IDIOMS AND PHRASES
1. Idioms
may be defined as expressions peculiar to a language. They play an important
part in all Languages.
2.
Many Verbs. When Followed by various
prepositions, or adverbs, acquire an idiomatic sense;
As,
He backed up (supported) his
friend’s claim.
The present disturbances will soon blow
over (pass off).
The police produced evidence to bear
out (substantiate) the charge of murder.
You must not build your hopes
upon (rely upon) his promises.
The matter has been cleared up
(explained).
I readily closed with
(accepted) his offer.
He is ready to dispose of
(sell) his car for Rs. 1,50,000.
Rust has eaten away
(corroded) the pate.
My good behaviors so far gained on (won the
favour of) the emperor that I began to conceive hopes of liberty.
The habit of chewing tobacco has been growing
upon (is having stronger and stronger hold ever) him.
Please hear me out (i.e., hear me to the
end).
I have hit upon (found) a good plan to get
rid of him.
About an hour ago I saw a fellow hanging about
(loitering about) our bungalow.
These events led up to (culminated in) the
establishment of a republic.
During excavations one of the workmen lighted
upon (chanced to find, discovered) a gold idol.
During her long illness she often longed for
(desired) death.
I could not prevail on (persuade, induce) him
to attend the death.
For years I could not shake off (get rid of)
my malaria.
I threatened to show him up (expose him).
All eyes turned to him because he was the only
person who could stave off (prevent, avert) the impending war.
He is sticking out for (persists in
demanding) better terms.
I must think the matter over (i.e., consider
it).
Train up (educate) a child in the way he
should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.
That fellow trumped up (concocted,
fabricated) a story.
They fixed upon (chose) him to do the work.
1.
Abide by (be faithful, to keep): she has
to abide by the rules of the college.
2.
Above board: (honest, fair, upright).
We should be above board in our
dealings with others.
3.
Apple of discord: (cause of quarrel, a
bone of contention):
This plot has been an apple of discovered
between the two sisters.
4.
Apple of one’s eye: (an object of love,
the most valuable possession)
Ram being the only son in the family is
the apple of his parent’s eye.
5.
Apple pie order: (in perfect order).
Every article in Ranjan’s drawing room is
in an apple-pie order.
6.
To be at one’s wit’s end: (to be
confused).
I am at
my wit’s end and do not know how to resolve this conflict.
7.
An axe to grind: (selfish motive):
He assured me that he has an axe to grind
in this matter.
8.
At random: (haphazard, without aim or
purpose).
The
terrorists fired shots at random.
9.
To be at large: (to be free).
The police have not been able to trace the
thief who is still at large.
10.
All and sundry: (every one without
exception).
All and sundry came to attend his marriage
party.
11.
At a stone’s throw: (very near).
My office is
located at a stone’s throw from my house.
12. At stake: (in danger).
The country’s freedom is at stake; we
should all be ready to defend it at any cost.
13.
At the bottom of: (real cause).
It appears that Leela is at the bottom of
this practical joke.
14.
At the eleventh hour: (at a late stage,
at the last moment).
The doctor turned
up at the eleventh hour and saved the life of his son.
15.
All in all: (the most important and
powerful person).
My father is all in all our family.
16.
At one’s fingertips or ends: (to be
expert in).
All the important topics of history are at
my fingertips.
17.
To account for: (to give an explanation).
You should account for your failure to
maintain the accounts properly.
18.
To be addicted to: (to be accustomed to,
used in a bad sense only).
Ranjith is addicted to gambling and
drinking.
19.
Affiliate to: (attach to).
Our school is affiliated to C.B.S.E.
20.
All-round: (having ability in many
departments).
Present education helps us in the
all-round development of our personality.
21.
All fools day: (first of April)
We often indulge in practical jokes on all
fool’s day because nobody minds it.
22.
To be the architect of: (maker of)
God is the architect of this world.
23.
To avail oneself of: (to profit)
She must avail herself of every
opportunity to come up in life.
24.
