کو تھکا دینا

“Junior civil servants preparing for the CSS exam often burn the candle at both ends for months.”

To admit defeat and give up.

ہار مان لینا

“After three failed budget votes, the coalition finally threw in the towel and called fresh elections.”

An achievement or honour to be proud of.

قابلِ فخر کامیابی

“Successfully hosting the regional summit was a real feather in the foreign ministry's cap.”

With all one's belongings; entirely and completely.

اپنے تمام سازوسامان کے ساتھ

“The occupying forces were finally forced out, bag and baggage, after years of resistance.”

To solve a complicated problem decisively and boldly.

پیچیدہ مسئلے کو جرات مندانہ حل کرنا

“Rather than negotiate further, the new government simply cut the Gordian knot and repealed the entire law.”

Already decided, with no room for further discussion.

پہلے سے طے شدہ

“The outcome of the vote was cut and dried well before the session even began.”

To make money for oneself, often dishonestly, while in a position of trust.

اپنے فائدے کے لیے دوسروں کا استحصال کرنا

“The inquiry found that several officials had been feathering their own nests through inflated contracts.”

To take advantage of a difficult or chaotic situation for personal gain.

افراتفری سے ناجائز فائدہ اٹھانا

“Smugglers were quick to fish in troubled waters during the border closure.”

To behave as if one is more important than one really is.

خود کو بڑا ظاہر کرنا

“New recruits who give themselves airs rarely earn the respect of senior colleagues.”

To be in a very precarious or uncertain situation.

انتہائی نازک صورتحال میں ہونا

“With no fresh funding secured, the entire relief operation was hanging by a thread.”

A man who is excessively dominated or controlled by his wife.

بیوی کے زیرِ اثر شوہر

“The character in the satire was portrayed as a henpecked husband, unable to make a single decision alone.”

Money paid to someone to ensure their silence about a wrongdoing.

خاموشی کے عوض دی جانے والی رشوت

“Investigators allege that hush money changed hands to keep the scandal out of the press.”

To accidentally reveal a secret.

راز افشا کر دینا

“A junior aide let the cat out of the bag about the cabinet reshuffle days before the official announcement.”

Having no legal force; completely invalid.

کالعدم، بے اثر

“The court declared the disputed land allotment null and void.”

Suddenly, without prior planning.

بغیر سوچے سمجھے، فوری طور پر

“The decision to close the borders was taken on the spur of the moment, with little consultation.”

To use one's influence or connections to gain an unfair advantage.

سفارش یا اثر و رسوخ استعمال کرنا

“Many candidates believe that pulling strings still matters more than merit in public-sector hiring.”

To understand a meaning that is implied but not directly stated.

اصل مطلب سمجھنا

“Seasoned journalists learned to read between the lines of the carefully worded official statement.”

To avoid taking a side in a dispute or decision.

غیر جانبدار رہنا، فیصلہ نہ کرنا

“Several independent lawmakers chose to sit on the fence rather than back either coalition.”

Fair and honest treatment.

منصفانہ سلوک

“Small farmers have long demanded a square deal from the middlemen who control crop prices.”

A constant, looming threat that could strike at any moment.

سر پر منڈلاتا خطرہ

“The threat of a no-confidence vote hung over the prime minister like a sword of Damocles.”

To accept a challenge.

چیلنج قبول کرنا

“The young senator took up the gauntlet and challenged the veteran minister to a public debate.”

To suffer silently, often from envy, grief, or frustration.

دل ہی دل میں کڑھنا

“Passed over for promotion twice, the officer ate his heart out in silence rather than file a complaint.”

Caught between two equally dangerous or undesirable options.

دو مشکلات کے درمیان پھنسا ہوا

“The finance minister was caught between the devil and the deep sea: cut subsidies or default on the loan.”

A little-known person who unexpectedly succeeds or wins.

غیر متوقع کامیاب شخص

“The independent candidate turned out to be the dark horse of the election, defeating both major parties.”

A point of congestion that slows down progress.

رکاوٹ، تنگ گزرگاہ جو رفتار کم کر دے

“Outdated port infrastructure remains the single biggest bottleneck in the country's export supply chain.”

To take a firm stand and insist on something.

سختی سے موقف اپنانا

“The regulator finally put its foot down and banned the misleading advertisements outright.”

Someone who spoils other people's enjoyment or enthusiasm.

مزہ کرکرا کرنے والا شخص

“Every reform proposal in the committee was met by a wet blanket from the old guard.”

To make a bad situation even worse.

زخموں پر نمک چھڑکنا

“Raising utility bills right after the flood devastation added insult to injury for affected families.”

Born into a wealthy and privileged family.

امیر گھرانے میں پیدا ہونا

“Critics argued that the young minister, born with a silver spoon, had little grasp of ordinary people's struggles.”

A completely unexpected and often shocking event.

اچانک اور غیر متوقع واقعہ

“The sudden resignation of the central bank governor came as a bolt from the blue to the markets.”

