English Idioms and Phrases

To leave someone in the lurch

The robber took to his heels when the police arrived.

I did not mind what he was saying, he was only through his hat.

The recent film "Secular India" has tried to keep the pot boiling for Muslim women's.

We should abstain from casting aspersions on the character of our colleagues.

He is out and out a reactionary.

In the armed forces, it is considered a great privilege to die in harness.

The thief took to his heels when he saw a policeman on the beat.

The accounts of the murder made her flesh creep.

I hope it will not put you out If I am late.

His friends let him down.

I felt like afish out of water among all those business tycoons.

Sobhraj could be easily arrested because the police were tipped off in a advance.

The staff have felt on edge ever since they heard the rumour about retrenchment.

Although he has failed in the written examination, he is using backstairs influence to get the job.

To cry wolf

The popularity of the yesterday's superstar is on the wane.

He passed himself off as a noble man.

I met him after a long time, but he gave me the cold shoulder.

Govind has left his country for good.

The cricket match proved to be a big draw.

Do no trust a man who blows his own trumpet

Dowry is a burning question of the day.

Some people now wonder whether we just pay lip service or genuinely subscribe to democracy.

He sold his house for a song.

The party stalwarts have advised the President to take it lying down for a while.

To have an axe to grind

The university will have to shelve its plans for expansion in view of present situation

To pick holes

Companies producing goods play to the gallery to boost their sales.

Sanjay was the real power behind the throne and all politicians were aware of this.

To be above board

Don't thrust your nose into my affairs.

He is an interesting speaker but tends to go off at a tangent.

A black sheep

To set one's face against

I am afraid he is burning the candle at both ends and ruining his life.

Women should be paid the same as men when they do the same job, for, surely what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

He is leaving the country for a good.

He was undecided. He let the grass grow under his feet.

A man of straw

To make clean breast of

This matter has been hanging fire for the last many months and must therefore be decided one way or the other.

To smell a rat

To play second fiddle

To drive home

To beg the question

To end in smoke

The project did not appear to hold out bright prospects.

Sanjay is very different about passing the Civil Services Examination this year.

When he heard that he had once again not been selected he lost heart.

How long will the people put up with the increasing economic hardships?

In the organised society of today no individual or nation can plough a lonely furrow.

To catch a tartar

To keeps one's temper

He visits the doctor off and on.

It was he who put a spoke in my wheel.

It is no longer easy to strike gold in Shakespeare's research since much work has already been done on him.

To hit the nail right on the head

The case was held over due to the great opposition to it.

Leaders should not only make speeches they should also be prepared to bell the cat.

To put one's hand to plough

He struck several bad patches before he made good.

Since he knew what would happen, he should be left to stew in his own juice.

Despite the trust bestowed on the minister he turned out to be a snake in the grass during the revolution.

The teacher warned the student once for all that no mischief shall be tolerated in the class.

Why must you look a gift horse in the mouth ?

There was no opposition to the new policy by the rank and file of the Government.

The curious neighbours were disappointed as the young couple's quarrel was just a storm in a teacup.

He is always standing up for the weak and oppressed.

To turn over a new leaf

To throw down the glove

Having sold off his factory, he is now a gentleman at large.

I ran out of money on my European tour.

The sight of the accident made myflesh creep.

There has been bad blood between the two communities even before shouting.

The arrival of the mother-in-law in the family proved a rift in the lute.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

To catch somebody on the hop

To snap one's fingers

This regular absenteeism is a bad business since on work is being completed.

I cannot get along with a man who plays fast and loose.

He went to his friend's house in the evening as was his wont.

In spite of the efforts of all peace loving people, world peace is still a far cry.

The parliamentary inquiry into the Bofors deal did not bring to light any startling facts.

Maya had a checkered career. since I first knew him as an office assistant in the insurance company.

He was in high spirits when I met him in the restaurant.

In modern democratic societies lynch law seems to have become the spheres of life.

My father strained every nerve to enable me to get settled in life.

The rebels held out for about a month

We were in hurry. The road being zigzag we had to cut off a corner to reach in time.

A fair crack of the whip

There is no love lost between two neighbours.

Mohan always keeps himself to himself

If you give John all your money, you are likely to burn your fingers.

He went back on his promise to vote for me.

The old beggar ran amuck and began to throw stones at the passerby.

Why do you wish to tread on the toes?

Madhuri might scream blue murder, but I feel Deepali should get the promotion since she is better qualified for the job.

The old father brought home the moral of unity by asking each of his sons to break the bundle of sticks

Though he has lot of money, yet all his plans are built upon sand.

I felt that it was a tall order to expect Monisha to go home alone at twelve in the night.

A pipe dream

A close shave

Vikram said that he has got a problem to square up with the manager.

My car broke down on way to the railway station.

He has built a big business empire by his sharp practices.

The detective left no stone unturned to trace the culprit.

Will o' the wisp

Although both the parents are running the show for the last ten years but their business is now on its last legs.

His friends advised him to be fair and square in his dealings.

The class could not keep a straight face on hearing the strange pronunciation of the new teacher.

To be in abeyance

We should give a wide berth to bad characters.

You have to be a cool customer and be patient if you want to get the best buys.

The question of abolition of private property is still a moot point.

While the ladies continued their small talk in the drawing room, I felt bored.

Do not imagine that Dharmendra is really sorry that his wife died. Those are only crocodile tears.

He is in the habit of throwing dust in eyes of his superiors.

Harp on

The die is cast and now let us hope for the best.

Harassed by repeated acts of injustice. he decided to put his foot down.

In his youth, he was practically rolling in money

His plan was so complicated that it floored his listeners.

He did me a good turn by recommending me for the post of Vice Principal.

The secretary and the treasurer are hand in glove with each other.

Rohit has bitten off more than he chew.

There is no hard and fast rule regarding this subject.

To keep one's head

The dacoit murdered the man in cold blood.

To get into hot waters

Discipline is on the wane in schools and colleges these days.

The old man was cut to the quick when his rich son refused to recognise him.

He is always picking holes in every project.

It is high time that India did something about the population problem.

The speaker gave a bird's eye view of the political conditions in the country.

Don't lose patience, things will improve by and by

To talk through one's hat

I cannot conceive of a time when I was without a refrigerator

The prince did not take after the king.

The time is running out, you must look sharp.

I am sure they will fight tooth and nail for their rights.

I requested him to put in a word for me.

In spite of the immense pressure exerted by the militants, the Government has decided not to give in.

The autographed bat from the famous cricketer Sunil Gavaskar is worth a jew's eye

Their business is now on its last legs.

The new C.M stuck his neck out today and promised 10kgs. free wheat a month for all rural families.

To talk one's head off

To take with a grain of salt

The new economic policy is likely to run into rough weather.

His speech went down well with the majority of the audience.

When he tells stories about himself, he is inclined to draw the longbow.

He resigned the post of his own accord.

As a politician he is used to being in the limelight all the time.

The clerk wiped the nose of his employer by submitting a false bill and was dismissed from his job.

He intends setting up as a lawyer in the adjoining district.

By the skin of one's teeth

He never liked the idea of keeping his wife under his thumb and so he let her do what she liked.

Turban is in vogue in some communities.

The P.M has pulled up Orissa partymen.

The authorities took him to task for his negligence.

He believes in the policy of making hay while the sun shines.

To turn up one's nose at a thing

It is time that professors came down from their ivory towers and studied the real needs of the students.

Pt. Nehru was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

I have a bone to pick with you in this matter.

To be at daggers drawn