📚 Comprehensive Idioms

An eye wash (a pretense) 👁️🚿: He does nothing without self interest, all his excuses are, but an eye wash.
An iron hand (by force) 🦾: Indira Gandhi put down the opposition with an iron hand.
At odds (in dispute) ⚔️: The two groups of the society are at odds over the selection procedure of peons.
At sixes and seven (persons who have different opinions) 😵‍💫: Economists are at sixes and seven on the policy of rationing.
Apple of my eye (someone who is cherished above all others) 🍎👁️: I just love Jessie. She’s the apple of my eye.
At the drop of a hat (willing to do something immediately) 🎩: People will file lawsuits at the drop of a hat these days.
All bark and no bite (when someone is threatening but not willing to fight) 🐕🚫: She said that she will call the police if those people ever bother her again, but she didn’t. She’s all bark and no bite.
An axe to grind (to have a dispute with someone) 🪓: Environmentalists have no political axe to grind – they just want to save the planet.
Beck and call (at the service) 🛎️: Don’t worry, I am at your beck and call.
Bag and baggage (with all goods) 🧳: He returned to his village with bag and baggage.
Back to square one (having to start all over again) 🔄: They lost everything and found themselves back at square one.
Bated breath (in anxiety, expectancy) 😮‍💨: Every Indian was waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the cricket match.
Bank on (depend on, count on) 🏦: You can bank on me in odd times.
Barking up the wrong tree (a mistake made in something you are trying to achieve) 🌳🐕: If you think that we do want another war, you are barking up the wrong tree.
Beat a dead horse (to force an issue that has already ended) 🐎🔨: He keeps trying to get it published but I think he’s beating a dead horse.
Beating around the bush (avoiding the main topic) 🌳🦯: If you want to ask me, just ask; don’t beat around the bush.
Between the cup and the lips (on the point of achievement) ☕👄: Until I got the appointment letter in hand, I was not sure of the posting, as there were many slips between the cup and the lips.

Black and white (in writing) 📄✒️: It is always better to get everything in black and white.
Bird’s eye view (an overview) 🦅: You can get a bird’s-eye view of the city by going to the topmost floor.
Hot and cold (having no stand, showing favour then unfavour) 🌡️: He can’t be relied upon as he blows hot and cold in this matter.
Body and soul (entirely) 🧘: She devoted body and soul to win the medal.
Blank cheque (complete authority or unrestricted freedom) ✍️💰: Roger was given a blank cheque by Mr. Musk. He could spend as much as he wanted to implement the latest driving technology.
Blue moon (a rare event or occurrence) 🌙💙: Once in a blue moon I go to the cinema, only when there’s a film I really want to see.
Bite off more than you can chew (taking on a task that is too big) 👄🍕: I think he’s bitten off more than he can chew by taking all those classes.
By hook or by crook (by any means) 🎣🪝: I want to get this license by hook or by crook.
By leaps and bound (speedily) 🐇💨: The population is increasing by leaps and bounds.
By fits and starts (irregularly) 📉: Work done by fits and starts never completes in time.
Call a spade a spade (straight talks) ♠️🗣️: He believes in calling a spade a spade.
Cast iron stomach (someone who can eat anything without ill effects) 🥘🦾: It’s too spicy for me, but John will love it; he has a cast iron stomach!
Cast aspersions (to criticise somebody’s character) 🗣️👎: His opponents never missed an opportunity to cast aspersions on his professionalism.
Chip off the old block (looks or acts like their parents) 🪵🪓: Like his brother, he is a chip off the old block, very rude in behaviour and stout in physique.
Call the shots (to be in charge) 🔫🏢: The policeman is the one who will call the shots during the political gatherings.
Close call (a narrow escape from disaster) ⚡: It was quite a close call, but my father managed to avoid hitting the animal that ran across the highway.
Cock and bull story (untrue story) 🐓🐂: All his excuses seem a cock and bull story.
Cry over spilt milk (complaining about a loss from the past) 🥛😭: It’s no use crying over spilled milk - he’s spent all the money, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Confusion worse confounded (be in a further worse position) 🌀: Such demonstrations and communal speeches in present situation make confusion worse confounded.
Cross paths (encounter or meet someone by chance) 🛣️👋: I believe we will cross paths soon.
Cry wolf (intentionally raise a false alarm) 🐺📢: Don’t pay attention to Peter; he’s only crying wolf.
Curiosity killed the cat (being inquisitive can be dangerous) 🐱🕵️: When he started asking too many questions to his neighbours about their whereabouts during the weekend, they warned him that curiosity killed the cat.
Cut and dried (readymade form) ✂️☀️: There is no cut and dried method of English speaking.
Curtain lecture (a reproof by wife to her husband) 🎭🛋️: My younger brother never pays any attention to his wife’s curtain lecture.
Dark horse (one who was previously unknown and is now prominent) 🐎🕵️: The movie is a dark horse for the award.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch (don’t rely on it until you are sure) 🐣🚫: She wanted to buy a dress in case someone asked her to dance, but I warned her not to count her chickens before they are hatched.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket (do not put all resources in one possibility) 🧺🥚: Mr Tan’s financial advisor urged him to be careful and not put all his eggs in one basket by investing all his money in stocks.
Dog’s life (a miserable and unpleasant life) 🐕🌧️: Mark’s been leading a dog’s life since he was fired from the job.
Dig one’s own grave (doing something with negative consequences) 🪦⛏️: She dug her own grave when she started talking behind her boss’s back.
Drive someone up the wall (to annoy or irritate very much) 🧱🚗: My secretary pops her chewing gum loudly all day long and it absolutely drives me up the wall.

