An idiom is an expression that takes on a figurative meaning (when certain

words are combined) which is different from the literal meaning of the
individual words.
Examples: “to beat black and blue” and “a hard nut to crack”. The meaning
of these expressions is different from the literal meaning or definition of the
words of which they are made. Their meanings are however used figuratively.
They mean respectively “to beat very badly” and “to a very difficult problem or
situation”.
Idioms add flavour and style to the language. A right idiom used in the right
place not only shows the user’s knowledge but also puts forth the thought
more convincingly. The important aspect is to know the idioms, their
meanings and use them often in language.
Let us have a look at a few idioms and their meanings.

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

Black sheep The odd one in the The younger son is the black sheep in the
family family.

A bed of roses A comfortable life with Do not expect life to be a bed of roses.
all luxuries

To beat black and To beat very badly The public beat the thief black and blue.
blue

To blow one’s To praise oneself a lot My friend has the habit of blowing his own
trumpet trumpet.

Kith and kin One’s relatives and During times of need, kith and kin are the
friends only help.

A hard nut to crack A difficult thing or The last question in the exam was a hard
problem nut to crack.

A cold reception Unwelcome, indifferent The guests felt bad when they got a cold
reception at the party.

Lion’s share A major part The elder son took the lion’s share of the
family wealth.

Other fish to fry Other important work Please be quick, I have other fish to fry.
to do

All and sundry One and all The minister invited all and sundry to his
son’s wedding

Spick and span Clean, neat and My friend’s room is always spick and span.
organized

A square meal Complete meal The poor in our country find it difficult to
get a square meal leave alone buy luxuries.

To take French leave To take leave Gone are the days when employees could
uninformed take a French leave.

Man of straw Man of no substance Don’t believe your neighbor, he is a man of

straw.

A bolt from the blue An unexpected disaster Narendra Modi’s demonetization is like a
bolt from the blue for those dealing in black
money.

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

A fair weather friends A friend only in good I have only one true friend, the rest are all
times fair-weather friends.

Beat around the bush Digress from the main The manager does not want his team
topic members to beat around the bush, he wants
results!

The ball is in your Your chance; someone I told my boss that if he doesn’t pay me
court else’s turn to make a more money, I will leave. Now, the ball is in
move his court now.

Whole nine yards All of it; everything that The mountain trail was difficult but I
is possible wanted to go the whole nine yards.

Keep something at To stop something that A good way of keeping your anxieties at
bay could be a problem for bay is to meditate.
you from getting close
or getting worse

At the drop of a hat Immediately, instantly Don’t let Naman watch those emotional
serials; she cries at the drop of a hat.

A herculean task A difficult job Convincing my mother to let me go for a

night stay is a herculean task.

Gift of gab Speaking fluently Our English teacher definitely has the gift
of gab, the listeners are in awe of his
speech

A hot potato Something that is Terrorism is a political hot potato in

difficult or dangerous Afghanistan
to deal with

A penny for your Way of asking what After several minutes of silence, he finally
thoughts someone is thinking looked at her and said, “A penny
for your thoughts, Lily.”

Actions speak louder What you do is more He: I am sorry. I’ll try to be a better person
than words significant than what henceforth.
you say She: Actions speak louder than words

Add insult to injury To make a bad Their basement was flooded, and then, to
situation worse add insult to injury, a pipe burst in the
kitchen.

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

An arm and a leg A lot of money It’s the best cruise in the world, but it will
cost you an arm and a leg.

At the drop of a hat Immediately; without Ellie was always ready to go shopping at
any hesitation the drop of a hat

Back to the drawing Start something all I failed this semester, but now I am back to
board over again the drawing board.

