Idioms & Phrases
1. What is and Idiom?
An idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning conventionally understood by native speakers. This meaning is different from the literal meaning of the idiom's individual words.
A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush: Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything.
2. A Blessing In Disguise: Something good that isn't recognized at first.
3. A Chip On Your Shoulder: Being upset for something that happened in the past.
4. A Doubting Thomas: A skeptic who needs evidence in order to believe something.
5. A Drop in the Bucket: A very small part of something big or whole.
6. A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted: It's easy for a fool to lose his/her money.
7. A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand: Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.
8. A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned: By not spending money, you are saving money.
9. A Picture Paints a Thousand Words: A visual is far more descriptive than words.
10. A Piece of Cake: A task that can be accomplished very easily.
11. A Slap on the Wrist: A very mild punishment.
12. A Taste Of Your Own Medicine: When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.
13. A Toss-Up: A result that is still unclear and can go either way.
14. Actions Speak Louder Than Words: It's better to actually do something than just talk about it.
15. Add Fuel To The Fire: Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is.
16. All In The Same Boat: When everyone is facing the same challenges.
17. An Arm And A Leg: Very expensive. A large amount of money.
18. An Axe To Grind: To have a dispute with someone.
19. Apple of My Eye: Someone who is cherished above all others.
20. Back Seat Driver: People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving unwanted advice from the back seat of a vehicle to the driver.
21. Back To Square One: Having to start all over again.
22. Back To The Drawing Board: When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
23. Baker's Dozen: Thirteen.
24. Beat A Dead Horse: To force an issue that has already ended.
25. Beating Around The Bush: Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
26. Between A Rock And A Hard Place: Stuck between two very bad options.
27. Bite Your Tongue: To avoid talking.
28. Blood Is Thicker Than Water: The family bond is closer than anything else.
29. Blue Moon: A rare event or occurrence.
30. Cock and Bull Story: An unbelievable tale.
31. Crack Someone Up: To make someone laugh.
32. Cry Over Spilt Milk: When you complain about a loss from the past.
33. Curiosity Killed The Cat: Being Inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
34. Dark Horse: One who was previously unknown and is now prominent.
35. Dead Ringer: 100% identical. A duplicate.
36. Devil's Advocate: Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in that particular side of the arguement. It can also mean one who presents a counter argument for a position they do believe in, to another debater.
37. Dog Days of Summer: The hottest days of the summer season.
38. Don't count your chickens before they hatch: Don't rely on it until your sure of it.
39. Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket: Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
40. Drink like a fish: To drink very heavily.
41. Drive someone up the wall: To irritate and/or annoy very much.
42. Dry Run: Rehearsal.
43. Eighty Six: A certain item is no longer available. Or this idiom can also mean, to throw away.
44. Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining: Be optomistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
45. Feeding Frenzy: An aggressive attack on someone by a group.
46. Finding Your Feet: To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing.
47. Finger lickin' good: A very tasty food or meal.
48. French Kiss: An open mouth kiss where tongues touch.
49. Get Down to Brass Tacks: To become serious about something.
50. Go The Extra Mile: Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.
51. Good Samaritan: Someone who helps others when they are in need.
52. Great Minds Think Alike: Intelligent people think like each other.
53. Green Room: The waiting room, especially for those who are about to go on a tv or radio show.
54. Haste Makes Waste: Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.
55. Head Over Heels: Very excited and/or joyful, especially when in love.
56. Hit The Books: To study, especially for a test or exam.
57. Hold Your Horses: Be patient.
58. Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools: You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.
59. In The Buff: Nude.
60. In The Heat Of The Moment: Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
61. Keep An Eye On Him: You should carefully watch him.
62. Keep body and soul together: To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive
63. Keep your chin up: To remain joyful in a tough situation.
64. Kick The Bucket: Die.
65. Lend Me Your Ear: To politely ask for someone's full attention.
66. Let The Cat Out Of The Bag: To share a secret that wasn't suppose to be shared.
67. Nest Egg: Savings set aside for future use.
68. Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You: Don't hurt anyone that helps you.
69. Off The Hook: No longer have to deal with a tough situation.
70. On Pins And Needles: Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of something.
71. On The Fence: Undecided.
72. Pass The Buck: Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.
73. Pedal to the metal: To go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle.
74. Pig Out : To eat a lot and eat it quickly.
75. Pulling Your Leg: Tricking someone as a joke.
76. Rome Was Not Built In One Day: If you want something to be completely properly, then its going to take time.
77. Rule Of Thumb: A rough estimate.
78. Run out of steam: To be completely out of energy.
79. Scapegoat: Someone else who takes the blame.
80. Smell A Rat: To detect someone in the group is betraying the others.
81. Son of a Gun: A scamp.
82. Southpaw: Someone who is left-handed.
83. Start From Scratch: To do it all over again from the beginning.
84. The Ball Is In Your Court: It is your decision this time.
85. The Last Straw: When one small burden after another creates an unbearable situation, the last straw is the last small burden that one can take.