Answer one’s purpose: (to serve a
purpose)
Her scooter is a bit out of order; it can
still answer her purpose.
25.
At the back of: (behind)
Some teachers with personal motives are at
the back of this strike in the college.
26.
Behind one’s back: (during one’s obscene)
It is bad to pass unkind remarks against a
person behind his back.
27.
To turn one’s back upon: (to run away).
A true friend does not turn his back upon
his friend in times of trouble.
28.
To the backbone: (thoroughly)
Tilak was a patriot to the backbone.
29.
Bad blood: (ill feelings).
Let there be no bad blood between the
majority and minority communities.
30.
Back out: (to withdraw)
We should never back out if we make a
promise.
31.
To keep the ball rolling: (to keep the
conversation going on).
When she comes to the club, she keeps the
ball rolling.
32. To
back upon: (to depend).
Ashok is a reliable person whom you can
back upon for help.
33 To strike a bargain: (to come to
terms).
The hostile groups decided to give up a
rigid stand and strike a bargain.
34.
To bear with: (to be patient).
He cannot bear with those who do not
co-operate.
35.
To beat about the bush: (to approach a
subject in a round about way).
Don’t beat about the bush; please come to
the point.
36.
Bedfellow: (close associate).
Sometime first meeting makes strange
bedfellows.
37.
Bee in one’s bonnet: (to be mad or crazy
about something’s).
Anand has neither looks nor talent,
but he has a bee in his bonnet that he is going to be an actor.
38.
To beggar description: (highly
indescribable).
The beauty of the Lotus Temple
39.
Bird’s-eye view: (general study).
We can have a bird’s-eye view of Ooty from
the third floor of our house.
40.
Flesh and blood: (human nature).
It is much more than flesh and blood can
endure.
41.
In cold blood: (Deliberately,
unprovoked).
He was accused of murdering an innocent
girl in cold blood.
42.
Blue blood: (noble blood).
Hitler was proud of the blue blood running
in his veins.
43.
Blood and iron: (relentless use of
force).
The rulers who follow the policy of blood
and iron antagonize the people.
44.
Blow hot and cold: (to vacillate, to be
inconsistent).
We must stick to one-point and do not blow
hot and cold in the same breath.
45.
To boil down: (to reduce to).
The whole matter has boiled
down to this that we can face the aggression bravely.
46.
The bone of contention: (cause of
quarrel).
A piece of land is the bone
of contention between the two sisters.
47.
To pick a bone with someone: (to
dispute).
You should not pick a bone
with him over petty matters.
48.
To be in good books: (to be in favour).
We should be in the good
books of our elders.
49.
To be in bad books: (be in disfavor).
The students who are not
serious about their studies are in the bad books of the teachers.
50.
From the bottom of one’s heart:
(genuinely).
We should thank the persons
who help us in need from the bottom of our hearts.
51.
By leaps and bounds: (very rapidly).
My brother’s business is
picking up by leaps and bounds.
52.
Bread and butter: (livelihood).
Most Indians find it
difficult even to earn their bread and butter.
53.
To break out: (to start).
Cholera has broken out in the
city.
54.
To break with: (to cease relations).
We should not break with our
kiths over trifles.
55.
To breathe one’s last: (to die).
My friend’s father breathed
his last on Monday after a prolonged illness.
56.
To bring about: (to cause to happen).
The new principal has brought
about many changes in our college.
57.
To bring down the house: (to draw
applause).
Her wonderful performance in
the show brought down the house.
58.
Bull in a china shop:(ruthless
destroyer).
A bull in a china shop does
not last long.
59.
To burn the candle at both ends: (to waste
money and health quickly).
If he burns the candle at
both ends, he will soon be ruined.
60.
To burn the midnight oil: (to work hard).
One has to burn the midnight
oil in order to do well in the I.A.S. examination.
61.
By and by: (before long).
Everything will be all right
by and by.
62.
By hook or by crook: (By all means fair
or foul).
He decided to win the
election by hook or crook.
63.
Bag and baggage: (completely, leaving
behind nothing).
