700 Idioms and Phrases with Meaning and, Sentence

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List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘A’

Achilles’ heels – A small but fatal weakness.
Add fuel to fire – To make a matter worse.
An arm chair job – Good income job with high comfort.
An axe to grind – Something done for selfish reasons.
An iron-will – Strong will power.
An old flame – A person with whom one had a romantic relationship with in the past.
An old head on young shoulders – A child or young person who thinks and talks like an older and experienced person.
An olive branch – Peace request/peace treaty.
Apple of discord – Matter of dispute.
Apple of one’s eye – Very lovable dearest one.
Apple-pie-order – In good condition.
At a loss – To be unable to decide.
At a pinch – In a trouble.
At arms’s length – Avoid becoming too friendly.
At daggers drawn – To have bitter enmity.
At ease – Free from pain and anxiety.
At one’s finger’s ends – To have complete knowledge.
AT one’s wit’s end – Puzzled/confused/perplexed.
At sixes and sevens – In disorder.
Atake – At-risk and insecure.
At the eleventh hour – At the last moment.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘B’

Back stairs gossip – Talk among servants/unfair talks.
Bad blood – Enmity/bitter relations.
Bag and baggage – With all belongings.
Baker’s dozen – Thirteen in number.
Be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth – to be born in a rich family.
Be in the driving seat – Bearing all responsibilities.
Bear the brunt of – To bear the main part of something unpleasant.
Beat about the bust – To talk in a roundabout manner/circumlocution.
Beat black and blue – Beating mercilessly.
Beat hollow – To defeat thoroughly and convincingly.
Beck and call – Ready to obey orders instantly.
Bed of roses – Pleasant situation of comfort.
Bed of thorns – A situation of extreme difficulty.
Beggar description – A person with no resources.
Bell the cat – Taking the first step at personal risk.
Between the devil and the deep sea – Between two difficult situations.
Big gun – An influential person.
Bird of passage – one who comes occasionally.
Bird’s eye view – Overview.
Birds of feather – People with the same idea, characteristics, and interests.
Bite the dust – To be defeated.
Black sheep – A person wi is regarded as disgrace for his family/team etc.
Blind alley – A situation in which no further progress can be made.
Blink date – A meeting between a girl and a boy, who have not met before.
Blow one’s own trumpet – To praise oneself.
Blue blood – Royal or aristocratic descent.
Blue book – Government report.
Body and Soul – Entirely.
Bold from the blue – Unexpected problem.
Bone of contention – Subject of a dispute.
Boonblessing in disguise – Hidden blessing.
Bosom friend – Fast friend.
Break the ice – To start a conversation.
Breathe one’s last – TO pass away/ to die.
Broad day light – In day light (When crime cannot be hidden).
Broken reed – A waeak, unreliable person.
Brown study – A state of deep thought.
Bull in the china shop – One who is out of place in a delicate situation.
Burn a hole in the pocket – Money spent quickly.
Burn one’s fingers – To get oneself into trouble.
Burn the candle at both ends – To waste money.
Burn the midnight oil – Labouring/studying till late at night.
Burning question – Hot issue.
Bury the hatchet – To end a hostility.
By fits and starts – Irregularly.
By hook or by crook – By a means, right or wrong.
By leaps and bounds – At a rapid pace.
By the skin of one’s teeth/by a whisker – Narrowly/by a hair breadth.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘C’

Carry the coal to Newcastle – Spending time and energy in doing something that is useless and wastage of energy.
Cast pearls before swine – A right thing in a wrong hand.
.Castles in the air – Day dream/ a hope or desire unlikely to be realized.
Cat and dog life – Troublesome life.
Catch a tartar – To grapple with an unexpectedly.
Cat’s paw – A person used by another as a dupe or tool.
Chew the cud – To ponder over/ meditate.
Chicken hearted – Lacking courage / cowardly.
Cock-and-bull story – A concocted story.
Crocodile tears – A false display of grief.
Cross swords – T quarrel or fight.
Cry for the moon – To desire the unattainable.
Cry over spilled milk – Regret in vain for what cannot be undone.
Cut a sorry figure – To give a poor show.
Cut both ways – Argue in favour of both sides.
Cut no ice – To fail to make an impression.
Cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth – To lice within one’s means.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘D’

Dance to one’s tune – Obeying one’s order.
Dark horse – One who wins unexpectedly.
Dead letter – A law or ordiance that is no longer enforced.
Democle’s sword – Constant threat.
Die a dog’s death – To die a shameful death.
Die in harness – Die while in service.
Dog in the manger – A person who prevents others from enjoying what he cannot.
Donkey’s years – A long time.
Draw a line – Set a limit.
Duck in a thunder storm – In a painful condition.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘E’

Eagle eyed – With keen eye sight.
Eat humble pie – To apologize.
Eat one’s words – Take a statement back.
Elbow room – Sufficient scope to move or function.
End in smoke – Come to nothing.
Escape one’s lips – Speak unintentionally or unexpectedly.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘F’

Fabian policy – Deliberate slwo policy /policy of delaying decisions.
Fair and square – In an honest way.
Fair sex – Women.
Fair weather friend – Selfish friends who are with us only in comfortable situation.
Fancy price – At any cost / at demanded price.
Feather in the cap – Additional success.
Feather one’s nest – To enrich oneself by taking advantage of one’s position.
Fight shy of – To attempt to avoid a thing or person.
Fish in troubled waters – To take advantage of the problems of others.
Fish out of water – Out of one’s usual and comfortable place.
Fly in the ointment – A slight unpleasant thing that obstructs the enjoyment of something.
Fools paradise – A state of being happpy for foolish or unfounded reasons.
Forty winks – A nap.
French Leave – A leave without information or permission.
French – Benefits An additional benefit apart from salary.
From hand to mouth – Providing only bare essentials.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘G’