Every man jack (everyone without exceptions) 👨‍🌾: I’d bet every man jack of them are spies.
Elephant in the room (an obvious problem no one wants to discuss) 🐘🤫: When Geoff arrived at the meeting yesterday, he had a huge black eye… nobody dared ask him about it. So we sat there for the whole morning with this elephant in the room.
Eye candy (attractive visually but uninteresting otherwise) 🍭👁️: The company website was a pure eye candy because it looks good, but nothing is interesting when you dig deeper.
Every cloud has a silver lining (be optimistic, difficult times lead to better days) 🌤️✨: He told us about his resignation - an absolute disaster at the time, but every cloud has a silver lining because it led to my appointment.
Fair and square (honest) ⚖️: He is fair and square in his dealings.
Fair field and no favour (equal opportunity to all) 🏟️🤝: All the staff want fair field and no favour in the matter of transfer.
Far and wide (everywhere) 🗺️: Many tourists come to see the Taj from far and wide.
Fan and flames (make a bad situation even worse) 🔥🌬️: The president’s racist comments are really going to fan the flames of hatred among the crowd.
Fabian policy (policy of delaying decisions) 🐢🏛️: Mr. Narsimha Rao always followed a Fabian policy in all political issues.
Far and between (very rare) 🌌: His visits to his parents are far and far between because of his busy schedule.
Fire and brimstone (fearful penalties) 🌋🔥: The USA has threatened Iraq with fire and brimstone, if she refuses to follow the resolutions of UNO.
Fire and fury (extreme enthusiasm) 💥🔥: The speech of the leader was full of fire and fury.
Food for thought (an idea or subject to think about) 🧠🍎: The manager’s meeting today has given me a lot of food for thought…
First and foremost (highest priority) 🥇: To be sincere and devoted is the first and foremost requirement of a good employee.

Fiddle while Rome burns (act irresponsibly in a crisis) 🎻🔥: Vacuuming the carpet while her co-worker was in with the boss, trying to steal her job, felt like fiddling while Rome burned.
Feather one’s (own) nest (work hard to gather money for the future) 🪶💰: John is so much concerned about helping others instead of feathering his own nest.
Feel blue (to feel sad or depressed) 💙💧: Yesterday I felt blue, and nothing seemed to cheer me up.
Fight tooth and nail (to fight very fiercely) 🦷💅: I want this job so I’m going to fight tooth and nail for it.
Fair-weather friend (a friend not reliable in difficult times) 🌤️🤝: Simran is looking for a loyal friend, not a fair-weather friend.
Fall from grace (to lose status or respect) 📉💔: The biography explains the circumstances surrounding her fall from grace.
Feel the pinch (experience financial hardship) 🤏💸: We are starting to feel the pinch of high fuel costs.
Forbidden fruit is always the sweetest (desiring something out of reach) 🍎🚫: The guy thinks that the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest and keeps asking her out…
Familiarity breeds contempt (disliking something when known too well) 👯👎: The couple could not stay together long after their wedding because familiarity breeds contempt.
Fishy (doubtful) 🐟🕵️: There seems to be something fishy going on.
Foot the bill (bear expenses) 🧾💸: Although she hosted the feast, her father had to foot the bill.

