1.

Important Idioms/ Phrases

2. About face/turn

3. Above board

4. Above par

5. Ace up one's sleeve

6. Achilles' heel

7. Acid test

8. Add fuel to the fire

9. Add insult to injury

10. Alive and kicking

11. All and sundry

12. All ears

13. Alter ego

14. Apple of one's eye

15. Apple pie order

16. Armchair critic

17. Armed to the teeth

18. Around the clock

19. Arrow in the quiver

20. At a loss

21. At arm's length

22. At cross purposes

23. At daggers drawn

24. At large

25. At loggerheads
26. At odds

27. At sea

28. At the drop of a hat

29. At the end of your tether

30. At your wit's end

31. Awe inspiring

32. Axe to grind

33. A bone to pick

34. A chill to the heart : produce feeling of fear in someone

35. A close fisted person : a miserly person

36. A Herculean task : a very tough task

37. A sore point : an issue that can embarrass or infuriate people

38. A square deal : an act full of honesty

39. A standing joke : a humorous subject/ topic

40. All Greek : unfamiliar person (or topic)

41. At snail's 's pace : at a very slow pace

42. At the first blush : at the first sight

43. A cake walk : a very easy task

44. A flash in the pan : a sudden but momentary success

45. Apple of discord : cause/ subject/ issue/ topic/ matter of conflict

46. Back burner :

47. Back the wrong horse

48. Back to back

49. Back to square one

50. Bad blood

51. Bad mouth

52. Baker's dozen

53. (Not) Bat an eyelid

54. Bear fruit

55. Bear the brunt

56. Bear the palm

57. Beat about the bush

58. (at) Beck and call

59. Bee in your bonnet

60. Beg the question

61. Behind bars

62. Behind closed doors

63. Belly up

64. Bend over backwards

65. Beside themselves

66. Beside yourself

67. Better half

68. Between the devil and the deep blue sea : caught in a dilemma; being undecisive

69. Beyond the pale : morally or socially acceptable

70. Big bucks : a huge amount of money

71. Big fish : a very important person

72. Bird's eye view : to look or read at a glance

73. Birds of the same feather : people of same nature

74. Bird-brain : a fool

75. Bite off more than you can chew : to take on or attempt more than one is capable of
doing

76. Bite the bullet : to face opposite conditions because it can’t be eluded
77. Bite the dust : to be defeated or destroyed

78. Bite your lip : to avoid saying something (especially your negative opinion)

79. Bite your tongue : avoid your expression of emotions so that others don’t get hurt

80. Bits and bobs : a lot of tiny/ small things/ entities

81. Black and blue : beaten badly

82. (in) Black and white : in written form

83. Black sheep : clever/ cunning person

84. Blessing in disguise : anything that troubles in the beginning but helps at the end

85. Blink of an eye :instantly

86. Blow by blow : complete explanation with every minute details

87. Blow hot and cold : change your opinions or views rapidly again and again

88. Blue blood : belonging to lower group

89. Bolt from the blue : sudden and shocking

90. Bone of contention : cause of dispute or quarrel

91. (make) Both ends meet : to pay for things that you need to live when you have little
money

92. Bottom line : the final profit that a company is making in a given time time period.

93. Bread and butter : a topic that affects people directly

94. Break the ice : to start a conversation avoiding hesitation

95. Bring someone to book : to punish

96. Bring the house down : applaud by clapping

97. Broken reed : an untrustworthy person

98. Bull in a China shop : a person who behaves in a uncontrolled and careless way

99. Burn the candle at both ends : get tired of working late

100. Burn the midnight oil : to work hard waking late at nights
101. Burn the boat : do such a thing so that it is difficult to return to older state/
position

