Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Idioms for Intermediate 1

IDIOMS

A Black Sheep

Democracy stops the way of black sheeps from reaching in the parliament.

At Large

The conspirators of the nation are at large after the independence.

A Wild Goose Chase

Success in politics is a wild goose chase without prosperity

By Fits and Starts

One should not work by fits and starts if he wants to get success in his life.

Day in and day out

Quaid-e-Azam work day in and day out for the establishment of Pakistan.

Far and Wide

Dr. Abdul Salam is recognized far and wide as a scientist.

In Black and White

I will not accept your offer until I see it in black and white.

Pokes Ones Nose

Don’t poke your nose into my business.

To Back out of something

It is very bad for a man to back out of his words.

End in Smoke

My efforts have ended in smoke after my defeat.

To give up

I have given up my hopes of getting a good post in the army.

To give away

The chief gave away the prizes in the party.

To make up

He can not make up his mistake.

To make both end meat

It is very difficult to make both ends meat in a low paying job.

To makes one mouth water

The smell of BIRYANI makes almost every ones’ mouth water.

To turn a deaf ear to

The Pakistani government is turning a deaf ear over the screams of Kashmiries.

To think over

The west must think over the problems of third world.

To cry over spilt milk

A sensible person never cries over spilt milk.

To feel like a fish out of water

A finger tips muslim would feel like a fish out of water in a Christian community.

To have a lions share

Indians are having lions share from the lives of Kashmiries.

To nib evil in the bud

The teachings of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) nib the evilness in the bud from the heart.

To shed crocodiles tears

After murdering him she was shedding crocodiles tears.

To take to task

The policeman take the murderer to the task after his confession.

To turn over a new leaf

The criminal promised to the judge that he would turn over a new leaf after his punishment.

With a high hand

It is very unusual to take a person with a high hand in public

Die in harness

The great martyrs of the 1965 war have died in harness.

From hand to mouth

The poor people of Kashmier are living from hand to mouth.

Get into hot water

Falsehood always take you into the hot water.

Get though

I know that I will get through the problems of my personal life.

Flying colors

An intelligent student always comes out with flying colors.

Hue and cry

It is hue and cry in U.N.O. to talk in favour of Pakistan.

Keep body and soul together

A third grade officer can hardly keep his body and soul together.

Leave in larch

China is a friend who never leaves Pakistan in larch.

Write off

The acting president write off his all activities after hearing the news of fire in the parliament.

See off

The people of China see off the prime minister of Pakistan with warm heart at the air port.

Take off

The plane had took off to bomb Heroshima

Make out

Our country will make out of its political problems.

Break into

The spies of India have broken into our country for the purpose of conspiracy.

Bring to book

The murder will be brought to book after his arrest.

Bring to light

The matter will be brought to light on the next session of the general assembly.

Ones for all

A good muslim is ones for all a muslim till the end of his life.

Times and again

Never ask a single question time and again.

Thanks less job

Teaching is a thank less job.

Bring up

Our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was brought up by his uncle.

Take for

I take him for my brother due to his resemblance.

Look for

The army looked for the spy every where but they could not find him.

Turn the table

The politician turned the table when he was in the grip of the press.

Take after

Pakistan take after the Britain in law and enforcement.

Take big

The minstrel boy is in the habit of talk big.

Look down upon

West always looks down upon east as their slaves.

Let down

A good son never let down the hopes of his parents.

Ups and downs

Lite is full of ups and downs.

Upto mark

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan led his goal upto mark of supreme.

Keep up

A brave person must keep up his attitude to achieve his desired goal.

To come off

You will come off happiness by good deeds.

To get off

Prayer is the best to get off from the badness.

Break out off

America is breaking out of the Kashmir issue by his veto power.

To carry on

The victims of Bosnia will carry on their struggle till their end of life.

Out of date

Different types of fashions are becoming out of date now a days.

Call off

The labour leader call off the strick in the morning.

Hard up

Don’t loose money when you are hard up.

To part with

Never take part with the uncultured activities.

A couple of years

He left for England for couple a years to study there.

A Hard Task

He is interviewed for a job. This was a hard task for him.

By Hook or by Cooks

He has achieved a seat in the assembly by hook or by crook.

To act upon

He is a good boy and always acts upon the advises of his parents.

To save something for the rainy day

Wise people always save some thing for the rainy day.

The golden age

The Mughal rule over India may be considered as a golden age of our history.

