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Phrases and Idioms |
Meaning |
1. |
acid – the acid test |
Way to determine the quality or workability of something. |
2. |
across - across the board |
Applicable to all. |
3. |
ado - without further ado |
Without wasting any more time. |
4. |
alive - alive and kicking |
Still existing and very active. |
5. |
all – all at once |
All done together at the same time. |
6. |
all – all in all |
Take into account every part; on the whole |
7. |
all – all or nothing |
Either done completely or in the exact way, or nothing; no compromise. |
8. |
all - all the same |
In spite of that. |
9. |
all – it’s all go |
Buzzing with activity. |
10. |
argue – argue the toss |
To argue against a decision already made. |
11. |
arm - arm in arm |
With arms linked. |
12. |
arm - up in arms |
Enraged and protesting vigorously. |
13. |
arm – with open arms |
Receiving with great affection or enthusiasm |
14. |
bag - bag and baggage |
One’s personal possessions. |
15. |
bag - bag of bones |
Used to refer to a very thin person or an animal. |
16. |
balance - balance of payments |
The difference in total value between payments for import of and earnings from export of goods and services. |
17. |
balance - balance of trade |
The difference in total value between a country’s import and export of goods, excluding services. |
18. |
baptism - baptism of fire |
One’s first experience in an activity which is often difficult and painful. |
19. |
bare - bare one’s soul |
To make known one’s previously unknown facts or feelings. |
20. |
bare - the bare bones |
The essential parts of something. |
21. |
bat - bat one’s eyelashes |
To make rapid opening and closing of one’s eyes. |
22. |
bated - with bated breath |
In anxiety and suspense. |
23. |
belt - below the belt |
Unfair; breaking the rules. |
24. |
belt – tighten one’s belt |
Cut down on spending. |
25. |
belt – under one’s belt |
To have achieved something or gained considerable experience. |
26. |
bend – bend over backwards |
To be helpful with someone’s wishes or demands. |
27. |
bend – bend someone’s ear |
To talk at length with someone. |
28. |
bend – bend the rules |
Do what normally is not allowed |
29. |
bend – on bended knee |
Requesting someone seriously to do something. |
30. |
best – all the best |
An expression of good wishes. |
31. |
better – go one better |
Outdo someone else. |
32. |
better – one had better |
One would find it more advisable or advantageous to do. |
33. |
better – one’s better half |
One’s spouse |
34. |
beyond - beyond the sea |
In a foreign country; abroad. |
35. |
bit - a bit part |
A minor and insignificant acting part in a film. |
36. |
bit - a bit previous |
Before the due time. |
37. |
bit – bit by bit |
Gradually. |
38. |
bit - do one’s bit |
To contribute one’s service or do one’s share of the work. |
39. |
bite - bite the bullet |
Forced to perform an unpleasant or difficult task. |
40. |
bite - bite the dust |
To die, fail or be defeated. |
41. |
bite - bite your tongue |
Refrain oneself from saying something. |
42. |
black – black and white (in) |
In writing so that it’s clearly stated, not doubtful. |
43. |
black - in the black |
To have money in one’s account. |
44. |
blaze – a trail |
Lay a path through unknown territory; to be the first to develop something new. |
45. |
blessing - a mixed blessing |
A situation that has both advantages and disadvantages |
46. |
blessing – blessing indisguise |
An initial misfortune that later produces good results. |
47. |
blood - in cold blood |
In a deliberate and merciless way. |
48. |
blood - in one’s blood |
Firmly established in one’s character. |
49. |
blow – blow a fuse |
Lose one’s temper. |
50. |
blow – blow one’s mind |
To excite or impress someone very strongly. |
51. |
blow – blow one’s nose |
To clean one’s nose by blowing through it into a cloth or piece of tissue paper. |
52. |
blow – blow one’s top |
Lose one’s temper. |
53. |
blow – blow the whistle (on) |
To inform an authority or expose publicly someone’s wrongful act or something that is wrong. |
54. |
blow - come to blows |
To start hitting each other or a fight. |
55. |
blue – blue eyed boy |
Someone who is treated with special favour. |
56. |
blue – blue with cold |
Extremely cold. |
57. |
blue – boys in blue |
The police. |
58. |
boat - rock the boat |
Disturb an existing situation. |
59. |
boat - the same boat (in) |
Be in the same difficult situation as someone else. |
60. |
body – body and soul |
Completely. |
61. |
body – body of water |
A large area of water such as a lake. |
62. |
bone – bone of contention |
Cause of argument or disagreement. |
63. |
bone - make no bones (about) |
To not hesitate about doing or saying something. |
64. |
book – by the book (go) |
To observe exactly the rules and instructions. |
65. |
book - someone’s good book (in) |
It means that someone is pleased with or approves of someone else. |
66. |
born - not born yesterday |
Not easily deceived or gullible. |
67. |
bound - know no bounds |
Have no limits. |
68. |
bound – out of bounds |
Outside of allowed area of play. |
69. |
brain - pick someone’s brains |
To get information from someone who knows a lot. |
70. |
break – break new ground |
Venture into new sphere of activity; uncover new information. |
71. |
break – break of day |
Dawn. |
72. |
break – break one’s word |
To not do what one has promised. |
73. |
break – break the ice |
To initiate a conversation between strangers. |
74. |
break - make the break |
To end a relationship. |
75. |
breath – waste one’s breath |
To speak without getting the message through. |
76. |
breath – hold one’s breath |
To cease breathing to see what is going to happen. |
77. |
breath – out of breath |
To experience difficulty in breathing after some vigorous exercises. |
78. |
breath – under one’s breath |
To say in a low voice so that no one can hear. |
79. |
breeze – be a breeze |
To be something that can be done or dealt with ease. |
80. |
bridge – bridge the gap |
To narrow the difference between two things. |
81. |
bright – bright and early |
Very early in the morning. |
82. |
bright - the bright lights |
The kind of life in big cities that attract people. |
83. |
broke – go for broke |
Risk all that one has in a determined attempt to achieve something. |
84. |
brother - brothers in arms |
Soldiers who have been in combat together in the same war. |
85. |
buck – a fast buck |
Money that is quickly and easily earned. |
86. |
buck – pass the buck |
Shift the blame or responsibility to someone else. |
87. |
bumper – bumper-to-bumper |
(Traffic) very close together and moving slowly. |
88. |
burn – burn one’s boats/bridges |
Do something that can’t be reversed. |
89. |
bury – bury the hatchet |
End a quarrel or conflict and be reconciled. |
90. |
business – business is business |
Used to mean making profit overrides everything else. |
91. |
business – like nobody’s business |
Exceptional. |
92. |
butterfly – butterflies in one’s stomach |
An unpleasant sensation in one’s stomach when one is nervous. |
93. |
buyer - a buyer’s market |
Situation in which supply of goods and shares is more than demand, and prices are low. |
94. |
by – by and by |
Before long; soon. |
95. |
by – by and large |
On the whole. |
96. |
by – by the by |
By the way; incidentally. |
97. |
call – call attention to |
To divert people’s attention to something. |
98. |
call – call into question |
To express doubt about something. |
99. |
call – call of nature |
A need to urinate or defecate. |
100. |
call – call one’s shots |
To predict one’s course of action. |