PHRASES / IDOMS Flashcards
What does ‘Cold war’ mean?
Mutual bad relations.
There should not be cold war among super powers of the world.
What is ‘Red tapism’?
Too many official formalities.
Many development projects are held up due to red tapism.
What does ‘Sharp practice’ refer to?
Cunningness in legal profession.
No lawyer can become renowned by adopting sharp practice.
What does ‘Hand in glove’ mean?
To conspire with someone.
I am hand in glove with my business associates.
What is a ‘Big gun’?
An important person.
My brother is a big gun in Delhi.
What does ‘Out of date’ mean?
Not prevailing.
Multicoloured shirts have become out of date.
What does ‘In hand’ mean?
Under control.
In Allahabad, law and order situation is in hand now.
What does ‘Out of question’ mean?
Impossible.
My success in U.G.C. examination is out of question.
What does ‘By degrees’ mean?
Gradually.
She is recovering from a prolonged illness by degrees.
What does ‘At random’ mean?
Not in order.
He checked the coins at random, that’s why I did not rely.
What does ‘At the outset’ mean?
Beginning.
One should work very hard at the outset of his career.
What does ‘Of course’ mean?
Naturally, as is or was to be expected, admittedly.
Of course, she will guide me.
What does ‘First and foremost’ mean?
Most important.
My first and foremost duty is to take care of my ailing mother.
What does ‘In response to’ mean?
In reply to.
In response to your advertisement, I have come to see you.
What does ‘In lieu of’ mean?
Instead of.
You can write definitions in lieu of numericals in the science paper.
What does ‘In spite of’ mean?
Notwithstanding.
In spite of hard work he could not succeed.
What does ‘In view of’ mean?
Having regard to.
In view of communal riots, the city market was ordered to be closed.
What does ‘With a view to’ mean?
With the aim of attaining, with the hope of.
He went to U.S.A. with a view to set up a branch office of his company.
What does ‘Call off’ mean?
Cancel.
The strike has been called off.
Call For
Demand for
Deal in
Trade in
Deal with
Discuss with
Do away with
Give up
Lay down
Sacrifice
Look into
To examine
Set aside
To postpone
Strike off
Cancel
Kith and kin
Blood and close relatives
Null and void
Ineffective
Hard and fast
Definite
At logger head
Terms of hostility
At ones fingertips
To be thoroughly familiar with
For a rainy day
Precaution for emergency
To be in good books of
To be in kind favour
By leaps and bounds
Very rapidly
Bone of contention
Cause of quarrel
Black sheep
Undesirable
Capital punishment
Death penalty
To be caught red handed
To be caught while committing the crime
To die in harness
To die while on duty
Corporal punishment
Bodily punishment
Fair play
Just dealing
Hush money
Bribe given for conceding secrets
To make both ends meet
To live within one’s income with difficulty
To hang in balance
To remain undecided
A Himalayan blunder
A serious mistake
To wash dirty lien in public
To expose private affairs in public
A man of letters
A learned man
A red letter day
A historic day
White lie
Falsehood
Lions share
Biggest share
Pros and cons
Advantage and disadvantages
Pandoras box
Source of all evil powers
Part and parcel
An essential part
Maidens speech
1st speech
9 days of wonder
A short lived glory
Under the thumb of
Under the authority of someone
