Idioms & Phrases and Collocations List Idioms & Phrases Meaning Example Sentence

Idioms & Phrases and Collocations List
Idioms &
S.No Meaning Example Sentence
Phrases
1 To make clean to tell the truth about After months of lying about the money,
breast of something, especially I decided to make a clean breast of it and
something bad or illegal that tell the truth.
you have done, so that you
do not have to feel guilty any
more
2 To keep one’s To hold back an expression She should have learned to keep her
temper of anger temper when she was a child.
3 To drive home To emphasize an important The teacher repeated the point three
point about something (to times just to drive it home
someone)
4 To have an To have a selfish reason for The best reporting is done by people who
axe to grind saying or doing something don’t have an axe to grind.
5 To end in If something ends in smoke All the efforts of the warden to bring him
smoke it produces no concrete or round ended in smoke.
positive result.
6 To be above To be honest and legal The deal was completely above board
board
7 To pick holes To find mistakes in The lawyer picked holes in the witness’s
something someone has story.
done or said, to show that it
is not good or not correct.
8 To leave To leave someone at a time I hope they can find someone to replace
someone in when they need you to stay me at work. I don’t want to leave them in
the lurch and help them the lurch.
9 To play second To be in a less important Radio has been playing second fiddle to
fiddle position than someone or television for decades now.
something else
10 A black Sheep an odd or disreputable My father was the black sheep; he ran
member of a group, away at 16 to become an actor and his
especially within a family. parents never forgave him.
11 A man of A person or an idea that is He was chosen to be the straw man as

straw weak and easy to defeat. they had struck a deal with the opponent
to lose the fight.
1
12 To smell a rat To suspect that something is I don’t think this was an accident. I smell
wrong a rat.
13 To hit the nail To be right about something Praveen hit the nail on the head when he
right on the said most people can use a computer
head without knowing how it works.
14 To set one’s To oppose something Despite fierce competition from rival

face against companies, they’ve set their face against
price cuts.
15 To cry wolf To cry or complain about Pay no attention, she’s just crying wolf
something when nothing again.
really wrong/give false alarm
16 To put one’s To get busy, to help out, to It’s time to put your hand to the plow
hand to plough start working
17 To catch a To deal with someone or Now that she finally agreed to meet with
tartar. something that proves you, you just might find that you’ve
unexpectedly troublesome or caught a tartar.
powerful
18 Bored to death to be very bored The speeches went on for an hour. I was
bored to death.
19 You've got to this cannot be the truth Raj: Sandeep

be kidding is getting married. Did you hear?
Anu: You've got to be kidding!
20 sick and tired to be angry and bored becau I'm getting sick and tired of this song.
se something unpleasant has They play it way too often at this club."
been happening for too long
21 call it a day to quit work and go home; to I'm tired. Let's call it a day.
say that a day's work has
been completed
22 Get on one's to annoy someone, especially You're beginning to get on my nerves."

nerves by doing something again
and again
23 Couch potato a lazy individual, addicted to Couch potatoes contend to become very
television-watching fat and unhealthy, you know.
24 Read one's to guess what someone is "I was going to suggest that. You must
mind thinking have read my mind.
25 Feel blue to feel sad Whenever I feel blue, I like to listen to
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upbeat music."
26 Fender bender a minor car accident I can’t believe the damage is going to
cost me 800 bucks. It was just amender
bender."
27 Get foot in the to have an opportunity I think I could get the job if I could only
door get my foot in the door.
28 Chicken a coward. "Everyone thinks I'm a chicken because

I didn't go bungee jumping with them."
29 Give to make things difficult for Stop giving me a hard time. There was
somebody a someone nothing I could do about it."
hard time
30 Make up one's To decide something, esp. "I can't make up my mind. Can you help
mind what to do me decide?"
31 Go Dutch to share the cost of I actually prefer going Dutch because I

something, don't want to feel indebt to anyone."
especially a meal;[for each
person in a pair or a group]
to pay for himself or herself
32 Throw in the to quit; to give up. "I saw a fight last almost two hours
towel before one guy threw in the towel."
33 Rain or Shine whatever the weather is; No "We're going camping this weekend rain
matter what the or shine."
circumstances,
34 Easier said said of a task that is easier The doctor says I should stop smoking
than done to talk about than to do. but that's easier said than done.
35 Jump to to guess the facts about "Will you stop jumping to conclusions.
conclusions a situation without having You should get all the facts before you
enough information make any decisions."
36 Out of the happening suddenly and He's pretty funny because he will crack a
Blue unexpectedly funny joke out of the blue."
37 On the Dot at exactly the right time. "I don't want to be waiting for you, so
you'd better be there at three o’clock on
the dot."
38 In a tight to be in a difficult situation After taking up this subject I really don’t