At dagger drawn

The two tribes were at dagger drawn but at last they become friends.

To bears brunts of

The muslims all over the world are bearing the brunts of white man’s monopoly.

A bird eye view

We could hardly had a bird eye view at the time of Quaid-e-Azam funeral ceremony.

Break Through

He has break through all of economical difficulties.

To bring down

Please! Bring down your bad temper then we will talk sensibly.

To strike when the iron is hot

When the feelings run high, it is the right time to strike cause the iron is hot.

To pass away

The Quaid-e-Azam was passed away on 11th, Sep. 1948.

Out of question

It is out of question that younger son come against to his father.

Part and parcel

Food is part and parcel of our daily life.

Out and out

He is out and out a Pakistani

Odds and Ends

The beggar was in the bad habit of collecting odd and ends.

Keep up once’s appearance

He is the main man so he had to keep up his appearance every where.

To back up

They have back up us in every difficult turn of our life.

To break up with

We should not break up their our closed friends.

Close to

Nadeem is very close to me and to my family

All and All

He remains all and all a muslims.

Off and On

Off and ends I was singing the sound.

At home

Off and on I sing a solitary song.

A bed of roses

To serve for the welfare and benefit of suffering humanity is a difficult task and is not abed of roses to slumber on.

To run short of

I was running short of space in the shop so I made room in this regard.

To keep an eye on

Our braver soldiers keep an eye on the activities of the Indian army.

To give in

His business partner is so simple that he always acts upon his suggestion and gives in against his orders.

To call off

The labour union called off its strike as soon as the owners accepted over demands.

To turn a deaf ear to

She does not take care of the elders and turns a deaf ear to their advices.

To bury the hatchet

The Muslim World should bury the halchet and try to be united.

To bell the cat

Everyone wants to demands kept before the Officer but see who will bell the cat?

To die in harness

She adores her work and aspires to die in harness.

To break into

Last Sunday night, the dacoits broke into Citibank wall a away with all money.

To give up

If one wants to give up one’s bad habits one should get rid of one’s bad company first.

To take off

He took off his old coat and put on a new one.

From scratch

Pakistan’s economy was totally backward so it has to build from scratch.

To turn the tables

The world champs, Sri Lankans have capability to turn in the table in nearly every critical situation.

To get through

One who studies by fits and starts hardly gets through in exams.

With open arms

Pakistani government welcomed with open arms to those who crossed the borders on 1947.

A burning question

Killing and terrorism in Karachi is a burning question.

To bring up

Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) belonged to the noble family of the Quraish and was brought up chiefly by uncle.

Act upon/on

Pious man always follows the righteous path and acts upon noble principles.

Part and Parcel

India says that Kashmir is its part and parcel.

To blow hot and cold

I don’t believe him because he blows hot and cold in one breath.

To hold water

He turned my suggestion down by saying that it didn’t hold water.

To face the music

He never gives in and always faces the music.

In black and white

He was so careful that he kept all his agreement in black and white.

Upto the mark/standard

We should mise our education system upto the mark to complete with other nations.

To watch over

The mother bird watches over her youngs.

In hot water

The organization has been in hot water because o its defective policies.

To pay in the same coin

He paid his selfish friend in the same coin and taught him a bitter lesson.

To take the heels

The robbers look to their heels before the police could reach and stop them.

A black sheep

Mir Jafar proved himself to be a black sheep and betrayed his motherland.

To nip in the bud

Terrorism should be nipped in the bud because it causes a toll of precious lives.

Once in a blue moon

She often makes fun of others, once in a blue moon she praises them.

To bring up

Our Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) belonged to the noble family of the Quraish and was brought up chiefly by his uncle.

In black and white

He was so careful that he kept all his agreement in black and white.

To get rid of

If one wants to give up one’s bad habits one should get rid of one’s bad company first.

A Rainy day

He found no trouble to face, during his joblessness as he had saved something for a rainy day.

To bring home

He brought home to them all the important facts of the affair.

To beg for

The Quaid-e-Azam the founder of Pakistan begged for friendship and pace with his former enemies.

To bring to light

His all misdeeds were brought into light and his property was confiscated.

To build castle in the air

He wants an over night change in his life and keeps on building castle in the air.

1993

A bed of roses

To serve for the welfare and benefit of suffering humanity is a hard task and is not a bed of roses to slumber on.

By fits and starts

One who keeps on one’s studies by fits and starts hardly secures honour.

