Vocabulary, Idioms and Proverbs (Sollakkam, Pazhamozhi)
What this section tests
Vocabulary questions test synonyms, opposites, homonyms, compound words and contextual meaning. Idiom and proverb questions test figurative understanding and appropriate use, not literal translation.
Core rules
- Learn an idiom as a unit with its meaning and a model sentence.
- Distinguish idiom from proverb: an idiom is a phrase; a proverb is a complete saying with a lesson.
- Use proverbs only when the context matches their advice.
- For vocabulary in context, replace the word and check whether the sentence still makes sense.
Examples
- முயற்சி திருவினையாக்கும் - effort brings fortune.
- காக்கைக்கும் தன் கூடு பொன் கூடு - one’s own home is precious.
- அளவுக்கு மீறினால் அமிர்தமும் நஞ்சு - even nectar becomes poison in excess.
- கண்ணில் படுதல் - to be noticed, not literally to fall into the eye.
Worked example
Sentence: அவன் கண்ணில் பட்டான். Literal reading: “he fell into the eye.” Correct meaning: “he was noticed.” Reasoning: the phrase is idiomatic; the verb படு combines with கண்ணில் to mean becoming visible to someone.
Traps
- Translating idioms word for word.
- Using a proverb with the opposite lesson.
- Confusing similar-sounding words.
- Ignoring the sentence context when choosing a synonym.