Gala day – Celebration day.
Get away with – To escape.
Get down to – To attend to work seriously.
Get into a soup – Get into trouble.
Get into hot water – Get into trouble.
Get off scot free – To escape without punishment.
Get on one’s nerves – To irritate or annoy.
Gibble-gabble – Foolish talk.
Gift of the gab – Talent for speaking.
Give a piece of mind – To rebuke or scold.
Go through fire and water – To brave any danger.
Go to dogs – To deteriorate / degenerate.
Go to rack and ruin – To decay or get destroyed.
Good samaritan – A person who helps and pays sympathy to those in distress.
Grass widow – A woman who is separated, divorced or lives apart fro her husband.
Grease the palm – To bribe.
Green room – A lounge in a theater or studio for the performers to get ready.
Grist to one’s mill – Something that can be used for one’s advantage.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘H’

Halcyon days – Peaceful days.
Hammer and sickle – A symbolic representation of comunism in general.
Hammer and tongs – With great effort or energy.
Hand and glove with – In close co-operation.
Hang by a thread – Be in a risky situation.
Hard nut to crack – A difficult problem to solve / A person difficult to understand.
Haul over the coals – To take to task, to reprimand.
Have finger in teh pie – To be involved in something.
Have one’s hands full – To be complete occupied.
Have one’s way – The way one wants.
Have several irons in the fire – To be involved in many projects or activities at the same time.
Hen-pecked husband – Admirer of one’s won wife in a servile manner.
Herculean task – Task requiring tremendous effort.
High and dry – In a deprived situation (alone).
High handed – Overbearing.
High living – Living with comfort and ease.
Hit below the belt – To strike unfairly.
Hit the jackpot – Gaining a big/greta success
Hit the nail on the head – To do the right thing at the right time.
Hobson’s choice – No altenative.
Hole and corner policy – Secret policy.
Hue and cry – Any loud public outcry.
Hush money – Money given to someone to keep something secret.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘I’

In a nut shell – In very brief form.
In black and white – In printed or written form.
In full swing – At the height of activity.
In the blues – In dumps depressed.
In the long run – Ultimately.
In the nick of time – At the last possible moment.
In the same boat – Sharing the same problem.
In vogue – In the current fashions.
Ins and outs – Intricacies or complications / full detail.
Iron hand / Iron fist – Rigorous control.
Itching palm – Craving for bribe.
Itsy bitsy – Very small or tiny.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘J’

Jack of all trades and master of none – A person who know many different kinds of work but is a master of none.
Jail bird – A person who is or has been confined to jail.
Jaundiced eye – To look at something with a prejudiced view.
Judas kiss – False love.
Jump to a conclusion – To come to a conclusion

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘K’

Kangaroo court – An illegal court.
Keep one’s cards close to one’s chest – Hiding something.
Keep one’s fingers crosses – To wait expectantly.
Keep one’s word – To keep one’s promise.
Keep the ball rolling – TO maintain the progress of a project or plan.
Keep teh wolf from the door – To avert poverty/starvation.
Kill two birds with one stone – Doing two things at the same time while effort is made for one
kith and kin – Blood relations.
Knit one’s brow – To frown.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘L’

Lady’s man – A man who is fond of company of women.
Lame excuse – False excuse / baseless excuse
Left handed compliment – An insult disguised as a compliment.
Lion share – large part.
Live in an ivory tower – Living in comfort and being unaware of realities of others miseries.
Loaves and fishes – material benefit.
Look off colours – Look ill or unhealthy.
Look through coloured glasses – To see with different/wrong views.
Lump in the throat – A tight or uncomfortable feeling in throat due to emotions.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘M’

Mad as a march hare – Crazy and insane.
Make a clean breast – To confess especially something bad or illegal.
Maiden name – A women’s surname before marriage.
Maiden speech – First speech.
Make a hash – To mess up.
Make a mountain out of a mole hill – To exaggerate a minor difficulty.
Make both ends meet – To live within one’s means.
Make hay while the sun shines – To take the benefit of an old opportunity.
Make or mar – To make or destroy.
Make the best of both the worlds – Getting benefited from both the sides.
Make up one’s mind – To decide.
Man of means – A wealthy man.
Man of iron – Man with strong will power.
Man of letter – Learned person.
Man of parts – A man of qualities.
Man fo spirit – A man full of enthusiasm.
man of straw – A weak person.
Man of the world – An experienced person.
Man of word – True to one’s word.
Mare’s nest – A false invention.
Midas touch – A man with extraordinary power or capacity to make any venture profitable.
Mince matters – To moderate or restrain one’s language.
To Mind one’s P’s and Q’s – Taking care of behaviour properly.
Miss the beat – To lose and opportunity.
Mother wit – Common sense.
Move heaven and earth – To try ones’s best.
Much cry and little wool/Much ado about nothing – Lot of fanfare for something which has very little margin.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘N’

Narrow escape /Close Shave – To escape by a little margin.
Nig-nag – A noun used to address someone (African-American with joke or frustration).
Nine day’s wonder – Something that arouses great interest but for a very short period.
Nip in the bud – To put on end to something in its initial stage.
Null and void – Ineffective.
Nurse a grudge – Bear resentment for long period.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘O’

Oily tongue – Flattering words.
On one’s guard – Vigilant.
On one’s last legs – Close to collapsing.
Once for all – For the last time/conclusively.
Open question – A question which may have more than one answer.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘P’

Palmy days – Prosperous/affluent days.
Pandora’s box – A source of extensive but unforeseen troubles.
Part and parcel – Inseparable part.
Past master – An expert.
Pay the piper – To bear the cost of something/someservice rendered.
Pay through his nose – To pay dearly.
Penny wise pound foolish – Careful about trifles but wasteful in large ventures.
Pick up the gauntlet – To accept the challenge.
Play ducks and drakes – To waste money.
Play second fiddle – To be at a subordinate position.
Play truant – To be absent from duty without permission.
Poison someone’s ears – To speak against one to another.
Poke one’s nose – To interfere.
Pour oil on troubled waters – To pacify the matters.
Pros and cons – For and against.
Pull ones legs – To make fun of or to tease.
Pull the wool over somebody’s eyes – To mislead.
Put a spoke in one’s wheel – To obstruct.
Put in cold storage – To keep a work pending.
Put one’s foot down – To act firmly.
Put one’s shoulders to the wheel – To work or exert oneself heavily.
Put the cart before the horse – To do things wrongly.
Put the cat among pigeons – To say/do something that causes trouble or make many very angry.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘Q’

