Idioms And Phrases COLOURFUL IDIOMS

RED IDIOMS
1. ​TO BE SHOWN THE RED CARD​ - ​(this derives from football terminology, and means
to be dismissed from your job.)
Ex-: The company accountant was show the red card after they found out he was using
company money for personal gain.
2. RED ALERT – (warning)
Ex-: The droops were in red alert.
3. A RED LETTER DAY – (Important day)
The day he got his job was a red letter day.
4. TO BE OUT OF THE RED – (to be out of debt)
Ex-: Our company is finally out of the red now. We’ve managed to pay back our loan, and
now we’re making profit.
5. TO PAINT THE TOWN RED – (celebrate, rejoice)
Ex-: After the exam was over, the student decided to paint the town red.
6. ​RED HANDED – (Caught while committing a crime)
Ex-: He was caught red handed by the police.
7. A RED FLAG – (a signal that something is not working properly or correctly)
Ex-: The fallen trees along the road raised a red flag for the safety inspectors.
8. RED CARPET WELCOME – (grand welcome)
Ex-: The actor was given a red carpet welcome.
9. BLOOD RED – (use to describe the deep red colour of something)
Ex-: She was wearing a beautiful cocktail dress with blood red lipstick to match.
10. IN RED INK – (debt)
Ex-: The company was in red ink.
11. BEET RED – (also used to describe dark red, usually the colour of a face (drives
from beetroot)
Ex-: I could see my son up on the stage; his little face was beet red.
12. RED TAPE / TAPISM – (Excessive official formalities)
Ex-: Due to red tapism at the immigration, I missed the flight.
13. RED HOT – (something new and exciting, creating much demand)
Ex-:The new video game is red hot some fans have been waiting outside stores for days to
get a hold of it.
14. IN THE RED – (loss)
Ex-: Due to negligence the company was in the red.
15. RED HERRING - (an unimportant matter that misleads everyone and draws
attention away from the main subject)
Ex-: Unfortunately that witness was just a red herring she had no justification to her story,
and it was a waste of valuable time.
16. CATCH SOMEONE RED HANDED – (to catch someone in the act of committing a
crime, or doing something wrong that they shouldn’t be doing)
Ex-: He kept lying to me about where he was going in the evening’s so yesterday I followed
him and caught him red handed. He was with another woman.
17. RED IN THE FACE – (to become embarrassed)
Ex-: I went red in the face when the teacher told me off in front of everyone for arriving late.
18. RED EYE – (a journey that leaves late at night and arrives early in the morning)
Ex-: We had to catch the red eye flight last night, and I m completely exhausted now.
19. TO LOOK THROUGH ROSE –COLOURED /TINTED /SPECTACLES / GLASSES –
(when someone sees things in an overly flattering or over – optimistic light)
Ex-: Sarah doesn’t understand what it’s like for us. She has always seen everything through
rose – tinted glasses because her parents spite her so much when she was young.
20. TO SEE RED – (to react with uncontrollable rage against someone or something)
Ex-: John saw red when he heard someone shouting at his mother.

