2. All at sea – Puzzled
3. Enough rope – Enough freedom for action
4. By fits and start – Irregularly
5. Fell foul of – Got into trouble with
6. Token strike – Short strike held as warning
7. Face the music – Get reprimanded
8. Look down upon – Hate intensely
9. Flogging a dead horse – Wasting time in
useless effort
10. Under a cloud –
Under suspicion
11. Green thumb –
To have a natural interest
12. Played havoc –
Caused destruction
13. No love lost
between – Not on good terms
14. Fair and square
– Honest
15. A white
elephant – Costly or troublesome possession
16. Out and out –
Totally
17. On the cuff –
On credit
18. Does not hold
water – Cannot be believed
19. A wild goose chase
– Futile search
20. In a tight
corner – In a difficult situation
21. Going places –
Talented and successful
22. In cold blood –
A murder done without intention
23. Off and on –
Occasionally
24. Hard and fast –
Strict
25. Took to heels –
Run away in fear
26. To keep up – To
keep in touch
27. Make a clean
breast – Confess without reserve
28. Heads will roll
– Transfers will take place
29. Make no bones
about – Do not have any hesitation in anything
30. Take after –
Resembles
31. To starve off –
Postpone
32. To give a piece
of mind – To reprimand
33. Rest on laurels
– To be complacent
34. Pay through
nose – Pay an extremely high price
35. Draw on fancy –
Use imagination
36. Turn an honest
living – Make an legitimate living
37. Give the game
away – Give out the secret
38. Cheek by jowl –
Very near
39. Give in – Yield
40. Run riot – Act
without restraint
41. Go through fire
and water – Undergo any risk
42. Talking through
hat – Talking nonsense
43. Put up with –
Tolerate
44. By fits and
starts – Irregularly
45. Reading between
the lines – Understanding the hidden meaning
46. Get the sack –
dismissed from
47. Pros and cons –
Considering all the facts
48. By leaps and
bounds – Very Quickly
49. In the good
books –In favour with boss
50. In the long run
– Ultimately
51. To be always
one’s beck and call – At one’s disposal (ready to serve one’s master)
52. Turn a deaf
year – Disregard/ignore/refuse
53. At one’s wit’s
end – Puzzled/confused/perplexed
54. To fight tooth
and nail – To fight in a determined way for what you want
55. The green-eyed
monster – Used as a way of talking about jealousy
56. Set the record
straight – Give a correct account
57. Good Samaritan
– Helpful person
58. Bad blood –
Angry feeling
59. To go to the
whole hog – To do it completely
60. Lay out – Spend
61. Laying off –
Dismissal from jobs
62. Leaps and
bounds – At rapid pace
63. Spilling the
beans – Revealing the information indiscreetly
64. Carry out –
Execute
65. Went to the
winds – Dissipated/ To be utterly lost
66. Ins and outs –
Full details
67. A white
elephant – A costly but useless possession
68. Fed up –
Annoyed
69. In the good
books – In favour with
70. Sharp practices
– Dishonest means
71. In high spirits
– Full of hope and enthusiasm
72. Shake in shoes
– Tremble with fear
73. Fits and starts
– Not regularly
74. Close shave –
Narrow shave
75. Take with a
grain of salt – To listen to something with considerable doubt
76. Hobson’s choice
– No real choice at all
77. To eat a humble
pie – To apologize
78. To give the
devil his due – to give encouragement even to the enemy
79. Reading between
the lines – looking for meanings that are not actually expressed
80. An open book –
One that hold no secrets
81. An axe to grind
– A private interest to serve
82. To blow one’s
own trumpet – Praise one’s own abilities and achievements
83. Stand-offish –
Indifferent
84. Sowing wild
oats – Irresponsible pleasure seeking in young age
85. A bolt from the
blue – Something unexpected and unpleasant
86. By leaps and
bounds – Rapidly
87. Of no avail –
Useless
88. On the verge of
– On the brink of
89. A sore point –
Something which hurts
90. Like a phoenix
– With a new life/rebirth/reincarnation
91. To keep under
wraps – Secret
92. Die in harness
– To die at one’s work
93. Fair- weather
friend – A friend that deserts in difficulties
94. Emerge out of
thin air – Appear Suddenly
95. Cut no ice –
Had no influence
96. Brought up –
Introduce for discussion
97. Cannot hold a
candle to – Cannot be compared to
98. Burn one’s boat
– Leave no means of return
99. Make one’s
flesh creep – Horrify
100. Pros and cons – For and against/
analysis of all the given facts
101. To take into account – To consider
102. Blow over – Pass off
103. Run into – Incurred/to experience
difficulties
104. Blue-eyed boys – Favourites
105. Dropping names – Hinting at high
connections/To mention famous people you know or have met in order to impress
others.