To break out

The entire world is afraid of the horrors of atomic bomb that yields to prevent of breaking out of the 3rd world war.

To turn a deaf ear to

She does not take care of the elders and turns a deaf ear to their advices.

To belt the cat

Every one wants me demands kept before the Officer but see who will bell the cat?

To have an axe to grind

She looks after her old grand mother because of her property. She has an axe to grind.

To bury the batchet

The Muslim World should bury the hatchet and try to be united.

At the nick of time

At the nick of time he was provided medical aid, other wise he would be no more with us.

1992

To call a spade a spade

Pure men never hide any thing and always call a spade a spade and never take to heels by hardships

By hook or crooks

India wants to keep on its occupation on Kashmir by hook or crock.

To run short of

I was running short of space in the shop so I made room in this regard.

To keep an eye on

Our brave soldiers keep an eye on the activities of the Indian army.

From hand to mouth

Freedom has value of common people if they are living from hand to mouth.

1991

To turn the tables

The world champs, Sri Lankans have capability to the table in nearly every critical situation.

To hold water

He turned my suggestion down by saying that it didn’t hold water.

To face the music

He never gives in and always faces the music.

To bank on

Fair weather friends exploit so they should not be banked on.

To blow hot and cold

I don’t live him because he blows hot and cold in one breath.

To bring out

Shah-jo-Risalo was brought out by Shah Latif’s devotees.

1990

To beg for

Quaid-e-Azam the founder of Pakistan begged for friendship and peace with is former enemies.

To bring up

Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) belonged to the noble family of the Quraish and was brought up chiefly by uncle.

To watch over

The mother bird watches over her youngs.

In black and white

He was so careful that he kept all his agreements in black and white.

To run after

Most of the people run after worldly objects.

To take down

He takes down each and every point of the lecture.

1989

To eat down

The president decided to cut down all unrequired expenditure.

To egg on

He was not interested in his studies and always tried to egg on his friends to lesson their interest.

To be in a fix

When he was dismissed from the job he was in a fix what to do next.

To stir up

National songs stir up the spirit of patriotism.

To keep up

To keep up a certain position needs constant vigilance.

To make the most of

He made the most of his leisure and gained a lot about his subject.

1995

At the eleventh hour

At the eleventh hour it was decided to put off the meeting because of bad situation of law and order in the city.

To get rid of

If one wants to give up one’s bad habits one should get rid of one’s bad company first.

To break the ice

From hand to mouth

Freedom has no value for common people if they are listing from hand to mouth.

To look down upon

It’s had to look down upon all those whose status is less than we.

To nip in the bud

Terrorism should be nipped in the bud because it causes a toll of precious lives.

To give up

If one wants to give up one’s bad habits one should get rid of one’s bad company first.

To beat about the bush

It’s just a waste a time when someone start beating about the bush during an important discussion.

MISCELLANEOUS

By virtue of

By virtue of his good deeds every one admires him.

In accordance with

Everyone acts according to inner his necessity.

Above board

His character is above board and out can trust on him.

In high spirits

He started running in high spirits as there was a danger of storm.

To take to task

The servant was taken to task by the master.

All in all

You can’t challenge his authority, his is all in all in the office.

To Run

Run after

The police man ran after the thief and caught him.

Run away

The thief had run away when the police arrived.

Run down

His health has run down due to constant fever.

Run against

He suddenly ran against a motor cycle on the road.

To Look

Look after

She looks after her baby very well.

Look into

Please, look into the matter & submit complete report.

Look down upon

We must not look down upon the poor.

Look for

He is looking for a suitable job.

Look forward

I shall look forward to your reply.

Look up

Look up the meaning of this world in your dictionary.

To Take

Take up

He was taken up with my style of writing.

Take to heart

Don’t take to heart what my father said to you.

Take to heels

The thief took to heels as soon as he saw the police man.

Take into account

Take into account his difficulties and don’t press him so hard to pay the money.

To Turn

Turn over a new leaf

He will turn over a new leaf when he joins college.

Turn a deaf ear

He always turns a deaf ear to my instructions.

To Set

Set up

He wanted to set up a factory in this area.

Set down

Set down in black and white what you have to say.

Set off

He will set off for Lahore tomorrow.

Set out

They set on journey last evening.

Get through

All the students of my class got through the examination.

Get away

The robbers got clearly away with the stolen money.

Get over

He struggled to get over his problems.

