How to crack XAT Decision makling
Decision Making (DM) is a section unique to XAT and consists of a mix of behavioral, managerial and mathematical questions. Decision Making is not really a test of theoretical knowledge but challenges the basic assumptions of your thinking and whether you are able to understand real-world problems that are presented as cases in these questions. The mathematical decision-making questions can be regarded as Data Interpretation or Logical Reasoning sets that can be solved using the techniques adopted for these areas. Keep in mind that these questions are generally very data-intensive and require in-depth analysis. Make sure that you quickly scan through the problem and only solve them if they appear to be manageable within a decent amount of time. The behavioral and managerial questions in the section are the interesting ones. Generally, you are provided a situation in which multiple courses of action arise or there are multiple fallouts of a particular action, and you are supposed to identify the correct path/ analysis. Majority of the time, the questions pose ethical/ management/ human resource related dilemmas that you are expected to address and solve. Effectively, you can view these questions as a combination of critical reasoning and reading comprehension questions. In terms of how the questions appear in the exam, the following types are seen: Single Question Prompts: These mimic critical reasoning questions, where a single paragraph is followed by one question. Generally, you should go through majority of these questions as these are not time intensive and you can easily gain a foothold in the section using these. The number of such questions has increased in the last couple of years. Two to Three Question per Prompt: These questions consist of a moderate prompt followed by 2 to 3 questions. On a number of occasions, long caselets have been provided by XAT, which have been followed by only 2 or 3 questions. Make sure you select the questions you wish to attempt wisely as you do not want to end up wasting too much time for just 2 questions. Four to Five Questions per Prompt: These questions are generally long caselets that are followed by 4 to 5 questions. In these caselets, you generally have multiple viewpoints presented and at times, these are as long as reading comprehensions. Seven Things to be kept in Mind while solving Decision Making Questions: The above forms a cursory introduction for the decision making section and provides you few details with respect to what you can expect in the examination. In this section, we analyze the things you should keep in mind for this section. 1. Establish Stakeholders in a given problem Every situation that you are given generally has multiple stakeholders, people or parties for which that information is relevant. Make sure you make a mental list of all of these. 2. Analyze Problems Holistically: From the perspective of each stakeholder For the stakeholders that you have analyzed, make sure you are able to analyze the problem from the viewpoint of every stakeholder. Do not adopt viewpoints that neglect one side of the story. 3. Take the viewpoint that maximizes benefit and minimizes damage from a complete angle In decision-making questions, you are supposed to select the option that maximizes the benefit for the majority, and at times, this might mean selecting a course of action that might be completely risk-free. 4. Avoid personal opinions Also, do not favor any one side in any particular case. It is a common tendency of students to adopt an approach based on your own value system (for example: an anti-business or anti-worker's approach in a dispute between management and workers). Do not allow personal opinions to cloud your judgment. 5. Do not adopt unethical practices. Options that present shortcuts or unethical ways of solving a problem need to be instantly rejected. These are never be the answer. 6. Do not select options that pronounce unsubstantiated judgments. Many of the options that present extreme scenarios are actually nothing else but cleverly concealed opinions. Remember, these opinions appeal to emotion and can tempt you to select them. Be careful about them and make sure you do not get enticed by this trap 7. Question yourself and make sure you are not missing anything Majority of the time, you are faced with intricate scenarios where you miss one element or the other while solving a problem. Make sure you question yourself about these assumptions and ensure that you have not missed some vital piece of data. Along with the above, one critical thing that you need to do is to practice all previous year XAT decision making questions.
