General Studies

S.L

IDIOMS

MEANING

EXAMPLE

1.

Yeoman’s Service

Excellent Service or Substantial Service.

a)Indian Armies gives Yeomen’s Service.

b)Since he provided yeoman’s Service to the nation he was bestowed with umpteen accolades and kudos.

2.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing

Hypocrite, A disguised individual.

a)The monk is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

b)Nobody understood that he had committed the nefarious crimes; actually he is a wolf in a sheep’s clothing.

3.

A turncoat

A person who constantly changes parties.

a)The politicians are now a turncoat.

b)Most of the mandarins of our Country are turncoats.

4.

To bring coal to New-castle

To flatter somebody.

a)The human nature is to bring coal to new castle.

b)He used to bring coal to New Castle and therefore all and Sundry used to abhor him.

5.

Pell-mell

A state of confusion.

a)New generation students are in pell-mell.

b)Today due to the strike the city is in a total Pell-mell.

6.

Apple-Pie order

To give everything in a systematic order.

a)A private organization never exists without apple-pie order.

b)He asked his word (of spring) to arrange the books in apple-pie order.

7.

To eat the humble pie

To suffer humiliation.

a)Mohan Bagan had to eat the humble pie in a national league.

8.

To throw up the sponge

To accept defeat.

a)Brazil threw up the sponge against Argentina.

b)Bangladesh had to throw up the sponge against the mighty Australians in a NatWest series.

9.

To throw down the gauntlet

Or

 To throw down the gloves

To challenge somebody.

a)Tyson threw down the gauntlet in his early days.

b)He threw down the gauntlet against the goons.(Rogues, Ruffians, Hoodlums, Miscreants, Vandals ).

10.

Between Scylla and Charybdis

Or

Between the devil and the deep sea

Between two dangers.

a)Advani is now between Scylla and Charybdis.

b)He was caught between Scylla and Charybdis and did not know the way out.

11.

Devil’s advocate (to play the)

One who pursues an evil course for profit, an advocate at the papal court whose duty is to propose objections against a Canonization?

12.

Under the aegis of

Under the patronage of.

13.

To bring to the altar or to lead up to the altar

To marry

14.

Elixir and ambrosia

Divine food.

15.

A street-Arab

A wandering boy.

16.

Under the auspices of

Under the patronage of.

17.

In the autumn of life

In old age.

18.

Aye or nay

Yes or no.

19.

To buy a Cat in the bag

To be cheated.

20.

To let the Cat is out of the bag

The secret is out.

21.

The balance-sheet of life

Success & failure.

22.

Pathos and bathos

Emotional ups and down.

23.

Battles lost and won

The ups and down of life.

24.

To be or not to be

To live or to die.

25.

To see the mote in another’s eye but not the beam in one’s own (a Biblical allusion).

To criticize others for small faults but ignore one’s own big faults.

26.

Beau geste

A display of magnanimity gracious gesture.

27.

Between you, me and the bedpost

Limited to myself and you alone.

28.

Bedrock

Foundation, Fundamental principles.

29.

Beggar-my-neighbor

A card game that goes on until one has gained all the other’s cards; an endless rigmarole.

30.

Big-bug

Important person.

31.

Bigwig

Important person, a leading man.

32.

Birds of Passage

Migratory birds, tourists.

33.

Blood for blood

Punishment equal to crime, tit for tat.

34.

Blood is thicker than water

Kith and kin are dearer than friends or acquaintance

35.

To beat black and blue

To punish severely.

36.

True blue

Aristocratic , faithful to blue blood principles.

37.

To have many strings to one’s bow

To achieve one’s purpose in different ways

38.

To box the compass

To make a complete roundabout in one’s opinion, etc.

39.

Brain or brawn

Intellectual or physical strength.

40.

Breast to breast

Side by side.

41.

To kick the bucket

To die

42.

To take the bull by the horns

To take bold action, to overcome a difficulty.

43.

But me no buts

Don’t argue with me, raise no objections.

44.

To let bygones by bygones

To forget former differences.

45.

Cape boy

Negro, a south African half-breed

46.

Carte-blanche

Freedom of action.

47.

Without caste, colour and creed

Without any distinction.

48.

Build castes in the air or in spain

To make wild plans; or groundless or visionary projects.

49.

Cat’s paw

A person used as a tool by another.

50.

Lead a cat-and-dog life

To be always bickering and quarrelling.

51.

Catchpenny

Worthless things intended merely to sell, claptrap.

52.

Catchword

Catchword or symbol of a group or party, catchy phrase in politics etc.

53.

As cabbage to cauliflower

An inferior product to a superior one.

54.

Apolitical chameleon

One who changes views and parties.

55.

Chew Jew

One who robs you slowly.

56.

Come devil, come God

Whatever may happen.

57.

Crackajack or Crackerjack

A person of highest excellence.

58.

From the cradle to the grave

Throughout one’s life.

59.

Cut noice

To affect little or nothing.

60.

A Jack-a-dandy

Fop ; a very fashionable person.

61.

Debt of gratitude

Profound thankfulness.