Quarrel with one’s bread and butter – To fight with the executive or employer, who is providing one’s means of living.
Queer fish – Strange person.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘R’

Rain cats and dogs – Rain very heavily.
Rainy day – Future time of need, especially financial need.
Read between the lines – To understand the hidden meaning.
Red handed – Exactly while committing a crime or doing something wrong.
Red letter day – A memorably important or happy occasion.
Red tapism – Strict adherence to excessive paper work and official formalities.
Rest on one’s laurels – Depending on the achievement made in the past.
Rhyme or reason – Sense, logic or meaning.
Right-hand man – One’s most valuable assistant or supporter.
Rise like a phoenix from its ashes – To make a miraculous comeback after a seemingly insurmountable setback.
Rock the boat – To disturb a situation which was otherwise stable.
Rolling stone – A restless person.
Royal road – An easy or direct way of achieving a desired result.
Rule the roost – To dominate.
Run amuck – Mad with murderous frenzy.
Run in the same groove – maintaining a sweet relationship.
Run-of-the mill – Average /common.
Run the gauntlet – To go through an unpleasant experience.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘S’

Sail under false colurs – To pretend to be something that you are not.
Save one’s skin – To save oneself.
See eye-to-eye – Showing agreement / to agree.
See pink elephants – Any visual hallucination arising due to intoxication.
See red – Be very angry.
See through – Comprehend understand.
Set at naught – To disregard or treat as of no importance.
Set one’s face against – To oppose with determination.
Set one’s heart on – To have as one’s ambition to obtain something.
Set one’s teeth on ege – To irritate or annoy someone.
Set the Thames on fire – To achieve something amazing.
Shoulder to shoulder – With united effort.
Show white feather – To show cowardice.
Sine die – Indefinitely.
Sit on the fence – Refuse to take sides in a dispute.
Slip of the tongue – Spoken unintentionally.
Slow coach – A person with lazy approach of working.
Small fry – Ingignificant person.
Smell a rat – To suspect of something wrong done.
Smooth sailing – Easy progress.
Snake in the grass – A secret enemy.
Shake in the shoes – To tremble with fear or apprehansion.
Sow the dragon’s teeth – To create future troubles for yourself or others.
Speak one’s mind – Speak what one really thinks.
Spick and span – In order / neat and clean.
Stand on one’s own legs – To be self dependent.
Stand/Stick to one’s guns – To be strict and determined.
Stand somebody in good stead – To be of great use and benefit to someone.
Steal a march – To obtain an advantage by secret means.
Step into another’s – To take over a job/responsibility of some other person.
Stiff-necked person – Stubborn or arrogant.
Stir a finger – Making effort.
Stone’s throw – Very near.
Street Arabs – A homeless person (especially who survives by begging).
Sum and substance – Main idea or gist.
Swan song – The last ceremony or farewell.
Sweat of one’s brow – Hard labour.
Swelled head – Grand opinion of onself/conceited.
Sworn enemies – People hating each other a lot.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘T’

Take away ones’s breath – To overwhelm with surprise.
Take by storm – To surprise unexpectedly.
Take into account – To consider.
Take one at ones’s word – To be convinced of one’s sincerity and act in accordance with his/her statement.
Take the bull by the horns – To adopt the most direct but the most dangerous way of facing adifficulty.
Take to one’s heels – To run away.
Talk big – To boast or brag.
Talk of the town – To be the person or subject everyone is talking about.
The printer’s devils – Error in printing.
Think twice – To consider carefully before deciding.
Through thick and thin – In good and bad times.
Throw cold water upon – To discourage.
Throw down the gauntlet – To challenge.
Tooth and nail – Violently.
True to one’s salt – Loyal person.
Turn a deaf ear to – Not to pay attention to.
Turn over a new leaf – To be entirely changed (for good)
Turn the corner – To pass through a critical point in a process.
Turn turtle – To overturn.
Turn up one’s nose at To take lightly with contempt.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘U’

Under the nose of – Right in front of someone.
Under the thumb of – Under the power of influence of.
Up and doing – Active in work.
Up one’s sleeves – An item kept hidden and used whenever required.
Uphill task – Difficult task.
Upon one’s sweet will – On self sedired or wish.
Ups and downs – Good and bad times.
Utopian scheme – A visionary scheme though Impractical.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘W’

Weather the storm – Survive by coming out of difficulties.
Well-to-do – Affluent.
Wet blanket – One who spoils the enjoyment.
Wheels within wheels – A series of intricately connected events.
White elephant – Expensive but of no use.
White lie – A minor lie.
Will o’ the wisp – Elusive/unreal.
Windfall – Sudden gain received.
With a grain of salt – To accept with misgiving.
With one accord/in one voice – Unanimously.
Wolf in sheep’s clothing – A malicious person in harmless or benevolent disguise.
Word for word – In exactly the same word.
Word of mouth – Informal oral communication.

List of idiom and phrases starting with ‘Y’

Yeoman’s service – Excellent work.

Idiom and Phrases with their meanings and sentences

Idiom starts with ‘A’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Above board (honest and straight forward), – Gandhi ji was above board and hence had nothing to hide.
Adam’s alse (Pure water) – In the remotest parts of Rajasthan, people walk miles for Adam’s ale.
Add a new feather in one’s cap (to acquire a new honour or distinction) paramount Coaching Centre has added a new feather in its cap by starting paramount Reader Publication.
Add insult to injury (to harm as well as humiliate) – She has added insult to injury by returning the gift and sending a ‘get lost’ note.
After one’s own heart (Similar to you) – Seeing you inclination towards art and Literature, I can say that you are clearly a person after my own heart.
An eye wash (A pretence) – The whole investigation was just and eye eash as no one was held guilty.
A hair-breadth escape (Very narrow escape) – He had a hair-breadth escape when his bike skid on the oil-drenched read.
An old flame (Long time love) – He saw his old flame in the market yesterday but prudently avoided eye contact.
An old head on young shoulders (To be more matured than one’s own age) – He is an old head on young shoulders as he teaches Physics at a university at a young age of 25.
As fit as a fiddle (Strong and healthy) – He feigned illness but I knew that he was as ift as a fiddle.
Assume airs (To pretend superiority) – After becoming an IAS officer he has assumed airs.
At a stone’s throw (At a little distance) – Lal Quila is at a stone’s throw from my house.
At large (Absconding) – Many terrorists are at large and posing.
At logger heads (To be strife) – Congress is always at logger heads with the BJP.
At naught (To disregard or treat as of no importance) – Leaders today set Gandhiji’s ideals at naught.
At odds (In disagreement) – Various political parties are at odds in the matter of Women Reservation Bill.
At sea (to be confused) – He was at sea when he saw the questions paper.
At one’s beck and call (at service) – The servants were always at the beck and call of the rich merchant.

