79 IDIOMS With Meaning & Sentences ~ XI English Grammar
79 IDIOMS With Meaning & Sentences ~ XI English Grammar
Friday, March 27, 2020
IDIOMS
1. A DARK HORSE
A person who hides facts about life, esp. special personal qualities
Saleem is a dark horse; I did not know that he had written a novel.
2. A RAINY DAYS
To save sth, specially money, for a time when you will really need it
We should save our money for rainy days.
3. A MAN OF LETTERS
A man, usually a writer, who knows a lot about literature
Ahmed Faraz was a man of letters.
4. A BURNING QUESTION
An urgent or crucial issue under heated discussion
Unemployment is a burning question of today.
5. THE LION’S SHARE
The largest or best part of sth when it is divided
As usual, the lion’s share of the budget is for defence.
6. A BED OF ROSES
(Not) an easy or a pleasant situation
Their life together has not exactly been a bed of roses.
7. A BONE OF CONTENTION
Subject which causes disagreement and arguments among people, group etc.
Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan.
8. FAIR WEATHER FRIENDS
A friend who is only a friend when circumstances are pleasant or profitable
Fair weather friends leave in difficulties.
9.A HARD NUT TO CRACK
A difficult problem or situation to deal with
To check Terrorism has proved to be a hard nut to crack for the government
10. ABIDE BY
To accept or act according to law
You should abide by your promise.
11. AT ARM’S LENGTH
To avoid having close relationship with sb
Keep him at arm's length because he is a gambler.
12. A BLACK SHEEP
a person who is different from the rest of their family or another group, and who is considered bad or embarrassing
As his brother is a gambler, he is considered the black sheep of the famliy.
13. AN APPLE OF DISCORD
Anything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy
This piece of land is an apple of discord between Saleem and Ali.
14. A SNACK IN THE GRASS
a person who pretends to be your friend but who cannot be trusted
Beware of him; he is a snack in the grass.
15. LIVE IN A FOOL PARADISE
Those who believe that India and Pakistan will be friends, are living in a fool Paradise.
16. A CHILD’S PLAY
To be very easy to do, so not even a child would find it difficult
It is not a child's play to write a good book in a month.
17. AT ELEVENTH HOUR
At the last possible moment; just in time
He called of his plan at the eleventh hour.
18. BREAK THE ICE
To say or do sth that makes people feel more relaxed, especially at the beginning of a meeting, party, etc.
All were silent; Saleem broke the ice by suggesting that they should play card.
19. BREAK DOWN
To become very bad, To fail, to stop working because of a fault
Because of over-work my health broke down.
20. TO BLOW ONE’S OWN TRUMPET
To praise your own abilities and achievements
Great men do not blow their own trumpet.
21. A MAN OF STRAW
a person or an idea that is weak and easy to defeat
22. A MAIDEN SPEECH
First speech made made by an M.P. in the parliament
She impressed all the parliamentarians with her maiden speech.
23. BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH
To talk about sth for a long time without coming to the main point
Stop beating about the bush and get to the point.
24. BAD AND BAGGAGE
with all your possessions, especially secretly or suddenly
He threw her out onto the street, bag and baggage.
25. BY FITS AND START
frequently starting and stopping again; not continuously
Because of other commitments I can only write my book in fits and starts.
26. BY/ IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS
Very quickly; in large amounts
Yameen is improving his English by leaps and bounds.
27. BURN CANDLE AT BOTH SIDE
To become very tired by trying to do many things and going to bed late and getting up early
You will fall ill if you keep on burning your candle at both ends.
28. CALL OFF
To cancel sth; to decide that sth will not happen
The students called off the strike.
29. CALL NAMES
To use insulting words about sb
It is shameful to call other names.
30. CALL SPADE A SPADE
To say exactly what you think without trying to hide your opinion
It is hard to call a spade a spade before a cruel master.
31. TO COME GRIEF IN THE END
To end in total failure
All his schemes for making money seem to come to grief.
32. CARRY OUT
takeaway
I will not carry out his orders.
33. END IN SMOKE
To come to nothing
When he crashed his car, all his travel planes ended in smoke.
34. LIVE (FROM)HAND TO MOUTH
To spend all the money you earn on the basic needs such as food without being able to save any money.
Many people in this country live from hand to month.
35. GIVE UP THE GHOST
To die; To stop working
My car gave up the ghost last night.
36. GIVE IN
To admit that you have been defeated by sb or sth
The Indians were forced to give in.
37. HARD AND FAST
(especially after a negative) that cannot be changed in any circumstances
There is no hard and fast rules about this.
38. KEEP AN EYE ON
To take care of sb/ sth and make sure that they are not harmed or damaged etc.
