Meaning: A state of being isolated from practical realities of life
Hindi: व्यवहारिक जीवन से कटा हुआ
Synonyms: isolation, seclusion
Asked in: SSC Selection Post Ph-14 2026 (Higher Secondary Level) · SSC CHSL 2025 T-1 · SSC MTS 2024
ivory tower in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC MTS 2024 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate idiom to fill in the blank.
We hear the judges from their ________ that only CNG buses should run in Delhi.Answer & explanation
Answer: D) ivory tower
Answer: ivory tower
Explanation:
The idiom "ivory tower" refers to a situation where someone is detached from the real world, especially when they make decisions or express opinions without being affected by practical problems (सामान्य जीवन की समस्याओं से दूर होकर निर्णय लेना).
Let’s look at the sentence:
We hear the judges from their that only CNG buses should run in Delhi.
Here, it implies the judges are making a statement from a removed, idealistic position, not necessarily grounded in day-to-day realities — which fits the meaning of "ivory tower."
Other options:
• look sharp – be alert or quick → unrelated
• melting pot – a place where different cultures blend → unrelated
• square meal – - SSC CHSL 2025 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: An ivory tower
Answer & explanation
Answer: A) A state of privileged seclusion
"An ivory tower" means a state of privileged seclusion or separation from the harsh realities and practical concerns of everyday life. It is often used to describe academics, intellectuals, or those in positions of privilege who are out of touch with real-world problems. It has nothing to do with a literal tower.
- SSC Selection Post Ph-14 2026 (Higher Secondary Level) Idioms & Phrases
In the following sentence, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which gives the correct meaning of the underlined idiom or phrase.
The poet lived in an ivory tower, entirely oblivious to the struggles of ordinary people.Answer & explanation
Answer: C) A state of mind where one is sheltered from the practical realities of life
Meaning: live in an ivory tower = to live in a sheltered world of ideas, cut off from the practical problems of ordinary life *(वास्तविकता से कटी हुई काल्पनिक दुनिया में रहना)*.
The sentence confirms it: *entirely oblivious to the struggles of ordinary people*.
Origin.
The French critic Sainte-Beuve (1837) used *tour d'ivoire* for the withdrawn, dreamy life of the poet Alfred de Vigny — a beautiful but closed tower, far above the street.
Why the others are wrong.
#B A magnificent white building … symbolises power *(शक्ति का प्रतीक भव्य श्वेत भवन)* — a literal reading of *ivory* and *tower*; the idiom describes a mindset, not a building.
#B A place where scientists conduct experiments = a l
Examples
- “Academics are often accused of living in an ivory tower.”
ivory tower – questions
What is the meaning of ivory tower in Hindi?
ivory tower means “व्यवहारिक जीवन से कटा हुआ” in Hindi. In English: A state of being isolated from practical realities of life
What are the synonyms of ivory tower?
Synonyms of ivory tower: isolation, seclusion.
Has ivory tower been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – ivory tower has been asked 3 times in SSC exams: SSC Selection Post Ph-14 2026 (Higher Secondary Level), SSC CHSL 2025 T-1, SSC MTS 2024.