Phrasal Verbs and Idioms

The objective of this lesson is to teach the students the use of phrasal verbs and idioms. After going through this lesson, the students will develop an understanding of idioms, phrasal verbs, and they will be able to use them in their sentences and hence, lend a new vitality to their speech or writing.

An Idiom is an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either grammatically or in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements. It is a style or form of artistic expression. In simple words an Idiom is an expression that means something more than its literal sense. Idioms and phrasal verbs are recognized through experience as well as practice. Sometimes ordinary words fail to convey the spirit of the special situation. Idioms and phrasal verbs are meant for such situations; they enrich the language. Here are some phrasal verbs and idioms along with their usage:

 

Phrasal verbs

·       Abide by- keep to, adhere to: I expect him to abide by the rules.

·       Act (up) on- to do something definite about: You should act upon this letter at once.

·       Agree with- have the same opinion; coincide with: I cannot agree with you on this matter.

·       Allow for- make concessions for: We must allow for some relaxation in the schedule.

·       Answer for- to be responsible for: The maid had to answer for the missing articles.

·       Ask after- to seek information for: She asked after his health.

 

·       Back out- to withdraw: He has decided to back out of the scheme.

·       Back up- to support: I had hoped that he would back me up in the argument.

·       Bank upon- to depend upon: I am banking on you to help me find a good house.

·       Bear up- to carry on: He bore up well under his parent’ death.

·       Bear out- to support: I am afraid that the results bear out my suspicions.

·       Blow over- pass, vanish: It is a problem now, but I expect it to blow over.

·       Blow up- to explode: I expect the affairs to blow up.

·       Break away- rebel: The state has broken away from the union.

·       Break down- stop functioning; to burst into tears: The bus broke down on the way.

·       Break in – tame: It would be difficult to break that horse in.

·       Break into- enter illegally: The thief broke into the house.

·       Break off- sever, discontinue: They have broken off the negotiations.

·       Break out-appear, start suddenly: The first world war broke out in 1914.

·       Break through-achieve something new: The biologist claim to have broken through in a new area of genetics.

·       Break up-disband: School has broken through up for the holidays.

·       Bring about-cause to happen: This accident was brought about by the truck driver’s recklessness.

·       Bring in-introduce: The government is bringing in new legislation on this matter.

·       Bring off-complete successfully: He is good at bringing a deal off in a spectacular way.

·       Bring round-restore to consciousness: The doctor brought the woman round

quite quickly after the accident.

·       Bring up-raise, educate: They have brought their children up well.

·       Brush aside-discard: He brushed aside all our objections and went away.

·       Brush off-reject: he brushed off all our suggestions.

·       Brush up-improve: He wants to brush up his knowledge of astronomy.

 

·       Call for-demand: This job calls for a man of initiative and courage.

·       Call forth-demand: The emergency called forth reserves of energy, which she did not know she possessed.

·       Call in-summon to a place: They decided to call in a doctor, because the child had high temperature.

·       Call off-abandon: The workers have decided to call off their strike.

·       Call (up) on-visit: He called on me this morning for about an hour.

·       Carry off-gain: He was a great sportsman at school, and carried off all the prizes.

·       Carry on-continue: The boys were told to carry on writing even though the bell had rung.

·       Carry out- execute: The scientist was   carrying out some interesting experiments.

·       Carry through-execute completely: They carried the plan through to the last letter.

·       Cash in on-exploit for profit: She shouldn’t try to cash in on the fact that he likes her.

·       Cash aside-throw away: She casts people aside like old clothes.

·       Cast away-jettison: The men cast away the things they would not need.

·       Cast off-leave: As soon as that man lost his wealth, he was cast off by his friends.

·       Catch on-become popular: This is a nice melody and I think it’ll catch on

quickly.

·       Catch out-discover: He was caught out cheating in the examination.

·       Catch up- succeed in pursuing: She just can’t catch up with her work.

·       Chalk out- outline clearly: The leader began to chalk out a plan of campaign.

·       Clear away- vanish: The mist cleared away as the sun came out.

·       Clear off- settle: He has at last cleared off his debts.

·       Come across- meet by chance: I came across him at the library one day.

·       Come down with- become ill from: She has come down with typhoid.

·       Come out with- say: he always comes out with some funny ideas.

·       Cry out- demand: this room is crying out to be cleaned.

·       Cry out against- reject loudly: The people are crying out against this injustice.

