IDIOMATIC PHRASES

IDIOMATIC PHRASES MEANINGS SENTENCES

1. A.B.C. Rudimentary principles, He does not know even the ABC of Arithmetics.
basic knowledge
2. A Bed of Roses A situation of comfort Those who think that life is a bed of Roses live in a fool’s Paradise.
and ease

3. A blue stalking a woman who is regarded She is a blue stalking and is respected in literary circles.
as having superior
literary tastes
4. A bone of contention the cause of quarrel Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan
5. A brainwave a sudden inspiration or a Often a brainwave leads scientists to new inventions
bright idea

6. above board Fair, unhidden He is open and aboveboard in his dealings.

7. A casting vote The decisive vote when The chairman used his casting vote in favor of the proposition.
votes are equally divided

8. A child’s play
9. A close-fisted person
10. A close shave (a narrow
shave)
11. A curtain lecture
12. A far cry from
13. A fish out of water
14. A jailbird
15. A man of letters
something very easily
done
Niggardly, miserly
almost an accident
a scolding given by a wife
to her husband in the
bedroom
greatly different from
feel uncomfortable
a hardened criminal who
goes to jail repeatedly
a man versed in literature
It is not a child's play to pass the degree examination you will have to work hard.
He is a close-fisted person and you cannot hope for any donation from him for your
school.
It was a close shave but the driver applied the brakes in time and saved us.
He would go his own way in spite of all the curtain lectures by his wife.
It is a far cry from India is preaching peace to her practising it.
A true scholar is like a fish out of water when he is away from his library.
He is a jailbird and seldom remains outside the prison.
this is a world of science but a man of letters has his own place.