To Give

Give up

We should not give up our noblest aims due to hardships.

Give away

The head master gave away prizes.

Give off

This drain gives off a bad smell.

Give out

He should not have given out my secrets.

Give in

We should not give in due to un-favourable circumstances.

To Keep

Keep body & soul together

Food is necessary to keep one’s body & should together.

Keep in the dark

He keeps every thing in the dark & tells us nothing.

Keep up with

He ran quickly and I could not keep up with him.

Keep away

He keeps away from school due to his bad company.

Keep off (out)

This blanket keeps off (out) cold.

Keep up

Keep up your spirit and do this work. Keep up your studies for two hours.

Keep pace with

He can not keep pace with me because he does not agree to my plans.

To Carry

Carry away

A dog carried away my bread.

Carry out

You should carry on your studies.

Carry out

We should carry out our elders’ orders.

Carry through

He will carry through all the difficulties.

To Come

Come across

I come across my old friend lost evening.

Come to pass

It came to pass that my house fall down lost night.

Come out

The truth will come out after all.

Come off with flying colours

He has come off with flying colours in the examinations.

To Get

Get across

Due to flood it is not possible to get across the river.

Get ahead

One, who works hard, will get ahead and win the prize.

Get at

The cat tried hard to get at meat, on the cupboard.

Get up

We must always get up early in the morning.

To Bring

Bring about

The count of Monte Cristo brought about Morcerf’s disgrace.

Bring forth

The new traffic laws have brought forth a great many troubles.

Bring in

His part time job brings him in Rs. 500/- per month.

Bring up

As his parents had died so he was brought up by his uncle.

Bring off

On the burning ships a large number of passengers were brought off by the helicopters.

To Break

Break down

All his plans broke down in the middle.

Break into

The robbers broke into the house and stole and T.V. set.

Break through

The thieves broke through the wall.

Break off

He broke off in the middle of the story.

To Call

Call at

I called at my uncle’s lost month.

Call of (away)

The strike has been called off (away) by the labourers.

R

Run short of

Now-a-days we are running short of pure milk.

Rainy-day

We should be habitual to save money for rainy day.

Rain cats and dogs

We can’t go out side the house because it is raining cats and dogs.

P

Pretty useless

A horse is pretty useless for riding nowadays in a big city, like Karachi.

Pick a hole in one’s coat

Don’t try to pick holes in others’ coats; mind your own business.

W

Wash dirty linen in the public

I advised him to compromise with his brother and go home because it was no use to wash dirty linen in the public.

With heart and soul

We should serve our dear home land with heart and sould.

With a high hand

Nobody likes a kind who rules the country with a high hand.

With might and main

King John was a notable king who ruled over his country with might and main.

S

See eye to eye

He never sees eye to eye with me on any matter.

Storm in a tea cup

It was storm in a tea cup, for the trouble was only about a pencil

Strike when iron is hot

If your officer is happy with you, submit your application for promotion strike when iron is hot.

T

Take the bull by the horns

He has strong will power so, he will not be worried about the problems but take the bull by the horns.

Time and again

The students were instructed time and again to go to their class rooms but they did not do so.

Tooth and nail

We struggled tooth and nail for independence and at last won Pakistan on 14th August 1947.

Take to task

He was taken to task for the theft of a tape recorder

Take to heart

Don’t take to heart what your father said to you in anger, he wanted to advise you.

Take to one’s heels

As soon as the thief saw the police, he took to his heels.

Turn a deaf ear to

He always turns a deaf ear to my advice.

Turn the table

We were winning in the beginning but their centre forward turned the table after first half.

Turn over a new leaf

The Indian Muslims turned over a new leaf due to the able leadership of the Quaid-e-Azam.

Tit for tat

He stole Akram’s money; Akram stole his watch and gave him tit for tat.

To & from

He was pacing to & from on the floor in distraction.

M

Make the most of

As long as you have this book. You should make the most of it and learn the important chapters.

Make one’s month water

The sight of meat made the cat’s month water and it tried hard to get at the plate.

Mind one’s own business

Don’t interfere in my domestic affairs and mind your own business.

Make a mess

He must make a mess of this machine because he does not know how to repair it.

Make fun of

Don’t make fun of the poor, as Allah dose not like it.

Make both ends meet

He is the only supporter of a larger family so it is very difficult for him to make both ends meet.

Move heaven and earth

He must move heaven and earth to get through the examination.