corner understand it and feel like I put myself in
3
a tight corner.
39 A wild goose a situation where you waste After two hours spent wandering in the
chase time looking for something snow, I realized we were on a wild goose
that you are not going to chase.
find, either because that
thing does not exist or
because you have been given
wrong information about it.
40 Does not hold not able to be proved, not A lot of the stuff I believed in when I was
water correct or true 17 just doesn’t hold water today
41 On the cuff On credit I’m sorry, Kamal. We can’t put anything

more on the cuff.
42 Out and out complete, absolute, He’s an out and out liar
thoroughgoing
43 A white something that has cost a lot The piano table she bought turned out to
elephant of money but has no useful be a white elephant
purpose
44 Fair and Completely fairly, justly, She won the game fair and square.
square within the rules
45 No love lost if there is no love lost There’s no love lost between those two,
between between two people, they do they could never work together
not like each other
46 Played havoc to damage something Stormy conditions played havoc with the
fishing.
47 Green Thumb An extraordinary ability to Houseplants provide much pleasure for

make plants grow well / an the city dweller with a green thumb.
exceptional skill for
gardening or for growing
pants successfully
48 broke down to become very emotional I didn't know anyone who was killed, but
I still broke down and cried when I heard
about the bombings.
49 throw dust to mislead; deceive: He threw dust in our eyes by pretending

into my eyes to be a jeweler and then is
appeared with the diamonds.
4
50 a man of straw a person or an idea that is He was accused by his opponents of

weak and easy to defeat being a man of straw and lacking
in decisiveness.
51 off and on / Something that happens at I've had toothache on and off for
On and off different times, in an a couple of months.
intermittent way
52 give and take mutual concessions, shared Willingness to give and take is important
benefits, and cooperation; for success in marriage.
Lively exchange of ideas or
conversation
53 bad hats someone who deliberately That man is bad hat

stirs up trouble
54 break the ice to attempt to become friends A nice smile does a lot to break the ice.
with someone; to be the
first one to do something.
55 chickened out to manage to get out of som Sanjay chickened out

ething, usually because of of the plan at the last minute.
fear or cowardice.
56 make do use whatever you can find; When our kids don't have toys, they
substitute make do with pots and pans.
57 donkey's years a very long time I haven't seen her in donkey's years.
58 who wears her to display one's feelings she wears her heart on her sleeve, and
heart on her openly and habitually, rather because of
sleeve than keep them private. that it's easy to hurt her feelings.
59 talk something To consider something The panel talked over the proposal.
over thoroughly in conversation;
discuss something:
60 wet behind the young and inexperienced He may be wet behind theears, but he's
ears well-trained and totally competent.
61 kicked up a to become a nuisance; to I kicked up such a row that they told me

row/fuss/stink misbehave and disturb to leave.
(someone)
62 send packing to send someone away; to The maidproved to be so incompetent

dismiss someone, possibly that I had to send her packing.
rudely.
5
63 to eat to be someone's guest. The least you can do when you're eating
anybody's salt someone's salt is to help them out
around the house.
64 come to grief to experience something In the end, he came to grief because he

unpleasant or damaging. did not follow instructions.
65 through thick through good times and bad We've been together through thick and
and thin times thin, and we won't desert each other now
66 once in a blue very seldom; rarely Once in a blue moon I have a little wine
moon with dinner.
67 bury the to make peace Let's stop arguing and bury the hatchet
hatchet
68 a cut above better than other people or Sachin Tendulkar’s batting skills make
things him a cut above the rest.
69 in the loop having knowledge of and I am very interested to know the

involvement in something outcome of the debate, kindly keep me in
the loop.
70 cut and dried it is clear and easy to There is no cut and dried method for
method understand doing this.
it is final and will not be
changed
71 blacked out to pass out; to become Suddenly the man blacked out during the
unconscious. parade and had to be helped to a quiet
place.
72 hold your Wait! Hold your horses for a moment while I

horses make a phone call
73 curtain lecture a scolding or rebuke given in The Principal called the latecomers to her
private, esp by a wife to her room and delivered a curtain lecture on
husband the subject of late hours
74 ended in to be destroyed or ruined; The project to clean the River Ganga

smoke. figuratively, to come to ended in smoke.
nothing.
75 set about to make someone begin He immediately set about organizing the
doing something. apartment.
76 go through the to do a lot of difficult things Those intending to take up the military
hoops. before you are allowed to service must be prepared to go through
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have or do something you the hoops.

