DSSSB English Verbal Idioms Theory

IDIOMS

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Theory

Quiz

THEORY

Objectives of the session:

· To make the students aware of the importance of a good prose style by making them learn the correct. use of idioms

· Create awareness for a few of the plethora of idioms and share methods to aid quick recall

IDIOMS

Idioms are a group of words established by usage and having a meaning not deducible from those of individual words. Idioms help to make the language vivid. Idioms are checked in the fill-in-the-blanks and reading comprehension questions.

For Example:

The idiom "pull your socks up" means, "improve the way you are behaving" (or it can have a literal meaning); if we change it grammatically to "pull your sock up" or we change its vocabulary to "pull your stockings up", then we must interpret the phrase literally - it has lost its idiomatic meaning.

Since idioms are expressions peculiar to a language, in order to crack fill in the blanks based on idiomatic usage, it is very essential to have a good knowledge of the language.

Following is a list of some verbal idioms:

1. As easy as pie: very easy.

Example: "I thought you said this was a difficult problem. It is not. In fact, it is as easy as pie

2. At the eleventh hour: at the last minute; almost too late.

Example: "Yes, I got the work done in time. I finished it at the eleventh hour, but I wasn't late.

3. Break a leg: Good luck!

Example: "I understand you have a job interview tomorrow. Break a leg!"

4. Burn the midnight oil: study/work all night or until very, very late at night.

Example: "I'm not ready for the test tomorrow. I guess I'll have to burn the midnight oif."

5. Bull-headed: stubborn; inflexible.

Example: "Don't be so bull-headed. Why can't you admit that others' opinions are just as good as yours?"

6. Get on one's nerves: irritate someone; make someone upset.

Example: "I know you like that song, but it's getting on my nerves. Can you play something else?"

7. Go with the flow: take things as they come.

Example: "There's no need to worry. Everything will be OK if you just go with the flow."

8. Let sleeping dogs lie: Do not cause problems by doing something when it is not necessary.

Example: "I know that what Julie said made you angry, but let sleeping dogs lie. If you say or do anything, you'll only make things worse."

9. Make a mountain out of a molehill: make something seem much more important than it really is.

Example: "Calm down. There is really nothing to worry about. You're making a mountain out of a molehill."

10. Rub someone the wrong way: irritate someone; bother or annoy someone.

Example: "All my little brother says is 'Why?' Usually I'm patient with him, but sometimes all his questions rub me the wrong way."

11. Step on it: Hurry up!

Example: "Step on it! The taxi will be here at any time and you're not even dressed!"

THE PRATHAM EDGE

1. The meaning of an idiom usually does not depend upon the words which constitute it. Therefore, refrain from guessing wildly. Some verbs are paired with certain prepositions which impart them a particular meaning

2. Reading regularly is a sure way of increasing knowledge of idioms. Studying idioms with a context makes it easier to recall them than simply memorizing a list of idioms

LIST OF IMPORTANT IDIOMS AND PHRASES

Do note that the list is indicative. Its purpose is to spurt your interest in idioms. You should keep on adding to this List as and when you come across a new idiom.

Given below is a list of some common idioms and phrases with their meanings.