On his retirement Mr. Lal had
to quit the government bungalow bag and baggage.
64.
Be off one’s head: (to be mad).
He must be off his head to
think that he will win the elections.
65.
By far: (beyond all comparison)
This is by far the best dress
in the shop.
66.
Grapes are sour: (unavailable things are
undesirable).
Sohan could not win the
election. He says politics is & dirty game. For him grapes are sour.
67.
Bed of roses: (easy life).
Our life is not a bed of
roses. It has hardships also.
68.
By dint of: (by means of).
Rekha got first positions by
dint of hard work.
69.
By all means: (certainly).
I am ready to seek her advice
by all means.
70.
By virtue of: (on account of).
Manoj is a member of this
committee by virtue of the office he holds.
71.
To bury the hatchet: (to forget a
quarrel, to make peace).
Big powers should bury the
hatchet in the middle East.
72.
Beside the mark: (irrelevant, not to the
point).
Her answer is beside the
mark, so she will not be given good marks.
73.
To bell the cat: (to face a risk).
We should have courage to
bell the cat at any moment.
74.
A bed of thorns: (full of suffering and
sorrows).
For Rajini, the new office
proved to be a bed of thorns.
75.
A blessing in disguise: (a thing which
appears to be a curse but proves to be a blessing).
Anju’s failure proved to be a
blessing in disguise because in her second attempt she got first division.
76.
A big gun: (an important figure).
The president is a big gun in
the country.
77.
To bear the palm: (to win reward).
Reeta bore the palm in
the declamation contest.
78.
To bear to the brunt of: (to bear the
main force of stress).
The brave Punjabis bore
the brunt of Pakistani attack in 1971.
79.
To beat hollow: (to defeat completely).
Our army beat Pakistan
80. Between the devil and the deep sea:(between
two great difficulties).
Shyam found him self between the devil and
the deep sea and did not know what to do.
81. To
bite on granite: (to waste energy).
To press a mister for donation is like
biting on granite.
82.
Beyond one’s grasp: (out of one’s reach).
The technicality of the
working of computer is be yond the grasp of a layman.
83.
To call in question: (to dispute).
Nobody could call
Mahatma Gandhi’s integrity in question.
84.
To call to mind: (to recall).
We should try to call
up the facts to our mind about the case.
85.
To carry the day: (to continue).
Sabina carried the day
in the inter-school debate competition.
86.
To carry on: (to continue).
Please carry on with what
you are doing.
87.
To carry weight: (to reflect).
Our arguments carry weight.
88.
To chew the cud: (to reflect).
Many a time I feel like
chewing the cud of past.
89.
Under a cloud: (in disfavor).
The corrupt
Sub-Inspector is under a cloud these days.
90.
A turncoat: (a politician who changes
sides).
A political turncoat does not reflect
selfless motive.
91.
Cock and bull story: (idle invention,
made up story) None can believe this cock and bull story about his
achievements.
92.
To see in true colour: (to see properly).
To see Ramesh in true
colour, we should go with him for some days.
93.
To come off with flying colors: (to be
successful).
The Indian Antarctic
expedition team came off with flying colours.
94.
Fifth columnist: (he who works against
the interest of his own country).
The Government should
deal with the fifth columnist sternly.
95.
On the contrary: (on the other hand).
96.
To curry favour with: (to flatter).
Those who curry
favour with managers get a big rise in the salary.
97.
To cut short: (to make brief, to
shorten).
I had to cut short
our stay in Nilgiris when we received a call from home.
98.
To cut one dead: (to refuse to
recognize).
When Ram went to his
rich uncle for help, he cut him dead.
99 A
child’s play: (something very easy).
To succeed in any
competitive exam is not a child’s play.
100. To cool one’s heels: (to wait for
somebody patiently).
He had to cool his heels
for about three hours before he could see the minister.
101. Cut and dried: (in a readymade from).
These
days’ students wish to get cut and dried answers.
102. A
chicken-hearted person: (a coward).
A
chicken-hearted person should not join the defense services.