62.

After me, the deluge (the original is in French “Apres moi, c’est deluge”)

I do not mind if the whole world suffers so long as I am quite safe.

63.

Illusions and delusions

False hopes.

64.

To become a demi-god

To be more than human and less than godly.

65.

Deus ex machine

Divine interposition or other artificial solution of difficulties

66.

Devil-many-care

Happy-go-lucky; irrepressible.

67.

White lie

A harmless lie.

68.

White Elephant

An expensive commodities but useless.

69.

French leave

Leave taken without any prior notice.

70.

To face the tartar

To face an opposition stronger than oneself.

71.

To clean the Augean stables

To tumore corruption

72.

Above board

Honest / Fair / Upright / Straight forward / Overt.

73.

To be at one’s wit’s end

To be confuse.

74.

An axe to grind

Selfish motive.

75.

To be at large

To be free.

76.

At one’s finger tips or ends

To be expert in.

77.

Answer one’s purpose

To serve a purpose.

78.

To the back bone

Thoroughly.

79.

Bad blood

ill feelings.

80.

To strike a bargain

To come to terms, To agree to terms.

81

Fifth columnist

A person who works against the own countries.

82.

Numero-uno

Prime-facie, paramount, number one.

83.

Hard up

To be short of money.

84.

To hang fire

To delay, to postponed.

85.

Chew the cud

To reflect back on the past.

Cud – Half digested food.

86.

Loaves and fishes

Selfish interest, ulterior interest, material interest.

87

To play ducks and drakes with money

Squander money, to spend money uselessly, to spend money extra vacantly.

88.

Diamond of the first water

Very precious with many intrinsic good qualities.

89.

Dilly-dally

Procrastinate or Vacillate.

90.

Damsel in distress

A lady in trouble.

91.

Do-nothing

Idle

92.

In the doldrums

In trouble.

93.

To dovetail into

To join together by intermixing, to fit in.

94.

Down under

At the antipodes, Australia.

95.

Draconian laws

Severe regulations.

96.

To drag one’s feet

To make a slow retreat.

97.

Brain-drain

Loss of educated and intelligent workers through emigration.

98.

To drink deep

To study carefully.

99.

Humpty-dumpty

A short, Squat, egg-like being of nursery folk love; a gypsy vast unmanageable enterprise; a great empire.

100.

Dynamo of power

Person of great energy.

101.

Eagle’s-eye-view

Picture from high up in the sky.

102.

Ebb and flow

Ups and downs.

103

To echo in the corridors of time

To be heard in history.

104.

To bring home to

To understand.

105.

Bids fair

Promises well.

106.

Beat a retreat

To withdraw, to backtrack, to tread back.

107.

To clean the Augean stables

To remove corruption and mal practices.

108.

Beard the palm

To come out with flying colours/victorious.

109.

Bite on the granites

To waste energy & time uselessly (futile).

110.

Through up the sponge

To surrender.

111.

Hard up

To be shot of money, financial crunch.

112.

Ducks and drakes

To squander to spend money extravagantly.

113.

Black-sheep’s

Crooked person.

114.

Queer fishes

Disguised.

115.

Loaves and fishes

Material profit, material benefit, selfish interest, vested interest, ulterior interest.

116.

Wet blanket

One whose presence dampens the spirit of others.

117.

Fly in the ointment

Unwanted person.

118.

Fight blood and iron

With determination.

119.

Green-eyed monsters

Selfish individuals.

120.

To feather one’s own nest

121.

Chew the cud

Semi digested food, to remember, to reflect back.

122.

Out herod-herod

A large disturbance, a hue and cry, din & bustle, hustle & bustle, hullabaloo.

123.

Cast a slur upon

To bring disgrace, to bring discredit, to smear a stigma.

124.

To play first and loose

To be reckless, inconsistent.

125.

At sixes and sevens

In a haphazard condition, disarray.

126.

Come out of the first water

To be of the highest quality.

127.

To burn the midnight oil

Toil hard, to work relentlessly.

128.

To give up the ghost

To die.

129.

Flog a deal horse

To revive interest in a subject which is out of date.

130.

To smell a rat

To suspect a trick or deceit.

131.

Hobson’s choice

No choice at all

132.

A snake in the grass

A secret or hidden enemy.

133.

A bolt from the blue

Unexpected disaster.

134.

Brown study

Reverie (Day dream).

135.

Bed of roses

Very easy situation.

136.

At stake

In danger.

137.

By fits and start

Off & on.

138.

Bid fair to

Resemble.

139.

Hole & corner

Secret.

140.

Hue & cry

Noise & confusion (chaos).

141.

Life and soul

Life.

142.

Maiden speech

Vast speech.

143.

Gall and worm-wood

Extremely bitter.

144.

Jot or title

Negligible.

145.

Rank and file

Common people.

146.

Pros and cons

Merit and demerit.

147.

All moonshine

Irrelevant talk.

148.

A flying visit

A short visit.

149.

Couch Potato

One who eats a lot.

150.

Talk shop

Discuss business matter.

151.

