BY BY SANJIV KUMAR Lecturer Lecturer Govt.sen.sec.school, Govt.sen.sec.school, Randhawa (Fgs.) Randhawa (Fgs.)

Contents Definition of Idioms. Use of Idioms Queries. Bibliography.

A group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words e.g. : ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ means to tell a secret by mistake. (formal) the kind of language and grammar used by particular people at a particular time or place Idioms

In good spirits

Hurry up!

'ask for it 'ask for it to deserve sth bad that happens to you or that sb does to you

(build) castles in the 'air (build) castles in the 'air (to have) plans or dreams that are not likely to happen or come true

Part and Parcel

float / walk on 'air float / walk on 'air In seventh heaven In seventh heaven to feel very happy

up in the 'air up in the 'air not yet decided : Our travel plans are still up in the air.

on /off (the) 'air on /off (the) 'air broadcasting or not broadcasting on television or radio:

(with) arms akimbo (with) arms akimbo with your hands on your hips and your elbows pointing away from your body

at daggers 'drawn at daggers 'drawn if two people are at daggers drawn, they are very angry with each other

the apple of sb’s 'eye the apple of sb’s 'eye a person or thing that is loved more than any other

throw the baby out with the 'bathwater throw the baby out with the 'bathwater (informal) to lose sth that you want at the same time as you are trying to get rid of sth that you do not want

you scratch 'my back and I’ll scratch 'yours you scratch 'my back and I’ll scratch 'yours (saying) used to say that if sb helps you, you will help them, even if this is unfair to other

bag and 'baggage with all your possessions, especially secretly or suddenly:

the ball is in your / sb’s 'court It is your/sb’s responsibility to take action next:

go bananas (slang) to become angry, crazy or silly

put all your eggs in one 'basket put all your eggs in one 'basket to rely on one particular course of action for success rather than giving yourself several different possibilities

to beard the lion in his 'den to beard the lion in his 'den to go to see an important or powerful person to tell them that you disagree with them, that you want sth, etc.

blow your own 'trumpetblow your own 'trumpet to praise your own abilities and achievements talking 19 to the dozen talking 19 to the dozen To talk without stopping

a bolt from the 'blue a bolt from the 'blue an event or a piece of news which is sudden and unexpected; a complete surprise:

knit your brows knit your brows to move your eyebrows together, to show that you are thinking hard, feeling angry, etc. SYN frown

let the 'cat out of the bag to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake

cool your 'heels (informal) to have to wait for sb/sth

dog in the 'manger a person who stops other people from enjoying what he or she cannot use or does not want

it never rains but it 'pours it never rains but it 'pours (saying) used to say that when one bad thing happens to you, other bad things happen soon after

like a cat that’s got the 'cream (BrE) (US like the cat that like a cat that’s got the 'cream (BrE) (US like the cat that got / ate / swallowed the canary) very pleased with yourself

be raining cats and 'dogs

lend an 'ear (to sb/sth) to listen in a patient and sympathetic way to sb Dressed upto the nines(wearing formal clothes)

at the eleventh 'hour at the eleventh 'hour at the last possible moment; just in time

to be so worried by a problem that you do not know what to do next

a 'feather in your cap a 'feather in your cap an action that you can be proud of

(as) fit as a 'fiddle (as) fit as a 'fiddle (informal) in very good physical condition

by / in fits and 'starts frequently starting and stopping again; not continuously:

gird (up) your 'loins gird (up) your 'loins (literary or humorous) to get ready to do sth difficult:

fools rush 'in (where angels fear to 'tread) (saying) people with little experience try to do the difficult or dangerous things which more experienced people would not consider doing

in 'harness (BrE) doing your normal work, especially after a rest or a holiday in harness (with sb) (BrE) working closely with sb in order to achieve sth

the 'lion’s share (of sth) (BrE) the largest or best part of sth when it is divided

be / go out of your 'mind be / go out of your 'mind to be unable to think or behave in a normal way; to become crazy:

lose your 'head lose your 'head to become unable to act in a calm or sensible way

have your head in the 'clouds have your head in the 'clouds 1.to be thinking about sth that is not connected with what you are doing 2.to have ideas, plans, etc. that are not realistic

keep your 'head | keep a clear / cool 'head keep your 'head | keep a clear / cool 'head to remain calm in a difficult situation

two heads are better than 'one two heads are better than 'one (saying) used to say that two people can achieve more than one person working alone

in the nick of 'time (informal) at the very last moment; just in time before sth bad happens

in deep 'waters in deep 'waters in trouble or difficulty

in black and white in writing or in print:

there’s little / no 'love lost between A and B there’s little / no 'love lost between A and B they do not like each other:

mind your Ps and 'Qs (informal) to behave in the most polite way you can

get on sb’s 'nerves (informal) to annoy sb

under sb’s 'nose (informal) 1. if sth is under sb’s nose, it is very close to them but they cannot see it:

burn the candle at both 'ends to become very tired by trying to do too many things and going to bed late and getting up early burn the midnight 'oil burn the midnight 'oil to study or work until late at night

ask, cry, etc. for the 'moon to ask for sth that is difficult or impossible to get or achieve

once in a blue 'moon once in a blue 'moon very rarely

read sb’s lips to look at the movements of sb’s lips to learn what they are saying

beat about the 'bush (NAmE beat around the 'bush) to talk about sth for a long time without coming to the main point:

go up in 'smoke to be completely burnt:

a snake (in the 'grass) (disapproving) a person who pretends to be your friend but who cannot be trusted e.g. The Count of Morcerf was a snake in the grass.

leave no stone un'turned to try every possible course of action in order to find or achieve sth left no stone unturned to get admission in a school at Virginia.

a 'stone’s throw a 'stone’s throw a very short distance away: We live just a stone’s throw from the road.

take sb to 'task (for / over sth) to criticize sb strongly for sth they have done

take sth/sb by 'storm 1. to be extremely successful very quickly in a particular place or among particular people The Indian Cricket team took every body by storm when they beat Australia by 2 -0 in the test series.

a bird’s-eye 'view (of sth) a view of sth from a high position looking down

turn 'turtle (of a boat) to turn over completely while sailing

Sb’eyes are bigger than their 'stomach used to say that sb has been greedy by taking more food than they can eat

Feel like a fish out of water Be like a fish out of water

Selling like hot cakes

To make merry (enjoy)

Numbers up Lots of idioms are about numbers. See if you can fill in the missing numbers in these says. What do they mean? Dressed up to the ______ Talking ___ to the dozen Once in a ______ Playing ______ fiddle In _______ heaven

Animal Crackers It’s raining ____ and dogs! I’ve got a ____ in my throat Those are just ______tears He’s taken the share I can smell a ___

To break the ice To be the first to say or do something hoping that others will join you To have a chip on your shoulder Describes a person who is angry and defensive or who is always ready to argue or fight Hold your horses Be patient; wait a minute Over the hill Old or too old to do something On cloud nine Very happy or excited Pulling your leg Teasing you Common Idioms and their meanings:

has fun idiom games. has an a to z list of idioms with categories and quizzes. is a site about a software program you can buy about idioms. is another idioms review site. has practice quizzes. tells where specific idioms originated.

THANKS