Idioms and Phrases CHAPTER Capsule The command of idiomatic expressions in any language is very important. You are expected to make profound study of idioms and phrases because, the idioms imply a meaning quite different from then literal meaning and as far as phrases are concerned, a simple change in preposition forming the phrases anges its meaning altogether. This chapter contains the most important Idioms and Phrases that are indispensable for any competitive examination. An idioms is a combination of words that has a figurative meaning due to its common usage. An idiom’s figurative meaning is separate from the literal meaning on definition of the words of which it is made. Some idioms and phrases are illustrated below 1. To read between the lines (to understand the hidden meaning) If the essay is read between the lines, to comprehend a text we must read it. 2. To see eye to eye (to agree) Neema could never see eye to eye with her elder brother. 3. To speak volumes for (to have abundant proof) The great of sacrifice made by our soldiers defending the borders against huge enemy forces spoke volumes for there true love for the mother land. 4. To steal a march (to get ahead secretly) Rohan stole a march on my brother in business and is very rich today. 5. To turn the corner (to pass a critical stage) Having journeyed for the whole right through dense forest, at _ last we turned the corner and were completely out of danger.nN 14. . White elephant . Back stairs influence (by unfair means) These days many inefficient persons are allotted good posts through back stairs influence. To have blue blood (aristocratic blood) Though she claims to have blue blood yet her conduct is very mean and vulgar. . The halcyon days (peaceful days) The days we spend in our school are the halcyon days of our life. . To pull a long face (to look sad) Seema pulled a long face when she was scolded by her teacher for her carelessness. . Palmy days (prosperous, affluent days) We still remember the palmy days of our life when we had nothing much to do and our parents did everything to fulfil our needs. . Queer fish (strange or unusual person) One cannot make anything out of Sohan’s attitude as he is such a queer fish. . The swan song (last creation) ‘A Lament’ was the swan song of Shelley. . Uphill task (difficult task) The problem of holding exams in time is an uphill task for the V C of CCS University. A wet blanket (any person that dampens enthusiasm) The Principal proved a wet blanket while the students were arranging for going on a picnic. (anything with less utility and more expenditure) Some of the Public Sector Undertakings have proved to be white elephants to our economy. 16. 18. 19. 21 22. 23. A wild goose chase (unprofitable) All the efforts of our government to remove poverty is like a wild goose chase. 7. Bird’s eye view (concise view) We had a bird’s eye view of the whole fair from the top of the giant-wheel. A bolt from the blue (sudden or unexpected shock). The news of his mother’s death came to Ramesh as a bolt from blue. To add a new feather in one’s cap (additional success) His bright success in his MA exams has added a new feather in his cap. To live in a fool’s paradise (false hope) My brother is living in a fool’s paradise if he thinks that he can be a rich man without working hard. To have feet of clay (full of faults) Those who have feel of clay will be exposed some day or the other and be taken to the task by law. A lion’s share (large part) Generally the sons as compared to daughters have a lion’s share of their mother’s affection. A red rag to a bull provokes) The Anti-Dowry Act is, for the greedy persons, like @ red rag to a bull. (anything that . A snake in the grass (a secret enemy) The country is always betrayed by the snakes in the grass. . To be at a stone’s throw away (very close) We shall go to station on foot as it is at a stone’s throw away from the place.26. 28. 29 30. 31. 32. 36. By fits and starts (irregularly) By making our studies by fits and starts we can never be successful in our exams. 