Idioms and Phrases with meanings and examples pdf
Idioms and phrases with meanings and examples pdf!
Idiom is defined as “a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g. over the moon, see the light ).” Words to use instead of very can be a little tricky.
Idioms with Examples List
1.
Beat the air
Writing books is like beating the air.
2.
Because of
He could not reach the station because of rain.
3.
Before long
We shall meet before long.
4.
Behind the scenes
Who is helping the enemy behind scenes?
5.
Bell the cat
Who will bell the cat to his corruption?
6.
Beneath one’s dignity
It is below my dignity to disobey my parents and teachers.
7.
Beside oneself
He was beside himself with rage when I him what I had done.
8.
Better half
My better half has gone to Karachi.
9.
Between Scylla and Charybdis
Take care that in avoiding Scylla you do not fall into Charybdis.
10.
Between the devil and the deep sea
As an author, he is between the devil and the deep sea.
11.
Between two fires
A wise arbitrator always avoids to be between two fires.
12.
Birds of feather
(i) Birds of a feather flock together.
13.
Black and blue
The teacher beat the boy black and blue.
14.
Black out
The driver had probably blacked out at the wheel.
15.
16.
Black sheep
(i) Ashraf is the black sheep of the family.
17.
ii) There are black sheep in every nation.
18.
Blind alley
Their dialogue for peace proved a blind alley.
19.
Blow hot and cold
(i) if you want to win the war, you must not blow hot and cold.
(ii) India marches on while Pakistan blows hot and cold.
IDIOMS AND PHRASES WITH MEANINGS AND EXAMPLES PDF
20.
Blow one’s own trumpet
I do not like Akram, he always blows his own trumpet.
During the elections, every candidate blows his own trumpet.
It is not good to blow one’s own trumpet.
21.
Blue blood
He is proud of his blue blood.
22.
Bosom friend
Even his bosom friend did not help him.
23.
Bread and butter
Everybody works hard for his bread and butter.
Man has to earn his bread and butter with the sweat of his brow
24.
Break one’s heart
I do not like to break your heart.
25.
ABC
I am learning the ABC of Physics.
A bed of roses
Life is not a bed of roses. A bed of thorns (CCU?’) Life is a bed of thorns.
26.
A blue stocking
(i) Abida is a blue stocking and is respected
27.
Bone of contention
Money is a bone of contention between them.
This cycle is a bone of contention between two friends.
28.
A brain wave
A brain wave carried him through an emergency.
29.
A busy bee
Amin is a busy bee as he works from dawn to dusk.
30.
Above board
Your dealings should be above board.
His actions are above board.
31.
A casting vote
The matter was decided by the casting vote of the president. (ii) He decided the matter by his casting vote.
32.
A child’s play
It is not a child’s play to win the match.
To pass the C.S.S. examination is not a child’s play.
33.
A close fisted man
Aslam is a close-fisted man as he never helps the needy.
34.
A curtain lecture
He does not pay any attention to the curtain lectures of his wife.
35.
A far cry
Karachi is a far cry from here. (ii) Truth in politics is a far cry.
36.
A fish out of water
While travelling abroad, I felt like a fish out of water.
37.
A fishy story
What he tells you is just a fishy story. So do not believe him.
38.
A jail bird
His father is a jail bird.
A jail bird is not afraid of going to prison.
39.
A man of letters
Prof. G.S. Dogar is a man of letters.
My teacher is a man of letters.
IDIOMS AND PHRASES IN ENGLISH WITH EXAMPLES
40.
A man of parts
The Quaid-i-Azam was a man of parts.
41.
A man in the street
(i) Even a man in the street now reads newspapers. (ii) Even a man in the street now takes part in politics.
42.
A man of straw
He is a man of straw.
We cannot rely on his promise as he is a man of straw.
43.
A narrow escape
He had a narrow escape from the accident.
44.
A rotten egg
He is asked to check out all the rotten eggs from the office.
45.
A hair breadth escape
He fell into a river, and had a hair breadth escape from drowning.
46.
Add fuel to fire
His speech added fuel to fire.
47.
Add insult to injury
My remarks added insult to his injury.
48.
Apple of discord
Kashmir is the apple of discord between India and Pakistan.
49.
Apple of one’s eye
Joe is the apple of his father’s eye.
50.
A bird’s eye view
We had a bird’s eye view of the town from the Aeroplane.
51.
A bird of passage
He is a bird of passage and so cannot be relied upon.
52.
Apple-pie order
Keep your books in apple-pie order.
53.
Animal spirits
(i) Even young men today lack animal spirits.
54.
(ii) The doctor was full of animal spirits.
55.
A dog in the manger
(i) an old man needs not be a dog in the manger.
(ii) Do not adopt a dog in the manger policy.
56.
A Fabian policy
The Government is following a Fabian policy towards important problems.
57.
A fair weather friend
I do not like fair weather friends.
58.
A fresh water sailor
He is a fresh water sailor.
59.
A great or big gun
All the big guns of the city were invited to the college function.