Through thick & thin

Through every difficulty.

152.

Face the music

Face the trouble.

153.

To play off old scores

To have revenge.

154.

Thrown out of gear

Disturbed the working of.

155.

Rhyme or reason

Without any valid reason.

156.

An egghead

An intelligent person.

157.

Steal the show

To be focus of attention by being the best.

158.

Set apart

Reserved.

159.

With might and main

With full strength.

160.

Wave a magic wand

To solve a problem as if by magic.

161.

With an ace of

On the point of.

162.

Teeth on edge

To be irritated.

163.

Took to heart

Was deeply affected by somebody or something.

164.

To give the slip

To escape.

165.

To give oneself airs

Affected manners.

166.

To be a good Samaritan

To be kind and compassionate to someone in distress.

167.

To take the reins

To assume command.

168.

To move heaven and earth

To exert all efforts or to leave no stone unturned.

169.

Thick-skinned

Insensitive.

170.

Tart up

To decorate or improve the appearance of.

171.

To cry for the moon

To crave of an impossible thing.

172.

To grease the palm

To bribe.

173.

To take stock of

To survey.

174.

To be in hot water

To be in trouble or difficulty.

175.

Tail off

To become smaller.

176.

Tamper with

To interfere with.

178.

Petticoat government

Discuss business matter.

179.

Smell a rat

To have reason to suspect.

180.

Set apart

Reserved.

181.

Fair-weather friend

One who deserts you in difficulties.

182.

To die in harness

Still in service.

183.

To keep under wraps

To keep under wraps means to keep something Secret.

184.

Like a phoenix

With a new life.

185.

A sore point with

Something which hurts.

186.

On the verge of

On the brink of.

187.

Of no avail

Unsuccessful.

188.

To emerge out of thin air means to

Appear suddenly.

189.

As a bolt from the blue

Something unexpected.

190.

To throw dust in one’s eyes

To deceive.

191.

To pay one back in the same coin

To retaliate.

192.

A tall order

A task difficult to perform.

193.

Swan-song

Last work of a poet or musician before death.

194.

Spick and span

Neat and clean.

195.

To play on a fiddle

To be busy over trifles.

196.

Within An Ace of

Narrowly.

197.

Adam’s ale

Water.

198.

To blow hot and cold

To be inconsistent.

199.

A fool’s errand

A useless undertaking.

200.

To carry the coal to new castle

To do unnecessary things.

201.

Spick & span

Neat & clean.

202.

To run amuck

To run about in frenzy.

203.

To have full hands

To be fully occupied.

204.

A fair crack of the whip

A period of importance.

205.

To cross swords

To fight.

206.

Hobson’s choice

To accept or leave an offer.

207.

To save one’s face

To evade disgrace.

208.

To be rolling in money

Very rich.

209.

By the skin of one’s teeth

Only Just.

210.

A pipe dream

An impracticable dream.

211.

To snap one’s finger

To become contemptuous of.

212.

To give the bird

To send away.

213.

Ended in fiasco

In complete failure.

214.

Argus-eyed

Observant.

215.

A big draw

A huge attraction.

216.

Bids fair

Seems likely.

217.

Hole & corner

Secret.

218.

Let the grass grow under his feet

Stayed out.

219

Carry the day

Win

220.

Green eyed monster

Jealousy.

221.

Eat one’s heart out

Suffer silently.

222.

Not worth a rap

Wroth nothing.

223.

In merry pin

In a merry humour.

224.

To leap the pale

To get into debt, to spend more than one’s income.

225.

To cut the Gordian knot

To solve a difficult problem.

226.

To play possum

To feign ignorance.

227.

To cut someone short

To interrupt someone.

228.

To stick to one’s colours

To refuse to yield.

229.

An old head on young shoulders

To be wise beyond one’s age.

230.

To snap one’s fingers at

To defy.

231.

The sinews of war

The money.

232.

Wool gathering

To be absent-minded.

233.

Between Scylla and Charybdis

Between two dangers.

234.

The heels of Achilles

The weak point in a person.

235.

To know which side the bread is buttered on

To know where one’s interest lies.

236.

To eke out

To supplement.

237.

A hot line

Direct telephone line between heads of states.

238.

Odds and ends

Various articles.

239.

To be at the end of one’s tether

To have no resources left.

240.

High and dry

Isolated, stranded.

241.

To set the Thames on fire

To do remarkable or surprising things.

242.

To bury the hatchet

To make peace/to reconcile

243.

To kick up a row

To make great noise & fuss.

244.

To give someone a piece of mind

To scold.

245.

My hand are full

I am busy.

246.

To have one’s heart in the right place

To be kind.

247.

To have finger in the pie

To do something in a affair.

248.

Through thick and thin

Under all circumstances.

249.

To gain ground

To become more general.

250.

To turn a deaf ear

To disregard.

251.

To talk shop

To talk nonsense/to talk about one’s profession.

252.

Cut the Gordian knot

To perform a difficult task.

253.

To show white feathers

To show fear.

254.

To put the cat among pigeons

To be placed in a wrong situation.

255.