7. The ins and outs (secrets) The domestic servants are generally familiar with the ins and outs of the family. Null and void (ineffective) Strangely, the laws made by the British in India are still not yet null and void. . Over head and ears (excessively) Our spendthrift neighbor Mohan is over head and earsin debt. Heart and soul (devotedly) He served his old parents heart and soul. Kith and kin (blood relation) If we have no love for our kith and kin, we cannot be expected to love humanity. Part and parcel (inseparable part) Every Indian citizen living in India must regard himself as part and parcel of a larger whole. Rank and file (common man) If we want our country to make an all round progress we must improve the economic lot of the rank and file. . Tooth and nail (violently) All the students revolted éooth and nail for the partiality of the teachers towards some students. . Ups and downs (change in fortune) My uncle has experienced many ups and downs in his furniture business. All in all (most important) As he was the only earning member of the family, he was all in allin his home. Hard and fast (rigid) There are no hard and fast rules about gaining popularity. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44, 46. 47. 48. 49, In the blues (in dumps, depressed) After his failure in the examination he is in the blues these days. In the red (suffer a loss) Most of our Public Sector Undertaking are in the red for lack of efficient administration. Out of question (certain) His success is out of question because he is intelligent as well as working hard these days. Out of the question (unlikely, uncertain) His success through the competition is out of the question because he is not working hard these days. Live-wire (energetic) India needs /ive-wire political leaders who can put the country on the right track. Out of the wood (out of danger) The patient is still not out of the woods. By dint of (by force of) He achieved success in life by dint of hard work. . An eye wash (a pretence) My friend's promise to help me just proved to be an eye-wash in the time of need. A gentleman at large (an unreliable person) We must not depend a gentleman at large. Foot the bill (bear expenses) Although he hosted the feast, his brother had to foot the bill. In a tight corner (in difficult situation) After losing his job, he is in a tight corner. Egg on (to urge somebody) The Captain egged the players on to continue to struggle till the end of the match.57. |. To breathe one’s last (to die) . Order of the day (in fashion) It is difficult to get any work done without bribery as it is the order of the day. . Writing on the wall (signal, warning) The factory owner read the writing on the wall made by the laborers so he closed down the factory. . When the crunch comes (the moment of decision) The brave never despair when the crunch comes. To burn one’s boats (point of no return) We have burnt our boats by declaring that we are not going to sign CTBT. . To meet one’s Waterloo (to face final defeat) Tipu Sultan met his Waterloo in the fourth battle of Mysore. . To hang fire (remain unsolved) Kashmir problem has been hanging fire since the country got freedom. . Herculean task (very difficult work) It is a Herculean task to root out corruption in India To throw cold water (to discourage) His father’s refusal to finance him threw cold water on his plans. . To turn over a new leaf (to be entirely changed) After being selected to a higher post Rajesh turned over a new leaf, To turn the table condition) (to reverse the A batsman often turns the table on the opposite team by his good batting. . To be at a loss (to be unable to decide) Tam at a loss to know what to do. He breathe his last in the prime of his life. 63, 64. 66. 67. 68. 69. 52. To call names (to abuse) Neeta called me names, so she was severely punished by the teacher. To die in harness (to die while working) Sardar Patel died in harness. To fall flat (to have no effect) The minister’s speech fell flat on the audience. 5. To go to the dogs ( to be ruined) The rich industrialist business will go to the dogs because of his son’s bad habits. To give a wide berth (to avoid) We should always give a wide berth to all flatterers and mean persons. To let the cat out of the bag (to disclose) Sunita has at last, let the cat out of the bag, by confessing that she had stolen her brother’s money. In cold blood (to commit some cruel act deliberately) The child was murdered in cold blood. On the score of (on the grounds of ) He was debarred from appearing in the examination on the score of indiscipline. . To hit the nail on the head (to do the right thing at the right time) Our captain hit the nail on the head by stealing a march while the enemy soldiers were relaxing. A man of letters (a literary man) Besides being a successful politician, Churchill was @ man of letters. . By the by (by the way) By the by, what is your purpose? . By and By (gradually) He is recovering by and by after long illness.76. 