IDIOMS WITH EXAMPLES
60.
A maiden speech
His maiden speech was a great success.
61.
A queer fish
He is a queer fish and we fail in understanding his ways.
62.
A rainy day
A wise person must save something for a rainy day.
63.
A wet blanket
A selfish man is a wet blanket.
64.
A white elephant
My servant is a white elephant for me.
65.
A white lie
His explanation has been proved a white lie.
66.
A drawn game
The two teams played a drawn game.
67.
At any rate
We will defend our country at any rate.
68.
At (or in) a pinch
At a pinch, we shall spend everything on education
69.
At one’s beck and call
John obeys you and he is at your beck and call.
70.
At a stone’s throw
There is a mosque at a stone’s throw from my house.
71.
At arm’s length
Keep your enemies at arm’s length.
72.
At the eleventh hour
Nobody will come to your help at the eleventh hour.
73.
A dead letter
Do not rely on what is a dead letter now.
74.
At home in
I am at home in English.
75.
At daggers drawn
(i) Both the friends are at daggers drawn these days.
76.
At sixes and sevens
Today the nation is at sixes and sevens.
77.
A gala day
Eid is a gala day for the Muslims.
78.
All in all
He is all in all in this office.
79.
All and sundry
The law applies to all and sundry. (ii) He invited all and sundry to his sister’s marriage.
ENGLISH IDIOMS AND PHRASES WITH EXAMPLES
80.
All at sea
I am all at sea to do this work.
81.
All Just the same
He is not very reliable, but I like him all the same.
82.
At large
(i) The murderer is at large. (ii) The thief was at large.
83.
At a loss
I am at a loss to understand your motives.
84.
Alpha and Omega
(i) I want to know the alpha and omega of this matter.
(ii) Money is alpha and omega of a modern man.
(iii) Truth is alpha and omega of education.
85.
Aladdin’s lamp
(i) I have no Aladdin’s lamp, wherewith I can Solve all your problems.
(ii) I have no Aladdin’s lamp with me to do the impossible.
86.
An axe to grind
(i) Every politician has an axe to grind.
(ii) I do not like Aslam. He is always in the habit of grinding his own axe.
87.
An open secret
Corruption in the highest political and official circle is an open Secret.
88.
At the loose end
The youth is at the loose end.
89.
After one’s own heart
(i) The house is after my own heart.
90.
(ii) I joined this college after my own heart.
91.
Again and again
(i) The teacher explained the point again and again.
92.
(ii) He asked for money again and again.
93.
According to
He acted according to my advice.
94.
As cool as cucumber
John walked into the exam looking cool as cucumber. (ii) When tragedy struck him, he was as cool as cucumber.
95.
At the mercy of
We should not be at the mercy of anybody.
96.
At the point of
(i) The patient is at the point of death.
(ii) The economic world is at the point of bankruptcy.
97.
At all
He did not make any effort at all to help me.
98.
At last
At last we got freedom.
99.
At once
Please see me at once.
IDIOMS AND PHRASES WITH MEANINGS AND EXAMPLES PDF
Download idioms and phrases with meanings and examples pdf from bottom, it’s free.
100.
A fast friend
John is my fast friend.
101.
SA labor of love
True politics is a labor of love.
102.
Royal road
There is no royal road to reach a high position.
103.
Cat and dog life
They have been leading a cat and dog life.
104.
Henpecked husband
(i) Do not be a henpecked husband.
(ii) He cannot disagree with his wife because he is a henpecked husband.
105.
Live wire
Our Prime Minister is a live wire.
106.
All moonshine
His plans are all moonshine.
107.
Back out
(i) We should not back out of our promise.
108.
(ii) Dishonest people back out of their promise.
109.
Bad blood
(i) Do not have bad blood with anyone.
110.
(ii) She created bad blood among her friends.
111.
Bad debt
He had to write off a bad debt.
112.
Bad egg
People think that yellow taxi scheme is a bad egg.
113.
Egg-and baggage
(i) I left Islamabad in 1987 bag and baggage.
114.
(ii) The English left India bag and baggage in 1947.
115.
Be all Greek to someone
She tried to explain how the system works, but I am afraid is all Greek to me.
116.
All ears
Keep on telling your story, I am all ears.
117.
Cast down
(i) Why are you feeling cast down? (ii) He is cast down these days.
118.
Be ill at ease
A dishonest person is always ill at ease.
119.
Be in keeping with
(i) He has acted in keeping with his promise. (ii) This noble act is in keeping with his traditions.
MOST COMMON IDIOMS IN ENGLISH
120.
Be out of keeping
It is out of keeping with the principles of life.
121.
Be taken aback
He was taken aback to see her in the hotel.
122.
Bear away the palm
Pakistan bore away the palm in Olympic Hockey.
123.
Bear fruit
At last his efforts bore fruit.
124.
Bear the brunt of
The army had to bear the brunt of the battle.
125.
