Lecture – 1st IDIOMS

Lily-livered weak and cowardly Get into a Involved in a problem

scrape
To kick the to die A bolt from the A complete surprise /an
bucket blue unexpected disaster.
Miss the boat:- to miss an opportunity Blow something to treat a particular event or
To bell the cat To face risk out of problem far too seriously:
A storm in a A situation in which people proportion
teacup are very angry or upset To go to the To become worse
about something that is not dogs
important. Up the creek In trouble, in a serious
Sharp practice Crafty or deceitful dealings, predicament.
especially in business. Back to the to plan it all over again
Rule to roost To dominate drawing board
Keep someone to not allow someone to Jumped the to do something too soon,
at arm's length become too friendly with gun especially without thinking
you. carefully about it:
To tie someone to confuse someone and Be on the ball to be quick to understand
(up) in knots make them unable to explain and react to things./ be alert
something clearly to new ideas, methods, and
Scrape the To do something that you do trends.
barrel not want to do because you Stir up a To make trouble, cause a
have no other option. hornets' nest commotion
A dime a dozen Very common and of no Face the music Get reprimanded / be
particular value punished
Beat about the To avoid getting to the point To rain cats raining very heavily
bush of an issue. and dogs
To prime the stimulate the growth or To take a bull To deal with a difficult
pump success of something by by the horns situation in a very direct or
doing something, usually, confident way
supplying it with money. Call it a day stop working
Back against Be in a difficult situation Once in a blue Very rare
the wall from where escape is moon
difficult Under the Viewed with suspicion,
To walk on the to feel extremely excited or cloud distrust, or disapproval.
air happy A perfect storm The worst possible situation
Bad iron Bad luck Bad blood Enmity/angry feeling
By the skin of Just barely/ by a very narrow As dead as a completely obsolete/ Totally
your teeth margin; only just. doornail or assuredly dead
Through thick under all circumstances, no Catch a tarter to encounter with someone
and thin matter how difficult. that proves more powerful
Blessing in Something that seems bad or or troublesome
disguise unlucky at first but causes Cut corners to do something in the
something good to happen easiest, cheapest, or fastest
later way
To be in two To be uncertain Hit the jackpot to win the largest prize in a
minds competition or game./ to
Fall foul of to get into trouble because of achieve great success
failing to do what is required True colours true personality./ the kind of
by (the law, a rule, etc. person someone really is
Gift of the gab the ability to speak with
eloquence and fluency
 rather than what the person You snooze, you If you are not alert, you are
seems to be: lose likely to miss opportunities
Bird`s eye view the ability to look at Out of the blue Unexpectedly
something from a very high Tread/Skate on To be in a dangerous risky
place so that you see a large thin ice position
area below you No smoke there is always some truth
Take something to understand that something without behind a rumour or bad
with a grain of is likely to be untrue or fire/where thing
salt incorrect. there's smoke
Get up on the start the day in a bad mood, there's fire:
wrong side of which continues all day In a soup In trouble
the bed long. Familiarity used to say that if you know
Speak one’s to say what you think about breeds someone very well you stop
mind something very directly: contempt respecting them because you
Pass the buck shift the responsibility for have seen all of their bad
something to someone else qualities
Chew the cud to think slowly and carefully To throw/pour To criticize someone's
about something: cold water on opinions or ideas and stop
Apple pie order In perfect order people believing them or
Pipe dream an idea or plan that is being excited about them
impossible or very unlikely First and most importantly; more than
to happen foremost anything else.
