Idiom And Phrase ‘A to M’
Idiom and Phrase asked in SSC exams. These Previous year Idiom and phrases help you in your Preparation.
- Achilles heel
Meaning: vulnerable spot, a small fault or weakness in a person or system that can result in its failure.
Example: The corrupt minister is regarded as the government’s Achilles heel and is expected to resign.
- A bone of contention
Meaning: if there is an issue that always causes tension and arguments
Example: A bone of contention between the husband and wife is that the husband always spends too much money. - A dead letter-
Meaning: An argument or law not followed by anyone.Example: The blue laws here are a dead letter; all the stores open on Sunday and holidays
- At the eleventh hour
Meaning: be too late.
Example: She always turned her term papers in at the eleventh hour. - A queer fish
Meaning: a strange person
Example: I knew his father and he was a queer fish too. - A worm’s eye view
Meaning: having very little knowledge about something
Example: The novel provides us with a worm’s eye view of society.
- At (on) the heels of
Meaning: close behind or soon after something
Example: As in Mom’s birthday comes on the heels of Mother’s Day - Apple of someone’s eyes
Meaning: someone loved very much.
Example: His youngest son was the apple of his eye. - Ask for the Moon-
Meaning: to ask for too much Example: There’s no point hoping for a permanent peace in the area. It’s like asking for the moon.
- Asleep at the switch
Meaning: not to be alert on opportunity
Example: Health experts were asleep at the switch when the disease began to
spread rapidly again.
- At sixes and sevens
Meaning: to be lost and bewildered
Example: Riya is at sixes and sevens since the death of her husband. - At someone’s beck and call
Meaning: to be always ready to serve
Example: Imagine what it’s like to have a cook and a maid at your beck and
call. - At an arm’s length
Meaning: to keep at a distance
Example: Ram always keeps his friends at arm’s length, so that no one gets
close enough to hurt his feelings. - A red letter day
Meaning: an important day
Example: A special occasion, as in When Ram comes home from his tour of
duty, that’ll be a red-letter day - A nine days wonder
Meaning: pleasure for a short time
Example: His music was derided by an older generation convinced that he was
a nine-day wonder. - Alma Mater
Meaning: Institution where i got my education
Example: She has been offered the position of professor of international
economic policy in Delhi , her alma mater. - At the drop of a hat
Meaning-Willingness to do something instantly
Example: She expects me to make dinner at the drop of a hat even if I am very
busy with office work - A cold Fish
Meaning: A person devoid of emotions
Example: Ram isn’t very demonstrative, but his mother was a cold fish so he
probably gets it from her. - A cock and bull story
Meaning: An improbable excuse
Example: She told me some cock-and-bull story. - Above board
Meaning: straight; without concealment, legitimate; open.
Example: No tricks, please. We want the deal to be above board completely.
- A Bad Egg
Meaning – A dishonest or an ill-behaved person
Example-He’s been in a prison several times for all sorts of crimes; he’s a bad egg. - A Bee in one’s bonnet
Meaning – An obsession, often with something that is strange or a source of agitation/ to keep talking about something again and again in a way that other people may find annoying because you think it is very important
Example – She never stops talking about dieting – she’s got a real bee in her bonnet about it. - A bolt from the blue
Meaning – a sudden and an unexpected event/something important or unusual that happens suddenly or unexpectedly
Example – The resignation of the chairman came like a bolt from the blue. - A close shave
Meaning – A narrow escape from something or avoidance of a situation, often an unfavourable or a dangerous one
Example – I had a close shave this morning when a speeding car passed by, only a few inches fromme. - A Cat and Dog life
Meaning – A life in which partners are constantly frequently quarrelling/Of
spouses or romantic partners, a life together typified by arguments, fights, and
disagreements.
Example – My uncle and aunt lead a cat and dog life, I do not know why they are staying together. - A chicken-hearted Person
Meaning – A Coward.
Example – He is a chicken-hearted man; he cannot go with you in the dark room. - A chink in someone’s armour
Meaning – A weak point in someone’s character or arguments which makes
them vulnerable to attacks.
Example – Yeah, he’s brilliant, but his violent temper has destroyed many business relationships—it’s really the chink in his armour.
- A chip on your shoulder
Meaning – to seem angry all the time because you think you have been treated unfairly or feel you are not as good as other people
Example – She won’t admit it, but Kate has a chip on her shoulder when it comes to discussing her career. - A close-fisted man
Meaning – to be very reluctant to give or spend money, miser
Example – There’s no point in asking Harry for a donation; you know how close-fisted he is. - A cog in the Machine
Meaning – Someone or something that is functionally necessary but of small significance or importance within a larger operation or organization.
Example – I’m tired of working in this thankless IT support job. I don’t want to
be just a cog in themachine anymore! - A cold shoulder
Meaning – A display or appearance of disinterest
Example – I tried to be pleasant to her but she gave me the cold shoulder. - A Dark Horse
Meaning – Unexpected winner, a candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.
Example – Nobody thought Cheryl could win the race after breaking her leg last year, but sheturned out to be a dark horse and took the first place. - A dime a dozen
Meaning – very common and of no particular value, Ubiquitous
Example – There is nothing new in this book. Books like this are a dime a dozen. - A feather in one’s cap
Meaning – an achievement to be proud of.