106. A Red letter day – An important
day
107. Bone to pick – Cause of quarrel/
Bone of contention
108. At stone’s throw – Very near
109. Struck a chill to the heart –
Arouse fear/to make somebody afraid
110. End in a fiasco –A Total/Utter
failure
111. Fall back – To turn or move back
112. Turn up one’s nose at – To
reject/despises
113. Turn one’s head – To feel proud in
a way that other people find it annoying
114. High and dry – Neglected/ To leave
someone helpless
115. Take for granted – To accept
readily/ To pre-suppose as certainly true
116. Mince matters – To confuse issues/
to mix facts
117. Currying favour with –
Ingratiating / trying too hard to get please somebody
118. Set one’s face against – Oppose
strongly
119. Strom in a tea cup – Commotion
(angry/worry) over a trivial matter
120. Putting one’s foot down –
Asserting one’s authority/ take a firm stand
121. The man in the street – An
ordinary man (common man)
122. To catch up with – To compete with
123. Fight to the bitter end – To fight
a losing battle
124. Throw down a glove – To accept
defeat
125. Read between the lines –
Understanding the hidden meaning
126. Let the cat out of the bag – To utter a
secret carelessly or by mistake
127. To have Too many iron in the fire – To
get engage in too many enterprises at the same time
128. Fall through – To fail
129. Cut one off, without a shilling – Disinheriting
/ To expel from fraternal property
130. To smell a rat – To suspect a
trick
131. Turn a deaf ear – Disobey
132. Have the last laugh – To be
victorious at the end of an argument
133. Red letter day – Happy and
significant day (Gala day)
134. To blaze a trail – To lead the way
as a pioneer
135. To beat a retreat – To run away in
fear
136. To steer clear of – Avoid
137. To get one’s own back –To get
one’s revenge
138. To run across – To meet by chance
139. A dark horse – An unforeseen
competitor
140. Put up with – Endure
141. Got the sack – Dismissed from
142. Herculean task –A work requiring
very great effort
143. By leaps and bounds – Rapidly
144. Helter-Skelter – In disorderly
haste
145. Go to the winds - Disappear
146. Make ducks and drakes of –
Squander
147. On the level – Honest and sincere
148. Done for – Ruined
149. Make a clean breast – Confess
150. To end in smoke – To come to
nothing; no outcome
151. To have something up one’s sleeve
– Having a secret plan
152. To take to one’s heel – To run
away
153. To turn a deaf ear – To be
indifferent
154. At snail’s pace – To do things
very slowly
155. To run one down – To disparage
someone
156. To blow one’s own trumpet – To
praise oneself
157. To face the music – To bear the
consequences
158. To take someone to task – To scold
someone
159. At one’s wit –
Puzzled/Confused/Perplexed
160. At stake – In danger/ that can be lost
or won depending on the success of a particular action
161. To play to the gallery – To behave
in an exaggerated way to attract people’s attention
162. Read between the lines –
Understand the hidden meaning
163. Sitting on the fence – Hesitating
which side to take
164. No love lost between – Not on good
terms
165. To have not a leg to stand on – Unable
to prove or explain why something is reasonable
166. A man in the street – An ordinary
person / common man
167. Blood running cold – Become very
frightened
168. Playing to the gallery – Befooling
the common man
169. Come out of one’s shell – To
appear suddenly
170. Lay down arms – To surrender
171. Making hay while the sun shines –
Taking advantage of a favorable opportunity
172. Blow one’s own trumpet – To praise
oneself
173. Bear with – Support / To be
patient with some body or something
174. Give vent to – To emphasize
175. Turn a deaf ear – Pay no attention
176. Bone of contention – Matter of
dispute
177. Stand on own feet – To be
independent
178. By fits and starts – Irregularly
179. Over head and ears – Completely
180. To call it a day – To conclude
proceedings
181. To put up with – To tolerate
182. To face the music – To bear the
consequences
183. Yeoman’s service – Social work
184. To take to hearts – To grieve over
185. To smell a rat – To be suspicious
186. To move heaven and earth – to try
everything possible
187. To take someone for a ride – to deceive
(cheat) someone
188. In cold blood – Not intentional /
Excitedly
189. A damp squib – A disappointing
result
190. To bite the dust – To be defeated
191. To take to one’s heel – To run
away
192. To be all at sea – Lost and
confused
193. Cold Comfort – Slight satisfaction
194. A bolt from the blue – An
unexpected and unpleasant event
195. To feather one’s nest – To make
oneself rich (in position or in monetary terms)
196. To die in harness – To die while
in service
197. To show a clean pair of heels – to
escape/run away
198. To flog a dead horse –to waste
one’s efforts
199. To strain every nerve – To make utmost
efforts
200. A bolt form the blue – Unexpected
problem
201. Sailing in the same boat – Being
in the same difficult situation
202. Gift of the gab – Ability to speak
well
203. To keep the wolf from the door –
Escape starvation
204. Soft option – Easy and agreeable
option
205. A little gush of gratitude –
Excessive enthusiasm
206. To lose ground – To become less
popular
207. To fall back on – to fail to do