102. Bury the hatchet : forget old enmity

103. Butt of a joke : subject/ topic of joke/ humor/ mockery

104. Butter fingers : a clumsy person

105. By a whisker : by a very small amount; strive to do something at the end

106. By and large : in general

107. By heart : memorize completely

108. By hook or by crook : to accomplish anything in any way

109. By leaps and bounds : rapidly

110. By the book : to follow the rules completely

111. By the same token : in the same way

112. By the skin of your teeth : to do something with difficulty

113. Be fed up with : get irritated

114. Beat a retreat : to return from a place urgently due to danger

115. Beat off : succeed in resisting an attacker or attack

116. Blaze a trail : any new/ important work that others follow

117. Blind to : negligent

118. Blow one's own trumpet : self praise

119. Blow over : to disappear without having a serious effect

120. Blue-eyed boy : a favourite person

121. By fits and starts : sometimes

122. Bad hats : a wicked person who knowingly creates problems

123. Born with a silver spoon in the mouth : born in a rich/ an elite family

124. Bring to light : to bring to light

125. By all accounts : as said or discussed or told

126. Call a spade a spade : speak the truth clearly

127. Call it a day : to postpone for a given day

128. Call the shots : to be effective or give instructions

129. Carrot and stick : characterized by both the offer of reward and the threat of
punishment

130. Carry the day : to be successful

131. Case in point : an explanation of anything

132. Cast aspersion : to criticize or make damaging remarks or judgements about

someone or something

133. Cast pearls before swine : to give/ offer sth. To someone who doesn’t
understand its value/ worth

134. Castles in the air : impractical or imaginative plan

135. Cat among the pigeons : a disturbance caused by an undesirable person from
the perspective of a group

136. Cat and dog life : a life full of quarrels

137. Catch red handed : to discover someone when they are doing something bad or
illegal

138. Catch-22 : adverse conditions when it is difficult to follow alternative options

139. Chase rainbows : try to do something impossible

140. Cheek by jowl : very near; adjacent

141. Chew the cud : think or talk reflectively

142. Child's play : very easy

143. Chip off the old block : similar to parents

144. Class act : skilled; extraordinary

145. Clean sweep : clear victory

146. Cliff hanger : thrilling act in which it is not clear of the consequences
147. Close call : a narrow escape from danger or disaster

148. Close shave : a narrow escape from danger or disaster

149. Cloud nine : extremely pleasing

150. Cock and bull story : a false story

151. Cold feet : lack of confidence in doing something

152. Cold shoulder : be uncooperative or unfriendly (knowingly)

153. Collateral damage : forms of damage including deaths and injuries that are a
result of the fighting in a war but happen to people who are not in the military.

154. Come a cropper : to fall over or have an accident; to fail

155. Come clean : be completely honest

156. Come full circle : return to a past position or situation, especially in a way
considered to be inevitable.

157. Come of age : to become an adult in law

158. Come to a head : reach a crisis

159. Cook someone's goose : spoil someone's plans; cause someone's downfall

160. Cook the books : alter facts or figures dishonestly or illegally.

161. Crack of dawn : a time very early in the morning; daybreak.

162. Crocodile tears : tears and sadness are not genuine or sincere.

163. Crunch time : A period when pressure to succeed is great, often toward the end
of an undertaking.

164. Cry over spilt milk : to feel sorry or sad about something that has already
happened

165. Cry wolf : call for help when it is not needed, with the effect that one is not
believed when one really does need help.

166. Curry favour : ingratiate oneself with someone through obsequious behaviour.
167. Cut above : better than other people or things.

168. Cut corners : do something perfunctorily so as to save time or money

169. Cut the Gordian knot : solve or remove a problem in a direct or forceful way,
rejecting gentler or more indirect methods.

170. Cut to the quick : to hurt someone's feelings a lot

171. Cut no ice : have no influence or effect

172. Cutting edge : something that gives someone or something an advantage over
others

173. Catch red handed : to discover someone while they are doing something bad or
illegal

174. Come to a standstill : stops completely

175. Cool as a cucumber : calm and relaxed.

176. Cross swords : have an argument or dispute.

177. Cut him off without a shilling : To exclude or disinherit one from someone's will or
the fortune of one's family

178. Change colours : to get frightened.

179. Dark horse : a person who is not expected to succeed in or unexpectedly wins an
election, race, or other competition:

180. Dead right : in the act of doing something wrong or illegal

181. Derring-do : brave action taken without considering the danger involved

182. Devil's advocate : someone who pretends, in an argument or discussion, to be

against an idea or plan that a lot of people support

183. Die is cast : when a situation is certain to develop in a particular way because
decisions have been taken that cannot be changed

184. Dime a dozen : to be common and/or of very little value

185. Doctor the document : to change a document in order to deceive people

186. Dog days : the hottest days of the summer

187. Dog eat dog : a situation in which people will do anything to be successful, even
if what they do harms other people

188. Dog in the manger : a person who has no need of, or ability to use, a possession
that would be of use or value to others, but who prevents others from having it.

189. Double take : to look at someone or something and then look again because you
suddenly recognize him, her, or it or notice that something unusual is happening

190. Down and out : very poor and without hope

191. Down to the wire : used to denote a situation whose outcome is not decided until
the very last minute

192. Down-to-earth : (used about a person) sensible, realistic and practical

193. Draw a blank : to get no result or response

194. Draw the line : to put a limit on what you will do or allow to happen, esp. because
you feel something is wrong

195. Drink like a fish : Consume large amounts of alcoholic beverages

196. Drive home : make clear by special emphasis and try to convince somebody of
something

197. Drive someone up the wall : make someone very irritated or angry

198. Drop like flies : die or collapse in large numbers.

199. Dry run : a practice exercise : rehearsal, trial

200. Dutch courage : a feeling of courage or confidence that a person gets from
drinking alcohol

201. Die in harness : to die while still working or active

202. Down in the mouth : unhappy , dejected

203. Draw on his fancy : to use one's understanding

204. Drink life to the lees : live life to the full - enjoy every last drop

205. Drop names : to say the names of famous people one knows to try to impress
others

206. Donkey's years : a very long time

207. Eagle eyes : a careful or close watch

208. Eat humble pie : make a humble apology and accept humiliation.

209. Eat your words : to admit that something you said before was wrong

210. Eat crow : be humiliated by having to admit one's defeats or mistakes

211. Elbow room : enough space to move freely

212. Eleventh hour : the last moment or almost too late

213. End in smoke : All the efforts of the principal to bring him round ended in smoke.

214. (On an) Even keel : regular and well-balanced and not likely to change suddenly