want
77 playing ducks To squander; waste. He is playing ducks and drakes with the
and drakes wealth of his father.
78 facts spoke What you do or what is Facts spoke louder than words at the
louder than evident Company meeting where the Director
words is more significant than what tried to paint a rosy picture of the
Company’s financial health.
you say.
79 had killed the To destroy something that is By initiating the flight with Sakshi in
goose that lay profitable to you. Office, Kajal had killed the goose that lay
the golden the golden egg.
egg.
80 I let the chips Let something happen regard I let the chips fall where they may and do
fall where they less of the consequences and not worry too much about what I want to
may no matter what happens do next.
81 a leopard something that you say After trying hard to convince Narendra to
cannot change which means that a person's change his ways, Raman realised that a
its spots. character, especially if it is leopard cannot change its spots.
bad, will not change, even if
they pretend it has I
82 not count our to plan how to utilize good Before starting work on our new project,
chickens results of something before our mentor told us to not count our
before they those results have occurred. chickens before they hatched.
hatched.
83 pick holes and pick something to We should not pick holes in other’s
pieces to criticize something reputation.
severely; to point out the
flaws or fallacies in an
argument.
84 brought to Call to account, investigate; The notorious thief was at last brought to
book to punish someone book by the diligent cop.
85 hard and fast if there are no hard and fast There is no hard and fast rule regarding
rule rules, there are no clear rules this subject.
which you must obey
86 to make light to treat something as if it He made light of his teacher’s advice.

were unimportant or
humorous.
7
87 to all intents in all the most important To all intents and purposes he is a
and purposes ways ; In every practical Goodman
sense, virtually.
88 took to their to run away quickly When the police came, the thieves took
heels to their heels.
89 In deep waters to be in a difficult situation We're going to be in deep water if the

which is hard to deal with bank refuses to authorize a bigger loan.
90 Jaundiced eye Preconceived opinion not You must not evaluate anything with
based on reason or a jaundiced eye.
experience.
91 cry up to scream or shout in pain, She cried a warning out to the others.
joy, anger, etc.
92 to beat the air Continue to make futile The candidates for office were so much a
attempts, fight to no purpose like that we thought our vote amounted
to beating the air
93 To lose ground to fall behind someone or so Stocks lost ground today despite good
mething. economic news.
94 To make both to have enough money to My wages were so low that I had to take
ends meet pay for your basic expenses a second job just to makeends meet.
95 To fall back on to depend on something after The family has no savings to fall back on.
a loss or failure
96 To make one’s to make someone very angry It just makes my blood boil to think of
blood boil the amount of food that gets wasted
around here.
97 to keep your to stay calm, especially in You can easily overcome this situation, if
head difficult or dangerous you keep your head.
situations
98 in the same Attuned to something; to It is clear that the ideas of both

groove relate to someone or reformers ran in the same groove.
something.
99 goose bumps The literal tiny bumps you When she told me that she loved me, I
get all over your body when got goose bumps."
you are experiencing intense
emotions.
100 stay in touch To stay connected Call me more often man. We got to stay
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in touch."
101 have the guts Brave; courage "I don't have the guts to go bungee
jumping."
102 Im beat Very tired "I had a tough day today. I'm totally
beat."
103 It's about time Finally; When you wait for "It's about time I got a chance to play."
something, the time on a
clock is the biggest factor.
104 to keep an eye To watch after; to supervise; Don't worry about your luggage. I'll keep
on to take care of an eye on it."
105 know Have knowledge of every Ask Mary to help you with your
something detail of something. homework. She knows calculus inside
inside out out.
106 give someone To help someone Can you give me a hand setting up the
a hand dining table?"
107 now and then Once in a while My mother calls me every now and
then to see if I'm doing well."
108 keeping my Hoping for good luck "I hope it works. Let's cross our fingers."
fingers crossed
109 out of this Amazing That's the coolest thing I've ever seen.
world It's really out of this world."
110 pain in the ass A source of trouble or I have a meeting at 7:00 in the morning.
annoyance; used to indicate It's a pain in the ass waking up that
that something bothers you early."
very much. "Ass" can be
seen as profanity, so another
way of saying this would be
"Pain in the butt" or "Pain in
the neck."
111 piece of cake Describes something that is Learning to type is a piece of cake. It
easy to do. just takes persistence."
112 sooner or later Eventually She'll realize that she's doing something
wrong sooner or later."
113 pull someone's Making someone believe I didn't know you believed me. I was
leg something that is not true. just pulling your leg."
9
114 put oneself in To think from another point "If you put yourself in my place, you
one's place of view. would understand why I did that."
115 I can eat a To express the desire to eat I'm so hungry that I can eat a horse."
horse a lot of food.
116 read between To understand the underlying Sam isn't very good at reading between
the lines meaning of something that is the lines. You have to tell him exactly
not completely clear. what you want."
117 rings a bell To remember something It rings a bell, but I'm not one hundred
percent sure."
118 sleep on it To take time to think about I'm going to need to sleep on it. I don't
something. want to rush my answer right now."
119 play it by ear To decide to do something as Should we plan something for this
the situation develops; Saturday or should we play it by ear?"
choosing to deal with a
situation as more events
unfold.
120 speak of the When someone appears just Vikram did great on her presentation.
devil as you are talking about that Speak of the devil... Hi Vikram."
person.
121 grab a bite To get something to eat If you didn't have lunch yet, let's grab a
bite to eat."
122 take it easy To relax; to stop working so Take it easy man. You're putting too
hard; to calm down much pressure on yourself
123 Go with the to not go against the Why do you do everything differently?
flow common way of doing things You should just go with the flow."
124 Twenty-four Constantly; always available; If a business doesn't provide twenty-four