103.
Crocodile tears: (false tears).
Rajeev shed crocodile tears
on the death of his stepmother.
104.
To call a spade a spade: (to speak in
plain terms).
We should never
hesitate to call a spade a spade.
105.
Come to grief: (to suffer).
The passengers came to grief
due to some technical defect in the aeroplane.
106.
To cast a slur upon: (to bring
discredit).
Ritu’s elopement with her
boy friend cast a slur upon her family.
107.
A Clean slate: (a fresh beginning).
Sudha and Geeta decided to
forget their previous differences and start with a clean slate.
108.
To catch red handed: (to catch in the act
of doing).
Mahesh was caught red-handed
when he was copying, in the examination hall.
109.
Sword of Damocles: (imminent danger).
The war is considered to be
a sword of Damocles in a country.
110.
Dark horse: (unexpected winner).
Ramesh surprised his
teachers and proved a dark horse when he stood first in the college.
111.
A leap in the dark: (unknown danger).
A shrewd politician is
careful enough not to take a leap in the dark.
112.
To die in harness: (to die while still at
work).
Lal Bahadur Shastri died in
harness in Tashkent
113.
On the horns of a dilemma: (in a
difficult problem).
When Salu’s friend requested
her for a loan, she found herself on the horns of a dilemma. As she could
neither refuse nor accede to her request.
114.
To day away with: (to finish).
The society should do away
with bad customs, which hinder the country’s progress.
115.
To do full justice: (to do a thing
thoroughly).
Mohini could not do full
justice to studies because of her family problems.
116.
To dance to one’s tune: (to carry out
orders).
The employees have to dance
to the employer’s tune.
117.
A dead lock: (a position in which no
progress can be made).
Negotiations between India and Pakistan
118.
To drive home: (to lay emphasis on).
The teacher drove home in
his lecture the importance of national integration.
119.
A dead letter: (no longer in use,
ineffective).
My friend’s advice remained
a dead letter.
120.
To be dashed to the ground: (to fail).
All his ambitions were
dashed to the ground when he was transferred to a village.
121.
To eat one’s word: (retract words in a
humiliating manner, to back out to take a statement).
You should not trust her;
she is in the habit of eating her words.
122.
Eye wash: (deceit).
Do not trust her, her words
of sympathy are mere eyewash.
123.
Every inch: (completely).
Her father is every inch a
gentleman, so I like him very much.
124.
Eye for eye: (tit for tat).
The policy of eye for eye
should not be followed in every case.
125.
To eat a humble pie: (to offer a humble
apology).
Everyone should eat a humble
pie for misbehavior.
126.
To end in smoke: (to come to nothings).
All the efforts of the
principal to bring him round ended in smoke
127.
At one’s elbow: (close at hand).
I always find Mahesh at my
elbow.
128.
Eye-opener: (enlightening circumstances).
Sangeeta’s failure was an
eye-opener to her parents.
129.
A fair-weather friend: (a selfish
friend).
A fair-weather friend is not
a true friend.
130.
Fair play: (impartial treatment).
Everyone wants fair play and
no favour.
131.
Face to face:(Personally).
Sita and Geeta decided to
discuss every thing face to face.
132.
A fool’s paradise: (state of jobs based
on false hopes).
You are living ina fool’s
paradise if you think you can settle down in America
133.
A feather in one’s cap: (an achievement
to be proud of).
Ragini won a gold medal This
is a feather in her cap.
134.
To fish in trouble waters: (to take
advantage of the trouble of others).
We should not fish in
troubled waters and make money.
135.
Fast living: (a life given to pleasure).
Rich men take to fast living
and ruin their business.
136.
A far cry: (a long way or distance).
Universal brotherhood is
still a far cry.
137.
To follow suit: (to follow example of).
The leader left the meeting;
others followed suit.
138.
For good: (for ever).
Manjit left India for good to settle in France
139.
To face the music: (to face the
consequences).
Ranjan is now facing the
music of his misdeeds in a jail.
140.
Fed up: (to be sick of).