BLACK IDIOMS
1. BLACK AND WHITE – (To take everything into consideration and oversimplify
something. To judge everything as either one way or the other, good or bad.)
Ex-: Our boss always our boss always thinks that everything is straightforward, but he
doesn’t realise that this whole situation is not as black and white as he thinks!
2​. PUT SOMETHING DOWN IN BLACK AND WHITE – (To write or have something
written down on paper for confirmation or evidence)
Ex-: I don’t understand why you don’t believe me! Look, it’s written here in black and white!
3. Black as night – (Somewhere very dark, when it is hard to see anything)
Ex-: We had another power cut last night; it was as black as night in our house. We didn’t
even have any candles!
4. Black and blue – (Used to describe something that is badly bruised)
Ex-: John’s face was black and blue after the boxing match.
5​. Black eye – (A bruise near one’s eye)
Ex-: Fred came home with a horrible black eye today, but he won’t tell us what happened!
6. BLACK OUT – (This means to, either darken by putting out or dimming the lights, or
to lose consciousness.)
Ex-: We had a huge black out here last night, the whole town was out of power for about 7
hours! I don’t know what happened to him, he just blacked out! Maybe he banged his head.
7. BLACK AS A SKILLET – (Used to describe something that is very dirty, black with
dirt)
Ex-: My hands and clothes were as black as a skillet, and I was only halfway through
cleaning your garage!
8. BLACK MARKET – (A term used for places where goods are illegally bought and
sold for a profit.)
Ex-: Jerry used to sell cigarettes from South America in the black market!
9. BLACKBALL SOMEONE – (To exclude or ostracise someone socially, reject them)
Ex-: Their Company has been blackballed ever since that scandal was all over the
newspapers. No one wants to do business with them anymore.
10​. Blacklist someone - (To write someone’s name on a list if they break any rules,
and ban them from having the opportunity to take part again)
Ex-: I was in a lot of debt a while ago, and was unable to pay it all back, so I’ve been
blacklisted. I’m not allowed to get a mortgage in my own name.
11. Pot calling the kettle black (shorten version: pot kettle black)- (This is used when
the person who hypocritically criticises or accuses someone else is as guilty as the
person he or she criticises or accuses)
Ex-: She kept telling me that I shouldn’t do that, but that’s like the pot calling the kettle black,
as she does it herself too!
12. BLACKMAIL SOMEONE - (To extort or take money from someone by using their
secrets against them and threatening to reveal it to others)
Ex-: He has been blackmailing me for months with some photos that I didn’t know he had. I
need someone to help me stop him!

BLUE IDIOMS
1.A BOLD FROM THE BLUE –(a sudden /unexpected /unpleasant incident)
Ex-: The news of his son’s death was a bolt from the blue.
2. OUT OF THE BLUE – (to appear out of nowhere without any warning to happen
quite suddenly or randomly by surprise)
Ex-: You won’t believe it but Ram called me out of the blue yesterday, and told me she’s
coming to visit! How unexpected! Shyam has decided to quit his job out of the blue, and go
travelling for a year!
3. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON – (something happening rarely / occasionally)
Ex-: He visits his parents once in a blue moon.
4. BLUE BLOOD – (belonging to a royal family)
Ex-: A blue blood would not understand the sufferings of the poor.
5. BLUE PENCIL – (To censor something, or limit the information that is shared)
Ex-: The reports about how soldiers were being treated abroad had been blue-pencilled by
the authorities.
6. FEEL BLUE – (sad, depressed)
Ex-: Whenever I feel blue, I listen to music.
7. A BLUE –EYED BOY – (a critical description a boy or young man who is always
picked for special favour by someone in a position of higher authority)
Ex-: He is such a blue-eyed boy! I don’t like that the manager always treats him as if he is
special it is not fair on the rest of us!
8. BEAT BLACK AND BLUE – (hurt physically or mentally)
Ex-: Mena beats his children black and blue.
9. BLUE EYED – (favourite, one who gets special attention)
Ex-: ​Don't be so blue eyed, the world is an unforgiving place!
10. BLUE RIBBON – (to be of superior quality or distinction, the best of a group)
Ex-: A blue ribbon panel of experts were invited to investigate the extraordinary remains.
11. BLUE COLLAR – (lower working class)
Ex- : ​Icomefrom a blue collar family, so I will always champion the common man’s concerns.
Blue collar workers have always been an important part of our economy.
12. BLUE IN THE FACE – (to try really hard to wins someone agreement, but usually
and unsuccessfully)
Ex-: I kept trying to convince him that it was a good idea until I was blue in the face but he’s
so stubborn, he just kept disagreeing with me.
13. OUT OF THE BLUE – (an unexpected event without warning)
Ex-: ​She phoned me out of the blue
 WHITE IDIOMS
1. WHITEWASH SOMETHING – (to cover up or gloss over faults or wrongdoings)
Ex-: The government was accused of trying to whitewash the scandal over charity pay outs.
2. WHITE ELEPHANT – (costly/ expensive but useless unproductive)
Ex-: The car was a white elephant for him.
3. BLACK AND WHITE – (something written in a very clear and straight for word)
Ex-: The agreement was in black and white.
4. TO SHOW WHITE FEATHER – (to behave in a cowardly manner)
Ex-: Don’t show white feather. Fight for your right.
5. WHITE COLLAR – (a term used for office workers that traditionally wear white shirts
with a collar.)
Ex-: We have a lot of vacancies for white collar worker at the moment, but hardly anyone is
applying for them.
6. WHITE LIE – (a small/ harmless told to avoid hurting someone)
Ex-: I told a white lie for not attending the party.
7. WHITE COLLAR JOB – (a job which requires great managerial/professional skill)
Ex-: Everyone loves white collar jobs.
8. WAVE A WHITE FLAG – (a signal of surrender/ defeat)
Ex-: The soldiers waved a white flag.
9. AS WHITE AS GHOST - (turn pale with fear shock)
Ex-: She looked as white as ghost on seeing the burglar.
10. AS WHITE AS A SHEET – (​they look very ​frightened​, ​shocked​, or ​ill​)
Ex​-:​ ​He appeared in the doorway, white as a sheet, eyes wide with horror​.