Idiom starts with ‘B’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Backstairs influence (improper and private influence) – He tried to get a government job by backstair influence.
Bad egg (A worthless person) – Often a prodigal son of a rich father becomes a bad egg for the society.
Bandy words (to argue) – The two neighbours usually bandy words and create a lot of nuisance.
Bank upon (depend on, count on) – You can bank upon us at the time of need.
Bated breadth (holding yo breath, in anixiety) – We waited for the goodnews outside the delivery room with bated breath.
Be in bad books of (Out of favour) – She is in good books of her parents as she went to see a movie without informing them.
Be in bad odour of (To be out of favour) – A corrupt minister is always in bad odour of the public.
Be in good books of (To be in-kind favour) – She is in good books of her employer as she is very efficient and hardworking.
Be in good odour of (To be in good favour) – An honest minister is always in good odour of the public.
Be in the driving seat (To take teh whole responsibility) – Ramesh is the eldest son and os he is in the driving seat after his father’s death.
Bear the palm (To be victorious) – Our school bore the palm in the dance competition held at the district level.
Beat the air (To make useless efforts) – Trying to reform a hard-core criminal is like beating the air.
Bed or roses (An easy and comfortable situation) – The life of the prince was a bed of roses.
Bee in one’s bonnet (Go on talking about something which other people think is not important) – She has a bee in her bonnet about recycling of waste material.
Behind the scene (Secretly) – The minister is the mastermind behind the scene and the police are arresting small fries.
Below the belt (To strike unfairly) – One must compete with others in a fair manner and should not hit anyone below the belt.
Beside oneself (To feel extremely nervous or worries) – Before any exam, I am beside myself.
Beside the mark (Irrelevant) – The judge did not hear any argument that was beside the mark.
Between Scylla and Charybdis (between two great dangers) – She is between Scylla and Charybdis: If she obeys her mother-in-law she will lose her job and if she does not she will lose her family.
Bid defiance (To defy) – The army is bidding defiance by going against the government.
Bite the dust (To be defeated) – In every match, The Pakistani team bite the dust.
Blaze the trail (To be pioneer and make path for others) – Only a man of iron can blaze the trail.
Blessing in disguise (Something intrinsically good but having a bad appearance) – He missed the train but it was a blessing in disguise as the train met with an accident.
Blow one’s own trumpet (To praise one’s ownself) – Every political party always blows its own trumpet and denounces the other political parties.
Blue stocking (An educated intellectual lady) – A blue stocking was rarely found in Medieval India.
Book worm (A bibliophilic person) – She is not a book worm but still comes first.
Break the ice (To break silence by speaking first) – Shyam broke the ice by talking to me after a long time.
Bring down the house (Receive great applause) – The performance of Lata Mangeshkar brought the house down.
Bring home (To explain) – I was unable to bring my views home before my parents.
Bring to book (To punish) – The guilty should be brought to book.
Bring to light (To disclose) – The CBI has brought many indiscripancies to light in many high profile cases.
Brow beat (To intimidate) – The Government must not brow beat the social reformers if they protest against any unjust law.
Burn one’s boats (Point of no return) – By signing the agreement he burnt his boat. Now he will have to work in this organization for two more years.
By and by (Gradually) – You will learn the norms of this organization by and by
By and large (On the whole) – My friend is by and large an honestperson.
By dint of (by means of) – You can succeed by dint of hard work only.
By fair or foul means (By any way right or wrong) – He will try to get a job by fair or foul means but will ultimately lose his peace of mind.
By the rule of thumb (According to practical experience) – By rule of thumb we must not allow children to take major decisions.

Idiom starts with ‘C’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Caught red-handed – (to be caught while committing a crime) – My brother felt ashamed when he was caught red-handed reading my personal diary.
Call a spade and spade (to be frank) – He never hesitated in calling a spade a spade and hence he has few friends.
Call names (To abuse) – He has a bad habit of calling names.
Capital punishment (Death penalty) – Capital punishment should be abolished as it is the cruelest form of punishment.
Carrot and stick policy (reward and punishment policy) – The multination companies adopt carrot and stick policy to get maximum output.
Carry matters with a high hand (to deal with a person strictly) – Th police carry matters with high hand.
Cast a slur (To bring disgrace) – Taking bride could cast a slur on the honour of your family.
Cace in (Yield) – One must not cave in under pressure or temptation.
Chapter and verse (In full detail) – I cannot narrate the whole incident in chapter and verse.
Cheek by jowl (Close together) – Many poor people live cheekby jowl in a small room.
Child’s play (A very easy task) – It is not a child’s play to address a crowd.
Clinch the issue (To clear the controversy) – The college administration cliched the issue by accepting the demands of the students.
Clip one’s wings (To weaken the power) – Sonia Gandhi clipped the winds of some ministers by withdrawing the powers delegated to them.
Close shave (A narrow escape) – His family had a close shave in the bus accident.
Cloven hoof (Symbol of disgrace or evil intention) – Usually some or other leader of the BJP shows cloven hoof to the BJP leadership0.
Cock a snook (To show impudent contempt) – He refused to accept the award, cocking a snook at the Filmfare Award jury.
Cock sure (Very sure and certain) – I am cock sure, we will win the match.
Cold reception (Not a hearty welcome) – We were very unhappy when we were given cold reception at his marriage party.
Come across (Meet by chance) – I came across a problem when I was solving the equation.
Come home to (to Understand, – At last, it came home and we got the correct answer.
Come in handy (To be useful) – This opener comes in handy when we need to open this container.
Come to a pass (A difficult situation) – The accident came to pass due to the negligence of the driver.
Come true (To prove true) – My dreams have come true as I have got selected.
Cool one’s heels (to be kept waiting) – We sat down and cooled our heels for the minister who didn’t turn up.
Corporal punishment (Bodily punishment) – Corporal punishment is banned in schools.
Count chickens before they are hatched (To anticipate profit before hand) Don’t dream of profit now as it is futile to count your chickens before they are hatched.
Cross one’s mind – (To occur to oneself) – I was resting when suddenly a new idea crossed my mind.
Curry favour (To win favour by flattery) – Many developing countries curry favour with America.
Curtain lecture (A private scolding by wife to her husband) – Don’t tell me that your father has never got any curtain lecture in his life.
Cut both ends (To argue in support of both side of the issue) – Mahesh always cuts both ends and hence he has neither friends nor foes.
Cut the Gordian knot (To solve a difficult problem) – The national leaders cut the Gordian knot by making India a secular country.
Cut throat (Tough) – We face cut throat competition in every field.