·       Cut down-reduce: We must cut down expenses, as our final resources are low.

 

·       Die away-diminish: The echoes die away.

·       Die down-decrease: The wind has died down a bit.

·       Do away with-get rid of: They have done away with those old customs.

·       Do up-renovate: She decided to do up the house in her holidays.

·       Drop in-visit casually: They often drop in for holidays.

·       Drop out-to cease participation: Arun has dropped out and won’t attend college any more.

 

·       Eat away-destroy by: The rats have eaten the woodwork away.

·       Eat up-consume: This sports car just eats up the miles.

·       End up-usually satisfactory: If you drive your motorbike like that, you will end up in hospital.

·       Enter into-begin: They enter into negotiations with their business rivals.

·       Enter (up) on-begin: The young man was just entering upon his career in teaching.

 

·       Fall away-diminish: The old custom has fallen away into disuse.

·       Fall back-recoil: She fell back in dismay when she saw the teacher.

·       Fall behind-fail to maintain a schedule: They fell behind with the rent and were asked by their landlord to move out.

·       Fall for-accept as true: Everyone seems to fall for his charming manner.

·       Fall in-collapse inwards: The walls fall in.

·       Fall in with-accept: They have fallen in with the general policy of the firm.

·       Fall off-decline in numbers: Attendance has fallen off.

·       Fall out-quarrels: I think the two neighbors have fallen out again.

·       Fall through-fail to develop: All their plans have fallen through.

·       Fall to-begin: I fell to thinking about the old times.

·       Fall under-be classified with: It falls under miscellaneous in the files.

·       Fall (up)on-attack: The robbers fell upon the unsuspecting travellers as they went through the woods.

·       Fed up-tired: They are fed up with the journey.

·       Fish for-seek: She is always fishing for complements.

·       Follow through-continue: The politicians follow through with an attack on their opponents.

·       Follow up-pursue an advantage: He followed up with a request for money.

 

·       Get about-move or go about: He gets about quite well, despite his rheumatism.

·       Get across-manage to communicate one's ideas: The message got across

correctly.

·       Get along-manage: The children are getting along all right.

·       Get at-ascertain: The truth is difficult to get at.

·       Get away with-abscond with: He has got away with a huge sum in cash.

·       Get back return: He got back home dead tired.

·       Get by-be tolerable: His work will get by but that is all.

·       Get down to-start to work seriously on: I really must get down to some study as the examinations are near.

·       Get into-be involved in: The children are always getting into trouble.

·       Get off-escape punishment: The thief won't get off so easily next time.

·       Get on-make progress: I am afraid she isn't getting on very well at school.

·       Get over-overcome: She seems to have got over her problems.

·       Get round to-find time to do: I always wanted to write but have never got round to it.

·       Get through-be accepted: All the candidates did not get through.

·       Give away-distribute: The chief guest gave away the prizes.

·       Give in-surrender: If we cannot continue with the struggle, we may as well give in now.

·       Give out- come to an end: Her patience gave out long ago.

·       Give over- transfer: They give the building over for use as an office.

Give up- surrender: He gave up his seat on the bus to an old lady

·       Go about- move about: They go about together everywhere.

·       Go along with- agree with: He could go along with the plan most of the way but not entirely.

·       Go at- attack: The thief went at him with an axe.

·       Go back on- retract: He never goes back on his promises.

·       Go by- base a judgment on: To go by appearances, I would say all is not well.

·       Go down- diminish: The pictures have gone down in value considerably.

·       Go for- attack: She went for him with a hatchet.

·       Go in for- enter for: Seema has gone in for the beauty competition.

·       Go into- investigate: The police intend to go into the matter very carefully.

·       Go off- explode: The fire works went off in a cascade of colour.

·       Go over- study: The auditors went over the accounts with care.

·       Go under- fail: His business has gone under.

·       Go up- improve: The movies have gone up in quality.

·       Go with- harmonize with: The colour of curtains goes with the colour of the walls.

·       Go without- manage without: That old man often goes without food for days.

 

·       Hammer away- work hard: We shall hammer away at this problem till we get a solution.

·       Hand down- to pass on: The story was handed down from generation to generation.

·       Hand over- surrender: He does not want to handover the property to any of his relatives.

·       Hang about- remain idling in a place: I wish she would stop hanging about and do something useful.

·       Hang back- hesitate: She hung back from asking the reasons for her delay.