Example – Getting a nomination for the Padma Shri award is really a feather in her cap.
- A fool’s paradize
Meaning – a state of happiness based on a person’s not knowing about or denying the existence of potential trouble.
Example – Raman is confident that he’ll get a big raise this year, but I think he’s living in a fool’sparadise. - A go-getter
Meaning – A highly motivated and ambitious person.
Example – We want interns who are go-getters, not timid kids who need to be told what to do. - A going concern
Meaning – a business that is making a profit
Example – They had a difficult start, but they’ve turned the restaurant into a going concern. - A good turn
Meaning – An action that is beneficial to another person in some way, help
Example – Angela did me a good turn by sharing her notes with me while I was out sick from school. - A hot potato
Meaning – a controversial issue or situation that is difficult to deal with and causes a lot of disagreement
Example – The abortion issue is a political hot potato in the United States. - A jack of all trades
Meaning – A person who is skilled in many different areas
Example – My father can fix cars, build furniture, and program computers.he is a jack of all trades. - A leap in the dark
Meaning – a daring step or enterprise whose consequences are unpredictable.
Example – I had very little information about the company, so writing to them was a leap in the dark.
- A left-handed compliment
Meaning – An insult in the guise of an expression of praise
Example – She said she liked my hair, but it turned out to be a left-handed
compliment when sheasked how long I’d been dyeing it. - A queer fish
Meaning – a person whose behaviour seems strange or unusual.
Example – Everyone could tell he was a queer fish as soon as he walked into the party with his mismatched clothing. - A red rag to a bull
Meaning – an object, utterance, or act which is certain to provoke someone.
Example – It was like a red rag to a bull when Samantha heard John say that men should be paid more than women. - A sight for sore eyes
Meaning – a person or thing that one is extremely pleased or relieved to see.
Example – After being away from home for so long, my friends and family were a sight for my sore eyes. - A stone’s throw of
Meaning – a very short distance
Example – The apartment is just a stone’s throw from the sea. - A storm in a tea-cup
Meaning – A disproportionate reaction of anger, concern, or displeasure over some minor or trivial matter.
Example – If you ask me, these protests are nothing but a storm in a teacup that’s been stoked by a media campaign of misinformation. - A taste of your own medicine
Meaning – The same unpleasant experience or treatment that one has given to
others.Example – Don’t be rude to others. You won’t like it when you get a taste of your own medicine.
- A wild goose chase
Meaning – a foolish and hopeless search for or pursuit of something
unattainable.
Example – Physicists searching for the hypothetical particle may be on a wild goose chase. - At the end of one’s tether
Meaning – having no strength or patience left
Example – By six o’clock after a busy day, I’m at the end of my tether. - Back to square one
Meaning: To be back at the starting point of something.
Example: I picked up all the leaves and branches from my lawn yesterday but
there was a storm last night and now I’m back to square one. - Back on one’s feet:
Meaning: to be healthy again after sickness.
Example: I couldn’t do anything for two weeks while I had the flu but now I’m back on my feet. - By hook or by Crook
Meaning: At any cost /by fair or unfair mean.
Example: I decided that I was going to get that job by hook or by crook. - Blow one’s trump
Meaning- self praise
Example: Anyone will tell you she’s one of the best journalists we’ve got,although she’d never blow her own horn. - Beat the air
Meaning- do useless effort
Examples: The candidates for office were so much alike that we thought our
vote amounted to beating the air . - Bed of thorns
Meaning: Full of difficulties
Examples: Life of an ill person always remains a bed of thorns. - Beat about the bush
Meaning: To discuss a topic without being specific about anything
Examples: Don’t beat around the bush. Just tell me where my brother is.
- Bag and baggage
Meaning: (with) all one’s belongings.
Example: Tired of their tantrums, the landlady asked her tenants to vacate the
house, bag and baggage, in a week’s times. - Blue eyed boy
Meaning: a man who is liked and admired by somebody in authority.
Example: She gets the charge of all the assignment except the finance, which is
kept for the blue-eyed boy. - Bread and Butter
Meaning: someone’s livelihood.
Example: Teaching classic music to young boys and girls is her bread and butter. - Bear the brunt of
Meaning: take the main force, often of a criticism or unpleasant event.
Example: When the teachers and other government employees went on a strike, they did not realize they’d have to bear the brunt of public anger when they go back to work. - Burn the candle at both the ends
Meaning: exhaust someone’s energies or resources by leading a hectic life.
Example: She has been burning the candle at both ends by doing a full-time
job and preparing for her International English Language Test exams. - Bury the hatchet
Meaning: make peace; end a quarrel, settle one’s differences to become friends
again.
Example 1: The two neighboring countries India and Pakistan have often been
advised by the world bodies to bury the hatchet for their own progress. - Bury head in the sand
Meaning: refuse to think about an unpleasant situation, hoping that it will
improve so that you will not have to deal with it.
Example: Parents and Principal said ragging was being ignored and accused the girls hostel’s warden of burying her head in the sand, in Perth city of Australia. - Blue blood
Meaning: descent from nobility, aristocrat.
