IDIOMS AND PHRASES
By Practical Center
1. Break out (2007): (occurrence of war or disease)The first world war broke out in 1914.
2. To turn the tables (2010): (to revert the situation)
The sincere devotions to the work can turn the tables of hard time.
3. To make both ends meet (2009): to suffice the needs
It is very difficult for him to make both ends meet in his low income.
4. To look down upon (2007, 2009, 2014): (to think of someone as being inferior)
She has always looked down upon us for not having a car
5. To nip in the bud (2010): (to kill something in the beginning)
We have to nip the evil of drug addictions in the bud.
6. To rain cats and dogs (2012): (raining very heavily)
It's really awful weather outside. it's windy and is raining cats and dogs
7. A white elephant (2012): (something that is large and unwieldy and is either a nuisance or expensive to keep up)
Bob's father-in-law has given him an old Rolls Roye. but it's a real white elephant.
8. At one's beck and call (2012): (ready to obey someone)
What makes you think I wait around here at your beck and call.
9. To bury the hatchet (2006, 2010): ( to resolve the quarrel)
Let us bury the hatchet and be friends once again
10. To give in (2010): (to surrender)
Although America captured Iraq. but the people have not given in.
11. Break the ice (2010): (to start a conversation with someone you have not met before)
l never know how o break the ice with someone l've just met at a party.
12. Bring out (2007): (to issue. publish or present something)
We are going to bring out the new issue of our College Magazine.
13. Carry on (2007): (to continue)
You must carry on the work what is assign to you.
14. From hand to mouth (2007, 2009): (living with utmost financial difficulties)
The poor man always lives from hand to mouth.
15. in a fix (2007): (puzzled)
I am in a fix because I forgot to pay the electricity bill in time.
16. Beat about the bush (2006, 2007, 2008,2009): (to avoid talking about a subject because you are worried about upsetting the person you are talking to)
Don' beat about the bush. It is better to come to the point.
17. In black and white (2006.2008, 2014): (in writing)
He will not take it seriously what you say. Give him in black and white.
18. Once in a blue moon (2009, 2012): (rarely, seldom)
His visits to my house are once in a blue moon because he is too much busy.
19. Die in-harness (2009, 2014): (to die while actively engaged in work or duty)
Great people die in harness by working till the last moment of life.
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20. At sixes and sevens (2008, 2010): (In a state of confusion or disorder)
We are at sixes and sevens and it is better if we come close and get united.
21. A red letter day (2009, 2014): (a memorable day for some pleasant experience)
The day I stood first in the quiz competition was a red letter day.
22. An apple of discord cause (2012): (cause of dispute)
Oil is an apple of discord between America and Arabian countries.
23. At dagger's drawn (2008): (having enmity)
They are at a daggers dawn and have cut off all the relations.
24. Time and again (2007): (again and again, repeatedly)
I asked him time and time again not to do that.
25. A fair weather friend: (selfish companion)
Friendship stands for sincerity, which you can not accept from a fair weather friend.
26. Face the music (2007): (to receive punishment, to accept the unpleasant results of one's action)
Mary broke a dining-room window and had lo face the music when her father got home.
27. Get away with (2008): (to escape the consequences of)
She cheated on the test and thought she could get away with it.
28. Turn over a new leaf (2009): (to change, as one's attitude or conduct, for the better)
He has been in jail several times; but now he seems to have turned over a new leaf.
29. A close shave (2008): (a situation where something unpleasant or dangerous nearly happened)
I had a close shave when a tree fell just where I had been standing.
30. To be in hot waters (2012): (in great difficulty)
He found himself in hot water over his speech about the USA and Pakistan critic relations.
31. A bolt from the blue (2008): (sudden and unexpected happening)
His resign was a bolt from the blue for all his colleagues.
32. A bone of contention (2008, 2014): (cause of dispute)
Arabian oil is a bone of contention between America and Arab countries.
33. A bad egg: (completely worthless person)
l always felt he was a bad egg but he has proved his worth.
34. A bed of roses: (floral and comfortable thing)
Life is not a bed of roses.
35. A burning question (2006, 2012): (important issue)
Drive against poverty is a burning question of today.
36. A cock and bull story: (gossip)
I believe in facts and not in a cock and bull story.
37. A couple of years: (a few years)
He can complete his research project in a couple of years.
38. Pros and cons (2006, 2014): (for and against)
When using pros and cons to reach a difficult decision, many people find it helpful to divide a piece of paper into two columns, writing the pros in one column and the cons in another.