We have asked the neighbours to keep an eye on the house for us while we are away.
39. LOOK DOWN UPON
Do not look down upon the poor.
40. Make (BOTH) ENDS MEET
To earn just enough money to be able to buy the things you need
It is very difficult for the poor to make both ends meet.
41. TO NIP IN THE BUD
To stop sth when it has just begun because you can see that problems will come from it.
Nip every evil in the bud.
42. PUT OFF
To change sth to a later time or date
The meeting was put off till tomorrow.
43. READ BETWEEN THE LINES
To look for or discover a meaning in sth that is not openly stated.
Reading between the lines, I think Ali wants to borrow money.
44. TAKE AFTER
To look or behave like an elder member of your family, especially your mother or father
Children take after their parents.
45. TAKE STH TO HEART
To be upset by sth that sb says or does
You should not take everything he says to heart.
46. TURN OVER A NEW LEAF
To change you way of life to become a better or more responsible person
After his failure, he turned over a new leaf and began to work hard.
This book is really up to the mark.
47. A RED LETTER DAY
A very important day
The day I was awarded the medal is a red-letter day for me.
48.A WET BLANKET
a person who is not enthusiastic about anything and who stops other people from enjoying
As he is wet blanket, he is not invited to the parties.
49. A WHITE ELEPHANT
a thing that is useless and no longer needed, although it may have cost a lot of money
The new office block has become an expensive white elephant.
Telephone costs much; it is just a white elephant for common people.
50. ALL IN ALL
When everything is considered
All in all, the party had been a great success.
51. KITH AND KIN
Friends and relatives
We should love our kith and kin.
52. FROM SCRATCH
Without any previous preparation or knowledge
She learned English from scratch in six months.
53. PART AND PARCEL
An essential part of sth
To work in the field is part and parcel of a farmer's life.
54. IN FULL SWING
Having recharged a very lively level
When Mr.Ali reached there, the match was in full swing.
55. RED HENDED
The Police caught him red-handed when he was trying to steal a car.
56. BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL
To study or work late night
He burnt the midnight oil to pass the examination.
57. FRENCH LEAVE
To leave work without asking permission first
He ever enjoyed French leave.
58. HOOK OR CROOK
Using any method you can, even a dishonest one
He wants to pass the exam by hook or by crook.
59. A FISH OUT OF WATER
A person who feels uncomfortable or awkward because he or she is in the surroundings that are not familiar
I felt like a fish out of water in my new school.
60. BREAD AND BUTTER
Basic; very important
Employment and taxation are the bread and butter issues of politics.
61. A LAUGHING STOCK
A person that everyone laughs at because they have done sth important
I can’t wear it! I would be a laughing stock.
62. AT DAGGERS DRAWN
Very angry
She is at daggers drawn with her husband.
There no bad blood between the two brothers.
63. LOOK INTO
To examine sth.
A working party has been set up to look into the problem
64. TURN THE TABLE
He will turn the table on you one day, and he will be the boss.
65. SMELL A RET
To suspect that sth is wrong about a situation.
The thief smelled a rat and ran away.
66. BAD BLOOD
Feeling of hatred or strong dislike.
There is no bad blood between the two brothers.
67. NULL AND VOID
This contract is null and void.
68. RED TAPE
official rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quickly
bureaucratic red tape
You have to go through endless red tape to get a residence permit.
He could not get his new passport in time because of red tape.
69. FALL PREY
To be harmed or tricked by sb especially for dishonest purposes.
The innocent boy fell prey to smoking.
70. TO BURY THE HATCHET
to stop being unfriendly and become friends again
After not speaking to each other for years, the two brothers decided to bury the hatchet.
The two enemies buried their hatchet and became friends.
71. BLUE BLOOD
From a royal or noble family
Though Ali is poor, he has blue blood in his family.
72. AT ONE’S BECK AND CALL
Always willing and able to do whatever someone asks:,
73. AT SIXES AND SEVENS
In a confused, badly organized, or difficult situation
74. TO TAKE TO HEELS
To run away from sb or sth
75. TO DIE IN HARNESS
Die before retirement or expire while working, keep working to the end.
She doesn't want to retire - she'd rather die in harness.
76. TO GET AWAY WITH
Escape blame, punishment, or undesirable consequences for (an act that is wrong or mistaken).
If he thinks he can get away with cheating me, he's very much mistaken.
77. A CLOSE SHAVE
A narrow escape.
Wow! That was a close shave. I thought the guard would spot us
78. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE
A sudden and unexpected event.
The job came like a bolt from the blue
79. A FEATHER IN CAP
An accomplishment a person can be proud of.