seven every minute of the day and seven customer support, they will not
night succeed.
125 Under the Feeling sick; not well I'm going to stay home because I'm
weather feeling under the weather today.
126 Don't sweat it To tell someone not to worry You can't do anything about it, so don't
sweat it.
127 you can say Completely agreeing with a That was an absolutely delicious lunch.•
that again statement You can say that again!
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128 broke to have no money I can't pay my bills. I'm broke.
129 beats me To not know; to not It beats me how they finished before us.
understand
130 I don't buy it Disagree; to not be She said she was sorry but I don't buy it.
convinced
131 keep your cool To act normal I know you're upset but you have to keep
your cool
132 sort of A little; kind of Dinner was sort of expensive.
133 good for you Expressing that you are Good for you, you finally passed your
happy for a person test
134 shotgun To claim the front seat in a Why does he always get to ride shotgun?
car.
135 now you're Used to agree with someone A cold drink sounds great, now you're
talking talking!
136 over my dead Disallow absolutely You want a tattoo? Over my dead body.
body
137 cat got your Used when someone has You're being awfully quiet, cat got your
tongue nothing to say tongue?
138 give it to me used when you want to hear Just give it to me straight, I can take the
straight the truth news.
139 it's written all Used to tell someone that I know you did it, it's written all over
over your face their face expression is your face.
giving a message
140 go for it To encourage someone to do Don't let anyone stand in the way of your
something that they have dreams. Go for it!
planned
141 good for Negative statement to That girl is a good for