Richa Kohli
Crack CAT with self preparation
A high score in your entrance exam is a must to pursue your MBA dream but to get that to happen and how you do it is also important. While most choose to crack that entrance exam by joining coaching institutes, there are some that wish or want to challenge themselves by taking up the task themselves. However, the one question that crosses everyone’s mind before beginning with the preparation is ‘Will I get a high score in my entrance exam and will it be enough to get me through to the top B-schools?’ and it most definitely weighs more on the minds of the ones that wish to prepare themselves without coaching. We are bringing you 6 different methods or ways through which you can crack CAT without coaching. 1. Know your exam The first thing you prepare for is getting to know the exam pattern and syllabus of CAT in detail. Next, a comprehensive plan needs to be in place before you start preparing for the exam. To do this, you need to go through previous years’ question papers and analysis so you can understand the importance of each topic and set your priorities accordingly. Generically the exam is a multiple choice test with main focus on 4 major areas, viz. Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. 2. Right Study Material There is ample study material available even for those who do not take coaching for CAT. A lot of books, question banks, preparatory books, and sample question papers are available in book stores as well as the online market. Getting the right material is important for systematic studies. Make use of sample question papers and practice papers to understand your strengths and work on your weaknesses. ‘How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT’ by Arun Sharma, ‘Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT’ by Sarvesh Verma, and ‘The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT’ by Nishit Sinha are some of the books, written by experts, that can be used for self-study and reference. Getting your general knowledge up-to-date is also important. You can go through various newspapers and magazines to do so. 3. Online Mock Tests Once you are done with your basic preparation it is necessary for you to take online mock tests to understand where you stand on the ladder of preparation. This analysis is very important as it helps you to change or continue on your path of action accordingly. Start with one to two tests a week initially and then move up to 3-4 tests a week. Note down your silly and common errors in each test you take so you can avoid them in the future. There are a lot of coaching institutes where you can enrol for the test series without attending the CAT classes there. 4. Study Group Anything can be achieved if you join forces. You can form a little study group where you can bounce off ideas on how to prepare for a particular topic in CAT or which is the best way to deal with a topic, etc. Discussing problems, sharing your queries and strategies helps you prepare better. If your study group has people who have taken up coaching, the better. They get to clear your doubts by getting them answered by experts. Take mock tests and solve practice papers together to better your understanding of a topic. 5. Buddy up with the internet Education websites, news websites, and social media groups can be of great help. Articles, sample papers, study materials are available on most of these websites and can be downloaded for free as well. Follow and join different forums and groups related to CAT preparation to always be updated with the latest on CAT. 6. Confidence and Motivation There is always the tried and tested method to always keep yourself motivated and be confident in your abilities. If you are studying on your own then it is of utmost importance to keep yourself going even if you hit a small hurdle. With a positive outlook and a good attitude you can crack CAT easily. Hope these tips help you crack CAT and score high! A high score in your entrance exam is a must to pursue your MBA dream but to get that to happen and how you do it is also important. While most choose to crack that entrance exam by joining coaching institutes, there are some that wish or want to challenge themselves by taking up the task themselves. However, the one question that crosses everyone’s mind before beginning with the preparation is ‘Will I get a high score in my entrance exam and will it be enough to get me through to the top B-schools?’ and it most definitely weighs more on the minds of the ones that wish to prepare themselves without coaching. We are bringing you 6 different methods or ways through which you can crack CAT without coaching. 1. Know your exam The first thing you prepare for is getting to know the exam pattern and syllabus of CAT in detail. Next, a comprehensive plan needs to be in place before you start preparing for the exam. To do this, you need to go through previous years’ question papers and analysis so you can understand the importance of each topic and set your priorities accordingly. Generically the exam is a multiple choice test with main focus on 4 major areas, viz. Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. 2. Right Study Material There is ample study material available even for those who do not take coaching for CAT. A lot of books, question banks, preparatory books, and sample question papers are available in book stores as well as the online market. Getting the right material is important for systematic studies. Make use of sample question papers and practice papers to understand your strengths and work on your weaknesses. ‘How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT’ by Arun Sharma, ‘Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT’ by Sarvesh Verma, and ‘The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT’ by Nishit Sinha are some of the books, written by experts, that can be used for self-study and reference. Getting your general knowledge up-to-date is also important. You can go through various newspapers and magazines to do so. 3. Online Mock Tests Once you are done with your basic preparation it is necessary for you to take online mock tests to understand where you stand on the ladder of preparation. This analysis is very important as it helps you to change or continue on your path of action accordingly. Start with one to two tests a week initially and then move up to 3-4 tests a week. Note down your silly and common errors in each test you take so you can avoid them in the future. There are a lot of coaching institutes where you can enrol for the test series without attending the CAT classes there. 4. Study Group Anything can be achieved if you join forces. You can form a little study group where you can bounce off ideas on how to prepare for a particular topic in CAT or which is the best way to deal with a topic, etc. Discussing problems, sharing your queries and strategies helps you prepare better. If your study group has people who have taken up coaching, the better. They get to clear your doubts by getting them answered by experts. Take mock tests and solve practice papers together to better your understanding of a topic. 5. Buddy up with the internet Education websites, news websites, and social media groups can be of great help. Articles, sample papers, study materials are available on most of these websites and can be downloaded for free as well. Follow and join different forums and groups related to CAT preparation to always be updated with the latest on CAT. 6. Confidence and Motivation There is always the tried and tested method to always keep yourself motivated and be confident in your abilities. If you are studying on your own then it is of utmost importance to keep yourself going even if you hit a small hurdle. With a positive outlook and a good attitude you can crack CAT easily. Hope these tips help you crack CAT and score high!
