KCSE Idioms Revision: Common Idioms, Meanings, and Exam-Style Questions

KCSE Revision: Idioms as Stylistic Devices

When preparing for the KCSE English exam, students often focus on grammar, comprehension, functional writing, and set texts. However, one key area that consistently appears across both Paper 1 and Paper 2 is stylistic devices. Among these, idioms are particularly important because they enrich language and test your ability to understand figurative expressions.

What is an Idiom?

An idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meanings of its words. For example, the idiom “spill the beans” does not mean scattering beans on the floor—it means to reveal a secret. Idioms make language colourful, imaginative, and culturally relevant, which is why examiners value them in KCSE.

Common Idioms and Their Meanings

Below are some idioms you should master for your exams:

1. Spill the beans – Reveal a secret
2. Break the ice – Start a conversation in a tense situation
3. Burn the midnight oil – Work late into the night
4. Hit the nail on the head – Say exactly the right thing
5. Throw in the towel – Give up or surrender
6. Kill two birds with one stone – Achieve two things at once
7. A blessing in disguise – Something bad that turns out good
8. Bite the bullet – Face a difficult situation bravely
9. Once in a blue moon – Very rarely
10. In hot water – In trouble
11. Under the weather – Feeling unwell
12. Cost an arm and a leg – Very expensive
13. Let the cat out of the bag – Reveal a secret accidentally
14. Cry over spilt milk – Worry about something that cannot be changed
15. On cloud nine – Extremely happy
16. Cut corners – Do something carelessly to save time or money
17. The ball is in your court – It’s your decision to make
18. Hit the books – Study hard
19. Add fuel to the fire – Make a bad situation worse
20. Beat around the bush – Avoid getting to the point

How Idioms Are Tested in KCSE

Idioms appear in three main ways:

1. Grammar/Vocabulary (Paper 1):
Rewrite the sentence replacing the underlined words with an idiom.

• The man gave up after several failed attempts.
  ✅ Answer: The man threw in the towel after several failed attempts.

2. Error Correction / Use in Sentences (Paper 1):
Identify the idiom and explain its meaning.

• Mary was on cloud nine when she got her KCSE results.
  ✅ The idiom is “on cloud nine.”
  ✅ It means extremely happy.

3. Literary Appreciation (Paper 2):
Read the excerpt and answer the questions.

“The business was failing, but Kamau decided to bite the bullet and keep working.”

(a) Identify the stylistic device.
(b) Explain its meaning and effect.

✅ (a) The device is an idiom.
✅ (b) “Bite the bullet” means to face a difficult situation bravely. It shows Kamau’s determination and makes the story more vivid.

KCSE Exam Tip

Whenever you come across an idiom in an exam passage, remember the three-step approach:

1. Identify – State it is an idiom.
2. Explain – Give the correct meaning.
3. Effect – Show how it enriches expression (makes it lively, relatable, or vivid).

Final Word

Idioms are more than colourful expressions—they are powerful stylistic devices. Mastering them will not only improve your KCSE performance but also make your writing and speaking more effective. Make a habit of collecting idioms and practising them in sentences. That way, when the examiner tests you, you’ll be ready to hit the nail on the head.

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