39. A dog in the manger: (a trouble matter, a wet blanket)
W could not enjoy the picnic properly because it was led by Mr. Amjad who is always a dog in the manger.
40. A feather in cap (2008): (an achievement to be proud of)
Acquiring education series will be another feather in his cap because he did a great job.
41. A hard nut lo crack: (a difficult task)
It is a hard nut to crack to get your lawful work done through fair means.
42. A hard task: (a difficult work)
Acquiring education in real sense has become a hard task these days.
43. A lion's share (2012): (major share)
The feudalism have a lion's share in Pakistan's politics.
44. A rainy day: (difficult time)
One must save something for a rainy day.
45. A short cut: (an easy way)
A short cut is always easy but not always lawful.
46. A storm in a teacup: (minor incident, a fuss made on an unimportant matter)
He thought that they had decided not to get married but their quarrel was just a storm in a teacup.
47. A wild goose chase: (attempts to find something which is impossible, impossible quest)
The police ran towards the northern side on a wild goose chase while the criminals escaped to the south.
48. All and sundry: (every body)
All and sundry were invited to the function.
49. All in all: (total authority, absolute power)
In Pakistan, the President is all in all.
50. An open secret: (known to everyone)
The grievances of Kashmir. Iraq and Palestine are an open secret.
51. At large: (at liberty, at random, in general)
The blessings of Islam are not limited for the Muslims only, these are for hymanity at large.
52. At the eleventh hour: (of the last possible moment)
She always turned her term papers in at the eleventh hour.
We don't worry about death until the eleventh hour.
53. Blue blood (2012): (noble or royal class)
He is a blue blood so always speaks with elegance.
54. By and large: (considering everything together to great extent)
Things are going quite well by and large.
55. By fits and starts: (with irregular movement; with much stopping and starting)
It is better to work non-stop instead of working by fits and starts.
Somehow, they got the job done in fits and starts.
By fits and starts. the old car finally got us to town.
56. By hook or by crook: (through fair or foul means)
He is determined to passing the exams by hook or by crook.
57. Call off (2006): (to cancel)
The strike was called of by the leaders.
58. Close call: (narrow escape)
There was a close call that a car nearly run you over.
59. Cut down: (to reduce the amount of something or of doing something; to use or buy less of something)
If you cannot give up smoking, cut it down at least.
You will-have to cut down on the time it takes you to get ready in the morning.
The doctor told him to cut down on his smoking.
60. Fair play: (honest deal)
True democracy ensures the transfer of power a fair play.
61. far and wide: (many places, across a large area)
People came from far and wide to see the parade.
They searched far and wide for the missing dog.
62. Flying colours: (conspicuous success, triumph)
He qualified his exams with flying colours and surprised every one.
63. For good (2006): (forever)
He left for abroad for good.
64. French leave (2006): leave wihout permission)
It is essential to communicate lo the office for leave instead of having French leave.
65. Hue and cry: (a public clamor, as of protest or demand)
There is a large-scale hue and cry against American tyranny but of no use.
66. In a nut shell: (in short, in brief)
There is so much to be said but in a nutshell I dislike his work.
67. In camera: (secretly)
The meeting was held in camera and even the press could not get information.
68. In the nick of time: (in the last possible moment)
He arrived in the nick of time.
69. Lifeblood: (a vital element)
Education is lifeblood of a cultured society.
70. Loggerheads: (quarreling. strained relation)
We have been at loggerheads with India for many years.
71. Man of letters: (learned person)
A country can progress when it takes proper advantage of the knowledge of men of letter.
72. Null and void: (having no legality)
The contract has been declared null and void.
73. Out of the question: (not to be done)
It is quite out of the question for you to go out tonight.
74. Plain/smooth sailing: (progress without difficulty)
Once we have got the money, it will be plain sailing.
75. Put out: (to extinguish)
Just put out the fire by blowing it.
76. out of the woods: (out of danger, of trouble)
After nuclear test, Pakistan came out of woods.
77. Part and parcel: (an important part of one's personality)
Dishonesty nowadays has become the part and parcel of our character.
78. Strike off: (to omit)
He struck off my name from the list.
79. The apple of eye: (a person who is loved by someone)
She is the apple of her father's eye.
80. Through thick and thin: (in spite of all difficulties)
I will always stand by my friend through thick and thin.
81. To be in doldrums: (caught in difficulties)
The new year budget has put common man in doldrums.
82. Blow hot and cold: (to support and oppose an idea in turn)
He blows hot and cold on the plan so I do not know whether he supports us or not.
83. Blow one's own trumpet: (to boast; praise oneself)
He is not really very clever, but he is always blowing his own trumpet.