Example: She often tell her friends that she has blue blood flowing through her veins. - By dint of
Meaning: as result of something.
Example: Mark got what he wanted by dint of requesting and threatening.
- Break a leg
Meaning: good luck, best wishes
Example: to wish someone luck especially before a performance
“Break a leg!” I shouted out to him before he rushed in for his auditions. - Born with a silver spoon in mouth
Meaning: To be born to parents who are rich and have a good social rank.
Example: He does not need this job as much as I do, he is born with a silver spoon in his mouth. - Beyond the pale
Meaning An unacceptable way to express something.Something that is not considered decent.Example -They Broke up because her behaviour was simply beyond the pale. - Back Seat Drivers
Meaning – People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving
unwanted advice from the backseat of a vehicle to the driver; any person who gives unwanted advice instead of helping or understanding.
Example – Nobody likes a backseat driver constantly nagging them when they
want to work peacefully. - Back to Square one
Meaning – Having to start all over again; start working on a plan from the
beginning because your previous attempt failed completely
Example – We’ll have to go back to square one if the government pulls our
funding on this project. - Bring home the bacon
Meaning – To earn money, particularly for one’s family; to be successful, especially financially successful.
Example – Women nowadays not only take care of the household but also bring home the bacon. - Back Room Boys
Meaning – People who do important work but have no contact with the
public/Someone who advises a public figure or maintains a professional role that does not garner public attention.
Example – Backroom boys don’t always receive the credit they deserve.
- Bad Blood
Meaning – feelings of hate between people because of arguments in the past
Example – There has been bad blood between the two families for years. - Badger someone into doing something
Meaning – to put pressure on somebody by repeatedly asking them questions or asking them to do something
Example – Children keep badgering me to take them to the magic show. - Bait and Switch
Meaning – a deceptive commercial practice of advertising a low-priced item to attract customers, then telling them that the product is out of stock and persuading them to buy a more expensive article.
Example – This store is famous for its bait and switch tactics. - Bang for the buck
Meaning – Value for the money spent
Example – We were able to get a big bang for our buck when we advertised on the Internet. - Banker’s hours
Meaning – Short work hours/a work day that is shorter than that of most businesses, typically between 10 am and 3 pm on Monday through Friday, the hours when banks used to be open
Example – My sister’s husband owns his own company and is able to work banker’s hours with his large staff. - Bark up the wrong tree
Meaning -To attempt or pursue a futile course of action, often by making some kind of suggestion or request/to make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to follow the wrong course
Example – If you think you will solve the problem by following those steps, you are barking up the wrong tree.
- Be all ears
Meaning – To be ready and eager to hear what one has to say.
Example – She had expected him to be all ears when she told him about her
wedding plans. - Brush something/someone Aside
Meaning – dismiss someone or something curtly and confidently
Example – I am so down with math, it’s my favourite subject in school. - Be off one’s head
Meaning – To be mad
Example – He must be off his head to think that he will win the elections. - Be on to someone/something
Meaning – To have the knowledge, be suspicious, or be aware of someone’s actions, behaviour, or intention.
Example – My supervisor in onto the new saleswoman who is taking money from her sales register. - Bear down on someone/something
Meaning – To put forth one’s maximum effort toward something
Example – If you want to get a passing grade this semester, you’ll really need to bear down on your studies. - Bear the brunt (of something)
Meaning – To suffer the worst part of an unpleasant or problematic situation.
Example- When our system crashed, the call centre employees bore the brunt of our customers’ anger. - Bear the palm
Meaning – To win. Palm leaves were formerly used as symbols of victory.
Example – I heard that you might bear the palm at the science fair!
Congratulations—it would be a well-deserved victory. - Beat about the bush
Meaning – Irrelevant talking
Example – Stop beating about the bush and tell us only the truth.
- Before Long
Meaning – soon
Example – If we keep spending so much, before long we’ll be without any money. - Beyond the shadow of a doubt
Meaning – If you know or believe something beyond a shadow of a doubt, you are certain that it is true
Example – He is a responsible person beyond a shadow of a doubt. - Bids fair
Meaning – To appear likely.
Example – Being so interested in medical, this girl bids fair to be a doctor one day. - Black and Blue
Meaning – Bruised, either physically or emotionally/To beat mercilessly.
Example – The father beat him black and blue for his coming late to home. - Blood is thicker than water
Meaning – The family bond is closer than anything else - Blow up
Meaning – Suddenly became angry
Example – The passenger who was waiting in the line blew up at the ticket agent. - Blue in the face
Meaning – extremely angry, frustrated, annoyed, embarrassed or upset
Example – I was blue in the face after accidentally seeing the boys
harassasing a new student. - Bought the farm
Meaning – To die, particularly in an accident or military action.
Example – He bought the farm on that last patrol with the terrorist.