Free and easy (natural and simple) 🍃: The principal found his arguments free and easy.
Flesh and blood (human nature) 🩸: I am only flesh and blood as anybody else.
Gall and wormwood (source of irritation) 🧪💢: Her remarks about his father were gall and wormwood to him.
Get up on the wrong side of the bed (having a horrible day) 🛌🌩️: Be careful when you talk to the boss. He got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
Give him the slip (to get away from, escape) 🏃‍♂️💨: After a long chase, the burglar gave the police the slip.
Go down like a lead balloon (to be received badly by an audience) 🎈⚓: The joke he cracked went down like a lead balloon.
Get a life (stop wasting time in trivial works) 🧬⌛: You are working over 100 hours a week, dude, get a life.
Get the wrong end of the stick (to understand something the wrong way) 🏒❌: When Jack and Taylor arrived… everyone got the wrong end of the stick.
Go for broke (to gamble everything you have) 🎰💥: But, with that cash back, why not go for broke?
Good Samaritan (one who helps others in need) 😇🤝: A good Samaritan stopped to help me change my car’s tyre.
Gird up the loin (to be ready) 🥋💪: We should gird up the loin to fight the poverty and menace of dowry.
Grit your teeth (determined in spite of difficulties) 🦷😤: To reach safety I had to wade through the mud, so I just had to grit my teeth.
Give in (surrender) 🏳️: He is a brave man, he will not give in easily.
Gut feeling (a personal intuition) 🤰✨: As I read the story, I had a gut feeling that the postman was lying… and I was right!

Hand and gloves (very intimate friends) 🧤🤝: Ram and Rahim are hand and gloves to each other.
Hard and fast (certain/strict rules) 🔒🚫: There are no hard and fast rules to sanction the loan in the banks.

Haughty and naughty (arrogant and naughty) 💅😈: The haughty and naughty attitude of the president is not liked by any member of the society.
Heart and soul (with full devotion) ❤️🔥: He threw himself heart and soul into passing the examination.
Head and shoulder (superior) 🏔️🏆: Mr. Dev Patil is head and shoulder above his counter parts.
Helter skelter (here and there/chaotic) 🌀🏃: On arrival of the police, the strikers ran helter skelter.
Herculean task (a tedious job/great effort) 💪🏋️: Getting selected in IAS is a herculean task for everybody.
Hit below the belt (contrary to fairness) 🥊🚫: By making his private secrets public, he hit him below the belt.
Hither and thither (here and there) 📍🗺️: He is in the habit of putting his goods hither and thither.
Hornet’s nest (raise controversy) 🐝💢: The speaker of Lok Sabha stirred up hornet’s nest by referring to impending changes…
Hue and cry (great noise/public outcry) 📢🔊: A lot of hue and cry was raised in Parliament against this bill.
Hush money (a bribe) 🤫💰: He managed to escape punishment by paying hush money.
Ins and outs (full detail) ℹ️📜: Before starting any new business you must know all ins and outs of it.
Intents and purposes (practically) 🎯: My wife is the in-charge of the house for all intents and purposes.
Ivory tower (imaginary world/isolated from reality) 🏰☁️: Those who talk of non-violence as a useful tool in tackling the militants live in an ivory tower.
In the heat of the moment (overwhelmed by what is happening) 🔥💥: He didn’t mean it – he said it in the heat of the moment.
In the pink (in good health and spirits) 💖✨: As a famous president, he has the perfect reason to be in the pink.