·       Hang on- wait upon: Our journey hangs on whether he is willing to help us.

·       Hang on to- retain: You should hang on to that painting because it may be worth a lot of money.

·       Head back- go back: On the way to Madras we changed our minds and headed back to Delhi.

·       Hit off- be friendly: He hit off with his neighbours from the start.

·       Hit out- attack violently: The workers are angry and ready to hit out in any direction.

·       Hold back- keep a secret: We were sure he was holding something back from us.

·       Hold forth- make a speech: The chairman held forth on the dangers of delaying the decision.

·       Hold in- restrain: She is very good at holding in her emotions.

·       Hold on- endure: The soldiers managed to hold on in that isolated position until reinforcements arrived.

·       Hold over- postpone: The meeting was held over until Friday.

·       Hold with- approve of: I don't hold with heavy drinking and wild parties.

 

·       Inquire after- ask for information about: He inquired after the children's health.

·       Inquire into-investigate: The police decided to inquire into the events leading up to the accidents.

 

·       Jump at- accept with enthusiasm: She jumped at the offer of a job near her house.

 

·       Keep at-persist with: He kept at the job till he finished it.

·       Keep away-abstain: He wisely kept away from liquor.

·       Keep back-withhold: They are keeping back the name of ancient victims

·       Keep down-control: The government intends to keep out the revolutionaries.

·       Keep from-abstain from: I hope you will keep from doing anything rash.

·       Keep off-stay away: I hope the rain keeps off we finish our shopping.

·       Keep on-continue: He kept on till the work was finished.

·       Keep out-provide insulation against: That heavy blanket should keep out the cold.

·       Keep up-stay in position: The old boat couldn't keep up with the others.

 

·       Laugh at-mock: She was laughing at us all the time.

·       Laugh away-dismiss with laugther: He laughed away the dangers that the journey might involve.

·       Lay aside-abandon: He laid aside his scruples and joined the gang.

·       Lay down-give up: The old man has laid down his office.

·       Lay in-make a store of: She has laid in provisions against a shortage during the festival season.

·       Lay off-dispense with: The factory has laid off workers because of the drop in sales.

·       Lay on-provide: Gas and electricity are now being laid on in the new township.

·       Lay out-prepare: Her clothes were laid out for her.

·       Lead in-enter: A decision along these lines could lead into serious complications.

·       Leave behind-forget to take: He left behind a pair of glasses and some books.

·       Leave off-stop: I think we should leave off discussing the matter now and have some coffee.

·       Leave out-omit: He left out that part of the speech.

·       Let down-release: He let the car window down.

·       Let off-forgive: The thief was let off with a small fine.

·       Let on-admit: She never let on that she had met him in London.

·       Let out-release: Someone has let the news out.

·       Let up-diminish: As the rain began to let up, we decided to walk back home.

·       Lie back- recline: I just want to lie back and do nothing for a while.

·       Lie down- submit: I hope you don't expect me just to lie down and take his insults.

·       Lie up- remain in hiding: The criminals are lying up somewhere in those woods.

·       Live down- survive: It will be difficult for him to live down his humiliation.

·       Live off- survive on: He lives off fruits and nuts.

·       Live through- survive: I could not live through another day as hot as that.

·       Look after- take care of: She has looked after her elderly parents for many years.

·       Look at- view: He looks at life differently from you and me.

·       Look down on- disdain: She looks down on people who show off their wealth.

·       Look forward to- anticipating eagerly: I am looking forward to the party.

·       Look in- call, visit: I'll look in at your shop on my way home.

·       Look into- investigate: The police are looking into the matter.

·       Look on- watch: They stood looking on while the man was being beaten up.

·       Look out for- keep a watch for: I want you to look out for them at the meeting.

·       Look to- rely on: He looks to his parents when he needs help.

·       Look (up) on- regard: we look upon these people as our most dangerous rivals.

·       Look up to- admire: I really look up to my grandfather.

 

·       Make away with- murder secretly: They made away with their opponents in the night.

·       Make for- go towards: The ship made for Bombay.

·       Make off- escape: The thieves made off with the loot before the police arrived.

·       Make off with- steal: The manager has made off with the company's profit.

·       Make over- assign: He has made the estate over to his eldest son.

·       Make up to- flatter: She makes up to her boss all the time to get special attention.

 

·       Pass away- vanish: The old cultural values have passed away.

