Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Move heaven and earth
English Comprehension ·Previously asked in SSC CGL 2025
View the full solved paper: SSC CGL 2025 Tier I — 12 Sep 2025 (Shift 2)
Question
Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Move heaven and earth
- A. To relocate frequently
- B. To work tirelessly to achieve something (Correct answer)
- C. To stay silent in protest
- D. To follow blindly
Correct Answer
Option B — To work tirelessly to achieve something
Detailed Solution & Explanation
The correct answer is To work tirelessly to achieve something.
Key Points
- 'Move heaven and earth' means to make every possible effort — to do everything within one's power to achieve a goal.
- The idiom pictures someone so determined that they would rearrange the cosmos itself, which is why it signals maximum, tireless effort.
- 'To work tirelessly to achieve something' captures precisely this sense of exhaustive, unrelenting effort.
Additional Information
- It is used with a purpose clause: *She moved heaven and earth to get her son admitted to that school.* Note that the two nouns never take articles.
- The expression has biblical resonance, echoing Haggai 2:6 ('I will shake the heavens and the earth'), though its modern sense is entirely secular.
- Idioms of similar force include *go the extra mile*, *leave no stone unturned*, *pull out all the stops* and *bend over backwards*.
Topics covered: SSC CGL English English SSC CGL 12 Sep 2025 Q77