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

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

To snap one’s fingers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To talk one’s head off

To take with a grain of salt

His plan was so complicated that it floored his listeners.

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

He went back on his promise to vote for me.

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

To talk through one’s hat

There is no hard and fast rule regarding this subject.

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

A fair crack of the whip

To be in abeyance

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

We should give a wide berth to bad characters.

The prince did not take after the king.

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

To be at daggers drawn

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

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

Harp on

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

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

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

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

In his youth, he was practically rolling in money

He is always standing up for the weak and oppressed.

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

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

The sight of the accident made myflesh creep.

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

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

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

To turn over a new leaf

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

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

Turban is in vogue in some communities.

The detective left no stone unturned to trace the culprit.

My car broke down on way to the railway station.

He resigned the post of his own accord.

To get into hot waters

Mohan always keeps himself to himself

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

Their business is now on its last legs.

The P.M has pulled up Orissa partymen.

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

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

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

The time is running out, you must look sharp.

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

By the skin of one’s teeth

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

You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

Rohit has bitten off more than he chew.

To keep one’s head

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

The dacoit murdered the man in cold blood.

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

I ran out of money on my European tour.

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

There is no love lost between two neighbours.

To catch somebody on the hop

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

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

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

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

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

Will o’ the wisp

A pipe dream

To throw down the glove

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

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

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

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

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

To turn up one’s nose at a thing

Why do you wish to tread on the toes?

I requested him to put in a word for me.

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

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

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

He is always picking holes in every project.

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

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

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

The rebels held out for about a month

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

The authorities took him to task for his negligence.

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

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

A close shave

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