strain at a gnat and swallow a camel meaning in Hindi

strain at a gnat and swallow a camel in SSC previous-year questions

1. SSC CGL 2025 T-2 Idioms & Phrases

   In the following question, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which gives the meaning of the given idiom or phrase.
   To strain at a gnat and swallow a camel

   ATo be meticulous in everythingBTo fuss over trifles while ignoring big issuesCTo be extremely physically weakDTo have a very large appetite
   Answer & explanation

   Answer: B) To fuss over trifles while ignoring big issues

   Meaning: to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel = to fuss over tiny, unimportant matters while accepting or ignoring something big and serious *(छोटी बातों पर बाल की खाल निकालना और बड़ी गलती को अनदेखा करना)*.
   Example: He checked every comma in the contract but signed away the land itself — straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.
   Origin.
   From the Bible (Matthew 23:24).
   Strict Pharisees strained their wine through cloth so as not to swallow a gnat (a tiny unclean insect), yet ignored the weightier duties of justice and mercy — “swallowing a camel”.
   Answer: To fuss over trifles while ignoring big issues
   Why the others are wrong.
   • meticulous in everything = careful about every detail *(हर

strain at a gnat and swallow a camel – questions

Has strain at a gnat and swallow a camel been asked in SSC exams?

Yes – strain at a gnat and swallow a camel has been asked in SSC exams: SSC CGL 2025 T-2.

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