N

Nip in the bud

His hopes, for higher education, have been nipped in the bud, with his father’s untimely death.

Q

Over night

Due to hard struggle of the Quaid-e-Azam, the Indian Muslims became over night a nation from minority

Once and for all

I must tell your once and for all that, I will not lend you my new camera.

Out and out

The Quaid-e-Azam was a true Muslim out and out.

Over and above

He is wicked, he is a liar, and a thief over and above

Out of spirit

Due to constant failures, he is out of spirit now a days.

K

Keep an eye on

He shall have to keep an eye on those traitors who secretly work to divide our country.

Keep in the dark

He kept me in the dark and never told any thing about his family secrets.

Keep body and soul together

His income is so small that he can hardly keep body and soul together.

Kill two birds with one stone

He murdered one enemy and then lodged report against an other enemy. Thus he killed two birds with one stone.

Kith and kin

If you invite him to your party, he will arrive with his kith and kin.

Keep pace with

If we keep pace with time, we will get great success in life.

L

Leaps and Bounds

If we work hard sincerely, our country will develop by leaps and bounds.

Live from hand to mouth

He is a low paid employee so he lives from hand to mouth with his large family.

G

Get rid of

If we want to make Pakistan a great country we shall have to get rid of illiteracy first of all.

Give ear

He never gives ear to what his parents advise him.

I

In black and white

The police officer ordered them to submit their complaint in black and white.

In full swing

The fair was in full swing when all of sudden the panic started and the people began to run widely.

Ins and Outs

(of anything)

Don’t say anything about a matter unless you know it’s ins and outs definitely.

H

Hue and cry

There is a great hue and cry against the aggression of the Hindus in India from the Sikhs.

Hand and glove

Akram and Nasir are hand and glove with each other and they have no difference of opinion.

Harping on one string

No one will listen to you if you harp on one string.

Heart and soul

We want to serve our country with heart and soul.

D

Down to earth

His plans, which are soar, may down to earth if he does not work hard.

Day in & day out

Our country can make great progress day in and day out if we serve with honesty and loyalty.

Die in harness

Though he is about seventy but still he works hard and wishes to die in harness.

E

End in smoke

All his efforts, to build a house, ended in smoke due to the shortage of money.

F

Fall to earth

Our plans for Pakistan, which are soar, may fall to earth if we don’t adopt Islamic system completely.

Feel lost

If he continued to feel lost in this way, he would surely destroy his career.

From hand to mouth

He is a low paid employee but he has a large family so they all have to live from hard to mouth.

For good

He became so dishearted in his country but he has a large family so they all have to live from hard to mouth.

Fish in the troubled

When ever there is a disorder in the city, the rogues always try to fish in the troubled water.

Fall flat

All my advices fell flat on him and he ruined himself with his own hands.

C

Cry for the moon

You have no money to buy this car. You are just crying for the moon.

Catch at a straw

If he is so helpless, he must think it enough to catch at a straw.

Come to blows

First he very angrily called me names and then he came to blows without any reason.

Call names

As he was badly drunk so he called me names without any reason.

Cry over split milk

It is no use to cry over spilt milk; for what is done, cannot be undone.

Catch red handed

The police caught the thief red handed as the stolen watch was found on him.

Call a spade a spade

We need out fear so long we should call a spade a spade to cruel persons.

Come across

Yesterday I came across an old friend by chance.

Carry the day

After a great deal of opposition he carried the day and succeeded in his mission.

Child’s play

It is a child’s play for him to murder any person.

Crocodile tears

He actually hated his master but he had to shed crocodile tears on his death to show his devotion.

B

Beat about the bush

It is no use to beat about the bush, tell me the actual matter clearly.

Build castle in the air

He could not pass the examination because he had been building castle in the air and did no hard work throughout the year.

Bosom friend

Last year Akram and Nadeem were at daggers drawn but now they are bosom friend.

By leaps & bounds

If we serve our country with honesty & loyalty, it must make progress by leaps & bounds.

Bring to book

He must be brought to book for this server faulth.

Blow hot & cold

If he continues to blow hot & cold, neither he will take the decision, nor the matter may be solved.

By fits & starts

He attends his classes by fits & starts, so he can’t pass his examinations.

Bring to an end

He always brings his lecture to an end with a little amusing story.

Burn the candle at both ends

He burned the candle at both ends after his father’s death; now he is in trouble.