In hot water (in trouble or state of shame) ♨️⚠️: The opposition leader landed himself in a whole load of hot water after making several vulgar comments.
In the loop (to be aware of information) ➰👂: Katy was always happy that her friends kept her in the loop with the latest gossip.
In the nick of time (almost too late) ⏱️⚡: He arrived at the wedding in the nick of time.
Kith and kin (blood relatives) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🩸: All kith and kin were invited in the marriage of his son.
Keep your chin up (remain joyful in a tough situation) 🆙😊: He’s still keeping his chin up despite all his health problems.
Keep body and soul together (earn enough to stay alive) 🍞🧘: His wages are barely enough to keep body and soul together.
Latin and Greek (unable to understand) 🏛️📜: His speech in English was Latin and Greek to the rural folk.
Law and equity (legal and moral justice) ⚖️📜: Law and equity demands that the reservation should be based on economic parameters.
Leave no stone unturned (make all possible efforts) 🪨🔍: I shall leave no stone unturned to get the promotion.
Length and breadth (all over) 📏🗺️: Anti English agitation spread through the length and breadth of the country.
Life and soul (main support/center of attention) 🌟💖: Sonia Gandhi is the life and soul of Congress.
Let the cat out of the bag (share a secret) 🐈🎒: I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Rohan went and let the cat out of the bag.
Let sleeping dogs lie (avoid restarting a conflict) 🐕💤: It’s best to keep your opinion to yourself around him. Just let sleeping dogs lie.
Like a chicken with its head cut off (act in a frenzied manner) 🐔🌪️: She ran around the station looking for her lost bag like a chicken with its head cut off.
Like a fish out of water (in a difficult and unsuitable situation) 🐟🏜️: Ram was given an unremunerative post, and he feels like a fish out of water.

Live-wire (energetic) ⚡🔋: India needs live-wire scientists who can put the country on the fast track of progress.
Loaves and fish (material interests) 🍞🐟: Now-a-days Government servants are concerned with the loaves and fish of the office…
Lock and key (in safe place) 🔐🏢: He keeps jewellery under lock and key.
Loose cannon (unpredictable and damaging) 💣🛶: I don’t think we can take a risk on a loose cannon like him running our country.
Make no bones about (state a fact without doubts) 🦴🗣️: He made no bones about his plans to cut expenses.
Might and main (with all enthusiasm/force) 💪💥: If you study with might and main you will positively secure success.
Milk and water (weak) 🥛💧: The foreign policy of India is nothing more than a milk and water policy.
Nutshell (brief and straight to the point) 🥜📝: In a nutshell, all the new mayor was saying is that the fight against crime will be taken much more seriously.
In stitches (to laugh so hard you can't control yourself) 😂🧵: The movie had everyone in the theatre in stitches.
In the bad books (out of favour) 📚😡: Maria remains in his bad books after the argument between both.
Need of the hour (necessity of time) ⌛🚨: Providing full security for the residents of border area is the need of the hour.
Never bite the hand that feeds you (don’t hurt those who help you) 🖐️🦷: She was very angry with her boss, but she decided to keep quiet…
No room to swing a cat (unusually small space) 🏠🐈: It’s a cute house, but there’s no room to swing a cat.
Nook and corner (everywhere) 🗝️🗺️: I searched her in every nook and corner.
Not born yesterday (worldly wise) 👶🚫: You can’t fool me as I was not born yesterday.
Now and then (occasionally) 🗓️: I visit church now and then.

Null and void (of no use/without force) 🚫📜: The law passed by legislature was declared null and void by the Supreme Court.
A gentleman at large (an unreliable person) 🕵️‍♂️🚫: He is a gentleman at large, you must not trust him.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (certainty is better than risk) 🐦🌳: He decided against selling off this small business for the prospects of starting a bigger one.
A man of straw (a weak person) 🌾👤: The assistant being a man of straw, his advice was often discarded.
A bull in a china shop (one who causes damage) 🐂🏺: We told him that it was a delicate situation, but he went into the meeting like a bull in a china shop.
A damp squib (complete failure) 🎇💦: The visit of our Foreign Minister to the USA proved a damp squib on terrorist issue.
A penny saved is a penny earned (saving money little by little) 💰🐷: Put it in the bank, a penny saved is a penny earned!
A taste of your own medicine (being mistreated the same way you mistreat others) 💊👅: I’m tired of him finding faults… I’m going to give him a taste of his own medicine.
A mare’s nest (a false invention/illusion) 🐴🪺: The involvement of politicians in the developmental scheme proved to be a mare’s nest.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing (dangerous person pretending to be harmless) 🐺🐑: Charles Sobhraj is a wolf in sheep’s clothing for general public.
ABC (very common knowledge) 🔤: He doesn’t know ABC of Physics.
Above board (fair and honest) 🚢⚖️: He is a straightforward man. His financial dealings are above board.
A piece of cake (a task easily accomplished) 🍰✨: The exam was a piece of cake.