- Boil down to something
Meaning – Be summarised
Example – The reason that we could not go on a holiday boiled down to the fact that we did not have enough money. - Bury the hatchet
Meaning – Cease fighting, make peace
Example – Let us now bury the hatchet, and work for the advancement of the country. - By long odds
Meaning – Most decidedly
Example – She is by long odds the greatest of living mathematicians. - By fair or foul means/By fits and starts/By hook and by crook
Meaning – By all means/In any way
Example – The minister wants to win the seat by fair or foul means. - Call a spade a spade
Meaning: Speak frankly and directly
Example: Well, I believe it’s time to call a spade a spade. - Come through with flying colours
Meaning: Be highly successful
Example: The officer training was grueling, but he came through with flying colours. - Cock and bull story
Meaning: Made up story that one should not believe
Example: Don’t give me that cock-and-bull story - Cross one’s t’s and dot
Meaning: Be precise, careful and one’s i’s exact
Example: The negotiations are nearly finished, but we still have to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. - Chew the cud
Meaning: Ponder over something
Example: He sat for a moment chewing the cud before he spoke. - Close But No Cigar
Meaning: Coming close to a successful outcome only to fall short at the end.
Example: It was close but no cigar for Johnny as he came second once again.
- Cry Over Spilt Milk
Meaning: One shouldn’t worry over things that have already happened and that cannot be changed.
Example: Yes, we made a mistake, but there’s no point in crying over spilled milk. - Cry Wolf
Meaning: someone is calling for help when it’s not really needed.
Example: If you cry wolf too often, people will stop believing you. - Curiosity Killed The Cat
Meaning: mind your own business, as too much poking and prodding could lead to harm.
Example: ‘Why are you going away so suddenly?’ ‘Curiosity killed the cat.’ - Cut To The Chase
Meaning: To get to the point, leaving out all of the unnecessary details. Similar to popular sayings such as “beating around the bush.
Example: I didn’t have long to talk so I cut to the chase and asked whether he was still married. - Call out
Meaning: to shout
Example: I called out to him but he disappeared in the dark. - Call upon
Meaning: to order;
Example: to require: I was unfortunately called upon to give evidence against him. - Carry on
Meaning: to continue
Example: If you carry on working hard, your business will soon flourish. - Cast away
Meaning: to throw aside
Example: You must cast away all your apprehensions and accept the offer. - Catch up with
Meaning: to overtake - Cannot stomach someone or something
Meaning – not to be able to put up with someone or something/ not to be able to tolerate or endure someone or something.
Example – My sister cannot stomach violent movies.
- Can of worms
Meaning – A situation that, once started, is likely to become problematic or have a negative outcome.
Example – Getting involved in the minor border conflict has become a can of worms for the country, with no end to the military engagement in sight. - Can’t cut the mustard
Meaning – Someone who isn’t adequate enough to compete or participate
Example – The new servant keeps mixing up orders and just can’t cut the mustard. - Can’t see the woods for the trees
Meaning – Cannot see, understand, or focus on a situation in its entirety due to being preoccupied with minor details
Example – The new manager found the situation so complicated that he couldn’t see the wood for the trees. - Carried all before one’s
Meaning – to overcome all obstacles; to have uninterrupted success.
Example -Meaning (Hindi) – Wherever she addressed public meetings she carried all before her. - Carried off his feet
Meaning – to fill with enthusiasm
Example – He was carried off his feet when he was declared to have won the first prize. - Carrot and Stick
Meaning -A motivational tactic that uses a reward and punishment system to encourage improved performance or behaviour. - Carry someone away
Meaning – Fill with emotion
Example – The fervour of the speech carried away the whole crowd.
- Carve out a niche
Meaning – If you carve a niche or carve out a niche for yourself, you create a role or opportunity for yourself,.
Example – In today’s competitive market it’s better to carve out a niche and try to become the best in that area. - Cash Cow
Meaning – A good way to make money /A business or investment that generates a large or consistent profit.
Example – When Bob purchased stock in that software company 10 years ago, he never expected it to become such a cash cow. - Cast Iron Stomach
Meaning – The ability to eat foods that others may find unusual, unpalatable, or too spicy
Example – Some people have certain likes and dislikes when it comes to food but Sukhdarshan had no problem in any kind of food as he had a Cast Iron Stomach. - Cause a stir
Meaning – to create an atmosphere of excitement or great interest.
Example – The arrival of the actress caused quite a stir in the village. - Chapter and Verse
Meaning – In thorough and exact detail/The precise authority backing up a statement or view
Example – The author claims that he has given chapter and verse for every statement made in his book. - Chase Rainbows
Meaning-To constantly pursue things that are unrealistic or unlikely to happen.
Example – She’s trying to get into Harvard University but as I know her very
closely, I think she’s chasing rainbows. - Chew someone out
Meaning – Verbally Scold Someone
Example – It is not an easy task to Chew Someone Out when that person happens to be elder than you.
- Chicken out of something
Meaning – To refuse to do something due to fear (real or perceived).
Example – He decided to join a karate class, but chickened out of it at the last minute! - Chime in
Meaning – To join in a discussion about something; to offer one’s thoughts
Example – As I explained to the bus driver what had happened, the other passengers chimed in and gave their version. - Chop and Change
Meaning – If you chop and change, you constantly change your opinion, plans or methods and often cause confusion.
Example – Don’t chop and change all the time – just make up your mind! - Chow Down
Meaning – To eat, often quickly or enthusiastically.