nothing indicate someone has no nothing troublemaker.
value; useless
142 get a life A negative way of telling Would you stop bothering me and get a
someone to stop bothering life!
you; to tell someone to stop
being a loser
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143 my two cents To give or share your opinion I don't agree with what's happening.
That's just my two cents.
144 take a hike To tell someone to go away He asked for my phone number and I
in a negative way told him to take a hike.
145 nature calls This is used when you have I have to go to the restroom. Nature
to go to the bathroom. calls.
146 no sweat Telling someone it is "no No sweat. It's not that big of a deal
problem"
147 pie in the sky Pleasant to imagine but His dreams of becoming a famous singer
impossible to attain are just a pie in the sky.
148 no strings Without any conditions We are giving away free t-shirts, no
attached strings attached.
149 back to the Going back to work after a Ok everyone break time is over, get back
grind break to the grind.
150 just my luck Expression used when Just my luck, my boss asked me to work
something bad happens to late tonight.
you
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S.No Collocations
1 Large amount - adj+noun
2 physical activity - adj+ noun
3 matter of choice - noun +noun
4 strongly driven - adv+ adj
5 personal preferences - adj+noun
6 walking distance - adj+ noun
7 large number - adj+noun
8 natural disaster - adj+noun
9 vicious cycle - adj+noun
10 technological improvement - adj+noun
11 writhed in pain - verb+ expression with preposition
12 large collection - adj+ noun
13 brilliant ideas - adj+noun
14 difficult situation - adj+noun
15 quality education - adj+noun
16 extensive discussion - adj+noun
17 extremely helpful - adv+adj
18 corrective measures - adj+noun
19 serious disaster - adj+noun
20 Hectic schedules - adj+noun
21 quick holiday - adj+noun
22 easily accessible - adv+ adj
23 health personnel - noun+noun
24 necessary funds - adj+ nun
25 extensive growth - adj+noun
13
26 poor posture - adj+noun
27 policy guideline - noun+noun
28 cascading effect - adj+noun
29 economic slowdown - adj+noun
30 newly adopted - adv+adj
31 genuine issues - adj+noun
32 awaiting approval - verb+noun
33 office supplies - noun+noun
34 basic infrastructure - adj+noun
35 great strides - adj+noun
36 present form - adj+noun
37 great fanfare - adj+noun
38 new entity - adj+noun
39 bigger stake - adj+noun
40 future growth - adj+noun
41 business initiatives - adj+noun
42 good price - adj+noun
43 higher price - adj+noun
44 better price - adj+noun
45 potential buyers - adj+noun
46 financial matters - adj+noun
47 reasonable assumption - adj+noun
48 financial reasons - adj+noun
49 significant difference - adj+noun
50 market conditions - adj+noun
51 wide impact - adj+noun
14
52 final product - adj+noun
53 completely baseless - adv+adj
54 latest move - adj+noun
55 spread awareness - verb+noun
56 biggest worry - adj+noun
57 entire exercise - adj+noun
58 wider platform - adj+noun
59 worst drawback - adj+noun
60 massive loss - adj+noun
61 few things - adj+noun
62 primary duty - adj+noun
63 strongest point - adj+noun
64 new entrants - adj+noun
65 career advancement - adj+noun
66 policy decisions - adj+noun
67 organic systems - adj+noun
68 electronic firms - adj+noun
69 highly qualified - adv+adj
70 expert knowledge - adj+noun
71 larger objective - adj+noun
72 political ploys - adj+noun
73 small fraction - adj+noun
74 latest technology - adj+noun
75 psychological impact - adj+noun
76 entire brunt - adj+noun
77 steadily increasing - adv+verb
15
78 technological development - adj+noun
79 natural passions - adj+noun
80 strong character - adj+noun
81 strict measures - adj+noun
82 industrial progress - adj+noun
83 industrial power - adj+noun
84 industrially backward - adv+adj
85 endless stream - adj+noun
86 extraordinary beauty - adj+noun
87 learning experience - adj+noun
88 rigorous imrpisonment - adj+noun
89 closest comparison - adj+noun
90 main lesson - adj+noun
91 firm belief - adj+noun
92 urgent need - adj+noun
93 suitable measures - adj+nun
94 desired result - adj+noun
95 good margin -adj+noun
96 fresh dimesnion - adj+noun
97 popular techniques - adj +noun
98 completely reliable - adv+ adj
99 probably true - adv+adj
100 biggest cause - adj + noun
101 serious action - adj+noun
102 huge respite - adj+noun
103 badly hit - adv+adj
16
104 possible reason - adj+noun
105 growing problem - adj+noun
106 fully mature - adv+adj
107 major section - adj+noun
108 practical aspect - adj+_noun
109 better opportunities - adj+noun
110 suitable title - adj+noun
111 wrong picture - adj+noun
112 political gain - adj+noun
113 wrong answer - adj+noun
114 growing competition - adj+noun
115 essential condition - adj+noun
116 totally different - adv+adj
117 totally lost - adv+adj
118 totally unexpected - adv+adj
119 strongly support - adv+verb
120 vaguely remember - adv+verb
121 completely satisfied - adv+adj
122 excruciating pain - adj+noun
123 surge of anger - noun +noun
124 keep an eye - verb+noun
125 do the housework - veb+noun
126 take a chance - verb+noun
127 get the message - verb+noun
128 lose my temper - verb+noun
129 pay more attention - verb+noun
17
130 answer the phone - verb+noun
131 attend to guests - verb +noun
132 select an outfit - verb+noun
133 manage a team - verb +noun
134 serve tea - verb+noun
135 arrange meetings - verb+noun
136 order food - verb+noun
137 polish shoes - verb+noun
138 critical thinking - adj+noun
139 express an opinion - verb+noun
140 deliver a presentation - verb+noun
141 disseminate knowledge - verb+noun
142 conduct research - verb+noun
143 pose a question - verb+noun
144 formulate a proposal - verb+noun
145 cultivate an interest - verb+noun