Beard the lion in his den
(i) Challenging the right of the Muslims, the Hindus bearded the lion in his den.
(ii) The students decided to meet the Principal in his office and so bearded the lion in his den.
126.
Boast of burden
Donkey and horse are beast of boredom.
127.
Beat about the bush
(i) He is in the habit of beating about the bush.
(ii) There is no use of beating about the bush.
(iii) Do not beat about the bush.
128.
Beat somebody black and blue
The police beat the thief black and blue.
129.
Eat the ground
They have broken the ground for new work.
130.
Eat the Ice
All were silent, and then John broke the ice.
131.
Break the news
Aslam broke the news of his father’s death to his mother.
132.
A he one’s last
My friend breathed his last in the hospital.
133.
Briefly speaking
Briefly speaking, Islam is a complete code of life.
134.
Ring down
The house he brought down the house as a poet.
135.
Ring someone round
(i) The doctor brought the patient round.
(ii) Sprinkling of water on his face brought him round.
136.
Bring to book
You will be brought to book for all your misdeeds.
137.
Bring to light
All the facts have been brought to light.
138.
Broken health
The Quaid worked hard in spite of his broken health. (ii) The Ouaid worked hard for the creation of Pakistan in spite of his broken health. (iii) The Quaid-i-Azam continued his work even with his broken health.
139.
Broken reed
All his friends proved a broken reed in his times of trouble.
IDIOMS AND PHRASES WITH MEANINGS AND EXAMPLES PDF
Download idioms and phrases with meanings and examples pdf from bottom, it’s free.
140.
Brown study
(i) Philosopher is often seen in brown study. (ii) Keats was often found in brown study.
141.
Turn one’s boats
When he resigned from his job he burnt his boats.
142.
Burn one’s fingers
(i) Confine to your work and do not burn your fingers. (ii) Do not interfere in my affairs, otherwise you will burn your fingers.
143.
Burn the candle at both ends
Save your money and do not burn the candle at both ends.
144.
Burn the mid-night oil
Many students burn the mid-night oil near the examinations.
145.
Burning question
Kashmir is a burning question.
146.
Bury
You should face the problem bravely instead of burying your head in the sand.
147.
Bury the hatchet
(i) Both the friends have buried the hatchet. (ii) Iraq and Kuwait should bury the hatchet.
148.
By all means
We shall meet tomorrow by all means.
149.
By and by
By and by, Akram became a minister.
150.
By and large
By and large, mothers control the house.
151.
By dint of
By dint of hard work, he passed the examination.
152.
By fair means or foul
He will get the job by fair means or foul.
153.
By fits and starts
We should not work by fits and starts.
154.
By hook or by crook
(i) He wants to obtain information by hook or by crook. (ii) He passed the examination by hook or by crook.
155.
By leaps and bounds
(i) Pakistan is making progress by leaps and bounds in every field of life. (ii) He is making progress by leaps and bounds.
156.
By virtue of
He got success by virtue of hard work.
157.
By word of mouth
The news spread by word of mouth.
158.
Call a spade a spade
(i) He is not afraid of calling a spade a spade.
(ii) He is polite but still he can call a spade a spade.
159.
Call in question
His honesty cannot be called in question.
160.
Call names
(i) Please do not call anybody names.
(ii) He called me names but I did not answer back.
USEFUL IDIOMS IN ENGLISH WITH EXAMPLES AND PDF
161.
Call to account
The officer called the clerk to account for being absent from the office.
162.
Call to mind
(i) Let us call to mind the olden and golden days.
(ii) I could not call his name to mind.
163.
Carry one’s point
(i) He knows how to carry his point
. (ii) John carried his point in the debate.
164.
Carry the day
It is not easy now to carry the day in elections.
In the Gulf War, the Americans carried the day.
Our hockey team could not carry the day.
165.
Carry too far
Don’t carry quarrels too far.
166.
Carry weight
My advice carried no weight with the chairman.
167.
Cast a slur upon
He cast a slur upon his good name by his evil acts.
168.
Cast a spell on
Beauty casts spell on every one. She cast a spell on the listeners.
169.
Cast aside
Do not cast aside the fear of God.
170.
Cast pearls before swine
(i) To give advice to the wicked is to cast pearls before swine. (ii) It is useless to cast pearls before swine.
171.
Castle in the air
(i) Do not build castle in the air.
(ii) There is no use of building, castles in the air.
172.
Cat’s paw
He is a cat’s paw of his manager.
173.
Catch at a straw
A drowning man will catch at
174.
Cheek by jowl
Lovers walked cheek by jowl.
175.
Cock and bull story
(i) I. do not believe in your cock and bull story.
(ii) Your proposal is no more than a cock and bull story.
176.
Cold blooded murder
It was a cold blooded murder at Faisalabad.
177.
Cold comfort
I should indeed thank you for this cold comfort.
178.
Capital punishment
Capital punishment was awarded to the child lifters.
179.
Come down upon
Do not come down upon the children.
Download this complete lesson of idioms and phrases in PDF.