something important in time
208. To make one’s blood boil – To make
somebody furious
209. Wear and tear - Damage
210. To add fuel to the fire – To cause
additional anger
211. Hand in glove – In close
relationship
212. To make a mountain of a molehill –
To give great importance to little things
213. To speak one’s mind – To be frank
and honest
214. Maiden speech – First speech
215. At the eleventh hour – At the very
last moment
216. Cope with - compromise
217. Go a long way – help considerably
218. Gift of the gab – talent of
speaking
219. Standstill – Complete halt
220. Cross swords - Disagree
221. Pore over – Go through
222. Make both ends meet – To live a
lavish life
223. Run down - Criticise
224. Grease anybody’s palm – To give
bribe
225. Leave in the lurch – Abandon in
the midway/difficult situation
226. Caught red handed – At the time of
committing crime
227. On the brink of – On the point of
228. Face the music – Face the
unpleasant consequences
229. Gift of the gab – Ability to speak
impressively
230. Go down the drain – Lose forever
231. A close shave – Narrow escape from
danger
232. Cool as cucumber – Not nervous or
emotional
233. In high spirits - Cheerful
234. Scapegoats - A person who is
blamed for the wrongdoings with arrogant reactions
235. A red letter day – A day memorable
for joyful event
236. Wears heart on sleeves – Express
feelings openly
237. To pay off old scores – To refund
old dues
238. Man of letters – Proficient in
literary arts
239. Turn down - Refuse
240. On good terms – Agree with someone
241. Stole the show – Win everyone’s
praise
242. Measure up – Reach the level
243. Doctor the accounts – To
manipulate the accounts
244. Dark horse – An unexpected winner
245. Face the music – To bear the
criticism
246. In the red – Losing money/to owe
money
247. In lieu of – Despite of
248. Beat about the bush – Speak in a
round about manner
249. Bring about - Cause
250. Pull up - Reprimand
251. At sixes and seven – In disorder
or confusion
252. Lose head – Panic
253. Take to task – To criticize severely/
to punish
254. Sit in judgement – To pass judgement(or
comment on someone ) especially when you have no authority
255. Leave in the lurch – To desert
someone
256. Cry over spilt milk – Cry over
irreparable loss
257. Bad blood – Active enmity
258. Close shave – A narrow escape
259. Grease palms – To bribe someone
260. Carrot and stick – Reward and
punishment policy
261. To cut teeth – To gain experience
of something for the first time
262. Cut no ice – Had no influence
263. Close the book - Stop working on
something
264. In fits and starts - Irregularly
265. Bird’s eye view – An overview
266. Run in the same groove – Clash
with each other
267. Keep your head – Remain calm
268. Pull strings – Use personal
influence
269. Pot luck dinner – Dinner where
somebody brings something to eat
270. To hit below the belt – To attack
unfairly
271. All at sea - Puzzled
272. Sought after – Wanted by many
people because it’s of good quality or difficult to find/Pursued by
273. Build castle in the air - Daydreaming
274. On the spur of the moment – To act
suddenly, without planning
275. To have something up one’s sleeve
– To have a secret plan
276. A red letter day – An important or
joyful occasion in one’s life
277. To explore every avenue – To try
every opportunity
278. At one’s beck and call – Ready to
follow orders/ To be dominated by someone
279. By fair or foul means – In honest
or dishonest way
280. Status quo – As it is/ unchanged
position
281. To burn candle at both ends – To
be extravagant/ Spend without any worry
282. To hit the jackpot – To make money
quickly
283. To bring to light – to reveal
284. At the eleventh hour – At the last
possible moment
285. Go scot-free – To escape without
punishment
286. To shed crocodile tears – To
pretend grief
287. To look down one’s nose – To
regard with contempt
288. To miss the bus – To miss an
opportunity
289. A white elephant – Costly and
troublesome possession, with much use to its owner
290. To call spade a spade – To be
frank
291. To fight tooth and nail – To fight
heroically, in very determined way
292. Birds of same feather – Persons of
same character
293. Take exception – To object over
something
294. High handed – Using authority in
an unreasonable way, overbearing
295. Too fond of one’s own voice – To like talking without
wanting to listen to other people/Very selfish
296. By leaps and bounds – Rapidly
297. An open book – Straight forward
and honest dealings
298. Fall short – Fail to meet
expectation/ have no effect
299. Heart to heart talk – Frank talk
300. Give the game away – Give out the
secret(unintentionally)
301. Take cue from – To copy what
someone already did in past in order to be successful
302. Call for – To ask
303. Out of the question – Undesirable/
Not worth discussing
304. Run into – To meet someone
accidently
305. End up in something – Come to
nothing/ Useless
306. Spread like fire – Spread rapidly
307. Ins and outs – Full details
308. Dropping like flies – Collapsing
in large numbers
309. Rat race – Fierce competition for
power
310. Hard nut to crack – Difficult task
311. See eye to eye – To think in same
way
312. Put across – To communicate your
ideas, feelings, etc. successfully.