77. 84. 85. Over and above (moreover, besides) I shall lend you books over and above what Thave promised to give you in cash. | Out and out (completely) Shri Bhagat Singh was a patriot out and out. Off and on occasionally (now and then) Since she is very busy these days, she visits me off and on. Apple-pie order (in perfect order) On the eve of inspection everything was kept in apple-pie order. . To be upto (doing something secret and perhaps bad) He is upto all the tricks of the trade to grind his own axe. 79. Bated breath (in anxiety, expectancy) The fate of the match hung in balance and every body waited for the result with bated breath. . Above all (before everything else) Above ail, he is honest and sincere. . A fair weather friend (selfish friend) A fair weather friend will never stand by you in the time of need. . To take up arms (to fight) The tribals of this region have taken up arms against the government. . To bite the dust (to be defeated) Pakistan bit the dust in the finals of the World Cup: A book worm (a person in the habit of pouring over books) He has no time for. social activities because he is a book worm. To knit the brow (to frown ) Her mother-in-law is always knits the brow at everything she does. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 93. 94. 95. 96. To kick the bucket (to die) He kicked the bucket after prolong illness in the prime of his life. Hobson’s choice (no alternative) The employees in the unorganised private sector have Hobson’s choice and have to accept what they are asked to do. Off colour (ill) Being off-colour he could not appear in the examination. A dare devil (a fearless person) Only a dare devil can challenge the city mafia and bring them to their knees. To give the devil his due (give credit to a worthless person for his good qualities) We should give the devil his due for his good qualities. Every dog has his day (good fortune comes sooner or later) Don’t be disappointed as it is truly said that every dog has his day. Down and out (poor and ruined) After a slump in share market he is down and out these days. A bad egg (a worthless fellow) He comes of a noble family but he himself. is a bad egg. Odds and ends (small things of little value) The thief made away with the odds and ends lying about the drawing room. To sail under false colours (a hypocrite) We should not believe the flatterers because they all sail under false colours. A flash in the pan (sudden success) The success of Indian Cricket Team is generally a flash in the pan.97. Look a gift horse in the mouth (crit ize a gift) One should not look a gift horse in the mouth because it is given out of love and regards. 98. A die-hard (to change with difficulty) He is a die-hard person and will not easily give up his habits. 99. Lose one’s head (to be carried away) One should not lose one’s head even by emotion like anger it he repeatedly fails. 100. To have too many irons in the fire (doing many things at a time) He is fickle-minded and has too many irons in the fire. Let us Practice Directions (Q. Nos.1-100) in each of the following questions, an idiom or a phrase has been given, followed by four alternatives. Choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given idiom/phrase 1. To be at daggers drawn (a) To be frightened (b) To be ready to face danger (c) To threaten one (d) To be bitter enemy 2. To turn up one’s nose at a thing (a) To show angerness to have something (0) To show indifference (0) To treat it with contemptuous dislike or disgust (d) To start to grapple with it 3. To save one’s face (a) To hide oneself (b) To oppose (c) To evade disgrace (d) To say plainly 4. To snap one’s fingers (a) To speak abruptly (b) To accept immediately (c) To grasp eagerly (d) To become contemptuous of 5. A pipe dream (a) A pleasant dream (b) Abad dream (©) An impracticable plan (0) A foolish idea 6. To give up the ghost (a) To die (b) To make false appearance (0) To terrify others by acting in suspicious manner (d) To leave useless pursuits 7. Hush money (a) Money overdue (b) Easy money (©) Money earned by wrong means (d) Bribe paid to secure silence 8. Pay one back in the same coin (@) To provoke a person to quarrel (b) To offer another polite attention (©) To retaliate (@) To give a