Example – Gita commented ‘That’s the way to Chow Down’ when she beat all the contestants in a burger eating competition. - Close but no cigar
Meaning – an effort to do something which was a good attempt but not quite good enough to succeed/Fall just short of a successful outcome and get nothing for your efforts.
Example – The ball touched the goal post – close but no cigar! - Come into one’s own
Meaning – When you come into your own, you receive the credit or recognition you deserve/To reach a new level of maturity, independence, or success
Example – She has really come into her own this year. A full-time job, a new apartment—she’s doing great! - Cook something up
Meaning – To plan to do something with someone/To devise something/To invent something/Forced, artificial, or contrived.
Example – Sunny cooked up a great story so that Jane wouldn’t know she was on her way to a surprise party for her birthday.
- Crackdown on something
Meaning – To address or control something more strictly than in the past
Example -: To reduce road accidents, it was decided to crack down on speeding. - Crack someone up
Meaning – To make someone laugh
Example – The lecturer would talk along sort of boring like, and then all of a sudden he would crackup everybody with a joke. - Cry Off
Meaning – Withdraw/to decide not to do something that you had promised or agreed to do
Example – Meena invited her to the party and she agreed, but she caught flu and had to cry off at the last minute. - Cut to the chase
Meaning – Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point.
Example – Instead of saying all these introductory comments, cut to the chase already and tell what exactly are you trying to ask me? - Carry Out
Meaning – to perform or complete a job or activity; to fulfill
Example – I was elected to carry out a program, the governor said, and I have every intention of carrying it out. - Chip In
Meaning – contribute something as one’s share of a joint activity, cost/ To join in a discussion about something; to offer one’s thoughts.
Example – When I heard them discussing my department, I just had to chip in
with my own suggestions. - Clam up
Meaning – To suddenly stop talking or refuse to speak, typically due to a particular reason/to say nothing.
Example – The minute they got him in for questioning, he clammed up.
- Clamp down on
Meaning – Literally, to press down on something firmly/To limit, reduce, bring under tighter control.
Example – We really need to clamp down on spending before our department loses funding altogether. - Come Apart
Meaning – if an object comes apart, it separates into pieces, either because it has been made that way or because it is very old or in very bad condition
Example – I picked up the book and it just came apart in my hands. - Come By
Meaning – to get something, especially something that is hard to get
Example – Some times ago, teaching jobs abroad were hard to come by. - Conk Out
Meaning – to suddenly stop working/ To fall asleep/To Faint
Example – Judging by all that noise coming from her car, I’m pretty sure it’s about to conk out. - Cut Across/through
Meaning – To move across an area, often as a shortcut/To break through a particular barrier/to reach beyond something; to embrace a wide variety
Example-The problem cuts across all socioeconomic lines & affects all age groups. - Come Through
Meaning – to be still alive, working, or making progress after a difficult or dangerous experience
Example – It’s been a very upsetting time but we’ve come through it together. - Cut Out
Meaning – to stop something/ to remove something
Example – With her speed and agility, Cage cut out all her competitors in the hurdle race. - Donkey’s year
Meaning: a very long time -Very Long Time
Example: Nowadays one has to wait donkey’s years to get justice.
- Dog days
Meaning: hottest days of summer
Example: The dog days of summer are a difficult period for those who have to work out in the open. - Dead ringer
Meaning: A duplicate of the exact things.
Example: The car that is parked in that garage is a dead ringer of the car that my dad used to own a couple of years back. - Dark horse
Meaning: One who was previously unknown but is now prominent
Example: You never can tell, some dark horse many come along and win a House of Lords seat. - Dog’s life
Meaning: a miserable, unhappy existence.
Example: I have to work everyday from dawn to sunset and come back home to take care of the children. It’s really a dog’s life. - Down to earth
Meaning: simple, decent, realistic; practical and straightforward.
Example: She is very down to earth person, not at all attracted by the glamour world. - Down at heel
Meaning: Out of luck, shabbily dressed
Example: Since Ashok lost his job, he is always down at heel. - Doom and Gloom
Meaning: A feeling of pessimism and despondency, often with regard to business or political prospects. - Drive up the wall
Meaning: to make someone angry or irritated
Example: The loud music played by my neighbours is driving me up the wall. - Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: don’t put all your resources into one thing
Example: It would be better if you applied to several companies instead of just one; don’t put all your eggs in one basket. - Dead and buried
If something is dead and buried, it has all long been settled and is not going to be reconsidered.
- Dead in the water
If something is dead in the water, it isn’t going anywhere or making any progress - Dip your toe in the water
Meaning: when you start something carefully
because you are not sure whether it will work or not.
Example: I am doing some volunteer work at the new school to try and dip my toe in the water of working in the education field - Devil of a time
Meaning: If you have a devil of a time, you have a very difficult time.
Example: Before she divorced, Ann had had a devil of a time with my her husband. - Devil’s Advocate
Meaning: To present a counter argument Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched
Example: He offered to play devil’s advocate and argue against our case so that we could find out any flaws in it. - Don’t give up the day job
Meaning: You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally.
