English for Indian students

# 151 # To lie behind something (verb) Meaning : to cause or be the reason for something Example : Large population, illiteracy, corruption lie behind slow developement of our country. # 152 # to be bound to do something (idiom) Meaning : to be certain to do something, to be sure to do something [Note : This idiom is used when the occurrence of an event seems unavoidable.] Example : The government is bound to pass Janlokpal Bill. # 153 # Be about to do something (Idiom) Meaning : to be going to do something very soon Example : Im sorry that I broke in. What were you about to say? # 154 # All is grist that comes to the mill (proverb) Meaning : Everything, no matter how small or unpromising, can be put to use Example : She carried a notebook and pencil with her wherever she wentfor a writer, all is grist that comes to the mill. # 155 # To break out (Phrasal Verb) Meaning : To escape Example : The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking. # 156 # All that glitters is not gold (Proverb) Meaning: People and things are not always as attractive or valuable as they seem Example : Kashmir may look like an exciting place to live, but I don't think you should move there. All that glitters is not gold.

# 157 # To have ones head in the clouds (Idiom) Meaning : to think about something in a way that is not practical or sensible, to dream, to be separate from reality Example: My brother has his head in the clouds if he thinks he is going to become an Engineer, because he is terrible at math. # 158 # To have a blast (verb) Meaning : have a great time Example : A: How was your class? B: I had a blast! My teacher is so great! # 159 # Better late than never (Proverb) Meaning : Doing something late is better than not doing it. Example : I'm sorry I'm late to the party. Better late than never, right? # 160 # Love is blind (Idiom) Meaning : If you love someone, you cannot see any faults in that person Example : Seeta: I don't understand why Radha likes Kishan. he isn't even good-looking. Geeta: Love is blind. # 161 # To chasing rainbows Meaning : Someone who is chasing rainbows is trying to get something they will never obtain. Example : She's trying to get into IIT but I think she's chasing rainbows. # 162 # To feel the pinch (Idiom) Meaning: If you are feeling the pinch, you're finding it harder to survive on your income. Example : 1] Since the price of oil went up, lots of businesses have been feeling the pinch. 2] Inflation has been pretty bad recently, so we've all been feeling the pinch.

# 163 # Realm (Noun) Meaning : 1) Royal domain/province 2) It is a region, sphere or province where something exists in great numbers. 3) A special domain .i.e. a special area of a thing or of a person. Example : 1] Physics was Albert Einsteins realm. 2] Jakhoo is a realm of monkeys. # 164 # Any publicity is good publicity (Proverb) Meaning : Even bad publicity draws attention to a person or product and may therefore serve a useful purpose Example : Rakhi Sawant believes any publicity is good publicity. # 166 # Doze off (Phrasal verb) Meaning : To go to sleep, especially during the day. Example: I must have dozed off for a few minutes because i didnt hear her come in. # 167 # To shop around (Phrasal verb) Meaning: compare prices Example: I want to shop around a little before I buy these boots. # 168 # Feel up to (inseparable) (Phrasal Verb) Meaning : Feel strong enough or comfortable enough to do something. Example: I know the accident was a terrible shock. Do you feel up to talking about it? # 169 # Happy-go-lucky (Adjective) Meaning : If you are a happy-go-lucky person, you are cheerful and carefree all the time. Example: He's a happy-go-lucky sort of person - always in good humor. # 170 # Frown (verb) Meaning : To make the forehead wrinkle and the eyebrows move down to show that you are annoyed or worried Example : He frowned at her bad behaviour.