At cross Disagreeing with each A hard nut to a problem that is difficult to
purposes: other's ideas crack solve
Play/Do to decide what to do when Dance to do everything that
something by you know what is attendance someone asks you to and
the ear happening, rather than treat them in a special way
planning in advance
 Lecture – 6th Idioms
Half a loaf is Something is better than Cut to the chase come to the point
better than none nothing, even if it is less Pay lip service to publicly support or
than one wanted. approve of something,
To add fuel to making things while actually taking no
the fire: worse/worsened the difficult action to produce it
situation Like a cat on a in a state of agitation
Cost an arm to be very Expensive. hot bricks/ tin
and a leg If/when it comes to the roof
crunch: Head in the to daydream/cut off from
Play it by ear to decide how to deal with a clouds reality
situation as it develops, Green with envy Extremely jealous of
rather than acting according another person
to plans made earlier: Devil’s advocate one who presents a counter
Go the Extra to make more effort than is argument
mile Expected of you: Spill the beans to leak the secret
Give someone to decide that you will Straight from from a dependable or
the benefit of believe someone, even the horse’s reliable source
the doubt though you are not sure that mouth
what the person is saying is A hard nut to a problem that is difficult to
true: crack solve
memory/mind to have a very bad memory Few and far very rare or do not happen
like a sieve : to be unable to remember between very often
things. Ins and outs full details
Bite the bullet to force yourself to do An odd/queer a strange person
something unpleasant fish
Catch a tartar to deal with a person who is Fall flat fail completely to produce
more than one’s match the intended or expected
Be all ears very attentive effect.
To end in smoke something usually a plan Have a bash to try to do something you
that failed or ended have not done before:
unexpectedly Gift of the gab ability to speak eloquently
To make up to decide what to do. Rub the wrong to annoy someone without
one’s mind way intending TO
Out of the blue completely unexpectedly Haste make if you do things too quickly,
Hit the sack/hay went to sleep waste you can make mistakes
The early bird a saying that means A quick buck to make money quickly.
catches the someone will have an To heart’s to gain full satisfaction
worm advantage if they do content
something immediately, or High and behaving as if you are much
before other people do it: mighty more important than other
Worth its very valuable people
weight in gold Queer pitch spoil somebody’s chance of
A close shave a narrow escape doing something.
A fish out of an uncomfortable position To have eggs on to be embarrassed because
water one’s face of one’s action.
Cut corners to do something in a cheap Chip on holding a grudge or
and easy way shoulder grievance.
Chapter and provided minute details A green horn A unexperienced man
verse Throw cold Discourage
Forty winks a short nap during the day water
Cry for the to desire the unattainable Bring someone to punish someone and
moon to book make that person explain
A narrow a situation in which you their behaviour
escape avoid danger although you Whistle in the pretend to be unafraid
very nearly do not dark
Halcyon days a very happy or successful Pell-mell very fast and not organized
period in the past On the cards Something very likely to
Add fuel to the Make a bad situation worse happen, occur or take place.
fire Break a leg good luck
 Lecture – 17th IDIOMS
Left out in the ignore someone Grasp at straws to make a desperate
cold attempt to salvage a bad
Started/get off on begin something situation.
the wrong foot incorrectly Made a pig's ear to do something badly,
A leopard can’t one cannot change who wrongly, or awkwardly
change his spots they are Take notice Consider
Be on breadline to be extremely poor Pros and cons good points and bad
Dodged a bullet barely escaped from a points
dangerous /disaster Second wind another burst of energy
situation when you had been too
The best of both all the advantages tired to finish
worlds Wear your heart display your emotions
Birds of a feather people with the same on your sleeve openly
characteristics Fly in the something that spoils a
Burn the midnight to be working until late in ointment pleasant or enjoyable
oil the night experience.
Bend over extremely hard to help or Burn one’s destroy all possible ways
backwards to please someone: bridges of going back to that
It’s a small world meeting someone not situation.
expected to be at a certain My hands are full be very busy
place Boil the ocean try to do something
Back to square to return to the starting impossible
one point You've made your to make a decision and to
Stab in the back to deceive someone’s bed, now lie in it accept the consequences
faith of those decisions
Set your sights on to decide to achieve Get act together get organized and on
something something schedule
Hold your horses Wait a moment or be Bid defiance to to ignore someone
patient (often because Stand a chance to have a possibility or a
you are moving too hope of success
quickly or thoughtlessly) Part and parcel basic or essential element
As keen as Very excited and Midas touch financially successful
mustard enthusiastic. Hit the books to study very hard
Crack up/Crack make someone laugh Snowball effect an accelerating growth of
someone up loudly magnitude
Slip someone's to be forgotten In dire straits or in a very bad situation
memory/mind need
Face the music Get reprimanded / be Step up to the take control of a situation
punished plate
Keep count of to remember or keep a Under the weather to be ill or feel ill
record of a number or Water under the something that happened
total bridge in the past and cannot
Throw dust in to mislead somebody now be changed
eyes Steer clear of avoid someone or
A plum job an easy and high paying something because it is
job dangerous for you
Keep a straight to stop yourself from Eat humble pie to feel sorry and
face smiling or laughing apologies for a mistake
Let bygones be what’s done is done
bygones
Herculean TASK a task requiring huge Loaves and fishes materialist wealth
amounts of physical Pull yourself to calm down and behave
strength together normally after an
Grist to the mill something that gives a upsetting event
useful advantage. Talk through to talk about something
A dime a dozen something very common one`s hat without understanding
and not having much what you are talking
value about
Once in a blue Rarely Castles in the air thinking of some
moon impossible task
Keep your chin up remain cheerful in Chip off the old Someone similar in
difficult circumstances. block character to one’s father
Fit as a fiddle A very healthy person The crux of the 'The basic, central or
Hit the nail on the be accurately right about matter critical point of an issue'.
