‎Idioms and their meaning

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Idioms  - Meanings

1. Achilles’ heels - A small but fatal weakness

2. Add fuel on fire - To make a matter worse

3. An axe to grind - Something done for selfish reasons

4. An old flame - A person, one had a romantic relationship relationship with, in the past

5. Bad blood - Enmity/ bitter relations

6. Bear the brunt of - To bear the main part of something unpleasant

7. Big gun - An influential person

8. Bird of passage - One who comes occasionally

9. Castles in the air - Day dream/ a hope or desire unlikely to be realized

10. Chicken hearted - Lacking courage/ cowardly

11. Cry for the moon -To desire the unattainable

12. Cut a sorry figure- To give a poor show

13. Dance to one’s tune - Obeying one’s order

14. Dark horse - One who wins unexpectedly

15. Democle’s sword - Constant threat

16. Dead letter - A law or ordinance that is no longer enforced

17. Eat humble pie - To apologize

18. Eats one’s words - Take a statement back

19. Elbow room - Sufficient scope to move or function

20. Escape one’s lips - Speak unintentionally or unexpectedly

21. Fair and square - In an honest way

22. Fair sex - Women

23. Feather in the cap - Additional success

24. Fish out of water- Out of one’s usual and comfortable place

25. Get away with- To escape

26. Get down to- To attend to work seriously

27. Get into hot water- Get into trouble

28. Green room- A lounge in a theatre or studio for the performers to get ready

29. Hang by a thread- Be in a risky situation

30. Hard nut to crack- A difficult problem to solve/ A person difficult to understand

31. Have one’s way- The way one wants

32. Have several irons in the fire - To be involved in many projects or activities at the same time

33. High living - Living with comfort and ease

34. Hit the jackpot - Gaining a big/ great success (specially by luck)

35. In full swing - At the height of activity

36. In the long run- Ultimately

37. Iron hand/ Iron fist - Rigorous control

38. Jump to a conclusion - To come to a conclusion prematurely

39. Kangaroo court - An illegal court

40. Keep one’s finger crosses - To wait expectantly

41. Keep the ball rollin g- To maintain the progress of a project or plan

42. Kith and kin- Blood relations

43. Lady’s man- A man who is fond of the company of women

44. Left-handed compliment- An insult disguised as a compliment

45. Look off colours- Look ill or unhealthy

46. Lump in the throat- A tight or uncomfortable feeling in throat due to emotions

47. Maiden speech- First speech

48. Make a hash- To mess up

49. Make the best of both the worlds- Getting benefited from both the sides

50. Make up one’s mind- To decide

51. Narrow escape/ Close shave - To escape by a little margin

52. Nine day’s wonder- Something that arouses great interest but for a very short period

53. Nip in the bud - To put on end to something in its initial stage

54. Null and void- Ineffective

55. Oily tongue- Flattering words

56. On one’s guard- Vigilant

57. Once for all- For the last time/ conclusively

58. Open question- A question which may have more than one answer

59. Pandora’s box- A source of extensive but unforeseen troubles

60. Past master- An expert

61. Play ducks and drakes- To waste money

62. Play second fiddle- To be at a subordinate position

63. Queer fish- Strange person

64. Rainy day- Future time of need, especially financial need

65. Read between the lines- To understand the hidden meaning

66. Red handed- Exactly while committing a crime or doing something wrong

67. Red tapism- Strict adherence to excessive paper work and official formalities

68. Royal road- An easy or direct way of achieving a desired result

69. See through- Comprehend/ understand

70. Set one’s face against- To oppose with determination

71. Set one’s heart on- To have as one’s ambition to obtain something

72. Shoulder to shoulder- With united effort

73. Take away one’s breath- To overwhelm with surprise

74. Take by storm- To surprise unexpectedly

75. Take into account- To consider

76. Tooth and nail- Violently

77. Under the nose of- Right in front of someone

78. Under the thumbof- Under the power or influence of

79. Up and doing- Active in work

80. Up one’s sleeves- An item kept hidden and used whenever required

81. Uphill task- Difficult task

82. Ups and downs- Good and bad times

83. Weather the storm- Survive by coming out of difficulties

84. Wet blanket- One who spoils the enjoyment

85. White elephant- Expensive but of no use

86. Word for word- In exactly the same word

87. Yeomen’s service- Excellent work.