All About SNAP
This article will give you all the goods on the SNAP entrance exam and share information about the SNAP you never knew. What is SNAP all about? The Symbiosis National Aptitude Test or SNAP is a national level MBA entrance exam which is conducted by Symbiosis International University annually for admission of aspirants into its various management programs, including its affiliated institutes like SCMHRD and SIBM. From 2017 onwards the SNAP exam was taken by students in an online format. Even though the exam doesn't fall into the league of challenging exams like CAT or XAT, it requires thorough preparation if you want to get a good score. After CAT, the SNAP is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India as more than 50,000 students take this exam every year. What differentiates the SNAP entrance exam from the CAT is its General Awareness Section and the overall lower level of difficulty (LoD). The General Awareness section has a pivotal role to play in the SNAP, while it is absent in the CAT. Furthermore, the overall LoD of SNAP is historically lower than that of the CAT. So the good news is you don't need to develop a separate MBA preparation strategy to crack the 2018 SNAP Exam. The structure of SNAP exam The SNAP EXAM will be held online for the duration of 120 minutes. SNAP Exam Pattern Analysis If you are planning to sit for the 2018 SNAP entrance exam, you will have to solve a total of 150 questions in 120 minutes. So you must ensure that time management is a big part of your SNAP preparation strategy. To have a solid plan in place for the 2018 SNAP exam you need to know the exam pattern. Have a look at the four sections of the SNAP exam below: Quantitative Ability: This section has 40 questions that carry 1 mark each. Topics like Quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, and data sufficiency based questions are included in this section. Arithmetic based questions are mostly asked however there is a chance that geometry and mensuration based questions will appear too. Since the Quant section is very time consuming, we suggest that you brush up on your concepts and practice shortcuts to improve your speed and accuracy. Logical Reasoning: Many aspirants have found this section to be the most scoring section among all other sections. It has 40 questions that carry a total of 40 marks. Most of the questions are asked straightforwardly and are easy to answer. However, we cannot stress how important it is to keep practising as it makes giving the SNAP exam that much easier. Verbal Ability: This section again has a total of 40 questions that carry 1 mark each. To do well in this section, all student have to do is read. Yeah, there are no shortcuts here and you must pick up any pertinent material like newspapers, magazines, books etc. and read them every day. Trust us this is the only way to strengthen your verbal ability. General Awareness: This is the section that is known to tip the odds in favour of a candidate who does well in it. It has 30 questions in total and each question carries one mark. However to answer the questions in this section correctly regular practice is essential. Just remember that you can’t cover a topic like Current affairs in a few days, so start while you’re ahead. There are many books available for your preparation and you can also read the newspaper to enhance your general knowledge. When is the SNAP entrance exam conducted? SNAP is conducted in December every year. For further information and details about the 2018 SNAP exam, you can check the official website snaptest.org. There you will get to know about the important dates, application fee, MBA/PGP programmes and other essential information. The SNAP application form has to be submitted online and you will have till the last week of November to register and pay the fees. The exam is held in 32 cities across the country. The admit card is issued by the 3rd week of December which you will have to get from the website. Eligibility criteria for the SNAP entrance exam in 2018 You must be a Graduate from any recognised/statutory University with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST). Also, keep in mind and remember to check the eligibility as given by the respective Institute for programmes which require specific discipline/ subject specialisation. make sure to check eligibility criteria separately for specialisation offered by different Symbiosis Institutes like SSSS, Pune; SIHS Pune; SCIT Pune; SITM Pune; SCMHRD Pune; SIOM Nashik as they have their separate criteria. Even international students are welcome to apply as long as have completed a qualifying degree from any Foreign University and have an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). List of institutes that accept SNAP scores: Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM, Pune) Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies & Research (SICSR, Pune) Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD, Pune) Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB, Pune) Symbiosis Institute of Telecom Management (SITM, Pune) Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS, Pune) MBA Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Pune (SIMC, Pune) Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management, Nashik (SIOM, Nashik) Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology (SCIT, Pune) Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS, Pune) Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Bengaluru (SIBM, Bengaluru) Symbiosis School for Media & Communication, Bengaluru (SSMC, Bengaluru) Symbiosis School of Banking and Finance (SSBF, Pune) (Formerly Symbiosis School of Banking Management) Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Hyderabad (SIBM, Hyderabad) Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences (SSSS, Pune) SNAP Selection Procedure The selection procedure of SNAP 2018 will be a 2-step process. For the MBA aspirants sitting to give the SNAP exam is the first step of the selection procedure. After they have given the SNAP entrance exam based on their performance, the participating institutes will shortlist the desired candidates with the highest scores. In the second step of the SNAP selection process, shortlisted candidates have to appear for Group Exercises, Writing Ability Test or WAT and Personal Interaction rounds. Soon after which the institutes will announce the list of shortlisted candidates by the third week of January while the final list of SNAP selected candidates will be announced in the fourth week of February. Only if a candidate clears the cutoff set by a particular SNAP participating Institute, will they be shortlisted for the GE, WAT and PI rounds. Aspirants must keep in mind that the final merit list of the 2018 SNAP exam will be generated based on overall performance in both the SNAP exam and each of the selection rounds.
SSC-100 Idioms
Idioms frequently appear in the English section of many Government and Management examinations. 100 Idioms for SSC CGL 1. A hot potato Meaning: Something that is difficult or dangerous to deal with. Example: Terrorism is a political hot potato in Afghanistan. 2. A penny for your thoughts Meaning: Way of asking what someone is thinking. Example: After several minutes of silence he finally looked at her and said, “A penny for your thoughts, Lily.” 3. Actions speak louder than words Meaning: What you do is more significant than what you say. Example: He: I’m sorry. I’ll try to be a better person henceforth. She: Actions speak louder than words. 4. Add insult to injury Meaning: To make a bad situation worse. Example: Their basement was flooded, and then, to add insult to injury, a pipe burst in the kitchen. 5. An arm and a leg Meaning: A lot of money. Example: It’s the best cruise in the world, but it will cost you an arm and a leg. 6. At the drop of a hat Meaning: Immediately; without any hesitation Example: Ellie was always ready to go shopping at the drop of a hat. 7. Back to the drawing board Meaning: Start something all over again. Example: I failed this semester, but now I am back to the drawing board. 8. Ball is in your court. Meaning: It is up to you to take the next step Example: I’ve made my decision, now the ball is in your court. 9. Barking up the wrong tree Meaning: Looking in the wrong place; accusing the wrong person. Example: He did not commit the crime, you’re barking up the wrong tree. 10. Be glad to see the back of Meaning: Be glad to see someone leave. Example: I never liked her. I’ll be glad to see the back of her. 11. Beat around the bush Meaning: Avoid answering a question; not speaking directly about the issue. Example: Tell me what the problem is, stop beating around the bush. 12. Best of both the worlds Meaning: Situation wherein one can enjoy two different opportunities. Example: She had the privilege of a professor and freedom of a student. She had the best of both worlds. 13. Best thing since sliced bread Meaning: A good idea or plan; an excellent new invention. Example: I love your idea. It’s the best thing since sliced bread. 14. Bite off more than you can chew Meaning: To take on a task that is way too big. Example: Our boss bit off more than she could chew when she promised the client we’d have the project ready by next week. 15. Blessing in disguise Meaning: Something good that isn’t recognized at first. Example: Ashok’s losing his job was a blessing in disguise; it gave him an opportunity to pursue higher studies. 16. Burn the midnight oil Meaning: To stay up working, especially studying, late at night. Example: She’s been burning the midnight oil for the last few months; her hard work will definitely pay off in the coming exams. 