head something Sit on the fence delay or avoid making a
Apple of discord bone of contention decision or choice
Come what may no matter what may Backhanded An ambiguous
happen compliment / left- compliment /insulting
Hear someone out to listen to someone until handed remark appearing as
they have said everything compliment praise
they want to say A piece of cake a very easy task
Hue and cry a noisy expression of Elbow grease a lot of physical effort
public anger or Carried off his Overwhelm someone
disapproval feet emotionally; infatuate
Bite your tongue to keep yourself from someone; make a very
saying something that favorable impression on
you really want to say someone.
Let the cat out of to reveal a secret by
the bag mistake.
 Lecture – 19th IDIOMS
A cakewalk An easy task /achievement Turn over a new To begin again
Weal and woe Good and bad days leaf
All eyes Watching eagerly Fair weather Friends in good time
A green horn A unexperienced man friend
Bag and baggage With all one’s belongings To cudgel one’s think hard to solve a problem
In cold blood in a cruel calm way, without brain
showing any emotion Come in handy be useful
A skeleton in the An embarrassing fact to be Play it by ear To do something without
cupboard kept secret special preparation
Fly into a rage To become extremely angry To be on cloud To be extremely happy
Break the ice Initiate something / to start a nine
conversation heart in the right Someone is good even
Beat around the Avoiding the main topic place
bush: Down the tubes Failing completely
To smell a rat to have reason to suspect Put one’s foot refuse very firmly to do
To be fair and To be honest down something
square With a pinch of Doubt the truth or value of
Keep at arm’s Avoid becoming too friendly salt something
length To get cold feet Fear
Cut a poor/sorry To put a bad impression Achilles’s heel A weakness or vulnerable
figure point
Bear the palm To be a winner Escaped by the Barely managed to escape
Bob’s your uncle! It becomes easily and quickly skin of his teeth
achievable Lose your marbles To go insane
To hit below the to be mean and unfair in a A stone’s throw At a short distance Eg:- The
belt fight. away high school is just a stone's
Himalayan grave error throw from his house.
blunder Take with a grain Doubt the truth or value of
Donkey’s years A long time. of salt something
In hot waters To be in trouble To and fro Forward and backward
Quicken the pulse made someone excited or Run around in to keep doing something
interested circles without achieving much.
Latin and greek Incomprehensible By leaps and Very quickly / rapidly
Elbow room space or freedom to work bounds
On the ball To be alert Red tape Official rules and bureaucracy
Yellow bellies Cowards that make it difficult to do
A rolling stone an aimless person cannot something
gathers no MOSS succeed. In black and in writing
Born with a silver born to riches and luxury white
spoon in his Catch 22 situation difficult situation in which the
mouth solution to a problem is
an olive branch gesture of peace impossible
Cock and bull An implausible story used as Hold water Appear to be valid or
story an explanation or excuse reasonable
In full swing very active / fully functional Slow and steady make consistent progress for
Aladdin’s cave a place that contains many success
interesting objects Ins and out full detail
take something at as true or genuine without Went pear – Went terribly wrong
face value being questioned or doubted shaped
 Lecture – 26th IDIOMS
To keep body To manage to live Twiddling Feeling bored/ to do
and soul one’s thumb nothing, usually while
together you are waiting for
a slap on the a mild reprimand or something to happen.