Idiom starts with ‘D’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Damp squib (Complete failure though earlier thought to be exciting) – The performance of team India turned out to be a damp squib.
Dance attend (To be in servile attitude all the time) – The mother-in-law wanted the lady to dance attendance upon her.
Dark Horse (Unexpected winner) – An unknown independent candidate came out as a dark horse after the election.
Days of reckoning (A time when the effects of one’s past mistakes or misdeed catch up with one) – You have been manipulation the account for a long time. Now days of reckoning have come.
Dead broke (Penniless) – Due to recession he has become a dead broke.
Die-hard (Obstinately resistant to change) – He is a die-hard fan of Devanand.
Dig one’s won grave (to do something which causes you harm) – You are digging your own grave by writing your password in your diary.
Don’s life (Very miserable life) – Due to unchecked inflation, the poor are living a dog’s life.
Double dealing (deceitful actions) – The double dealing of the lawyer was exposed by a sting operation.
Double-edged sword (act that will harm oneself as well as the others) – Corruption in doubled edged sword for the public as well as the Government.
Down and out (Lacking funds, resources or prospects) – He was down and out when she saw her husband’s dead body.
Draconian law (extremely sever law) – There are still many draconian laws in under developed countries.
Draconian Law (Extremely severe law) There are still many draconian laws in under developed countries.
Draw the long bow (To tell large stories or the exaggerate) – Come to the point. Don’t draw a long bow.
Drawn battle/match (a battle or match in which no party wins) The drawn battle created a lot of excitement till the last ball.
Drop in the ocean (Very insignificant amount) – My knowledge about archeology is only a drop in the ocean.
Duck and drakes (To waste money) – I cannot allow you to play ducks and drakes with my hard earned money.
Dutch courage (bravery under alcoholic influence) – His dutch courage will vanish when he will gain his sense.

Idiom starts with ‘E’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Easy money (Bribe) – Many officers make easy money.
Eat one’s word (To admit that something you said in the past was wrong) – Those who said that Amitabh Bachhan’s charam was over had to eat their word after the success of Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Egg on (To urge somebody to do something that is generally wrong) – He egged me on to drive faster.
Eke out (To support ‘existence’ With difficulty and effort or to add ‘something insufficient’, especially with effort) – He is trying to eke out an income by doing over time.
Elixir of life (nectar of life) – Contentment is the elixir of life.
Enough and to spare (plentiful) – He earns enough and to spare.
Ever and Anon (Now and then) – The night was dark and we could hear the howling of dogs ever nad anon.
Every dog has his day (Good fortune comes sooner or later) When he bagged three movies in a row, he realized that every dog has his day.
Every Inch (Completely) – She is an honest person by every inch.
Eye wash (ineffective remedy which is just for show) – The committee set up to look into the multiple scams was just an eye wash.

Idiom starts with ‘F’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Face the music (To face opposition) – Every leader had to face the music if he doesn’t fulfill promises made by him.
Fan the flame (To aggravate) – I don’t want to fan the flame of the tension between the husband and the wife.
Few and far between (Very rare) – The houses in this remote village are few and far away.
Fight to the finish (To fight to the end) – When she was blamed and sued without any rhyme or reason, she pledged to fight the case to the finish.
Fish in troubled waters (To take advantage of the difficulties of others) – Many lawyers don’t hesitate from fishing in troubled waters.
Fit to hold a candle to (Match form equal in quality) – He is such a miser that he is not fit to hold a candle of such a lavish reception.
Flash in the pan (Something or someone that became successful quickly and is unlikely to be repeated) – The success of Kumar Gaurav is his debut movie ‘Love Story’ was a flash in the pan.
Flesh and blood (Human nature or physical existence, together with its weaknesses substance and depth in artistic portrayal) – The movies of late seventies lacked flesh and blood with their ketchup blood and round the tree romance.
Flog a dead horse (To waste one’s energy) – Trying to reform a terrorist is like flogging a dead horse.
Fly in the face of (to Defy/ to brave/ to withstand) – The theory about the existence of heaven and heel flies in the face of all logic and common sense.
Fly into a passion (to be enraged) – He flies into a passion within seconds if someone ignores his instructions.
Fool’s errand (A fruitless mission or undertaking) – Many projects of Mohammad-bin-taglaq were fool’s errands.
Foot the bill (bear expenses) – You had ordered these tasteless pizzas. Now you will have to foot the bill.
For good (for ever) – He educated him and sent him to America for good.
For the rainy day (LePrecaution for emergency) – I have kept some money I the bank fo the rainy days.
Foul Play (Teachery) Foul play destroys the fun of life.
French leave (Leave without information) If you take french leave, you will be fined.
From the bottom of one’s heart (very sincerely) – I thanked him for the bottom of my heart for his timely help.