The negotiator’s success in getting the terrorists to release their hostages was a real feather in his cap.
1. A DARK HORSE
A person who hides facts about life, esp. special personal qualities
Saleem is a dark horse; I did not know that he had written a novel.
2. A RAINY DAYS
To save sth, specially money, for a time when you will really need it
We should save our money for rainy days.
3. A MAN OF LETTERS
A man, usually a writer, who knows a lot about literature
Ahmed Faraz was a man of letters.
4. A BURNING QUESTION
An urgent or crucial issue under heated discussion
Unemployment is a burning question of today.
5. THE LION’S SHARE
The largest or best part of sth when it is divided
As usual, the lion’s share of the budget is for defence.
6. A BED OF ROSES
(Not) an easy or a pleasant situation
Their life together has not exactly been a bed of roses.
7. A BONE OF CONTENTION
Subject which causes disagreement and arguments among people, group etc.
Kashmir is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan.
8. FAIR WEATHER FRIENDS
A friend who is only a friend when circumstances are pleasant or profitable
Fair weather friends leave in difficulties.
9.A HARD NUT TO CRACK
A difficult problem or situation to deal with
To check Terrorism has proved to be a hard nut to crack for the government
10. ABIDE BY
To accept or act according to law
You should abide by your promise.
11. AT ARM’S LENGTH
To avoid having close relationship with sb
Keep him at arm's length because he is a gambler.
12. A BLACK SHEEP
a person who is different from the rest of their family or another group, and who is considered bad or embarrassing
As his brother is a gambler, he is considered the black sheep of the famliy.
13. AN APPLE OF DISCORD
Anything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy
This piece of land is an apple of discord between Saleem and Ali.
14. A SNACK IN THE GRASS
a person who pretends to be your friend but who cannot be trusted
Beware of him; he is a snack in the grass.
15. LIVE IN A FOOL PARADISE
Those who believe that India and Pakistan will be friends, are living in a fool Paradise.
16. A CHILD’S PLAY
To be very easy to do, so not even a child would find it difficult
It is not a child's play to write a good book in a month.
17. AT ELEVENTH HOUR
At the last possible moment; just in time
He called of his plan at the eleventh hour.
18. BREAK THE ICE
To say or do sth that makes people feel more relaxed, especially at the beginning of a meeting, party, etc.
All were silent; Saleem broke the ice by suggesting that they should play card.
19. BREAK DOWN
To become very bad, To fail, to stop working because of a fault
Because of over-work my health broke down.
20. TO BLOW ONE’S OWN TRUMPET
To praise your own abilities and achievements
Great men do not blow their own trumpet.
21. A MAN OF STRAW
a person or an idea that is weak and easy to defeat
22. A MAIDEN SPEECH
First speech made made by an M.P. in the parliament
She impressed all the parliamentarians with her maiden speech.
23. BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH
To talk about sth for a long time without coming to the main point
Stop beating about the bush and get to the point.
24. BAD AND BAGGAGE
with all your possessions, especially secretly or suddenly
He threw her out onto the street, bag and baggage.
25. BY FITS AND START
frequently starting and stopping again; not continuously
Because of other commitments I can only write my book in fits and starts.
26. BY/ IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS
Very quickly; in large amounts
Yameen is improving his English by leaps and bounds.
27. BURN CANDLE AT BOTH SIDE
To become very tired by trying to do many things and going to bed late and getting up early
You will fall ill if you keep on burning your candle at both ends.
28. CALL OFF
To cancel sth; to decide that sth will not happen
The students called off the strike.
29. CALL NAMES
To use insulting words about sb
It is shameful to call other names.
30. CALL SPADE A SPADE
To say exactly what you think without trying to hide your opinion
It is hard to call a spade a spade before a cruel master.
31. TO COME GRIEF IN THE END
To end in total failure
All his schemes for making money seem to come to grief.
32. CARRY OUT
takeaway
I will not carry out his orders.
33. END IN SMOKE
To come to nothing
When he crashed his car, all his travel planes ended in smoke.
34. LIVE (FROM)HAND TO MOUTH
To spend all the money you earn on the basic needs such as food without being able to save any money.
Many people in this country live from hand to month.
35. GIVE UP THE GHOST
To die; To stop working
My car gave up the ghost last night.
36. GIVE IN
To admit that you have been defeated by sb or sth
The Indians were forced to give in.
37. HARD AND FAST
(especially after a negative) that cannot be changed in any circumstances
There is no hard and fast rules about this.
38. KEEP AN EYE ON
To take care of sb/ sth and make sure that they are not harmed or damaged etc.
We have asked the neighbours to keep an eye on the house for us while we are away.