17. Don’t judge a book by its cover Meaning: Don’t judge something primarily by its appearance. Example: She: He doesn’t look intelligent. He: You can’t judge a book by its cover. 18. Caught between two stools. Meaning: When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives. Example: He had committed to both and now he’s caught between two stools. 19. Cross that bridge when you come to it. Meaning: Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary. Example: He: I think I need to hire a lawyer. She: Cross that bridge when you come to it. 20. Cry over spilled milk Meaning: To be unhappy about something that cannot be undone. Example: It can’t he helped, don’t cry over spilled milk. 21. Curiosity killed the cat Meaning: Being too curious can get you into trouble. Example: Don’t ask about his divorce-curiosity killed the cat! 22. Cut corners Meaning: To take shortcuts; when something is done badly to save money. Example: They always put quality first; they won’t cut corners just to save money. 23. Cut the mustard Meaning: Perform satisfactorily; to succeed. Example: We need a better catcher; this one just doesn’t cut the mustard. 24. Devil’s advocate Meaning: To present a counter argument Example: The teacher always played devil’s advocate to provoke discussion in the classroom. 25. Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched. Meaning: Don’t make plans for something that might not happen. Example: You might not win the prize and you’ve already spent the money? Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched. 26. Don’t give up the day job Meaning: You’re not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally. Example: Why did you invest in business even after failing in it in the past? Don’t give up the day job! 27. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket Meaning: Don’t focus all of your attention on one thing or one area. Example: I know you love Harvard, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to other colleges too. 28. Drastic times call for drastic measures Meaning: When you’re extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions. Example: Yes we had to let go of five of our workers! Drastic times call for drastic measures. 29. Elvis has left the building Meaning: The show has come to an end. It’s all over. Example: We waited for another performance by the band but it looked like Elvis had left the building. 30. Every cloud has a silver lining Meaning: Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days. Example: I’m sorry your business is going badly, but remember every cloud has a silver lining. 31. Far cry from Meaning: A thing that is very different from something else. Example: What you did was a far cry from what you said you were going to do. 32. Feel a bit under the weather Meaning: Feeling sick or unhealthy. Example: I’m not coming to office today, I’m feeling a bit under the weather. 33. Give the benefit of doubt Meaning: Believe someone’s statement without proof. Example: I knew him since the past 5 years, so I gave him the benefit of doubt. 34. Hear through the grapevine Meaning: To hear news from someone who heard that news from someone else Example: I heard through the grapevine that she’s pregnant. 35. Hit the nail on the head Meaning: To do or say exactly the right thing. Example: You’ve spotted the flaw, Robert. You’ve hit the nail on the head. 36. Hit the sack/sheets/hay Meaning: To go to bed. Example: I’m exhausted. I think I’ll just hit the sack. 37. In the heat of the moment www.OliveBoard.in © 2016 Oliveboard Meaning: Overwhelmed by what’s happening at the moment. Example: He doesn’t hate you. He just said that in the heat of the moment. 38. It takes two to tango Meaning: Both people involved in a bad situation are responsible for it. Example: He blamed her for his lack of attention; well it takes two to tango. 39. Jump on the bandwagon Meaning: Join a popular trend or activity. Example: So many people are playing that game that I might as well jump on the bandwagon and check it out. 40. Keep something at bay Meaning: Keep something away Example: A good way to keep your anxiety at bay is through meditation. 41. Kill two birds with one stone Meaning: To solve two problems at a time with just one action Example: John practiced his words while peeling the potatoes. He was killing two birds with one stone. 42. Last straw Meaning: The final problem in a series of problems Example: This is the last straw. I’m calling the police. 43. Let sleeping dogs lie Meaning: Leave something alone if it might cause trouble. www.OliveBoard.in © 2016 Oliveboard www.OliveBoard.in Example: I thought I would ask him if he wanted me to pay him back right away, but then I decided to let the sleeping dogs lie. 44. Let the cat out of the bag Meaning: To share information that was previously concealed. Example: It’s our secret. Don’t let the cat out of the bag. 45. Make a long story short Meaning: Come to the point – leave out the details. Example: And – to make the long story short – I never got back the money I lent him. 46. Method in the madness Meaning: A purpose in what one is doing, even though it seems to be crazy. Example: What I’m doing might seem strange, but there is method in my madness. 