He is fed up with his working
in the factory.
141.
To fall foul of: (to quarrel).
We should not fall foul of
each other over small matters.
142.
A fatal disease: (a disease that ends in
death).
AIDS is a fatal disease in
its later stages.
143.
To fall the ground: (to come to nothing).
All our hopes fell to the
ground when the picnic was postponed.
144.
To fall a prey: (to become a victim).
The deer fell a prey to the
tiger’s hunger.
145.
A flying visit: (hasty and brief visit0.
The prime minister paid a
flying visit to Moscow
146.
A fish out of water: (in a uncomfortable
position).
I felt like a fish out of
water when I Stayed away from my parents.
147.
To feel at home: (to feel happy or at
case).
Don’t be formal, please feel
at home.
148.
In the face of: (despite).
He did not lose heart in the
face of a series of problems.
149.
From hand to mouth: (a miserable
existence).
Many people in India
150.
Fit as a fiddle: (in good conditions).
My grandfather is eighty but
still he is fit as a fiddle.
151.
To fan the flames: (to increase
excitement).
Anitha’s thoughtless remarks
fanned the flame instead of pacifying the matter.
152.
To go to the dogs: (to be ruined).
If Amit does not need my
advice, let him go to the dogs.
153.
To go back upon one’s word: (to break a
promise).
If we make a promise, we
should not go back upon our word.
154.
To gain the upper hand: (to make
progress).
The opposition candidate had
the upper hand in that constituency.
155.
To gain ground: (to make progress).
Computer system is fast
gaining ground in India
156.
To get over: (to surmount to overcome).
She soon got over her initial
difficulties.
157.
To get round: (evade).
We shall get round our
responsibilities.
158.
To get through: (pass).
Umesh worked hard and hoped
to get through the examination.
159.
Gift of the gab: (power of eloquence).
A professor without the gift
of the gab is a failure in the class.
160.
To grid up one’s lions: (to prepare for
action).
We should grid up our lions
to meet any unforeseen eventuality.
161.
To give piece of one’s mind: (to scold).
I gave her a piece of my mind
when she failed again.
162.
To give ear: (to listen).
We should give ear to what
our teacher says.
163.
To give in: (to yield, to surrender).
For a man of strong
determination obstacles give in.
164.
To give up the ghost: (to die).
His grandfather gave up the
ghost after a profound illness.
165.
To throw down the glove: (to offer a
challenge).
The boxer threw down the
glove but nobody look it up.
166.
Godsend: (unexpected welcome event).
The fortune that she has
acquired is indeed a Godsend.
167.
Good-for-nothing: (useless).
We cannot depend upon him he
is good for nothing.
168.
To go hand in hand: (to go together).
Good and evil cannot go hand
in hand.
169.
To grease one’s palm: (to bribe).
It is crime to grease the
palm of a government official.
170.
To get into not water: (to get into
trouble).
Ritu defied her boss and got
into hot water.
171.
Gala day: (a day of rejoicing).
It was a gala day when my
brother returned from abroad.
172.
To be all Greek: (unintelligible, not
understood)
Whatever she says is
all-Greek to me.
173.
To get at the bottom: (to find out the
truth).
The local police tried its
best to get at the bottom of the murder case.
174.
To be good hand at: (to be expert).
She has a good hand at
photography.
175.
To give one the sack: (to dismiss one).
Her father gave careless
servant the sack.
176.
To give vent to: (to express).
The poor old man gave vent
to his suppressed feelings.
177.
To grapple with: (to tackle).
Let us grapple with the
situation bravely.
178.
To hold one’s ground: (to stand firm).
An honest person holds his
ground even in the face of temptation.
179.
To give the cold shoulder: (to receive in
a cold manner).
We should not give the cold
shoulder to our relatives.
180.
To get on one’s nerves: (to be a source
of worry).
You should not get on my
nerves. Please mind your own business.
181.
To go Scot free: (to escape unpunished).
The murderer went Scot-free
because there was no evidence against him.
182.