Rise from ashes

To rise high from low.

256.

To sound a red alert

To alert people.

257.

To peat about the bush

To talk about unimportant things/to speak indirectly.

258.

A cry in the wilderness

An irrelevant effort.

259.

A boon in disguise

A benefit in loss.

260.

A big shot

Important person.

261.

To play ducks and drakes

To squander money.

262.

To break the duck

To being.

263.

To fire on all cylinders

To exert with all force.

264.

To die a dog’s death

Unheroic death.

265.

At stake

In danger.

266.

At crossroads

Be in confusion because of many choices.

267.

At a low key

At reducing.

268.

To have several irons in the fire

So many engagements at a time.

269.

Man of letters

Scholar.

270.

Man of straw

Insignificant.

271.

Man of Iron

A man of strong will power.

272.

Come cap in hand

Very humble.

273.

To stick to one’s gun

To maintain one’s point against all opposition.

274.

To carry the day

To win after a long effort.

275.

To bring home the bacon

To be successful.

276.

To raise a dust

To create confusion.

277.

To have cold feet

To be reluctant.

278.

To meet one’s waterloo

To meet one’s defeat.

279

To rise like a phoenix

To start afresh from a low position.

280.

A good Samaritan

A very kind man.

281.

A bull in the china shop

An awkward, tactless or clumsy person.

282.

A close shave

A lucky escape.

283.

A chip of the old block

Characteristics of one’s ancestors.

284.

In a flutter

In a state of nervous excitement.

285.

One’s cup of tea

What one likes and can do well.

286.

Adam’s ale

Ordinary water.

287.

All agog

In a state of excitement.

288.

Blow hot and cold

To be inconsistent.

289.

To get away with

To escape.

290.

To smell something fishy

To feel that there is something wrong.

291.

To kick one’s heels

To waste time.

292.

At the drop of a hat

For no reason at all.

293.

To explore every avenue

To try every method.

294.

To lead one by the nose

To cause to follow blindly.

295.

Talk through one’s hat

Talk nonsense.

296.

Rank and file

Common man.

297.

Make hay while the sun shines

To make best use of the favourable opportunities.

298.

Bring home

To emphasize.

299.

To plough a lonely furrow

To do without anybody’s help.

300.

Mood point

Controversial point.

301.

Brown study

In reverie.

302.

To put a spoke in one’s wheel

To disturb.

303.

Stick one’s neck out

To take rise.

304.

Fancy price

High price.

305.

Face value

Superficially.

306.

In deed

Really.

307.

Fair-weather friends

Friends only in good days.

308.

Far and away

Certainly.

309.

Far and wide

All around.

310.

Oily tongue

One who flatters.

311.

Once and for all

Forever.

312.

Under a cloud

To be in bad book.

313.

Cut no ice

To make no effect.

314.

To play a second fiddle

To act a subordinate to do the secondary role.

315.

To beggar description

Beyond description.

316.

Bone of contention

Cause of quarrel.

317.

To foot the bill

To make payment.

318.

To work like a dog

To work very hard.

319.

A red letter day

An important day.

320.

To keep the wolf away from the door

To keep off poverty from oneself.

321.

To keep one’s fingers crossed

To remain anxious, wishing good for somebody.

322.

To have several irons in the fire

To have many tasks or many pieces of work.

323.

Pull the wool over somebody’s eyes

To deceive.

324.

To make no bones about something

To do or say a thing openly even if it is unpleasant.

325.

To paint the town red

To celebrate noisily in public places.

326.

A blue book

A government report.

327.

To be in the black (of one’s money)

To be in the credit.

328.

To black-ball

Prevent from doing something.

329.

To feather one’s nest

To provide money even dishonestly.

330.

To read between the lines

To understand more than the actual words.

331.

To worship the rising sun

To respect a man who is coming in power.

332.

A sleeping partner

A business partner who provides a share of the capital and therefore owns shares in the business but who does not take an active part in managing it.

333.

A latchkey child

A child who returns from school etc. to an empty house because both parents are working.

334.

An ivory tower

A place or state of life that is out of touch with people and reality.

335.

A hot potato

An issue that is awkward or embarrassing to deal with.

336.

A henpecked husband

One who is dominated by his wife.

337.

The golden handshake

A large sum of money given to a man of high position when he retires from his employment.

338.

French leave

Absence without permission.

339.

Forty winks

Short sleep.

340.

Elbow room

Room or opportunity to move and act freely.

341.

A curtain lecture

The scolding of a husband by his wife in private.

342.

A close fisted man

A mean or stingy man.

343.

Backstairs gossip

Gossip among servants.

344.

An armchair job

A regular job which is considered easy and well-paid.

345.

Run-of-the mill

An average, ordinary, unexciting.

346.

Hole and corner

Secret.

347.

A wet blanket

One who kills joy.

348.

Hammer and tongs

With all one’s strength.

349.

Hammer and sickle

The emblem of socialism.

350.

Cloak and dagger

Like a spy.

351.

Short and sweet

Brisk, without delay.

352.

Rough and ready

Not exact, only approximate.