Break open

The thief broke open the box and got clear away with a large amount of money.

Bring to light

The runs of Mohen-jo-daro bring it to light that the people of that time were well civilized & cultured.

Bring to the hammer

All his goods were brought to the hammer, because he did not pay the bank loan.

By hook & by crook

He wishes to get wealth by hook or by crook.

Break the ice

At last Akram broke the ice and started conversation with the guests.

Bed of Roses

It is not a bed of roses to be an owner of a factory.

This world is not a bed of roses and it is a hard task to live here with happiness and peace of mind.

A

At daggers drawn

Akram and Nadeem were fast friends; but now they are at daggers drawn because of a plot.

At the eleventh hour

He came to see me at the eleventh hour while I was taken to the hospital.

A fish out of water

He always feels himself a fish out of water when he is far from his home & friends.

A fool’s paradise

He is living in a fool’s paradise if he thinks that he will stand first without hard work.

At home

He is quite a home in English.

I am quite at-home at your place.

A Jack of all trades

He has an opinion on very point; for he is a Jack of all trades.

At Sixes & Sevens

When I entered his room I found every thing at sixes & sevens.

A black sheep

Micheal was the black sheep who betrayed his master and disclosed his secrets to enemy.

All in all

Your uncle can give me a job because he is all in all in that office.

A red letter day

It was a red letter day when we got independence from the British rule.

A storm in a tea Cup

It was only a storm in a tea cup; for the trouble was only about a pencil.

At a loss

My friend wants me to go to movie while I have work to do. I am at a loss to decide what to do.

Wolf in sheep’s clothing

Selfish and unpatriotic persons are always very dangerous because they are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

With open arms

My cousin welcomed me with open arms at the station when I got down the train.

Wash one’s hands off

I cannot co-operate with you in this sinful business and wash my hands off this affairs.

Ups and downs

You cannot settle this dispute because you don’t know ups and downs of the matter.

Up to the mark

He was fired by his employer because his performance was not up to the mark.

Turn up

He was stealing some goods from the shop when the police turned up on the scene and caught him.

To be at one’s wit’s end

In this critical situation he is at his wit’s end and does not know what to do.

To be at one’s bad books

He does not like them at all and they are in his bad books.

To be sick of

He is really a foolish man and I am sick off his empty boasts.

To be under a cloud

He did not do as his boss wanted him to so now-a-days he is under a cloud.

To be under a person thumb

He is quite a grown up young man but he still can not take a decision because he is under the thumb of his mother.

To cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth

If he wishes to lead a peaceful life, he will have to cut his coat according to his cloth.

To have clean hands

His own friends betrayed him and I have clean hands in this matter, so he can’t blame me.

To show a clean pair of heels

As soon as the thief saw the police man, he showed a clean pair of heels.

Turn down

I applied for one month’s leave but my boss turned down my application for no reason.

Turn one’s back on

When he became an engineer, he turned his back on his poor friends and relatives.

Turn one’s coat

The selfish and flatterers always turn their coat to get their benefits, and they are quite unreliable.

Turn tail

The enemy troops turned tail and fled from the front when our brave soldiers made a counter attack.

Spread like wild fire

I don’t know how the rumour spread like wild fire that the prices of sugar would go up very soon.

Square deal

To settle the dispute between two brothers, my uncle made a square deal, acceptable to both sides.

Stick to one’s gun

In the face of hard ships, he stuck to his gun and at last the solved all his problems.

Take a leaf out of someone’s book

He ought to take a leaf out of an a honest man’s book if he wishes to live a content life.

Take advantage of

It is not a good deed if one takes advantage of the weakness of others.

Take a leap in the dark

He is a careless and irresponsible man and he always takes a leap in the dark without thinking.

Through thick and thin

A true friend always keeps pace with his friends through tick and thin.

Throw dust in a person’s

I know him very well, he is a cheat, but he can’t throw dust in my eyes so easily.

Throw light on

He delivered a good speech and threw light on the current affairs of the country.

Time and again

He explained in details the function of the machine and time and again showed me how it worked.

To back up

Whenever he showed good performance at his school, I backed up him heartily.

To be all ears

He was telling an interesting story and we were all ears.

Poison one’s ear/mind

The old woman poisoned her son’s ear against his father and he beat the old man very badly.

Poke one’s nose

It is not good for anyone to poke his nose in the affairs of neighbours without any reason.