PINK IDIOMS
1. TICKLED PINK – (to be very pleased, trilled or delighted about something)
Ex-: Anna was tickled pink that her fiancé had made such an effort for her birthday.
2. SEE PINK ELEPHANT – (when someone sees things that are not really there,
because they are in their imagination.)
Ex-: Anyone who hears his story thinks he sees pink elephant .It just such a farfetched story
and very hard to believe.
3. PINK SLIP – (a termination notice received from a job)
Ex-: They gave me my pink slip last week so I have find a new job now.
4. IN THE PINK OF SOMETHING – (meaning in very good health)
Ex-: My grandmother looked ever so well when I saw her; she was in the pink of condition.

GREEN IDIOMS
1. GREEN EYED – (jealous / envious)
Ex-: We should guard against green eyed people.
2. TO BE GREEN – (used to describe someone who is immature, or inexperienced.)
Ex-: He can be rather green sometimes, I don’t think he is ready to be promoted to a higher
position yet.
3. BE GREEN – (inexpert /inexperienced)
Ex-: He is rather green and will not be able to operate the machinery.
4. GREEN WITH ENVY – (used to describe someone who is extremely jealous, full of
navy)
Ex-: When we were children, my older brother always used to get green with envy if my dad
bought something for me and not for him.
5. GET THE GREEN LIGHT – (get the permission)
Ex-: I got the green light to start the project.
6. GREEN BELT – (an area of fields and trees)
Ex-: My house is in a green belt area.
7. GREEN THUMB – (skilful in gardening)
Ex-: She is a green thumb.

​
8.​ The grass is always greener on the other side –​ (​Other people’s circumstances or
belongings always seem more desirable than one's own.​)
Ex-: ​The grass is always greener on the other side
—the sooner you realize that and stops comparing your life to others', the happier you'll be!

YELLOW IDIOMS
1.YELLOW BELLIED – (someone who is seen as a coward or extremely timid)
Ex-: There is no point in asking him what to do. He is yellow bellied and would not stand up
for what is right.
2. A YELLOW STREAK – (someone who has cowardice in their character)
Ex-: He has always had a big yellow streak running down his back don’t expect him to
change now.

GOLD IDIOMS
1. A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY - (an opportunity that may never present itself again)
Ex-: Think carefully about what you're going to do, this is a golden opportunity and you don’t
want to mess it up.
2. A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE – (A large sum of money that is paid to a retiring manager
or director, or to a redundant worker.)
Ex-: The company chairman received a huge golden handshake when he retired.
3. GOLDEN BOY – (the turn given to a young idolised for a great skill, usually in
sport.)
Ex-: By many of his fans, Wayne Rooney is seen as the golden boy of his football team.