To give one the slip: (to escape).
The pickpocket gave the
police a slip and ran away.
183.
To get into a strap: (to be involved in a
difficult situation, to get into trouble).
They all will get into a
strap if they defy their Managing Director.
184.
Hole and corner: (underhand, secret).
My brother does not believe
in a hole and corner policy.
185.
To help a lame dog over a stile: (to be a
friend in need).
Only sincere friends help a
lame dog over a stile.
186.
To be handed down: (to be passed on).
Culture is handed down from
generation to generation.
187.
To have one foot in the grave: (near
death).
Men often pray to god when
they have their one foot in the grave.
188.
Hand and glove: (bosom friends).
Radha and Anuradha are hand
and glove with each other.
189.
To have an eye on: (have as one’s
object).
My sister has an eye on my
costly pen.
190.
Half-hearted: (lacking courage).
If you wish to succeed, do
not make halfhearted attempt.
191.
At hand: (close).
It is time for all us to
work hard as the examination is at hand.
192.
Hand-to-Hand: (close fight).
Dinesh and Santhosh had a
hand to hand with each other.
193.
To hang in the balance: (undecided).
The fate of the students
will be hanging in the balance till the result is declared.
194.
Hanky panky: (underhand, deceiving).
We must be honest; hanky
panky cannot help us to succeed.
195.
Hard nut to crack: (difficult problem to
solve).
It is difficult to remove
poverty from a country like India
196.
Headway: (progress).
The Punjab
has made a great headway in the field of industry and agriculture.
197.
Heart to heart: (frank to free).
They had a heart to heart talk on this matter.
198.
To have too many irons in the fire: (to
have too many undertakings).
I do not think Ranjit will
be able to help you as he has already too many irons in the fire.
199.
Hold out the olive branch: (to make
overtures).
The UNO has always held the
olive branch for world peace.
200.
The hang by a thread: (to be in a
precarious state).
The old man’s life is
hanging by a thin thread.
201.
Heart and soul: (full energy).
We must put heart and soul
in work if we want brilliant success in life.
202.
To hit below the belt: (to fight
unfairly, use unfair means).
To hit below the belt is not
fair at any cost.
203.
To hold up: (to stop).
The flight was held up
because of some technical defects.
204.
By inches: (bit by bit, gradually).
Titanic, the queen of ships,
was sinking by inches.
205.
To all intents and purpose: (Practically,
in all essential points).
To all intents and purposes,
Siachen glacier is an integral part of India
206.
Ins and outs: (full details).
He knows the ins and outs of
the whole matter.
207.
In black and white: (written0.
The teacher asked him to
submit his case in black and white.
208.
An iron hand: (strong man, with
strictness).
The Sepoy Mutiny was put
down with an iron hand.
209.
In the long run: (in the end).
Good triumphs over evil in
the long run.
210.
In full swing: (at one’s best).
The rain is in full swing
211.
In the guise of: (disguised as).
Rosalind went to the forest
in the guise of Canny Mede.
212.
To keep an eye on: (keep watch on).
The principal told the
teachers to keep an eye on Suresh.
213.
Keep up one’s appearances: (to keep up an
outward show).
She keeps up appearances in
spite of her meager salary.
214.
In keeping with: (in harmony with).
His actions are not in
keeping with his professed principles.
215.
Keynote: (main idea).
Peace is the keynote of India
216.
Kith and kin: (relations).
We must help our kith and
kin.
217.
Keep pace: (advance at equal speed).
She is very weak in Hindi;
she cannot keep pace with the class.
218.
To keep abreast of: (to be familiar
with).
We should read the newspaper
daily to keep abreast of the latest world situation.
219.
To lose one’s head: (to become angry).
One should not lose one’s
head over small matters.
220.
Lack-Luster: (dull).
Students started yawning
during the lack luster lecturer delivered by Mr. Rohit.
221.
To laugh up one’s sleeve: (to be secretly
amused).
He started laughing up
sleeves when we began to sing.
222.
In letter and in spirit: (in form and in
substance).