*S.n.*	*Idiom*			*Meaning*
1	A bird in hand is worth two in the bush			One certain gain is worth more than two prospective advantages because chances are you might lose everything
2	A bird's eye view			A general view; Overall view
3	A drop in the bucket			A very small part of something big or whole
4	A feather in one's cap			An achievement to be proud of
5	A penny saved is a penny Earned			By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little)
6	A snake in the grass			Unrecognized danger
7	After my own heart			According to my views and tastes
8	All is grist that comes in his mill			He turns everything to his profit
9	Allow the dust to settle			Wait until the disturbance is well and truly over
10	Another pair of shoes			Different matter
11	Apple of discord			Cause of dispute; Root of a dispute
12	At sixes and sevens			A state of confusion, disorder or disagreement between parties
13	At the eleventh hour			Almost too late; At the last hour
14	Actions speak louder than words			It's better to actually do something than just talk about it.
15	Add fuel to the fire			Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is
16	All greek to me			Meaningless and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read, speak, or understand any of the Greek language
17	At the drop of a hat			Willing to do something immediately
18	Apple of my eye			Someone who is cherished above all others
19	Bag and baggage			completely; all of one's possession
20	Bear the brunt			Endure the greater part of a stress or burden; Consequences
21	Beat about the bush			Evade the issue
22	Bell the cat			Do the most dangerous job; Inviting trouble
23	Between the devil and the deep (blue) sea			Faced with two dangerous alternatives
24	Birthday suit			Naked
25	Blessing in disguise			Something good that isn't recognized at first.
26	Blood is thicker than water			Kinship is stronger than friendship
27	Blow (one's) own trumpet			Sing one's own praise; boastful
28	Bolt from the blue			unexpected calamity; Complete surprise
29	Bone of contention			Reason of dispute, disagreement
30	Born in the purple			Child of royal parents
31	Born with a silver spoon			Born in a wealthy family
32	Break new ground			Venture into an untried field
33	Stir up a hornet's nest			Create a lot of trouble
34		Bring down the house	Receive rapturous applause
35		Burning the candle at both ends	Trying to do two opposite and exhausting things at the same time, to live at a hectic pace
36		By hook or by crook	By one way or the other, fair or foul
37		By the rule of thumb	Basic underlying rule; By experience, practical though rough
38		Back to square one	Having to start all over again
39		Barking up the wrong tree	A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve
40		Beat a dead horse	To force an issue that has already ended
41		Bite off more than you can chew	To take on a task that is way too big
42		Cast pearls before a swine	Offer good things to people incapable of appreciating them
43		Cat and dog life	Life of constant discord
44		Chip off the old block	Exemplifying the parental characteristics, like his ancestors
45		Clear the decks	Prepare for action
46		Cock and bull story	Unbelievable tale
47		Come out of a bandbox*	Be excessively well-dressed
48		Crocodile tear	Fake/hypocritical tears; Insincere sorrow
49		Cut the Gordian knot	Solve a complex problem in a simple way
50		Chip on his shoulder	Angry today about something that occurred in the past
51		Come hell or high water	Any difficult situation or obstacle
52		Crack someone up	To make someone laugh
53		Cry over spilt milk	When you complain about a loss from the past
54		Cry wolf	Intentionally raise a false alarm
55		Curiosity killed the cat	Being Inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation
56		Down in the mouth	Low spirited
57		Draw the long bow	Exaggerate
58		Drive into a corner	Cut off all means of escape
59		Dwell in an ivory tower	Be detached from the every day preoccupations of mankind
60		Dark horse	One who was previously unknown and is now prominent
61		Devil's advocate	Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in that particular side of the argument
62		Don't count your chickens before they hatch	Don't rely on it until your sure of it
63		Don't put all your eggs in one basket	Do not put all your resources in one possibility
64		Drive someone up the wall	To irritate and/or annoy very much
65		Every cloud has a silver lining	Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days
66		Fall to the ground	Argument that is unfounded, Baseless argument
67		For good face on the matter	Permanently
68		From pillar to post	Hither and thither indiscriminately; Leaving no stone unturned
69		Flesh and blood	This idiom can mean living material of which people are made of, or it can refer to someone's family
70		Go to the wall	Give way; be vanquished

