Idioms and Phrases: 5000+ Idioms and Phrases - Summary
Idioms and phrases are fun expressions with special meanings that are different from the words themselves. They add color and emotion to how we speak and write every day. Getting good at using idioms and phrases really helps your language skills. This updated reference book helps you learn about these interesting parts of English and their meanings.
Idioms are set phrases where the meaning is not just about the words combined. They make language richer and more interesting. Idioms and phrases are a big part of language that make speaking and writing deeper. They’re like secret codes with unique meanings, often related to culture and history. Knowing and using idioms correctly shows you have a good command of the language.
Download 5000 Idioms and Phrases PDF
Understanding idioms and phrases is very helpful. To help you master them, here is a list of over 5000 idioms and phrases with examples showing how to use them in sentences. This guide is perfect for students and anyone who wants to improve their English.
Common Idioms and Phrases with Examples
- An Axe to Grind – personal aim to serve ( अपना स्वार्थ सिद्ध करना) – People don’t trust those who have an axe to grind.
- At Daggers drawn – open hostility ( घोर शत्रुता)- Rana Pratap and Akbar were at daggers drawn with each other.
- At Arm’s Length – at a distance ( दूर )- The father advised his son to keep himself at arm’s length from bad boys.
- At random – without any aim ( बिना किसी उद्देश्य के) – The soldiers fired their guns at random.
- A bed of roses – very comfortable ( फूलो की सेज )- The post of the Prime Minister is not a bed of roses.
- At home in – skilled in ( दक्ष ) Ranjit is at home in English.
- A bottleneck – obstacle (अवरोध) In spite of all the bottlenecks created by his opponents, he succeeded in his mission.
- Beat About the bush – to avoid the main point (घुमा फिर कर किसी बात पर आना)- Come to the main point, don’t beat about the bush.
- Bread And Butter – livelihood (जीविका) – Everyone is busy with their bread and butter problems due to dearness.
- Break the ice – to end silence (मौन का वातावरण तोडना)- When everyone was silent for a long time, I decided to break the ice.
- Bear the brunt of – to face the main attack (आक्रमण का मुख्य भाग सहना)- Front soldiers always bear the brunt of battle.
- Bolt from the blue – a great shock (एक बड़ा सदमा)- His mother’s untimely death was a bolt from the blue.
- Bury the hatchet – to forget old hatred (पुरानी शत्रुता भुला देना)- It is wise for Ramesh and Hari to bury the hatchet and be friends again.
- Bring to book – to punish (सजा देना)- The naughty boy was brought to book by the Principal.
- Between Scylla And Charybdis – between two difficulties (दो कठिनाइयों के मध्य) – If he doesn’t take a risk, he’ll be called a coward. If he does, he’ll be in danger. He is between Scylla and Charybdis.
- Call A spade a spade – to speak honestly (साफ़-साफ़ कहना)- A bold person fearlessly calls a spade a spade.
- Call In Question – to doubt (संदेह करना)- He called into question the truth of my statement.
- Dutch Courage – courage after drinking wine (नशे का जोश) – Many people show Dutch courage after drinking wine.
- End In Smoke – to fail (असफल होना )- All his efforts to get a job ended in smoke.
- Fool’s paradise – foolish hope (मूर्खतापूर्ण अभिलाषा )- Students who think they can pass exams without working hard live in a fool’s paradise.
- Get rid of – to be free from (छुटकारा पाना ) – I want to get rid of this service.
- Grease the Palm – to bribe (रिश्वत देना )- If you grease the clerk’s palm, your pension will be approved.
- Get into hot water – to be in trouble (बुरी परिस्थिति में होना)- Suresh got into hot water due to bad company.
- Hold Water – to be correct (ठीक होना )- Without any eyewitness, your argument doesn’t hold water.
- In Cold Blood – with cruel intent (जानबूझकर निर्दयतापूर्वक )- The servant killed the master in cold blood.
- Keep the wolf from the door – to avoid starvation (भुखमरी को दूर करना )- His father works day and night to support the family and keep the wolf from the door.
- Maiden Speech – first public speech (प्रथम भाषण)- The new secretary gave his maiden speech at the function.
- Nip in the bud – to stop at the beginning (आरम्भ में ही नष्ट करना )- All bad habits must be nipped in the bud.
- Pell-mell – in confusion (घबराहट में )- The students ran pell-mell at the sight of the Principal.
- Red Letter Day – an important day ( महत्वपूर्ण दिन )- August 15, 1947, is a red letter day in India’s history.
- Spick And Span – very neat and clean (साफ़-सुथरा )- A spick and span restaurant attracts more customers.
- Time And Tide – passage of time (समय की गति)- Time and tide wait for none.
- Wild goose Chase – a pointless attempt (निष्फल प्रयास )- It was a wild goose chase to expect help from someone not very useful.
More Idioms and Phrases
Idiom/Phrase | Meaning |
---|---|
Decked up | Wearing special clothes to look attractive |
Doing the rounds | Being passed from one person to another |
Between the cup and the lips | About to be achieved |
A damp squib | Complete failure |
Put off | An evasive reply; to delay doing something you don’t want to do |
A dime a dozen | Very common and easy to find |
Cast iron stomach | Someone who can eat anything without problems |
A mare’s nest | A false story |
Takes a beating | Gets damaged because of poor performance or criticism |
A chip on your shoulder | Being upset over something from the past |
A toss-up | A result not yet decided and could go either way |
An iron hand | Using force |
A taste of your own medicine | Being treated the same way you treat others badly |
At the drop of a hat | Willing to do something immediately |
A man of straw | A weak person |
Bite your tongue | To stop yourself from speaking |
An eyewash | A false show |
At sixes and sevens | People who have different opinions |
Bite off more than you can chew | Taking on a task that’s too big to handle |
Can’t cut the mustard | Not good enough to compete or participate |
Call a spade a spade | Speaking honestly |
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch | Don’t rely on something until it’s sure |
Dog days of summer | The hottest days of summer |
Ever and anon | Sometimes, occasionally |
Field day | An enjoyable day or event |
Bits and Pieces | Small things of different kinds |
Kick the bucket | To die |
Know the ropes | To understand the details |
Latin and Greek | Unable to understand |
Like a chicken with its head cut off | Acting in a crazy or frenzied way |
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush | Having something certain is better than risking for more and losing everything |
A blessing in disguise | Something good that is not recognized at first |
Bull in a china shop | Someone who causes damage |
Download the Idioms and Phrases PDF for 2025
This updated content on Idioms and Phrases for 2025 is a great resource. You can easily download the full list of 5000 Idioms and Phrases PDF to help you learn and practice these expressions. Having this PDF download lets you study offline and improve your English fluency at your own pace.