215. Every nook and cranny : every part of a place

216. Eye for an eye : the idea that a person who causes another person to suffer
should suffer in an equal amount

217. Eye-wash : misleading or deceptive statements, actions, or procedures

218. Eye-opener : something that makes you realize the truth about something

219. End in a fiasco : was a failure

220. Enough rope : Allow someone to continue on a course and then suffer its
consequences.

221. Explore every avenue : to look for every possible means

222. Face the music : be confronted with the unpleasant consequences of one's
actions
223. (At) Face value : to accept what someone says and believe it without thinking
about it very much, even though it may be incorrect or untrue.

224. Fair and square : honestly and according to the rules

225. Fair crack of the whip : an equal chance to do something

226. Fair-weather friend : One who is friendly, helpful, or available only when it is
advantageous or convenient to be so

227. Fall from grace : a situation in which you do something that makes people in
authority stop liking you or admiring you

228. Fall into line : conform with others

229. Fall short on : to fail to reach an amount or standard that was expected or hoped
for, causing disappointment

230. Fat chance : Little or no chance, a low or nonexistent likelihood of occurrence or

success

231. Feather in one's caps : an achievement to be proud of

232. Feather your own nest : to make yourself rich, esp. by taking unfair advantage of
others

233. Few and far between : not happening very often; not common

234. Find your feet : to become familiar with and confident in a new situation

235. Fish in troubled waters : to try to win an advantage from a difficult situation or
from someone else's problems

236. Fish out of water : a person in a completely unsuitable environment or situation

237. Fit the bill : to be suitable for a particular purpose

238. Flesh and blood : emphasize that someone has human feelings or weaknesses,
often when contrasting them with machines

239. Flogging a dead horse : waste energy on a lost cause or a situation that cannot
be changed
240. Fly in the ointment : a minor irritation that spoils the success or enjoyment of
something

241. Fly off the handle : to become very angry in an unreasonable way

242. Follow your nose : to go straight forward

243. Food for thought : an idea or piece of information that's worth pondering or
thinking over

244. Fool's paradise : a state of happiness based on a person's not knowing about or
denying the existence of potential trouble