Ball is in your court It is up to you to take I’ve made my decision, now the ball is in
the next step your court

Barking up the wrong Looking in the wrong He did not commit the crime; you’re
tree place; accusing the barking up the wrong tree
wrong person

Be glad to see the Be glad to see someone I never liked her. I’ll be glad to see the back
back of leave of her

Beat around the bush Avoid answering a Tell me what the problem is, stop beating
question; not speaking around the bush
directly about the issue

Best of both the Situation wherein one She had the privilege of a professor and
worlds can enjoy two different freedom of a student. She had the
opportunities best of both worlds

Best thing since A good idea or plan; an I love your idea. It’s the best thing since
sliced bread excellent new sliced bread
invention

Bite off more than To take on a task that is Our boss bit off more than she could chew
you can chew way too big when she promised the client
we’d have the project ready by next week

Blessing in disguise Something good that Ashok’s losing his job was a blessing in
isn’t recognized at first disguise; it gave him an opportunity to
pursue higher studies

Burn the midnight oil To stay up working, She’s been burning the midnight oil for the
especially studying, last few months; her hard work
late at night will definitely pay off in the coming exams

Don’t judge a book by Don’t judge something She: He doesn’t look intelligent.
its cover primarily by its He: You can’t judge a book by its cover
appearance.

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

Caught between two When someone finds it He had committed to both and now he’s
stools difficult to choose caught between two stools
between two
alternatives

Cross that bridge Deal with a problem if He: I think I need to hire a lawyer.
when you come to it and when it becomes She: Cross that bridge when you come to it
necessary

Cry over spilled milk To be unhappy about It can’t he helped, don’t cry over spilled
something that cannot milk
be undone

Curiosity kills the cat Being too curious can Don’t ask about his divorce-curiosity killed
get you into trouble the cat!

Cut corners To take shortcuts; They always put quality first; they won’t
when something is cut corners just to save money
done badly to save
money

Cut the mustard Perform satisfactorily; We need a better catcher; this one just
to succeed doesn’t cut the mustard

Devil’s advocate To present a counter The teacher always played devil’s advocate
argument to provoke discussion in the
classroom

Don’t count your Don’t make plans for You might not win the prize and you’ve
chickens before the something that might already spent the money? Don’t
eggs have hatched not happen count your chickens before the eggs have
hatched

Don’t give up the day You’re not very good at Why did you invest in business even after
job something. You could failing in it in the past? Don’t give up the
definitely not do it day job!
professionally

Don’t put all your Don’t focus all of your I know you love Harvard, but don’t put all
eggs in one basket attention on one thing your eggs in one basket. Apply to other
or one area. colleges too

Drastic times call for When you’re extremely Yes we had to let go of five of our workers!
drastic measures desperate you need to Drastic times call for drastic measures
take drastic actions

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

Elvis has left the The show has come to an We waited for another performance by the
building end. It’s all over band but it looked like Elvis had
left the building

Every cloud has a Be optimistic, even I’m sorry your business is going badly, but
silver lining difficult times will lead to remember every cloud has a silver lining.
better days

Far cry from A thing that is very What you did was a far cry from what you
different from something said you were going to do
else

Feel a bit under Feeling sick or unhealthy I’m not coming to office today; I’m feeling a
the weather bit under the weather.

Give the benefit of Believe someone’s I knew him since the past 5 years, so I gave
doubt statement without proof him the benefit of doubt.

Hear through the To hear news from I heard through the grapevine that she’s
grapevine someone who heard that pregnant
news from someone else

Hit the nail on the To do or say exactly the You’ve spotted the flaw, Robert. You’ve hit
head right thing the nail on the head

Hit the sack / To go to bed I’m exhausted. I think I’ll just hit the sack
sheets / hay

In the heat of the Overwhelmed by what’s He doesn’t hate you. He just said that in the
moment happening at the moment heat of the moment

It takes two to Both people involved in a He blamed her for his lack of attention;
tango bad situation are well it takes two to tango
responsible for it

Jump on the Join a popular trend or So many people are playing that game that
bandwagon activity I might as well jump on the
bandwagon and check it out

Keep something at Keep something away A good way to keep your anxiety at bay is
bay through meditation

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

Kill two birds with To solve two problems at a John practiced his words while peeling the
one stone time with just one action potatoes. He was killing two
birds with one stone

Last straw The final problem in a This is the last straw. I’m calling the police
series of problems