·       Pass by- ignore: Life has passed me by.

·       Pass off- go away: I was feeling sick, but the feeling has passed off.

·       Pass on- move on: After discussing geography the students passed on to consider history.

·       Pass up- forgo: You should never pass up opportunities like these.

·       Pick at- eat in any portions: The birds picked at the bread crumbs.

·       Pick on- single out or isolate for criticism: The teacher picks on Asha all the time.

·       Pick out- choose: They have picked out the best items.

·       Play along- co-operate: She decided to play along with them and see what they wanted.

·       Play down- depreciate: The newspapers ought to play down communal feelings.

·       Play off- oppose: He has played his enemies off against each other.

·       Play up to- flatter: She is always playing up to people who may be able to help her.

·       Pull down- demolish: They pulled the old building down.

·       Pull off- completely successful: He pulled that deal off beautifully.

·       Pull through- recover: He was badly injured, but the doctor says that he'll pull through.

·       Pull up- check: The police pulled him up for speeding.

·       Put aside- save: The old woman managed to put aside a little money.

·       Put away- give up: I asked Neera to put away such foolish ideas.

·       Put down- suppress: The general was sure that he could soon put down the rebellion.

·       Put forward- advance: He put forward several interesting ideas, but none was accepted.

·       Put in- insert: He put in several more paragraphs before sending the script to the press.

·       Put off- postpone: We have to put off the meeting because of the weather.

·       Put on- pretend: He is just putting on that grief.

·       Put out- extinguish: The fireman put out the flames.

·       Put up- stay: He put up at a little hotel in the old part of the town.

·       Put up with- tolerate: I wouldn't put up with his nonsense if I were you.

·       Put upon- forced: I will not be put upon by him.

 

·       Round off- finish off well: The debate was rounded off by the chairman.

·       Round up- gather in: The security forces are rounding up suspects.

·       Run away- flee: When the mob was lathi charged, the men began to run away in all directions.

·       Run down- disparage: She runs everyone down.

·       Run out- expire: My contract with their firm will soon run out.

·       Run out of- lose: With the rains failing two years consecutively, many areas are

running out of water.

·       Run over- flow over: The bath is running over.

·       Run through- rehearse: They can run through the scene again to get it right.

·       Run up against- encounter: He ran up against trouble in his new job.

 

·       See about- attend to: He said he would see about the electricity bill tomorrow.

·       See in- investigate: The police are seeing into the matter.

·       See off- accompany t a place of departure: Her parents saw her off at the airport.

·       See to- undertake: She saw to it that I was not inconvenienced.

·       Set about- begin: She set about writing the essay.

·       Set aside- reject: He set our objections aside and continued his work unaffected.

·       Set forth- lay out for inspection: She willingly set forth her opinions on the matter.

·       Set in- start: Winter has set in late in this year.

·       Set off- enhance: This dress sets off her complexion very well.

·       Set on- encourage to act or attack: They will set the dogs on the intruders.

·       Set out- The goods were set out on the table.

·       Set to- start work: Though new to the job, he set to enthusiastically.

·       Set up-establish one self: He set up as a doctor in a little village.

·       Shake up- disturb: I feel rather shaken up after the accident.

·       Show up- turn up: Anil showed up when we least expected him.

·       Sit it on- attend: She sat in on the whole debate.

·       Speak for- represent: We have asked Arun to speak for us at the committee meeting.

·       Speak out- intensive of speak: I expect you to speak out against tyranny in any form.

·       Speak up- speak louder: The teacher asked the shy little girl to speak up.

·       Spell out- state clearly and fully: I wish the Principal would spell out the proposals for us.

·       Stand aside- stand out of the way: He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed.

·       Stand by- be prepared: He told them to stand by for action.

·       Stand for- represent: We must choose a symbol that stands for strength and integrity.

·       Stand off- keep or stay at a distance: The ships stood off from the share and waited for orders.

·       Stand out- be conspicuous by contrast: The bold print stands out very well.

·       Stand up for- defend: He stands up for women's rights.

·       Stand up to- resist: The little boy bravely stood up to the big bully.

·       Strike out- set out: The explorers struck out for the hills.

·       Strike up- start playing music: The band struck up with the national anthem.

 

·       Take after- resemble: The baby really takes after his father.

·       Take apart- dismantle: The mechanic took the engine apart to see what was wrong.

·       Take down- write down: His secretary took down all the points he made.

