IDIOMS
IDIOMS
IDIOMS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 02 03 04
Hi we are Avinandan
Sharma
and Aarushi Sharma,
students of class XI ‘A’.
We’re here to initiate
you with a very
important topics for
English Language, that
is, IDIOMS.
“English Language is a strange
paradise. It’s where fish flies and
sparrow swims.”
—Vishal Yadav
Don’t they sound unrealistic and in fact funny !!
Ok let’s resolve this problem
IDIOMS
Both, the terms ‘idioms’ and ‘phrases’ are useful elements of phrases
linguistics, and are often considered similar to each other. The term
‘phrase’ is defined as a collection of words, which are used
together to form a sentence or an expression. It uses a verb, an
adverb and/or a preposition to define the sentence. A phrase does
not entirely comprise of a sentence, it can be a small part of a
sentence.
It is easy to understand using few examples:
• The house at the end of the street
• Take off
• Needless to say.
Therefore, from the above examples, it is clear that the term
‘phrase’ really just describes a small group of words. The words are
arranged in a grammatical manner and act as a single and a
conceptual unit in a sentence.
An idiom, on the other hand, is an expression made by a group of
words. An idiom has a totally different meaning, than the individual
meaning of the words used to form the expression. For example:
• To catch one's eye
• Keep one's fingers crossed
• State of the art
• You have bitten more than you can chew
It’s Raining Cats and Dogs : A heavy downpour, rain coming down very quickly and hard.
Example of use:
“There’s no way they’ll be playing at the park. It’s raining cats and dogs out there!”
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To feel under the weather : To be ill or feel ill ; Having hangover
Example of use:
“I did not go to work today, as I was feeling a bit under the weather.”
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Cost an arm and a leg : Very expensive
Example of use:
“I'd really like to have a new farm house, but it may cost me an arm and a leg.”
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Kill the goose that lays the golden egg : To destroy something that is profitable to you
mostly because of greed.
Example of use:
“By selling off his business, Alex killed the goose that lays the golden egg. ”
A blessing in disguise: A good thing that initially seemed bad.
Example of use:
Covid lockdown could prove to be a blessing in disguise for India.
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A dime a dozen : Something that is very common, not unique .
Example of use:
“Those antique dishes are pretty, but they’re a dime a dozen.”
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Adding insult to injury : To make a bad situation even worse.
Example of use:
“My car broke down in the middle of nowhere, then, to add insult to injury, it started to rain.”
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Beat about the bush : Avoid sharing your true viewpoint or feelings because it is
uncomfortable .
Example of use:
“Will you please stop beating about the bush and get to the point?”
Beating a dead horse: Giving time or energy to something that is ended or over
Example of use:
He already told you no; don’t beat a dead horse.
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Bite the bullet : To get an unfavorable situation or chore over with now because it will need
to get finished eventually.
Example of use:
“The accused man bit the bullet as the judge handed down his sentence. ”
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Biting off more than you can chew : Not having the capacity to take on a new
assignment or task that is just too taxing
Example of use:
“Do your best. Do whatever you can, but don't bite off more than you can chew.”
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By the skin of your teeth : Just barely making it.
Example of use:
“We managed to complete the project on time by the skin of our teeth. ”
Doing something at the drop of a hat: Doing something at the moment of being asked.
Example of use:
We now have a situation where laws are bent at the drop of a hat.
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Don’t count your chickens before they hatch : Not to count on something happening
until after it’s already happened.
Example of use:
“You may get the job, but don't count your chickens before they hatch; wait till you get the offer
letter before you throw the party.
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Caught between a rock and a hard place : Making a choice between two unpleasant
choices.
Example of use:
“I’d like to help you but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
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Devil’s advocate : To take the side of the counter-argument, or offer an alternative point of view.
Example of use:
“I agree with what you say, but I'll play devil's advocate so that we can cover all the possibilities that may
arise.”
A hot potato: Speak of an issue which many people are talking about.
Example of use:
The issue of gun control is a political hot potato in the United States. ---------
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Example of use:
"You seem pretty serious. A penny for your thoughts."
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Back to drawing board : When an attempt fails and its time to start all over again.
Example of use:
“My experiment was a failure, so I'm back to the drawing board.”
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Some other IDIOMS……
In a nutshell: A concise summary of everything that has been
said.
Example of use:
In a nutshell, all the new mayor was saying is that the fight against
crime will be taken much more seriously.
Example of use:
Ram is the big fish of the company .
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Hit the nail on the head : Doing or saying something that is precisely right.
Example of use:
“You’ve spotted the flaw, Sally. You hit the nail on the head.”
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Born with a silver spoon in mouth : To be born to parents who are rich and have a good
social rank.
Example of use:
“The students in this college are almost all born with silver spoons in their mouths.”
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● Select the most appropriate Idiom (in the context)
to fill in the sentence.
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?
1. Rahul hates to speak in the public, but Riya holds the
mic .
?
iii. is ill at ease
iv. wear the trousers
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i. task to task
?
ii. take the floor
iii. take the heels
iv. turn an honest penny
5. With his vast experience and charming personality, it was clear
to see that Henry was a the rest of the
candidates who interviewed for the sales position.
?
ii. cut above
iii. man of straw
iv. cloven hoof
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i. a nutshell
?
ii. a fair way
iii. tune
iv. a brown study
7. Ideally we would settle the matter now, but I think we would
until the general situation becomes clearer.
i. hold water
ii. have feet of clay
?
iii. hang fire
iv. hang by a thread
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?
iv. eating humble pie
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?
1. To separate the ____________ from the chaff.