Let sleeping dogs Leave something alone if it I thought I would ask him if he wanted me
lie might cause trouble to pay him back right away, but
then I decided to let the sleeping dogs lie

Let the cat out of To reveal a secret / To It’s our secret. Don’t let the cat out of the
the bag share information that bag
was previously concealed

Make a long story Come to the point – leave And – to make the long story short – I never
short out the details got back the money I lent him

Method in the A purpose in what one is What I’m doing might seem strange, but
madness doing, even though it there is method in my madness
seems to be crazy

Miss the boat To miss out on something Pay attention, John, or you’ll miss the boat
and never learn algebra

Not a spark of A person who has no Her brother has not a spark of decency. I
decency manners don’t like the way he acts in public.

Not playing with Someone who is mentally, He’s an intelligent guy, but with all that
the full deck psychologically or crazy things he does, I wonder if he’s not
intellectually deficient playing with the full deck

On the ball When someone If you were on the ball, this wouldn’t have
understands a situation happened
well; attentive

Off the record Not made as an official or He accepted his fault off the record and
attributable statement; hence it could not be used by the
unofficial; confidential prosecutor in the court

Oldest trick in the A well-known and much Oldest trick in the book to treat cold and
book used trick / method cough is drinking turmeric milk

Off the cuff Without preparation; She has a reputation of handling off the cuff
spontaneous interviews very well

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

Old habits die hard People find it difficult to She retired last month, but still gets up at
change their accustomed the same time in the morning. Old habits
behavior. die hard

Once in a blue Very rarely Jill has a very rocky relationship with her
moon father. She speaks to him once in a blue
moon.

Open the Release something that Economists fear that relaxing price control
floodgates was previously under will open the floodgates to
control inflation.

Out of the blue Happen unexpectedly She had given up all hope when out of the
blue she got a call from Harvard

Out on a limb Do something risky or She was out on a limb with her project –
something that others do nobody supported her idea
not support (leaving the
doer in a difficult
situation)

Over the top Totally excessive and not Her sari was way over the top for a somber
suitable for the occasion occasion like this

Pen is mightier Words and A simple handwritten note put an end to

than the sword communication have a their week long cold war – pen is mightier
greater effect than war than the sword

Push one’s luck Trying to obtain more You have my permission to go to your
than what one has (risk friends’ place but don’t push your luck by
spoiling the current planning a night out
situation)

Raining cats and Raining heavily We’ll have to cancel the trip, it’s raining
dogs cats and dogs here.

Reap the harvest Benefit or suffer as a direct When he cleared IIT-JEE, he reaped the
result of past actions harvest of all his hard work

Roll up one’s Get ready for hard work My brother said he would roll up his
sleeves sleeves and do whatever it takes to
support the family

See eye to eye To be in agreement with She was glad her roommate saw eye to eye
on the choice of the flat.

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

Shot in the dark A complete guess (may or He didn’t know too much about
may not be close to the programming, so answering the
truth) interviewer’s question was merely a shot
in the dark

Sink your teeth Do something with a lot of Robin immediately sank his teeth into his
into energy and enthusiasm new job

Skating on thin ice Do or say something risky Don’t say anything that hurts her self-
or something that could esteem or you could be skating on thin ice.
cause trouble.

Stand in a good To be useful or be of good Being fluent in German will stand you in a
stead service to someone good stead when applying for an MS in
Germany

Strike while the To act at the right time The price of gold is at a 10 year low, strike
iron is hot while the iron is hot and invest in it right
away.

Take a back seat Choose to be less He finally decided to take a back seat and
important in a role let his son run the family business.

Take with a To doubt the accuracy of A lot is said about the celebrities in media,
grain/pinch of salt information but that information should be
taken with a grain of salt

Take a nose dive Rapid drop or decrease in The share prices took a nosedive when
value there were rumors of the company’s
CEO resigning

Take the plunge Venture into something of Jack finally took the plunge and opened a
one’s interest despite the restaurant
risks involved

Taste of one’s own Treat people the same People who often disregard others should
medicine (unpleasant) way they be given a taste of their own
treated you medicine.

