Idioms

Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘I’ If only Meaning: Expressing a strong wish or desire. Example: If only, I would have had a brother to eliminate all sorrows of my life. If the worst comes to the worst Meaning: If the worst possible thing happens. Example: If the worst comes to the worst, we shall leave this place. (Be) ignorant of Meaning: Lacking knowledge. Example: No body in the world is all knowledgeful. Everyone is ignorant of something or the other. Impose (up) on Meaning: Force the acceptance of. Example: Nobody in the world can impose his opinion on others. One can only convince others. Improve (up) on Meaning: Do better than. Example: He has improved up on his performance in studies through hard work and determination. In a dead faint Meaning: Utterly insensible. Example: He used to consider the wise people crazy in a dead faint. In a huff Meaning: In a fit of bad temper. Example: Her father came to know about her love affair. In a huff he left the house. In a hurry Meaning: Without difficulty or quickly. In a moment Meaning: Very soon. Example: Don’t worry. I shall not take long. I shall be back within a moment. In a nutshell Meaning: In a few words. Example: Some wise people …

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Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘N and O’ Neither head nor tail Meaning: No sense. Example: She gave a long speech, blit we could make neither head nor tail of her talk. Next of kin Meaning: Close relatives like father, mother, brother, etc. Example: All the next of kin were informed about the train accident. Never mind Meaning: Don’t worry. Example: Never mind, you may come after fifteen minutes for dinner. Never too late to do Meaning: There still is time for. Example: It is never to late to correct your mistakes. Nibble away Meaning: Eat with small bites. Example: The rabbit nibbled away the piece of the bread delightfully. Nine days wonder Meaning: Something which causes great excitement for short time and then is heard no more. Example: Youth is a nine days wonder. Nip in the bud Meaning: Crush (an evil) before it has a chance of maturing. Example: The child should not be allowed to do wrongs. The parents must nip it in the bud. No matter Meaning: Make no difference. Example: No matter, where you are, I shall always pray for your well being. No more Meaning: Neither. Example: She can’t live alone, and no more can I. No sooner than Meaning: As soon as. Example: No sooner than she reached the …

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Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘H’ Hair stands on end Meaning: To become extremely surprised or frightened. Example: The sudden appearance of lion made her hair stands on end. Half-time Meaning: A rest period in the middle of certain games. Example: She went to see her husband’s performance in the match and met him at half-time. Hammer (away) at Meaning: Work steadily at. Example: We must hammer away at this project to get best results. Hammer out Meaning: Make flat or smooth by hammering. Example: Please hammer out these marbles. Hand and glove Meaning: On very intimate terms. Example: These days, you can’t be hand and glove with anybody, as nobody knows, who is reliable and who is a cheater. Hand back Meaning: Give a back, return. Example: Please hand back my G.K. book to me. Hand down Meaning: Pass down by hand. Example: Just hand down that ear-rings from the first drawer of the cupboard. Hand in Meaning: Submit. Example: Please hand in the report cards of the children to their class teacher. Hand in hand Meaning: Co-operating together. Example: She went out hand in hand with her husband for shopping. Hand on Meaning: Pass by hand. Example: Please hand on this newspaper to my father. Hand out Meaning: (i) Give freely. Example: The doctor handed out …

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Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘L and M’ Labour of Jove Meaning: Something done because of love, but not for monetary gain. Example: She served her friend in her sickness as a labour of love. Last word Meaning: (i) The most modern thing. Example: This beautiful antique is the last word in the world. (ii) The final say in deciding something. She had the last word in the matter concerning her brother’s marriage. Laugh at Meaning: (i) Make fun of. Example: We must not laugh at others, as we are ourselves funny people. (ii) Be amused. All of us laughed at his jokes. Lay aside Meaning: (i) Put on one side. Example: You must lay aside all thoughts to concentrate on your studies. (ii) Save (money) for future use. The thief stole away all the money that was laid aside by the old lady for her son’s education. Lay down Meaning: (i) Sacrifice to. Example: Our soldiers are always ready to lay down their lives for the nation. (ii) Put down. The doctor told Mr. Sinha to lay down on the bed after his first heart attack. Lay it on with a trowel Meaning: To praise excessively in an obvious manner. Example: Please tell me the truth about …

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Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘F’ Face to Face Meaning: (i) To face each other in the opposite direction. Example: The villains stood face to face in the film. (ii) In the presence of another or others. People were greatly pleased to meet their favourite heroine face to face. Face upto Meaning: Admit. Example: She won’t face up to the fact that she had stolen her friend’s purse. Faced with Meaning: Be confronted with. Example: Faced with a tiger in the forest, the hunter thought it better to run away from the sight. Fade away Meaning: (i) Leave quietly. Example: The crowd faded away when the prime-minister left the venue. (ii) Colour fade away. The colour of the cloth will fade away if it is exposed in sunlight. (iii) Lose one’s health or strength. Her child is fading away due to lack of nutrition. Fair and square Meaning: Just, honest. Example: The new public relations officer is fair and square. People trust her. Fair deal Meaning: A transaction that is fair for both parties. Example: She gave her a diamond ring in exchange of gold bracelet. She thought it a fair deal. Fair play Meaning: Just or honest dealings. Example: When the waiter returned back the lost purse to the …

