English Idiom

English idiom can help you write creatively in English as well as impress people in presentations. As we have already covered idioms in the past blog, we will cover 50 English idiom in this article to help you make your presentations and writing skills more effective.

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Transition list
English Idiom

1. Off the record
Meaning: Statements that are not official or attributable; unofficial; confidential

Example: She has accepted her fault off the record and so it could not be used by the lawyer in the court.

2. Oldest trick in the book
Meaning: This trick/method is well-known and widely used

Example: The granny told me the oldest trick in the book for treating cough is drinking the turmeric milk.

3. Off the cuff
Meaning: Spontaneous; unprepared

Example: You were handling off the cuff interviews very well and so you got a job.

4. Old habits die hard
Meaning: It is difficult for people to change their accustomed behaviour.

Example: He retired last month, but still gets ready at the same time in the morning as old habits die hard.

5. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Rarely

Example: Jeane had a difficult relationship with her father and she spoke to him once in a blue moon.

6. Open the floodgates
Meaning: Uncontrollable things can be released

Example: The biggest fear of economists about relaxing price control has opened the floodgates to inflation.

7. Out of the blue
Meaning: Happen unexpectedly

Example: She had given up all hope when out of the blue she got a call from Harvard.

8. Out on a limb

Meaning: Make a risky or difficult decision (leaving the doer in an uncomfortable situation)
Example: He is out on a limb with his project and nobody supports his idea.

9. Over the top

Meaning: Inappropriate and totally excessive.

Example: Don’t you think her sari is way over the top for a simple occasion of this type.

10. Pen is mightier than the sword
Meaning: communication and words have a greater impact than war 

Example: A simple quote which I read in the book put an end to the long cold war and so pen is mightier than the sword.

11. Push one’s luck
Meaning: Trying to improve one’s situation ( risking spoiling it)

Example: She has my permission to go to her friends’ place but she can’t push her luck by planning a night out.

12. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Heavily raining

Example: They had to cancel the trip as it was raining cats and dogs here.

13. Reap the harvest
Meaning: Indirectly benefit from past actions or suffer from them.

Example: When she cleared IIT-JEE, she reaped the harvest of all her hard work.

14. Roll up one’s sleeves
Meaning: To be ready for hard work

Example: My sister said she would roll up her sleeves and do whatever it takes to support the family.

15. See eye to eye
Meaning: to agree with

Example: I am glad my roommate saw eye to eye on the choice of the furniture.

16. Shot in the dark

Meaning: It just a pure guess (that may or may not be close to the truth)

Example: I didn’t know too much about programming, so I merely shot in the dark while answering the interviewer’s question.

17. Sink your teeth into
Meaning: Be energetic and enthusiastic when you do something. 

Example: She immediately sank her teeth into her new job.

18. Skating on thin ice
Meaning: Take a risk or say something that could cause trouble.

Example: You should not say anything that hurts his self esteem or you could be skating on thin ice.

19. Stand in a good stead

Meaning: To contribute to someone’s well-being.

Example: Being fluent in French makes you stand in good stead when applying for a Job in Germany.

20. Strike while the iron is hot
Meaning: Taking action when the time is right
Example: The price of gold is at its lowest in the last 10 years. Strike while the iron is hot and invest in it.

21. Take a back seat
Meaning: Make a conscious decision to be less important

Example: I have finally decided to take a back seat and let my sister run the family business.

22. Take with a grain/pinch of salt
Meaning: Having doubts about the accuracy of information

Example: There is always a lot said about celebrities in the media, but we should take this information with a grain of salt.

23. Take a nosedive
Meaning: Decrease in value rapidly

Example: The price of shares took a nosedive when there was a war between Iran and Iraq.

24. Take the plunge

Meaning: Take a chance on something of interest despite the risks involved

Example: She finally took the plunge and started working on her new project.

25. Taste of one’s own medicine
Meaning: React in the same manner in which you were treated (unpleasantly)

Example: Those who often disrespect others should get a taste of their own medicine.

26. Think the world of
Meaning: Have a great admiration for someone

Example: Reeta is a wonderful science teacher – children think the world of her.

27. Tight spot
Meaning: A situation that is difficult

Example: The recent case by a customer put the company in a tight spot.

28. Tongue in cheek
Meaning: (in a remark) Supposedly humorous or ironic

Example: The comment by him was taken more seriously than intended. It was just tongue in cheek.

29. Pigs might fly

Meaning: Something that won’t happen.

Example: I will talk to her when the pigs fly.

30. Walk on eggshells
Meaning: Watch one’s words and actions very carefully

Example: Famous personalities are scrutinized by people so they have to walk on eggshells.

31. Want someone’s head on a platter
Meaning: I want someone severely punished

Example: That student has really misbehaved and so I want his head on a platter.

32. Watch (someone) like a hawk
Meaning: Watch carefully or keep an eye on

Example: The examiners watch the students like hawks and no one can move.

33. Water under the bridge
Meaning: Something bad that happened in the past but is no longer relevant

Example: The partners had a big fight last week but that water is under the bridge now.

34. Wave a dead chicken
Meaning: Act in the hope of solving a problem by doing something useless, unhelpful

Example: Restarting the laptop once it has shut down suddenly is like waving a dead chicken.

35. Weak in the knees
Meaning: Having difficulty standing due to fear, emotion, or illness

Example: The shock of being called by the principal made him go weak in the knees.

36. Wear many hats
Meaning: Perform a variety of tasks

Example: Rita has such a talent that she can wear many hats while working in the office.

37. Weather the storm
Meaning: Survive difficult circumstances

Example: As per the current global market conditions, the Indian economy is weathering the storm pretty well.

 38. Wet behind the ears

Meaning: Immature and inexperienced

Example: Rather than a full-time job, an internship was offered as she is still wet behind the ears.

39. Whale of a time
Meaning: Have a great time

Example: We will have a whale of a time in Goa all coming together.

40. Whistle in the dark

Meaning: Act brave in a scary situation

Example : when she was attacked from behind, she blew a whistle in the dark which the attackers did not expect.

41. Why keep a dog and bark for yourself
Meaning: Why do something yourself if someone or something can do it for you? 

Example: Even when my sister had a printer she wrote notes manually. I even asked her Why keep a dog and bark at yourself?

42. Wide off the mark
Meaning: Not what is expected; incorrect; inadequate

Example: Your answer was wide off the mark so it was difficult for me to give a better rating to it.

43. Wild goose chase
Meaning: Spend time looking for something that is unlikely to be found

Example: You try to find out who the anonymous caller is, but it turns out to be a wild goose chase.

44. Wipe the slate clean

Meaning: Start over from scratch

Example: When my father came to Delhi, he decided to wipe the slate clean and start fresh.

45. Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who pretends to be harmless but is actually dangerous

Example: I thought of her as a good person, but it turned out that she was a wolf in sheep’s clothing when she bitched about me with others.

46. Work your fingers to the bone
Meaning: Putting in a lot of effort until you exhaust yourself

Example: You totally deserve success as you worked your fingers to the bone when you started working.

47. Worm’s eye view

Meaning: From a low or inferior vantage point

Example: The freshers get only a worm’s eye view of the corporate world.

48. Worth one’s salt
Meaning: Competent or good at a specific job or profession

Example: Everyone deserves respect as all are worth their salt.

49. Wrap one’s brain around
Meaning: Pay attention to something in order to understand it

Example: I surely need to wrap my brain around the concepts else I will not score good marks.

50. Zero in on something
Meaning: Concentrate all attention on one thing

Example: The supervisor immediately zeroed in on the non-punctual employees of the organization.

 

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