16. A man of straw
17. A near miss
18. A narrow escape
19. A rotten egg
a man of no strength
a failure that was nearly a
success
an escape at great risk
a black sheep
He is a man of straw and cannot face opposition.
I’m sure you will win the competition this time as your previous attempt was a near
miss.
Yesterday he had a narrow escape from a serious accident.
A rotten egg spoils the whole lot.
IDIOMATIC PHRASES MEANINGS
20. A wild goose chase a hopeless adventure
21. Add fuel to the fire To make bad situation
worst
22. Add insult to injury to humiliate one further
after insulting him
23. After one’s own heart exactly what one likes
24. Again and again repeatedly
25. All and sundry Almost everyone from
every class
26. All at sea at a loss, in a state of
uncertainty
27. All in all having full authority
28. Aladdin‘s lamp magical power which can
suddenly perform
inconceivable
29. Alpha and omega beginning and end,
complete
30. Apple of discord cause of contention
31. Apple of one's eyes a dear one, a prized
treasure
32. Animal spirits physical exhilaration
33. An axe to grind a selfish end to serve
34. An eye wash a mere show
35. An open secret a known secret
36. At a loose end without work
37. At a stone's throw quite near, not far off
38. At arm’s length at a distance
39. At daggers drawn having enmity
40. At large Free, at liberty
41. At the eleventh hour at the latest possible time
SENTENCES
Wisemen do not indulge in a wild goose chase.
The speech of the labor leader added fuel to the fire and the factory workers went on
strike.
Shouting at a crying child just adds fuel to the fire.
He called him a thief and added insult to injury by saying that his father was a cheat.
My car broke down in the middle of the road, then to add insult to injury, it started to
rain.
He furnished his house after his own heart.
If you do this exercise again and again, you will master it.
All and Sundry came to see the village fair.
The candidate was all at sea and could not answer a single question.
The president is all in all in this organization.
Those who dream of Aladdin‘s lamp can achieve nothing.
The alpha and omega of Islam is that Allah is one and Muhammad (peace be upon
him) is his messenger.
Their father's property is the apple of discord among the brothers.
Ahmed, being the only son, is the apple of his father's eyes.
The athletes exhibit animal spirits on the sports day of the college.
He is selfish and will not help anyone unless he has an axe to grind.
His expression of grief at the death of his rival is only an eyewash.
How East Pakistan became Bangladesh is an open secret
After his retirement from service, he is at a loose end and does not know how to pass his
time.
My college is at a stone's throw from my house.
You must keep the bad boys at arm’s length.
The two brothers are at daggers drawn since the death of their father
A murderer is at large in the town, beware of him.
The public meeting was cancelled at the eleventh hour because of sudden change in
weather.
IDIOMATIC PHRASES
42. Back out
43. Bad blood
44. Bad debt
45. Bag and baggage
46. Be at sixes and sevens
47. Be cast down
48. Be cut to the quick
49. Be ill at ease
50. Be done up
51. Be in keeping with
52. Be taken aback
53. Be taken in
54. Be out of keeping with
55. Bear the brunt of
56. Bear the palm
57. Beard the lion
58. Beat about the bush
59. Beat the air
60. Better half
61. Between the devil and the
deep sea
62. Bird’s Eye view
63. Black and blue
MEANINGS
to retreat, to give up after
having consented to some
act
ill feelings, enmity
irrecoverable debt
with all portable
belongings
in confusion
be in low spirits, dejected
to be shocked, humiliated
disturbed in mind
Decorated, arranged
properly; tired and
exhausted
Appropriate, suitable
to be surprised, to be
astonished
to be deceived
Inappropriate, unsuitable
Endure the main force
to be the winner
oppose a man to his face
approach a matter in a
roundabout way
make violent but useless
efforts
wife
between two evils
a general view
extremely
SENTENCES
Aslam had promised to help his friend but he backed out at the last moment.
Some people are trying to create bad blood between the provinces of our country.
A debt which is not likely to be paid back is a bad debt.
I shall be very happy when you get out of my house bag and baggage.
The factory workers left everything at sixes and sevens when they went on strike.
He is cast down these days because of his failure in the examination.
He was cut to the quick when his friend accused him of theft
He is often ill at ease when he meets his superiors
Her hair were beautifully done up.
I am quite done up after a five-mile walk.
His actions are not in keeping with his profession.
He was taken aback at the sudden change in his friend's behavior.
The poor villager was taken in by the person who promised to double his money.
His bearing is out of keeping with his status.
The manager had to bear the brunt of laborers’ anger over the rejection of their
demands.
We all laughed at bore the palm at the annual contest.
Telling him to desist from his bad activities is to beard the lion in his own den.
You are wasting my time by beating about the bush. Tell me plainly what you want.
He merely beat the air, for nobody listens to what he said.
The husband had complete trust and confidence in his better half.
It is hard to choose between the devil and the deep sea.
We had a Bird’s eye view of Islamabad from Shakarparian hills.
Gone are the days when the teachers would beat their pupils black and blue.
IDIOMATIC PHRASES MEANINGS SENTENCES
64. Birds of a feather people of the same Birds of a feather flock together.
thought
65. Black sheep the worthless member of If you want to succeed beware of a black sheeps among you.
the group etc
66. Blow hot and cold praise and blame Some people do not know what their own mind and blow hot and cold in the same
alternately breath.
67. Blow one’s own trumpet sing one’s own praise He does not listen to anyone but blows his own trumpet.
68. Blue blood noble blood, respectable He is a member of the royal family and has blue blood in his veins.
and aristocratic
69. Bone of contention cause of dispute The father’s property is a bone of contention between the two brothers.
70. Bolt from the blue unexpected misfortune He was ready for going abroad but his illness proved a bolt from the blue.
71. Bosom friend a trusted and intimate Ahmed is the bosom friend of Hamid and he trusts him fully.