Example: I watched your performance at the theater today. My advice is don’t give up your day job. - Down in the dumps
Meaning: a gloomy, unhappy
Examples: Little Jon is down in the dumps because all her friends are gone away with their parents - Do for
Meaning: Fulfil the purpose
Example: This book will do for the IAS Examination. - Draw up
Meaning: To draft
Example: I was engaged in drawing up plans for new business. - Drop a line
Meaning: Send a brief letter
Examples: If you’ve got a few minutes to spare you could always drop her a line. - Dot the i’s and cross the t’s
Meaning: To do something very carefully and in a lot of detail
Examples: She writes highly accurate reports – she always dots her I’s and crosses her t’s.
- Dig own grave
Meaning: do something stupid that will seriously harm oneself, cause one’s own ruin or downfall.
Example: If she continues to behave like this to her senior officer, she’ll be digging her own grave. - Every Dog has his day
Meaning: Sooner or later, everyone has his share of good fortune
Example: You may become successful in your business someday. Every dog has his day. - Early bird
Meaning: A person who gets up early or arrives early for something.
Example: My brother is an early bird and gets up very early every morning. - Egg on
Meaning: to urge or push someone to do something.
Example: The boy is always egging his friend on to do stupid things. - Eye of the storm
Meaning: The center of a problem
Example: The politician was in the eye of the storm because of the accounting scandal. - Excuse (someone)
Meaning: to forgive someone
Example: We excused the man for his rude comments because he did not know any better. - Eagle eye
Meaning: Quick to discover
Example: A good student has an eagle eye for his errors. - Empty vessels make the most noise
Meaning: Those who know or have little knowledge often shout the loudest
Example: Ram tells as if he’s an expert on everything, but empty vessels make the most noise. - Earn one’s keep
Meaning: To perform satisfactory physical labour or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially. - Eager beaver
Meaning – A keen and enthusiastic person who works very hard.
Example – Raman is a real eager beaver and I am sure he will do very well in this organization.
- Enough to cobble dogs with
Meaning – A large surplus of anything
Example – We’ve got enough investment to cobble dogs with. - Easy as pie
Meaning – Extremely easy, simple, or intuitive; requiring very little skill or effort
Example – After so many years as an accountant, doing taxes is as easy as pie for me. - Easy does it
Meaning -used to advise someone to approach a task carefully and slowly.
Example – Easy does it, guys— you are moving a priceless piece of art which is worth of 3 crores. - Eat crow/Eat humble pie
Meaning – To admit that one is wrong, usually when doing so triggers great embarrassment or shame.
Example – He had no option but to eat crow and admit that his analysis was wrong. - Economical with the truth
Meaning – the one who omits important facts or gives incomplete information, Deceitful
Example – I wouldn’t trust him—everyone says he’s economical with the truth. - Egg on your face
Meaning – If someone has egg on their face, they are made to look foolish or embarrassed, To suffer embarrassment as a result of some public failure or faux pas.
Example – The CEO really had egg on his face after he went on stage to demonstrate the new product and couldn’t get it to work right. - Elbow grease
Meaning – hard physical work, especially vigorous polishing or
cleaning/Energetic labour.
Example – It requires to put in a lot of elbow grease to shift from one place to another.
- Elbow room
Meaning – Enough space to move around an area easily
Example – We shared a small office where neither of us had enough elbow room. - Engaging manners
Meaning – Good behaviour
Example – The Prime Minister became popular because of his engaging manners. - Ended in smoke
Meaning – No concrete or positive result
Example – All her plans for the trip to the hill station ended in smoke as she got ill at that time. - Even at the turning of the tide
Meaning – to denote some change from a previously stable course of events.
Example – The lifestyle of the rich hasn’t changed much even at the turning of the tide. - Every nook and cranny
Meaning – Any part or section of a given place, especially those that are hard to see or reach
Example – We looked for our books in every nook and cranny but could not find it. - Eye to eye (with someone)
Meaning – to agree with someone, or to have the same opinion as them
Example -: I don’t see eye to eye with my father on many things. - Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning – there is always something good even in an unpleasant, difficult or even painful situation.
Example -: You should never feel hopeless. Every cloud has a silver lining, you know.
- Every Man Jack
Meaning – every person without exception
Example -: I don’t know how many people live in this society, but every man jack of them is required to contribute their time towards cleaning up the society on this occasion. - Every Tom, Dick and Harry
Meaning – Every kind of common, undistinguished person; anyone at all, indiscriminately
Example -: You don’t want every Tom, Dick, and Harry coming to your performance, but then you don’t want to limit the amount of audience you might bring in. - Eyewash
Meaning – nonsense, deception, insincere talk
Example -: All that stuff about blood being thicker than water was nothing more than eyewash. - Ease off/Ease up
Meaning – to give something less effort or energy, especially when you have been working very hard
Example – If she doesn’t ease off at work, she’ll make herself ill. - Eke Out
Meaning – to make (a living) or support (existence) laboriously
Example-The old man eked out his pension by selling vegetables from his garden. - Egg Someone On
Meaning – to urge or strongly encourage them to do something especially something not wise enough
Example – She didn’t really want to learn to drive but her children kept egging her on. - For Good: भविष्य क़े ललए कुछ छोड द़ेना
Meaning: Forever or permanently
Example: I am leaving for good this time.
