Meaning: To think deeply about something; to ruminate or reflect
Hindi: किसी बात पर गहराई से विचार करना
Synonyms: ponder, reflect, mull over, ruminate, contemplate
Asked in: SSC CGL 2025 T-1 · SSC MTS 2024
chew the cud in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC MTS 2024 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate expression that can substitute the underlined word in the given sentence.
Sonali is contemplating whether to accept the offer from Saanvi or not; she is still not in a position to be able to arrive at a decision.Answer & explanation
Answer: D) chewing the cud
Correct answer: chewing the cud
Explanation:
The sentence describes someone thinking deeply or considering something carefully, which matches the idiom "chewing the cud."
Let’s understand each option:
• Chewing the cud – ✅ means to think carefully or reflect deeply, especially over a decision → fits perfectly
• Blowing hot and cold – means to be inconsistent in behavior or opinions → ❌ not about thoughtful consideration
• Getting her act together – means to become organized or improve performance → ❌ unrelated to decision-making
• Raising the eyebrows – means to cause surprise or disapproval → ❌ doesn't fit the context of thinking
Therefore, the best expression to replace "contemplating" is - SSC CGL 2025 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
. Choose the correct meaning of idiom:
To chew the cud of reflectionAnswer & explanation
Answer: C) Pondering deeply
'To chew the cud of reflection' means to think over a matter deeply, like a cow chewing its cud.
Hence it means 'Pondering deeply'.
The other options misinterpret the idiom literally or with unrelated ideas.
Examples
- “He sat quietly, chewing the cud over the decision he had to make.”
chew the cud – questions
What is the meaning of chew the cud in Hindi?
chew the cud means “किसी बात पर गहराई से विचार करना” in Hindi. In English: To think deeply about something; to ruminate or reflect
What are the synonyms of chew the cud?
Synonyms of chew the cud: ponder, reflect, mull over, ruminate, contemplate.
What is the opposite of chew the cud?
Antonyms of chew the cud: ignore, overlook.
Has chew the cud been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – chew the cud has been asked 2 times in SSC exams: SSC CGL 2025 T-1, SSC MTS 2024.