100 most important idioms and phrases By Anoop Verma Sir

 Cry for the moon - Ask for the impossible

 Be in a tight corner - In a very difficult situation

 Cock and bull story - Made up story that one should not believe

 Cat and dog life - Life full of quarrels

 Like a cat on hot bricks - Very nervous

 Have a card up one’s sleeve - Have a secret plan in reserve

 Tell against - To prove adverse to; to go against

 Run through - to squander or waste

 Run over - to drive over

 Alive and kicking - Active and healthy

 To burn one’s fingers - To lose on account of foolish behaviour

 At sea - Confused or lost

 Behind one’s back - In the absence of

 To call a spade a spade - To be frank and truthful

 To break the ice - To break the silence

 To bell the cat - To face the risk

 A cat and dog life - To lead a life full of quarrels

 A cold fish - A person devoid of emotions

 To cross the Rubicon -To take a decisive step

 Double-dealing - Deceiving

 To die hard - Change with great difficulty

 To eat humble pie - To apologise in a humble manner

 To fight a losing battle - Struggle without hope of success

 A deadlock - A position when no progress can be made

 A daredevil - A person who does not care for any consequences

 Once in a blue moon - Very rarely

 At a premium - Difficult to get or obtain

 To play the game - To act honestly

 To die in harness - To work till the last day of one’s life

 To plough a lonely furrow - To work without help or support

 Lock, stock and barrel - Completely

 The long and the short - The main point

 Bring to light - Disclose

 The bottom line - The final criteria

 A cock and bull story - An improbable excuse

 To kick one’s heels - To wait with nothing to do

 Rain cats and dogs - Rain heavily

 A hard nut to crack - A difficult problem

 In high spirits - Very happy

 Like a fish out of water - In a strange situation

 Smell a rat - Suspect something foul

 Read between the lines - Understand the hidden meaning

 Tooth and nail ---With all one’s power

 Spread like wild fire - Spread quickly

 Hit the nail on the head - Do or say the exact thing

 Burn the midnight oil - Work or study hard

 Under his thumb - Under his control

 With a high hand - Oppressively

 Gain ground - Become popular

 By leaps and bounds - Rapidly

 Make off with - to run away with

 Pass away - to die

 To cry for the moon - Ask for the impossible

 To make a pig of oneself - To over-eat

 Donkey’s years - A very long time

 To pull one’s leg - to joke; tease someone

 To keep one’s fingers crossed - To hope fervently

 To call in question - To disprove or doubt

 To talk through one’s hat -To talk ignorantly

 To make up one’s mind -To decide

 Hard and fast rules - Rigid rules

 To make one’s mouth water - To stimulate one’s appetite

 By word of mouth - By spoken message

 To get the better of someone -To take advantage of someone

 To rub shoulders - To come into close contact

 A snake in the grass - A hidden enemy

 Between the devil and the deep blue sea - Between two dangers

 Chew the cud - To discuss matters in a ponderous manner, especially

reminiscing

 To kill two birds with one stone - To achieve two results with one effort

 A close shave - A narrow escape

 Chip off the old block - As good as one’s father

 To pull a long face - To look sad

 Above board - Open and honest

 To turn a deaf ear - To ignore

 To turn the tables - To reverse the situation

 To call someone names - To abuse someone

 Above board - Honest and open

 At arms length - To keep at a distance

 At the eleventh hour - At the last moment

 An apple of discord - A cause of quarrel

 To burn one’s boats - Go back on a decision

 To build castles in the air - Make imaginary schemes

 A burning question -

 An important topic

 A brown study - Dreaming

 Sitting on the fence - Hesitate between two decisions

 Smell a rat - Suspect something foul

 Read between the lines - Understand the hidden meaning

 Tooth and nail - With all one’s power

 Spread like wild fire - Spread quickly

 Hit the nail on the head - Do or say the exact thing

 Burn the midnight oil - Work or study hard

 Under his thumb - Under his control

 With a high hand - Oppressively

 Gain ground - Become popular

 By leaps and bounds - Rapidly

 Chip off the old block - As good as one’s father

 To pull a long face - To look sad

 Above board - Open and honest

 To turn a deaf ear - To ignore

 To turn the tables - To reverse the situation