SILVER IDIOMS
1. THE SILVER SCREEN – (a term for the cinema)
Ex-: Are you going to watch that movie on the silver screen tonight.
2. BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE’S MOUTH – (meaning born into a rich family)
Ex-: I don’t think Site has ever had a job. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
3. TO BE GIVEN SOMETHING ON A SILVER PLATTER – (when something is offered to
someone whole heartedly(in a metaphorical sense)
Ex-: I offered my heart to him on a silver platter and he turned it down.
 BROWN IDIOMS
1. BROWN OFF – (to be bored or annoyed with someone or something)
Ex-: I'm always browned off when he comes to visit .he doesn’t like doing anything and he
hardly ever talks to anyone.

GRAY IDIOMS
1. A GREY AREA – (something that is not clearly defined,)
Ex-: Some of the current rules surrounding tax in the UK seem to be in a grey area, as many
residents disagree with its determining factors.

IDIOMS APPLE BASED

1. APPLE OF ONE’S EYE – (someone very dear/ favourite)
Ex-: My daughters are the apple of my eye.
2. APPLE PIE ORDER – (something arranged in a perfect and orderly way)
Ex-: His house was in apple pie order.
3. APPLE OF DISCORD – (a cause of problem / dispute)
Ex-: The property was the apple of discord between the two brothers.
4. COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES – (comparing two things which are very
different from each other)
Ex-: My job is very different from yours it like comparing apples and oranges.
5. AN APPLE DOES NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE – (a child inherits the basic
qualities of his parents)
Ex-: Her ​daughter​ ​soon​ ​showed​ her own ​musical​ ​talent​, ​proving​ that the apple
doesn't ​fall​ ​far​ from the ​tree​.
6. ADAM’S APPLE – (voice box)
Ex-: A projection at the front of the neck formed by the thyroid cartilage of the larynx, often
prominent in men.
7. BAD APPLE – (a person / things which has a negative impact on other)
Ex-: A bad or corrupt person in a group, especially one whose behaviour is likely to have a
detrimental influence on the others.

IDIOMS FISH
1. A BIG FISH – (an important person)
Ex-: He is a big fish in the organization and will help you.
2. TO FISH IN TROUBLED WATERS – (involved oneself in taking risks to gain
Advantages and profit)
Ex-: He is fishing in troubled waters by buying the shares of the company.
3. FISH OUT OF THE WATER – (in a very unfamiliar surrounding)
Ex-: She looked like a fish out of the water when she was asked to cook.
4. DRINK LIKE A FISH – (alcoholic)
Ex-: ​My girlfriend drank like a fish when I brought her home for dinner to meet my parents
the first time but they understood that she was just very nervous.
5. A COLD FISH – (lacking emotion, unconcerned)
Ex-: He is a cold fish and don’t talk to his colleagues.
6. A FISH STORY – (a big lie)
Ex-: ​It was just another one of his fish stories.
7. FISH FOR A COMPLIMENT – (attempt to get praise or appreciable from other)
Ex-: The girl has the habit of fishing for a compliment.
8. SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL – (very easy task)
Ex-: Competing with him is like shooting fish in a barrel.
9. NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL – (unclear ambiguous, doubtful)
Ex-: His suggestions were neither fish nor fowl.
10. TO HAVE OTHER FISH TO FRY – (to do more important things)
Ex-: I don’t want to waste my time I have other fish to fry.
11. TO HAVE A BIGGER FISH TO FRY – (to do more important things)
Ex-: I don’t want to waste my time I have a bigger fish to fry.

