1.

A blessing in disguise – Something good that seems bad at first

2. A bolt from the blue – A sudden and unexpected event
3. A bone of contention – Subject of dispute
4. A close shave – Narrow escape
5. A cock and bull story – Made up story
6. A cold shoulder – To ignore someone
7. A hard nut to crack – Difficult problem or person
8. A red letter day – Important day
9. A wild goose chase – Futile search
10. Add fuel to the fire – To make matter worse
11. Apple of discord – Cause of dispute
12. Apple of one’s eye – Very dear
13. At daggers drawn – In hostility
14. At the eleventh hour – At the last moment
15. Back to square one – To start again
16. Bag and baggage – With all belongings
17. Beat about the bush – To avoid coming to the point
18. Beat black and blue – To beat severely
19. Bed of roses – Easy and comfortable situation
20. Behind the scenes – Secretly
21. Between the devil and the deep sea – Between two dangers
22. Bite off more than you can chew – To take up a task beyond one’s ability
23. Bite the dust – To die / to fail
24. Blow one’s own trumpet – To praise oneself
25. Break the ice – To initiate conversation
26. Bring to light – To reveal
27. Burn the midnight oil – To study/work late into night
28. By hook or by crook – By any means
29. Call a spade a spade – To speak the truth
30. Carry the day – To win
31. Come to light – To become known
32. Crocodile tears – False tears
33. Cry over spilt milk – Regret over something that cannot be undone
34. Cut a sorry figure – To make a poor impression
35. Cut the Gordian knot – To solve a difficult problem easily
36. Die in harness – Die while working
37. Eat humble pie – To apologize and accept humiliation
38. Every nook and corner – Everywhere
39. Feather in one’s cap – Achievement to be proud of
40. Feel under the weather – Feeling unwell
41. Fish out of water – Uncomfortable situation
42. From hand to mouth – Live with great difficulty
43. Get into hot water – Get into trouble
44. Give a cold shoulder – Ignore
45. Give up the ghost – To die
46. Go the extra mile – To make special effort
47. Green horn – Inexperienced person
48. Hand in glove – Close relationship
49. Hard and fast – Strict
50. Hit the nail on the head – To be exactly right
51. Hit the sack – Go to sleep
52. Hobson’s choice – No real choice
53. In black and white – In writing
54. In cold blood – Deliberately and without emotion
55. In hot water – In trouble
56. In the long run – Eventually
57. Ins and outs – Full details
58. Jump the gun – To do something too soon
59. Keep body and soul together – To survive
60. Keep your fingers crossed – Hope for success
61. Kick the bucket – To die
62. Kill two birds with one stone – Achieve two aims with single effort
63. Leave no stone unturned – Try every possible way
64. Let the cat out of the bag – Reveal a secret
65. Lion’s share – Major share
66. Make both ends meet – To live within income
67. Make hay while the sun shines – Take advantage of opportunity
68. Maiden speech – First speech
69. Null and void – Invalid
70. On cloud nine – Extremely happy
71. On the horns of a dilemma – In a difficult choice
72. Out of the blue – Unexpectedly
73. Pass the buck – Shift responsibility
74. Put the cart before the horse – Reverse the proper order
75. Read between the lines – Understand hidden meaning
76. Red tape – Official formalities
77. Smell a rat – Suspect something wrong
78. Spill the beans – Reveal secret
79. Stick to one’s guns – Maintain position
80. Take to heart – Take seriously
81. To add insult to injury – To make a bad situation worse
82. To be at sea – Confused
83. To be born with a silver spoon – Born in rich family
84. To bell the cat – To take risk
85. To break the news – To inform
86. To bring to book – Punish
87. To burn one’s fingers – Suffer because of own action
88. To call it a day – Stop working for the day
89. To cut corners – To do something poorly to save money or time
90. To cut one’s coat according to cloth – Live within means
91. To end in smoke – No practical result
92. To feather one’s own nest – Make money dishonestly
93. To fight tooth and nail – Fight fiercely
94. To get rid of – To remove
