Hi readers,
Compiled by Mayank Keshu
Idioms and phrases has a fixed portion in English section. Here 87 most important idioms and phrases has given from previous year papers.
Phrases Meaning
1. Achilles’ heels - A small but fatal
weakness
2. Add fuel on fire - To make a matter
worse
3. An axe to grind - Something done for
selfish reasons
4. An old flame - A person, one had a
romantic relationship relationship with, in the past
5. Bad blood - Enmity/ bitter relations
6. Bear the brunt of - To bear the main
part of something unpleasant
7. Big gun - An influential person
8. Bird of passage - One who comes
occasionally
9. Castles in the air - Day dream/ a hope
or desire unlikely to be realized
10. Chicken hearted - Lacking courage/
cowardly
11. Cry for the moon -To desire the
unattainable
12. Cut a sorry figure- To give a poor show
13. Dance to
one’s tune - Obeying one’s order
14. Dark horse - One who wins unexpectedly
15. Democle’s sword - Constant threat
16. Dead letter - A law or ordinance that is
no longer enforced
17. Eat humble pie - To apologize
18. Eats one’s words - Take a statement back
19. Elbow room - Sufficient scope to move or
function
20. Escape one’s lips - Speak
unintentionally or unexpectedly
21. Fair and square - In an honest way
22. Fair sex - Women
23. Feather in the cap - Additional success
24. Fish out of water- Out of one’s usual
and comfortable place
25. Get away with- To escape
26. Get down to- To attend to work
seriously
27. Get into hot water- Get into trouble
28. Green room- A lounge in a theatre or
studio for the performers to get ready
29. Hang by a thread- Be in a risky
situation
30. Hard nut to crack- A difficult problem
to solve/ A person difficult to understand
31. Have one’s way- The way one wants
32. Have several irons in the fire - To be
involved in many projects or activities at the same
time
33. High living - Living with comfort and
ease
34. Hit the jackpot - Gaining a big/ great
success (specially by luck)
35. In full swing - At the height of
activity
36. In the long run- Ultimately
37. Iron hand/ Iron fist - Rigorous control
38. Jump to a conclusion - To come to a
conclusion prematurely
39. Kangaroo court - An illegal court
40. Keep one’s finger crosses - To wait
expectantly
41. Keep the ball rollin g- To maintain the
progress of a project or plan
42. Kith and kin- Blood relations
43. Lady’s man- A man who is fond of the
company of women
44. Left-handed compliment- An insult disguised
as a compliment
45. Look off colours- Look ill or unhealthy
46. Lump in the throat- A tight or
uncomfortable feeling in throat due to emotions
47. Maiden speech- First speech
48. Make a hash- To mess up
49. Make the best of both the worlds- Getting
benefited from both the sides
50. Make up one’s mind- To decide
51. Narrow escape/ Close shave - To escape
by a little margin
52. Nine day’s wonder- Something that
arouses great interest but for a very short period
53. Nip in the bud - To put on end to
something in its initial stage
54. Null and void- Ineffective
55. Oily tongue- Flattering words
56. On one’s guard- Vigilant
57. Once for all- For the last time/
conclusively
58. Open question- A question which may
have more than one answer
59. Pandora’s box- A source of extensive
but unforeseen troubles
60. Past master- An expert
61. Play ducks and drakes- To waste money
62. Play second fiddle- To be at a
subordinate position
63. Queer fish- Strange person
64. Rainy day- Future time of need,
especially financial need
65. Read between the lines- To understand
the hidden meaning
66. Red handed- Exactly while committing a
crime or doing something wrong
67. Red tapism- Strict adherence to
excessive paper work and official formalities
68. Royal road- An easy or direct way of
achieving a desired result
69. See through- Comprehend/ understand
70. Set one’s face against- To oppose with
determination
71. Set one’s heart on- To have as one’s
ambition to obtain something
72. Shoulder to shoulder- With united
effort
73. Take away one’s breath- To overwhelm
with surprise
74. Take by storm- To surprise unexpectedly
75. Take into account- To consider
76. Tooth and nail- Violently
77. Under the nose of- Right in front of
someone
78. Under the thumbof- Under the power or influence
of
79. Up and doing- Active in work
80. Up one’s sleeves- An item kept hidden
and used whenever required
81. Uphill task- Difficult task
82. Ups and downs- Good and bad times
83. Weather the storm- Survive by coming
out of difficulties
84. Wet blanket- One who spoils the
enjoyment
85. White elephant- Expensive but of no use
86. Word for word- In exactly the same word
87. Yeomen’s service- Excellent work
Any query
Kindly comment