Put a spoke in one’s wheel

He is a jealous man and always tries to put a spoke in my wheel just to make me dishearted.

Read between the lines

He did not ask for some money directly but while he was talking, I read between the lines, and helped him.

Red tape

I could not get my loan sanctioned immediately on account of red tape.

Rolling stone

If he wants to get promotion, he will have to perform his duties strictly because a rolling stone gathers no moss.

Run away with

Though the police men were on the road, yet the thief ran away with my tape recorder.

Set one’s face against

He is a righteous person and he must set his face against the bitter opposition.

Set one’s heart on

She has

Show the white feather

Selfish friends never stay in critical situation, they always show the write feather and slip away quietly.

Soft corner

Our principal has a soft corner for Akram because he is poor but very intelligent student.

One the whole

He may have some weaknesses but on the whole he is a gentleman.

Once in a blue moon

Only once in a blue moon the circumstances allow us to do things as we wish.

Out and out

He will never become a noble man; he is a rogue out and out.

Over and above

He gets a reasonable amount from his part time job over and above his monthly salary.

Over head and ears

Due to his bad habit of gambling he borrowed money from others and now he is over head and ears in debt.

Part and parcel

A reading room is a part & parcel of a library.

Pay back in one’s own coin

If he tries to disgrace me for nothing. I must pay him back in this own coin.

Play a double game

The enemies of his country always play a double game, they live here but work for our enemy countries.

Play upon words

Some comedians and performers present great entertainment to the audience by skillfully playing upon words.

Play with fire

He is careless and bold man and he is always ready to play with fire, even at the risk of his life.

Pocket an insult

As he is my best friend so I do not pay him back in his coin and always pocket the insult.

Lick the dust

Our enemies had to lick the dust in 1965 war when the cowardly attacked our home land.

Lion’s share

As he is a working partner so he always gets the lion’s share in the profit.

Make a clean breast of

He made a clean breast of every crime that he had committed in the past.

Make a mountain of a mole hill

I don’t believe in a single word of his statement because he always makes a mountain of a mole hill.

Make amends for

We must always be prepared to make amends for our failures in life.

Make faces

I don’t know what pleasure he finds in making faces at others.

Make good

He has learnt a bitter lesson from his failure and now I hope, he must make good next time.

Make the most of

This is a valuable book and I want to make the most of it.

Make up one’s mind

I have made up my mind that I will sell this useless car next week.

Move heaven and earth

He moved heaven and earth but could not find his lost open.

Now and then

He is my best friend but on account of strict duties he comes here now and then.

Null and void

These rules have been declared null and void, so you cannot quote them in the court.

Odds and ends

When the picnic was over, we gathered all the odds and ends in the boxes and got rid of them.

In cold blood

He is a cruel man and always kills his enemies in cold blood.

In the long run

You must continue to help your poor relatives; in the long run your attempts will bring fruit.

In the nick of time

I was in a fix due to the shortage of money but in the nick of time my friend arrived and paid my bill.

Keep some one at arm’s length

It is better to keep bad persons at arm’s length.

Keep up appearance

He has been jobless for months but he does not disclose his position and always keeps up appearance before others.

Kick up a row

When he sees he cannot win a game, he always kicks up a row and starts to beat others.

Laugh in one’s sleeve

It is not a good habit to laugh in sleeve over misery of others.

Laughing stock

He is a foolish boy and always becomes the laughing stock of his friends.

Lame excuse

He is a habitual absentee and always gives lame excuses for his absence.

Learn by heart

He is an intelligent child and he has learnt many poems by heart.

Leave no stone unturned

He is a hard working and honest servant and he will leave no stone unturned.

Lend ear

Whenever I tell him some thing, he always lends an ear to me respectfully.

Give a good account of

He gave a good account of himself at his school and stood first in his class.

Give oneself airs

He always gives himself airs on his knowledge of English, and tries to impress others.

Go hand in hand

It is a fact that progress and prosperity go hand in hand.

Go through

After having gone through this essay, I have come to know that his observation is very remarkable.

Go through fire and water

He can face this critical situation because he is grown up man and has gone through fire and water.

Go to pieces

We should be united because I don’t wish to see my city go to pieces on account of our disputes.

Go to the dogs

On account of his bad company he is burning the candle at both ends, so he will soon go to the dogs.

Hand in the balance

They both claim to be the owner of that horse and the mater has been hanging in the balance for a week.

Hard and fast

For the maintenance of peace and discipline, this college has hard and fast rules.

