PHRASES AND IDIOMS

1.   To bell the cat - To face the risk
2.  A cat and dog life - To lead a life full of quarrels
3.  A cold fish - A person devoid of emotions
4.  To cross the Rubicon -To take a decisive step
5.  Double-dealing - Deceiving
6.  To die hard - Change with great difficulty
7.  To eat humble pie - To apologise in a humble manner
8.  To fight a losing battle - Struggle without hope of success
9.  A deadlock - A position when no progress can be made
10.  A daredevil - A person who does not care for any consequences
11.  Once in a blue moon - Very rarely
12.  At a premium - Difficult to get or obtain
13.  To play the game - To act honestly
14.  To die in harness - To work till the last day of one’s life
15. To plough a lonely furrow - To work without help or support
16.  Lock, stock and barrel - Completely
17.  The long and the short - The main point
18.  Bring to light - Disclose
19. bottom line - The final criteria
20.  A cock and bull story - An improbable excuse
21.  To kick one’s heels - To wait with nothing to do
22.  Rain cats and dogs - Rain heavily
23.  A hard nut to crack - A difficult problem
24.  In high spirits - Very happy
25.  Like a fish out of water - In a strange situation
26.  Smell a rat - Suspect something foul
27.  Read between the lines - Understand the hidden meaning
28.  Tooth and nail ---With all one’s power
29.  Spread like wild fire - Spread quickly
30.  Hit the nail on the head - Do or say the exact thing
31.  Burn the midnight oil - Work or study hard
32.  Under his thumb - Under his control
33.  With a high hand - Oppressively
34.  Gain ground - Become popular
35.  By leaps and bounds - Rapidly
36.  Make off with - to run away with
37. Pass away - to die
38.  To cry for the moon - Ask for the impossible
39.  To make a pig of oneself - To over-eat
40.  Donkey’s years - A very long time
41.  To pull one’s leg - to joke; tease someone
42.  To keep one’s fingers crossed - To hope fervently
43.  To call in question - To disprove or doubt
44.  To talk through one’s hat -To talk ignorantly
45.  To make up one’s mind -To decide
46.  Hard and fast rules - Rigid rules
47.  To make one’s mouth water - To stimulate one’s appetite
48.  By word of mouth - By spoken message
49.  To get the better of someone -To take advantage of someone
50.  To rub shoulders - To come into close contact
51.  A snake in the grass - A hidden enemy
52.  Between the devil and the deep blue sea - Between two dangers
53.  Chew the cud - To discuss matters in a ponderous manner, especially
54. reminiscing
55. To kill two birds with one stone - To achieve two results with one effort
56.  A close shave - A narrow escape
57.  Chip off the old block - As good as one’s father
58.  To pull a long face - To look sad
59.  Above board - Open and honest
60.  To turn a deaf ear - To ignore
61.  To turn the tables - To reverse the situation
62.  To call someone names - To abuse someone
63.  Above board - Honest and open
64.  At arms length - To keep at a distance
65.  At the eleventh hour - At the last moment
66.  An apple of discord - A cause of quarrel
67.  To burn one’s boats - Go back on a decision
68.  To build castles in the air - Make imaginary schemes
69.  A burning question -
70.  An important topic
71.  A brown study - Dreaming
72.  Sitting on the fence - Hesitate between two decisions
73. Smell a rat - Suspect something foul
74.  Read between the lines - Understand the hidden meaning
75.  Tooth and nail - With all one’s power
76.  Spread like wild fire - Spread quickly
77.  Hit the nail on the head - Do or say the exact thing
78.  Burn the midnight oil - Work or study hard
79.  Under his thumb - Under his control
80.  With a high hand - Oppressively
81.  Gain ground - Become popular
82.  By leaps and bounds - Rapidly
83.  Chip off the old block - As good as one’s father
84.  To pull a long face - To look sad
85.  Above board - Open and honest
86.  To turn a deaf ear - To ignore
87.  To turn the tables - To reverse the situation