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Question

Choose the correct meaning of idiom:
Mad as a hatter

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2025 Tier 1 Question Paper (25-Sep-2025) (Shift 3)
The correct answer is
Completely insane or eccentric

Idiom Meaning: Mad as a Hatter

The idiom Mad as a hatter is used to describe someone who is behaving in a very strange, irrational, or crazy way.

Analyzing the Options

  • Option 1: Poor but honest relates to character, not mental state.
  • Option 2: Overly focused describes concentration, not irrationality.
  • Option 3: Completely insane or eccentric accurately captures the meaning of being extremely irrational or odd.
  • Option 4: Fashionable and bold describes appearance or attitude, not mental state.

Idiom Explanation

The phrase originates from the 19th century when hat makers often used mercury in their processes. This exposure could lead to neurological damage, causing symptoms similar to madness. Therefore, the idiom directly links the hat-making profession (hatter) to a state of madness.

Meaning: Acting in a completely insane or highly eccentric manner.

The correct meaning aligns with Option 3.

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Important Questions from Idioms and Phrases

  1. Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.

  2. Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select ‘No improvement’.
    Since my friend was not feeling well, she asked me to come over and take care of her.

  3. Select the most appropriate idiom to fill in the blank.
    Mala __________ by cheating on the exam to win her bet with Priya.

  4. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
    Where the shoe pinches

  5. What does it imply when people say to ‘read between the lines’?

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