SSC CGL & CHSL 150 Most Repeated One-Word Substitutions, Idioms & Error Spotting Rules
In SSC CGL Tier 1 and CHSL Tier 1, the English Comprehension section carries 25 questions for 50 marks. In Tier 2 of SSC CGL, English carries the highest individual subject weightage with 45 questions (135 marks).
Because TCS question banks draw heavily from recurring linguistic templates, over 65% of vocabulary, idioms, and grammatical error spotting patterns are directly repeated from previous years' papers.
Mastering these 150 high-frequency items guarantees a 45+ score in Tier 1 in under 12 minutes of exam time.
1. Top 25 Most Repeated One-Word Substitutions in SSC
| Substitution Phrase | One Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| One who loves all mankind | Philanthropist | A person who seeks to promote the welfare of others |
| One who hates mankind | Misanthrope | A person who dislikes and distrusts human society |
| One who possesses outstanding skill in an art/music | Virtuoso | Highly accomplished performer or musician |
| A person who looks at the bright side of things | Optimist | Hopeful and confident about the future |
| A person who looks at the dark side of things | Pessimist | Tendency to expect the worst |
| Something that cannot be heard | Inaudible | Too quiet to be perceived by ear |
| A cure for all diseases | Panacea | Universal remedy |
| That which cannot be corrected | Incorrigible | Incapable of being reformed |
| One who is unable to pay his debts | Insolvent / Bankrupt | Legally declared unable to honor financial liabilities |
| An extreme fear of water | Hydrophobia | Pathological dread of water |
| An extreme fear of confined places | Claustrophobia | Morbid fear of enclosed spaces |
| A person who renounces a religious or political belief | Apostate | Defector from faith or allegiance |
| A lover of books | Bibliophile | Passionate collector and reader of books |
| One who knows everything | Omniscient | Infinite awareness and understanding |
| One who is present everywhere | Omnipresent | Widely or constantly encountered |
| One who is all-powerful | Omnipotent | Unlimited authority or force |
| A speech delivered without prior preparation | Extempore / Impromptu | Spoken without rehearsal |
| Government by the wealthy class | Plutocracy | State ruled by moneyed elites |
| Government by officials | Bureaucracy | Administrative rule by non-elected staff |
| Government by the few | Oligarchy | Power concentrated in a small circle |
| A person who walks in sleep | Somnambulist | Sleepwalker |
| A person who talks in sleep | Somniloquist | Sleep-talker |
| Incapable of making mistakes | Infallible | Incapable of error |
| Free from punishment or harm | Impunity | Exemption from penalty |
| That which cannot be avoided | Inevitable | Certain to happen |
2. Top 20 Most Repeated Idioms & Phrases
- A blessing in disguise: A good thing that seemed bad at first.
- Burn the midnight oil: To work or study late into the night.
- Once in a blue moon: Very rarely or infrequently.
- Hit the nail on the head: To state or describe an exact situation accurately.
- Beat around the bush: To avoid discussing what is important or direct.
- Bite the bullet: To endure a painful or unavoidable situation bravely.
- Break the ice: To initiate conversation and alleviate social tension.
- Cost an arm and a leg: Extremely expensive.
- Cry over spilt milk: To lament over past events that cannot be undone.
- A dime a dozen: Common and of little unique value.
- Apple of one's eye: Someone cherished above all others.
- Bolt from the blue: A sudden, unexpected piece of news or event.
- Spill the beans: To reveal secret information unintentionally.
- Take with a grain of salt: To view with skepticism and reservation.
- Through thick and thin: Under all conditions, both favorable and adverse.
- At sixes and sevens: In a state of total confusion and disarray.
- Fit as a fiddle: In excellent physical health.
- Leave no stone unturned: To make every possible effort to accomplish an objective.
- Under the weather: Feeling unwell or indisposed.
- Gift of the gab: Natural talent for speaking eloquently and persuasively.
3. High-Yield Error Spotting Rules: TCS Exam Patterns
Rule 1: Subject-Verb Agreement with "Neither... Nor" / "Either... Or"
When subjects are connected by neither... nor, either... or, or not only... but also, the verb agrees with the closest subject.
- Incorrect: Neither the captain nor the players was ready.
- Correct: Neither the captain nor the players were ready.
Rule 2: Inversion with Negative Adverbs
When a sentence begins with Hardly, Scarcely, Barely, No sooner, or Seldom, use auxiliary verb inversion:
- Hardly / Scarcely takes when (never than): Hardly had I reached the station when the train arrived.
- No sooner takes than (never then/when): No sooner did he see the police than he ran away.
Rule 3: The "One of the" Plural Noun + Singular Verb Rule
The phrase One of the is always followed by a plural noun and a singular verb:
- One of the students is selected.
- Exception with relative pronoun (who/which/that): He is one of those players who have performed well.
Rule 4: Hyphenated Compound Adjectives Never Take Plural Form
- Incorrect: A five-days workshop.
- Correct: A five-day workshop.
- Incorrect: A ten-rupees note.
- Correct: A ten-rupee note.
4. Cross-Study Resources & Preparation Links
- Calculate your SSC raw and normalized score on our SSC Cut-off & Normalization Calculator.
- Study the comprehensive Tier-1 strategy on our Ultimate SSC CHSL Preparation Guide.
- Review Quantitative Aptitude shortcuts on the SSC Maths Formula Sheet.
- Download authentic past 10-year question papers on the Competitive Exam PYQ Archive.
- Explore the complete syllabus and post hierarchy on the Official SSC CGL Master Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How can I score 45+ in SSC CGL Tier 1 English?
Focus 70% of study time on previous year vocabulary (One-word substitutions, idioms, syno/anto) and master the 25 foundational grammar rules. Solve at least 30 timed sectionals.
Q2: Does SSC ask new vocabulary words in Tier 1?
In any 25-question English section, 20 to 22 questions come from established previous year question patterns. Only 2 to 3 questions introduce newer contextual vocabulary.