Hello all fellows and seniors, I am back to posting.
I want to seriously prepare for CSS 2011 (not for 2010 because I think I havent done enough preparations for that). The first thing I have done is I have typed a list of idioms that have appeared in all papers since 1971. Here it goes. It is in order as appeared in papers, so any duplication means it has appeared again in that paper, I forgot to type years of papers, and now I find it difficult to do. If it is necessary, I can do that too, but u will have to let me know about that. Furthermore, the source of old papers is Dogar's Testmaster.

carry out
taken over
bring about
beat out
bear with
to fall back on something
to fall through
on right earnest
vested interests
meaningful dialogue
turn to account
to beat the air
to break a lance with
to foul of
to keep of house
to put out of countenance
got up to kill
to have a finger in pie
when all is said and done
to have an axe to grind
turn a new leaf
to burn the candle at both ends
leave in the lurch
goes without saying
like a red rag to a bull
not a leg to stand on
under the thumb of
the writing on the wall
to sow one's wild oats
storm in a tea cup
to keep late hours to throw cold water on
a cock and bull story
to bear the brunt of
tied to apron strings of
to move heaven and earth
to blow one's own trumpet
to rest on one's laurels
trudge along
point blank
in athe doldrums
dole out
at cross purposes
check by jowl
succinctly
hilarious detract from
plainsailing
to bear the brunt of
to call a space to spade
to fight shy of
to cry over the split milk
to burn the candle at both ends
to rob peter to pay paul
to take the bull by the horns
playing to the gallery
holding out the olive branch
to make out
the acid test
a bad hat
in a blue funk
set one's cap
down at heel
to die in harness
dead as doornail
to raise coin
to strike one's colours
to carry the day
taken down at peg
to monkey with
to be in hot water
petticoat agovernment
to pull oneself together
to rise from the ranks
to rub shoulders
pocket the affront
thin end of the wedge
flash in the pan
to keep at a respectful distance
at one's beck and call
go against the grain
bring grist to the mill
upset the apple cart
hoist on one's own petard
live on the fat of the land
to have your cake and eat it too
between the devil and the deep blue sea
to be in hot water
to be on the carpet
it never rains but it pours
a miss is as good as a mile
to give oneself airs
to have the courage of one's convictions
the onlooker sees most of the game
out of sight out of mind
to come to dead end
to turn a deaf ear
every dark could has a silver lining
blowing hot and cold together
to let the cat out of the bag
to put the cart before the horse
to sail in the same boat
a swan song
much _______ about nothing
_______ is the last refuge of the scoundrel
to put the _______ before the _______
_______ of the same ______ flock together
a ______ in time save ______
______ dog seldom _______
sweet are the uses of ______
eternal ________ is the price of ________
a ______ child ________ the fire
one man's _______ is another man's __________
to look a gift horse in mouth
to have an axe to grind
to wash one's dirty linen in public
to pocket an insult
to take to one's heels
to win laurels
a gentleman at large
by and by
the lion's share
in black and white
to bring to book
to read between the lines
to stick to one's guns
to be under a cloud
by fits and starts
give every man thy ear but few thy voice
to rob peter to pay paul
the child is father of the man
art lies in concealing art
life without a philosophy is like a ship without rudder
to back out
to keep out
bang into
to smell a rat
to burn one's fingers
null and void
to catch up with
to stand up for
to skim through
to narrow down
as cool as a cucumber
to have your cake and eat it too
in a pickle
take a cake
sell like hot cakes
as flat as a pancake
take something with a grain of salt
like two peas in a pod
account for
carry weight
to fall back upon
ta be taken aback
a wild goose chase
by leaps and bounds
as cool as a cucumber
to burn midnight oil
white elephant
blue blood
cleanse the augean stable
apple of discord
in good books
between the devil and the deep blue sea
stare in the face
make off with
democle's sword
every inch
spade a spade
one the sky
palm off
lip service
a turn coat
a wild goose chase
between the devil and the deep blue sea
a wild goose chase
over head and ears
time and tide
to live from hand to mouth
to beat about the bush
to fish in troubled waters
a bird's eye view
play truant
play down
turn turtle
turn the corner
a fair weather friend
under a cloud
burn one's boats
horse trading
between scylla and charybidis
hobson's choice
sting in the tail
with open arms
to wash one's hand of
to count one's chickens
to burn midnight oil
bear out
to back out
carry over
come off
fall back
figure out
live with
set in
cover up
iron out
to beat the air
to beggar description
to bring to mind
to call in question
to cap it all
to clip ore's wings
to cross the rubicon
to feel the pulse
to fly in the face of
to rise like a phoenix from its ashes
the last ditch
a square mea
go public
run riot
the backroom boys
foot the bill
set the pace
at times
steal the show
grey matter
a jaundiced eye
a left handed copliment
the ruling passion
tower of strength
steal a march on someone
in one's bones
hang in the balance
fly in the ointment
close fisted
blow one's top
a cock and bull story
find one's feet
call it a night
the tip of the iceberg
below par
from pillar to post
hang up
turn someone in
by and by
the teeming meanings
to kick the bucket
to push to the wall
to read between the lines
to be at daggers drawn
to throw down the gauntlet
to be a greek
to stand on ceremony
from the horse's mouth
to carry the cross
take aback
take after
take for
take ill
take off
take over
take to
take to task
to take to one's heels
take with a grain or pinch of salt
to kick the bucket
bolt from the blue
put your foot down
worth your salt
down the drain
all ears
swan song
cheeck by jowl
in a nutshell
give me five
to bring grist to the mill
set one's cap at
to draw the long bow
to send a person to conventry
beer and skittles
the acid test
a skeleton in the cupboard
to discover a mare's nest
keep one's nose to the grindstone
throw someone for a loop
letter perfect
off the wall
out to lunch
salt something away
take someone to the cleaners
wear the pants in the family
twiddle with
vamp up
whittle away
winkle out
give someone the bum's rush
loom large
besetting sin
to hang fire
to put the lid on
flavour of the month
zero hours
gloom and doom
to pig out
bag people
compassion fatigue
no to mince matters
blow one's top
a cock and bull story
find one's feet
call it a night
the tip of the iceberg
below par
from pillar to post
hang up
turn someone in
by and by
leave in the lurch
hard and fast
weather the storm
bear the brunt
meet halfway
turncoat
where the shoe pinches