Hit below the belt

Be careful because he is a coward person and he must hit below the beltat any time.

Hold one’s head high

He had gone through great hardships but he always held his head high.

Hold water

I can not agree with him because his argument does not hold water to make me satisfied.

In a fix

He is in a fix because he can not decide whether he should continue his studies or join arm forces.

Come to light

He was a very clever criminal but at last all his crimes came to light and he was sentenced.

Cut a sorry figure

He did not make preparation for the examinations and he cut a sorry figure in the annual exams.

Die a dog’s death

Traitors and evil-doers always die a dog’s death.

Do away with

We have done away with many old customs of our civilization and culture

Eat one’s words

He always speaks without thinking and several times he had to eat his words.

Face the music

He was not ashamed of what he did, and was fully prepared to face the music.

Fall a prey

He is a simple man and he falls an easy prey to the wicked persons.

Fall to one’s lot

He kept bad company so it fell to his lot to destroy all his wealth and property.

Feather one’s nest

Many dishonest officers take advantage of their position to feather their nest instead of to perform their duties.

Find fault with

It is a very bad habit to find fault with others.

French leave

Often he is on French leave because he never informs his officers in advance.

Get wind of

He is upset now-a-days because he has got wind of the news that his mill will be nationalized.

Give a false colouring to

I as sincerely giving him a piece of advice but he gave a false colouring to my intention, and disgraced me.

Burn one’s boats

He can do nothing now because he has burnt his boats by submitting his resignation from service.

Burning question

Now-a-days the burning question is to maintain peaceful atmosphere in the country.

Bury the hatchet

It is always better not to take revenge and bury the hatchet with pleasure and honour.

By and by

At first he rejected my idea but I brought him round by and by.

Bury one’s head in sand

We must not bury our head in the sand but we should face the situation bravely.

Call to account

If he makes a mistake he will be called to account.

Carry too far

It was a very trifle matter but he tried to carry the matter too far without any reason.

Cast in one’s teeth

He will cast it in their teeth if they try to disgrace him.

Castles in the air

He is practically doing nothing but making castles the air.

Cock and bull story

He has made a serious mistake, but just to prove himself innocent, he is telling a cock & bull story to others.

Come off with flying colours

Yesterday we were very happy because our cricket team played the final match and came off with flying colours.

At a loose end

Now-a-day he is at a loose end because he has been retired from service and he passes his time here and there.

At a stone’s throw

We go to our college on foot because it is at a stone’s throw.

At arm’s length

He is a noble boy and he always keeps bad boys at arms’ length.

Back out

He is an honourable man and he has promised to help me, so, he must not back out of is promise.

Bad blood

He must not try to create bad blood between two brothers while they are living peacefully.

Be cut to the quick

He was cut to the quick when I caught him red handed on the spot.

Be taken a back

He was taken aback when the started to call him names for no reason.

Bear the palm

I worked hard day and night and I almost wept when I bore the palm at the annual contest.

Blow one’s own trumpet

He is quite a follish man because he always wept when I bore the palm at the annual contest.

Blue blood

He will never betray you because he is an honest man and has blue blood in his veins.

Bone of contention

Akram beat his friend yesterday because the ownership of a beautiful pen was the bone of contention between them.

Break the news

Mrs. Ali was taken a back when Akram broke the news of her son’s death.

Burn the mid-night oil

He brunt the mid-night oil and got through his annual examination with flying colours.

A bone of contention

The two brothers are at daggers drawn because their father’s property has become a bone of contention between them.

A close shave

A narrow shave

It was a close shave / a narrow shave but the driver Quickly applied the brakes in time and saved the car.

A man of letters

A man of letters always gets his due place in a company of reasonable persons.

A man of straw

He is a man of straw and cannot do any thing with confidence and courage in his life.

A narrow escape

Last week we had a narrow escape from a very serious accident.

Again and again

I have advised him again and again not to mix with bad boys but he always turns a deaf ear to the advice.

Add fuel to fire

It added fuel to fire when he began to call me names and I came to blows losing my patience.

Apple of discord

Some times wealth becomes the apple of discord among real brothers.

Apple of one’s eyes

Akram is an able and intelligent boy and that’s why he is the apple of his parents’ eyes.

An axe to grind

Selfish persons never do any thing for others unless they have an axe to grind.

An open secret

It is an open secret how some students pass the examination without any preparation.

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