Idioms and Phrases Flashcards
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown
With power and authority comes worries and responsibilities
Sweet are the uses of adversity
Sufferings are to be welcomed
To run with the hare, to hunt with the hound
To be insincere to someone
Apparel proclaims the man
You judge a man’s worth by his clothes
A rolling stone gathers no moss
An aimless person cannot succeed
One swallow does not make a summer
One person cannot do everything
Every cock fights best on his own dunghill
One is very brave and confident in one’s own place.
Near the church, farther from heaven
The more opportunities you have, the less you benefit from them.
Never look for a gift horse in the mouth
There can be no choice about things given in charity
Look before you leap
Don’t be reckless and impulsive
Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s
To be wise
Distance lends enchantment to the old
Things look nice and beautiful when they are not within reach.
The last straw breaks the camel’s back
The smallest addition to an already heavy task makes it intolerable
Out of the frying pan into the fire
From one trouble to another
One man’s meat is another man’s poison
What is good for one may be harmful for another
A bird in hand is worth two in bush
Right use of present opportunity
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ears
Saying something impossible
He who pays the Piper calls the tune
One has to act according to the wishes of one’s master
Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread
Said for a reckless person
Hope spring eternals in the human breast
One never loses hope
Not fit to hold a candle
Being inferior
Example: for all his pious platitudes and political stunts, Mr. Nixon is not fit to hold a candle to lincoln or Roosevelt.
Game is not worth the candle
The advantage or enjoyment to be gained is not worth the time spent in gaining it.
To take the wind out of one’s sails
Frustrating someone by anticipating someone’s arguments or take away their advantage suddenly
To sail under false colours
To pretend to be what someone is not or trying to deceive
Example:
In our blessed country, a smuggler sailing under the false colours of a socialist will never be exposed.
To be in the same boat
To be equally exposed with a person to risk or misfortune
Sail close to the wind
To break a law or principles
To weather the storm
To come out of crisis successfully
To pay one’s way
Not get into debt
To bring under the hammer
To sell it by auction
Example:
If a person goes insolvent his creditors will bring everything that he owns under the hammer to recover their money.
Chip of the old block
A son who is very like his father
To be on the last legs
About to collapse
Example:
With science dominating life more and more, religion seems to be on its last legs.
To be on the carpet
To be summoned to one’s employers room for reprimand
To be on wane
To be on decline
Example:
After the second world war, the British Empire was on wane.
To be in one’s element
To be in agreeable company or work
To be at one’s wits end
Perplexed
To be at sea
Confused or uncertain of mind
To be at daggers drawn
In bitter enmity
To be at the beck and call
Always ready to serve
To be within an ace of
To be very nearly
Example:
He was within an ace of being shot.
To be Greek or double Dutch to one
Unintelligible
Example:
He spoke so fast that all he said was double Dutch to the audience.
To be worth its weight in gold
Extremely valuable
Example:
In the desert , a bottle of water is often worth its weight in gold.
To be posted up
Week acquainted with
I want to be posted up in Indian history.
Taking something with a pinch of salt
Feel some doubt whether it is altogether true
Not worth his salt
Good for nothing
Example:
A soldier who shivers at the boom of guns is not worth his salt.
A fly in the ointment
A trifling circumstance with more enjoyment
Example:
It was a wonderful picnic, the only fly in the ointment being the absence of shady trees at the picnic spot.
A storm in a tea cup
A great fuss about a trifle
Part and parcel
Integral part of the society and community
Out at elbows
Destitute (poor)
Cheek by jowl
In the same position
Wide of the Mark or beside the Mark
Irrelevant
In a body
Together
The striking workers went in a body to the Manager to present their demands.
Between two fires
Assailed or or shot at from two sides
All moonshine
Foolish, idle, untrue statement
Example:
The talk about the welfare of the poor is all moonshine
A stone’s throw
Very near
The Taj hotel is at a stone’s throw from gateway of India.
A snake in the grass
A secret enemy
Example:
China has certainly been a snake in the grass for India.
The skin of their teeth
When one escapes losing everything but life.
The storm broke up the ship but the sailors escaped by the skin of their teeth
Penelope’s web
A work which seems to be going on but never comes to an end.
Milk of human kindness
Kindly feelings
A mare’s nest
A discovery that turns out to be false or worrhless
Lion’s share
an unfairly large share
The big nations continue to have the lion’s share of world trade.
Gift of the gab
Fluency of the speech
A fish out of water
A person in an uncomfortable situation
An apple of discord
A subject of envy and strife
Example:
Kashmir continues to be apple of discord between India and Pakistan.
A wild goose chase
Foolish, wild, unprofitable adventure
A white elephant
An unprofitable possession
Tall talk
Boastful language
A sheet anchor
The chief safety, the last refuge for safety
One’s faith in God is one’s sheet anchor in times of stress.
Scot free
Exempt from payment, unhurt, safe
Example:
Because he had influential connections, the culprit went about free.
A red letter day
An auspicious, important or fortunate day
An open questions
A matter of discussion and not yet decided.
A nine day’s wonder
A fascinating but temporary phenomenon
A maiden speech
The first speech of a new member in parliament
The lynch law
The practice of punishing people where the punishment is inflicted by unauthorised persons and without judicial trial
A herculean task
A job requiring great efforts
Example:
Education of the poor is a herculean task requiring the collective efforts of the entire country.
The green eyed monster
Jealousy
Example:
The green eyed monster strikes the person the moment he or she sees someone else having more success than him or her.
A good some samaritan
One who be friends a stranger or a friendless person
Good offices
Recommendation
Example:
One can get a good job only through the good offices of someone in power.
A fair weather friend
One who deserts you in difficulties
Elbow room
Opportunity for freedom of action
Example:
Only give him elbow room and he will succeed.
A dog in the manger policy
Said for a person who cannot himself use what another wants and yet will not let that others have it
Cold comfort
Something calculated to cause pain or irritation.
A close shave
A narrow escape from a collision or accident.
A bull in a China shop
Someone who destroys everything at the same time he happens to be in
A bosom friend
A very intimate and trusted friend
A bone of contention
Subject of dispute
Example:
Kashmir happens to be a bone of contention between India and Pakistan since 1947.