wrist punishment Give cold Ignore, avoid or be
To burn one’s To suffer a loss by shoulder unfriendly towards
finger acting rashly someone
A shot in the an attempt to guess Armed to the Fully armed, having
dark something without teeth many weapons
having any facts or To sleep like a To sleep soundly
definite ideas dog
A bull market Market where prices are Apropos of Having no relevance to
rising nothing any previous discussion
Take your eye To stop paying attention or situation
off the ball for a moment Lion’s mouth A dangerous situation
To shake in To be afraid Neck of the Neighbourhood
one’s shoes woods
To meet one’s To be badly defeated in At daggers To be bitterly hostile
water loo a contest drawn with towards each other
To be in two In a dilemma Zero A policy of not
minds tolerance allowing any violations
Slack off To ease pressure on of a rule or law
something To bridge the To reduce differences
To buy a pig to purchase a thing gap and reconcile
in a poke without previously Bite the dust To die
examining it. Pedal to the To go full speed,
Over and In addition to metal especially while driving
above a vehicle.
Ace in the A major advantage that High and dry Abandoned
hole one keeps hidden until The whole Everything
an Ideal time ball of wax
For old time’s Because of sentimental Method to my Strange or crazy actions
sake memories of the past madness that appear meaningless
Dead ringer An exact duplicate but in the end are done
To keep an keep a watch on for a good reason.
eye on something or someone Dead lock A state in which
closely progress is impossible
Green light Got permission to go To make one’s To attain success
ahead with something mark
All and Everyone without To lay To confine somebody in
sundry distinction someone by prison
A sea change A profound or notable the heels
transformation
Have people Make an audience laugh New kid on a newcomer to a
rolling in the uncontrollably the block particular place or
aisles sphere of activity
In the flesh In bodily form Cast someone To leave someone
To breast the To win a race adrift without any support or
tape purpose
Good grief An expression of To the To do something as
surprise or frustration manner born though it is coming
To jump out To jump out of one’s naturally
of one’s skin skin To take the To become a nun
Get into hot To get into trouble veil
water Buy a lemon To buy something that
Penny wise Careless with large is of much less value.
and pound amounts, but not small Be my guest Please do it
foolish To have a Know
All bark and Full of talk, but low on nodding somebody/something
no bite action acquaintance slightly
Appeal to Appeal to the highest To miss the To lose an opportunity
Caesar possible authority bus
A bite at the An attempt or Backseat A person who offers
cherry opportunity to do driver unsolicited advice.
something To play with To take foolish risk
To make a To give great fire
mountain of a importance to trifles As hard as Physically or mentally
mole hill nails tough
A beast of An animal that carries The whys and Reasons
burden luggage wherefores
Lose your to lose control and not
head act in a calm way
 Lecture – 27th IDIOMS
Throw caution to take risk Hand and glove Very intimate terms
the wind Point blank close enough to hit the center
Blue blooded of noble birth of the target
Cry wolf to raise a false alarm Bear garden A place of noise and
Belly laugh A loud and unrestrained laugh disturbance
A mare’s nest A complex situation / Get on like a Get on extremely well with
Imaginary situation house on fire someone
Beside oneself Almost out of one’s senses Against the clock In a great hurry, as fast as
cool as a very calm and relaxed possible
cucumber So far so good Things are going well so far
Butterflies in his a nervous feeling Hang in there To persist in a difficult
stomach situation
The salt of the A good , reliable , honest Left, right and Happening in a lot of places
earth person centre or to a lot of people
An eagle eye a careful or close watch Nine times out of In most cases
rained on the new to spoil a moment ten
bride’s parade Be hard hit Severely affected by
At the drop of a Something that can happen something unpleasant
dime /hat very fast without hesitation Black sheep: Person with bad reputation
To pull someone’s To joke with someone To put in a nut to indicate that you are saying
leg shell something in a very brief way,
Snowed under Busy using few words.