·       Take in- understand: Things are happening so quickly, I can't take it all in.

·       Take off- leave hurriedly: They took off, abandoning all their belongings.

·       Take on- accept: She has taken on so many responsibilities that it is difficult for her to cope with them.

·       Take over- assume responsibility for: He took the business over from his father.

·       Take up- occupy: This work is quite difficult and will take up a lot of my time.

·       Take up with- become friends with: I'm afraid she has taken up with bad company.

·       Talk back- reply insolently: It is appalling the way that child talks back to his parents.

·       Talk down- reduce to silence by talking: He is an expert at talking the opposition

down.

·       Talk around- convince: They finally managed to talk her around into accepting the job.

·       Tear away- force to move: I couldn't tear him away from that book.

·       Tell off- reprimand: He told them off severely for neglecting their work.

·       Throw off- escape: The men threw off their pursuers when they reached the woods.

·       Throw up- eject: He has thrown up a perfectly good job and gone off somewhere.

·       Turn down- reject: The committee has turned down his application, as he is not qualified.

·       Turn in- hand over to the police: The householders caught the intruder and

turned him in.

·       Turn off- stop: The USA has turned off the supply of arms and ammunition to our country.

·       Turn out- assemble: The people turned out in large numbers to see him.

·       Turn over- hand over: She turned him over to the police.

·       Turn to- ask for help: I have no one to turn to.

·       Turn up- arrive casually: They turned up at mid night with their suitcases.

·       Write off- clear from the records: The debt has been written off.

·       Write up- write as fully as possible: He wrote up his notes so that he would have no difficulty studying for his examination.

 

IDIOMS

IDIOMS BASED ON ANIMALS, BIRDS & INSECTS

 

·       To have a bee in one's bonnet- to be continually occupied with: Ashok has a bee in his bonnet about yoga being the only healthy exercise.

·       To make a bee line for something- to take the quickest and most direct way towards it: The thirsty children made a bee line for the pitcher of water.

·       To kill two birds with one stone- to achieve two aims with only one effort: Nisha killed two birds with one stone when she got a coat which was warm as well as waterproof.

·       Bird’s eye view- a general view of something: I can not judge the merits of the plan as I have just had a bird’s eye view of it.

·       Bird of passage- person who roams from one place to the other: There is no use asking John for his address as he is a bird of passage.

·       To take the bull by the horns- to decide to face a problem: At last the school boys decided to take the bull by the horns and thrash the cheat.

·       To let the cat out of the bag- to reveal a secret: The teacher was almost deceived by the trick but Meera spoilt the whole plan by letting the cat out of the bag.

·       Cock- and- bull story- an absurd tale: Arun told a cock-and-bull story to explain his late arrival at the office.

·       Dark horse- an unexpected winner: Asha never seemed good at studies but she has proved a dark horse by standing first in the final examination.

·       A dog in the manger- someone who prevents others from using something: Ashoka does not like movies, and he is a dog in the manger when his friends want to go to the cinema.

·       To have other fish to fry- to have other, more important task to attend to: Anil did not come to the party as he had other fish to fry.

·       A fly in the ointment- something that causes slight difficulty: The teachers presence at the end of term party was like a fly in the ointment for the children.

·       Straight from the horse's mouth- of news, information etc. directly from the person who knows most about it: I had to believe Arun’s information when he said that he had got it straight from the horse's mouth.

·       To smell a rat- to sense that something is wrong: Though Seema cleared up the mess and assumed innocently before her mother came, her mother smelt a rat.

·       A wild goose chase- search with no hope of success: He went on a wild goose chase all over the town looking for buried treasure but, of course, he did not find it.

·       A feather in one's cap- to be proud of one's own actions: The successful staging of Asiad ‘82 was a feather in the cap for India.

·       To feather one's nest- to provide oneself with money etc. for the future by securing advantages, even if dishonestly: Official position is often misused by people to feather their own nest.

·       To hold the reins- to be in control: Though India has a president, it is the prime minister who holds the reins of government.

·       To keep a tight rein on someone- to control him/ it firmly, allow only a little freedom: She keeps such a tight rein on her children that they dare not stay out later than 5 in the evening.

·       To take someone under one's wing- to give him protection: Asha kindly took the new student under her wing and prevented the other from teasing him.

 

IDIOMS BASED ON COLOUR

·       Black and white- in writing: He gave his declaration in black and white.