# 171 # Prowess (NOUN) Meaning : Great skill at doing something Example : Yadnyesh was complimented on his prowess as a Photographer. # 172 # To refrain (verb) Meaning : to avoid doing or stop yourself from doing something [note : often followed by from] Example : US refrained from criticizing Agni V test. # 173 # Beauty is only skin deep (Proverb) Meaning: a person's character is more important than their appearance Example: She may not be conventionally pretty but you know what they say, beauty's only skin deep. # 174 # Speak with a forked tongue (Idiom) Meaning : to say things that are not true - used humorously or to make false promises or to speak in a way which is not honest. Example : Politicians have been known to speak with forked tongue. # 176 # The following nouns take the preposition ''for'' Affection, ambition, anxiety, apology, appetite, aptitude, blame, candidate, capacity, compassion, compensation, contempt, craving, desire, esteem, fitness, fondness, guarantee, leisure, liking, match, motive, need, opportunity, partiality, passion, pity, predilection, pretext, relish, remorse, reputation, surety. # 177 # How to contrast the past and the present *Used to We use it when we want to talk about our habits and states in the past. We don't use it in the present (we can replace it by usually) and also for actions that happened only once. examples : He used to drive very fast. We used to stay out late. I usually go to Pune on Fridays. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Any longer / Any more We use these sort of phrases only with an action or a state (True in the past ; not true now). examples : I don't eat Brinjal any more. He doesn't dance any longer. Chetan used to be a writer. But now, he doesn't write any longer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Still We use it when we want to emphasise that an action or a state has not stopped. examples : I still remember how I met her for the first time. I hated Spanish classes and I still don't like them. I still remember how stupid I was. # 178 # Too many cooks spoil the broth (Idiom) Meaning: This means that where there are too many people trying to do something, they make a mess of it (or Too many people trying to manage something simply spoil it) Examples: Everyone is giving orders, but no one is following them! Too many cooks spoil the broth. # 179 # Causative Verbs Jayesh had his house painted. Causative verbs express the idea of someone causing something to take place or asking someone to do a job for us, we use the causative form. This sentence is similar in meaning to: Someone painted Jack's house. OR Jack's house was painted by someone. Causative verbs can be similar in meaning to passive verbs. Examples: My hair was cut. (passive) I had my hair cut. (causative) --------------------------------------------------------------------

* Both 'make' and 'have' can be used as causative verbs. Make 'Make' as a causative verb expresses the idea that the person "requires" another person to do something. Construction Chart : Subject + Make + Person + Base Form of Verb Examples: Chintu made Pinki do her homework. The teacher made the students stay after class. ----------------------------------------------------------------Have Have' as a causative verb expresses the idea that the person "wants" something to be done for them. This causative verb is often used when speaking about various services when we pay someone to do job for us. There are two forms of the causative verb 'have'. Construction Chart: Use 1 Subject + Have + Person + Base Form of Verb Examples: They had Aksahy arrive early. He had her children cook dinner for her. -----------------------------------------------------------------Construction Chart: Use 2 Subject + Have + Object + Past Participle Examples: I had my hair cut last Saturday. She had the car washed at the weekend. [Note: This form is similar in meaning to the passive.] # 180 # To strike while the iron is hot (Proverb) Meaning: to do something immediately rather than waiting until a later time when you are less likely to succeed. Example: You should strike while the iron is hot and go out of the class as soon as possible. # 182 # Beside vs. Besides "Beside" without an "s" means to be at the side of. "Besides" with an "s" means in addition to, or moreover. Examples: 1. She's smart and beautiful and friendly besides. 2. Well, I'll sit beside him, but just for one photo. 3. Besides Pintu, there will be four people going today. 4. Please put the mobile beside the TV.

Everyone and Every One (Note the difference between the two words) Use Everyone (as a single word) as a pronoun to mean all the people in a group. Example: I want everyone to repeat this poetry after me. Use Every one (as two separate words) as a noun to indicate each person. Example: Every one of the crowd had something to say. # 183 # Put your own house in order / get your own house in order (Idiom) Meaning: If you say to someone "put your own house in order", or "get your own house in order", you think they should solve their own problems before telling someone else how to solve theirs. Example: Rajesh has plenty of problems of his own, so he needs to get his own house in order before he starts telling other people how to live their lives. # 184 # Call (something) off Meaning : Cancel an event or agreement. Example : He called off the meeting due to his illness. # 185 # A man is known by the company he keeps (Proverb) Meaning : People may base their judgment of you on the reputation or character of those you associate with. Example : I told you to make sure they were the right kinds of friends. Youre known by the company you keep.

# 186 # As vs. Like Use of 'as' : When comparing clauses, that is a part of sentence that contains a subject and a verb, we must use as. Use of like : when the comparison only includes a subject. For example: Usage of Like: John sings like his father. Usage of As: John sings as his father does. Example for " incorrect " usage: John sings like his father does. Another example to clarify matters: Incorrect Ram and Shyam, as their mother Seema, are extremely smart. Correct Ram and Shyam, like their mother Seema, are extremely smart. # Tip for like : use like when no verb follows. For example, Heena cries like a baby or. Keep in mind that when we use like, the words that come after are generally simple. # Tip for as : If the clause that comes next includes a verb, then you should use as. For example, Heena cries as if she were a child. Notice that when I use as, the words that come after tend to be more complex and give a feel of a sentence, something that is missing with like. # 187 # Abjure Vs. Adjure Abjure : restrain oneself from doing something Example: Members of the religious group were required to abjure all alcoholic drink. Adjure : to request someone solemnly (seriously) to do something. Example: The magistrate adjured the witness to tell the truth frankly. # 188 # Until and Unless *Use of until : when we want to talk about something that happens or will happen until a certain time. For example: 1] I waited until 6:30, but Donna didnt come. So I left the coffee shop. ~ This means that 6:30 was the point in time that I stayed in the coffee shop while waiting for Donna. 2] I wonder if I should wait until the iPhone 5 comes out. ~ This means, the point in time I will wait to buy a new phone is the iPhone 5 comes out. 3] I have to work until 9 tonight. ~ This means I am going to continue working, and then stop at 9:00. _________________________________________________________________ *Usage of unless : We use unless to talk about a condition and a result. The condition needs to happen, and if it doesnt happen, the result will not happen. [Note : We use unless in negative sentences.] For example: 1] I dont want to buy a new phone unless it has long battery life. ~ This means if the phone has a long battery life, I will buy it. Otherwise, I will not. 2] I wont go to the party unless you come with me. ~ This means if you come with me, I will go to the party. If you dont come with me, then I wont