Beaming from ear Smiling broadly A flying visit A very short visit
to ear In seventh heaven Extremely happy
All at sea completely confused (about a As good as gold A person who is obedient and
subject or some task at hand) well-behaved
To stand one's To maintain one’s position Don’t judge a outward appearance cannot be
ground book by its cover an indicator of someone or
A lot on one’s A lot to do something s value or worth
plate Wet blanket One who spoils other people’s
A lame excuse Unsatisfactory explanation fun
Hearts go out to To feel sympathy for someone A carrot and stick Rewards and punishments
when they are distressed approach that influence someone’s
Toffee-nosed A person who thinks he is of a behavior.
high social class and looks At the eleventh At the very last moment.
down on people of lower hour
class The devil is The sun is shining while it
In high spirits Joyful beating his wife rains
Bear up to deal with a very sad or That’s all there is nothing more to be
difficult situation in a brave said
and determined way Caught red To catch someone doing
Black sheep: Person with bad reputation handed something illegal
the calm before a period of quiet that comes Fly off the handle lose one's temper suddenly
the storm before a time of activity, and unexpectedly
excitement, violence, etc. Chew the fat to gossip or chat casually
A wild goose chase Unprofitable adventure /futile In light of because of
search To crow over To brag or boast about
Have an axe to To have one’s own interests to something something
grind serve look to rely on
By hook or by Using whatever methods are
crook necessary
 Lecture – 29th IDIOMS
rank and file Ordinary people Sticky fingers a propensity to steal
have bitten off To take on more than one Eat like a horse Eats a lot of food
more than I can can handle Pay heed to Listen carefully with
chew attention
take into Consider Back out to withdraw especially from
account a commitment or contest
Be hard up having very little money Have a change Change one’s opinion
In the same Say two contradictory of heart
breath things at the same time. Smooth sailing Easy progress
On the wane On the decline On purpose Intentionally
A long shot something you try although Feast one’s eyes to look at (something or
it is unlikely to be on someone) with great
successful/ Little chance of pleasure.
success. Cold comfort Very little satisfaction
Money doesn’t said to warn someone to be To make a cat’s to use someone as a means
grow on trees careful how much money paw or a tool of of attaining your object
they spend, because there is someone
only a limited amount. In the limelight in public attention and
Lie low (especially of a criminal) interest/ The centre of
keep out of sight; avoid attraction.
detection or attention/ try Hit a brick Not able to make any
not to be noticed. wall/Come up progress
Takes after To resemble / similar to against a brick
Fell foul of got into trouble with wall
Hold the key to have control over Get one’s Lose one’s temper
something. dander up
Leave no stone to make all possible efforts all in all Overall
unturned Lend me your to pay attention to
In a tight in a difficult situation. ear
corner Pull a long face look dejected
Nip in the bud To destroy early Get away To escape / run away
A dark horse An unknown entry/ an Between Scylla Between two dangers
unexpected winner. and Charybdis
Easy money money that is easily and Be at a loose Be at a loose end
sometimes dishonestly end
earned. Have a soft spot To like someone a lot
Bury the To make peace for someone
hatchet Pull the plug Prevent something from
To fight shy of To try to avoid something happing or continuing
A hair in the A problem or challenging At loggerheads Disagreeing with
butter situation. The movers and People who have a lot of
Does not hold Cannot be believed shakers power and influence
water Comparing Unequal comparisons
Playing with taking a grave risk apples with
fire oranges
Blow one’s own Praise oneself Lion’s share Largest share
trumpet Get the axe Lose the job
Snake in the A treacherous person
grass
 Lecture – 31th IDIOMS
Separate the to separate things or people Every dark difficult times will lead to
wheat from that are of high quality or cloud has a better time
the chaff:- ability from those that are silver lining
not: A mincing small and delicate steps
In the driving in control of a situation walk
seat Read to try to understand
Bring to the to offer something that will between the someone's real feelings or
table be an advantage. line intentions from what they
Two peas in a Similar say or write:
pod All wet Completely wrong,
Apple of eye the person of whom one is mistaken
extremely fond, favorite, Once bitten, a bad experience cause to
loving twice shy believe caution
Take breath astonish; surprise; amaze or Red letter An important day /a very
away astound somebody day special day
To blow hot To vacillate between two Shot in the a sudden and encouraging
and cold opposing or starkly arm effect on something.