84. Break down: (mechanical defect of health)
He broke down in the middle of his speech.
85. Break into: (enter by force)
The thief broke into my house.
86. Bring about: (cause to happen)
His failure was brought about by his carelessness.
87. Bring to book: (do deal strictly)
The boss brought to book all the inefficient staff members.
88. Bring to light: (to reveal or cause to be noticed)
The scandal was brought to light by a journalist.
89. Bring up: (to nurture, to promote)
Ali was brought up by his grand parents.
90. Burn one's boats: (to make impossible to return)
I have burnt my boats by written resignation.
91. To call:a spade a spade (2014): (to be outspoken, blunt, even to the point of rudeness)
In the atmosphere of vanities, it is very difficult to call a spade a spade.
92. Call at: (to visits someone's house)
l called at his home and requested him lo advise me.
93. Call off: (to cancel, to postpone)
The strike was called off by the leaders.
94. Come across: (to find someone or something; o discover someone or something)
I came across an old friend on m way home.
John came across a book he had been looking for.
95. Catch red handed: (to find someone in the act of doing wrongs)
The police caught the thief red-handed.
96. Do away with: (get rid of )
They did away with the uniform at that school.
97. Fall out: (to quarrel)
I have fallen out with my friends.
98. Get rid of: (dispose of)
You cannot get rid of smoking because you don't intend to do so.
99. Get over: (to overcome troubles)
I shall get over my troubles very soon.
100. Get through: (to succeed)
You can get through in this task by working hard.
101. Give away: (to break)
Thousands of people diced when the World Trade Center gave away.
102. Give the cold shoulder: (to treat with indifference)
All the neighbors gave her cold shoulder because ill-treated them.
103. Give up (2006): (quit)
He has given up smoking.
104. Have an axe grind: (to have a personal, often selfish reason)
I have no axe to grind I just want to help you.
105. Keep body and soul together: (to survive)
The common men in Pakistan can hardly keep their body and soul together in a low income.
106. Let down: (to disappoint or fail to help)
She felt he had let her down by not coming.
107. Look after: (to take care of someone)
I have lo look after my ailing mother.
108. Mind one's own business: (to attend only to the things that concern one)
It is better to mind one's own business instead of poking one's nose into others matters.
l'd be fine if John would mind his own business.
109. Make out: (to understand)
The students could not make out his lecture because of the noises outside the class.
110. Make up one's mind: (to decide)
They have made up their minds to settle down permanently in Pakistan.
111. Pass away: (to expire, die)
Quaid-c-Azam passed away after one year of Pakistan's creation.
112. Pick holes: (to find flaws in others)
He cannot succeed because he is used to pick holes in others work.
113. Play with fire: (to be involved in an activity that could be dangerous)
Using weapons to decide a matter is to play with fire.
We're playing with fire if we continue with genetic modification of our food.
114. Put off: (to postponed)
Don't put off till tomorrow what you Could do today.
115. Put up with: (to endure, to tolerate)
I can not put up with my insult.
116. Run out: (to have no more)
The have run out of ideas.
117. See off: (bid farewell)
We went to the airport to see off my father leave for Jaddah.
118. Shed crocodile tears: (pretended tears of grief)
They weep crocodile tears for the poor to get votes in Election.
119. Stand by: (to wait and remain ready)
The sincere friends stand by when one is in trouble.
120. Take after: (resemblance)
He takes after his father in appearance and in his voice.
121. Take down: (to note down to write down)
He took down the main points of his teacher's lecture.
122. Take in: (to be deceive)
Rashid knows his friends very well so he cannot be taken in by them.
123. Take off: (to leave the ground and begin to fly)
The plane took off exactly at ten.
The eagle took off and headed toward the mountains.
124. Take to heart: (to take seriously)
This is just a running comment so do not take it to heart.
125. Turn a deaf ear to: (to ignore what someone is saying)
He turned a deaf ear to my advice and suffered later.
Father turned a deaf ear to any criticism of how he had taught his daughter.
126. Turn down: (to decline, to reject)
A student's application for the fee concession was turned down.
127. Under a cloud: (under suspicion; in trouble disgrace)
He was not terminated from the job but certainly left under a cloud.
128. Up and downs (2006): (fluctuations)
The ups and downs of life add o our experience.
129. With open arms: (warmly)
When my brother came home from abroad, I had welcomed him with open arms.
130. Wet blanket: (a person who spoils other's enjoyment)
He is a wet blanket so do not ask him to accompany us.
By Sir Khalid Khan (Anees Hussain)
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