313. To have second thoughts – To
reconsider
314. Not my cup of tea – Not what
somebody likes or interested in
315. To break the ice – To start a
conversation
316. To eat a humble pie – To say or
show sorry for a mistake that one made
317. To add fuel to fire – To worsen
the matter / To incite
318. To burn one’s fingers – To get
physically hurt
319. At the eleventh hour – At the last
moment
320. To feel like a fish out of water –
Uncomfortable situation
321. To foam at one’s mouth – To be
very angry
322. Send packing – To tell somebody
firmly or rudely to go away / Terminate service
323. Kick up a row - Make a great fuss / To complain loudly about
something
324. Wet behind the ears – Young and
without experience / Naïve
325. To talk someone over – To convince
over
326. Wear heart on sleeves – Express
emotions
327. Bury the hatchet – To make peace / To
stop being unfriendly and become friends again
328. Once in a blue moon - Rarely
329. Through thick and thin – Under all
circumstances
330. Come to grief – To suffer
331. Eat anyone’s salt – To be anyone’s
guest
332. Give a hand with – To help with
333. Take to heart – To be very upset
by something that somebody says or does / Serious
334. Had better – used for telling
somebody what you think he ‘should’ do
335. Strike a bargain – To negotiate a
deal
336. Point blank – Very definite and
direct
337. Scapegoat - A person who is blamed for
the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of
expediency / Fall guy
338. Kicking heels – To be relaxed and
enjoy / Waste time
339. End in smoke – Come to nothing
340. Die in harness – Die in service/
Die while working
341. On the horns of dilemma – In a situation
where you have to make choice between things that are equally unpleasant
342. Hold your tongue – To be silent
343. No hard and fast rules – Easy
regulation
344. Live from hand to mouth -
Miserably
345. Turn a deaf ear – Refuse to obey
346. Take exception – To object
347. To hail from – To come from
348. To put an end to - Stop
349. By fits and starts - Irregularly
350. Bad blood – Feeling of hatred
351. Turn up – To appear
352. Die hard – unwilling to change
353. Turn down - Reject
354. To pass away - Die
355. Carry weight – Be important /
Important influence
356. Fall flat – Fail to amuse people /
Fail to produce intended effect
357. Under the thumb of – Under the
control of
358. To get wind – Come to know about
something secret or private
359. Part and parcel – An essential
part of something
360. To give vent to – To express a
feeling, especially anger, strongly
361. Stand by – To help/support
somebody or be friend, even in difficult times
362. In black and white – In writing
363. At a loss – Unable / Not knowing
about what to do or say
364. Lame excuse – Unsatisfactory
explanation
365. Hand in glove – Working closely
with someone / Very intimate
366. A hard nut to crack – A difficult
problem or situation to solve or deal with
367. For better or worse - Always
368. From the bottom of one’s heart –
To speak frankly
369. In a nutshell - Brief
370. A shot in the dark – An attempt to
guess something
371. At the eleventh hour – At a last
moment
372. Water under the bridge – Something that
happened in the past and is now forgotten or no longer important
373. Stick to guns – Hold on to
original decisions
374. Out of hand – Out of control, at
once, immediately
375. The salt of the earth – Very good
and honest/ Kind
376. Talking through hat – Talking
nonsense
377. Looking forward to – To expect
something or someone
378. Slip off – Leave quietly
379. Get on well – Have a friendly
relationship
380. In a pickle – In an embarrassing
or awkward situation
381. Under a cloud – Being subject to
suspicion
382. As hard as nail – Emotionless / To
show no sympathy, kindness or fear
383. Allow a free hand – Complete
liberty
384. Lays out – To spend money
385. Break down – To lose control of
your feelings and start crying / Could not proceed
386. Cut coat according to one’s cloth
– Live within your means
387. Weal and woe – Ups and downs
388. Iron will – Strong determination
389. To take to task - Punish
390. Rack and ruin - Ransacked
391. Rides the high horse – Feel
superior
392. By fits and starts – Irregularly
393. Has a bee in one’s bonnet – To be
preoccupied or obsessed with something
394. See through – Detect / To realize
the truth about someone or somebody
395. Take after – To follow / To take
care of older members of family
396. Break up – Disband itself / The breaking
up of relationship or association / The division of larger group in smaller
fragments
397. Stand by - Support
398. Bull in a China shop – A clumsy
person
399. Change colours – To turn pale
400. Spick and span – Neat and clean /
Tidy
401. Give in – To agree to do something
that you don’t want to do
402. Leaps and bounds - Irregularly
403. Wide off the mark - Irrelevant /
Not accurate / Inadequate
404. Out of the world – Extraordinary
405. Sweep under the carpet – Keep
hidden
406. By leaps and bound – Very rapidly
407. To toe the line – To follow the
lead / To follow boss’s orders
408. Stick to guns – Maintain opinion
409. Take hat off – Encourage / To
