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 airport the plane took off.
Nose into
Meaning: Intrude.
Example: Don’t nose into others affairs, when there is no reason to do so.
Not the ghost of a chance
Meaning: Not the least chance.
Example: There is not the ghost of a chance to win the car, yet you are sending so many SMS through your mobile.
Not to mention
Meaning: In addition to.
Example: She is a good dancer and singer, not to mention her cooking skills.
Idioms that start with O
Occur to
Meaning: Come to one’s mind.
Example: I was pondering on the affairs of the world, all of a sudden it occured to me to pray for the poorest of poor.
Odds and end
Meaning: Miscellaneous articles.
Example: While going for the job he took essential papers and left the odds and ends at home.
Of age
Meaning: Be at the age of maturity.
Example: The parents must get their daughter married when she comes of age.
Of the first water
Meaning: Most excellent.
Example: She is the artist of the first water.
Off and on
Meaning: Now and then occasionally.
Example: They go for an outing off and on.
Off hand
Meaning: At once.
Example: The witty girl gave all answers offhand.
Off one’s head
Meaning: Mad, crazy.
Example: He is so much tortured by his nagging wife that he has got off his head.
Off one’s mind
Meaning: Removed from one’s thoughts.
Example: Now that she had given some money to her poor friend, its off her mind.
Off the track
Meaning: Away from the proper subject.
Example: Don’t go off the track by discussing things other than your work.
On condition that
Meaning: If provided that.
Example: I shall forgive you on the condition that you don’t repeat your mistake again.
On deposit
Meaning: In trust or safe-keeping as a deposit.
Example: She has a few lakhs of rupees on deposit in the bank, but her greedy husband wants to take that money from her.
On the shelf
Meaning: Removed from duty or service.
Example: Why did you put him on the shelf, when he had done no wrong.
An open heart
Meaning: Frankness.
Example: This person is a jolly good fellow. He has got an open heart.
Open question
Meaning: A debatable matter.
Example: The pathetic condition of the poor farmers is an open question.
Out of the frying pan into the fire
Meaning: From a bad position into a worse one.
Example: What happens if you don’t succeed. You may fall out of the frying pan into the fire.
Over head and ears
Meaning: Completely.
Example: He has lost his sanity by falling over head and ears in love with that shrewd girl.
Our of the wood
Meaning: Free from the danger.
Example: Don’t worry, you shall be out of wood with your willpower and positive attitude.
Out of question
Meaning: Impossible.
Example: It is out of question to talk politely with her, as she has insulted me before public.