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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Time for some Vocabulary Face-lift ( Idioms)

Most of you have been struggling with 'expressions' and giving 'birth' to a good written composition. Along with the content, what is integral is your ability to 'present' it with the right words and expressions.
Idioms are just the right choice to begin with. We hope that you will take away, retain and USE these in your SPOKEN and WRITTEN communication.

Find the blog frequented by interesting ways to enhance your vocabulary. Your feedback is valuable. (read: mandatory)


IDIOMS:

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of its constituent words. Knowledge of idioms is an important part of comprehension of the English language. Below is a list of some commonly used idioms in English with their meaning and usage.

IDIOM
MEANING
TURN OVER A NEW LEAF
to begin again, fresh; to reform and begin again.
After Ajit was released from prison, he decided to turn over a new leaf and become an honest man.
IDIOM
MEANING
PULL UP ONE’S SOCKS
To make an effort to improve
Rajesh got only forty percentage marks in the English mid-term exams. He needs to pull up his socksif he has to score well in his final exams.
IDIOM
MEANING
HIT BELOW THE BELT
To act in an unfair manner
The candidate of the opposition party spread false rumours about the Minister. People felt that it was an act of hitting below the belt.
IDIOM
MEANING
GIFT OF THE GAB
The ability to speak well
Pooja was able to keep the audiences amused with her stories. She surely has the gift of the gab.
IDIOM
MEANING
WILD GOOSE CHASE
Futile search
Searching for hidden gold in the village field is nothing but a wild goose chase.
IDIOM
MEANING
HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS
Reconsideration of a decision
When Rajiv could not answer any question in the Economics assignment, he started having second thoughts about his decision to take Economics as his main subject.
IDIOM
MEANING
TAKE TO TASK
To reprimand someone
Payal was taken to task by her mother when she found out that she had failed her Mathematics exam.
IDIOM
MEANING
FACE THE MUSIC
To face the consequences of one’s action
I lost my father’s pen. I will have to face the music when I reach home.
IDIOM
MEANING
BREAK THE ICE
Overcome initial shyness
The teacher asked the students to introduce themselves to each other to break the ice.
IDIOM
MEANING
MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL
To give great importance to minor things
Manoj stopped talking to Rupa because she did not lend him her notebook. I think he is making a mountain out of a molehill.
IDIOM
MEANING
AT LOGGERHEADS
To differ strongly
The two brothers can never work together. They are always at loggerheads.
IDIOM
MEANING
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES
Make the best of a good situation while it lasts
Mr. Sharma got the big contract to supply machine parts to a big Japanese company. He should make hay will the sun shines.
IDIOM
MEANING
LET BYGONES BE BYGONES
Ignore the bad things of the past
We have not spoken to each others since the time we had our fight few months back. We should let bygones be bygones and become friends again.
IDIOM
MEANING
HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
Be exactly accurate
Ram is a genius. He hit the nail on the head when he said that the car was overheating because of a leaking radiator.
IDIOM
MEANING
THROW IN THE TOWEL
To accept defeat
I am unable to solve this question. I am ready to throw in the towel.
IDIOM
MEANING
NO STONE UNTURNED
Make all possible efforts
Ramesh has joined two coaching classes. He is leaving no stone unturned to get into engineering college.
IDIOM
MEANING
BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE’S MOUTH
To be born in a very rich family
Priya was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father gave her an expensive car on her eighteenth birthday.
IDIOM
MEANING
KEEP ONE’S FINGERS CROSSED
Hope for a positive outcome
My results come out day after tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
IDIOM
MEANING
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
Using any means, fair or foul
There is a cricket match tomorrow. Raj will make sure he gets the day off from office by hook or by crook.
IDIOM
MEANING
BURN ONE’S FINGERS
Suffer for something that one has done
I will never bet again. I burnt my fingers betting at the race course today.

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