friend
72. Bread and butter material interests These days everyone thinks more of his bread and butter than anything else.
73. Break the ice end the formalities We sat silent when one of us broke the ice and we started talking.
shyness etc
74. Break the news communicate unexpected He died in an accident and no one had the courage to break the news to his mother.
news
75. Break new ground explore new ways and Most of the people repeat one and others opinions only a genius breaks new ground.
means
76. Bring down the house earn great praise His brilliant performance brought down the house.
77. Bring home make one realize His forceful speech brought home to us the true meaning of democracy.
78. Bring to book bring to justice, call to Crime will decrease if the offenders are brought to book quickly.
account
79. Broken health ill-health His broken health is the result of hard work and poor food.
80. Bring to light to reveal His misdeeds have been brought to light.
81. Broken reed one who does not help I asked for his help but he proved a broken reed.
when needed
82. Burn midnight oil work very hard He burnt midnight oil and got first division in M.A.
83. Bull’s-eye the central most part of Thus hitting the Bull’s-eye would mean the achievement of a striking advantage or
the target victory.
In the shooting competition he hit the bull’s-eye thrice and won the first prize.
84. Burn one’s boats to have no means of He has burnt his boats by signing the bond for serving the company for ten years.
retreat
85. Burn one’s fingers come to harm If you keep bad company you will burn your fingers.
IDIOMATIC PHRASES
86. Burn the candle at both
ends
87. Burning question
88. Burying one’s head in the
sand
89. By all means
90. Bury the hatchet
91. By and by
92. By and large
93. By fits and starts
94. By hook or by crook
95. By leaps and bounds
96. Call a spade a spade
97. Call in question
98. Call names
99. Call to account
100. Call to mind
101. Carry one’s point
102. Carried the day
103. Carry too far
104. Carry weight
105. Cost a slur upon
106. Cast a spell
107. Cast aside
108. Cast in one’s lot with
109. Cast in one’s teeth
MEANINGS SENTENCES
exhaust one’s energy Those who burn the candles at both ends soon repent.
dangerously
an important problem The Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan is a burning question.
which requires urgent
solution
avoid facing facts Burying your head in the sand will not change the situation.
most willingly I would do as you please by all means.
patch up a quarrel It is always better to bury the hatchet if you can do so with honor.
after sometime, gradually He does not agree with me now but I hope to convince him by and by.
on the whole I disagree with him on certain points but by and large his speech was fine.
irregularly Those who work by fits and starts seldom succeed in life.
by every possible right or The state of Israel want to expand itself by hook or by crook.
wrong method
rapidly, quickly He is making progress by leaps and bounds.
speak in plain terms It takes real courage to call a spade a spade.
to doubt The efficacy of this medicine is being called in question by many doctors.
to abuse The little boy began to weep when his playmate called him names.
to censure , to demand an The principal called the mischievous student to account, and fined him.
explanation
to remember While talking about good relations between India and Pakistan we should also call to
mind India’s past deeds.
succeed in gaining one’s He is a clever man and will use all means to carry his point.
point
win the victory With his forceful speech he carried the day and won the first prize.
to continue beyond what Do not carry your differences too far.
is required or safe The discussion on contemporary literature was carried too far and the speakers started
talking on national and international politics.
to have influence He is a great statesman and his word carries weight.
cast a reproach Your bad habits will cast a slur on the good name of your family.
impress, influence Her beautiful speech cast a spell over the audience.
give up using, reject The project for building a new college was cast aside because there were no funds.
to share fortune, etc For better or worse, he cast in his lot with his friend.
retort reproachfully He cast it in his friends teeth that he had betrayed him.
IDIOMATIC PHRASES
110. Cast pearls before swine
111. Castles in the air
112. Cat and dog life
113. Cat’s paw
114. Catch at a straw
115. Cheek by jowl
116. Cock and bull story
117. Cold comfort
118. Come down upon
119. Come of age
120. Come off with flying colors
121. Come to a head
122. Come to blows
123. Come to grief
124. Come to light
125. Commit to memory
126. Cool as a cucumber
127. Create bad blood
128. Crocodile tears
129. Cry for the moon
130. Cry over spilt milk
131. Cry wolf
MEANINGS
offer good things to one
incapable of appreciating
them
imaginary plans
full of quarrel
a person used as a tool
try to cling to the faintest
hope
in close proximity
absurd and incredible
story
small or no consolation
to attack, punish, to press
with full vigor
to be 21, the age of legal
maturity
succeed with honor
to reach the apex, become
mature
to begin fighting
fail, meet with disaster
become known
to learn by rote,to
preserve in mind
perfectly composed
to have ill-feeling and
enmity
fake weeping
desire for the impossible
to have useless regret
to raise a false alarm
SENTENCES
What is the use of casting pearls before swine.
Building castles in the air is pleasant but useless.
The two neighbours are leading a cat and dog life and are always quarreling on petty
matters.
Find the real culprit, the man you have caught is merely a cat’s paw.
A drowning man catches at a straw.
The master and slave sat cheek by jowl on the prayer rug.
No intelligent person will believe your cock and bull stories.
The news of his release was a cold comfort to the prisoner who was on the death bed.
He came down upon his enemy with all his might.
He will come of age next year.
Our hockey team came off with flying colors.
Their differences have now come to a head.
After exchanging hot words, they came to blows.
If you do not reform yourself, you will come to grief.
His crimes came to light at last.
He committed every clause of the agreement to memory.
He remains cool as a cucumber in all circumstances.
By his foolish talk, he has created bad blood between the two brothers.
