50 idioms and phrases with meaning and frame sentences from it
Answers
. Stir up a hornets’ nest
Provoke trouble
Example: It’s not that the management is not aware of few false bills here and there, but they don’t call it because it would expose many and stir up a hornet’s nest.
2. Back against the wall
Be in a difficult situation from where escape is difficult
Example: With banks baying for his blood over default in payments, he has his back against the wall.
3. Bite off more than you can chew
To try to do something that is too difficult for you
Example: He has taken more responsibilities as he couldn’t say ‘no’ to his boss. I think he has bitten more than he can chew, and he’ll struggle to handle them all.
4. Head over heels
If you’re head over heels, you’re completely in love.
Example: Max fell head over heels in love with her colleague and wants to marry her.
5. Upset someone’s applecart
If you upset someone’s applecart, you do something that causes a plan to go wrong.
Example: The increase in customs duty by the government has upset the applecart of those car companies who were importing most of their car parts.
6. Spoil someone’s plans
To ruin someone’s plans
Example: The heavy overnight rain spoilt our plan to play cricket next morning.
7. Keep someone at arm’s length
If you keep someone at arm’s length, you avoid becoming friendly with them.
Example: I’ve more productive time in the day because I’ve developed this good habit of keeping video games at arm’s length.
8. Up in arms
Angry about something
Example: Media has traditionally been up in arms with the government of the day.
9. Drive a hard bargain
If you drive a hard bargain, you argue hard to get a favorable deal.
Example: The author tried to drive a hard bargain with the publisher on signing amount, but couldn’t because he didn’t have best sellers in his name.
10. Barking up the wrong tree
To ask the wrong person or follow the wrong course
Example: The sales team blamed the engineers for the organization’s failure to bag the mega deal, but they were barking up the wrong tree.
11. Scrape the barrel
When you’re scraping the barrel, you’re using something you do not want to but you’ve no option.
Example: I was scraping the barrel when I had to stay for six months with my parents after I lost my job.
12. Bend over backwards
To try please or accommodate someone to an unusual degree
Example: The hotel staff bent over backwards to make the visit of the dignitaries a memorable one.
13. A chip off the old block
If you’re a chip off the old block, you’re similar in some distinct way to your father or mother.
Example: He is as stingy as her mother – a real chip off the old block.
14. Blow your own trumpet
If you blow your own trumpet, you tell people how good or successful you are (used in negative way).
Example: That doctor can be so off-putting. He is always blowing his trumpet mentioning his awards and positions in various associations.
15. Once in a blue moon
If something happens once in a blue moon, it happens rarely.
Example: Many startups turn in a profit once in a blue moon.
16. Burn your boats/ bridges
If you burn your boats, you do something that makes it impossible to change your plans and go back to the earlier position or situation.
Example: I’ve burnt my boats with my previous supervisor by criticizing him publicly.
17. Make no bones about something
If you make no bones about something, you say clearly what you feel or think about it.
Example: Jack made no bones about getting a hike in his salary.
18. Break fresh/ new ground
If you break new ground, you do something that was not done before.
Example: Our scientists are breaking new ground in robotics and cancer research.
19. In the same breath
When you say two things in the same breath, you say two very different or contradictory things.
Example: How can the manager praise my colleague and talk of his average performance in the same breath?
20. Take away your breath
If someone or something takes your breath away, it astonishes you.
Example: His diving catch at the crunch moment in the match took my breath away.
21. Sell like hot cakes
If something sells like hot cakes, it sells very fast.
Example: More than five thousand cars sold so far. The new model is selling like hot cakes.
22. Burn the candle at both ends
If you burn the candle at both ends, you work excessively hard, say, by keeping two jobs or by leading a busy social life in the evening.
Example: Mitch is burning the candle at both ends. He is working two jobs, one in the evening.
23. Separate the wheat from the chaff
If you separate wheat from the chaff, you separate valuable from worthless.
Example: The new testing procedure to evaluate employees will separate the wheat from the chaff.
24. Change tune
If you change your tune, you change the way you behave with others from good to bad.
Example: After he came to know that I’m close to the power in the organization, he changed his tune.
25. Run around in circles
To be active without achieving any worthwhile result
Example: He ran around in circles trying to bring us on board for the new cause.
hope it helps
If you turn the clock back to an earlier period, you return to that time.
Example: Turning the clock back to our glory days is fruitless. We’ve to work harder and smarter in the present.
27. Against the clock
If you’re working against the clock, you’re working in great hurry.
Example: With only half the syllabus studied, I raced against the clock to be ready for the exam on Monday.
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Meaning - Acid test proves the effectiveness of something.
Example - I practiced hard at the dance sessions but the acid test will come when the master will assess our solo performances.
2. Cut the ground from under feet :
Meaning - When you cut the ground from under someone's feet, you do something which weakens their position.
Example - When team India hit more than 350 runs in the ODI, they cut the ground from under the opponent's feet.
Meaning - Spending a lot of time and energy doing a lot of things but actually achieving too little.
Example - He's been chasing his tail all week collecting data but the report is still not ready
4. Whole bag of tricks -
Meaning - Means trying all the clever means to achieve something.
Example - It was really difficult to find the information even after applying the whole bag of tricks.
Meaning - Do what is expected or promised.
Example - I have given my car to a new mechanic for repair, hope he delivers the goods.
6. Fine-tooth comb -
Meaning - Examining something carefully to not miss out any details.
Example - The boss examined my report with a fine tooth comb before submitting it to the senior management.
1. as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")
Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems as easy as pie to me!
2. be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")
Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.
3. bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)
Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.
4. bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"
Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.
5. broke means "to have no money"
Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.
6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"
Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.
7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"
Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!
8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"
Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.
9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"
Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.
10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"
Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.
11. in ages means "for a very long time"
Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.
12. give someone a hand means "help"
Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?
13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")
Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.
14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"
Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.
15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"
Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.
16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"
Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!
17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"
Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.
18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well" Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand
19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"
Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.
20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"
Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!
21. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"
Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.
22. take it easy means "relax"
Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.
23. to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"
Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.
24. up to the minute means "the most recent information"
Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.
25. twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"
Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!