86. Tie the knot: To get married.
87. Tongue-in-cheek: humor, not to be taken serious.
88. Turn A Blind Eye: Refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit.
89. When Pigs Fly : Something that will never ever happen.
90. You Are What You Eat: In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.
Exercise: Choose the Idiom and phrase which completes the meaning
1. You have to raise your voice a little when talking to him. He's a little hard of hearing.
(a) stubborn (b) quiet when he speaks (c) deaf (d) distracted
2. I went to a real nice restaurant yesterday. The food cost was cheap and they served a lot of food. I had to ask for a doggy bag because I couldn't eat the whole thing.
(a) package to store leftover food so the person can take it home
(b) dog bowl so you can give the rest of the food to your dog
(c) special order where you get smaller meal sizes (d) kid's meal
3. Fabian was a doormat. No wonder his classmates were always giving him a hard time.
(a) snob (b) geek (c) coward (d) chubby boy
4. I invited a friend to a hotel for lunch. He said Ok, as long as we go Dutch next time.
(a) I pay for your meal (b) you take me with you
(c) you let me drive you there (d) we divide the costs
5. So, is everything plain as a pike staff? Oh, yes indeed sir!
(a) clean (b) clear (c) messy (d) in position
6. We are having a pot-luck dinner at Tim's house tomorrow. Everybody is invited!
(a) dinner where everybody brings something to eat (b) dinner where everybody chips in
(c) dinner where only soup is served (d) dinner where people eat and play games at the same time
7. I need everybody's help. The wedding is tomorrow and we haven't even started with the decorations
yet. We have no time to lose.
(a) been procrastinating (b) to remember what time it is
(c) extra time (d) to start right now
8. Just keep your wig on. Everything is going to be alright, okay?
(a) hold your wig so it won't fall off (b) get another hair cut
(c) calm down (d) throw a fit
9. Kishore was saved by the bell when his sister walked in and asked him to take her to the tuition.
(a) rescued from an unwanted situation (b) detained from his duty
(c) obligated to comply (d) obliged to cooperate
10. I would stay away from that guy if I were you, he has a screw loose.
(a) is dangerous (b) is annoying (c) is a flirt (d) is crazy
11. The speaker gave a bird's eye view of the political conditions in the country
A. a detailed presentation B. A biased view C. A general view D. A brief view.
12. He is plain, simple and sincere man. He will always call a spade a spade.
A. Find meaning or purpose in your action. B. Avoid controversial situations
C. Be outspoken D. Desist from making controversial statement
13. Raj had to look high and low before he could find his scooter key.
A. Everywhere B. Somewhere C. Nowhere D. Always
14. We should give a wide berth to bad characters
A. Give publicly to B. Not sympathize C. Keep away from D. Publicly condemn
15. I am leaving India for good.
A. Permanently B. to good for myself C. To do good for the country D. To do nobody good.
16. Last evening I was held up at the meeting.
A. Stopped B. Delayed C. Kept D. Detained
17. He has come up during the last five years
A. Become proud B. Become humble C. Fallen in rank D. Risen in status
18. My plan to have a new car fell through because of the price rise.
A. Was postponed B. Failed to materialize
C. Was completed D. Was competed with difficulty
19. He has rejoined office after a week and looks run down.
A. Cheerful and bubbly B. Weak and tired
C. Active and energetic D. Busy and preoccupied
20. In summer, woolen goods are a drug in the market.
A. Rarely available B. Worthless products
C. Commodities not in demand D. Available at cheap rates
21. He kept beating around the ______ and did not get to the point.
(A) street (B) wood (C) bush (D) grass
22. Let's be patient and continue to work at it. Every cloud has a silver ______.
(A) lining (B) spark (C) streak (D) line
23. It's a trivial matter. Don't make a mountain out of a ______.
(A) hill (B) peak (C) molehill (D) hillock
24. The news was like a bolt from the ______. I never expected it to happen to me.
(A) blue (B) shock (C) sky (D) cloud
25. He arrived in the ______ of time to save her from a lot of embarrassment.
(A) crux (B) nick (C) tip (D) tick
26. The cat disappeared in the dark in the twinkling of a/an ______.
(A) star (B) eye C) light (D) flash
27. Raji takes up two jobs to make ends ______.
(A) meet (B) stay (C) float (D) burn
28. He is a Jack of all ______ but master of none.
(A) sorts (B) trades (C) things (D) tricks
29. He turned ______ and ran away immediately.
(A) head (B) feet (C) tail (D) back
30. Let's bury the ______ and be friends again.
(A) hatchet (B) weapon (C) gun (D) knife
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