47. Miss the boat Meaning: To miss out on something. Example: Pay attention, John, or you’ll miss the boat and never learn algebra. 48. Not a spark of decency Meaning: A person who has no manners Example: Her brother has not a spark of decency. I don’t like the way he acts in public. 49. Not playing with the full deck Meaning: Someone who is mentally, psychologically or intellectually deficient. Example: He’s an intelligent guy, but with all that crazy things he does, I wonder if he’s not playing with the full deck. © 2016 Oliveboard 50. On the ball Meaning: When someone understands a situation well; attentive. Example: If you were on the ball, this wouldn’t have happened. 51. Off the record Meaning: Not made as an official or attributable statement; unofficial; confidential Example: He accepted his fault off the record and hence it could not be used by the prosecutor in the court. 52. Oldest trick in the book Meaning: A well known and much used trick/method Example: Oldest trick in the book to treat cold and cough is drinking turmeric milk. 53. Off the cuff Meaning: Without preparation; spontaneous Example: She has a reputation of handling off the cuff interviews very well. 54. Old habits die hard Meaning: People find it difficult to change their accustomed behavior. Example: She retired last month, but still gets up at the same time in the morning. Old habits die hard. 55. Once in a blue moon Meaning: Very rarely Example: Jill has a very rocky relationship with her father. She speaks to him once in a blue moon. www.OliveBoard.in © 2016 Oliveboard 56. Open the floodgates Meaning: Release something that was previously under control Example: Economists fear that relaxing price control will open the floodgates to inflation. 57. Out of the blue Meaning: Happen unexpectedly Example: She had given up all hope when out of the blue she got a call from Harvard. 58. Out on a limb Meaning: Do something risky or something that others do not support (leaving the doer in a difficult situation) Example: She was out on a limb with her project – nobody supported her idea. 59. Over the top Meaning: Totally excessive and not suitable for the occasion. Example: Her sari was way over the top for a sombre occasion like this. 60. Pen is mightier than the sword Meaning: Words and communication have a greater effect than war Example: A simple handwritten note put an end to their week long cold war – pen is mightier than the sword. 61. Push one’s luck Meaning: Trying to obtain more than what one has (risk spoiling the current situation) Example: You have my permission to go to your friends’ place but don’t push your luck by planning a night out. www.OliveBoard.in © 2016 Oliveboard 62. Raining cats and dogs Meaning: Raining heavily Example: We’ll have to cancel the trip, it’s raining cats and dogs here. 63. Reap the harvest Meaning: Benefit or suffer as a direct result of past actions. Example: When he cleared IIT-JEE, he reaped the harvest of all his hard work. 64. Roll up one’s sleeves Meaning: Get ready for hard work Example: My brother said he would roll up his sleeves and do whatever it takes to support the family. 65. See eye to eye Meaning: To be in agreement with Example: She was glad her roommate saw eye to eye on the choice of the flat. 66. Shot in the dark Meaning: A complete guess (may or may not be close to the truth) Example: He didn’t know too much about programming, so answering the interviewer’s question was merely a shot in the dark. 67. Sink your teeth into Meaning: Do something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Example: Robin immediately sank his teeth into his new job. www.OliveBoard.in © 2016 Oliveboard 68. Skating on thin ice Meaning: Do or say something risky or something that could cause trouble. Example: Don’t say anything that hurts her self esteem or you could be skating on thin ice. 69. Stand in a good stead Meaning: To be useful or be of good service to someone. Example: Being fluent in German will stand you in a good stead when applying for an MS in Germany. 70. Strike while the iron is hot Meaning: To act at the right time Example: The price of gold is at a 10 year low, strike while the iron is hot and invest in it right away. 71. Take a back seat Meaning: Choose to be less important in a role Example: He finally decided to take a back seat and let his son run the family business. 