146 raise arguments - verb+noun
147 absolutely fantastic - adv+adj
148 absolutely impossible - adv+adj
149 extremely cheap - adv+adj
150 terribly disappointed - adv+adj
151 absolutely priceless - adv+adj
152 incredibly noisy - adv+adj
153 absolutely delicious - adv+adj
154 extremely important - adv+adj
155 awfully short - adv+adj
18
156 quick look - adj+noun
157 valid reason - adj+noun
158 good reason - adj+noun
159 strong reason - adj+noun
160 main reason - adj+noun
161 obvious reason - adj+noun
162 driving force - adj+noun
163 urgent issue - adj+noun
164 major concern - adj+noun
165 striking difference - adj+noun
166 general outcome - adj+noun
167 severe challenges - adj+noun
168 increasingly difficult - adv+adj
169 blind faith - adj+noun
170 proper diet - adj+noun
171 regular exercise - adj+noun
172 highly effective -adv+adj
173 remarkably poor - adv+adj
174 major problem - adj+noun
175 quickly glanced - adv+adj
176 steady growth - adj+noun
177 latest report - adj+noun
178 substantial growth - adj+noun
179 issue notice - verb+noun
180 widely known - adv+adj
181 easily available - adv+adj
19
182 better option - adj+noun
183 point of view - noun+noun
184 certain point - adj+noun
185 vast majority - adj+noun
186 strict compliance - adj+noun
187 mainly responsible - adv+adj
188 available options - adj+noun
189 tremendous support - adj+noun
190 critical role - adj+noun
191 overall growth - adj+noun
192 decisive action - adj+noun
193 practical impact - adj+noun
194 biggest challenge - adj+noun
195 immediate attention - adj+noun
196 badly affected - adv +adj
197 chronic addiction - adj+noun
198 frenetic activity - adj+noun
199 average ability - adj+noun
200 latest acquisition - adj+noun
201 dreadful accident - adj+noun
202 casual acquaintance- adj+noun
203 crowning achievement - adj+noun
204 uncanny accuracy - adj+noun
205 itemised account - adj+noun
206 glowing account - adj+noun
207 signifcant advance - adj+noun
20
208 unfair advantage - adj+noun
209 dangerous adversary - adj+noun
210 blunt advice - adj+noun
211 ugly affair - adj+noun
212 everyday affairs - adj+noun
213 deep affection - adj+noun
214 bygone age - adj+noun
215 hidden agenda - adj+noun
216 naked aggression - adj+noun
217 binding agreement - adj+noun
218 covert aid - adj+noun
219 broad aims - adj+noun
220 truimphant air - adj+noun
221 considerable alarm - adj+noun
222 cast-iron alibi - adj+noun
223 detailed analysis - adj+noun
224 pent-up anger - adj+noun
225 unusual angle - adj+noun
226 formal announcement - adj+noun
227 vast amount - adj+noun
228 straight answer - adj+noun
229 generous allowance - adj+noun
230 feasible alternative - adj+noun
231 emotional appeal - adj+noun
232 overwhelming ambition - adj+noun
233 healthy appetite - adj+noun
21
234 flattering allusion - adj+noun
235 deafening applause - adj+noun
236 formal application - adj+noun
237 personal attack - adj+noun
238 liquid assets - adj+noun
239 brilliant article - adj+noun
240 marked aptitude - adj+noun
241 crude attempts - adj+noun
242 worrying aspect - adj+noun
243 amical arrangement - adj+noun
244 hostile appearance - adj+noun
245 wild assertions - adj+noun
246 unfounded assumption - adj+noun
247 special assignment - adj+noun
248 fruitful association - adj+noun
249 packed audience - adj+noun
250 absolute authority - adj+noun
251 proper authorities - adj+noun
252 firm attitude - adj+noun
253 deep aversion - adj+noun
254 highest award - adj+noun
255 consumer awareness - adj+noun
256 deprived background - adj+noun
257 delicate balance - adj+noun
258 fumbled the ball - verb+noun
259 secret ballot - adj+noun
22
260 immediate ban - adj+noun
261 renowned authority- adj+noun
262 merchant bank - adj+noun
263 hard bargain - adj+noun
264 cultural barriers - adj+noun
265 key goals - adj+noun
266 losing battle - adj+noun
267 callous behavior - adj+noun
268 cling to the belief - verb+noun
269 considerable benefit - adj+noun
270 deep-rooted bias - adj+noun
271 bounds of bitterness - noun+noun
272 foot the bill - verb+noun
273 caught in the blast - verb+noun
274 devastating blow - adj+noun
275 soften the blow - verb+noun
276 monumental blunder - adj+noun
277 shoulder the blame - verb+noun
278 benefit concert - adj+noun
279 outstanding bill - adj+noun
280 awkward choice - adj+noun
281 deep - rooted belief - adj+noun
282 best behavior - adj+noun
283 strong bond - adj+noun
284 economic boom - adj+noun
285 brand loyalty - adj+noun
23
286 total breakdown - adj+noun
287 scientific breakthrough - adj+noun
288 bated breath - adj+noun
289 teetering on the brink - verb+noun
290 annual budget -adj+noun
291 heavy burden - adj+noun
292 expanding business - adj+noun
293 get down to business - verb+noun
294 new business - adj+noun
295 rough calculation - adj+noun
296 personal call - adj+noun
297 perfect calm - adj+noun
298 maximum capacity - adj+noun
299 loving care - adj+noun
300 special care - adj+noun
301 carve out a career - verb+noun
302 successful career - adj+noun
303 advisory capacity - adj+noun
304 argued the case - verb+noun
305 petty cash - adj+noun
306 heading for a catastrophe - verb+noun
307 complicated case - adj+noun
308 overriding cause - adj+noun
309 throw caution - verb+noun
310 daunting challenge - adj+noun
311 utmost caution - adj+noun
24
312 original cause - adj+noun
313 borderline case - adj+noun
314 irrefutable case - adj+noun
315 common cause - adj+noun
316 rise to the challenge - verb+noun
317 turn of the century - verb+noun
318 test case - adj+noun
319 good cause - adj+noun
320 boost our chance - verb+noun
321 marked change - adj+noun
322 utter chaos - adj+noun
323 infinitesimal chance - adj+noun
324 oozes charm - verb+noun
325 sole charge - adj+noun
326 dependable character - adj+noun
327 yawning chasm - adj+noun