353.

Null and void

Invalid, without legal effect.

354.

Meek and mild

Gentle and quite.

355.

Free and easy

Casual, unworried.

356.

Fair and square

In a fair way.

357.

Cut and dried

Settled, decided.

358.

All the same

Nevertheless, but, yet.

359.

A man of the world

An experienced man, often with a cosmopolitan background.

360.

To come down in the world

To lose one’s social and financial position.

361.

Lynch law

Law of mobs.

362.

Midas touch

Ability to succeed in all projects.

363.

To cut both ends

To argue in support of both sides of the issue.

364.

To heap coals of fire on one’s head

Put one the shame.

365.

To keep the pot boiling

Keep the controversy alive.

366.

To lead others up the garden

To deceive others.

367.

A duck in a thunderstorm

Distressed.

368.

To wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve

Expose one’s innermost feelings to others.

369.

To chew the cud

To muse on.

370.

To run in the same groove

Advance in harmony.

371.

To scream blue murder

Make a great deal of noise and object vehemently.

372.

Shop-lifter

A thief in the guise of a customer.

373.

To rock the boat

Upset the balance.

374.

To turn the corner

Pass the crisis.

375.

To clinch the issue

Decide.

376.

To play to the gallery

Trying to get appreciation from least intelligent people.

377.

To cool one’s heals

To be kept waiting for some time.

378.

To oil the knocker

To tip the office-boy

379.

A baker’s dozen

Thirteen.

380.

To rip up old soars

To revive a quarrel which was almost forgotten.

381.

Foam in the mouth

To be in extreme hatred.

382.

To draw a bead upon

To take aim at.

383.

A lady’s man

A lover of women’s company.

384.

A split hairs

To indulge in over-refined arguments.

385.

To throw up one’s at a thing

To treat it with contemptuous dislike or disgust.

386.

To give/get the bird

To send away.

387.

To bring one’s eggs to a bad market

To fail in one’s plans because one goes to the wrong people for help.

388.

To spill the beans

To reveal secret information.

389.

To catch somebody on the hop

To catch some body off guard.

390.

To throw up the sponge

To surrender or give up a contest.

391.

To take people by storm

To captivate unexpectedly.

392.

To stand to one’s guns

To preserve when hardships press.

393.

To snap one’s fingers

To become contemptuous of.

394.

To wrangle over an ass’s shadow

To quarrel over trifles.

395.

To hold something in leash

To restrain.

396.

A fair crack of the whip

A period of importance.

397.

A skeleton in the cupboard

A past event which is kept secret by a family/something embarrassing or shameful.

398.

A pig in a poke

An article which was bought without previous inspection and which turns out to be worth much less than what one paid for it.

399.

A mare’s nest

A discovery which looks valuable or promising but which turns out to be worthless.

400.

A flash in the pan

Something which lasts only a short time; an effort or partial success which soon turns to failure; a short lived outburst of enthusiasm for something.

401.

Feet of clay

To be weak or cowardly.

402.

A cuckoo in the nest

A child whose parentage in doubtful and may therefore not belong by blood to the family.

403.

The cock of the walk

The most dominating person in a group.

404.

A case in point

An illustrative case connected to the subject of discussion.

405.

To have the floor

To make a speech.

406.

A  storm in the tea-cup

A lot excitement and discussion about a trivial matter.

407.

A drug on the market

Goods on the market for which there is no hope.

408.

The bill of fare

The menu.

409.

Soft soap

Flattery.

410.

A soft spot

A liking or fondness for something or someone.

411.

After a fashion

In an approximate way.

412.

Kill the fatted calf

To put on a celebration.

413.

Pack a punch

To be very much strong and effective.

414.

Cock a snook

To react with defiance.

415.

The crack of doom

Coming to the day of Judgment.

416.

Couch-potato

Inactive person who spends a lot of time watching television.

417.

To save one’s neck

To make good one’s escape from a compromising situation.

418.

Placebo-effect

The positive response to person’s belief that the substance will produce a good result.

419.

To get under somebody’s skin

To provoke.

420.

To take stock of

To review a situation dispassionately.

421.

To sweep something under the carpet

To conceal something with a hope, that it will be ignored.

422.

A through going villain

A complete scoundrel or offender.

423.

Under the weather

Not fully well.

424.

Line one’s pocket

Make money by dishonest means.

425.

In the pink

In good health.

426.

Home-truth

An unpleasant truth about one’s character.

427.

With one’s nose in the air

Very naughtily.

428.

Sweet-nothings

Humorous exchange of greetings between lovers.

429.

A fly on the wall

One who watches other stealthily.

430.

Weather the storm

To face and overcome misfortune.

431.

Touch a chord

To move someone to emotion.

432.

Stool-pigeon

A spy.

433.

Stock phrase

An expression in constant use.

434.

One the rocks

In a state of disaster.

435.

Not for love or money

In no event.

436.

Not half bad

Someone pretty good.

437.

Not born yesterday

Conversant with the ways.

438.

Never-never land

An imaginary ideal land.

439.