IDIOMS MAN
1. A MAN OF FEW WORDS – (one who doesn’t speak to much reserved, reticent,
taciturn)
Ex-: He is a man of few words but he does his work on time.
2. A MAN OF WORDS – (one who keeps one’s promises trustworthy)
Ex-: He is man of words and can be depended on. (Rely on) (Bank on) (Count on) (Fall back
on)
3. A MAN OF LETTERS – (scholar, erudite)
Ex-: Ram was a man of letters.
4. A MAN IN THE STREET – (common man or ordinary man)
Ex-: The politicians are not bothered about the view of man in the street.
5. A MAN OF STRAW – (weak person)
Ex-: He is a man of straw and can be controlled by others.
6. A MAN OF SUBSTANCE – (rich and wealthy influential)
Ex-: The girl chose to marry a man of substance.
7. A MAN OF PARTS/RENAISSANCE MAN – (a man who is expert in different spheres)
Ex-: He is a man of parts.
8. BURY HATCHET MAN – (​make peace; end a quarrel, settle one's differences to
become friends again.​)
Ex-: ​The two neighbouring countries India and Pakistan have often been advised by the
world bodies to bury the hatchet for their own progress
9. LADIES MAN – (a man who enjoys the company of ladies/woman)
Ex-: He was a bit of a ladies' man at an early age.
10. MAN OF HOUR – (one who is hundred and appreciated by a large number of
people)
Ex-: A ​man​ who has recently caught the attention of, or is being ​admired​ or ​honoured​ by, a
large number of people.

SEA / OCEAN IDIOMS

1. AT SEA – (in a state of confusion / dilemma)
Ex-: It was a long voyage and he was at sea
2. A SEA CHANGE – (a big change transformation/metamorphosis)
Ex-: There was a sea change in his behaviour.
3. BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP SEA – (in a very difficult situation)
Ex-: He was caught between the devil and the deep sea by opposing his boss.
4. A DROP IN THE OCEAN – (a small amount of something)
Ex-: The money that he received for business was just a drop in the ocean.
5. A SPIT IN THE OCEAN – (a small amount of something)
Ex-: The money that he received for business was a spit in the ocean.
6. AN OCEAN SOMETHING – (a lot of something)
Ex-: He is an ocean of knowledge.
7. Boil the ocean – (to try to do an impossible task)
Ex-:Don’t ​try​ to ​boil​ the ​ocean​ with your first ​version​ of the ​product​.

HORSE IDIOMS
1. DARK HORSE – (unknown / unexpected winners)
Ex-: He was a dark horse in the contest.
2. TO BEAT / FLOG A DEAD HORSE – (to waste your time / energy on something
which will not give any success / result)
Ex-: He has already divided the money, no need to connive him it’s like flogging a dead
horse.
3. PUT THE CARD BEFORE THE HORSE – (do things in a wrong Oder)
Ex-: Aren't you putting the cart before the ​horse​ by ​deciding​ what to ​wear​ for
the ​wedding​ before​ you've ​even​ been ​invited​ to it?
4. EAT LIKE A HORSE – (eat a lot)
Ex-: He eats like a horse at parries.
5. STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH – (any information coming from a reliable
/authentic source)
Ex-: Don’t worry wait till the news comes straight from the horse mouth.
6. HORSE SENSE – (common sense)
Ex-: It is a shame that you don’t have horse sense
7. HOLD YOUR HORSES – (wait patiently)
Ex-: Hold your horses until you get the results.
8. HORSES TRADE – (bargain in a skill full manners)
Ex-: After a lot of horse trade I was able to buy the product.

IDIOMS BASED ON GREEK MYTHOLOGY

1. NEMESIS – (punishment / retribution)
Ex-: The criminal, who distrusts me greatly, asks me for the whereabouts of my nemesis.
2. MIDAS TOUCH – (golden touch)
Ex-: King Midas was granted a wish that everything he touched would change to gold
Because of his Midas touch the company was in profit.
3. HERCULEAN TASK – (a very difficult task next to impossible)
Ex-: Hercules was a Greek hero and the son of Zeus (lord of gods) power and straight. To
complete the work in a day was a herculean task.
4. CUT A GORDIAN KNOT – (to solve a very difficult problem by force)
Ex-: To make him understand was like cutting a Gordian knot.
5. ADONIS – (a young handsome man)
Ex-: His Adonis looks made him win favour from others.
6. Trion horse – (a wooden horse in which the Greek soldiers hid themselves to enter
the city of troy)
Ex-: To do something secretly with an evil intention.