Idiom starts with ‘G’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Gain ground (To progress/ advance) – Due to the misgovernance by the ruling party, the opposition is gaining ground.
Gentleman at Large (wealthy man with time on his hands) – Hee here he was, talking like a gentleman at large who was free to come and go and roam about the world at pleasure.
Get down to brass tacks (Discuss the basic facts or realities/ to deal with the matter straight) After avoiding the thorny question of tax reforms or months, the ruling party finally got down to brass tacks last week and drafted a preliminary proposal
Get into a scrape (Find oneself in a difficult or awkward situation) – By signing the bond he will get into a scrape.
Get the better of (to overcome) – At last, he got the better of his problems and opponents.
Get wind of (to know the secret) – The opposition got the wind of the plans of the ruling party.
Gird up the loin (To be well prepared for some difficult task) – If we all grid up the loin, we can remove illiteracy.
Give a wide berth 9 To give ample space or distance to avoid an unwanted consequence,) – Being an understanding father you should give a wide berth to your son and wait for the right time to talk to him.
Give cold shoulder (Pay no attention to) – He went to the police for help but they gave him cold shoulder.
GIve somebody enough rope (To hang themselves, To allow someone to do what he wants to, knowing that he will probably fail or get into rouble) – Don’t stop him. Give him enough rope to hang. He will be rejected for his poor performance and will return home.
Give the devil his due (Even the wicked person should be given the credit due to him) – In spite of being so rude, he helped me in need. The devil should be given his due.
Give up the ghost (To die) – My grandfather gave up to ghost last Sunday.
Give vent to (To express one’s thoughts or feelings) – Every Indian is free to give vent to his thoughts.
Wool-gathering (To engage in fanciful daydreaming) – Work hard. Wool gathering will not help you in any way
Go back on one’s word (To change one’s mind about/ repudiate) – She has decided to do charity and she should not go back on her word.
Go broke (Become bankrupt) – He has gone broke and is unable to make both ends meet.
Whole hog (The whole way/ Completely)- She went the whole hog and checked the account of the whole month in one go.
Golden opportunity (Very favourable opportunity or chance)- He missed the golden opportunity by declining the offer.
Green horn (An inexperienced or immature person, especially one who is easily deceived) – He incurred heavy loss because he relied on the green horn who was his own nephew.

Idiom starts with ‘H’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Hang in balance (have two equally possible results/ be uncertain)- After the opposition party won the election, whether or not the new highway will be built, hangs in the balance.
Hang over one’s head (to have something bothering or worrying one) – He committed suicide because troubles and court cases hung over his head.
Hard and fast (definite)- There is no hard and fast rule for solving these numericals.
Harp on the same string (to keep on talking on the same topic) – Some obsessed people have the habit of harping on the same string.
At the nick of time (at the last possible moment) – I reached the examination hall at the nick of time.
Heart and soul (with complete faith and dedication) – He has put heart and soul in his work.
Heart to heart (very frankly) – The two friends had a heart to heart talk as they met after many years.
Hen-pecked husband (admirer of one’s own wife in a servile manner) – Every boy boasts, “I will never become a hen pecked husband.”
Himalayan blunder (a serious mistake) – He committed a Himalay an blunder by leaving for work without his body guards and was shot dead.
Hit the nail on the head (to act in the right way) – You have hit
Hold good (valid/ applicable) – Rule of triple. talaq doesn’t hold good even in the Islamic countries.
Hold one’s ground (to stand firm, yea s 6) The Indian soldiers held their ground to the end.
Hold one’s jaw (to stop talking) – Please hold your jaw else I shall go away.
Hold the fort (to stand firm on one’s position) – Our soldiers held the fort and proved their valour.
Hold the scales even (to be impartial) – The Judge must hold the scales even.
Hold water (to stand up to critical examination) – Your argument does not hold water.
Hot water (trouble) – Your cousin is in hot water due to his controversial speech.

Idiom starts with ‘I’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

In a fix (in a difficult mental state) – He was in a fix when he saw his mother in ICU.
In a tight corner (in a difficult situation) – I found myself in a tight corner when I lost my journey ticket.
In doldrums (to be depressed) – He was found in doldrum when he could not succeed even in his third attempt.
In embryo (immature/ in the making) – My plan of expanding my business is still in embryo.
In no time (in a very short time) – He can solve any mathematical problem in no time.
In one’s teens (from thirteen to nineteen years of age) – A person in his teen is spirited, full of dreams, and optimistic.
In the air (in circulation/ in people’s thoughts) – News of his cold blooded murder is very much in the air.
Down in the dumps (unhappy, depressed) – He is down in the dumps after his father’s death.
In the family way (pregnant) – She has applied for leave as she is in the family way.
In the good books of (to be in favour with a person) – People usually flatter their boos to remain in their good books.
In the jaws of (in the grip of) – The boy was in the jaws of the kidnappers.
In the limelight (at the center of attention) – Film stars are habitual of remaining in the lime light.
In the lurch (in a difficult and embarrassing position) – When the experiment failed, the sub-ordinated left the eminent scientist in the lurch.
Melting pot (a place where immigrants of different cultures or races form an integrated society) – With immigrants from all over the world getting an easy passage to India, our country is becoming a melting pot.
In the red (in debt) – The company is in the red due to its unfeasible projects.
In the teeth of (in opposition to or defiance of/ facing danger or threats) – The tribe was in the teeth of starvation.
In the twinkling of an eye (in a moment/in no time)-The house came down in the twinkling of an eye.
To fish in troubled waters (to take advantage of the problems of others) – Many self-centred lawyers fish in troubled water.
For all intents and purposes (for all practical purposes)- This dictionary is useful for all intents and purposes.
Snake in the grass (a secret enemy) – Politicians playing caste based politics are snakes in the grass.