Neck or nothing

To risk everything.

440.

Make a fast buck

To make money effortlessly.

441.

Magnum opus

Great work.

442.

Hanky-panky

Trickery or underhand dealing.

443.

Fixation complex

The idea fixed in mind.

444.

Drive someone up the wall

To irritate someone.

445.

Cost the earth

To cost a huge amount of money.

446.

Conk out

To go to sleep.

447.

A clean state

A fresh start.

448.

Cement relations

To make relation firm.

449.

Marriage of convenience

A temporary alliance.

450.

Party line

The norms adopted by the leaders.

451.

Live down

To overcome some troublesome problem.

452.

In the gutter

In a worse state.

453.

Spick and span

Clear and tidy.

454.

The thrills and spills

Success and failure.

455.

Bow and scrape

To behave in humble manner.

456.

To hum and haw

To act hesitantly.

457.

At close quarters

Very near.

458.

Behind schedule

Later than the agreed time.

459.

In limb

Put aside for time being.

460.

Off the beaten track

A way from the usual route.

461.

A quixotic project

An unrealistic act.

462.

The nitty gritty

The basic, practical facts.

463.

Dutch courage

Courage gained from drinking alcohol.

464.

The jet set

Fashionable people with expensive fast.

465.

A cloud in the horizon

A matter of some unpleasant concern.

466.

A thin time

A period of sickness, lack of money.

467.

In black and white

Written.

468.

In full swing

At one’s best.

469.

To keep an eye on

Keep watch on.

470.

Keep up one’s appearances

To keep up an outward show.

471.

In keeping with

In harmony with.

472.

Keep pace

Advance at equal speed.

473.

To lose one’s head

To become angry.

474.

To laugh up one’s sleeve

To be secretly amused.

475.

To live from hand to mouth

To live miserable.

476.

Talk turkey

Talk seriously and frankly.

477.

Chicken feed

Very small amount.

478.

At the end of one’s tether

One having no mere patience.

479.

A fool’s paradise

State of job based on false hopes.

480.

A feather in one’s cap

An achievement to be proud of.

481.

A far cry

A long way or distance.

482.

To face the music

To face the consequences.

483.

To fall foul of

To quarrel.

484.

To fall to the ground

To come to nothing.

485.

Fit as a fiddle

In good condition.

486.

To go to the dogs

To be ruined.

487.

To give up the ghost

To die.

488.

To throw down the glove

To offer a challenge.

489.

To all intents and purposes

Practically in all essential points.

490.

To keep low profile

To behave quietly not to attract.

491.

A man Friday

A person to do all kinds of job.

492.

Hobson’s choice

A situation providing no choice.

493.

A left handed compliment

Doubtful sincerity.

494.

As true as steel

Totally loyal and reliable.

495.

Rough and ready

Approximate, not exact.

496.

To go hand in hand

To go together.

497.

To grease one’s palm

To bribe.

498.

To get into hot water

To get into trouble.

499.

To be all Greek

Unintelligible, not understood.

500.

To give one the sack

To dismiss one.

501.

To grapple with

To tackle.

502.

To hold one’s ground

To stand firm.

503.

To give the cold shoulder

To receive in a cold manner.

504.

To go scot free

To escape unpunished.

505.

Hole and corner

Underhand, secret.

506.

To help a lame dog over a stile

To be a friend in need.

507.

To have one foot in the grave

Near death.

508.

Hand and glove

Bosom friends.

509.

To hang in the balance

Undecided.

510.

Hard nut to crack

Difficult problem to solve.

511.

Heart to heart

Frank and free.

512.

To have too many irons in the fire

To have too many undertakings.

513.

To hit below the belt

To fight unfairly, use underhand means.

514.

Beat a retreat

To withdraw from any action.

515.

Joking apart

Speaking seriously.

516.

Grandstand play

For more show than substance.

517.

Chapler and verse

Giving all the information.

518.

Cross swords with

Argue or verbal contrast.

519.

Cook the book’s

To take money unnoticed.

520.

Cramp someone’s style

Prevent one from active.

521.

Elbow grease

To put physical effort.

522.

A nine day’s wonder

Temporary publicity.

523.

Red tape

Official formalities to slow process.

524.

Grey matter

Intelligence, power of reasoning.

525.

Sword of Damocles

Imminent danger.

526.

A leap in the dark

Unknown danger.

527.

On the horns of a dilemma

In a difficult problem.

528.

To do away with

To finish.

529.

To do full Justice

To do a thing thoroughly.

530.

To drive home

To lay emphasis on.

531.

To be dashed to the ground

To fail.

532.

To eat one’s words

Retract words in a humiliating manner, to back out to take a statement.

533.

To eat a humble pie

To offer a humble apology.

534.

Eye-opener

Enlightening circumstance.

535.

The lunatic fringe

A small group with fanatic view.

536.

A loaded question

A question to trap someone.

537.

A meal ticket

A reliable provider of money.

538.

A stag party

A social evening for men only.

539.

Take the biscuit

A person of negative example.

540.

Wind down

To relax.

541.

square up to someone or something

To confront boldly.