*S.n.*		*Idiom*				*Meaning*
71		Goes without saying				Be self-evident; Obvious
72		Gone to the dogs				Done for, ruined
73		Get up on the wrong side of the bed				Someone who is having a horrible day
74		Go for broke				To gamble everything you have
75		Go the extra mile				Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand
76		Good Samaritan				Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation, and no thought of a reward
77		Hit below the belt				Fight unfairly
78		Hit the nail on the head				judge alright; say something exactly right
79		Head over heels				Very excited and/or joyful, especially when in love
80		Hold your horses				Be patient
81		In cold blood				Deliberately; Without fear, Ruthless
82		In good or bad books				In or out of favor, Liked or disliked
83		In the same boat				Similarly situated; In a similar situation
84		In the wrong box				Out of one's proper place
85		Ins and outs				The minute particulars
86		It makes no odds				It makes no difference
87		Icing on the cake				When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have
88		Ififs and ands were pots and pans, there 'd be no work for tinkers' hands				Wishing for over optimistic things is useless; Expecting too much is futile
89		In the heat of the moment				Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment
90		In your face				An aggressive and bold confrontation
91		Jack of all trades				One who turns his hand to anything but excels in nothing
92		Keep body and soul together •				To earn sufficient money to keep oneself alive
93		Know chalk from the cheese				Be able to discriminate
94		Know how many beans make five				To be well informed; To be intelligent
95		Know the ropes				To understand the details
96		Land of milk and honey				Land abounding in good things
97		Lay by the heels				Render harmless
98		Left in the lurch.				Abandoned; at a grave disadvantage, in a difficult situation
99		Led by the nose				Mislead, deceived
100		Long innings				Long spell of success
101		Let bygones be bygones				To forget about a disagreement or argument
102		Let sleeping dogs lie				To avoid restarting a conflict
103		Make a clean breast of				Confess, own up
104		Make a dead set at				Attack with determination
105		Make a hash of (something)				Make a mess of it; do it badly
106		Make both' ends meet				Live within one's budgeted income
107			Make no bones					Make no objections or state no doubts
108			Man of straw					Without substance
109			Nail in (one's) coffin					Anything that tends to shorten life; drink, worry etc
110			Not worth (one's) salt					not worth one's keep
III			Not worth the candle					Not worth the expense involved, Worthless
112			Olive branch					Emblem of peace
113			On the cards					Likely to happen
114			Once in a blue moon					Rarely
115			On the tip of (one's) tongue					Almost remembering but can't be recalled
116			Out of harness					Retired; at leisure
117			Off the record					Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn't want attributed to him/her
118			Over my dead body					When you absolutely will not allow something to happen
119			Over the top					Very excessive
120			Part and parcel					Essential portion
121			Pay through the nose					Pay an excessive or exorbitant price
122			Play fast and loose					Be inconsistent and unreliable in fulfilling obligations
123			Pour oil on troubled waters					Soothe strife, use tact and discretion, to calm a problematic situation
124			Pretty kettle to fish					Bad business; Awkward state of affairs
125			Put a good face on the matter					Make the best of a bad job
126			Put down the shutters					To go out of business
127			Put the cart before the horse					Reverse the natural order
128			Pass the buck					Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else
129			Pull the plug					To stop something; To bring something to an end
130			Rain cats and dogs					Rain heavily
131			Reckon without (one's) host					To look at a matter from one's own point of view
132			Red letter day					Day of special consequence
133			Robbing Peter to pay Paul					Transferring a burden from one to another, benefiting one at the expense of another, To discharge one debt by incurring other
134			Rule.the roost					To be in control
135			Show a clean pair of heels					Escape
136			Show the white feather					Behave like a coward
137			Smell a rat					Detect something suspicious, Detect a deceit
138			Sour grapes					Disparaging what is beyond one's reach
139			Sow dragon's teeth					Make a bad situation worse
140			Square pegs in round holes					People in the wrong jobs
141			Step into another man's shoes					Take over another's position to understand things better
142			Straight from the shoulder					With full force
143			Sweat of one's brow					Hard labor
144	Sweep in the board				Take everything
145	Scapegoat				Someone else who takes the blame
146	Scot-free				To escape and not have to pay
147	Take the bull by the horns				Face danger boldly
148	Take the cake				Carry off the honors
149	Take two bites at a cherry				Make two attempts where one should suffice
150	Take with a grain of salt (or pinch of salt)				With considerable reservation, Accepting something you don't want to
151	The Alpha and Omega				Beginning and end
152	The sword of Damocles				Impending evil
153	Throw cold water				Discourage
154	Throw up the sponge				Admit defeat, Give up
155	To be ill at ease				To be on bad terms with somebody
156	To be in hand-and-glove (or hands-in-glove)				Inseparable; on intimate terms
157	To be in hornet's nest				To be in an unpleasant situation
158	To be on the horns of dilemma				To be in a fix
159	To be out of pocket				To lose money or to pay more than one's share
160	To break the ice				To take the first step in breaking down cold reserve or prepare the way
161	To carry coal to Newcastle				To do something that is unnecessary
162	To come off with flying colors				To achieve distinction
163	To cut no ice				To have no effect
164	To eat humble pie				Show oneself of success
165	To enjoy the lion's share				To enjoy the major part
166	To feather one's nest				To care for self interest
167	To fight tooth and nail				To make all efforts to win
168	To fish in troubled waters				To make most of a bad bargain
169	To get in someone's hair				To upset or annoy someone
170	To give the cold shoulder				To be indifferent towards someone
171	To go against the grain				To work against one's liking; To go against one's basic nature
172	To go with the tide				To do as others do
173	To grease a person's palm				To bribe
174	To have had one's day				To be past one's prime
175	To keep the ball rolling				To continue the work
176	To kill two birds with one stone				Achieve two aims with a single effort
177	To let the cat out of the bag				To reveal a secret
178	To look for a needle in a hay stack				To seek what is impossible to find
179	To make an ass of oneself				To act foolishly
180	To make castles in the air				Daydream
181	To make mountains out of molehills				Make trifling difficulties seem insuperable
*182*				To make neither head nor tail			To be completely baffled
183				To mind one's P's and Q's			To be accurate and precise; Mind one's language
184				To pay through the nose			To pay very dearly
185				To put down in black and white			To write down on paper
186				To put in the comer			To punish; Leave no wayout for a person
187				To put one's shoulder to the wheel			To help oneself
188				To read between lines			To understand the hidden meanings of the writer/speaker
189				To rise from the ranks			To rise to a high position
190				To see eye to eye			To agree
191				To split hair			To make pretty and fine distinctions
192				To take law into one's hand			To have a disregard for law and order
193				To take to one's heels			To run away
194				To turn a hair			To reveal discomfiture
195				To wake up a sleeping dog			To disturb some person or condition capable or causing trouble
196				To wash one's dirty linen in public			To discuss dirty and scandalous matters of personal nature in the presence of an outsiders.
197				Turn over a new leaf			Make a fresh start
198				Turn the tables			Reverse the situation between two persons; Weaker becoming more dominating
199				Two strings to bow			Possessing a second way to attaining one's object
200				The last straw			When one small burden after another creates an unbearable situation, the last straw is the last small burden that one can take
201				Tongue and cheek			Humor, Not to be taken seriously
202				Turn a blind eye			Refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit
203				Valley of the shadow of death			Nearness to death; place of fear for those poor in faith
204				Wash hands off the matter			Have nothing to do with it
205				Wear heart on (one's) sleeve			Make public you private feelings, Openly express
206				Wear the breeches			Domination of the husband by the wife
207				Wheels within wheels			Situation of extreme complexity
208				White elephant			Something useless and expensive
209				Win by a hair			To win by a narrow margin
270				With a high hand			Arrogantly; Imperiously; Authoritatively
271				With heart in (one's) boots			Terrified, apprehensive; alarmed (or mouth)
272				With neither rhyme nor reason			Without any sense; useless
273				Without turning a hair			Without any sign of discomfort
*214*				Wear your heart on your sleeve			To openly and freely express your emotions
215				When pigs fly			Something that will never ever happen
216				You can't judge a book by its cover			Decisions shouldn't be made primarily on appearance
217				Your guess is as good as mine			I have no idea

