Idioms PDF

1. In for a penny, in for a pound 13. Bear a grudge Meaning: That someone is intentionally investing his time or money Meaning: To continue to feel angry or unfriendly toward someone for a particular project or task. o...

1. In for a penny, in for a pound 13. Bear a grudge Meaning: That someone is intentionally investing his time or money Meaning: To continue to feel angry or unfriendly toward someone for a particular project or task. or something because of a particular past incident. Example: When Athlead was booming, Jim was in for a penny and Example: I Bear a grudge against him for not taking me into in for a pound, that’s how dedicated he was. confidence. 2. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush 14. By the skin of your teeth Meaning: An opportunity in hand, currently, is better than a Meaning: To just barely get by or make it. prospect in the future, because time never repeats itself. Example: Lester made the dance team By the skin of his teeth, you Example: The detective apprehended 3 criminals and saw another see the audition gates were about to get closed. one running but didn’t chase him, because she knew a bird in one hand was better than two in the bush. 15. Down for the count 3. Chip off the old block Meaning: Tired; giving up. Example: My pet dog is down for the count after playing the whole Meaning: A person is similar in behaviour or actions to his parents. day with the frisbee. Example: When grandmother saw her grandson collecting coins like her son used to do, she knew he was a Chip off the old block. 16. Draw the line 4. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you Meaning: To stop before a point where something okay gets not okay. Meaning: Treat people the same way you want to be treated. Example: Hey buddy, that’s enough, Draw the line before someone Example: I felt Peter was a little cold today towards that homeless comes and beats you to a pulp. man, he should do unto others as he would have them do unto him, because who knows about time. 17. Easier said than done 5. Don’t cry over spilt milk Meaning: Not as easy as it appears to be. Example: Listen, losing weight is easier said than done, many Meaning: Don’t cry over what has happened as it can not be fixed. people lack commitment. Example: Walter failed his examination but his dad came and said just one thing, “Son, Don’t cry over spilt milk.” 18. Break a leg 6. Every cloud has a silver lining Meaning: Saying good luck to someone. Example: Hey Barry, it’s time for you to get on the stage and Meaning: Bad things one day eventually lead to good things. present your monologue, break a leg. Example: See, yesterday you were so morose as your phone was stolen but look at you today, you got a promotion. Is it rightly said 19. Up a creek without a paddle that every cloud has a silver lining? Meaning: In an unlucky situation. 7. Beside yourself with joy Example: Dan tried to dine and dash yesterday at a Chinese place but he was stopped by the waiters, guess he was up a creek Meaning: To be extremely happy. without a paddle yesterday. Example: I can see that you are beside yourself with joy on being selected for the job, congratulations. 20. Give it a whirl 8. Fair and square Meaning: To give something a try. Example: I am terrified of skydiving, but I think once in my life, I Meaning: Being direct or fair. will give it a whirl. Example: To tell you fair and square, I did everything that I was meant to do, but I still feel unfulfilled. 21. Fish out of water 9. Having an Ace up the sleeve Meaning: To be out of your comfort zone. Example: Tom felt like a fish out of water when his girlfriend took Meaning: Have an advantage that is currently being withheld for him to a Star Wars convention in LA. future purposes. Example: Brian kept quiet at the board meeting, who knew he had 22. In the fast lane an Ace hidden up his sleeve the whole time? Meaning: A life filled with excitement. 10. A black sheep Example: When Chris turned forty, he decided to live his life in the fast lane and quit his job for his hobbies. Meaning: Being a disgrace to the family. Example: They don’t talk about Olive anymore, turns out he was 23. Go the extra mile the Black sheep for the family, and he married someone else while he was still married to his fiancé. Meaning: To make an extra effort. Example: He was willing to go the extra mile for the love of his life, 11. Hook, line and sinker Mia. Meaning: Doing something or trying to achieve something with 24. Snug as a bug in a rug thoroughness and passion. Example: I have set my mind to go through the spreadsheets by Meaning: Warm and cosy. Monday and I am working for it Hook, line and sinker. Meaning: The baby looks as snug as a bug in a rug next to her mother. 12. Looking to your laurels 25. Step up your game Meaning: Do not be lost in your achievements and lose sight of what is supposed to happen. Example: Look on your laurels but do not rest on them. Meaning: To start performing better Meaning: So easy task. Example: Jennifer better step up her game if she wants to make big Example: Everyone took hours to write the code but Adam did in Basketball. it like a cakewalk. 26. To not see the wood for the trees 39. Throw caution to the wind Meaning: To be so involved in trivial matters that you don’t get the Meaning: Take a risk. important facts. Example: The caretaker threw caution to the wind by taking a sick Example: He always argues on the silliest topics, it’s like he can’t baby outside. see wood for the trees. 