245. Fool's errand : a task or activity that has no hope of success

246. Foot in mouth : to say or do something that you should not have, esp. something
that embarrasses someone else

247. Foot the bill : pay the bill for something, typically when the amount is considered
large or unreasonable

248. For the time being : for now/for the moment; at this time

249. Foregone conclusion : a result that can be predicted with certainty

250. Foul play : violence or crime that causes somebody’s death; action that is against
the rules of a sport

251. Freudian slip : to say one thing but instead say something entirely different

252. From pillar to post : they are forced to keep moving from one place to another

253. From scratch : to begin from a point at which nothing has been done yet

254. Full Monty : the most or best that you can have, do, get, or achieve, or all that
you want or need

255. (In) Full swing : at a stage when the level of activity is at its highest

256. Full throttle : All out; at maximum speed, effort, or risk

257. Fullness of time : it will happen if you wait long enough

258. Fall back on : have recourse to something when in difficulty

259. Fall foul of : come into conflict with

260. Fight to the bitter end : until the end of something that may be very bad,
unpleasant, etc.

261. Fight tooth and nail : to try very hard to get something you want

262. Fly a kite : try something out to test public opinion.

263. Free-for-all : a violent situation or argument that a lot of people join in

264. Feel one's pulse : to measure how fast someone's heart is beating

265. Fit to hold a candle : Be inferior to someone or something

266. For good : forever; definitively

267. Get a handle on

268. Get away scot-free

269. Get on your nerves

270. Get out of bed on the wrong side

271. Get wind of

272. Gift of the gab

273. Give the game away

274. Give up the ghost

275. Go awry

276. Go bananas

277. Go bust : to spend or lose all of one's money

278. Go Dutch

279. Go hand in hand

280. Go nuts

281. Go off on a tangent

282. Go places

283. Go scot-free

284. Go the distance

285. Go the extra mile

286. Go the whole hog

287. Go to the wire

288. Gone fishing

289. Gone to the dogs

290. Good Samaritan

291. Grease someone's palm

292. Greek to me

293. Green-eyed monster

294. Greenhorn

295. Grey area

296. Grey cells

297. Grey matter

298. Grist for the mill

299. Gung ho

300. Get a raw deal

301. Get one's own back

302. Get one's point across

303. Get the sack

304. Give currency

305. Give it a shot

306. Give one a piece of mind

307. Give the devil his due

308. Give the game away

309. Go a long way

310. Go down the drain

311. Go through fire and water

312. Go to the winds

313. Give and take

314. Green fingers

315. Hale and hearty

316. Half-baked

317. Half-hearted

318. Hammer and tongs

319. Hand in glove

320. Hand in hand

321. Hand to mouth

322. (Win) Hands down

323. Hang by a thread

324. Hangdog expression

325. Hard and fast

326. Hard nut to crack

327. Hard up

328. (Not mark) Head or tail of something

329. Head over heels

330. Heart in your mouth

331. Heart to heart talk

332. Heavy-handed

333. High and dry

334. High and low

335. High-handed

336. Hit or miss

337. Hit the bull'seye

338. Hit the nail on the head

339. Hobson's choice

340. Hold a candle to

341. Hold water

342. Hop, skip and a jump

343. Hope against hope

344. Hornets' nest

345. Horns of a dilemma

346. Hue and cry

347. Hunky Dory

348. Have a green thumb

349. Have a way with words

350. Have something up one's sleeves

351. Have the last laugh

352. Have too many irons in the fire

353. Heads will roll

354. Icing on the cake

355. Ill at ease : uncomfortable or embarrassed

356. In a fix : In a difficult or embarrassing situation, in a dilemma

357. In a flash : very quickly; immediately

358. In a jiffy : a moment

359. In a nutshell : in a very brief statement

360. In a rut : to not have changed what you do or how you do it for a very long time
so that it is not interesting any longer

361. In an instant : happening suddenly or immediately; a very short period of time

362. In another's shoes : To try to look at a situation from a different point of view; as
if one were the other person; to empathise

363. In apple-pie order : to be perfectly arranged and tidy

364. In broad daylight : during the day, when it is easy to see

365. In cold blood : killing in a way that seems especially cruel because it seems to
show no emotion

366. In dire straits : in a very bad situation that is difficult to fix

367. In high spirits : lively and cheerful behaviour or mood

368. In hot water : to be in a difficult or serious situation

369. In tandem : in partnership or conjunction

370. In the driver's seat : in control of a situation

371. In the long run : over or after a long period of time; eventually

372. In the offing : likely to happen or appear soon

373. In the saddle : in power or in control of a situation

374. Ins and outs : the detailed or complicated facts of something

375. It takes two to tango : both parties involved in a situation or argument are equally
responsible for it.

376. Itchy feet : to start to want to travel or do something different:

377. (Live in) Ivory tower : having no knowledge or experience of the practical
problems of everyday life

378. In a tight corner : to be in a difficult situation. Experiencing difficulties

379. In the good books of : to be greatly favoured by someone

380. In the red : spending more money than you earn

381. In clover : in ease and luxury

382. Jump on the bandwagon : join others in doing or supporting something

fashionable or likely to be successful

383. Jump to a conclusion : to decide (something) after consideration

384. Jumping down one's throat : to react angrily to something that someone says or
does

385. Keep abreast of : to make sure you know all the most recent facts about a
subject or situation
386. Keep at bay : to control something and prevent it from causing you problems

387. Keep body and soul together : stay alive, especially in difficult circumstances

388. Keep at arm's length : Keep at a distance, away from one's body

389. Keep chin up : remain cheerful in difficult circumstances.

390. Keep ear to the ground : to listen or watch out for new information or trends

391. Keep eyes peeled : be on the alert; watch carefully or vigilantly for something

392. Keep fingers crossed : to hope strongly that something will happen

393. Keep head : to remain calm

394. Keep head above water : avoid succumbing to difficulties, typically debt

395. Keep pants on : Calm down! Stay calm!

396. Keep the wolf from the door : have enough money to avert hunger or starvation
(used hyperbolically).

397. Kick in the teeth : implying that an event is as painful, discouraging and
humiliating as being kicked in the mouth

398. Kick the bucket : die

399. Kindred spirit : a person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one's own

400. Kith and kin : people with whom you are connected like friends and relatives

401. Knee-jerk reaction : a quick reaction that does not allow you time to consider
something carefully.

402. Knit brows : to frown (= move your eyebrows down and together) because you
are thinking carefully, or because you are angry or worried

403. Know which way the wind blows : to understand or realize how a situation is
developing and use this in deciding what to

404. Keep in the dark : In a state of ignorance, uninformed

405. Keep under wraps : to keep something secret and not reveal it to anyone
406. Keep up one's appearances : maintain an impression of wealth or well-being

407. Keep an open house : a situation in which people welcome visitors at any time

408. Keep one's word : to do what one promised

409. Lame duck : a person, organization, plan, etc. that is not successful and needs
help

410. Lap dog : a person or organization that is influenced or controlled by another

411. Larger than life : (of a thing) seeming disproportionately important ; (of a person)
attracting special attention because of unusual and flamboyant appearance or behaviour

412. Last laugh : to be the person, team, etc. who is successful in the end

413. Last straw : a further difficulty or annoyance, typically minor in itself but coming
on top of a series of difficulties, that makes a situation unbearable.