different states, opinions, Call a spade to say something the way it
or behaviors. a spade is
Chicken Timid To hold good To remain valid
hearted
Break to do something that was Pull a long look dejected
fresh/new not done before face
ground Bed of roses A pleasant situation
Go through to experience many Face up to To accept a difficult
fire and difficulties or dangers in situation
water order to achieve something Hale and healthy and strong
Argus eyed A very careful observant hearty
Drive up the to make someone angry or Strain every Work very hard
wall irritated nerve
Shed fake tears of regret Jump the gun To do something too soon
crocodile Be like chalk Be absolutely different
tears and cheese
Still waters to have passion or furore Green-eyed Jealous
run deep underneath a calm Charley Cramp
expression horse
In the blink in an instant Carry the Winning
of an eye day
Fall into line adhere to rules White Costly but useless
Up in arms Ready to fight elephant possession
Make one's infuriate someone To put To irritate someone
blood boil someone's
back up
Gear up for Get ready for
 Lecture – 32th IDIOMS
Be out for the Sleeping deeply/unconscious Heath Very complicated system or
count Robinson machine for doing a simple
Go by the To follow rules exactly task
book As thick as Very close friends who are
Double-talk Speaking with double thieves looked upon with suspicion
meaning Call upon to visit / to make of
Feet of clay Hidden faults something or someone as a
source of help
Treading on To be careful in speech and Lose your Not being as successful as
eggshells actions touch previously
Laughing someone who does At one’s elbow Next to someone
stock something very stupid and is Blow up :- To destroy by an explosion
made fun of
Pay over the to pay more for something A fly on the An unnoticed observer of a
odds than it is worth wall situation
Play to the to say things that will make In the same To be in the same difficult
gallery people admire you boat situation as someone else
A turn of the an action which makes a bad Hair's breadth narrow margin
screw situation worse
A hot potato something that is difficult to Grease the Bribe
deal with palm
Another kettle Completely different matter Tell upon to inform the authority about
of fish someone's fault or bad action
changed hands Change of ownership /have bad effect on
someone’s health
too many irons Having multiple tasks to Tit for tat Counter attack
in the fire complete
the brain Movement of professionals to Win laurels To gain honour
drain another country for better
prospect Safe pair of A person who can be trusted
as right as rain To be in a good mental and hands to do something efficiently
physical state
all Greek to Something which I don't Let down To fail
me` understand
Cook spoil someone's plans; cause Hard and fast That cannot be altered/strict
someone's someone's downfall.
goose Knock down To demolish
Disappear into Disappear suddenly
thin air A kick in the A grave
Put the screws Forcing someone to do what teeth setback/disappointment.
on you want
Be as sharp as A clever person To go to the fail or go out of bussiness
a tack wall
From pillar to Keep moving from one place
post to another
 Lecture – 34th IDIOMS

Everyone and his A large number problems that you did not
brother expect
Feel the pinch Having financial problems Pull your socks Improve your work or
all of a sudden up behavior
The feathers fly To fight and argue a lot get under skin To annoy someone/ to be
A foregone An inevitable result irritating
conclusion Turn topsy-turvy To completely change
Counting your assuming to be successful something
chickens(before when it is not certain A clarion call A strong and clear request
they hatch) for people to do
The icing on the extra benefit over and something.
cake above an already good deal Fire in the belly A very strong sense of
A stitch in time timely action that prevents enthusiasm and
(saves nine) a negative outcome determination.
At sixes and state of total confusion hunky-dory There are no problems and
sevens people are happy
Talking twenty to talking hurriedly and leg up To help someone to be
dozen rapidly successful
Be in eclipse much less successful and Call the shots To be in a position to make
important than before. decisions that influence a
Ways and means Methods of achieving situation
something Sell like hot Quick sell out
Big-ticket Very costly cakes
Be a law unto Behave in an Cup of tea Something one likes/excels
yourself unconventional and in
unpredictable manner. baker's dozen A group of 13
Spiff up to make someone or Go for a song at a cheap rate
something look more Bark up the to make a wrong choice
stylish, or clean and tidy wrong tree
Run wild To grow without any To cut someone To not manage someone
control some slack very strictly or critically.
Wind down to start to relax gradually In the fast lane A life filled with
after a period of hard work excitement
or a worrying situation sly as a fox smart and clever
Mellow out To enjoy oneself without To keep one's To remain calm
doing much temper
Overstep the To upset someone by Bigger fish to fry Having something more
mark doing/saying more than important to take care of
you should Ball of fire An active and energetic
Palsy-walsy Good friends person
Open a To do something that By fair means or To get one's way with
Pandora's box causes a lot of new foul honesty or dishonesty