admire somebody very much for something he has done
410. Null and void – Empty
411. Break the ice – Initiate a talk
412. Keep the wolf from the door –
Avoid starvation
413. Fish in troubled water – To make a
profit out of troubled situation
414. Look into – To investigate
415. Smell the rat – Suspect that
something is fishy
416. Let the grass grow under the feet
– Delay in getting things done
417. Apple of discord – Cause of animosity
418. A fish out of water – In
uncomfortable situation
419. In the long run – Over a period of
time
420. Jumping down one’s throat – To
react very angrily to somebody
421. Out of wits – Greatly confused
422. Call spade a spade – To speak in a
straightforward manner (frankly)
423. Face the music – Accept the
punishment
424. To play second fiddle – Take a
subordinate role
425. Casting pearl before swine –
Offering good things to undeserving people
426. Putting the cart before the horse
– Doing things in the wrong way
427. Not fit to hold candle – Not so
good as somebody or something else
428. Egg someone on – TO encourage
somebody to do something
429. For good - Permanently
430. Achilles’s heel – Weak spot
431. Take a leap in the dark – To take
risk
432. Cut the guardian knot – Remove
difficulty / To solve problem
433. Blow one’s own trumpet – Self
boasting
434. A cakewalk – An easy achievement
435. Not to look a gift horse in the
mouth – Not to find fault with the gift received
436. Man of straw – A man of no
substance
437. Born with a silver spoon – Born in
a rich family
438. Let sleeping dogs lie – Not to
bring up an old controversial issue
439. A month of Sundays – A long time
440. A closed book – A mystery
441. In apple pie order – In perfect
order
442. Thick and thin – In spite of all
difficulties
443. Wet one’s whistle – To have a
drink / Moistens one’s throat
444. Bury the hatchet – Make peace
445. Cool one’s heel – To keep waiting
446. Live-wire – A person who is lively
or energetic
447. Feel blue – In trouble / depressed
448. Above board – Legal and honest
449. Pour cats and dogs – Rain heavily
450. For good - Permanently
451. Iron fist – To treat people in
severe manner / strictly
452. Time and again - Always
453. Eat humble pie – To say or show
that you are sorry for the mistakes committed by you
454. Rule the roost – Exercise
authority / To be the most powerful member in the group
455. Have something up your sleeve –
Have an alternate plan
456. Take to task – Punished /
Reprimanded
457. Feel one’s pulse – To find what
one is thinking on some point
458. Donkey’s year – A long time
459. To make things done – To manage
460. Chicken out – Withdraw / To decide
not to do something because you are
461. Ice braking – Starting a
conversation
462. Bad hats – People of bad character
463. Give and take – Adjustment / Willingness
in relationship to accept what somebody else wants and gives up some of what
you want
464. Off and on – Irregularly
465. Man of straw – A man of no
substance
466. Break down – Weep bitterly
467. Get down to business – To begin
work seriously
468. Giving a piece of one’s mind –
Speak sharply / To disapprove
469. Go about – Go around / TO continue
to do something
470. Take exception - To object at something
471. Picking up holes in – Finding out
faults with something
472. To cast a die – To take a decision
473. Put up with – Bear patiently / To
bear or endure
474. The gift of the gab – Ability to
speak well
475. See through – Detect / To realize
the truth
476. Cordon off – Isolate / To stop people from getting into an area by
surrounding it with police
477. Keep an open house – Welcome all
members
478. Wet behind ears – Young and
inexperienced / Naive
479. Pick on - Warn severely
480. Fight tooth and nail – Fight with
strength and fury
481. Teething problems – Difficulties
at the start
482. A wild goose chase – Fruitless
pursuit
483. To get into hot water – To get
into trouble
484. A bolt from the blue – A complete
surprise
485. Plain sailing – Very easy
486. Take to one’s heel – Run off
487. To cut one short – To criticize
one
488. Show the white flag – T o
surrender
489. A cut above – Rather superior to
490. To throw dust in one’s eye – To
deceive
491. Read between the lines – Know what the
writer thinks / Know hidden meaning
492. Give vent to - Express
493. Bring about – Cause to happen
494. Husband one’s resource – Save /
Economical
495. Foam at the mouth - Angry
496. Keep wolf away from the door –
Keep away extreme poverty
497. Pin money – Additional money
498. The Alpha and Omega – Beginning
and end
499. Salt of the earth – Good, honest
and ideal
500. Bring the house down – Make the
audience applaud enthusiastically
501. Gerrymandering way – In a
manipulative and unfair way
502. Strain every nerve – Make all
efforts / Try all tricks
503. Hard and fast – That cannot be
altered / fixed
504. Turn up one’s nose at - To not accept
something because you do not think it is good enough for you / To treat with
contempt
505. Down in the dumps – Sad and
depressed
506. Dot one’s I’s and cross one T’s –
Be detailed and exact
507. All moonshine – Superficial
508. Wild goose chase – A foolish and
useless enterprise
509. Swan song – Last prayer (at
