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An idiom is an expression whose meaning is different from the
meaning of its constituent words.
Knowledge of idioms is an important part of comprehension of the
English language. Below is a list of
some commonly used idioms in English with their meaning and
usage.
IDIOM MEANING
TURN OVER A NEW LEAF Changing your better for the better
After Ajit was released from prison, he decided to turn over a
new leaf and become an honest man.
IDIOM MEANING
PULL UP ONES SOCKS To make an effort to improve
Rajesh got only forty percentage marks in the English mid-term
exams. He needs to pull up his socksif he
has to score well in his final exams.
IDIOM MEANING
HIT BELOW THE BELT To act in an unfair matter
The candidate of the opposition party spread false rumours about
the Minister. People felt that it was
an act of hitting below the belt.
IDIOM MEANING
GIFT OF THE GAB The ability to speak well
Pooja was able to keep the audiences amused with her stories.
She surely has the gift of the gab.
IDIOM MEANING
WILD GOOSE CHASE Futile search
Searching for hidden gold in the village field is nothing but a
wild goose chase.
IDIOM MEANING
HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS Reconsideration of a decision
When Rajiv could not answer any question in the Economics
assignment, he started having second
thoughts about his decision to take Economics as his main
subject.
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IDIOM MEANING
FACE THE MUSIC To face the consequences of ones action
I lost my fathers pen. I will have to face the music when I
reach home.
IDIOM MEANING
BREAK THE ICE Overcome initial shyness
The teacher asked the students to introduce themselves to each
other to break the ice.
IDIOM MEANING
MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL To give great importance to
minor things
Manoj stopped talking to Rupa because she did not lend him her
notebook. I think he is making a
mountain out of a molehill.
IDIOM MEANING
AT LOGGERHEADS To differ strongly
The two brothers can never work together. They are always at
loggerheads.
IDIOM MEANING
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES Make the best of a good situation
while it lasts
Mr. Sharma got the big contract to supply machine parts to a big
Japanese company. He should make
hay will the sun shines.
IDIOM MEANING
LET BYGONES BE BYGONES Ignore the bad things of the past
We have not spoken to each others since the time we had our
fight few months back. We should let
bygones be bygones and become friends again.
IDIOM MEANING
HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD Be exactly accurate
Ram is a genius. He hit the nail on the head when he said that
the car was overheating because of a
leaking radiator.
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IDIOM MEANING
THROW IN THE TOWEL To accept defeat
I am unable to solve this question. I am ready to throw in the
towel.
IDIOM MEANING
NO STONE UNTURNED Make all possible efforts
Ramesh has joined two coaching classes. He is leaving no stone
unturned to get into engineering college.
IDIOM MEANING
BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONES MOUTH To be born in a very rich
family
Priya was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father gave
her an expensive car on her eighteenth
birthday.
IDIOM MEANING
KEEP ONES FINGERS CROSSED Hope for a positive outcome
My results come out day after tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers
crossed.
IDIOM MEANING
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK Using any means, fair or foul
There is a cricket match tomorrow. Raj will make sure he gets
the day off from office by hook or by
crook.
IDIOM MEANING
BURN ONES FINGERS Suffer for something that one has done
I will never bet again. I burnt my fingers betting at the race
course today.