She believes my word in
letter and in-spirit.
223.
To live from hand to mouth: (to live
miserably).
Illiterate poor workers live
from hand to mouth.
224.
At loggerheads: (to be enemies,
disagreeing).
The two sisters are at loggerheads
over their ancestral property.
225.
To look down upon: (to hate).
A beggar is usually looked
down upon by my father.
226.
To leave one in the lurch: (to desert).
A true friend will not leave
his friends in the lurch.
227.
Lion’s share: (a major portion).
Sohan’s mother got the
lion’s share of her husband’s property.
228.
To leave no stone unturned: (to make
every possible effort).
He will leave no stone
unturned to achieve his ambition.
229.
A lame excuse: (a false excuse).
I do not believe in lame
excuses. Tell me the truth.
230.
To lend a hand: (to hold).
Rakesh lends me a hand
whenever I am in trouble.
231.
To look blank: (to be puzzled).
Those students who did not
pay attention to their studies looked blank in the examination.
232.
To look small: (to feel ashamed).
She looked small when her
mean motive was pointed out to her.
233.
At low ebb: (declining).
His business is at a low ebb
because of his corrupt practices.
234.
Make both ends meet: (live within one’s
income).
Nowadays it has become
difficult for everyone to make both ends meet.
235.
Man of straw: (good for nothing, weak).
Ashok cannot help you; he is
a man of straw.
236.
To make a mess of: (to bungle).
Rajan had made a mess of
accounts of his office.
237.
To make up one’s mind: (determine).
She had made a mess of
accounts of his office.
238.
Mind one’s own business: (to leave other
people alone).
We should mind our own
business and should not interfere with the business of others.
239.
To move heaven and earth: (to make a
great effort).
The UNO should move heaven
and earth to get the unclear weapons eliminated.
240.
Maiden speech: (a person’s first speech).
Reena cut a very good figure
in her maiden speech.
241.
Far and near: (everywhere).
People came from far and
near to hear the President.
242.
To nip in the bud: (to check the growth
of).
We should always nip the
evil in the bud.
243.
A nine-day’s wonder: (an event of passing
interest, short lived).
Happiness seems to be a
nine-day’s wonder.
244.
A narrow escape: (escape made with great
difficulty).
Raju’s brother had a narrow
escape in the accident.
245.
Neck to neck: (side by side).
There is neck-to-neck race
between the super powers.
246.
To nurse a grudge: (to entertain feelings
of revenge).
We should not nurse a grudge
against anyone.
247.
Out-of-date: (old).
Tight garments are now out
of date.
248.
Off and on: (now and then).
She promised to write to me
off and on.
249.
Order of the day: (in fashions).
Leather jackets are the
order of the day.
250.
Owing to: (because of).
She could not appear in the
examination owing to her father’s illness.
251.
On the verge of: (on the point of).
The child was on the verge
of falling down from the bed.
252.
To play the second fiddle: (to perform a
secondary role or purpose).
These days none is ready to
play the second fiddle. Everyone wants to be boss.
253.
To play to the gallery: (to appeal to the
lower taste).
Most commercial films are
successful because they play to the gallery.
254.
To play hide and seek: (to deceive, to be
inconsistent).
Ritu’s luck is playing hide
and seek with her.
255.
Part and parcel: (essential part).
Sports are part and parcel
of our education.
256.
To poison one’s ears against: (to set one
against).
Some students try to poison
the ears of the principal against the new lecturer.
257.
To play one false: (to deceive).
It is really mean on
satish’s part to play his friends false.
258.
To pull a long face: (to look sad).
Ram’s father pulled a long
face when he heard the news of his failure.
259.
To play truant: (to stay away from class
or school).
Good students should not
play truant.
260.
To poke one’s nose: (to interfere).
We should not poke our nose
in the affairs of others.
261.
A past master: (an expert).
He is past master in
breaking safes and vaults.
262.
To play fast and loose: (to be
inconstant).
Anoop played fast and loose
with his love.
263.
Pros and cons: (arguments for and
against).