Idiom starts with ‘K’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Keep abreast of (not to fall behind) – We must keep ourselves abreast of the latest development in technology.
Keep an eye on (to watch) – It is very necessary for us to keep an eye on our growing children.
Keep an open table (to entertain all) – It is not very difficult to keep an open table in a party.
Keep at an arm’s length (to keep at a distance) – You must keep bad habits at arm’s length.
Keep at bay (To keep someone at a distance) – He held the police at bay with a gun for several hours.
Keep body and soul together (to be able to pay for just those things that you need in order to live) – They can barely keep body and soul together on what he earns.
Keep the pot boiling (to keep going on actively) – One has to keep body the pot boiling inspite oof all odds one has to face in life.
Keep up appearance (to keep one’s prestige/to maintain outward show) – Inspite of being a bankrupt, he is able to keep up his appearance.
Kick one’s heels (wait impatiently to be summoned) – The whole day we kicked our heels outside the court room.
Kick the bucket (to die) – He kicked the bucket and left his family in extreme financial difficulty.
Kill the fat calf for (to arrange a lavish reception for someone) – India killed the fat calf for the common Wealth Games.
Kiss the dust (to be humiliated) – In Indo-Pak war our enemies had to kiss the dust.
Knock against (to hit against) – I couldn’t see the transparent door and knocked against it.

Idiom starts with ‘L’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Lapped in luxury (brought up in luxury) – Great people are generally not lapped in luxury.
Laugh in one’s sleeves (to laugh secretly) – Our neighbours laughed in their sleeves when they saw my grandfather wearing a pair of fashionable googles.
Lead by the nose (to lead someone by coercion/ to guide someone very carefully) – I had to lead him by the nose to the meeting. He will never find his way through the admission form unless you lead him by the nose.
Lead to the altar (to marry) – He promised her to lead her to the altar.
Leap in the dark (to do something though there is uncertainty about the outcome) – To play lottery is to leap in the dark.
Leave no stone unturned (to make all possible efforts) – He worked very hard to pass the CIVIL Service Exams and left no stone unturned.
Leave one in the lurch (to leave one in difficulties) – He kicked the bucket and left his family in the lurch.
Let by-gones be by-gones (to forget old things) – India and Pakistan must start bi-literal talks and let by-gones be by-gones.
Lick the dust (to get defeated) – The team licked the dust in the final match.
Lie in wait (wait in hiding to attack) – The policemen were lying in wait for the kidnappers.
Live in an Ivory tower (where one can be aloof from the realities of life) – The queen lived in an ivory tower and did not know the meaning of poverty.
Long and short (all that can or need be said)- The long and short of the whole discussion will be made available to all in black and white.
Look down upon (To hate a person) – I hate those people who look down upon the poor.
Lose the day (to be defeated) – My favourite football team lost the day.

Idiom starts with ‘M’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Make a fortune (To grow rich) – He made a fortune by selling smuggled goods.
Make after (to pursue or chase) – The people made after the chain snatcher and caught him.
Make amends (to compensate) – He had to make amends for his bad behavior.
Make head or tail of (to understand) – The doctor could not make the head or tail of his illness.
Make one’s mark (to achieve distinction) – India has made its mark in the field of technology.
Make out (to understand)- I could not make out what he was saying.
Make up the leeway (struggle out of a bad position, especially by recovering lost time) – Th Government will have to make up the leeway by taking remedial actions immediately.
Make up one’s mind (To determine) – She has made up her mind to divorce her cruel husband.
Make a clean breast (to confess especially something bad or illegal) – After among a months of lying about the money, he decided to make a clean breast of it and tell the truth.
Man in the street (common man) -The life of a man in the street has become very difficult because of rising price.
Man of iron (man with strong will-power) – Nothing can deter a man of iron.
Meet half-way (to be prepared for compromise) – We were ready to meet the other party half way and settle all litigation.
Milk of human kindness (human compassion) – Milk of human kindness is necessary for the existence of humanity.

Idiom starts with ‘N’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Narrow circumstances (hard days/ poverty) – After his father’s death, he is living in narrow circumstances.
Neither chick nor child (No child) – She feels very lonely because she has neither chick nor child.
No love lost (having no love) – There is no love lost between these two neighbours who are fighting an endless court case.
Nook and corner (at every place) – I searched for my book at every nook and corner of the house.

Idiom starts with ‘O’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Oil someone’s hands ( To bribe) – We should stop oiling the official’s hands.
Beauty is only skin deep (physical beauty is not important) – She took a wrong decision by not marrying this gentleman. She doesn’t know that beauty is only skin deep.
On an on (To continue) – She went on and on but nobody listened to her.
On the horns of a dilemma (to face a difficult situation between two problems) – The demolition drive has put many shops on the horns of a dilemma because if they do not shut down, their shops will be sealed and if they do m they lose their mans of livelihood.
On the wrong side of (One’s age being more than) – He is on the wrong side of fifty now.
Open secret (know to all) – He is bankrupt and this is an open secret now.
Order of the day (some common things of the time) – Following new fashion is the order of the day.
Out of the wood (out of difficulties) – At last India came out of the woods and got independence.

Idiom starts with ‘P’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Pay one back in one’s own coin (Tit for tat) – The person doing wrong should be paid back in his own coin.
Peel mell (Very fast and not organised) – Everything was done pell-mell as we got the order at the eleventh hour.
Petticoat-Government – (undue influence of women) – Petticoat-Government may adversely influence your whole project.
Pick holes in (to find fault wit) – My boss has the habit of picking holes in our performance.
Pin prick (troubles that are for sort time) – We should ignore such pin pricks and get on with the job.
Play a double game (to act dubiously) – My friend was playing a double game.
Play fast and loose (be unreliable) – How can you trust a man who plays fast and loose changing his statement every minute?
Play one false (to deceive) – He played her false and married again.
Play one’s card well (to do the correct things to achieve a desired result) – If you play your cards well, you will get selected.
Play the fool (to act foolishly) – Why do you play the fool when it comes to spending money.
Pocket an insult (To bear insult) – Indians had to pocket many insults during their fight for Independence.
Poisonone’s ears against (to set a person against another) – She has poisoned the ears of my mother-in-law.
Past master (an expert) – He is a past master in cheating others.
Pour oil on troubled waters (To pacify the anger of others) – He solved the matter by pouring oil on troubled waters with his good behaviour.
Pull the string (to exercise secret influence) – When I saw extreme level of red-tapism in the organization, I had to pull my strings to get my work done.
Pull to pieces (to criticise severely) – The leader of opposition has pulled the ruling party to pieces.
Put an end to (to finish) – She has put an end to her unfeasible ideas.
Put pen to paper (to start writing) – In my board examination, I put my pen to paper without wasting a second.
Put the saddle on the right horse (to blame the really guilty person) The court put the saddle on the right horse and passed the right order.
Put to the sword (to kill)- Nadir Shah put even children to the sword.
Put up with (to tolerate)- Maharana Pratap could not put up with insult.

