85 Idioms and Phrases ....

1.Cry for the moon - Ask for the impossible

2.Be in a tight corner - In a very difficult situation

3.Cock and bull story - Made up story that one should not believe

4.Cat and dog life - Life full of quarrels

5.Like a cat on hot bricks - Very nervous

6.Have a card up one’s sleeve - Have a secret plan in reserve

7.Tell against - To prove adverse to; to go against

8.Run through - to squander or waste

9.Run over - to drive over

10.Alive and kicking - Active and healthy

11.To burn one’s fingers - To lose on account of foolish behaviour

12.At sea - Confused or lost

13.Behind one’s back - In the absence of

14.To call a spade a spade - To be frank and truthful

15.To break the ice - To break the silence

16.To bell the cat - To face the risk

17.A cat and dog life - To lead a life full of quarrels

18.A cold fish - A person devoid of emotions

19.To cross the Rubicon -To take a decisive step

20.Double-dealing - Deceiving

21.To die hard - Change with great difficulty

22.To eat humble pie - To apologise in a humble manner

23.To fight a losing battle - Struggle without hope of success

24.A deadlock - A position when no progress can be made

25.A daredevil - A person who does not care for any consequences

26.Once in a blue moon - Very rarely

27.At a premium - Difficult to get or obtain

28.To play the game - To act honestly

29.To die in harness - To work till the last day of one’s life

30.To plough a lonely furrow - To work without help or support

31.Lock, stock and barrel - Completely

32.The long and the short - The main point

33.Bring to light - Disclose

34.The bottom line - The final criteria

35.A cock and bull story - An improbable excuse

36.To kick one’s heels - To wait with nothing to do

37.Rain cats and dogs - Rain heavily

38.A hard nut to crack - A difficult problem

39.In high spirits - Very happy

40.Like a fish out of water - In a strange situation

41.Smell a rat - Suspect something foul

42.Read between the lines - Understand the hidden meaning

43.Tooth and nail ---With all one’s power

44.Spread like wild fire - Spread quickly

45.Hit the nail on the head - Do or say the exact thing

46.Burn the midnight oil - Work or study hard

47.Under his thumb - Under his control

48.With a high hand - Oppressively

49. Gain ground - Become popular

50.By leaps and bounds - Rapidly

51.Make off with - to run away with

52.Pass away - to die

53.To cry for the moon - Ask for the impossible

54.To make a pig of oneself - To over-eat

55.Donkey’s years - A very long time

56.To pull one’s leg - to joke; tease someone

57.To keep one’s fingers crossed - To hope fervently

58.To call in question - To disprove or doubt

59.To talk through one’s hat -To talk ignorantly

60.To make up one’s mind -To decide

61.Hard and fast rules - Rigid rules

62.To make one’s mouth water - To stimulate one’s appetite

63.By word of mouth - By spoken message

64.To get the better of someone -To take advantage of someone

65.To rub shoulders - To come into close contact

66.A snake in the grass - A hidden enemy

67.Between the devil and the deep blue sea - Between two dangers

68.Chew the cud - To discuss matters in a ponderous manner, especially reminiscing

69.To kill two birds with one stone - To achieve two results with one effort

70.A close shave - A narrow escape

71.Chip off the old block - As good as one’s father

72.To pull a long face - To look sad

73.Above board - Open and honest

74.To turn a deaf ear - To ignore

75.To turn the tables - To reverse the situation

76.To call someone names - To abuse someone

77.Above board - Honest and open

78.At arms length - To keep at a distance

79.At the eleventh hour - At the last moment

80.An apple of discord - A cause of quarrel

81.To burn one’s boats - Go back on a decision

82.To build castles in the air - Make imaginary schemes

83.A burning question -
An important topic

84.A brown study - Dreaming

85.Sitting on the fence - Hesitate between two decisions