40. Penny-wise and Pound foolish 27. Lose your marbles Meaning: Careful in trivial matters but wasteful or extravagant in Meaning: To go insane. large matters. Example: Our mailman has lost his marbles, every day he drops Mr. Example: That man eats Ramen noodles daily for dinner but for his Smith’s mail on our door. dog, he throws a big party. He is indeed penny-wise and pound- foolish. 28. Straight from the Horse’s mouth 41. The whole nine yards Meaning: Directly from the person involved. Example: Listen to the news straight from the horse’s mouth, his Meaning: Everything, all the way. factory burned down right in front of his eyes. Example: I want to know everything there is to know about this merger, the whole nine yards of the deal. 29. Crying Wolf 42. The best thing since sliced bread Meaning: To ask for help when you don’t need it. Example: You have been a crying Wolf so many times that no one Meaning: A really good invention. believes you now. Example: Bluetooth is officially the best thing since sliced bread. 30. Palm off 43. Bite off more than you can chew Meaning: Pass off something as genuine when it is spurious. Meaning: Take on difficult work that is beyond your capabilities. Example: This shopkeeper always palms off old stock to the Example: Andrew told his boss that he would triple the sales but in customers. reality, he bit off more than he can chew and now all of us are in trouble. 31. Has bigger fish to fry 44. Play by the ear Meaning: Has more important work to do. Example: Please don’t bother me today with any calls, I have bigger Meaning: To improvise. fish to fry. Example: I just went to Canada and did everything playing by the ear, no itinerary, no schedules. 32. Look before you leap 45. Ignorance is bliss Meaning: Calculate the risks before advancing towards a possibility. Example: You can’t just sell all of your shares when the market is Meaning: You are better off not knowing some things. low, look before you leap, Trump is coming tomorrow, and the Example: His wife always asked him what it was he did late at night, shares may grow. turned out, he was insider trading. But she knew nothing about this so she won’t be convicted, sometimes ignorance is bliss. 33. On thin ice 46. Put something on ice Meaning: In a precarious or risky situation. Example: Andy played hooky from work for a week saying he was Meaning: To put something on hold. sick, and now his boss said that he is on thin ice. Example: As per the boss’ order, Michael has put his personal matters on ice. 34. Play devil’s advocate 47. You can say that again Meaning: To argue, just for the sake of it. Example: He was not agreeing to back off as if he was playing Meaning: That’s absolutely true. devil’s advocate. Example: “The Earth is bleeding”, you can say that again, pal. 35. Rain on someone’s parade 48. Bite the bullet Meaning: To spoil a moment. Meaning: To get something over with because it is inevitable. Example: He told his wife that he didn’t want to rain on her parade, Example: Vik was diagnosed with second-stage cancer but he didn’t but they had to shift their vacation dates. want to get chemotherapy. By the will of his wife, he bit the bullet. 36. Take a rain check 49. Go back to the drawing board Meaning: Postpone a plan. Meaning: Start over. Example: He asked me whether I would like to have dinner with his Example: It is not too late to go back to the drawing board and family, but I had a thing so I said, rain check. assess your mistakes. 37. Take it with a grain of salt 50. Call it a day Meaning: Don’t take it too seriously. Meaning: Stop working on something. Example: She tells great tales but we take whatever she says with a Example: Ah! So if we didn’t complete the puzzle today, let’s call it grain of salt. a day and come back again tomorrow. 38. Like a cakewalk It is important to note that idioms themselves do not create Meaning: To betray a close person complete sentences and they require additional context to give Example: My uncle trusted his driver so much but he stabbed him them a sense. Take a look at some more idioms with examples and in the back when he saw all the money bags. their meanings: 64. Go cold turkey 51. Beating Around the Bush Meaning: To quit or stop addictive or dangerous behaviour Meaning: To talk about unnecessary things. Example: No one could believe that my father left eating sweets! He Example: When I asked my secretary about the missing file and went cold turkey when the doctors told him that he had diabetes. documents, she was beating around the bush. 65. Ring a bell 52. Be in a Tight Corner Meaning: Sounds familiar Meaning: Being in a difficult situation. Example: Why does this name ring a bell in my head? Was this girl Example: Radha’s low grades despite her constant efforts have put in my school? her in a very tight corner. 66. Cut to the chase 53. At the 11th Hour Meaning: Getting to the important point Meaning: At the last moment. Example: As the submissions were to be made tonight, the boss cut Example: While leaving for Shimla, Harshit kept his mobile phone to the chase and asked us to start working. charger in the bag at the 11th hour. 67. Blow off steam 54. Swan Song Meaning: Experiencing strong feelings like anger or stress Meaning: The last piece of work of an artist before his/her death. Example: Shina went running to blow off steam as she had a huge Example: This painting was M.F Hussain’s swan song. fight with her mother. 