funeral or farewell)
510. By the skin of teeth – By the
narrowest margin
511. Bury the hatchet – Make peace /
Forget the quarrels
512. Keep up with – Go at equal
pace
513. Flies off at a tangent – Start discussing
something irrelevant
514. Batten down the hatches – Prepare
for a difficult situation
515. Nail one’s colours to the mast – Refuse to climb down
516. All might and main – With full
force
517. Red herrings – Clues intended to
distract or mislead / An unimportant fact, idea, event, etc. that takes people
attention from the important ones
518. To cut one’s coat according to
one’s cloth – To live within one’s means
519. White elephant – A costly but
useless possession
520. Look sharp – Pay attention
521. Big draw – Huge attraction
522. Bear
down – To
move quickly towards
something/someone in a
determined or threatening way
523. To put a spoke in someone’s wheel
– Destroy the plan / Cause hindrance / To
prevent somebody
from putting their plan into action
524. At a stretch - Continuously
525. Know beans about something – Well
informed and intelligent
526. To get into hot water – To get
into troubles
527. Know the ropes – Learn the
procedures
528. Barking up the wrong tree – Trying
to find someone ay wrong place
529. In the swim – Well informed and
up-to-date
530. Rub up the wrong way – To irk or
irritate someone
531. Add fuel to the fire – Worsen the
situation
532. In the loop – Informed regularly
533. Hold one’s horses – To keep
waiting
534. Black out – Lost consciousness
535. Cut and dry method - Honest
536. Back to the drawing board – Plan
it all over again
537. In the air – Certain / Able to be firmly
relied on to happen or be the case / Specific but not explicitly named or
stated
538. On the same page – Thinks in a
similar way
539. Pull no punch – Speaks frankly
540. Going places – Talented and
successful
541. Stand/Hold your
ground – Refuse
to yield /
To continue with
your opinions or intentions when someone is opposing you
542. Put your feet down – Take a firm stand /
To be very strict in opposing what somebody wishes to do
543. Read between the line – To
understand the inner meaning
544. To the letter – Paying attention to
every detail / Doing or following exactly what somebody something says
545. To carve out a niche – To work
harder in order to have successful career / Develop a special position for
oneself
546. Wild goose chase – Useless search
/ Unprofitable adventure
547. In Dutch – In trouble
548. See eye to eye – To have the same
opinion
549. Come to light – Been revealed / To
become known to people
550. Around the clock – Day and night
551. Balloon goes up – The situation
turns unpleasant or serious
552. Watching grass grow – Very boring
553. Nine day’s wonder – A dazzling
short-lived spectacle of no real value
554. Beyond the pale – Outside commonly
accepted standards
555. Took after – Similar to / to look
or behave like an older member of your family
556. Throw dust into one’s eye – To
deceive
557. Cool about working – Not tense
about working / Reading to work
558. Salad days - Adolescence
559. All ears - Attentive
560. Maiden speech – First speech
561. Hold water – With logical backing
/ To stand up to critical examination
562. Other fish to fry – Some important
work to attend to
563. A close shave – A narrow escape
from danger
564. To tell in a nut shell – In a
brief manner / Summarize
565. Within a stone’s throw – At a
short distance
566. To feather one’s nest – To enrich
oneself when opportunity occurs
567. A close-fisted person – A miser
568. To gather roses only – To seek all
enjoyments of life
569. A black sheep – A person with bad
reputation
570. To grease the palm – To bribe
571. For good – Permanently
572. An about turn – Complete change of
opinion or
573. Make
a mockery –
to make something
seem ridiculous or
useless / No
serious outcome
574. Eat like a horse – Eat a lot
575. Go to the dogs – To be ruined
576. Pay on the nail – Pay promptly /
Payment without delay
577. Penelope’s web – An endless job
578. At draggers drawn - Enmity
579. Bury the hatchet – Make peace
580. Null and void – Not binding /
Having no legal force / Not binding
581. Break in - To train somebody or
something in something
582. Stir up a Hornet’s nest - To create a lot of trouble
583. Second thoughts – Reconsidering
the original idea
584. Average out - Balance
585. Go to the dogs – Ruin / to go to
in very bad situation
586. Floored – To surprise or confuse
587. Give way - Collapse
588. Tall tales - Boasting
589. Backseat driver – A person who
gives unwanted advice
590. At random - Without any aim or
target
591. Break off – Suddenly stop
592. Go haywire – Become out of control
593. Above board – Honest / Without any
secret
594. Feather in one’s cap – An achievement
595. Follow one’s nose – To go straight
ahead
596. To latch onto – To promote
597. Fight shy of – To avoid someone/ something
598. Add fuel to the fire – Worsen the
matter
599. Cock and bull story – Absurd an
unbelievable story
600. Hold water – Seem logical
601. To be down to earth – To be
realistic
602. In the nick of time – Just in time
603. To shun evil company – To avoid or
give up bad company
