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
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MEANING
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TURN OVER A NEW LEAF
|
to begin again, fresh; to reform and begin again.
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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
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To make an effort to improve
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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
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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
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The ability to speak well
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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
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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
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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
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To give great importance to minor things
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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
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The two brothers can never work together. They are always at loggerheads.
IDIOM
|
MEANING
|
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES
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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
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Ignore the bad things of the past
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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
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THROW IN THE TOWEL
|
To accept defeat
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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
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To be born in a very rich family
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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
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Using any means, fair or foul
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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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