328 ruined our chance - verb+noun
329 friendly chat - adj+noun
330 blank cheque - adj+noun
331 run a check - verb+noun
332 wild-goose chase - adj+noun
333 serios charge - adj+noun
334 routine check - adj+noun
335 service charge - adj+noun
336 fighting chance - adj+noun
337 new circumstnaces - adj+noun
25
338 law-abiding citizens - adj+noun
339 tenous claim - adj+noun
340 adverse circumstances - adj+noun
341 exaggerated claim - adj+noun
342 force of circumstances - noun+noun
343 legitimate claim - adj+noun
344 precarious circumstances - adj+noun
345 well-worn cliches - adj+noun
346 inhospitable climate - adj+noun
347 head-on clash - adj+noun
348 peaceful coexistence - adj+noun
349 pure coincidence- adj+noun
350 impressive collection - adj+noun
351 range of colors - noun+noun
352 great comfort - adj+noun
353 invite comments - verb+noun
354 award-winning commercials - adj+noun
355 words of comfort - noun+noun
356 breakdown in communications - noun+noun
357 close-knit community - adj+noun
358 worlwide community - adj+noun
359 firm commitment - adj+noun
360 advisory committee - adj+noun
361 amusing companion - adj+noun
362 unsuitable company - adj+noun
363 constant companion - adj+noun
26
364 finance committee - adj+noun
365 internal communications - adj+noun
366 boring company - adj+noun
367 draw a comparison - verb+noun
368 show of compassion - noun+noun
369 multi-national company - adj+noun
370 large compensation - adj+noun
371 severe competition - adj+noun
372 key component - adj+noun
373 back-handed compliment - adj+noun
374 cut-throat competition - adj+noun
375 generous compensation - adj+noun
376 flood of complaints - noun+noun
377 compliments of the house - verb+expression with preposition
378 fishing for compliments - verb+expression with preposition
379 stiff competition - adj+noun
380 serious complaint - adj+noun
381 rival company - adj+noun
382 pay a compliment - verb+noun
383 vital component - adj+noun
384 acceptable compromise - adj+noun
385 inner compulsion - adj+noun
386 total concentration - adj+noun
387 fair compromise - adj+noun
388 express concern - verb+noun
389 revolutionary concept - adj+noun
27
390 improve concentration - verb+noun
391 brand-new concept - adj+noun
392 voiced concern - verb+noun
393 overwhelming compulsion - adj+noun
394 make a concession - verb+noun
395 sizeable concession - adj+noun
396 whole concept - adj+noun
397 strong compulsion - adj+noun
398 charity concert - adj+noun
399 happy conclusion -adj+noun
400 universal condemnation - adj+noun
401 terms and conditions - noun+noun
402 drawn to the conclusion - verb+noun
403 dreadful condition - adj+noun
404 abrupt conclusion - adj+noun
405 appalling conduct - adj+noun
406 difficult conditions - adj+noun
407 astonishing conclusion - adj+noun
408 boost confidence - verb+noun
409 speedy conclusion - adj+noun
410 stipulate the conditions - verb+noun
411 foregone conclusion - adj+noun
412 first -class condition - adj+noun
413 beat a confession - verb+noun
414 take a look - verb+noun
415 take care - verb+noun
28
416 take a minute - verb+noun
417 take a walk - verb+noun
418 take offence - verb+noun
419 take cover - verb+noun
420 take pity - verb+noun
421 take steps - verb+noun
422 take advice - verb+noun
423 take heart - verb+noun
424 take a break - verb+noun
425 take a risk - verb+noun
426 take the credit - verb+noun
427 take stock - verb+noun
428 heavy smoker - adj+noun
429 devoted wife - adj+noun
430 golden opportunity - adj+noun
431 slightly annoyed - adv+adj
432 make a mistake - verb+noun
433 make a noise - verb+noun
434 do housework - verb+noun
435 make a phone call - verb+noun
436 do the laundry - verb+noun
437 do homework - verb+noun
438 do some reading - verb+noun
439 make an appointment - verb+noun
440 make a promise - verb+noun
441 make a resevation - verb+noun
29
442 do yoga - verb+noun
443 have a haircut - verb+noun
444 take notes - verb+noun
445 have a bath - verb+noun
446 break the law - verb+noun
447 have a drink - verb+noun
448 break a promise - verb+noun
449 have a headache - verb+noun
450 break the news - verb+noun
451 have a seat - verb+noun
452 break a worldrecord - verb+noun
453 break a window - verb+noun
454 break someone's heart - verb+noun
455 take a chance - verb+noun
456 have breakfast - verb+noun
457 take time - verb+noun
458 load a truck - verb+noun
459 get fired - verb+noun
460 explain a process - verb+noun
461 request a quote - verb+noun
462 sign a contract - verb+noun
463 provide information - verb+noun
464 attend a session - verb+noun
465 meet a deadline - verb+noun
466 scan a barcode - verb+noun
467 make amends - verb+noun
30
468 make a decision - verb+noun
469 make a mess - verb+noun
470 make your bed - verb+noun
471 do a favor - verb+noun
472 utterly stupid - adv+adj
473 richly decorated - adv+adj
474 fully aware - adv+adj
475 maiden voyage - adj+noun
476 round of applause - noun+noun
477 bars of soap - noun +noun
478 plane took off - noun +verb
479 bomb went off - noun +verb
480 snow was falling - noun+verb
481 dog barking - noun+verb
482 lions roar - noun+verb
483 committing murder - verb+noun
484 had run of money - verb+expression with preposition
485 filled wth horror - verb+expression with preposition
486 drive anybody to crime - verb+expression with preposition
487 placed gently - verb+adv
488 whispered softly - verb+adv
489 vaguely remember - verb+adv
490 market forces - adj+noun
491 sales figures - adj+noun
492 annual turnover - adj+noun
493 dismiss an offer - verb+noun
31
494 come to the point - verb+expression with preposition
495 make a profit - verb+noun
496 go into partnership - verb+expression with preposition
497 free time - adj+noun
498 spare time - adj+noun
499 take your time - verb+noun
500 close a deal - verb+noun
32