604. Seamy side – Unpleasant and
immoral
605. A sacred cow – A person never to
be criticised
606. A dog’s breakfast – A total mess /
A thing that has been done badly
607. Sail in the same boat – To be in
same situation
608. Take the bull by the horns – to
face a difficulty courageously
609. Shed crocodile tears – To pretend
to be sympathetic
610. To be in a quandary – In a
confusing situation
611. Take French leave – Absenting
oneself without permission
612. To put in a nutshell – To state
something very concisely
613. The genomes of Zurich – A slang
term for Swiss bankers
614. To make up one’s mind – To decide
what to do
615. To call it a day – Decide to
finish working of the day
616. In two minds – To be undecided
617. Put something by – To save money
for a particular purpose
618. On cloud nine – Extremely happy
619. The jury is out - No decision has
been reached
620. Have a finger in every pie – To be
meddlesome / To involved in a lot of different activities and having influence
over them
621. To take after – To resemble an
older member of family
622. Flying visit – Very short visit
623. Telling upon – Showing effectively
/ Having strong effect
624. Kith and kin - Relatives
625. Part and parcel – Important part
626. Beat about the bush –
Circumlocution / Does not talk specifically
627. Carry out – Complete something
628. Take fancy – To attract or please
somebody
629. Snake in the grass – A hidden
enemy
630. Make a mountain of a mole hill –
Exaggerate a minor problem
631. Spill the beans – Reveal the
secret information
632. Make amends for – Compensate the
loss
633. Leave high and dry – In a difficult
situation without help or money / Leave alone to work / A boat in a position
out of water
634. Make believe – To pretend that something is
true
635. Go for the jugular – Attack all
out / To attack somebody’s weaker point during a discussion
636. Keep a level head – To remain calm
and sensible in a difficult situation
637. Under the weather - Sick
638. At loggerheads – In strong
disagreement
639. Go Dutch – Divide the cost
640. Alma mater – Institution where one
got education
641. A closefisted man – A miser
642. As draft as a brush – Very silly
643. Rise
with the lark – Get up early / To get out of bed very early in the morning
644. At one’s wit’s end – To be so
worried by a problem that you don’t know what to do next
645. Make a beeline – Rush / To go straight
towards something as quick as you can
646. Wild goose chase – Useless search
647. A man of letters – A literary
person
648. Horse sense – Basic common sense
649. Shot in the arm – Something that
gives encouragement
650. Catch time by the forelock – Seize
opportunity
651. Get on nerves - Annoying
652. Clean hands – innocent
653. A golden mean – Middle course
between two extremes
654. Vexed question – Controversial
issue
655. Keep the wolf away from the door –
To keep off starvation
656. Out of sorts – Ill or sick / Upset
657. Gut feeling – Strong instinct (based on
feelings and emotions rather than thought and reason)
658. Finish with something – Be through
/ To have something at the end / To stop doing something
659. Red-letter day – An important day
660. A close fisted man - Miser
661. To set the Thames on fire – Do a heroic
deed / To do such a work that needs a strenuous effort
662. Eat humble pie – To say sorry for
mistakes / Suffer humiliation
663. Play ducks and drakes – Spend
lavishly / To waste or squander
664. Be taken aback – Shocked or
surprised
665. Lay it on thick – An exaggeration / To talk
about somebody or something in a way than they really are
666. Bird’s eye view – A overview / A
general view from above
667. To win laurels – to earn great prestige
668. In the soup – To be in trouble
669. Draw the line – To set a limit
670. A bee hive – A busy place
671. To cut the Gordian knot – To
perform a difficult task
672. Take a French leave – Being absent
without permission
673. Arm-chair critic – A person who
give advice based on theory not on practice
674. A chip of the old block – An
experienced old man
675. Feather your
nest – To make yourself richer, especially by spending money on yourself that
should be spent on something else
676. Throw up cards – To give in / To
blow away the plan
677. Vote with your feet – Showing your
disapproval
678. Dog in a manger – A selfish person
679. Chapter and verse – Providing
minutes details
680. Bring down the house – Amuse the
audience greatly / To make everyone cheer
681. Give a wide berth to – To stay
away from or avoid someone
682. A hard nut to crack – A difficult
problem to solve
683. In black and white – In writing
684. Beside the mark – Irrelevant / Not
to be accurate
685. To give a piece of mind – Scolding / To
tell someone that you are angry with them or you disapprove of their behaviour
686. Give away - To distribute
something
687. Fight tooth and nail – Fight with
all strengths
688. Show a clean a pair of heels – To
run away fast / To flee swiftly
689. All moonshine – Concocted /
Superficial
690. Up to the mark – According to the
required standard
691. A red letter day – An important
day
692. Sit on the fence – To avoid
becoming involved in deciding or influencing something
