Idioms List
51. In full swing
Meaning : At fast pace.
Example : Preparations for the common wealth games are in full swing in National capital.
52. A black sheep
Meaning : Good for nothing.
Example : He is a black sheep thus cannot be depended upon.
53. A child’s play
Meaning : Something very easy.
Example : To succeed in any competitive exams is not a child’s play.
54. A flying visit
Meaning : A hectic visit.
Example : The Inspector paid a flying visit to our school.
55. A hair breadth escape
Meaning : Very close escape.
Example : She had a hair breadth escape in the bus accident.
56. Laughing stock
Meaning : Reason for giggling.
Example : She is the laughing stock of our class.
57. The lion’s share
Meaning : A big part.
Example : The lion’s share of the profit goes to the director.
58. Maiden Speech
Meaning : a person’s first speech.
Example : Reena cut a very good figure in her maiden speech.
59. An open secret
Meaning : Known to everybody.
Example : It is an open secret that most of the police personnel are corrupt.
60. A past master
Meaning : An expert.
Example : He is a past master in breaking safes and vaults.
61. A red letter day
Meaning : An auspicious day.
Example : August 15,1947 is a red letter day in the history of our country.
62. A short cut
Meaning : Easy and small.
Example : They adopt foul means as a short cut to prosper in life.
63. A turncoat
Meaning : A person who changes sides.
Example : He is a turncoat, do not depend on him.
64. The three R’s
Meaning : To write, read, count.
Example : Every citizen must know the three R’s.
65. A white elephant
Meaning : Costly affair.
Example : A new car is a white elephant for me.
66. All and sundry
Meaning : every one without exception.
Example : All and sundry came to attend his marriage party.
67. All in all
Meaning : The most important and powerful person.
Example : My father is all in all in our family.
68. Bag and baggage
Meaning : Completely, Leaving behind nothing.
Example : On his retirement Mr. Lal had to quit the government bungalow bag and baggage.
69. Bread and butter
Meaning : Livelihood.
Example : Most Indians find it difficult even to earn their bread and butter.
70. First and foremost
Meaning : Main priority.
Example : Health is our first and foremost necessity to lead a happy life.
71. Kith and kin
Meaning : Relatives.
Example : Prime Minister helped his kith and kin to get prime portfolio’s in his ministry.
72. Part and parcel
Meaning : Necessary part.
Example : Discipline is a part and parcel of defence services.
73. Spick and span
Meaning : Neat and clean.
Example : Everything in her room was spick and span.
74. Sum and substance
Meaning : In short.
Example : Can you tell the audience the sum and substance of the speech?
75. To and fro
Meaning : Here and there.
Example : He was shaking his neck to and fro.
76. Through and through
Meaning : Completely.
Example : We were drenched through and through in the torrential rain.
77. Ups and downs
Meaning : Rise and fall, alternations of good and bad fortunes.
Example : She has seen many ups and downs in her life.
78. Apple of discord
Meaning : Root cause of fight.
Example : This wealth of father becomes apple of discord between two brothers.
79. A bed of roses
Meaning : Easy.
Example : The life of a soldier is not a bed of roses.
80. A bed of thorns
Meaning : Full of suffering and sorrows.
Example : For Rajini, the new office proved to be a bed of thorns.
81. A man of letters
Meaning : A lover of literature.
Example : Tagore was a man of letters.
82. By hook and by crook
Meaning : By all means, Fair or foul.
Example : He decided to win the election by hook or crook.
83. By leaps and bounds
Meaning : Very rapidly.
Example : My brother’s business is picking up by leaps and bounds.
84. In black and white
Meaning : In written.
Example : The minister asked the agitating workers to present their demands in black and white.
85. Through thick and thin
Meaning : In every condition.
Example : We will stand by you through thick and thin.
86. With open arms
Meaning : With affection.
Example : My friend received me with open arms.
87. At a stretch
Meaning : Continuously.
Example : She can work for ten hours at a stretch.
88. At the eleventh hour
Meaning : At the last stage, At the last moment.
Example : The doctor turned up at the eleventh hour and saved the life of his son.
89. For good
Meaning : For ever.
Example : Charan left India for good to settle in England.
90. In the long run
Meaning : At the end.
Example : Truth always prevails in the long run.
91. For want of
Meaning : Due to the less of.
Example : Crops failed for want of rain.
92. In spite of
Meaning : Besides.
Example : They failed in spite of hard work.
93. Off hand
Meaning : With no preparation.
Example : She set for the examination off hand and failed.
94. To be an old hand
Meaning : To be experienced at something.
Example : She’s an old hand at magazines.
95. Eager beaver
Meaning : A person who is always eager to work or do something extra.
Example : She is a real eager beaver and I am sure she will do very well in this company.
96. Zip your lip!
Meaning : Keep something secret.
Example : What i told you is really important, so zip your lip!
97. Yeoman service
Meaning : Excellent work.
Example : When plague first broke out in Mumbai, Dr. Mishra did yeoman service.
98. P’s and Q’s
Meaning : Gentility.
Example : Mind your P’s and Q’s.
99. Keep a lid on
Meaning : To keep something secret.
Example : Economic difficulties continued and the government intervened to keep a lid on inflation.
100. Ease off
Meaning : Decrease tention.
Example : The president was asked to ease off on his efforts to cut staff in the company.