542.

Round something off

Finish in satisfaction.

543.

A fair-weather friend

A selfish friend.

544.

A fool’s paradise

State of job based on false.

545.

A feather in one’s cap

An achievement to be proud of.

546.

A far cry

A long way or distance.

547.

To face the music

To face the consequences.

548.

To fall foul of

To quarrel.

549.

Fit as a fiddle

In good condition.

550.

To go to the dogs

To be ruined.

551.

To give up the ghost

To die.

552.

To throw down the glove

To offer a challenge.

553.

In the line of fire

Position between two opposing sides.

554.

To get cold feet

To withdraw from some plan etc.

555.

To leave one in the lurch

To desert.

556.

To leave no stone unturned

To make every possible effort.

557.

To look blank

To be puzzled.

558.

At a low ebb

Declining.

559.

Make both ends meet

Live within one’s income.

560.

To make a mess of

To bungle.

561.

Mind one’s own business

To leave other people alone

562.

Maiden speech

A person’s first speech.

563.

To nip in the bud

To check the growth of.

564.

To nurse a grudge

To entertain feelings of revenge.

565.

Order of the day

In fashion.

566.

Owing to

Because of.

567.

To play hide and seek

To deceive, to be inconstant.

568.

To pull a long face

To look sad.

569.

To poke one’s nose

To interfere.

570.

To play fast and loose

To be inconstant.

571.

Pros and cons

Arguments for and against.

572.

The bare bones

Of something/a bare outline.

573.

Rest on one’s oar

To stop working temporarily.

574.

Not worth one’s salt

Not up to the salary.

575.

Stick in one’s throat

Unacceptable.

576.

To break sweet

Work hard physically.

577.

Yeoman’s service

Excellent work.

578.

Fly-by-night

Unreliable.

579.

Hooping mad

Extremely angry.

580.

In rags

In torn clothes.

581.

To rely upon

To depend.

582.

To stand on ceremony

To be formal

583.

To take French leave

To depart without permission.

584.

To turn over a new leaf

To mend one’s way.

585.

To fight tooth and nail

With great violence.

586.

Twinkling of an eye

Very quickly.

587.

White elephant

Burdensome Possession.

588.

Wide of the mark

Not to the point.

589.

Without rhyme or reason

Without proper cause.

590.

A wild goose chase

Useless search.

591.

Bed fellow

Close associates.

592.

Ill feeling

Bad blood.

593.

Back out

To withdraw.

594.

Bird’s eye view

General study.

595.

Beside the mark

Irrelevant.

596.

A big gun

An important figure.

597.

Beyond one’s grasp

Out of one’s reach.

598.

Bear the palm

Win reward.

599.

Come to grief

Suffered.

600.

Cat a slur upon

To bring discredit.

601.

To cut short

To make brief.

602.

Cut and dried

In a readymade form.

603.

Get into hot water

Got into trouble.

604.

Gift of the grab

Power of eloquence.

605.

Good for nothing

Useless.

606.

Get at the bottom

Find out the truth.

607.

To hang in the balance

Undecided.

608.

Half hearted

Lacking courage.

609.

Hole and corner

Under.

610.

Hand to hand

Close fight.

611.

An iron hand

Strictness.

612.

In the long run

In the end.

613.

In black and white

Written.

614.

In full swing

At one’s best.

615.

Order of the day

In fashion.

616.

Out of date

Old.

617.

Off and on

Now and then.

618.

Out of sorts

Indisposed, quite ill.

619.

Sheet anchor

Main supporter.

620.

Swan song

Death song.

621.

Strom in a tea cup

Great fuss over a frifle.

622.

Square meal

Enough food.

623.

Twinkling of an eye

Very quickly.

624.

Ups and downs

Alternations of good and fortunes.

625.

Wide of the work

Not to the point

626.

Wind fall

Unexpected good fortune.

627.

Rank and file

Common soldiers.

628.

In rags

To torn clothes.

629.

A red rag to a bull

Very irritating.

630.

To rely upon

To depend.

631.

Take heart

Feel encouraged.

632.

Taken aback

Surprised.

633.

Take into account

Consider.

634.

Throw cold water

Discourage.

635.

See eye to eye

Agree.

636.

Scot free

Unpunished.

637.

Set to work

To begin a work.

638.

Safe and sound

Securely.

639.

Give a wide berth

Keep away from.

640.

Kith and kin

Hear and dear ones.

641.

Jot or tittle

The least.

642.

Know no bounds

Bad characters.

643.

Leave no stone unturned

Try all possible means.

644.

Later on

Afterwards.

645.

Lame excuse

Feeble reason for something.

646.

Lay waste

Revage.

647.

In a fix

In a dilemma.

648.

In a nutshell

Briefly.

649.

In black and white

In writing.

650.

In a mess

In a chaotic situation.

651.

Golden mean

Midway.

652.

Give rise to

Produce.

653.

Get by heart

Memorize.

654.

Go through five and water

Pass through difficulties.

655.

Fair and square

Just.

656.

Far cry

Great difference.

657.

