Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘R and S’
Rain or shine
Meaning: In any event.
Example: Always keep smiling in rain or shine.
Rainy day
Meaning: Time of difficulty.
Example: We must not be extravagant in spending money. We must save money for the rainy days.
Rap on the knuckles
Meaning: A sharp rebuke.
Example: Sunila gave her a rap on the knuckles when Nancy told her to give divorce to her husnand.
Raw Deal
Meaning: Unfair or unduly harsh treatment.
Example: He give his faithful driver a raw deal by dismissing him N from the job when he asked for a month’s leave.
Reach out
Meaning: Keep in touch with people.
Example: A good leader must reach out the masses to inspire and motivate them.
Read back
Meaning: Repeat a reading of.
Example: Please read back the holy epic ‘Ramayana’ to me. It shall be nice of you to do so.
Read into
Meaning: Understand by studying or reading.
Example: If you want to fetch good marks in the exams, you have to read into these lessons at least thrice.
Read on
Meaning: Continue to read.
Example: The film magazine is so interesting that he read on for a long time.
Read out
Meaning: Read aloud.
Example: “Please read out the lesson to me,” said the teacher.
Read over
Meaning: Read from beginning to end.
Example: Reena read over the novel, and thereafter laid down to sleep.
Read up
Meaning: Study deligently.
Example: Gautam read economics for the exam falling next week.
Rear up
Meaning: Bring up.
Example: He reared up his children with his meagre salary.
Reason out
Meaning: To find the logic.
Example: Don’t take decisions without reasoning out.
(A) red-letter day
Meaning: An auspicious or happy day.
Example: My sister’s birthday is a red letter day for me.
Red tape
Meaning: Official formalities that delay action.
Example: The government must implement laws to eliminate red tape, as it has negative impact on the foreign investors.
Rest on one’s laurels
Meaning: Be content with what one has done and not seek further progress.
Example: These days some people don’t rest on their laurels, but keep on taking active part in extra-co-curricular activities.
(To) ride the high horse
Meaning: To have a dominating temperament.
Example: It is not right to always ride the high horse. People don’t like over dominating persons.
Rise from the ranks
Meaning: Rise from the ordinary or low position.
Example: Some people rise from the ranks with hardwork and determination.
Rough it
Meaning: Bear hardships cheerfully.
Example: She had to face many hardships, but she roughed it.
Root and branch
Meaning: Completely.
Example: The government must do efforts to eliminate poverty root and branch from the country.
Run down
Meaning: Speak ill of.
Example: She is a good natured girl. She doesn’t like to run down innocent people.
Run riot
Meaning: Behave in a completely undisciplined way.
Example: The principal must take firm action when the students run riot.
Idioms that start with S
Sail through
Meaning: To.
Example: Pass through the water way we sailed through the steamer to reach the island.
Satisfy with
Meaning: Be contented.
Example: I keep on giving money to the poor people, but they never remain satisfied with it.
Save (one’s) face
Meaning: Avoid humiliation.
Example: He passed nasty comments on her and than ran away to save his face.
Save one’s breath
Meaning: Keep silent because talking will not help.
Example: If there is a quarrel going on with your husband, it’s better , you save your breath and go outside for sometime, till his anger subsides.
Say a good word for
Meaning: Speak on behalf of to support.
Example: If you want others to say a good word for you, you must be kind to them.
Scot-free
Meaning: Safe.
Example: “Don’t think you can get away scot free after stealing my valuables,” he shouted at the thief.
Scratch the surface
Meaning: Learn or understand very little about.
Example: The teacher kept on giving lectures on the major parts of the world, but he could only scratch the surface.
A screw loose
Meaning: Something wrong (mentally).
Example: He keeps on laughing without any rhyme or reason. Does he has a screw loose in his brain?
Second best
Meaning: Next to the best.
Example: She is the second best tennis player in the college.
See eye to eye with
Meaning: Have the same opinion on the subject. I see eye to eye with my sister in many matters.
See red
Meaning: Grow furious or indignant.
Example: She saw red at the eve-teasers nasty comments on her.
Show off
Meaning: Make a vain display.
Example: I don’t think she shows off. She just wears good clothes to look decent.
Show one’s teeth
Meaning: Express anger or annoyance.
Example: Wheh the teacher told him not to misbehave with other students in the class he showed his teeth.
Show the white feather
Meaning: Behave in a cowardly manner.
Example: Indian army is taught not to show the white feather to the enemy.
Single blessedness
Meaning: A state of remaining unmarried and be happy in that state.
Example: In the highly populated countries, people may be allowed to enjoy the state of single blessedness.
Single-track mind
Meaning: Mind that thinks of only one thing.
Example: He is always obsessed about girls. He has a single track mind.
Smell a rat
Meaning: Detect something wrong.
Example: When I saw movements beneath the trees in my garden, I smelled a rat.
Spin a yarn
Meaning: Invent a story or a pretext.
Example: She is a liar. She spins a yam to take benefits from her wealthy friends.
Sponge upon another
Meaning: Live at someone’s expense.
Example: These days, if you are a little kind with needy people, they sponge upon you and don’t allow you to live in peace.
Start from the scratch
Meaning: Start from the very beginning.
Example: If you have become bankrupt, then start from the scratch after taking a loan from your friend.
Steer clear of
Meaning: Avoid.
Example: We must steer clear of shrewd people, else they create obstacles in our success.
Strain every nerve
Meaning: Try very hard.
Example: She strained every nerve to get the prize.
Strike while the iron is hot
Meaning: To grab the opportunity at the right time.
Example: You must become the head girl if you are getting an opportunity. Strike the iron while it’s hot.