·       Black and blue- bruises of these colors: The thief was beaten black and blue by the people who caught him.

·       The black sheep- a person of whom the family is not proud, a betrayer or traitor: Since Arun ran away with the money of the firm, he has been considered a black sheep.

·       Not so black as one is painted- to be not so bad as people say one is: I am well acquainted with Rajesh and I can confidently say that he is not so black as he is painted.

·       Out of the blue- unexpectedly: It was wonderful when my uncle turned up out of the blue.

·       A bolt from the blue- something unexpected: The attack from across the borders was a bolt from the blue.

·       Once in a blue moon- rarely or never: Few people have rain coats in this region as it rains once in a blue moon.

·       A blue–collar worker- factory worker, not an office worker: Though a blue- collar worker earns a good income these days, the young prefer to take up low paid white collar jobs.

·       To be in a brown study- to be thinking deeply about something: Martin was in a hurry to get his business done but his boss was in a brown study from which he was aroused only with difficulty.

·       To have green fingers- to be good at gardening: Arun seems to have green fingers for he has won many prizes at flower shows.

·       To give someone the green light- to give him permission: it was relief when the Director gave the green light so that the plan could be put into action.

·       To be green- to be too trusting: The young man was too green not to be cheated by his shrewd employer.

·       To be in the pink- to be and to feel very healthy: Harish suffered an attack of influenza last month but now he is in the pink of health.

·       To see red- to become suddenly angry: I saw red when I heard of the little boy's experience at the hands of the school bully.

·       A red letter day- an important or joyful occasion in one's life: July 15 was a red letter day in John's life for he reached the peak of the Mt. Everest on that day.

 

IDIOMS BASED ON PARTS OF THE BODY

·       To keep someone at arm's length (to avoid becoming too friendly with some one): It is advisable to keep Hari at arm's length as he is of most inquisitive nature.

·       To be up in arms (to protest strongly): The employees were up in arms over the new rule forbidding payment for over time work.

·       A bone of contention (a subject of disagreement or argument): The new found island became a bone of contention between India and Bangladesh.

·       A brain wave (a good thought which come unexpectedly): A brain wave can change problems into solution.

·       To be all ears (to listen eagerly or curiously): She was all ears as her friends told her about the latest development.

·       To be up to the ears in something (to be very busy or to have a lot of trouble with it, i.e. work or problems): As I have just taken up this post, I’m up to the ears in work most of the time.

·       To be within earshot (to be within range of hearing): The mother told her child

to remain within earshot and not go wandering far away.

·       To see eye to eye with (to have the same opinion as someone about something): One can remain friendly with a person even if one does not see eye to eye with him on everything.

·       To be all eyes (to look intensely, curiously or carefully at something which interests or surprise one): The tourists were all eyes when shown the temple carvings of Khajurao.

·       To have an eye for something (to be a good judge of or to have a good sense of appreciation for something): I must ask Aruna to choose the furnishing as she has an eye for colour.

·       To keep an eye for something/someone (to observe it /him continually and carefully): He kept an eye on the test tube so as not to miss a single change taking place in its content

·       To lose face (to be humiliated, to lose one's good reputation or the respect of others): A politician very carefully avoids doing anything that might cause him to lose face.

·       To keep a straight face (not to laugh although you find something very funny; to hide amusement): It was difficult to keep a straight face on hearing the fat man boast of his athletic powers.

·       To say something to someone's face (to say it openly and directly to him even if it is unpleasant): Mary is a liar and I am ready to say so to her face.

·       On the face of it (as it seems to be from the facts): The project appears simple on the face of it.

·       In the face of (in the presence of, e.g., difficulties or in spite of danger): His success is more commendable in that he achieved it in the face of great difficulties.

1.       To pull a face (to show likes and dislikes by the expression on one's face): Neera pulled a face on being told that she could not go out.

·       To have a finger in every pie (to be concerned with many matters often for personal games): She finds it useful to have a finger in every pie.

·       To have something at one's finger tips (to have a thorough knowledge of or familiarity with a subject or a skill): If you want to know anything about Economics ask Arun for he has all the facts at his finger tips.

·       To burns one's fingers (to suffer because of rash words or action): He burnt his fingers by interfering in his neighbour's quarrel.

·       To put one's foot in it (to say something foolish or tactless without thinking): Aruna put her foot in it by unknowingly criticising her boss in his hearing.