After putting the above list in excel, removing duplicates and counting repeating of individual idiom in different papers, the list becomes as follows:

a cock and bull story
a wild goose chase
between the devil and the deep blue sea
by and by
as cool as a cucumber
below par
blow one's top
call it a night
find one's feet
from pillar to post
hang up
leave in the lurch
the acid test
the tip of the iceberg
to back out
to be in hot water
to bear the brunt of
to beat the air
to burn midnight oil
to burn the candle at both ends
to have an axe to grind
to have your cake and eat it too
to kick the bucket
to read between the lines
to rob peter to pay paul
to take to one's heels
turn someone in
______ dog seldom _______
_______ is the last refuge of the scoundrel
_______ of the same ______ flock together
a ______ child ________ the fire
a ______ in time save ______
a bad hat
a bird's eye view
a fair weather friend
a gentleman at large
a jaundiced eye
a left handed copliment
a miss is as good as a mile
a skeleton in the cupboard
a square mea
a swan song
a turn coat
account for
all ears
apple of discord
art lies in concealing art
as flat as a pancake
at cross purposes
at one's beck and call
at times
bag people
bang into
bear out
bear the brunt
bear with
beat out
beer and skittles
besetting sin
between scylla and charybidis
blowing hot and cold together
blue blood
bolt from the blue
bring about
bring grist to the mill
burn one's boats
by fits and starts
by leaps and bounds
carry out
carry over
carry weight
check by jowl
cheeck by jowl
cleanse the augean stable
close fisted
come off
compassion fatigue
cover up
dead as doornail
democle's sword
dole out
down at heel
down the drain
eternal ________ is the price of ________
every dark could has a silver lining
every inch
fall back
figure out
flash in the pan
flavour of the month
fly in the ointment
foot the bill
from the horse's mouth
give every man thy ear but few thy voice
give me five
give someone the bum's rush
gloom and doom
go against the grain
go public
goes without saying
got up to kill
grey matter
hang in the balance
hard and fast
hilarious detract from
hobson's choice
hoist on one's own petard
holding out the olive branch
horse trading
in a blue funk
in a nutshell
in a pickle
in athe doldrums
in black and white
in good books
in one's bones
iron out
it never rains but it pours
keep one's nose to the grindstone
letter perfect
life without a philosophy is like a ship without rudder
like a red rag to a bull
like two peas in a pod
lip service
live on the fat of the land
live with
loom large
make off with
meaningful dialogue
meet halfway
much _______ about nothing
no to mince matters
not a leg to stand on
null and void
off the wall
on right earnest
one man's _______ is another man's __________
one the sky
out of sight out of mind
out to lunch
over head and ears
palm off
petticoat agovernment
plainsailing
play down
play truant
playing to the gallery
pocket the affront
point blank
put your foot down
run riot
salt something away
sell like hot cakes
set in
set one's cap
set one's cap at
set the pace
spade a spade
stare in the face
steal a march on someone
steal the show
sting in the tail
storm in a tea cup
succinctly
swan song
sweet are the uses of ______
ta be taken aback
take a cake
take aback
take after
take for
take ill
take off
take over
take someone to the cleaners
take something with a grain of salt
take to
take to task
take with a grain or pinch of salt
taken down at peg
taken over
the backroom boys
the child is father of the man
the last ditch
the lion's share
the onlooker sees most of the game
the ruling passion
the teeming meanings
the writing on the wall
thin end of the wedge
throw someone for a loop
tied to apron strings of
time and tide
to be a greek
to be at daggers drawn
to be on the carpet
to be under a cloud
to beat about the bush
to beggar description
to blow one's own trumpet
to break a lance with
to bring grist to the mill
to bring to book
to bring to mind
to burn one's fingers
to call a space to spade
to call in question
to cap it all
to carry the cross
to carry the day
to catch up with
to clip ore's wings
to come to dead end
to count one's chickens
to cross the rubicon
to cry over the split milk
to die in harness
to discover a mare's nest
to draw the long bow
to fall back on something
to fall back upon
to fall through
to feel the pulse
to fight shy of
to fish in troubled waters
to fly in the face of
to foul of
to give oneself airs
to hang fire
to have a finger in pie
to have the courage of one's convictions
to keep at a respectful distance
to keep late hours to throw cold water on
to keep of house
to keep out
to let the cat out of the bag
to live from hand to mouth
to look a gift horse in mouth
to make out
to monkey with
to move heaven and earth
to narrow down
to pig out
to pocket an insult
to pull oneself together
to push to the wall
to put out of countenance
to put the _______ before the _______
to put the cart before the horse
to put the lid on
to raise coin
to rest on one's laurels
to rise from the ranks
to rise like a phoenix from its ashes
to rub shoulders
to sail in the same boat
to send a person to conventry
to skim through
to smell a rat
to sow one's wild oats
to stand on ceremony
to stand up for
to stick to one's guns
to strike one's colours
to take the bull by the horns
to throw down the gauntlet
to turn a deaf ear
to wash one's dirty linen in public
to wash one's hand of
to win laurels
tower of strength
trudge along
turn a new leaf
turn the corner
turn to account
turn turtle
turncoat
twiddle with
under a cloud
under the thumb of
upset the apple cart
vamp up
vested interests
wear the pants in the family
weather the storm
when all is said and done
where the shoe pinches
white elephant
whittle away
winkle out
with open arms
worth your salt
zero hours
(The number indicates repeating of idiom)

