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Phrases and Idioms |
Meaning |
701. |
past - A shady past |
A past that one had committed a criminal or immoral act and is best kept secret. |
702. |
pay – pay one’s respects |
Show one’s polite consideration by calling or visiting. |
703. |
pay – pay one’s way |
To finance one’s own cost or expenses. |
704. |
payment – payment in kind |
Using goods or services instead of money as settlement |
705. |
peace – hold one’s peace |
Remain silent, even under provocation. |
706. |
peace – keep the peace |
To maintain law and order. |
707. |
peace – make one’s peace |
Restore friendly relations with someone after a personal dispute. |
708. |
peace – rest in peace |
Used in funeral service as part of a prayer. |
709. |
per - as per usual |
As usual. |
710. |
pick – pick a fight |
Force a fight. |
711. |
pick – pick a lock |
Use something other than the key to open a lock. |
712. |
pick – pick holes in |
Criticize adversely; find fault with. |
713. |
pick – pick one’s nose |
To remove mucus from one’s nose with one’s finger. |
714. |
pick – pick one’s teeth |
To remove bits of food from one’s teeth with something pointed. |
715. |
pick – pick someone’s pocket |
To steal secretly from someone’s pocket. |
716. |
pity - for pity’s sake |
Used to show one’s growing irritation. |
717. |
plate – on a plate |
Getting something without working for it. |
718. |
plate – on one’s plate |
Having so much to occupy one’s time. |
719. |
play – come into play |
To have significant effect. |
720. |
play – out of play |
When a ball goes out of the allowed area of play. |
721. |
play – play for time |
To gain time by employing delaying tactics. |
722. |
play – play it cool |
To behave in a relaxed or unconcerned manner. |
723. |
play – play it safe |
Avoid taking unnecessary risks. |
724. |
play – play on words |
To make use of ambiguous words to amuse or confuse. |
725. |
play – play second fiddle |
Play a subordinate role. |
726. |
play – play the fool |
Acting in a silly way. |
727. |
play – play with fire |
Do something that could have serious consequences. |
728. |
plunge – take the plunge |
To finally commit oneself to doing something after much hesitation. |
729. |
point - belabour the point |
Discuss at length. |
730. |
point - beside the point |
Irrelevant; not important. |
731. |
point – case in point |
An example used to clarify the topic being discussed. |
732. |
point – point the finger |
To openly accuse, blame or implicate someone. |
733. |
poke – poke fun at |
Make fun of or ridicule someone. |
734. |
pole - be poles apart |
Entirely different from each other. |
735. |
poor – the poor man’s ….. |
An inferior or cheaper substitute for someone or something as mentioned. |
736. |
pop - pop the question |
To propose marriage to someone. |
737. |
pot-luck - take pot-luck |
Be willing to take or eat whatever is available. |
738. |
pound – pound of flesh |
Something that’s one’s entitled but which will make them to suffer to demand. |
739. |
practice – practice makes perfect |
Perfection comes from habitual doing of something. |
740. |
premium – at a premium |
Not readily available; at a higher than usual price. |
741. |
press – go to press |
To get something printed. |
742. |
press – at the press |
In the process of printing. |
743. |
press – off the press |
Printed; issued. |
744. |
press – press the flesh |
To shake hands with people |
745. |
press – send to press |
Send to be printed. |
746. |
pressed – pressed for time |
Not having enough time. |
747. |
price – at any price |
Regardless of the risk involved or what may happen. |
748. |
prick – prick of conscience |
Feeling of deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed. |
749. |
print – appear in print |
Have one’s work published. |
750. |
print – out of print |
No longer available in printed form. |
751. |
proportion – out of proportion |
More than what it should be; exaggerated. |
752. |
proportion – sense of proportion |
The ability to judge the relative importance of things. |
753. |
puck – pluck a pigeon |
To rob a foolish or gullible person. |
754. |
pull – pull one’s face |
Change one’s facial expression to reflect one’s feelings. |
755. |
pull – pull one’s punches |
To be less forceful, harsh, etc. than one is capable. |
756. |
pull – pull one’s rank |
Abuse one’s senior position to exact obedience, etc. |
757. |
pull – pull someone’s leg |
To playfully cause someone to believe something that is not true. |
758. |
pull – pull the plug |
Prevent something from continuing. |
759. |
pure – pure and simple |
Absolutely by itself, nothing short of. |
760. |
push - at a push |
With difficulty but can be done. |
761. |
push – push one’s luck |
To assume one will continue to be successful. |
762. |
quite - not quite |
Not completely or totally. |
763. |
rack – rack and ruin |
Deteriorate due to neglect. |
764. |
raise – raise the dust |
To cause a disturbance. |
765. |
rank – rank and file |
Ordinary members of an organization. |
766. |
ransom - a king’s ransom |
A huge amount of money. |
767. |
rate - at this rate |
If things continue to happen in this way |
768. |
raw – in the raw |
In its realistic state; naked. |
769. |
read - a good read |
Something that people enjoy reading. |
770. |
ready - at the ready |
Available to put into immediate service. |
771. |
record - for the record |
For something to be recorded and remembered. |
772. |
record – off/on the record |
Not made/made as official record. |
773. |
red - in the red |
To have no money in one’s account. |
774. |
red – red letter day |
A special day that makes you very happy. |
775. |
red - the red planet |
Mars |
776. |
regard – in this regard |
Connected with something mentioned previously or just said. |
777. |
regard – with regard to |
Referring to something one is speaking or writing about. |
778. |
rein – take the reins |
Take over the responsibility. |
779. |
reinvent – reinvent the wheel |
To waste time in devising what is already in existence. |
780. |
respect – in respect of |
Concerning; with reference to; in relation to. |
781. |
respect – with respect to |
Referring to. |
782. |
rest – rest on oars |
Rest after a spell of labour. |
783. |
rest – rest one’s case |
End one’s presentation of evidence in a court of law. |
784. |
ride – be riding high |
Successful and popular. |
785. |
ride – ride herd on |
Keep watch over. |
786. |
ride – ride roughshod over |
Treat someone without consideration of their feelings. |
787. |
right – as of right |
It is one’s right. |
788. |
right - right-hand man |
An important assistant. |
789. |
right – the right stuff |
The necessary or required qualities. |
790. |
rise – give rise to |
Cause something to happen. |
791. |
rise – on the rise |
Increasing in value, success, prices, etc. |
792. |
rise – rise and shine |
Get out of bed early and quickly. |
793. |
risk – risk one’s neck |
To do something that involves the possibility of being killed. |
794. |
risk – run the risk |
Expose to the possibility of something dangerous or unpleasant happening. |
795. |
rock – on the rocks |
Fraught with problems and is likely to fail. |
796. |
rock – rock the boat |
To disrupt the existing situation. |
797. |
root - put down roots |
To become settled in a place. |
798. |
rope – know the ropes |
Know all of something through experience |
799. |
rough – a rough diamond |
A person who is of good character but lacks good manners. |
800. |
rough – in the rough |
In a natural or difficult state |