Idiomatic Expression

Certain phrases/ words are used in a specific way. Some words are followed by specified prepositions which if omitted makes the language incorrect. For eg: dependant on the preposition that follows the word "break", the implied meaning would be different.

Break into	enter forcibly	The robbers broke into the residence of Mr. Chawla in the dead of night
Break off	to stop suddenly	She broke off in the middle of her inaugural speech at the annual day function.
Break with	to cut off relations	Mr. Arjun Singh has broken with Narasimha Rao for political reasons.
Break forth	to burst out	She broke forth into bursts of laughter when she heard the joke.

*S.n.*	idiomatic Expression	*Meaning*	*Example*
1	Bear with	to sustain	She can no longer bear with her husband.
2	Bear upon	to sustain	Your arguments do not bear upon the topic under debate.
3	Bear away	to win	PT Usha bore away the gold medals in all track events.
4	Bear out	to confirm	My shift supervisor can bear out that I worked till late at night.
5	Bear through	to support	Religion can bear us through all miseries of life.
6	Bear up .	to sustain	The love of his friend bore him up in the midst of his domestic problems.
7	Bear down (upon	to attack immediately	He bore down tactfully upon his enemies.
8	Bring round	to induce	She managed to bring him round to her view very soon.
9	Bring to/ bear on	to use force	His stout body brought to/bore on the heavy steel gate gave entrance.
10	Bring home	to convince	The instructor brought home to us the importance of daily physical exercise.
11	Call in	to send for	He called in the cardiologist as my father was sinking
12	Call at	to visit	I will call at your office tomorrow morning
13	Call upon	to order	You are called upon to pay the outstanding amount within a week.
14	Call for	need	I called for an explanation for his rude behaviors.
15	Call forth	to bring into	This assignment will call forth all your action energy.
16	Call off	to stop/withdraw	Ms Medha Palker called off her indefinite fast yesterday.
17	Call into play	to give scope	The recent tragedy called into play all my faculties.
18	Carry off	to win/to kill	The recent outbreak of plague in Maharashtra carried off thousands of lives.
19	Carry through	to support	His sincerity and patience carried him through all odds and problems or life.
20	Cany away	to be influenced	I was carried away by her spontaneous replies during the beauty contest.
21	Carry out	to accomplish	Our government is trying to carry out the economic reforms.