693. Shake off – Forget / To get away
from somebody who is chasing or following you
694. Cock and bull story – A concocted
or absurd story
695. Pull a long face – Look dejected /
An unhappy or disappointed expression
696. Under a cloud –Under suspicion
697. Cat-nap – Short sleep
698. To pull a long face – Look sad
699. Fit like a glove - Perfectly
700. Caught red-handed – Discovered in
the act of doing
701. Gate crasher – Uninvited guest
702. To angle – To fish
703. For all intents and purposes -
Practically
704. Go out of one’s way – Do everything
possible
705. In the running – Has good
prospects in competition
706. Beat about the bush – To say
everything except the main topic
707. Make room – Make space
708. Mend your way’s – Improve one’s behaviour
709. Beggar description – Cannot be
described
710. Drag one’s feet – Be reluctant to
act
711. Hope against hope – Nurture an
impossible hope
712. For keeps - Forever
713. Paled into insignificance – Seemed
less important
714. With one voice - Unanimously
715. Make it light – Treat lightly
716. Every inch a gentleman - Entirely
717. A rough, violent, troublesome
person - Tartar
718. To add fuel to the fire – Make
thing worse
719. To take to heart – TO be greatly
affected
720. To bring to light – TO reveal
721. All moon shine – Far from reality
722. At a snail’s pace - Slowly
723. Call on – Pay a visit
724. Pros and cons – Advantages and
disadvantage
725. Once in a blue moon – Very rarely
726. Fish out of water – An
uncomfortable position
727. Be down with – Suffering from
728. Fair-weather friend – Supports
only when easy and convenient
729. Pull together – Work harmoniously
730. To bury the hatchet – to make
peace
731. Selling like hot cakes – To have a very good
sale
732. Scot free - Unpunished
733. To give oneself airs – Behave
arrogantly
734. At a stone’s throw – At short
distance
735. Bone of contention – Matter of
dispute
736. To eat humble pie – To yield under
humiliating circumstances
737. To end in smoke – To fail/ To end
without any practical results
738. To spill the beans – To reveal a
secret
739. Drive home - Emphasise
740. A left hand compliment – An
ambiguous compliment
741. Cut a sorry figure – Make a poor
impression
742. To take to task - Reprimand
743. Bad blood - Enmity
744. Maiden speech – First speech
745. To get cold feet - Fear
746. Beside the mark – Not to the point
747. On tenterhooks – In suspense and
anxiety
748. A cuckoo in the nest – An
unwelcomed intruder
749. A house of cards – An insecure
scheme
750. To smell a rat – To suspect foul
dealings
751. Old head on young shoulder – To be
wise beyond one’s age
752. A wild-goose chase – Pointless
search
753. Hard of hearing – To be deaf
754. Burn your boats – Do something that
makes it impossible to return ro the previous situation
755. Dressing-down – To give scolding
756. Null and void - Invalid
757. A dark horse – Unexpected winner
758. Throw cold water - Discourage
759. Butt in – Interrupt
760. Couch potato – A person who
prefers to watch television
761. Carry the ball – Be in charge
762. Turn down - Reject
763. Catch a tartar – to deal with a
person who is more than one’s match
764. Cap in hand – In a respectful
manner
765. In the blues – Cheerless and
depressed
766. Cheek by jowl – Very close together
767. Beyond the pale – Unreasonable or
unacceptable
768. Blow one’s own trumpet – Praise
oneself
769. Stick to guns – Maintain own
opinion
770. At sea – At a loss
771. Straw in the wind – An indication
of what might happen
772. Face the music – Be punished
773. Curry favours – Seek favourable
attention
774. Weal and woe – Good times and bad
times
775. Call in question - Challenge
776. Make both ends mean – Live within
means
777. Put up the shutters – Go out of
business
778. A drop in a bucket – A very
insignificant amount
779. Draw a blank – Find no favour
780. To keep in abeyance – In a state
of suspension
781. To be in a fix – In a difficult
situation
782. To break the ice – Make people
comfortable and relaxed / Start conversation
783. As daft as a brush – Extremely
silly
784. In a nutshell – Briefly and
concisely
785. Strain every nerve – Work very
hard
786. Evening of life – Old age
787. Button one’s lips – Stop talking
788. Cock and bull stories – Absurd and
unlikely stories
789. A live wire – Lively and active
790. Capital punishment – Death
sentence
791. Leaps and bounds - Rapidly
792. Wet behind the ears – Young and
without much experience
793. Under a cloud – Under suspicion
794. Get the sack – Be dismissed
795. Feather in one’s cap – A new and
additional distinction
796. Donkey’s year – A long time
797. Leave no stone unturned – To try
every possible way
798. A man of letters - Scholar
799. Bear in mind - Remember
800. To nip in the bud – To stop
something in the starting
801. To put a spoke in one’s wheel – To
hinder
802. To clip one’s wings – To deprive one of
power
803. Hold up – Delay
804. To play fast and loose – To act in
an unreliable way
805. Feather one’s own nest – Make
money in an improper way
806. Pull a fast one – Play a trick
807. Grease the palm – To bribe
808. Turn-turtle – Complete over-turn
of a situation