Idiom starts with ‘R’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Rank and file (lower middle class people)The extra-ordinary speeches of the great orators cannot be appreciated by the rank and file.
Red rag to a bull (something that will surely produce a violent reaction) – The racial comments against the Indians proved to be a red rag to a bull and the riot took place.
Rise to the occasion (to show that you can deal with a difficult situation) – Mahatma Gandhi rose to the occasion and dared the British.
Roll up one’s sleeves (to be prepared for hard work) – We will have to rollup our sleeves as the time of examination has come.
Rub shoulders with (to meet and spend time with) – He claims to have rubbed shoulders with Salman khan during his journey to Sydney.
Run down (reduced in health/ to criticize) – I was worried because she looked run down. Do not run down your friends in public.
Run short/ Hard up (not proving sufficient, shortage of money/ something) – I am running short of money these days.

Idiom starts with ‘S’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Scratch one’s head (to be perplexed) – I Scratched my head when I saw the puzzles in the PO exam.
Screw up one’s courage (to gather courage) – Working women have to screw up their courage to handle eve-teasing incidents at their working places.
See eye-to-eye (showing agreement/to agree) – The two competitors never see eye to eye.
Seal of love (kiss) – They validated their marriage with a seal of love.
See the light (to be born)- Many female babies are aborted before they see the light.
Set price on one’s head (to offer reward for killing or helping in the arrest of a criminal) – The government of America had set price on Osama’s head.
Show a clean pair of heels (to run away) – The chain snatcher showed a clean pair of hells and the people were unable to catch him.
Sink fast (to deteriorate in quality or condition) – The patient was sinking fast.
Slip of the pen (a small unintentional mistake in writing) – The slop of the pen created a lot of confusion.
Snake in the grass (some hidden enemy) – Many leaders are snake in the grass creating disharmony in the society.
Sow wild oats (indulgence in youthful follies) – Mothers always keeps an eye on their daughters to see that they do not sow wild oats.
Square meal (full meal) – A poor person does not get even one square meal a day.
Stand in good stead (to be of great service) – Your experience will always stand in good stead when you join a full-time job.
Storm in a tea cup (much hue and cry over a little matter) – Do not worry about these silly rows. They are just storm in a tea cup.
Strain every nerve (to make every possible effort) – I strained every nerve to get out fo the problem.
Sword of Damocles (an imminent danger) – Terrorism is a sword of Damocles hanging over the whole world.

Idiom starts with ‘T’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Take a leaf out of another man’s book (to imitate another person) – He has no originally of thought: he only takes a leaf out of another man’s book to make quick money.
Take an exception to (to be offended by something) – She took an exception to his joke.
Take into one’s head (to suddenly decide to do something, often silly or surprising) – It took into their heads to get married next Sunday.
Take pains (to work hard) – She took pains to bring up her children after her husband’s death.
Take the bull by the horns (to face danger with courage) – Bhagat Singh took the bull by the horns and bravely challenged the British empire.
Take to one’s heels (to run away) – When the police came, the robber took to his heels.
Tall talk (boasting) – One of my friends Rajesh is famous for his tall talks.
The Fourth Estate (the press)- Today the fourth estate can influence the court proceedings of any case.
The knock down price (very low price) – I bought everything at the mega sale at knock-down prices.
Sheet anchor (a person or thing to be relied upon in an emergency) – His uncle proved to be his sheet-anchor after his father’s death.
Thick-skinned person (not easily offended, insensitive) – He is Such a thick-skinned person that he laughed when people cursed and abused him.
Think lightly (not to be serious about a thing) – Don’t think of your married life lightly.
Throw light on (to make something easier to understand) – I wanted to throw light on the pitiful life of the bar dancers.
Throw mud at (try to make a low opinion of someone by saying unpleasant things about him) – Companies should think carefully before slinging mud at someone who may respond with a libel action costing it crores of rupees.
Tool in the hands of (under the authority of another) – The whole legal system has become a tool in the hands of the politicians.
Turn one’s coat (to change one’s party) – Some people are so ambitious that they often turn their coat.
Turn the tables (to change the situation completely) – The ruling party had an easy victory in the last Lok sabha election but inflation and of corruption started, the former chief minister has been under a cloud.

Idiom starts with ‘U’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Under a cloud (under suspicious conditions) – Ever since the rumours of corruption have totally turned the table.
Under the rose (secretly) – He is selling confidential documents under the rose.
Under the thumb of (completely under one’s power or influence) – He is under the thumb of his mother and does not listen to the problem,s of his wife.
Upto the mark (up to standard) – I have to watch my staff all the time to keep them up to the mark.

Idiom starts with ‘V’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Vexed question (much debated and discussed) – ‘Mercy killing should be granted or not’ had become a vexed question.

Idiom starts with ‘W’ Meaning and, use in a sentence

Wash dirty linen in public (to expose private affairs in public) – There is nothing as bad as washing one’s dirty linen in public.
Wash one’s hand of (to be free from) – Police have washed their hands of the kidnapping case.
Wear a long face (to look gloomy) – Inspite of losing his job, he did not wear a long face.
Wild goose chase (useless efforts) – Pakistan’s efforts to grab Kashmir have proved to be a wild goose chase.
Win laurels (to win honours) – Sachin won laurels for India
Without rhyme or reason (without any justification) – Don’t shout at anyone without rythme or reason.

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700 Idioms and Phrases with Meaning and, Sentence

Idiom and Phrases with their meanings and sentences

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