Now what I want is to please comment on this, find mistakes from this, find idioms with similar meanings or just point out anything you think is necessary. Also let me know if making lists like these from old papers is worth the effort.

Regards

@mhmmdkashif

Jizakallah, such great effort for all of members. Thanks alot


Regards

__________________
Main ne Allah ko apne iradon ke tootne se pehchana ... !!

Good work mhmmdkashif

here are some of the Idioms with meanings:

zero hours The time when something important is to begin is zero hour
to put the cart before the horse Reverse the accepted order of thing

to put the lid on to stop something from increasing

to rest on one's laurels to stop trying because one is satisfied with one's past achievements

to rise from the ranks to rise to a position of leadership by working up through the sequence of lower positions

to rise like a phoenix from its ashes to make a miraculous comeback

to rub shoulders to spend time with famous people

to sail in the same boat going same way

to send a person to Coventry To be ignored or shunned.

to skim through to go through something hastily; to read through something hastily

to smell a rat to suspect that something is wrong; to sense that someone has caused something wrong

to sow one's wild oats to do wild and foolish things in one's youth

to stand on ceremony to behave in a formal or ceremonious manner.

to stand up for to take the side of someone or something; to defend someone or something

to stick to one's guns to remain firm in one's convictions; to stand up for one's rights

to take the bull by the horns to confront a problem head-on and deal with it openly

to throw down the gauntlet to issue a challenge to somebody

to turn a deaf ear to ignore what someone says; to ignore a cry for help

to wash one's dirty linen in public to discuss private or embarrassing matters in public, especially when quarreling

to wash one's hand of to absolve oneself of responsibility or future blame

tower of strength a person who can be relied on to give a great deal of support and comfort

Trudge along to plod along on foot

turn a new leaf to start a new life

turn the corner to pass a critical point in a process.

turn to account from all the reports [that are available]; according to what everyone is saying

turn turtle to turn upside down

turncoat One who traitorously switches allegiance

twiddle with to play with something; to play with something, using one's fingers; to fiddle with something

under a cloud suspected of something

under the thumb of under the influence of

upset the apple cart to mess up or ruin something

vamp up make up

vested interests a strong personal concern in a state of affairs, system, etc

wear the pants in the family to be the person in charge in a marriage or family

weather the storm to experience and survive a storm

when all is said and done when everything is finished and settled; when everything is considered

where the shoe pinches the true cause of the trouble or worry.