414. Last-ditch attempt : an effort or attempt that is made at the end of a series of
failures to solve a problem, and is not expected to succeed

415. Laughing stock : object of ridicule

416. Lead with the chin : To behave without caution; to make oneself vulnerable.

417. Leave in the lurch : to leave (someone) without help or protection when it is
needed

418. Leave no stone unturned : to do everything possible to find something or to solve

a problem.

419. Left in the dark : in a state of ignorance

420. Left-handed compliment : A complimentary remark which is ambiguous or ineptly

worded, so that it may be interpreted as having an unflattering or dismissive sense.

421. Lend an ear : listen sympathetically or attentively.

422. Let bygones be bygones : to forgive someone for something done or for a
disagreement and to forget about it.

423. Let the cat out of the bag : reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake
424. Level playing field : a situation in which everyone has a fair and equal chance of
succeeding

425. Light at the end of the tunnels : It means that you can finally see the end of a
difficult situation that has been a long time in the making. It can also mean that someone
should always keep hope no matter how difficult the situation is.

426. Like a cat on hot bricks : very agitated or anxious

427. Lion's share : biggest portion/ share in any thing

428. Lip service : a show-off of respect or sympathy

429. Live wire : very active

430. Lock horns : to fight or quarrel

431. Lock, stock and barrel : all the things

432. Long face : gloomy, upset, sad

433. Long shot : least possibility of success

434. Look before you leap : to think of the consequences before acting

435. Look down one's nose : to think of or treat (someone or something) as

unimportant or not worthy of respect

436. Lose face : to lose fame, to be less respected by others

437. Like a phoenix : to emerge renewed after apparent disaster or destruction

438. Look blank : Be expressionless, appear dumbstruck or overwhelmed

439. Lose your head : to get angry suddenly

440. Let sleeping dogs lie : to not disturb others in order to not be disturbed.

441. Let the grass grow under one's feet : to do nothing, to stand still

442. Mad as a badger : a freak

443. Make amends for : to compensate

444. Make a clean breast : to accept one's deeds, confess fully one's mistakes

445. Make a mint : to earn a lot

446. Make a mountain out of a molehill : to exaggerate a matter

447. Make both ends meet : to have just enough money for survival

448. Make flesh creep : to frighten

449. Make headway : to go forward or make progress in a difficult situation

450. Make no bones about it : have no hesitation in stating or dealing with

(something), however unpleasant or awkward it is.

451. Make or break : to be successful or unsuccessful

452. Make your hair stand on end : to get very much frightened

453. Man of his word : people who do what they say they will do

454. Man of letters : a man engaged in literary pursuits, especially a professional

writer

455. Man of means : man who possesses sufficient wealth to be regarded as

prosperous or well off.

456. Man of parts : a versatile person

457. Man of straw : a person without any quality, a weak person or a person who can
be easily impressed

458. Mealy-mouthed : one who doesn't speak clearly

459. Measure up : according to expectations ( in level)

460. Meet someone halfway : to do some of the things that someone wants you to do,
in order to show that you want to reach an agreement or improve your relationship with
them

461. Meet your match : meaning opponents possessing same qualities

462. Mend fences : make peace with a person or group

463. Midas touch : the ability to make everything that you are involved with very
successful

464. Mince matter/ words : to not speak clearly

465. Mind Your P's and Q's : to take care of one's behaviour and etiquettes

466. Mint condition : in Avery good condition

467. Miss the boat/bus : to not take advantage of the opportunity

468. Moot point : a disputed issue

469. Moral fibre : The inner strength to do what one believes to be right; often an
ability to make difficult decisions

470. More than meets the eye : Difficult to understand; abstruse

471. Move heaven and earth : try everything possible : make every possible effort

472. Mover and shaker : a distinguished person in his field

473. Much ado about nothing : an overreaction to something that shouldn't have
caused so much trouble

474. Mud-slinging : wrong allegation

475. Music to my ears : something that someone is very happy to hear

476. Maiden speech : first speech given by a newly elected or nominated person

477. Make good the loss : to compensate the loss incurred

478. Mend his ways : to mend one's habits or ways

479. Make ducks and drakes of : to handle recklessly

480. Nail in the coffin : Something that is ultimately responsible for a previously
prospective demise or failure

481. Nail-biter : a situation causing great anxiety or tension

482. Neck and neck : level in a race or other competition

483. Neither fish nor fowl : of indefinite character and difficult to identify or classify

484. (In the) Nick of time : at the appropriate time

485. Nip in the bud : suppress or destroy something at an early stage

486. Nitty gritty : the most important aspects or practical details of a subject or
situation.

487. No holds barred : (wrestling) Without restrictions on holds or what opponents

may do

488. No love lost : used to say that people dislike each other

489. Not bat an eyelid : (idiomatic, chiefly in the negative) To react in any slight way;
to respond; to care

490. Not my cup of tea : it is not the type of thing that you like

491. Now and then : happening sometimes but not very often or regularly

492. Null and void : having no legal force

493. Nuts and bolts : the practical facts about a particular thing, rather than theories or
ideas about it

494. Nineteen/ ten to the dozen : talking very quickly and without stopping

495. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth : Don't question the value of a gift