- Few and Far between
Meaning: Not very many or not appearing very frequently
Example: He grew up at a time when jobs were few and far between. - Fancy Price
Meaning: Very high price
Example: I have paid a fancy price for this ordinary pen. - Flogging a dead horse
Meaning: to waste time trying to do something that will not succeed - Fish out of water
Meaning: In bad condition
Example: In the company old men I felt like a fish out of water. - Fool ‘s paradise
Meaning: in false wish
Example: If you hope to pass, you are in a fool’s paradise - Forty winks
Meaning: little sleep in day
Example: one likes to enjoy forty winks in summer. - Flesh and blood
Meaning: Human nature, a normal human being
Example: we’re going to need some fresh blood if we want to remain a viable company in today’s market. - Fight tooth and nail
Meaning: to use a lot of effort to oppose someone or achieve something
Example: we try tooth and nail to clear SSC Exam. - Friend at court
Meaning: Help on time
Example: At the time of my brother’s appointment, I found in Ram a friend at court. - Face the music
Meaning: Go through an unpleasant experience
Example: He was part of an illegal racing gang, and had to face the music when they were busted
- Feather in one’s cap
Meaning: It means to have an achievement in one’s name.
Example: One does not get chances to add a feather in their cap too often. So the opportunity to do so should be utilized well. - Feel under the weather
Meaning: to be ill or feel ill
Example: She has just returned from her vacation, but is feeling under the weather and has a sore throat and running nose. - Fit as a fiddle
Meaning: A very healthy person
Example: The team had partied late into the night, but on match day, each of them was as fit as a fiddle. - Freudian Slip
Meaning: A speaker’s unintentional mistake revealing his true thoughts
Example: The reporter made a Freudian Slip and said “condemn” instead of “condemn”. - Get away Scot free
Meaning: To avoid the punishment that you deserve
Example: If you don’t take out a complaint against him he’ll get off Scot-free! - Good Samaritan
Meaning: person who unselfishly helps others,
Example: He’s such a good Samaritan. He used to take after my grandmother when she was ill. - Green eyed monster
Meaning: jealousy
Example: I ‘d no idea you were so susceptible to the green-eyed monster. - Green Horn
Meaning: an untrained or inexperienced person. - Go the extra mile
Meaning: Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.
Example: Vipin is a nice guy, always ready to go the extra mile for his friends.
- Go out on a limb
Meaning: Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone/something.
Example: You can’t find your dog? I’m going to go out on a limb and say he jumped over the fence and got loose. - Have an axe to grind
Meaning: To have a dispute with someone.
Example: As a novelist, he has no political axe to grind. - Hell in a hand basket
Meaning: Deteriorating headed for complete disaster. - Hale and hearty
Meaning: very healthy and strong
Example: At 80 Nitish is hale and hearty, getting up at six every morning to walk five miles. - Hold your horse
Meaning: Be patient.
Example: You must hold your horse to clear any exam. - Hit the bull’s eye
Meaning: get something exactly right, or be on target.
Example: The finance minister’s speech on attracting new investments hit the bull’s eye. - head over heels
Meaning: fall deeply and completely in love, especially suddenly
Example: She and her husband make an amazing couple. They are head over heels in love and are very supportive of each other. - Hit the sack or hit the hay
Meaning: to go to bed, to go to sleep
Example: After I hit the sack, I read for sometime before turning off the lights and going to sleep. - Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: be accurately right about something
Example: He is a smart debugger. Every time you take a broken code to him, he will hit the nail on the head and tell you the exact problem. - High on the hog
Meaning: Living in luxury.
- In a trice
Meaning: Without causing any delays.
Example: I will be there in a trice, stop calling me so often. - In a tight corner
Meaning: to be in a difficult situation
Example: She had been in tight corners before and had always managed to get out of them. - In deep water
Meaning: in difficulty, in a problem.
Example: I’m going to being deep water if my boss refuses to approve the
project done by me after the hard work of a week. - In a nutshell
Meaning: to state something very concisely
Example: The explanation is long and involved, but let me put it in a nutshell for you. To put it in a nutshell: you are fired! - In the dark
Meaning: uninformed, a state of ignorance.
Example: We’re still in the dark about the company’s layoff policy. - In cold blood
Meaning: in a planned way and without pity or other emotion.
Example: One young lady was shot dead in cold blood inside the premises of shopping complex. - In the blink of an eye
Meaning: in an instant.
Example: In the blink of an eye the robber disappeared from the bank with the bag of Gold jewellery. - In black and white
Meaning: formally, on paper and in writing.
Example: He asked his old mother not to worry as the terms of the hand agreement was spelt out in black and white. - In the good books
Meaning: be in somebody’s favour or good opinion.
Example: The fact that he always managed to be in the good books of the bosses surprised one and all.
- In high spirits
Meaning: With joy - In apple pie order
Meaning: Clean and Arranged. - Jump the gun
Meaning: Do something too early, especially without thinking
Use: The media jumped the gun and gave out their verdict of the scandal even before the investigation was complete. - Jack of all trades
Meaning: somebody who has many skills or who is versatile in ever field.