Think the world of Admire someone very Emily is a wonderful teacher – children
much think the world of her

Tight spot A difficult situation The recent lawsuit has put the firm in a
tight spot

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

Tongue in cheek (of a remark) Supposed to Her comment was taken more seriously
be taken in funny or ironic than intended. It was supposed to be
sense tongue in cheek.

Turn a blind eye Pretend not to notice People tend to turn a blind eye to crime
against women

Walk on eggshells Be extremely cautious Celebrities are scrutinized by the media for
about one's words or all their actions so they’re
actions required to walk on eggshells

Want someone’s Want someone to be “I want that murderer’s head on a

head on a platter punished severely platter!”, said the Chief of police

Watch (someone) Keep eyes on or The examiner watched the test

like a hawk watch carefully takers like a hawk

Water under the Something bad that The couple had a serious fight in the past
bridge happened in the past but is but that water is under the bridge now
no longer important

Wave a dead Do some useless, Restarting the laptop once the

chicken unhelpful thing in the motherboard has crashed is like waving a
hope that it will solve a dead chicken.
problem

Weak in the knees Barely able to stand The shock of being summoned by the
because of emotion, fear Supreme Court made me go weak in
or illness the knees.

Wear many hats Do many different We have such a small number of

types tasks employees that one is often supposed to
wear many hats

Weather the storm Succeed in Given the current global market

surviving a difficult period conditions, the Indian economy is
of time weathering the storm pretty well

Wet behind the Inexperienced and Instead of a full-time job, she should be
ears immature offered an internship as she is still
wet behind the ears.

Whale of a time Enjoy a lot She had a whale of a time in Goa with her
girl gang

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 Idioms Meaning Usage

Whistle in the dark Pretend to be brave in a Upon being attacked, she blew a whistle in
scary situation the dark which surprised her
attackers.

Why keep a dog and If someone or My sister has a printer, but she continues
bark for yourself something can do a job to write notes manually. Why keep a dog
for you, why do it and bark for yourself?
yourself?

Wide off the mark Incorrect; Inadequate; Her answer was wide off the mark; it was
Not what is expected impossible for me to give a better rating to
it.

Wild goose chase Waste time looking for She tried to find out who the anonymous
something that has caller was, but it turned out to be a wild
little chance of being goose chase
found

Wipe the slate clean Make a fresh start When Mike was leaving home, he decided
to wipe the slate clean with his
dad.

Wolf in sheep’s Dangerous person I thought she was a good person, but I
clothing pretending to be realized that she was a wolf in a
harmless sheep’s clothing when she backstabbed me
during the selection process.

Work your fingers to Extreme hard work She totally deserves the success; she
the bone worked her fingers to the bone when
she started out as a model

Worm’s eye view A perspective seen The trainees get only a worm’s eye view of
from below or from a the corporate structure
low or inferior position

Worth one’s salt Good or competent at She deserves respect as she is

the job or profession totally worth her salt
specified

Wrap one’s brain Concentrate on I really need to wrap my brain around this
around something in an effort concept before the exam.
to understand