496. Odds and ends : various items of different types, usually small and unimportant
or of little value

497. Off colour : slightly ill

498. Off the hook : no longer in difficulty or trouble.; (of a phone receiver) not on its
rest, and so preventing incoming calls

499. Off the mark : not accurate or correct : not achieving the desired result

500. Off-hand : not friendly, and showing little interest in other people in a way that
seems slightly rude
501. Old wives' tale : a supposed truth which is actually spurious or a superstition

502. Olive branch : something that you say or do to show that you want to make
peace with somebody

503. On a level : honest; truthful

504. On the level : sincere or honest

505. On a roll : to be having a successful or lucky period

506. On tenterhooks : waiting nervously for something to happen

507. On the cards : likely to happen

508. On the spur of the moment : on impulse; without planning in advance

509. On top of the world : happy and elated

510. On your toes : alert, always ready to do any work

511. Once in a blue moon : rarely

512. Open book : easy to know what they are thinking and feeling

513. Out of hand : uncontrolled

514. Out of question : completely impossible or unacceptable

515. Out of sorts : upset, irritable, slightly unwell

516. Out of the blue : suddenly; unexpectedly

517. Out of the box (thinking) : all new and creative

518. Out of the frying pan into the fire : to face a new problem ending prior one

519. Out of the woods : out of problem/ trouble

520. Out of this world : extremely good or impressive

521. Out and out : completely

522. Over and over : repeatedly

523. Of no avail : without any success or effect

524. Off and on : irregularly, sometimes

525. On the brink of disaster : very close to failure

526. On the cuff : with the promise of future payment; on credit

527. Out of thin air : suddenly and unexpected

528. On the wrong side of seventy : looking younger/older than a particular age

529. Out of one's wits : completely confused

530. Paint the town red : go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly.

531. Pandora's box : something that creates a lot of new problems that you did not
expect

532. Paper tiger : one that is outwardly powerful or dangerous but inwardly weak or
ineffectual.

533. Part and parcel : a basic and necessary part of (something)

534. Pass muster : Meet a required standard

535. Pass the buck : shift the responsibility for something to someone else

536. Pay old scores : (also settle (old) scores) to harm someone because they have
harmed you in the past

537. Pay on the nail : to pay immediately and in full

538. Pay through the nose : pay much more than a fair price.

539. Pecking order : the way in which people or things in a group or organization are
placed in a series of levels with different importance or status

540. Photo finish : a finish of a race in which contestants are so close that a
photograph of them crossing the finish line has to be examined to decide the winner.

541. Pie in the sky : used to describe or refer to something that is pleasant to
contemplate but is very unlikely to be realized.
542. Piece of cake : something easily achieved.

543. Pin money : a small sum of money for spending on inessentials.

544. Pipe dream : an unattainable or fanciful hope or scheme.

545. Play by ear : to do something without special preparation

546. Play fast and loose : to behave in a clever and dishonest way. usually + with.

547. Play second fiddle : have a subordinate role to someone or something; be

treated as less important than someone or something

548. Point blank : saying something very clearly in very few words, without trying to be
polite or pleasant

549. Poker face : an inscrutable face that reveals no hint of a person's thoughts or
feelings.

550. Prim and proper : very formal and correct in behaviour and easily shocked by
anything rude

551. Pros and cons : Arguments or considerations for and against something

552. Pull up your socks : to make an effort to improve your work or behaviour because
it is not good enough

553. Pull your chain : to deceive someone in a friendly or playful way

554. Pup's chance : no chance

555. Put to the sword : to kill someone

556. Put two and two together : to make a correct guess based on what one has seen
or heard

557. Put your foot down : to use your authority to stop something from happening

558. Put yourself in someone's shoes : in another person's situation or predicament.

559. Put the cart before the horse : reverse the proper order or procedure of
something.
560. Pyrrhic victory : a victory that comes at a great cost, perhaps making the ordeal
to win not worth it.

561. Pass oneself off : to cause people to wrongly believe that someone or something
is someone or something else

562. Pay off old scores : To settle old grudges by taking revenge

563. Pick a hole in my coat : To find fault with one; to fix on some small offence as
censurable.

564. Play ducks and drakes with : to use recklessly : squander.

565. Play havoc : to make a situation much more difficult or confusing

566. Pull one's weight : to do the things that one should be doing as part of a group of
people who are working together

567. Pull out all the stops : to make every possible effort or use all available resources
to achieve an end

568. Put on airs : to act in a way that shows one thinks one is better than other people

569. Queer fish : a person whose behaviour is strange or unusual.

570. Quick fix : an expedient usually temporary or inadequate solution to a problem.

571. Quick the pulse : to make someone excited

572. Rack and ruin : to become destroyed or ruined

573. Rack your brain : to think very hard in order to try to remember something, solve
a problem, etc.

574. Raining cats and dogs : excessive rain

575. Rainy day : a time when money might unexpectedly be needed

576. Raise eyebrows : to cause other people to react with surprise or mild
disapproval.

577. Rank and file : the people in the army, navy, air force, etc., who are not officers.
578. Rat race : a way of life in modern society, in which people compete with each
other for power and money