WOLF IDIOMS
1.TO KEEP THE WOLF AT BAY - (to fight against any difficulty / danger)
Ex-: After his father’s death he took up the business to keep the wolf at bay.
2. TO KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR – (to avoid starvation poverty)
Ex-: He worked day and night to keep the wolf from the door.
3. A WOLF AT THE DOOR – (financial loss/debt)
Ex-: After severe loss in the company, it was like the wolf was at door.
4​. TO THOW TO THE WOLVES – (to put someone in a danger)
Ex-: His comrades threw him to the wolves.
5. A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING – (a person who pretends to be innocent but
actually is dangerous)
Ex-: Beware of fair weather friends they are like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
6. WOLF DOWN – (gulp, to eat hurriedly)
Ex-: He wolfed down the food as he was in a hurry.
7. A LONE WOLF – (a person who loves to be alone)
Ex-: He is a lone wolf and he has few friends.
8. TO CRY WOLF – (false alarm, to ask for help when it is not needed)
Ex-: He had cried wolf several times and now nobody trusts him.

DOG IDIOMS
1. DOG IN THE MANGER – (a person who prevent another to have something which he
himself cannot use)
Ex-: His dog in the manger attitude let him to problem.
2. TOP DOG – (important in the organisation)
Ex-: He is the top dog of the organisation.
3. EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY – (every person gets an opportunity at sometime or the
other in life)
Ex-: Don’t worry have patience every dog has his day.
4. LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE – (not to talk about things which have created problems
in the parts)
Ex-: ​Since my manager did not ask me anything about me coming late that day, I did not
speak to him about it - it is best to let sleeping dogs lie.
5. UNDERDOG – (poor,underprivileged)
Ex-: The scheme proved to be beneficial to the underdogs.
6. DOG TIRED – (very tried)
Ex-: He was dog tired after the heavy work.
7. GO THE DOGS – (to become worse / deteriorate)
Ex-: All his work went to the dogs.
8. LEAD A DOG’S LIFE – (miserable life)
Ex-: He was leading a dog’s life after his father’s death.
9. FIGHTING LIKE CATS AND DOGS – (constantly fighting)
Ex-: T​ hey always ​fight like cats and dogs.
10. RAINING CATS AND DOGS – (heavy rainfall)
Ex-: It’s raining cats and dogs I am worried about how my kids will reach home.
11. BETTER TO BE THE HEAD OF DOG THAN TAIL OF LION – (it is better to be the
head of a small group and not the follower of a big group)
Ex-:
I think you should look for another job because you'll never get a prominent position at this bi
g company. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion, you know?
12. IN THE DOG HOUSE – (insult / disgrace)
Ex-: if you are in the ​doghouse​, someone is ​angry​ with you because you have done
something ​wrong​.

FEATHER IDIOMS
1. TO SHOW THE WHITE FEATHER – (behave like a coward)
Ex-: Don’t show the white feather before the enemies. Figh till the end.
2. A FEATHER IN ONE’S CAP – (an achievement/ success to be proud of)
Ex-: It is a feather in his cap to represent his country in the Olympics.
3. TO FEATHER ONE’S NEST – (to use your power / position for financial gains act
selfishly)
Ex-: He used to feather his nest by using the money that was raised by charity.
4. BIRDS OF FEATHER –(two persons who are very similar to each other in behaviour
conduct opinion)
Ex-: Both the friend are birds of same feather and they go along very well.
5. IN FINE FEATHER – (well dressed)
Ex-: He was in fine feather at the party.
6. RUFFLE ONE’S FEATHERS – (annoy/ irritate)
Ex-: I didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers.