39. LOOK DOWN UPON
Do not look down upon the poor.
40. Make (BOTH) ENDS MEET
To earn just enough money to be able to buy the things you need
It is very difficult for the poor to make both ends meet.
41. TO NIP IN THE BUD
To stop sth when it has just begun because you can see that problems will come from it.
Nip every evil in the bud.
42. PUT OFF
To change sth to a later time or date
The meeting was put off till tomorrow.
43. READ BETWEEN THE LINES
To look for or discover a meaning in sth that is not openly stated.
Reading between the lines, I think Ali wants to borrow money.
44. TAKE AFTER
To look or behave like an elder member of your family, especially your mother or father
Children take after their parents.
45. TAKE STH TO HEART
To be upset by sth that sb says or does
You should not take everything he says to heart.
46. TURN OVER A NEW LEAF
To change you way of life to become a better or more responsible person
After his failure, he turned over a new leaf and began to work hard.
This book is really up to the mark.
47. A RED LETTER DAY
A very important day
The day I was awarded the medal is a red-letter day for me.
48.A WET BLANKET
a person who is not enthusiastic about anything and who stops other people from enjoying
As he is wet blanket, he is not invited to the parties.
49. A WHITE ELEPHANT
a thing that is useless and no longer needed, although it may have cost a lot of money
The new office block has become an expensive white elephant.
Telephone costs much; it is just a white elephant for common people.
50. ALL IN ALL
When everything is considered
All in all, the party had been a great success.
51. KITH AND KIN
Friends and relatives
We should love our kith and kin.
52. FROM SCRATCH
Without any previous preparation or knowledge
She learned English from scratch in six months.
53. PART AND PARCEL
An essential part of sth
To work in the field is part and parcel of a farmer's life.
54. IN FULL SWING
Having recharged a very lively level
When Mr.Ali reached there, the match was in full swing.
55. RED HENDED
The Police caught him red-handed when he was trying to steal a car.
56. BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL
To study or work late night
He burnt the midnight oil to pass the examination.
57. FRENCH LEAVE
To leave work without asking permission first
He ever enjoyed French leave.
58. HOOK OR CROOK
Using any method you can, even a dishonest one
He wants to pass the exam by hook or by crook.
59. A FISH OUT OF WATER
A person who feels uncomfortable or awkward because he or she is in the surroundings that are not familiar
I felt like a fish out of water in my new school.
60. BREAD AND BUTTER
Basic; very important
Employment and taxation are the bread and butter issues of politics.
61. A LAUGHING STOCK
A person that everyone laughs at because they have done sth important
I can’t wear it! I would be a laughing stock.
62. AT DAGGERS DRAWN
Very angry
She is at daggers drawn with her husband.
There no bad blood between the two brothers.
63. LOOK INTO
To examine sth.
A working party has been set up to look into the problem
64. TURN THE TABLE
He will turn the table on you one day, and he will be the boss.
65. SMELL A RET
To suspect that sth is wrong about a situation.
The thief smelled a rat and ran away.
66. BAD BLOOD
Feeling of hatred or strong dislike.
There is no bad blood between the two brothers.
67. NULL AND VOID
This contract is null and void.
68. RED TAPE
official rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quickly
bureaucratic red tape
You have to go through endless red tape to get a residence permit.
He could not get his new passport in time because of red tape.
69. FALL PREY
To be harmed or tricked by sb especially for dishonest purposes.
The innocent boy fell prey to smoking.
70. TO BURY THE HATCHET
to stop being unfriendly and become friends again
After not speaking to each other for years, the two brothers decided to bury the hatchet.
The two enemies buried their hatchet and became friends.
71. BLUE BLOOD
From a royal or noble family
Though Ali is poor, he has blue blood in his family.
72. AT ONE’S BECK AND CALL
Always willing and able to do whatever someone asks:,
73. AT SIXES AND SEVENS
In a confused, badly organized, or difficult situation
74. TO TAKE TO HEELS
To run away from sb or sth
75. TO DIE IN HARNESS
Die before retirement or expire while working, keep working to the end.
She doesn't want to retire - she'd rather die in harness.
76. TO GET AWAY WITH
Escape blame, punishment, or undesirable consequences for (an act that is wrong or mistaken).
If he thinks he can get away with cheating me, he's very much mistaken.
77. A CLOSE SHAVE
A narrow escape.
Wow! That was a close shave. I thought the guard would spot us
78. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE
A sudden and unexpected event.
The job came like a bolt from the blue
79. A FEATHER IN CAP
An accomplishment a person can be proud of.
The negotiator’s success in getting the terrorists to release their hostages was a real feather in his cap.