·       To put one's foot down (to insist on something, to be firm in an objection or a protest against something): She allowed the children a lot of freedom but put her foot down when they started hitting each other.

·       To feel one's feet (to begin to show ones abilities to become self confident): He has taken a long time to feel his feet but now he will make a success of his life.

·       To stand on one's own two feet (to be independent and self confident): After completing his studies he got a good job; at last he was able to stand on his own two feet.

·       To let one's hair down (to have a care free time, to relax and enjoy oneself): It was a relief to let her hair down after the ceremonial dinner party at the embassy.

·       One's hair stood on end (one was very frightened): The ghost story made my hair stand on end.

·       Not to turn a hair (not to show fear top remain calm): Arun did not turn a hair

though he was outnumbered by the robbers who waylaid him.

·       To have a hand in (to be involved in): I suspect Sunil to have had a hand in the recent troubles.

·       Top take something in hand (to deal with it, to take control of it): After the riots the army was called in to take the situation in hand.

·       To be out of hand (to become out of control): The situation got out of hand

when the striking employees became violent.

·       To live from hand to mouth (to live without saving money): Many labourers in India earn so little that they can just live hand to mouth.

·       To have one’s hand full (to have a lot of work): I have just taken up this job and I have my hands full.

·       To win hands down (to win very easily): He is a very popular figure and won the elections hand down.

·       Head over ears (completely): Arun does not want to be disturbed as he is head over ears involved in work.

·       To be head and shoulders above (to be superior in skill): Though he has lost the elections, he is head and shoulders above the winning candidates.

·       To take something to heart (influenced by something): He has apparently taken his father’s scolding to heart for he has become regular in his work of late.

·       From the bottom of one’s heart (sincerely): Arun thanked his friend from the bottom of his heart for his timely help.

·       To pull someone’s leg (to tease him by telling  him something which is untrue): If he told you that you can travel free on buses today he was just pulling your leg.

·       To be on its last legs (total breakdown): It is a fallacy to think that the cast system on its last legs in India.

·       To pay through the nose (to pay more money for something than it is worth): He

paid through the nose for that tiny house.

·       To give someone the cold shoulder (to ignore him): Meera has the bad habit of

giving people the cold shoulder after she has got her work done.

·       To be/keep on one’s toes (prepared for difficulties): The defence forces of our nation are on their toes always.

·       To hold one’s tongue (to be silent): If only one of them had held his tongue, the quarrel would not have taken such a serious turn.

·       To make a slip of the tongue (to make a mistake when speaking something without noticing): Mr. Sharma must have made a slip of the tongue when he said the school starts at 10 p.m.

 

IDIOMS BASED ON TIME

·       From time to time (occasionally): A surprise check is carried out in the office

from time to time to ensure punctuality of the staff.

·       In the neck of time (just before it would have been too late): The helicopter arrived in the neck of time to rescue the passengers just as their wrecked ship sank.

·       To call it a day (to stop doing something): They decided to call it a day when all of them felt tired.

·       At the eleventh hour (at the latest possible time): If she tells me at the eleventh hour that she too wants to go on the journey, I cannot possibly get a ticket for her.

·       To the minute (exactly): He knows the details of the proposed trip to the minute.

·       On the spur of the moment (without hesitating): She decided on the spur of the moment that she would also go on the pilgrimage.

·       To burn the midnight oil (to study): I will have to burn the midnight oil if I am to give my examination this year.

 

MISCELLANEOUS IDIOMS

·       Apple pie order-perfectly neat and tidy: Arun was furious to see the mess his friends had made in room which he had left in apple-pie order.

·       At daggers drawn-bitterly hostile: The two brothers are at daggers drawn about their father’s will.

·       At someone’s back and call-to be continually at his disposal to carry out his wishes, orders etc.: He is the teacher’s favourite as he is always at her back and call.

·       At sixes and sevens-in a state of disorder: When I saw everything in my room at sixes and sevens, I knew that my sister must have been there searching for something.

·       Bag and baggage-with all the goods: He left the town bag and baggage at night.

·       Between you and me-speaking confidently between ourselves: Between you and me, the new receptionist is no good at her job.

·       Between the devil and the black sea-between two dangers: I was between the devil and the black sea with a cruel father at home and an unsympathetic teacher at school.