95. To have an axe to grind – Have selfish motive
96. To keep at bay – To keep away
97. To keep one’s temper – Remain calm
98. To lose heart – Lose courage
99. To look down upon – To regard with contempt
100. To make a mountain out of molehill – Exaggerate
101. To play second fiddle – Take a subordinate role
102. To pull one’s leg – To tease
103. To read one’s mind – Understand without words
104. To show the white feather – Show cowardice
105. To smell a rat – Suspect something
106. To stand on ceremony – To behave formally
107. To take with a grain of salt – To not believe completely
108. To turn a deaf ear – Ignore
109. To turn over a new leaf – Reform
110. Under one’s nose – Openly
111. Under the weather – Ill
112. Ups and downs – Good and bad times
113. With a grain of salt – Doubtfully
114. With flying colours – Successfully
115. Yeoman’s service – Great service
116. At one’s wit’s end – Perplexed
117. Black sheep – Bad person in a group
118. Blue blood – Noble birth
119. Burn one’s bridges – To destroy possibilities of return
120. Call forth – Cause
121. Die hard – Difficult to end
122. Fall flat – Fail completely
123. Get wind of – Hear a rumour
124. Give vent to – Express
125. Go scot-free – Escape without punishment
126. Hard up – Poor
127. Hold water – Be valid
128. In a fix – In a difficult situation
129. In a nutshell – In brief
130. Keep wolf from the door – Keep away hunger
131. Lay bare – Reveal
132. Lion’s heart – Very brave
133. Nip in the bud – Destroy in early stage
134. Null and void – Invalid
135. Off and on – Occasionally
136. On tenterhooks – Anxious
137. Out of sorts – Unwell
138. Part and parcel – Essential part
139. Pros and cons – Advantages and disadvantages
140. Rain cats and dogs – Heavy rain
141. Rule the roost – Be dominant
142. Run into – Meet unexpectedly
143. Set store by – Value highly
144. Sit on the fence – Remain neutral
145. Slip of the tongue – Mistake in speaking
146. Sow wild oats – Waste youth in pleasures
147. Speak volumes – Express effectively
148. Take after – Resemble
149. Take to task – Scold
150. The lion’s share – Major part
151. Through thick and thin – Under all conditions
152. Turn the tables – Reverse situation
153. Up in arms – Ready to fight
154. Wear and tear – Damage with use
155. Wet blanket – Person who spoils enjoyment
156. White elephant – Costly useless possession
157. Word of mouth – Oral publicity
158. At daggers drawn – In hostility
159. At loggerheads – In strong disagreement
160. Blow hot and cold – Change opinion
161. Break new ground – Do something innovative
162. Bring home the bacon – Earn livelihood
163. Castles in the air – Daydreams
164. Come to grief – Meet with disaster
165. Cut the coat according to cloth – Live within means
166. Draw the line – Set a limit
167. Eat like a horse – Eat too much
168. Feather one’s nest – Use position for personal gain
169. Fly in the ointment – Drawback in something good
170. Get cold feet – Lose courage
171. Give a wide berth – Avoid
172. Go to the dogs – Deteriorate
173. Hand to mouth – Poor condition
174. Have a finger in every pie – Involved everywhere
175. Have too many irons in the fire – Too many works at same time
176. In a soup – In trouble
177. In the pink – In good health
178. Keep your shirt on – Stay calm
179. Know the ropes – Know all details
180. Leave someone in the lurch – Desert someone in trouble
181. Let sleeping dogs lie – Avoid restarting old issues
182. Make amends – Compensate
183. On pins and needles – Nervous
184. Once in a blue moon – Rarely
185. Put a spoke in the wheel – Obstruct
186. Put one’s foot down – Take firm stand
187. Rack one’s brain – Think hard
188. Rise to the occasion – Perform well
189. See eye to eye – Agree fully
190. Show one’s teeth – To threaten
191. Steal someone’s thunder – Take credit for another’s work
192. Swallow pride – Humble oneself
193. Take it easy – Relax
194. Throw in the towel – Admit defeat
195. Turn coat – Change sides
196. Under the sun – In the world
197. Walk on air – Very happy
198. Wash one’s dirty linen in public – Discuss private matters publicly
199. Win laurels – Achieve distinction
200. Work like a Trojan – Work very hard
201.