To try very hard, often excessively, to help or please someone.

حد سے زیادہ کوشش کرنا

“The department bent over backwards to accommodate the foreign delegation's every request.”

To be very expensive.

بہت مہنگا ہونا

“A quality private education now costs an arm and a leg for most middle-class families.”

To have just enough money to cover one's basic needs.

بمشکل گزارا کرنا

“With inflation at record highs, daily-wage workers are struggling to make ends meet.”

In writing or print, as clear and undeniable evidence.

تحریری طور پر، سیاہ و سفید میں

“The commission wanted the minister's assurance in black and white before releasing the funds.”

Confined to bed by illness or injury.

بیماری کے باعث بستر تک محدود

“The negotiator was laid up with a fever just as the talks reached their final stage.”

The full details or complexities of a matter.

کسی معاملے کی مکمل تفصیلات

“It took the committee months to learn the ins and outs of the irrigation dispute.”

An absurd or implausible tale, usually offered as an excuse.

ایک ناقابلِ یقین اور بے سروپا کہانی

“The contractor's cock and bull story about the missing cement fooled no one on the audit team.”

A day marked by festivity and celebration.

خوشی اور جشن کا دن

“Independence Day is a gala day across the country, with parades in every major city.”

A person who deserts one party or cause for a rival one.

وقت کے ساتھ وفاداری بدلنے والا، غدار

“The floor-crossing lawmaker was branded a turncoat by his former party.”

To find fault with someone or something.

کسی میں کیڑے نکالنا، عیب جوئی کرنا

“Opposition members spent the session picking holes in the finance bill rather than proposing alternatives.”

Faithful and loyal to one's employer or master.

اپنے آقا یا فرض سے وفادار

“Even after retirement, the old clerk remained true to his salt, defending the department's record.”

To show respect or favor to someone whose power and influence are increasing.

طاقت پکڑنے والے کی چاپلوسی کرنا

“As soon as the results were announced, former critics rushed to worship the rising sun.”

To suffer unpleasant consequences from meddling in something risky.

اپنے ہاتھ جلانا، نقصان اٹھانا

“Investors who ignored the warning signs burned their fingers when the market crashed.”

A day that is memorable or particularly happy.

یادگار اور خوشی کا دن

“The day the flood-relief bill finally passed was a red letter day for the affected districts.”

To acknowledge the good qualities of a person one generally dislikes or disapproves of.

برے شخص کی بھی جائز تعریف کرنا

“Whatever one thinks of his politics, one must give the devil his due for the roads he built.”

To create a loud disturbance or quarrel.

شور و ہنگامہ کھڑا کرنا

“Residents kicked up a row outside the utility office after the third unannounced power cut that week.”

To treat someone as badly as they have treated you.

جیسے کو تیسا، اسی کے انداز میں جواب دینا

“The smaller party paid its former ally back in its own coin by withdrawing support at the crucial vote.”

To set aside a plan or issue indefinitely without cancelling it outright.

معاملے کو غیر معینہ مدت کے لیے ملتوی کر دینا

“The long-promised metro project has effectively been put in cold storage since the funding dispute began.”

A strong liking for sweet-tasting food.

میٹھا کھانے کا شوق

“Despite his doctor's warnings, the minister never lost his sweet tooth for the local halwa.”

To boast about one's own achievements.

اپنی تعریف خود کرنا، خود ستائی

“The candidate spent the entire rally blowing his own trumpet instead of addressing the flood victims' concerns.”

A subject of dispute or disagreement between people.

جھگڑے کی بنیاد، اختلاف کا سبب

“Water distribution from the shared reservoir remains a bone of contention between the two provinces.”

To beat someone very severely, leaving visible bruises.

بری طرح مارنا پیٹنا

“The mob beat the suspected thief black and blue before the police could intervene.”

To make a damaging or unfounded claim about someone's character.

کسی پر بلاجواز الزام لگانا، بدنام کرنا

“The minister accused the opposition of casting aspersions on his integrity without any evidence.”

To waste time worrying about a misfortune that has already happened and cannot be undone.

گزری بات پر افسوس کرنا

“There is no point crying over spilt milk now; the deadline has already passed.”

To make a poor or pitiable impression.

برا تاثر چھوڑنا

“The delegation cut a sorry figure at the summit, unable to answer even basic questions on the treaty.”

To die while still actively working, rather than after retirement.

فرض کی ادائیگی کے دوران وفات پانا

“The veteran civil servant died in harness, still reviewing files the night before his death.”

To fail completely after promising much.

ناکام ہو جانا، دھوئیں میں اڑ جانا

“Years of planning for the industrial zone ended in smoke when the main investor withdrew.”

To decline severely in condition, quality, or morals; to be ruined.

برباد ہو جانا، تباہ ہو جانا

“Old residents say the neighborhood has gone to the dogs since the encroachments began.”

To be in a state of uncertainty, with the outcome yet to be decided.