All and sundry (without making any distinction) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🌍: He invited all and sundry in the marriage party of his younger brother.
All in all (most important) 👑: The Forest Minister is all in all of our departments.
Alpha and omega (beginning and end) 👑⌛: The alpha and omega of British policy was to keep the Indians divided.

Odds and ends (remaining goods) 🧩📦: Except odds and ends, all the items have since been arranged in order.
Off on the wrong foot (getting a bad start) 🦶❌: They got off on the wrong foot when they first met…
Off the record (said in confidence) 🤐📵: She made it clear that her comments were strictly off the record.
Once and again (repeatedly) 🔄: I have told you once and again that I have no money…
On the fence (undecided) 🚧🤔: Has he decided whether he will take the job yet? 'No, he’s still on the fence.'
Out of the blue (suddenly and unexpectedly) 🌌⚡: One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.
One’s Achilles’ heel (a weak point) 🦶🎯: Her involvement in scandal has been her Achilles’ heel.
Over my dead body (absolutely will not allow something) ⚰️🚫: ‘Let’s invite her to dinner.’ – ‘Over my dead body!’
Over the top (very excessive) 📈💥: The special effects are a bit over the top but I enjoyed it.
Open and above board (very clear/transparent) 👐💎: He believes in open and above board discussion on every point.
Order of the day (in fashion) 🗓️🧥: Sending greetings on all occasions has become the order of the day.
Out of gear (in disorder) ⚙️❌: The strike of employees always put the government machinery out of gear.
Out and out (completely) 💯: Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader out and out.
Over and above (besides/additional) ➕💰: I paid him rupees ten thousand over and above what he demanded.
Over head and ears (excessively/deeply) 👂🌊: He is over head and ears in debt.
Oily tongue (flattering words) 👅✨: One should be aware of the persons with oily tongue.

Pass the buck (avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else) 🦌💵: She’s always trying to pass the buck and I’m sick of it.
Prick up your ears (listen very carefully) 👂✨: The children pricked up their ears when they heard the word ‘candy’.
Part and parcel (being an important part of) 📦🧩: Each employee should feel himself part and parcel of the business enterprises.
Pell mell (in confusion/disorder) 🌪️📦: He was in such a hurry that he put all the articles pell mell…
Pick and choose (choose selectively) 🍱👈: The management adopted pick and choose policy in the promotions…
Pins and needles (anxious/tingling) 📍⚡: Note: Example provided for Pull the plug below:
Pull the plug (stop something/end it) 🔌🚫: She’s planning to pull the plug on the cable company and watch TV online instead.
Pulling your leg (tricking someone as a joke) 🤡🦵: I panicked when he said the test was tomorrow, but then I realised he was just pulling my leg.
Pros and cons (merits and demerits) ⚖️📝: Before signing this agreement you must understand all pros and cons well.
Raining cats and dogs (loud and noisy rain storm) 🌧️🐱🐶: We wanted to play football, but now it’s raining cats and dogs…
Rain or shine (under any circumstances) 🌦️💪: Rain or shine, I will oppose the proposal.
Rome wasn’t built in one day (great work takes time) 🏛️⌛: We should always remember Rome was not built in a day, be patient, be persevering.
Rhyme or reason (rational cause) 🎼🧠: He resigned from the service without any rhyme or reason.
Right and left (in all ways/directions) ↔️🏃: The robbers looted the village right and left and fled away.
Rule of thumb (a rough estimate) 👍📏: A good rule of thumb is to keep three months worth of expenses as savings.