S.No.	Idiomatic Expression	Meaning	Example
22	Come up to	to be equal to	Her achievements have not come up to our expectations.
2 3	Come to terms	to settle down	Israel and Palestine have at last come to terms for maintaining Middle East peace.
24	Come to pass	to happen	What is destined must come to pass.
25	Come off	take place	Our first semester examination comes off by December end.
26	Cut in	to interfere	It is a bad habit to cut in while someone is speaking.
27	To cut off	to die	Suchitra was cut off at the zenith of her film career.
28	To drop off	to disappear	When you are in a bad shape, your friends also drop off.
29	Done up	to be exhausted	I am totally done up; I cannot walk any further.
	Done with	to be through	I am done with the work that was allocated to me yesterday.
30	To fall out	to quarrel	After their father's death, the brothers fell out over a small piece of land
31	To fall to	to start eating	When you are hungry, just fall to your meals.
32	To fall in with	to agree	During the argument, I fell in with your ideas.
33	To get round	to prevail upon	She managed to get him round to her views immediately
34	To get off	to escape	When the burglar saw the policeman, he managed to get off from the attack.
35	To give in	to yield	In spite of my persuasion, he did not give in.
36	To go off	to explode/to pass	The rocket got off immediately. I am sure that the inauguration ceremony will go off smoothly in spite of bitter Opposition
37	To hold out	to offer resistance	The separatist fighters held out for several weeks. She held out a promise she made to me several months ago.
38	To keep back	to conceal	I shall keep back nothing from you in this matter.
39	To lay by	to save for future	One should lay by something against any unforeseeable contingency.
40	Look upon	to regard	I look upon him as my best friend and guide.
41	Look up to	to regard/with regard	You should look up to Almighty for help when you are in distress.
42	To make off	to run away with	The dacoit made off with all the precious jewellery.
43	To do away with	to kill	A servant did away with the master.
44	Make over	to transfer	His father made over all his moveable and non-moveable properties to his eldest son.
45	To make for	to go in the Direction of	After visiting Canada, Sam made for Auckland
46	To make up	to compensate	How should she make up for the wrong which she has done to the organization?
47	To Pull through	to recover	His disease is no doubt very serious but he will pull through
48	To pull together	to work in harmony	It is a matter of concern that the couple does not pull well together
49	Put in	to submit/ work/speak	She has put in six year' of service with ITC. Will you please put in a word for my son to your Chief Executive.She has already put in an application for three day's after retirement.
50	To put by	to save	One should put by some money to enjoy one's life after retirement.
51	Put up with	to tolerate	I cannot put up with this sort of insult in office.
52	To put off	Postpone	I have decided to put off my tour for one week.
53	Put down	to suppress	The Congress (I) government in Punjab is strong enough to put down the Opposition's revolt.
54	Put out	to extinguish	The Municipal Fire Brigade team was able to put out the fire in less than three minutes. She was put out when she learnt of her brother's failure in the Civil Services preliminary examination.
55	Run into	to be involved	If you do not change your lifestyle, you will soon run into some sort of heart ailment.
56	Run out.	to expire	The lease of this shop-cum-flat has run out.
57	Run through	to waste	She ran through her hard-earned money in a year and was reduced to poverty.
58	Take up cause	to support	One must take up the cause of the poor people.
59	Turn out	to prove	Rakesh has turned out to be a false friend of Neetu.
60	Turn up	to appear	He turned up late for giving his evidence in the case.

SOLVED EXAMPLES

FORMAT I

Fill up the following questions with appropriate Idiomatic Expressions:

I One must_________the rules of the country.

(a) abide on (b) abide by (c) abide upon (d) abide in

‘Abide by' is the correct answer. There is no idiomatic expression such as abide on, abide upon or abide in. Hence, the answer is B as it means remain faithful to or adhere to

2. It is remarkable how he has__________the adversities.

(a) pull up (b) pull in (c) pull out (d) pull through

'Pull through' means "to recover". Hence, D is the correct answer. Pull up means to drag or haul someone. Pull out means to withdraw from something. Pull in means to drive into some place.

FORMAT 2

Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms.

3. His uncle who was________disapproved of late nights and the emulation of western culture

(a) On the line (b) a man of straw (c) off the hook (d) of the old school

In the above example. 'of the old school' means according to the former and especially better traditions. A person belonging to the old school is likely to disapprove of late nights and emulation of western culture. Hence, D

4. The Patelshave________for dinner.

(a) ask out (b) bear the brunt (c) answer for (d) break the news

Ask out' is the answer as it means to invite, here it will be modified accordingly and the answer will be 'asked us out. Hence A

FORMAT 3

In the following questions, choose the right meaning for the underlined idioms from among the given choices:

5. He always manages to rub people the wrong way.

(a) offend someone (b) Someone who has failed the family

"Rub people the wrong way" means to "offend someone". Hence the answer is A

6. The police got the wind of the intended theft of the house.

(a) turned down (b) walked out

"Got the wind of," means, "get to know." Hence, the answer is option D

7. She asked after my grandfather's health.