غیر یقینی حالت میں ہونا، فیصلہ زیرِ التوا ہونا

“With the coalition partners still undecided, the government's survival hangs in the balance.”

To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.

بالکل درست بات کہنا

“The columnist hit the nail on the head when she blamed the crisis on decades of underinvestment.”

To be sound, logical, and able to withstand scrutiny (used of an argument or theory).

دلیل کا قابلِ قبول یا معقول ہونا

“The department's explanation for the delay simply doesn't hold water.”

To try every possible means to achieve something.

کوئی کسر نہ چھوڑنا، ہر ممکن کوشش کرنا

“Investigators promised to leave no stone unturned in tracing the missing relief funds.”

To spend all one's money on immediate necessities, with nothing left to save.

بمشکل گزر بسر کرنا

“With inflation eating into wages, many daily laborers now live from hand to mouth.”

To reach a firm decision.

ارادہ پکا کرنا، فیصلہ کرنا

“The party has yet to make up its mind on whether to contest the by-election.”

To agree fully with someone.

کسی سے پوری طرح متفق ہونا

“The two ministries rarely see eye to eye on how the subsidy should be distributed.”

To use or spend something, especially money, in a wasteful or reckless way.

بے دریغ ضائع کرنا (خصوصاً پیسہ)

“The audit found the district office had played ducks and drakes with the development budget.”

To do things in the wrong order, reversing the natural or logical sequence.

اُلٹا کام کرنا، ترتیب کا خیال نہ رکھنا

“Announcing the ribbon-cutting before construction even began was putting the cart before the horse.”

To be involved in too many activities or projects at once.

ایک وقت میں بہت سے کام ہاتھ میں لینا

“Critics say the ministry has too many irons in the fire to finish any single reform properly.”

To begin behaving in a better or more responsible way.

نئے سرے سے اچھی روش اختیار کرنا

“The department promised to turn over a new leaf after the corruption scandal came to light.”

To confront a difficult situation directly and with courage.

مشکل کا دلیری سے مقابلہ کرنا

“The new commissioner took the bull by the horns and cleared the decades-old backlog within a year.”

To take on a task that is too big or too difficult to manage.

اپنی استطاعت سے زیادہ ذمہ داری لینا

“Analysts warned the coalition had bitten off more than it could chew by promising reform on every front at once.”

Operating at a profit; financially solvent.

منافع میں، مالی طور پر مستحکم

“The state airline reported its first year in the black in over a decade.”

Operating at a loss; in debt.

خسارے میں، مقروض

“The utility company has remained deep in the red since the tariff freeze began.”

At the last possible moment; just in time.

عین وقت پر، بروقت

“The rescue team reached the stranded villagers in the nick of time, just before the water level rose further.”

To be extremely familiar with something.

کسی چیز سے مکمل واقفیت رکھنا

“After thirty years on the beat, the officer knew the old city's alleys like the back of his hand.”

To start an activity or process.

کسی کام کا آغاز کرنا

“The envoy's visit was meant to get the ball rolling on stalled trade talks.”

A shift to a different opinion or attitude, often after reflection.

دل کی تبدیلی، رائے بدل جانا

“After months of resistance, the board had a change of heart and approved the merger.”

To regard someone or something as inferior.

کسی کو کمتر سمجھنا، حقارت سے دیکھنا

“The report criticized senior officials for looking down on the very communities the scheme was meant to serve.”

To fail to take advantage of an opportunity because one has acted too slowly.

موقع ہاتھ سے گنوا دینا

“Analysts say the country missed the boat on early investment in renewable energy.”

To rely on something as a resource in time of need.

مشکل وقت میں کسی چیز پر انحصار کرنا

“With the harvest destroyed, the family had nothing to fall back on but its savings.”

To fail to happen or be completed, especially at a late stage.

منصوبے کا ناکام ہو جانا (آخری مرحلے میں)

“The joint venture fell through at the last minute over a disagreement on ownership shares.”

Personal or group stakes that bias someone toward a particular outcome, often at the expense of the public good.

ذاتی مفادات

“Reform of the sugar sector keeps stalling because of the vested interests represented in the assembly.”

To use something, especially an opportunity or resource, to one's own advantage.

کسی چیز کو اپنے فائدے میں استعمال کرنا

“The province turned its coastal location to account by developing a new deep-water port.”

To make a futile or wasted effort.

بے سود کوشش کرنا

“Without the ministry's cooperation, the task force was merely beating the air.”

Unfair, treacherous, or criminal action, especially involving violence.

بدنیتی پر مبنی یا مجرمانہ کارروائی

“Police have not ruled out foul play in the businessman's sudden disappearance.”

To welcome guests freely and hospitably at all times.

ہر وقت مہمانوں کی تواضع کے لیے تیار رہنا

“The old feudal families of the region were once known for keeping open house during the harvest season.”

To be involved in or have an interest in something, often in a meddling way.

کسی معاملے میں دخل اندازی یا دلچسپی رکھنا

“Almost every local contractor seemed to have a finger in the pie of the reconstruction contracts.”