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Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘E’ Ease up Meaning: Slow down, relax. Example: Father told his daughter to ease up, as she was not feeling well. Eat away Meaning: Eat heartily. Example: The chief priest of the holy temple told people to eat away the food on the auspicious occasion of their holy master’s birthday. Eat in Meaning: Eat at home. Example: Her husband told her that he shall come from office at 8 p.m. and eat in. Eat one’s words Meaning: To withdraw or deny a statement. Example: Why do you promise others to lend money, when you don’t want to fulfil it? You must not eat your words. She said that she would provide me a job, but she ate up her words later on. I don’t have any faith on her. Eat a humble pie Meaning: To be humbled or to suffer humiliation. Example: The proud man had to eat a.humble pie when nobody listened to him. Eat-out Meaning: Eat away from home. Example: Gini told her friends that she was planning to eat out with her family that day. Eat up Meaning: (i) Consume completely (time, money, health etc.). Example: The over burdem of work has eaten up his health. (ii) Eat until all finished. The …

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Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘D’ Day after day Meaning: Daily. Example: Gini takes tomato soup day after day to keep her complexion fair. Day in and day out Meaning: Continually. Example: She interferes in her neighbour’s life, day in and day out. Day off Meaning: A day’s holiday from work or school. Example: David told John not to go to the office as they had a day off due to the death of the General Manager of the organisation. Dead-alive Meaning: Spiritless. Example: Her sister became dead-alive due to the torture given by her in-laws. Dead loss Meaning: Complete loss. Example: She was crying at the dead loss of her property and wealth in the earthquake. Deal with Meaning: Treat. Example: Don’t deal with child in such a rude manner, he shall become spoilt. Decide up (on) Meaning: Make a choice. Example: Please decide upon whether you want to keep that lazy employee like Suhani in the office, or the hardworking man like Harish. Dedicate to Meaning: Devote to some work, duty etc. Example: She dedicated her life in the service of her mentally and physically handicapped husband. One should dedicate his life to the service of the nation. Delight in Meaning: Find great pleasure in. Example: His uncle delights in narrating the …

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Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘A’ Abreast with Meaning: To keep information. Example: Mary keeps herself abreast with the latest news through the newspapers and periodicals. Absent-minded person Meaning: Careless and negligent person. Example: Tom’s dad is a absent-minded person. He keeps things at different places and then forgets them. Affect ignorance Meaning: To pretend as if you don’t know. Example: He is a judge. He should not affect ignorance of the law. Aghast at Meaning: Stunned. Example: She was aghast at the way her husband behaved with her. All at once Meaning: Suddenly Example: The jealous woman hit the pretty girl all at once and wounded her. All the same Meaning: Still. Example: Although I have a busy schedule, all the same I shall spare some time to train you up in Yoga. Animal spirits Meaning: Full of vigour and vitality. Example: Paul was full of animal spirits in his youth. Apple of discord Meaning: Main reason for quarrel. Example: Property is the apple of discord for most of the people living in joint families. Apple of one’s eyes Meaning: Very lovable. Example: He is the apple of his mother’s eyes. At all Meaning: Not the least. Example: Suresh does not have any money at all. A bunch of Meaning: A number of similar things grouped …

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Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘C’ Cast a slur Meaning: Bring discredit to. Example: Don’t indulge in corrupt means to acquire wealth. It shall cast a slur to your reputation. Cast down Meaning: Throw down. Example: The cowardly king’s soldiers cast down their weapons and surrendered before the enemy. Cast pearls before swine Meaning: Give what is precious to those who are unable to understand its value. Example: To teach Reiki to those, who don’t understand its worth is to cast pearls before swine. Catch on Meaning: (i) Become popular. Example: In the past, everything that the queens used to wear would catch on. (ii) Catch. Example: Please catch on the ball, lest it may hit someone. (iii) Understand. Example: The boss was not able to catch on what the employee said, thus he requested him to repeat it again. Catch one’s breath Meaning: To hold one’s breath in excitement or fear. Example: The game was so much interesting that it caught the people’s breath. Catch sight of Meaning: Notice. Example: The wife caught sight of her divorced husband in the market. Catch up Meaning: Involved. Example: The politician seeked forgiveness after getting caught up in the corruption scandal. Cave-in Meaning: Collapse, Fall in. Example: The historical building may cave in anytime, if the …

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Idioms about Thinking and Learning: There are various parts of speech in the English language, and students can learn about these to enrich their knowledge about the subject. We can learn some interesting idioms and use them in our day-to-day life. The article contains a group of non-literal phrases that is used to describe something else. Just like in other languages, English also has idioms, and people use Thinking and Learning idioms and phrases quite commonly worldwide. This article provides a list of Thinking and Learning idioms a to z and defines various Thinking and Learning idioms and meanings in detail for your convenience and ease of identifying them. Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understanding their actual meaning. Name of Thinking and Learning Idioms Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Thinking and Learning idioms List of Thinking and Learning Idioms Blue sky thinking Brush up on Come around to Come up with Face up to Figure out Get one’s thinking cap on Go to your head Have your wits about you Hit upon/ on In the dark about Know what’s what Make out Mull over Not have a …

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