He is shedding crocodile tears over the death of his rival.
His desire to go abroad for higher studies is nothing but crying for the moon, because
his parents cannot afford it.
He did not study and when he failed in the examination, he began to weep but it was
useless to cry over spilt milk.
The Indian leaders often cry wolf in order to get more weapons from their allies.
IDIOMATIC PHRASES
132. Curry favour
133. Cut a sorry figure
134. Dance attendance on
135. Dark horse
136. Day in and day out
137. Dead letter
138. Die a dog’s death
139. Die in harness
140. Do away with
141. Do for
142. Do the trick
143. Do with
144. Double faced
145. Down and out
146. Draw a blank
147. Draw on one’s memory
148. Draw the line at
149. Drawn game
150. Dutch courage
151. Eat one’s cake and have it
152. Eat one’s words
153. End in smoke
154. Flesh and blood
155. Flog a dead horse
156. Follow suit
157. For good
MEANINGS
get favour by flattery
to make poor impression
humour one’s whims
a person with hidden
qualities
day after day
law or rule not in force
die in shame
to die while on active duty
to discard, remove,
abandon
to serve the purpose of
to succeed in achieving
the aim
get on with, tolerate
deceitful
completely destitute
to fail in some matter
to recall to mind, to
remember
refused to go beyond
a match in which no side
wins
courage induced by drink
to desire to have the best
retract one’s words
come to nothing
human nature
make a useless effort
to follow the lead of
someone
once for all
SENTENCES
A man will not curry favour but a rogue will.
He did not work hard and cut a sorry figure in the annual examination.
Only an inefficient worker will dance attendance on his employer.
He proved a dark horse and won many prizes in the annual sports.
He worked day in and day out, and won the first prize.
Capital punishment is now a dead letter in some countries.
Traitors die a dog’s death and they deserve it.
Quaid-e-Azam died in harness.
The modern society has done away with many old costumes.
Until we get better accommodation, this corridor will do for the reading room.
His tears did the trick and he got a loan from me.
He has nothing to do with his school friends now.
One cannot trust a double faced person.
One should help those who are down and out.
He went to his friend for help but drew a blank.
He drew on his memory to recollect the name of his long lost friend but could not
succeed.
He drew the line at one thousand rupees and refused to pay more.
The match between Islamia College and Government College was a drawn game as both
sides fail to score a goal.
Courage produced by drinking is called Dutch courage.
You cannot eat your cake and have it.
Think before you speak lest you should have to eat your words later.
He tried his best to save himself from ruin but all his efforts ended in smoke.
A man of flesh and blood can err.
What is done is done, it is no use flogging a dead horse.
Most people have no opinion of their own, they simply follow suit.
He has sold all of his property and has left this city for good.
IDIOMATIC PHRASES
158. French leave
159. From hand to mouth
160. Get into hot water
161. Get rid of
162. Get wind of
163. Gird (up) one’s loins
164. Give a false colouring to
165. Give a good account of
166. Give a handle to
167. Give and take
168. Give loose (free) rein to
169. Give one a piece of one’s
mind
170. Give oneself airs
171. Give (someone) the slip
172. Give (a person) the cold
shoulder
173. Give the devil his due
174. Give up the ghos
175. Give vent to
176. Go a long way
177. Go back on one’s words
178. Go hand-in-hand
179. Go out of one’s way
180. Go the way of all flesh
181. Go through
MEANINGS
absence without
permission
satisfying only present
basic needs (especially for
food )
to get into difficulties
get freed from a thing you It is difficult for one to get rid of one’s foolish habits.
wish to be freed from
to hear rumors about
to prepare oneself
to misrepresent
to perform well
to give an excuse
mutual accommodation
to live without restraint
to make one understood,
to scold
to be pretentious and
conceited
to avoid
to treat with disrespect, to
ignore
to acknowledge good
points of an adversary
to die
to give expression, to
ventilate one’s feelings
to a great length
break the promise
to go together
to take special trouble
to die
scrutinize, discuss in
detail
SENTENCES
He is on French leave as he left the office without informing his officer.
He has a large family to support and lives from head to mouth.
Those who lead irresponsible life, get into hot water sooner or later.
He got wind of the intrigues against him.
Gird up your loins and face the situation boldly.
He tried to defame me by giving a false colouring to what I had said.
He gave a good account of himself during his stay in the college.
Do not give a handle to anyone for spreading rumours against you.
Most of the disputes can be settled if the parties adopt a give and take policy.
After the death of his father, he gave loose rein to his passions.
I gave him a piece of my mind and told him that I would not tolerate his rude
behaviour.
She gives herself airs on her knowledge of English.
He always manages to give the slip to his creditors.
She gave me the cold shoulder when I needed her help.
We must give the devil his due and admit that Hitler did much for Germany.
He gave up the ghost after a prolonged illness.
He gave vent to his emotions in a flood of tears.
His help will go a long way in solving your difficulties.
It is ungentlemanly to go back on one’s words.
Hard work and success go hand in hand.
She went out of her way to help me.
Everybody has to go the way of all flesh.
We have not gone through the matter yet.
IDIOMATIC PHRASES
182. Go through fire and water
183. Go to pieces
184. Go to seed
185. Go to the dogs
186. Go to the wall
187. Go without saying
MEANINGS SENTENCES
to face all risks and He is prepared to go through fire and water to achieve his aim.
difficulties
be destroyed, to break up Once he was a successful man but now he has gone to pieces.
deteriorate, to be He was a fine man once but he has gone to seed because of poverty.
impoverished
to lead a ruinous life He is spending his money foolishly and will soon go to the dogs.
to be pushed aside, to get The weakest always go to the wall.
the worst in competition
to be common, It goes without saying that the new government must fulfil its promises to the people.
unquestionable