579. Read between the lines : look for or discover a meaning that is implied rather
than explicitly stated.

580. Red carpet : to formally greet or welcome an important guest who has just
arrived

581. Red herring : something intended to distract attention from the real problem.

582. Red letter day : a very happy and important day.

583. Red rag to a bull : used of something that makes a person very angry

584. Red tape : official routine or procedure marked by excessive complexity which
results in delay or inaction.

585. Rest on your laurels to be satisfied with past success and do nothing to achieve
further success.

586. (Without) Rhyme or reason : An absence of common sense or reasonableness

587. Ride high : be successful.

588. Rock the boat : to do something that causes problems or upsets people

589. Rub the wrong way : to cause (someone) to be angry or annoyed

590. Rue the day : to wish that (something) had never been done, taken place, etc.

591. Rule of thumb : a broadly accurate guide or principle, based on practice rather
than theory.

592. Rule the roost : be in complete control.

593. Run amok : Behave in a frenzied, out-of-control, or unrestrained manner

594. Run the gauntlet : Be exposed to danger, criticism, or other adversity

595. Run-of-the-mill : ordinary, with no special or interesting characteristics

596. Rusty needle : badly damaged but still works, or if someone very is sick or tired
but still manages to do things at a fairly good level
597. Ride roughshod over : carry out one's own plans or wishes with arrogant
disregard for (others or their wishes).

598. Run helter-skelter : in undue haste, confusion, or disorder

599. Run its course : something begins, continues for a time, and then ends

600. Run riot : to behave in a wild way without any control

601. Sacred cow : an idea, custom, or institution held to be above criticism

602. Safe and sound : Out of danger and unharmed

603. Safe bet : a bet that is certain to succeed

604. Sail in the same boat : In a similar situation, in the same position

605. Salad days : a period of carefree innocence, idealism, and pleasure associated
with youth.

606. Save someone's bacon : to help someone get out of a dangerous or difficult
situation

607. Save your skin : rescue someone from danger or difficulty.

608. Saving grace : a good quality that something or someone has that stops it, him,
or her from being completely bad

609. Scot free : to not get the punishment that is deserved

610. Seamy side : having the rough side of the seam showing.

611. See eye to eye : having the rough side of the seam showing

612. See red : to become very angry

613. Seed money : money that is given to someone to help them start a new business
or project

614. Send someone packing : make someone leave in an abrupt or peremptory way.

615. Set the Thames on fire : to cause a lot of excitement or strong feelings
616. Shifting sands : used in reference to something that is constantly changing,
especially unpredictably.

617. Shoot from the hip : react without careful consideration of one's words or actions.

618. Short shrift : barely adequate time for confession before execution. ; little or no
attention or consideration.

619. Shot in the dark : an act whose outcome cannot be foreseen; a guess.

620. Shot in the arm : an encouraging stimulus.

621. Show someone a clean pair of heels : run away extremely fast.

622. Show your true colours : reveal one's real character or intentions, especially
when these are disreputable or dishonourable.

623. Sink or swim : a situation in which someone either must succeed by his or her
own efforts or fail completely.

624. Sit on the fence : avoid making a decision or choice.

625. Sit pretty : to be in a good situation, usually because you have a lot of money

626. Sit well with : Please, fit or suit, be acceptable to

627. Sitting duck : an easy or defenseless target

628. Sixes and sevens : a condition of confusion or disarray.

629. Slap on the wrist : a mild reprimand or punishment.

630. Slippery customer : cannot be trusted

631. Smack in the face : something that causes great offence, disappointment, or
distress.

632. Smack dab in the middle : exactly in that place

633. Small fry : insignificant people or things

634. Smell a rat : begin to suspect trickery or deception.

635. Smoking gun : something that serves as conclusive evidence or proof (as of a
crime or scientific theory)

636. Smooth sailing : Easy progress

637. Snake in the grass : a secretly unfaithful friend.

638. Soft option : the easier thing to do of two or more possibilities, but not the best
one

639. Sow your wild oats : engage in a period of wild or irresponsible behaviour while
young, especially involving many casual sexual relationships.