word of encouragement or praise to another 9. A tall order (@) Atask difficult to perform (6) Abig problem (0) A royal summon (d) Abig demand 10. To draw a bead upon (a) To make prayers (0) To cause hindrance in work (c) To count the benefits (d) To take aim at11. To drink like a fish (a) To arink little (b) To drink alone (0) To be a drunkard (d) To drink in the company of others 12. To fight to the bitter end {a) To fight with poison-tipped arrows (b) To fight to the last point of enemy position (0) To die fighting (d) To carry on a contest regardless of consequences 13, To give a false colouring (a) To misrepresent (b) To submit false report (©) To be dishonest (d) To conceal the facts 14, To accept the gauntlet (@) To accept defeat (b) To accept a challenge (©) To suffer humiliation (d) To accept an honour 15. To give currency (a) To bestow importance (b) To misinterpret (©) To make publicly known (d) To originate 16. French leave (a) Long absence (b) Leave on the pretext of illness (c) Casual leave (d) Absence without permission 17. Castles in the air (a) Romantic designs (b) Perfect plans (c) Ideal projects (d) Visionary projects 18. To get cold feet (a) Torun for life (b) To be afraid (0) To fall sick (@) To become discourteous 19. To take a leap in the dark (@) To take risk (b) To hazard one-self (c) To doa task secretly (d) To do hazardous thing without any idea of the result 20. To give/get the bird (a) To get the awaited (b) To have good luck (c) To send away (d) To get the impossible 21. To read between the lines (a) To concentrate (b) To read carefully (c) To suspect (0) To grasp the hidden meaning 22. To blaze a trail (a) To set on fire (b) To be annoyed (©) To vehemently oppose (4) To initiate work in a moment 23. To be lost in the cloud (a) To meet with one’s death (0) To be purposed (©) To be concealed trom view (d) To find oneself in a very uncomfortable position 24, To flag a dead horse (@) To act in a foolish way (b) To waste one's efforts (c) To revive interest in an old subject (d) To revive old memories 25. To have an easy time of it (a) To take the world lightly (0) To indulge in trivolities (c) To squander away the resource: (d) To live in quiet and comfort 26. To stand to one’s guns (a) To keep the guns close to oneself even amid danger (0) To persevere when hardships press (c) To maintain dignified and unbending attitude (d) To maintain one's position 27. To take the bull by the horns (a) To punish a person severely for his arrogance () To come to grips courageously with a difficulty that lies in our way (0) To handle it by fierce attack (d) To bypass the legal procéss and take action according to one's own whims28. To wash one’s dirty linen in public (@) To criticise one’s nature in public (0) To quarre! in the open (©) To do some ugly work in public (d) To discuss dirty and scandalous matters of personal nature in the presence of strangers 29, A lady's man (@) Awoman-tailor (0) A lover of woman company (c) Aman working as per a lady's directions (d) A timid husband 30. To throw dust in one’s eyes (a) To show false. things (b) To make blind (c) To harm someone (d) To deceive 31. To turn the tables (a) To defeat (b) To oppose (c) To create chaos (d) To change the sorry scheme 32. To keep the ball rolling (a) To earn more and more (b) To work constantly (©) To keep the conversation going (d) To make the best use of 33. All and sundry (a) Greater share (b) All of sudden (c) Completion of work (d) Everyone without distinction 34, To lose one’s head (a) To go mad (b) To become nervous (c) To become confused and over excited (d) To lose the balance 35. By the skin of one’s teeth (@) Hardly (b) In time (0) Hurriedly (d) Only just 36. To throw down the glove (@) Jo waste money (b) To give a challenge (©) To accept deteat (d) To reject the prize 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44, To plough the sands (a) To work hard to achieve one’s aim (b) To afford hope or ground for expecting a good result (©) To busy oneself in a way which cannot lead to any profitable result (d) To advance one’s position in lite Foam at the mouth (a) Bitten by a snake (0) To reveal the secret (©) To be funny (d) To be in the extreme hatred To take umbrage (a) To feel depressed (b) To be offended (c) To be satisfied (d) To be pleased Something up one’s sleeve (@) Agrand idea (b) A secret plan (©) A profitable plan (d) Something important To worship the rising sun (a) To honour a man who is coming home (b) To humus honour the promising people (0) To indulge in flattery (d) To welcome the coming events To disabuse one’s mind (@) To conceal something (b) To remove a misapprehension (©) To banish from one’s mind a thought (d) To proceed cautiously so as to avoid risks and dangers Astorm in a tea-cup (a) Unexpected event (b) A danger signal (©) Much excitement over something trivial (d) A great noise Adam’s ale (a) Grace (6) Pleasure (c) Water (d) Wine45. To draw the long bow (@) To over-estimate oneselt (b) To put up high demands (©) To demand a very high price (d) To make an exaggerated statement 46." To hit the jackpot (a) To gamble (b) To make money unexpectedly (c) To inherit money (d) To become bankrupt 47. Tall order (a) Simple (c) Customary (b) Difficult (d) Too much 48, To be rolling in money (a) Wasting a lot of money (b) Very rich (€) Borrowing money liberally (d) Spending more than his income 49. To get into hot waters (@) To be impatient (b) To suffer a huge financial loss (©) To get into trouble (d) To be in a confused state of mind 50. Will O’ the wisp (a) Anything which eludes or deceives (b) To act in a childish way (©) To actin a foolish way (d) To have desires unbacked by efforts 51. To play fast and loose (@) To beguile others (b) To be winning sometimes and lose at other times (c) To play with someone's feelings (0) To play tricks 52. To tempt providence (a) To invite punishment () To achieve a fortune (6) To take reckless risks (d) To have God's favour 53. To haul over the coals (@) To put hand in wrong task (0) To throw into the fire (©) To put to task (d) To say the wrong words 54. To put the cart before the horse (2) To offer a person what he cannot eat (b) To force a person:to do something (0) To raise obstacles (@) To reverse the natural order of things . 55. Hobson's choice (a) Feeling of insecurity (b) Accept or leave the offer (c) Feeling of strength (d) Excellent choice 56. To be at loggerheads (@) To have tough encounter (b) To be at enmity or strite (c) To face stiff opposition (d) To tax one's mind and body 57. To talk through one's hat (@) To speak fluently (b) To talk nonsense (0) To talk wisdom (d) To speak at random 58. To hold something in leash (a) To restrain (0) To disappoint (©) To dismiss (d) To discourage 59. To play game (a) To trust others (0) To behave in a fair way (©) To cheat people (d) To hurt somebody's feelings 60. To wrangle over an ass shadow (a) To act in a foolish way (b) To quarrel over trifles (c) To waste time on petty things (d) To do something funny 61. To be in abeyance (a) To be in trouble (b) Dual minded (0) Ina fighting mood (d) In suspense 62. To cast pearls before a swine (a) To spend recklessly (b) To spend a lot of money on the upkeep of domestic hogs (©) To waste money over trtles (d) To offer a person a thing which he cannot appreciate63. A chip off the old block (a) Apiece of wood (b) An old friend (c) Characteristics of one's ancestors (d) A good bargain 64, To smell a rat (a) To detect bad smell (b) To misunderstand (0) To suspect a trick or deceit (d) To see hidden meaning 65. To turn over a new leaf (a) To change completely one's course of action (b) To shift attention to new problems after having studied the old ones thoroughly (©) To cover up one's faults by wearing new marks (d) To change the old habits and adopt new ones 66. A fair crack of the whip (a) Severe punishment (b) A goog check (©) A period of importance (0) Failure of administration 67. To talk one’s head off (@) To talk loudly (b) To talk in whispers (0) To talk to oneself (d) To talk excessively 68. Harp on (a) To comment (b) Criticise (©) To keep on talking (d) To keep on insulting 69. To catch somebody on the hop (a) To give someone a surprise (b) To catch somebody off guard (c) To stand in the way of someone (d) To catch somebody suddenly 70. To spill the beans (a) To reveal secret information (b) To misbehave (c) To keep secrets (d) To talk irrelevant 71. To keep one’s head (@) To be agile and active (b) To keep calm (0) To think coherently (d) None of these 72. To cross swords (a) To fight (b) To detend (c) To kill (d) To rob 73. A snake in the grass (a) Secret or hidden enemy (0) Unforeseen happening (©) Unrecognisable danger (d) Irreliable person 74. To bring one’s eggs to a bad market (@) To face a humiliating situation (b) To bring one's commodities to a market where there is no demand