·       Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush-something which one actually possesses is worth more than something else which is only promised or hoped for: Anil should take the job he has been offered now, rather than wait for something else to turn up, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

·       Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth-born into a rich family: He has never had to work hard in life as he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

·       Build castles in the air-imagine impossible things: You should give yourself aim that you can achieve as there is no point in building castles in the air.

·       Break the ice-to say: The hostess broke the ice with a witty comment.

·       Bring something home to someone-to cause him to understand or realize it fully: I tried to bring home to my friend the folly of leaving his job at present but I do not think I succeeded.

·       Burning question-matter being holy discussed somewhere: How to deal with the law and order situation is one of the burning questions of the day.

·       By and by-gradually: After such a serious illness, she can recover only by and by.

·       By and large-on the whole: India’s population is by and large backward.

·       By hook or by crook-by any means: He is determined to get some money by hook or crook.

·       By leaps and bounds-at a rapid pace: After initial setbacks, the company is now progressing by leaps and bounds.

·       By dint of-by virtue of: If Sheela stand first in the examination, it is by dint of hard work.

·       Call a spade and spade-speak frankly and directly: If you think the plan is ridiculous, say so; don’t be afraid to call a spade and spade.

·       Change the face of-change completely: These new inventions will change the face of offices and factories over the next thirty years.

·       Crocodile tears-sympathy which one does not feel: I think Rupa was shedding crocodile tears when she said how sorry she was to see Seema go; everyone knows that they hated each other.

·       Cry over spilt milk-sorry over a situation that cannot be helped: There is no use crying over spilt milk; you have failed the test, so the best thing is to start working now for the next one.

·       Eat one’s cake and have it too-make a choice between one of two things and still want the benefit of second thing: The Prime Minister said that if people had higher wages, then they couldn’t expect lower prices, they couldn’t eat their cake and have it too.

·       Eat one’s word-to admit that one was wrong: When he found that he has wrongly accused his colleague of stealing, he was ready to eat his words.

·       Eat humble pie-behave humbly, meekly, especially after a defeat: He boasted about what he was going to do when he was won, but after defeat he has to eat humble pie.

·       Every cloud has a silver lining-nothing is always bad: Arvind was most upset at his uncle’s death, but every cloud has a silver lining, for his uncle had left him all his money.

·       Far and near-distant places and also at places nearby: People came from far and near to see the show.

·       A Fish out of water-a person who feels uncomfortable in his present surroundings: The poet felt like a fish out of water at the gathering of businessman.

·       Get one’s figure burnt/burn one’s figure-do something which causes one to suffer pain: The last time when he invested in stock- market, he got his figure burnt, for he lost all his saving.

·       Go without saying-to be plain and evident: It goes without saying that violence is on the increase everywhere.

·       Hard and fast -definite: As there are no hard and fast rules in this matter, you can plan your line of action.

·       Hit the nail on the head-say something that is exactly correct; I thought that the chairman’s suggestion hit the nail on the head.

·       Hue and cry-clamour or noise: She raised a hue and cry when she saw the stranger entered the house.

·       In full string-fully started: By the time we arrived, the party was already in full swing.

·       It never rains but it pours-things, especially problems or troubles, do not usually happen singly on their own: My car has broken down, and the same has happened to my wife; it never rains but it pours.

·       Make hay while the sun shine-take advantage of a fovourable situation while it lasts: Enjoy yourself while you are young; make hay while the sun shines.

·       Nip something in the bud-stop something before it has a chance to develop: It looked as if there was going to be some trouble at the meeting, but the police nipped it in the bud by quickly arresting a few of the troublemakers.

·       Play with fore-become involved in something very dangerous: A student who starts taking drugs is playing with fire.

·       Read between the lines-to understand or sense more than the actual words spoken or written appear to mean or express: One has to read between the lines of many a poem for true enjoyment.

·       To weather the storm-overcome difficulties: I am sure India will weather the storm of communalism.

·       Turn the tide- steadily gets worse: We are losing the battle, but the arrival of some extra reinforcement turned the tide in our favour.

·       Way of the world-way in which most people behave: When you are successful, you have lots of friends and if you fail you have none; that’s the way of the world.

·       Yeoman’s service-excellent work: The medical students are to be praised for their yeoman’s service in the flood- affected areas.

Idioms and phrasal verbs are a form of artistic expression. They are recognized through experience as well as practice. Sometimes ordinary words fail to embody the exact spirit of the situation. Idioms and phrasal verbs help the speaker or the writer in situations by making their language rich.