The pros and cons of the
matter were discussed in the meeting.
264.
To ride the high horse: (to feel proud).
She is riding the high horse
because of her father’s recent success in the business.
265.
To rest on one’s laurels: (to retire
after some achievement).
Nehru did not believe in
resting on his laurels but he believed in making new achievements.
266.
In rags: (in torn clothes0.
The beggars are often clad
in rags.
267.
Rank and file: (common soldiers).
A brave officer is loved by
the rank and file.
268.
From the ranks: (from the common
soldiers, from the lowly position).
Stalin rase from the ranks
to become the President of Russia.
269.
To rely upon: (to depend).
Arvind is a sincere man you
can always rely upon him.
270.
A red rag to a bull: (very irritating).
Smoking to me is like a red
rag to a bull.
271.
To run amuck: (to go mad).
If an elephant runs amuck,
it cause great havoc.
272.
To set the Thames
on fire: (do something remarkable).
Removing poverty from India is nothing short of setting the Thames on fire.
273.
A snake in the grass: (hidden enemy).
Do not trust Arvind, he is a
snake in the grass.
274.
A square peg in a round hole: (a misfit).
An actor in the teaching
profession will prove a square peg in a round hole.
275.
To smell a rat: (to have suspicion0.
He smelt a rat and refused
to accompany with my friends.
276.
To stand on ceremony: (to be formal).
I cannot stand on ceremony
with my friends.
277.
Swan song: (the death song).
The Tempest is
believed to be the swan song of Shakespeare.
278.
A sheet anchor: (main support).
Hope is the sheet anchor of
my life.
279.
A storm in a teacup: (great fuss over a
trifle).
The noisy quarrel at the
grocery shop was a storm in a tea cup.
280.
To take French leave: (to depart without
permission).
The students should not take
French leave to enjoy a film show in a working day.
281.
To turn over a new leaf: (to mend one’s
way).
After marriage Amarjeet
turned over a new leaf and became a serious man.
282.
A thorn in one’s flesh: (a source of
irritation).
Communalism is a thorn in India
283.
To fight tooth and nail: (with great
violence).
The Indian soldiers fought
tooth and nail and ultimately won the field.
284.
To be taken a back: ((to be surprised).
Arun was taken aback at the
sudden arrival of Mohan.
285.
To turn turtle: (to turn upside down).
The truck turned turtle and
the driver was killed.
286.
Twinkling of an eye: (very quickly).
The fire engulfed the whole
building in the twinkling of an eye.
287.
Underdog: (the poor).
The Government has passed a
new legislation to improve the lot of the underdogs of the society.
288.
Ups and downs: (rise and fall,
alternations of good and bad fortunes).
In business one experience
many ups and downs.
289.
White elephant: (burdensome possession).
This palatial building is a
white elephant for the government because it has to spend a lot on its
maintenance without any utility.
290.
To win laurels: (to win honour).
Anand is a very hard working
boy. He is sure to win laurels in life.
291.
Wide of the mark: (not to the point).
Her remark is wide of the
mark.
292.
Without rhyme or reason: (without proper
cause).
We should not harass without
any rhyme or reason.
293.
Willy-nilly: (somehow or the other,
weather one likes or not).
We have to accept some job
willy-nilly.
294 A wild goose chase: (useless search).
Pursuit of materialistic
satisfaction in life is a wild goose chase.
295. To weather the storm: (to come out safely
through a difficulty).
Freedom fighters had to
weather many a storm before they won independence for us.
296. A wet blanket: (one who kills joy).
Do not let Satish accompany
you to the picnic, he is a wet blanket.
297. To worship the rising sun: (to respect
a man who is coming in power).
To worship the rising sun
has become the order of the day.
298. Windfall: (unexpected good fortune).
Winning the first prize in
lottery was a windfall for Harbans.
299. Yeoman’s service: (excellent work).
The Red Cross rendered a
yeoman’s service in the war.
300. Yellow press: (Sensational
newspapers).
The yellow press is gaining
popularity in India
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