white elephant A rare, expensive possession that is a financial burden to maintain

whittle away cut away in small pieces

winkle out force from a place or position - remove or displace from a position

with open arms with happiness or enthusiasm

worth your salt Someone who is worth their salt deserves respect





I hope this would be helpful to many.

baqi kal


Best Regards

__________________
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.

to put the lid on = Pakistan and India have to put their lid on for the sake of kashmir.

to rest on one's laurels = Aslam is very much rest on his laurels after qualifying the CSS exam 2009.

to rise from the ranks = Mahmud Ghaznavi rose from the ranks and conquered whole india as a emperor by his assiduous efforts.

to rise like a phoenix from its ashes = Pakistan army rose like a phoenix from its ashes in 1965 war against India.

to rub shoulders = Aslam always tries to rub his shoulders with politicians for their favor in his illicit business.

to sail in the same boat = In Islamic Shariah, whether Qazi or Slave committed any sin, would be treated as both sailing in the same boat.

to send a person to Coventry = Aslam is very rude boss,So thats why he is being sent to Coventry by his staff.

to skim through = Aslam is not interested in books, So thats why he always skim through the books within few minutes.

to smell a rat = Asalam is very prolific inspector, he mostly smell a rat within few hours and solve the cases, thats why he is liked by his officers.

to sow one's wild oats = Mother requested her husband to forgive Aslam for sowing his wild oats.

to stand on ceremony = Aslam always tries to stand on ceremony at every event, whether born-fire or official presentation, I don't like his this attitude.

to stand up for = China being a good neighbor to Pakistan always interested to stand up for Pakistan's support at any occasions.

to stick to one's guns = Workers of Aslam textile Ltd. boycott the new budget and stick to their guns until changes takes place in the budget.

to take the bull by the horns = Pakistan army declared the war against terrorism and took the Taliban as taking the bull by the horns.

to throw down the gauntlet = Taliban after lal masjid incident throw down the gantlet against Pakistan army and government.

to turn a deaf ear = Aslam always turn a dear ear to his mother, whenever she asked him to be serious in his studies.

to wash one's dirty linen in public = Meera always tries to washes her dirty linen in public to get the publicity.

to wash one's hand of = NRO was used as a tool to wash one's hand of illicit acts performed in past by more than 8000 citizens of Pakistan.

tower of strength = Army is always being a tower of strength for the security of its country.

Trudge along = ???

turn a new leaf = Pakistan and India should put the lid on and turn a new leaf for the issue of Kashmir.

turn the corner = Aslam turned the corner of his mistakes in accounting to his sub-ordinates.

turn to account = Government illicit acts of swallowing billions of rupees turn to account by media.

turn turtle = Pakistan have to turn turtle every department to expunge the bad elements for the better future of Pakistan.

turncoat = Aslam is a turncoat, we cannot merely relay on him for our presentations.

twiddle with = Aslam will twiddle with the knob of the radio, until he found the program that suits his mood.

under a cloud = After a suspicious murder in office Aslam is under a cloud by Police.

under the thumb = ??

upset the apple cart = Aslam upset the apple cart by fighting with the investor, who was interested in our project.

vamp up = Abdur Rehman dakait encounter was vamped up by the police according to media.

wear the pants in the family = Aslam being a elder among his siblings wore the pants in the family to take care of other family members.

weather the storm = Dubai is facing financial crises as weather the storm after demand of liquidity of Nakhel developers.

when all is said and done = ???

where the shoe pinches = Pakistan army should target those area of the Taliban where their shoe pinches.

white elephant = Winning a Nobel price as a Pakistani citizen is like a white elephant

whittle away = Infaltion whittled away the savings of old couples.

winkle out = Aslam always manages to winkle the secrets out of the people.

with open arms = Aslam welcomed his european friends with open arms and requested them to stay with him.

worth your salt = Benazir Bhutto worth her salt by giving a right platform as a success in election to her party.

__________________
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ - Every Soul Must Have The Taste Of Death

thank you all for your responses. specially bunko and oriental. your contribution is commendable. few good sites for finding definitions of idioms are http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/ , http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/ and the best of all http://google.com .

Please also contribute towards finding similarities in the above list of idioms, so that it could be trimmed and curtailed to exam important idioms.

Regards

__________________
The precondition for existence of a higher humanity is not the state, but the nation possessing the necessary ability.

Thankyou for the work. Although it could have been improved. Especially the first part was total useless mess but the second part where you have counted the numbers was helpful.
Cheers!

Salam Brother,Kindly tell me which strategy should i adopt for Preparing an English precise and composition.I am talking about paragraphs in paper.Please iam afraid that these paragraphs will take me down.

__________________
God has sent us to do something special,Life is once for all but not to be Repeated by a pendulum.

Well I failed in composition paper both times

__________________
The precondition for existence of a higher humanity is not the state, but the nation possessing the necessary ability.