IDIOMS AND PHRASES

S. No. Phrase/Idiom Meaning

1. Alpha and Omega The beginning and the end

2. A brown study Dreaming

3. Barmecide feast Imaginary Benefits

4. Rank and File ordinary members of an

organization as opposed to its
leaders

5. By fits and starts with irregular bursts of activity

6. Clam up Refuse to speak

7. Iron out to resolve by discussion

8. Lock and key In safe place

9. A Fidus Achates A Faithful friend or devoted

follower

10. An Ananias A Habitual liar

11. A blue Stocking An Intellectual woman

12. Halcyon Days a very happy or successful period
in the past

13. A Wet Blanket a person who spoils other people’s

fun, especially because he or she
refuses to take part in something

14. Chip on Shoulder Grudge

15. Dog eat dog Ruthlessly competitive

16. Wet one’s whistle have a drink

17. Stick one’s neck out To take a risk

18. Bear the palm Be victorious

19. No man is an island to require help from other every

now and then because of one’s
limitations

20. See eye to eye To be in agreement with

21. To spin one's wheels waste one's time or efforts

22. To be pushing up daisies dead and buried

23. To toe the line To accept the authority or policies
of a particular group, especially
unwillingly

24. Hit the road running Start something and proceed at a

fast pace with enthusiasm

25. Wipe the nose of To Cheat

26. Vote with one’s feet To show disapproval

27. Whole bag of tricks Make use of all the possibilities or

techniques to achieve something

28. Cast a shadow on Spoil or let down

29. Get your walking papers Get fired from the job

30. A miss is as good as a mile the fact of failure or escape is not

affected by the narrowness of the
margin

31. To set the Thames on fire to cause a lot of excitement or

strong feelings

32. go to the devil said in angry rejection or

condemnation of someone

33. She is no chicken no longer young

34. To square the circle do something that is considered to
be impossible

35. Care killed the cat Don’t fret and worry yourself to
death

36. If the cap fits, wear it suggesting that someone should

accept a generalized remark or
criticism as applying to
themselves.
37. Good wine needs no bush There is no need to advertise
something good

38. To break the back of anything accomplish the main or hardest

part of

39. To lead to the altar To ultimately lead to marriage

40. Like a cat on hot bricks Very Nervous

41. Feather one’s own nest make money for oneself in an

opportunistic or selfish way

42. Stick to one’s guns refuse to compromise or change,

despite criticism

43. To bell the cat take the danger of a shared

enterprise upon oneself.

44. Take one to task criticize them or tell them off

 45. To cut a sorry figure to create an unfavorable
impression or present oneself
poorly or negatively

46. Chew the cud think or talk reflectively.

47. Play second fiddle Have a subordinate role

48. To burn one’s boats risky decision where there's no

fallback plan or alternative,
forcing oneself to move forward
and succeed in a given endeavor.

49. get a raw deal to be treated unfairly or badly

50. To pour oil on troubled waters to try to make peace between

people who are arguing

51. To go at each other hammer and tongs To do something or perform some

task with tremendous fervor,
determination

52. Between Scylla and Charybdis Choice between two unpleasant

alternatives

53. everything but the kitchen sink everything imaginable

54. Ever and anon Now and then, occasionally

55. Can’t cut the mustard Someone who isn’t adequate

enough to compete or participate
56. A toss-up A result that is still unclear and
can go either way

57. A mare’s nest A false invention

58. A damp squib Complete failure

59. Between the cup and the lips On the point of achievement

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