55. Wild Goose Chase 68. Face the music Meaning: Futile Chase Meaning: Face the reality Example: Catching the two thieves together on a jam-packed road Example: Shikha asked her husband to not run away from the was no less than a wild goose chase for the policeman. problem and just face the music once! 56. Bury the Hatchet 69. To have sticky fingers Meaning: Ending a quarrel to make peace. Meaning: Thief Example: My father buried the hatchet by equally dividing the Example: The cashier had a sticky finger, he stole around $2000 and pasta between me and my sister. ran away from the bank. 57. To Bell the Cat 70. Break the bank Meaning: To face a risk. Meaning: To be very expensive Example: He belled the cat when he was trying to escape the Example: I had to break the bank to buy these shoes! prison. 71. Face the music 58. Turn a deaf ear Meaning: Confront the unpleasant consequences of one’s actions. Meaning: To ignore what someone is saying. Example: We have done it and now it’s time to face the music! Example: Whenever her mother complained of her excessive use of her mobile phone, Anu turned a deaf ear. 72. It is always darkest before the dawn 59. At Sea Meaning: Things will get better Example: I know you have gone through the worst, but remember it Meaning: Confused is always darkest before the dawn. Example: I was at sea while choosing a lehenga for my sister’s wedding at Manish Malhotra’s store. 73. Jump the gun 60. To be in the doldrums Meaning: To act on something promptly before the right time Example: I think I jumped the gun by sending the e-mail before they Meaning: To be in a low spirit told me the time. Example: When I got to know about the increasing cases of COVID- 19 in my area, I was in the doldrums. 74. Wear your heart on your sleeve 61. Hit the books Meaning: Expressing yourself too openly Example: She wears her heart on her sleeve and often gets hurt. Meaning: Going to study Example: I won’t be able to come for dinner as I have to hit the 75. Cut no ice books for my half-yearly examinations. Meaning: Fail to make an impact 62. Twist someone’s arm Example: Your poetry cuts no ice with me Meaning: To convince someone 76. Light at the end of the tunnel Example: I was not planning to come to the party but by reminding me of all the good food you twisted my arm! Meaning: Seeing signs of improvement in the future Example: I see the light at the end of the tunnel for my relationship 63. Stab someone in the back with her 77. Through thick and thin Meaning: Through good and bad times Example: My neighbour is around the bend, don’t try to mess with Example: Books and music stay by your side through thick and thin. her. 78. Cry for the moon 95. Against the clock Meaning: Rushed Meaning: To ask for something that is rather difficult Example: I have to hurry for the meeting, I am against the clock. Example: You are crying for the moon for this concert’s tickets! 96. Black and blue 79. Read between the lines Meaning: Something bruised Example: What happened? Your eyes look black and blue. Meaning: Understanding the real message behind something Example: If you try to read between the lines, her song is actually 97. Have the blues about Nizagara Meaning: Sad Example: After meeting her, I am feeling the blues. 80. Don’t give up a day’s job 98. Be glad to see the back of Meaning: You are not very good at something or you could not do it Meaning: Happy when someone leaves professionally Example: Tomorrow, I will be glad to see the back of her. Example: I love painting, but I shouldn’t give up a day’s job just yet. 99. Blackout 81. A left-handed compliment Meaning: Faint Meaning: Saying something insulting in the form of appreciative Example: I blacked out after two drinks. words. Example: Her words on my blog seem like a left-handed 100. Get in Shape compliment. Meaning: To become strong or fit Example: I need to make a proper schedule to get in shape before 82. Once in a blue moon the graduation ceremony. Meaning: Not very often Example: I visit her place once in a blue moon 83. Call a spade a spade Meaning: Talking frankly Example: I will not lie about it and call a spade a spade. 84. Flesh and blood Meaning: Referring to someone in the family or human nature Example: It’s flesh and blood to feel such strong emotions at this time. 85. Jam on the brakes Meaning: Press brakes of a vehicle suddenly Example: I had to jam on the brakes when I saw the deer. 86. Notch up Meaning: To win or create a record Example: One Direction notched up the finale with their amazing voice! 87. A slap on the wrist Meaning: Just a small punishment Example: You will get a slap on the wrist for painting this wall but don’t dare to do it again. 88. Knee Jerk Reaction Meaning: A quick response Example: The statement was just a knee-jerk reaction. 89. Once bitten, twice shy Meaning: Afraid of doing something again Example: Once bitten twice shy, he can’t ski. 90. Forty winks Meaning: A short nap Example: I will be just in for forty winks, I promise. 91. Up for grabs Meaning: Available for everyone Example: This pizza slice is up for grabs! 92. Old as the hills Meaning: Someone very old Example: The man looks as old as the hills. 93. Back to square one Meaning: Start all over again Example: Your mistake brought us back to square one. 94. Round the bend Meaning: Crazy