Safe and sound (quite well/secure) 🏠✨: She reached there safe and sound.
Seamy side of life (immoral side of society) 🕸️🏚️: The present day cinema depicts the seamy side of life in our society.
Scapegoat (someone else who takes the blame) 🐐🎯: The captain was made a scapegoat for the team’s failure.
Scot-free (escape without penalty) 🏃‍♂️💨: Much more pernicious forms of gambling… are allowed to go scot-free.
Sum and substance (the actual theme) 📝📜: The sum and substance of the paragraph must be reflected in a good précis.
Smell a rat (detect betrayal) 🐀🕵️: His wife smelt a rat when he suddenly started working late…
Smell something fishy (detecting something isn't right) 🐟🕵️: When I heard his account of the car crash, I noticed a bit of a fishy smell…
Spitting image (exact likeness) 👯✨: That restored Mustang is the spitting image of the one I bought in 1982.
Take bull by horns (meet danger boldly) 🐂🤘: One should have courage to take bull by horns if one wants to succeed.
The best of both worlds (having two choices/advantages at once) 🌎✨: She works in the city and lives in the country, so she gets the best of both worlds.
The die is cast (decided finally) 🎲🏛️: The die is cast; there is no point of discussing over it now.
The last straw (unbearable final small burden) 🌾🐪: She’s always been rude to me, but it was the last straw when she started insulting my mother.
To steal someone’s thunder (take credit for another's work) ⚡👏: He had no intention of letting the Foreign Secretary steal any of his thunder.
Thick and thin (in all circumstances) 🛤️🤝: I shall support you through thick and thin.
Through fire and water (through all difficulties) 🔥💧: He can go through fire and water to achieve his goal.

Time and tide (course of time) 🌊⌛: Time and tide waits for none.
To and fro (going and coming/backward and forward) ↔️🚕: What are the to and fro taxi charges for Alvar to Delhi?
Toil and moil (hard labour) 🔨💪: It requires too much of toil and moil to secure the first position.
Tom Dick and Harry (everyone/common people) 👨‍👨‍👦: Every Tom Dick and Harry try to lead the customers up the garden path…
Tooth and nail (with all force) 🦷💅: Students of general caste opposed the reservation policy tooth and nail…
Tongue-in-cheek (humour/not to be taken seriously) 😜🗣️: The tongue-in-cheek remark was not meant to be taken seriously, but Sarah was easily offended.
Turn a blind eye (refuse to acknowledge) 🙈🚫: Management often turns a blind eye to bullying in the workplace.
Ups and downs (prosperity and adversity) 🎢📈: There are ups and downs in every business.
Under the weather (feeling ill or sick) 🤒🌧️: I don’t feel like hanging out today. I’m feeling a bit under the weather.
Uphill task (difficult task) 🧗⛰️: Passing CAT examination is an uphill task.
Up a blind alley (course of action leading to bad outcome) 🛣️🚫: I keep telling Gina to stop chasing after Joe. She’s just going up a blind alley!
Under a cloud (under suspicion) ☁️🕵️: The luxury transport industry is under a cloud… after newspapers revealed illegal activities.
Under fire (being shot at/severely criticized) 🔥🗣️: The politician came under fire after it was discovered that he spent campaign money on parties.
Wear your heart on your sleeve (freely express emotions) ❤️👕: I can tell Jenny is upset; she wears her heart on her sleeve.
When pigs fly (something that will never happen) 🐷💸: Yeah, when pigs fly! There is no way he is ready to get married now!
Warp and woof (essential parts of a thing) 🧶🧬: Blood and bones are warp and woof of human body.

Weal and woe (prosperity and adversity) 🌈🌪️: I will abide by you in all weal and woe.

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Yellow press (newspapers publishing sensational news) 📰💛: These days newspapers with yellow press are earning like anything.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink (can offer good things but can't force acceptance) 🐎🌊: I have tried my best to educate him, but he has a non-serious behaviour…
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks (cannot make others change habits) 🐕👴: I tried to make my grandmother learn how to use a smartphone, but it was just like you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Zone out (to fall asleep/lose focus) 😵💤: Whenever they start talking about crypto currency, I zone out.
Zip it (to ask someone to shut up) 🤐🔇: The teacher had asked the class to zip it but today everybody seemed to want to talk a lot.