Use: Raj is the jack of all trades as he can teach, sung and do many different job at a time. - Jump to conclusion
Meaning: form an opinion or judgement hastily.
Use: Wait till we get the report; don’t jump to a conclusion. - Jam on the brakes
Meaning: to press the brakes suddenly and in a hard way.
Use: I had to jam on the brakes because a kid suddenly appeared from nowhere and crossed the road. - John Hancock
Meaning: A person’s signature.
Use: Put your John Hancock at the bottom of the will. - Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To profit from a craze; to join a trend. - Jump the lights
Meaning: Pass traffic lights, when they are red.
Use: Don’t jump the lights as it may be fatal for you. - Justice is blind
Meaning: This expression means that justice is impartial and objective.
Use: No matter who you are, you must respect the law. Justice is blind.
- Jangle someone’s nerves
Meaning: Annoy someone or make them nervous.
Use: The noise of the dog jangled my nerves. - Jump for joy
Meaning: To be extremely happy: - Just deserts
Meaning: Get what one deserves.
Use: After a lot of hard work he got his just deserts. - Keep the wolf from the door
Meaning: To have enough money to be able to ward off poverty or hunger.
Example: They were really very poor, but they had enough to keep the wolf from the door. - Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: accomplish two different things at the same time
Example: I have to go to the bank, and on the way back, I’ll pick up the groceries also, killing two birds with one stone. - Keep your chin up
Meaning: be stalwart and courageous in a tough situation
Example: Don’t let the difficulties intimidate you; keep your chin up. - Keep fingers crossed
Meaning: hope that things will happen in the way you want them to.
Example: I’m keep my fingers crossed that my husband clears the written interview this Monday to join British Intelligence Bureau. - Keep at arm’s length
Meaning: keep a distance, avoiding intimacy or familiarity.
Example: He always had the feeling that she was keeping him at arm’s length. - Keep an eyes on him
Meaning: You should carefully watch him.
Example: Carol asked me if I would mind keeping an eye on her houseplants while she was in Cuba. - Keep body and soul together
Meaning: To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive.
Example: He earns barely enough to keep body and soul together.
- Knee Jerk reaction
Meaning: A quick reaction that dosen’t allow you time to consider something
carefully Knock on wood - Meaning: Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.
- Kick the bucket
Meaning: to die.
Example: Sad news! He kicked the bucket. - Lend me your ear
Meaning: To politely ask for someone’s full attention
Example: Lend an ear to me and I will tell you a story. Lend your ear to what I am saying. - Let bygones be bygones
Meaning: To forget about a disagreement or argument.
Example: There is a feeling here that we should let bygones be bygones and move on to more important things. - Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To share a secret that wasn’t suppose to be shared.
Example: Amazingly, not one of the people who knew about the surprise let the cat out of the bag. - Level Playing field
Meaning: A fair competition where no side has an advantage
Example: If we started off with a level playing field, everyone would have an equal chance. - Long in the tooth
Meaning: Rather Old
Example: Don’t you think she’s a bit long in the tooth to be a romantic heroine? - Make a clean breast of
Meaning: To confess
Use: He made a clean breast of his crime. - Make one’s way
Meaning: Advance in life by one’s own efforts.
Use: He had to make his own way in the world as his family was very poor.
- Man in the street
Meaning: An ordinary person
Use: Ram is a man in the street. - Man of his word
Meaning: One who keeps his promises.
Use: Raj by helping me, proves that he is a man of his word. - Man of straw
Meaning: A weak person.
Use: When his wife needed his support, he run away and left her facing all the problems all alone. That is why; she called him a man of straw after all. - Mark my words
Meaning: Listen to me
Use: Mark my words; this boy is going to become a great ruler. - Marry money
Meaning: To marry a rich person
Use: She married to Raj Ambani and got rich. - Meet one’s death
Meaning: To die.
Use: A friend of mine met his death when he got hit by a train. - Minting it
Meaning: Earning a lot of money quickly.
Use: The company is minting it is only due to new manager. - Miss the boat
Meaning: To fail to take advantage of an opportunity.
Use: A good business opportunity comes in ram’s life but ram miss the boat. - Maiden voyage
Meaning: The first voyage of a ship or boat
Use: The maiden voyage of the Titanic ship was very popular. - Make a beeline for
Meaning: To hurry directly toward someone or something
Use: When ram enters a party, he always make a beeline for the dessert section.
- Make a comeback
Meaning: To return to one’s former (successful) career or situation
Use: Yuvraj Singh makes a comeback in world cup tournament after a lot of hard work. - Make a difference
Meaning: To cause a change in a situation
Use: It does not make a difference whether our boss comes to the meeting or not. - Make a fool out of
Meaning: To make someone look foolish
Use: The secretary made a fool out of her boss when she criticized him at the meeting. - Make a fuss- ककसी की चचंता
Meaning: To worry about
Use: My grandmother always makes a fuss over me when I visit her. - Make eyes at
Meaning: To flirt with someone, to look at someone to try and attract him or her
Use: The boy was making eyes at the girl in math class.
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