go to the party 3] I cant take a vacation unless I have enough money. ~ This means if I have enough money, I will take a vacation. Otherwise, I will not. # 189 # To come apart (intr) (Phrasal Verb) Meaning: to break into separate pieces. Exampe : 1] It broke when I picked it up. Everything just came apart. 2] Its quite big but you can pack it into a small box. It comes apart very easily. # 190 # To know by sight (Idiom) Meaning : to recognize [Note: This idiom is used when the person has been seen previously but is not known personally.] Example : I have never met our new neighbors; I simply know them by sight. The woman said that she would know the thief by sight if she ever saw him again. # 191 # Rules are made to be broken (Proverb) Meaning : often used to justify some minor law-breaking, especially of a rule considered to be petty, unnecessary, or inappropriate. Example : I know were not supposed to take food and drink into the library, but rules are made to be broken.

# 192 # To be + infinitive Grammar structure : am/is/are to + verb and was/were to + verb * The usual idea of to be + to infinitive is "to talk about definite plans and arrangements in the future." 1] The election is to take place on October 2nd. 2] Sarah is to start her new job on the first of December. [ Note : We can also use going to for future plans and the present continuous for future arrangements. By using this form, we are emphasizing the DEFINITE nature of the plan or arrangement. ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------* We can use it to talk about past plans. 1] He was to start last Monday but he changed his mind at the last minute. 2] The carnival was to take place in February but it was canceled because of the floods. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------* The past form can also be used to describe fate or what happened later. 1] The peace talks were to end in failure when the sides couldnt agree. 2] Simon was to die before he achieved his objective. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------* Sometimes, it can mean a duty, the same as must. 1] You are to arrive by 8.30 at the latest. 2] I am to remind you that no smoking is permitted in the building. # 193 # Acclamation Vs. Acclimation * Acclamation (Noun) Meaning : loud applause or shout of approval Example : Sachin always receives an acclamation from the crowd. * Acclimation (Noun) Meaning : To be used to a different climate, environment, situation, or circumstance Example : Acclimation to a new work environment takes times.

# 194 # Come down with something (Phrasal Verb) Meaning : Become sick Example : My nephew came down with yellow fever this weekend. # 195 # The age of miracles is past (Proverb) Meaning : Miracles no longer happen; used when some desirable occurrence seems highly unlikely Example : I didnt expect the authorities to take any action in response to my complaintthe age of miracles is past. # 196 # To see off (Idiom) Meaning : to say good-bye upon departure by train, airplane, bus, etc. (also: to send off) [Note : A noun or pronoun must divide the idiom.] We are going to the airport to see Babu off on his trip to Europe. No one came to the Railway station to send me off. # 197 # To count on someone/something (Phrasal verb) Meaning : To rely on, To depend on Example : In exam, I always count on Avinash who sits in front of me. # 198 # Necessity knows no law (Proverb) Meaning : Rules and laws are often broken at times of emergency or urgent need Example : It went against all my principles to steal the food, but necessity knows no law, and my children were starving.

# 199 # To go up to (Idiom) Meaning : To approach (also: to come up to, to walk up to, to run up to, to drive up to, etc.) [Note : The related forms have the same meaning, but the type of movement is different. ] After the lecture, several people in the audience went up to the speaker to congratulate her. The little girl came up to me and shook my hand as if she had known me for years. Arjuns friend didnt want to admit that they had gotten lost, but finally he agreed to drive up to a rick shaw stand and inquire about the correct route. # 200 # How come + (subject + verb) [Informal ] Meaning : why?, what is the reason that? [Note : When using 'how come'; you are asking why a particular thing has or had to take place.] Examples : 1] How Come We Say "How Come"? 2] How come you are so upset? 3] How come you stayed out so late? 4] How come parents worry so much?