Idioms & Phrases and Collocations List Idioms & Phrases Meaning Example Sentence

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Idioms & Phrases and Collocations List Idioms & Phrases Meaning Example Sentence

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Idioms & Phrases and Collocations List

11 A man of A person or an idea that is He was chosen to be the straw man as

14 To set one’s To oppose something Despite fierce competition from rival

19 You've got to this cannot be the truth Raj: Sandeep

22 Get on one's to annoy someone, especially You're beginning to get on my nerves."

25 Feel blue to feel sad Whenever I feel blue, I like to listen to

28 Chicken a coward. "Everyone thinks I'm a chicken because

31 Go Dutch to share the cost of I actually prefer going Dutch because I

38 In a tight to be in a difficult situation After taking up this subject I really don’t

41 On the cuff On credit I’m sorry, Kamal. We can’t put anything

47 Green Thumb An extraordinary ability to Houseplants provide much pleasure for

49 throw dust to mislead; deceive: He threw dust in our eyes by pretending

50 a man of straw a person or an idea that is He was accused by his opponents of

53 bad hats someone who deliberately That man is bad hat

55 chickened out to manage to get out of som Sanjay chickened out

61 kicked up a to become a nuisance; to I kicked up such a row that they told me

62 send packing to send someone away; to The maidproved to be so incompetent

64 come to grief to experience something In the end, he came to grief because he

69 in the loop having knowledge of and I am very interested to know the

72 hold your Wait! Hold your horses for a moment while I

74 ended in to be destroyed or ruined; The project to clean the River Ganga

have or do something you the hoops.

86 to make light to treat something as if it He made light of his teacher’s advice.

89 In deep waters to be in a difficult situation We're going to be in deep water if the

98 in the same Attuned to something; to It is clear that the ideas of both

124 Twenty-four Constantly; always available; If a business doesn't provide twenty-four

128 broke to have no money I can't pay my bills. I'm broke.

132 sort of A little; kind of Dinner was sort of expensive.

141 good for Negative statement to That girl is a good for

1 Large amount - adj+noun

2 physical activity - adj+ noun

3 matter of choice - noun +noun

4 strongly driven - adv+ adj

5 personal preferences - adj+noun

6 walking distance - adj+ noun

7 large number - adj+noun

8 natural disaster - adj+noun

9 vicious cycle - adj+noun

10 technological improvement - adj+noun

11 writhed in pain - verb+ expression with preposition

12 large collection - adj+ noun

13 brilliant ideas - adj+noun

14 difficult situation - adj+noun

15 quality education - adj+noun

16 extensive discussion - adj+noun

17 extremely helpful - adv+adj

18 corrective measures - adj+noun

19 serious disaster - adj+noun

20 Hectic schedules - adj+noun

21 quick holiday - adj+noun

22 easily accessible - adv+ adj

23 health personnel - noun+noun

24 necessary funds - adj+ nun

25 extensive growth - adj+noun

26 poor posture - adj+noun

27 policy guideline - noun+noun

28 cascading effect - adj+noun

29 economic slowdown - adj+noun

30 newly adopted - adv+adj

31 genuine issues - adj+noun

32 awaiting approval - verb+noun

33 office supplies - noun+noun