72. Take with a grain/pinch of salt Meaning: To doubt the accuracy of information Example: A lot is said about the celebrities in media, but that information should be taken with a grain of salt. 73. Take a nosedive Meaning: Rapid drop or decrease in value Example: The share prices took a nosedive when there were rumors of the company’s CEO resigning. www.OliveBoard.in © 2016 Oliveboard 74. Take the plunge Meaning: Venture into something of one’s interest despite the risks involved Example: Jack finally took the plunge and opened a restaurant. 75. Taste of one’s own medicine Meaning: Treat people the same (unpleasant) way they treated you Example: People who often disregard others should be given a taste of their own medicine. 76. Think the world of Meaning: Admire someone very much Example: Emily is a wonderful teacher – children think the world of her. 77. Tight spot Meaning: A difficult situation Example: The recent lawsuit has put the firm in a tight spot. 78. Tongue in cheek Meaning: (of a remark) Supposed to be taken in funny or ironic sense Example: Her comment was taken more seriously than intended. It was supposed to be tongue in cheek. 79. Turn a blind eye Meaning: Pretend not to notice Example: People tend to turn a blind eye to crime against women. 80. Walk on eggshells Meaning: Be extremely cautious about one's words or actions www.OliveBoard.in © 2016 Oliveboard www.OliveBoard.in Example: Celebrities are scrutinized by the media for all their actions so they’re required to walk on eggshells. 81. Want someone’s head on a platter Meaning: Want someone to be punished severely Example: “I want that murderer’s head on a platter!”, said the Chief of police. 82. Watch (someone) like a hawk Meaning: Keep eyes on or watch carefully Example: The examiner watched the test takers like a hawk. 83. Water under the bridge Meaning: Something bad that happened in the past but is no longer important Example: The couple had a serious fight in the past but that water is under the bridge now. 84. Wave a dead chicken Meaning: Do some useless, unhelpful thing in the hope that it will solve a problem Example: Restarting the laptop once the motherboard has crashed is like waving a dead chicken. 85. Weak in the knees Meaning: Barely able to stand because of emotion, fear or illness Example: The shock of being summoned by the Supreme Court made me go weak in the knees. 86. Wear many hats Meaning: Do many different types tasks Example: We have such a small number of employees that one is often supposed to wear many hats. © 2016 Oliveboard 87. Weather the storm Meaning: Succeed in surviving a difficult period of time Example: Given the current global market conditions, the Indian economy is weathering the storm pretty well. 88. Wet behind the ears Meaning: Inexperienced and immature Example: Instead of a full time job, she should be offered an internship as she is still wet behind the ears. 89. Whale of a time Meaning: Enjoy a lot Example: She had a whale of a time in Goa with her girl gang. 90. Whistle in the dark Meaning: Pretend to be brave in a scary situation Example: Upon being attacked, she blew a whistle in the dark which surprised her attackers. 91. Why keep a dog and bark for yourself Meaning: If someone or something can do a job for you, why do it yourself? Example: My sister has a printer but she continues to write notes manually. Why keep a dog and bark for yourself? 92. Wide off the mark Meaning: Incorrect; Inadequate; Not what is expected Example: Her answer was wide off the mark, it was impossible for me to give a better rating to it. www.OliveBoard.in © 2016 Oliveboard 93. Wild goose chase Meaning: Waste time looking for something that has little chance of being found Example: She tried to find out who the anonymous caller was, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase. 94. Wipe the slate clean Meaning: Make a fresh start Example: When Mike was leaving home, he decided to wipe the slate clean with his dad. 95. Wolf in sheep’s clothing Meaning: Dangerous person pretending to be harmless Example: I thought she was a good person, but I realized that she was a wolf in a sheep’s clothing when she backstabbed me during the selection process. 96.Work your fingers to the bone Meaning: Extreme hard work Example: She totally deserves the success; she worked her fingers to the bone when she started out as a model. 97. Worm’s eye view Meaning: A perspective seen from below or from a low or inferior position Example: The trainees get only a worm’s eye view of the corporate structure. 98. Worth one’s salt Meaning: Good or competent at the job or profession specified Example: She deserves respect as she is totally worth her salt. www.OliveBoard.in © 2016 Oliveboard 99. Wrap one’s brain around Meaning: Concentrate on something in an effort to understand Example: I really need to wrap my brain around this concept before the exam. 100. Zero in on something Meaning: Focus all attention onto one thing Example: The teacher immediately zeroed in on the weaker students of the class.