IDIOMS HEART
1. CHICKEN HEARTED – (coward)
Ex-: He cannot do this adventurous job as he is chicken hearted.
2. BY HEART – (memorise)
Ex-: The student learnt the answers by heart.
3. HEAVY HEART – (sad)
Ex-: He handed over his resignation with a heavy heart.
4. WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVES – (to express your feelings/ emotion
openly)
Ex-: She has the habit of wearing her heart on her sleeves and gets hurt easily.
5. TO LOSE HEART – (disappointed, hopeless, dispirited)
Ex-: Don’t lose heart in the face of difficulties.
6. SINKING HEART – (disappointed, hopeless, dispirited, great sadness)
Ex-: ​With a ​sinking heart​, she signed the papers to sell the house.
7. SICK AT HEART – (disappointed, hopeless, dispirited, very sad and upset)
Ex-: ​The idea of children suffering from hunger made him ​sick at heart.​
8. EAT YOUR HEART OUT – (to feel jealous of someone’s achievement)
Ex-: ​I could have stayed in London eating my heart out for you.
9. HEART IN ONE’S MOUTH – (nervous and excited about something)
Ex-: Her heart was in her mouth before the announcement of the final result.

IDIOMS EYE
1. BIRD’S – EYE VIEW​ (of something)​ – (​a broad view of a situation​)
Ex-: ​The introduction of the report gives an excellent bird’s-eye view of the new project.
2. EAGLE EYE VIEW – (having the ability to notice even the minute mistakes)
Ex-: The editor has an eagle eye view and he will notice the minor mistakes.
3. HIT THE BULL’S EYE – (hit the target)
Ex-: He hit the bull’s eye by winning the contest.
4. TURN A BLIND EYE – (ignore something which is)
Ex-: He turned the blind eye to his son’s illegal activity.
5. CATCH SOMEONE’S EYE – (to get attention)
Ex-: The diamond ring caught her eye.
6. KEEP AN EYE ON – (watch carefully)
Ex-: I am keeping an eye on my watch.
7. SEE EYE TO EYE – (agree)
Ex-: Both the husband and the wife see eye to eye and never fight.
8. IN THE PUBLIC EYE – (in the line light)
Ex-: The well known politicians are in the public eye.

IDIOMS TONGUE
1. ON THE TIP OF YOUR TONGUE – (to remember / recall/something easily and
quickly)
Ex-: Your name is on the tip of my tongue.
2. TONGUE TWISTER – (a group of words which are difficult to say/pronounce)
Ex-: It is a tongue twister.
3. TONGUE TIES – (If you get tongue-tied, you ​find​ it ​difficult​ to ​express​ yourself,
usually because you are ​nervous​.)
Ex-: ​I was ​practically​ tongue-tied.
4. SHARP TONGUE – (a bitter or critical way of speaking)
Ex-: She is a sharp tongue born.
5. TONGUE IN CHEEK – (something said in a sarcastic manner)
Ex-: The whole interview was done tongue in cheek.
6. A SLIP OF THE TONGUE – (a minor mistake in speech)
Ex-: A slip of the tongue resulted in big loss.
7. HOLD YOUR TONGUE – (not to say thing that upset people)
Ex-: He had to hold his tongue to maintain peace at the family gathering.

THEME – CONFUSION / DOUBT

1. AT SEA – (CONFUSION)
Ex-: it was a long voyage and he was at sea for many days
2. AT SIXES AND SEVENS – (disorder, confusion)
Ex-: His house was in sixes and sevens.
3. IN A FIX/ IN A QUANDARY/ IN A MUDDLE – (disorder, confusion)
Ex-: He was in a fix about which of the jobs to accept.
4. AT ONE’S WIT’S END – (disorder, confusion)
Ex-: He was at his wit’s end because he did not decide what to do after graduation.
5. BLOW HOT AND COLD – (disorder, confusion)
Ex-: She has been blowing hot and cold.
6. GET /HAVE ONE’S WIRES CROSSED – (confusion)
Ex-: We got our wires crossed due to miscommunication.
7. ALPHABET SOUP – (confusion)
Ex-: All the institution seemed to be in alphabet soup.

