Meaning: To express agreement without actually acting on it.
Hindi: केवल मुख से समर्थन करना
Synonyms: feign support, pretend agreement
Antonyms: genuinely support
Asked in: SSC CHSL 2021 T-1 · SSC CGL 2020 T-1 · SSC CPO 2018 T-2
pay lip service in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC CPO 2018 T-2 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.
The sad part of the agitation is that most of the leaders are only p̲a̲y̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲l̲i̲p̲-̲s̲e̲r̲v̲i̲c̲e̲ to the issue.Answer & explanation
Answer: C) saying they agree although they do not support it
✅ Correct Answer: Option C (saying they agree although they do not support it)
Type: Idiom
"pay lip service" = to express support in words only, without real belief or action (केवल दिखावे का समर्थन).
Why the others are wrong
• growing angry / long speeches / partially impressing – none means "false, spoken-only support". - SSC CGL 2020 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom.
To pay lip serviceAnswer & explanation
Answer: D) To be insincere
Answer: To be insincere
Solution:
• The idiom “to pay lip service” means to express agreement or support in words but not in actions, i.e., being insincere.
• It conveys a lack of genuine commitment despite verbal affirmation.
Why the other options are incorrect:
• To talk out of turn – means to speak when inappropriate, unrelated to sincerity.
• To ask for permission – refers to seeking approval, not feigned support.
• To make loud statements – implies speaking aloud, but doesn’t address whether one genuinely means it.
Difficult word:
• insincere: not expressing genuine feelings; निष्कपट नहीं
Examples
- “Politicians often pay lip service to education reform.”
pay lip service – questions
What is the meaning of pay lip service in Hindi?
pay lip service means “केवल मुख से समर्थन करना” in Hindi. In English: To express agreement without actually acting on it.
What are the synonyms of pay lip service?
Synonyms of pay lip service: feign support, pretend agreement.
What is the opposite of pay lip service?
Antonyms of pay lip service: genuinely support.
Has pay lip service been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – pay lip service has been asked 3 times in SSC exams: SSC CHSL 2021 T-1, SSC CGL 2020 T-1, SSC CPO 2018 T-2.