for them (©) To show one's talents before audience which is incapable of appreciating them (d) To fail in one’s plans because one goes to the wrong people for seeking help 75. To hit below the belt (a) To work confidentially (b) To harm unfairly (©) To strike at the exact position (@) To hit the correct mark 76. To take people by storm (@) To put people in utter surprise (b) To captivate them unexpectedly (c) To exploit people's agitation (d)To bring out something sensational attracting people's attention 77. To throw up the sponge {a) To surrender or give up a contest (0) To offer a challenge (c) To become utterly disappointed (d) To maintain grit and enthusiasm until the end 78. To split hours (a) To sidetrack the issue (b) To quarre! over trifles (0) To indulge in over-refined arguments (d) To find faults with others79. All agog (a) Everybody (©) Restless (b) All ready (@) Almighty 80. To frame a person (a) To befoo! someone (0) To make one appear guilty (0) To praise someone (d) Anarrow escape 81. A close shave (a) Alucky escape —_(b) Aclean shave (c) Awell guarded secret (d) A narrow escape 82. To take with a grain of salt (a) To take with some reservation (b) To take with total disbeliet (c) To take whole heartedly (d) To take seriously 83. To pull one’s socks up (a) To prepare (0) To get ready (b) To try hard (d) To depart 84. To bite one’s lips (@) To be angry (b) To feel hard (©) To have doubt (d) To laugh at others 85. Within an ace of (a) Within one's reach (b) Very sorry (©) Within the hitting range (d) Narrowly 86. A red letter day (a) An imponant day (0) An auspicious day (©) Adangerous day (¢) An unimportant day 87. Queer somebody's pitch (a) Upset one’s plan (b) Reprimand him (©) Check him (¢) Work him up 88. To make the grade (a) To fail in a task (0) To get good marks in an examination (©) To come out successful (d) To make good one's previous loss 89. To be up and doing (@) To recover from illness (b) To be actively engaged (0) To progress satisfactorily (d) To be expressive and explicit 90. Dog in the manger (a) An undersized bull almost the shape of a dog (b) A dog that has no kennel of its own (c) A person who puts himself in difficulties on account of other people (@)A person who prevents others from enjoying something useless to himself 91. To blow hot and cold (a) Changing weather (b) To be untrustworthy (c) To be inconsistent (d) To be rich and poor frequently 92. To have brush with (a) To start painting (b) To have good and pleasing terms (c) To be impressed (d) To have a slight encounter 93. To lose face (a) To look angry (c) To be helpless 94. To turn the other cheek (a) To suk and sutter (b) To respond to violence with violence (©) To respond to violence with non violence (d) To be indifferent to peace overtures (b) To be humiliated (6) To look vacant 95. To set the people by ears {a) To box the people (b) To insult and disgrace the people (c) To punish heavily (d) To excite people to quarrel 96. To give chapter and verse for a thing (a) To produce the proof of something (b) To eulogize the qualities of a thing (c) To make publicity of a thing (4) To attach artificial value to a thing 97. To beggar’s description (a) A poor statement (b) To describe things without care (c) Beyond one's power to describe adequately (d) None of the above98. To be in two minds (a) To be dominated by someone else (c) To work on somebody else's advice 99. Leave one to sink or swiin (a) To be ina dilemma (c) To put one in difficulty 100. To rip up old sores a (2) To revive a quarrel which was almost forgotten (0) To strain one’s thoughts to the most . (d) 11. 21. 31. 41. 51. 61. a. (a) (a) (d) (b) (d) (b) - (dy a1. (c) 2.(c) 12. (a) 22. (d) 82. (vc) 42. (b) 52. (c) 62. (d) 72. (a) 82. (a) 92. (d) BSSESSESR Se (c) (a) (b) (a) (c) (c) (c) (c) () (b) 4. () 14. (b) 24. (b) 34. (c) 44. (c) 54. (d) 64. (c) 74. (a) 84. (a) 94. (0) (b) To be uncertain (d) To be in critical state (b) To leave to one's fate (d) Not to help one (b) To censure someone in strong terms (d) To preserve oneself from harm: Answers 5.(a) 6 (a) 15.(c) 16. (d) 25. (d) 26. (b) 35. (d) 36. (b) 45. (d) 46. (b) 55. (b) 56. (b) 65. (d) 66. (c) 75. (b) 76. (b) 85. (d) BB. (a) 95. (c) 96. (a) 18. 28. 48. 58. 68. 78. . (a) 98. (c) (b) . (d) (a) (a) (c) (c) (b) 19. 29. 3. a9. 59. 69. 79, 89. 99, (a) (d) (b) (b) (ce) (b) (b) (c) (b) (d) 10. (d) 20. (c) 30. (d) 40. (b) 50. (a) 60. (b) 70, (a) 80. (b) 90. (d) 100. (a)