PROFESSION, WORK OR STUDY IDIOMS

1. AGONY AUNT -(a ​person​, usually a woman, who gives ​advice​ to ​people​
with ​personal​ ​problems​, e​ specially​ in a ​regular​ ​magazine​ or ​newspaper​ ​article​)
Ex-: An agony aunt is a newspaper columnist who gives advice to people having problems
especially personal ones.
2. ALL IN A DAY’S WORK - ​(of something unusual or difficult) accepted as part of
someone's normal routine or as a matter of course.
Ex-: ​Dodging sharks is all in a day's work for some scientists.
3. BAD WORKERS ALWAYS BLAME THEIR TOOLS – ( If someone performs a job or
task poorly or unsuccessfully, they will usually lay the blame on the quality, or other
such external factors, rather than take responsibility for their own failure)
Ex-: ​The football player blamed the over inflated ball for costing his team the
game, but as they say, bad workers always blame their tools.
4. BAKERS DOZEN– (​Thirteen​)
Ex-: A baker’s dozen is 13 rather than 12.
5. BEAN COUNTER- (​A disparaging term for an accountant or anyone who compiles
statistics.​)
Ex-: ​ It's a shame. Jim was a first rate pure mathematician but the bank made him its bean
counter
6. BAGGER CAN’T BE CHOOSERS- (People who are in great need must accept any
help that is offered even if it is not a complete solution to their problems.)
Ex-: ​That dress wasn't exactly what I would have picked for myself, but, hey, it was free,
and I'm broke right now. Beggars can't be choosers.
7. BUSMAN HOLIDAY-(​Slang A vacation in which one does an activity that is
similar to
one's job (as in the case ofa bus driver, or "busman," whodrives on his vacation.)
Ex-: Because I'm a docent, visiting museums on vacation is like a busman's holiday for me.
8. DON’T GIVE UP THE DAY JOB - (​a usually humorous way of telling someone not to
pursue something full time as he or she is not good at it.)
Ex-: I watched your performance at the theater today. ​My advice is ​don't give up your day
job​.
9. GAME PLAN- (​A carefully considered strategy.)
Ex-:
My game plan to secure employment in my field includes gaining as much hands-on experie
nce as I can and obtaining a few more certifications before the end of the year.
10. ON THE LINE – (​In a state of jeopardy or uncertainty.​)
Ex-: ​I'm afraid that my scholarship is on the line now that I've been accused of
plagiarizing a paper​.
11. GARDENING LEAVE - ​A period in which an employee does not work but
continues to get paid, as before leaving or being terminated by a company.
Ex-: Ram is on gardening leave right now, but I'm sure they're going to fire him.
12. GIVE AWAY THE STORE – (​To pay or concede too much during a negotiation,
Exchange, or transaction.​)
Ex-: ​You have to make your business attractivelyaffordable, but you can't give
away the store or you'll never turn a profit.I hope you didn't give away the store for that beat
up old car
13. GIVE SOMEONE THEIR CARDS –(​to make someone leave their job​)
Ex-: ​As soon as the corruption charges were proved the minister was given his cards.
14. GIVE SOMEONE THEIR MARCHING ORDERS –
(​To dismiss one fromemployment; to order one to leave or move on from a place. An a
llusion to a military command of deployment.​)
Ex-: ​After messing up that account, I'm terrified that my boss is going to give me my
marching orders.
15. GLASS CEILING - (The class ceiling is the discrimination that prevents woman and
minorities from getting promoted to the highest levels of companies and
organisations.)
Ex-: ​Many people believe that a glass ceiling exists within the tech industry because not
many women hold prominent positions in the field.
16. GOOD OFFICES – (​Aid or support given
to others, often from a position of influence.​)
Ex-: ​My English teacher's good offices helped me to get me aninternship at the local
newspaper.
17. HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT
–(​To have much work to do to complete a particular task.​)
Ex-: ​I knew I had my work cut out for me when I saw how messy the play room was.
18. HIGH FLIER- (​A person who has the potential for or who has achieved
great success.​)
Ex-: ​Syam was such a high-flier in college that it's no surprise he's achieved such
great success in his career.
19. MOVERS AND SHAKERS –
(​A person who is able to get things done with their power, influence, or money.​)
Ex-: ​She thinks her father can get me into law school. Apparently he's quite a mover
and a shaker.
20. NODDY WORK​ - Unimportant or very simple tasks are noddy work.
Ex-: He wastes his time doing noddy work.