640. Spanner in the works : a person or thing that prevents the successful
implementation of a plan.

641. Speak one's mind : express one's opinions frankly.

642. Speak volumes of/for : of a gesture, circumstance, etc.) convey a great deal
without using words.

643. Spick and span : quite new and unused

644. Spill the beans : Disclose a secret or reveal something prematurely

645. Spin a yarn : tell a long, far-fetched story.

646. Spit blood : to be extremely angry

647. Split hairs : make small and unnecessary distinctions.

648. Spot on : exactly correct : completely accurate. The weather forecast

649. Spread like wildfire : to become known very quickly

650. Spur of the moment : done without planning in advance; impulsive

651. Stand in good stead : to be useful or helpful to someone or something

652. Start from scratch : to begin from a point at which nothing has been done yet

653. State of the art : the level of development (as of a device, procedure, process,
technique, or science) reached at any particular time usually as a result of modern
methods.
654. Status quo : the current situation

655. Steal a march (over) : gain an advantage over (someone) by acting before they
do.

656. Steal the show : Be the center of attention

657. Steer clear of : take care to avoid or keep away from.

658. Stem the tide : to attempt to stop or avoid a prevailing trend

659. Step on it : go faster, typically in a motor vehicle.

660. Step(tread) on someone's toes : offend someone by encroaching on their area of

responsibility.

661. Stick to your guns : refuse to compromise or change, despite criticism.

662. Stick your neck out : take a risk by saying or doing something that other people
might not like.

663. Sticky end : an unpleasant finish or death

664. Stiff-necked : proud and unwilling to do what other people want

665. Stone's throw : a very short distance

666. Storm in a teacup : a situation in which people are very angry or upset about
something that is not important.

667. Straight face : with a blank or serious facial expression

668. Strain every nerve : to make the greatest possible effort

669. Straw man : a weak or imaginary opposition (such as an argument or adversary)

set up only to be easily confuted.

670. Strike a chord : cause someone to feel sympathy, emotion, or enthusiasm.

671. Swan song : a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or
retirement.
672. Sweep things under the carpet : conceal or ignore a problem or difficulty in the
hope that it will be forgotten.

673. Swim/Go against the tide : act against the prevailing opinion or tendency.

674. Swim with the tide : act in accordance with the prevailing opinion or tendency

675. Scapegoats : one that bears the blame for others

676. Send him to Coventry : to deliberately ostracise someone

677. Set the bait : react to something that someone has said or done exactly as they
intended you to do.

678. Set the record straight : give the true version of events that have been reported
incorrectly; correct a misapprehension.

679. Set their one's face against : resist with determination.

680. Shake in one's shoes :

681. Sharp practices

682. Show the white feather

683. Sit in judgement

684. Stand-offish

685. Strike a chill to the heart

686. Sweeping statement

687. Take cue from

688. Take for granted

689. Take forty winks

690. Take it in your stride

691. Take it on the chin

692. Take someone for a ride

693. Take someone to task

694. Take stock of

695. Take the bull by its horns

696. Take the plunge

697. Take the bulls by its horns

698. Take something with a pinch/grain of salt

699. Take to your heels

700. Talk of the town

701. Talk through/out of your hat

702. Talk shop

703. Tall order

704. Teething problems

705. Tempt providence

706. The be all and end all

707. The common weal

708. Thick and fast

709. Thick-skinned

710. Thin-skinned

711. Through thick and thin

712. Throw down the gauntlet/glove

713. Throw someone in at the deep end

714. Throw your weight around

715. Time and again

716. Tip of the iceberg

717. To a T

718. To all intents and purposes

719. To be taken aback

720. Toe the line

721. Tongue in cheek

722. Top notch

723. Touch and go

724. Tough/Hard nut to crack

725. Tread water

726. Tug at the heartstrings

727. Turn a blind eye to

728. Turn a deaf ear

729. Turn a new leaf

730. Turn the tables

731. Twist someone's arm

732. Take into account

733. Take thee at thy word

734. The man in the street

735. Token strike

736. Trumped
737. Turn a blind eye to

738. Turn an honest penny

739. Turn his head

740. Turn up one's nose

741. Throw dust into one's eyes

742. Till the cows come home

743. U-turn

744. Uncalled for

745. Uncharted waters

746. Under fire

747. Under the table

748. Up for grabs

749. Up in the air

750. Up the ante

751. Upper crust

752. Upper hand

753. Upset the apple cart

754. Under a cloud

755. Ups and downs

756. Vent the spleen

757. Vicious circle

758. Volte-face
759. Wake-up call

760. Walk a tightrope

761. Walking on air

762. Wear and tear

763. Weather a storm

764. Well-heeled

765. Well-oiled

766. Wet blanket

767. Whet your appetite

768. White elephant

769. Whole new ball game

770. (Give a) Wide berth to

771. Wide of the mark

772. Wild goose chase

773. Will-o'-the-wisp

774. Win by a nose

775. Window dressing

776. With a heavy hand

777. With flying colours

778. Within a whisker

779. Word of mouth

780. Worth your salt

781. Writ large

782. Writing on the wall

783. Wrong end of the stick

784. Wrong foot

785. Wear one's heart on one's sleeve

786. With one voice

787. Wet behind the ears

788. Yeoman's service

789. Young Turk

790. Zero hour

791. Zero tolerance