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Some more examples:
Idioms
Cry over spilled milk
Once in a blue moon
Have a blast
A piece of cake
Kill two birds with one
stone
Burn the midnight oil
Judge a book by its cover
A blessing in disguise
Better late than never
Better late than never
A bird in the hand is
worth two in the bush
A picture is worth 1000
words
Actions speak louder than
words
Break the ice
Comparing apples to
oranges
Don't count your chickens
before they hatch
Don't put all your eggs in
one basket
Give someone the cold
shoulder
It's raining cats and dogs
Saving for a rainy day
A little learning is a
dangerous thing
A stitch in time saves nine
Every dog has his day
Haste makes waste
Keep one’s fingers
crossed
Bark up the wrong tree
Hoping against hope
Come off with flying
colours
On cloud nine
Cry for the moon
The pros and cons
Spread like wild fire
By hook or by crook
In the long run
Leave no stone unturned
Alpha and omega
Hand to mouth
To hit below the belt
Meaning
Regret/complain about something that cannot be rectified
Once in a while, infrequently
To enjoy oneself, have a good time
An easy task/job
Accomplish two things with the same effort
Work or labour late into the night
Rely on outward appearances
a good thing that seemed bad at first
Better to arrive late than not to come at all
Better to arrive late than not to come at all
What you have is worth more than what you might have later
Better to show than tell
Believe what people do and not what they say
Make people feel more comfortable
Comparing two things that cannot be compared
Don't count on something good happening until it's happened
What you're doing is too risky
Ignore someone
It's raining hard
Saving money for later
People who don't understand something fully are dangerous
Fix the problem now because it will get worse later
Everyone gets a chance at least once
You'll make mistakes if you rush through something
The anxiety in which you hope that nothing will upset your plans
Accuse or denounce the wrong person
Without hope
Be highly successful
Very happy
Ask for the impossible
The various aspects of a matter in detail
Spread quickly
By fair or foul means
Eventually; ultimately
Use all available means
The beginning and the end
Live on only basic necessities
To act unfairly in a contest
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A cash cow
To build castles in the air
A litmus Test
Fool’s paradise
Fling yourself into
Fever pitch
Blood, sweat and tears
Get a grip on yourself
Hang on by finger nails
Pull out all the stops
Play havoc
Stiff-necked
Smoking gun
Take cue from
Nip in the bud
Take cue from
Power behind the throne
Part and parcel
Hold one’s peace
From pillar to post
Play second fiddle
Hang by a thread
Turn one’s head
To snap one’s fingers
A chip off the old block
To catch somebody on
the hop to
To get into scrape
To disabuse one’s mind
To pull one’s socks up
To draw the long bow
Name will be mud
Join the club
Got a load of
Can of worms
Off the hook
To pour oil on troubled
waters
Wrap one’s brain around
Zero in on something
Above all
On Account of
On no account
A Fidus Achates
The Heel of Achilles
An Adonis
To assume airs
To stand aloof
To lead to the altar
A product or service that makes a lot of money for a company
Make imaginary schemes
A method that helps to know if something is correct
False sense of happiness
Doing something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm
When a feeling is very intense and exciting, it is said to be at a
fever pitch
Something that requires a lot of effort and hard work
Controlling your feelings to deal with a situation
Continuing to do something in a very difficult situation
Doing everything you can to make something successful
Completely disrupt
Haughty and stubborn
The indisputable sign of guilt
To be strongly influenced
To stop something soon after it has begun
To be strongly influenced
The person who actually controls the person who is apparently
in charge
A basic or essential part
Remain silent about something
From one place to another in an unceremonious or fruitless
manner
Have a subordinate role to someone or something
To be in danger of having something unlucky or bad happen
Cause to become infatuated
To be anxious
Characteristics of one’s ancestors
To catch somebody of guard
To find oneself in an awkward predicament
To remove a misapprehension
To try hard
To make and exaggerated statement
Bad reputation
Sympathy to others
Pay attention
Most difficult issue
Out of trouble
To make peace
Concentrate on something to understand
Focus all attention on one thing
Chiefly, Mainly
Due to
Not for Any Reason
A faithful friend or a devoted follower
A Weak Point
A very handsome man
To affect superiority
To keep to oneself and not mix with others
To marry
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An Ananias A Liar
An Apollo A Man with Perfect Physique
To Upset the Apple Cart To disturb the peace
Apple Pie Order In perfect order
Arcadian Life A blissful, happy, rural and simple life
To take up arms To fight or go to the war
To Grind To have some selfish objective in view
To break the back of To perform the most difficult part
anything
To backbite a person To speak disguise about someone
He has no backbone He has no will of his own
To cause bad blood To Cause Enmity
Bag and Baggage With all one's belongings
To keep the ball rolling To keep things going
Barmecide feast Imaginary Benefits
Bee-line The shortest distance between two places
Behind one's back Without one's Knowledge

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