Far and near

Everywhere.

658.

For good and all

For the last time.

659.

Hue and cry

Voices of protest.

660.

Herculean task

Very difficult.

661.

High time

Proper time.

662.

Hard and fast

Fixed.

663.

In connection

With regarding.

664.

In compliance with

In response to.

665.

In good faith

Ingenuously.

666.

In exchange for

In lieu of.

667.

A man of letters

Scholarly person.

668.

A man of the world

A worldly person.

669.

A man of parts

Very intelligent.

670.

A man of word

True to his promise.

671.

All Greek

Totally unintelligible.

672.

All in all

Supreme.

673.

All along

All the time.

674.

All at once

Suddenly.

675.

At stake

In danger.

676.

At times

Now and then.

677.

At the eleventh hour

At the ultimate moment.

678.

At large

Freely.

679.

Off and on

At intervals.

680.

At all events

In any case.

681.

At bay

Cornered.

682.

At the outset

At the very beginning.

683.

Bolt from the blue

Unexpected danger.

684.

Big gun

Important man.

685.

Birds of a feather

Of same nature.

686.

Beside the mark

Irrelevant.

687.

Call to mind

Remember.

688.

Call one names

Abuse.

689.

Carry the day

Be victorious.

690.

Come true

Be realized.

691.

Eke out

Somehow manage.

692.

Every now and then

Often.

693.

Fair and square

Just.

694.

Far cry

Great difference.

695.

French leave

Unauthorized leave of absence.

696.

For good

Forever.

697.

Fool’s paradise

Mistaken idea of security.

698.

Follow suit

Pursue.

699.

In a body

Together.

700.

In all

Totally.

701.

In a mess

In a chaotic condition.

702.

In a word

In short.

703.

Point blank

Directly.

704.

Pure and simple

Nothing else.

705.

Play ducks and drakes

Squander.

706.

Play a double game

Be hypocritical.

707.

Take heart

Encouraged.

708.

Take to heart

Be hurt.

709.

Take advantage of

Exploit.

710.

Taken aback

Surprised.

711.

To cry over split milk

Lament over a past event.

712.

To lend a hand

To help.

713.

To loose one’s head

To get angry.

714.

To call to mind

Remember.

715.

Well up

Proficient.

716.

Well off

Prosperous.

717.

Weal and woe

Happiness and sorrow.

718.

Wear and tear

Damage due to use.

719.

Bear fruit

Be effective.

720.

Bear in mind

Remember.

721.

House hold word

Familiar.

722.

Head and heart

Totally.

723.

Host in himself

Very strong.

724.

Hit upon

Invent/desire.

725.

Fair play

Honesty.

726.

Fall short of

Be deficient in.

727.

Fan the flame

Aggravate an already bad situation.

728.

Fag end

Almost at the end.

729.

For good and all

For the last time.

730.

Follow suit

Imitate.

731.

From bad to worse

Deteriorate further.

732.

Forgone conclusion

Predetermined result.

733.

Get by heart

Memories.

734.

Go the dogs

Be degraded.

735.

Gain the day

Win.

736.

Give rise to

Produce.

737.

Palmy days

Happy days.

738.

Part and parcel

Inseparable part.

739.

Plain sailing

Smooth going.

740.

Provide against a rainy day

Save for.

741.

On the wane

Abating.

742.

One and again

Repeatedly.

743.

On purpose

Intentionally.

744.

On bad terms

Hostile.

745.

Eke out

Manage somehow.

746.

Ever and anon

Frequently.

747.

Every inch

Fully/thoroughly.

748.

Every now and then

Often/frequently.

749.

Go astray

Become delinquent.

750.

Go abroad

Go to a foreign country.

751.

Give way

Break down.

752.

Go without saying

Require no mention.

753.

Under the circumstances

In the prevailing situation.

754.

Up to the mark

Up to expectation.

755.

Ups and downs

Prosperity and adversity.

756.

Up and down

Everywhere.

757.

Ceased abruptly

Stop short.

758.

Speak ill of

Criticize.

759.

Small fry

People of no importance.

760.

Slow coach

Procrastinator.

761.

Out of temper

Vexed.

762.

Out of order

Disfunctioning.

763.

But of place

Irrelevant.

764.

Out of pocket

Empty handed.

765.

In vogue

In fashion.

766.

In cognito

In disguised state.

767.

In the teeth of

In the face of.

768.

In the long run

Ultimately.

769.

Move heaven and earth

Tries every possible means.

770.

Hole and corner

Stealthy.

771.

Hither and thither

This way and that.

772.

Hit upon

Invent.

773.

For good

Forever.

774.

From time to time

At intervals.

775.

Find fault with

Criticize.

776.

Foregone conclusion

Pre determined result.

777.

Dead against

Fully against.

778.

Draw a blank

Fail.

779.

Do yeoman’s service

Serve hard.

780.

Dead letter

Out of use but not formally abolished.

781.

Crying need

Grave importance.

782.

Cut to the quick

Shoked.

783.

Commit to memory

Learn by heart.

784.

Come to pass

Happen.