Idioms and phrases examples

A bed of roses (a luxurious condition): Life is not a bed of roses.

A bed of thorns (a problematic situation): Life is a bed of thorns.

Above all (mainly): Above all, he is a good man.

A slow coach (an idle person): A slow coach like him will never prosper in life.

A black sheep (person of lousy reputation): He is a black sheep of our society.

All in all (central): He is all in all in the family.

All of a sudden (suddenly): He entered my room all on a sudden.

After all (despite everything): After all, he is a nice man.

All along (always): All along, I was present in the meeting.

At finger's end  (to know thoroughly): He had all the grammar definitions at his finger's end.

As if (find easy): He speaks as if he knew everything.

At all ( in any degree): He does not read at all.

At home (expert): He is at home in English.

At home (to feel free/comfortable): I do not feel at home in a new place.

At length ( after a long time): He came to the meeting at length.

At least (at the lowest): At least five thousand people were present in the meeting.

At one's wit's end ( puzzled): I am at my wit's end what to do.

At stake (in danger): His life is at stake now.

At sixes and sevens (in disorder): After the principal died, the school's management was at sixes

and sevens, v At large (something dangerous roaming free): A mad dog is at large in this area; be careful.

At last (finally): At last, God took pity on him.

At variance with (not in agreement with): His works were at variance with his words.

A man of letters (scholar): Dr. Sahidullah was a man of letters.

At a glance ( a quick look): I looked over the paper at a glance.

At the top of (the highest point): He shouted at the top of his voice.

At random (without any plan): I surveyed the market price randomly.

All and sundry (collectively): The principal loves all and sundry.

All the same (of the same result): It is all the same to me whether you come or not.

According to (as expected/in someone's opinion): He acted according to my plan. / According to him, the food of that restaurant is terrible.

Apple of discord (the cause of quarrel): This piece of land is the apple of discord between the two brothers.

As to (regarding something): I know nothing as to the boy.

As well as (also): He and his friend came to the meeting.

As soon as (just when possible): I shall come back as soon as I can.

As regards ( rewarding): As regards him, I know nothing.

At a deadlock (at a standstill): The discussion between the two parties has become a deadlock.

At long last (at last): The much-awaited letter arrived at long last.

Beggar description (difficult to describe): The beauty of the place beggars description.

By all means (in every possible way): By all means, I shall help you.

Bag and baggage ( with all the belongings): He left the hotel bag and baggage.

Birds of the same feather (of similar character): He and his friend are birds of the same feather. ^ bring to light (disclose): The secret was last brought to light.

Bad blood (enmity): There is bad blood between the two brothers. \

Blue blood ( aristocratic family): He is proud of his blue blood.

Burning question  (great problem): Female education is a burning question for development

planners.

By and by (gradually): He will come round by and by.

By the by (through conversation): While we were talking, I learned about our neighbours by the by.

By dint of/By means of ( because of): -By means of hard labour, he succeeded in life.

By no means ( on no account): By no means should he be allowed to join the party.

Beyond dispute (undoubtedly): Mawlana Bhasani was, beyond dispute, a great leader.

Behind one's back (without someone's knowledge. We should not criticize beyond one's back.

Bad bargain (to buy at a high price): Our new house was a bad bargain.

Bear fruit (to have positive results): All his efforts finally bore fruit.

Bear testimony to (to give evidence): His actions bore testimony to his honest character.

Beauty sleep (restful sleep): You woke me up from my beauty sleep.

Below the mark (below the expected standard): His performance is below the mark.

Black and white (in writing): He filed against me in black and white.

Bird's eye view (overall view/looking at things as a whole): The model of the town gave a bird's eye

view of what it will look like in the future.

Black art (sorcery): To practise black art is strictly forbidden in Islam.

Block head (a fool): I can not trust that blockhead with such an important job.

Bolt from the blue (a sudden calamity): The news of his death came to me as a bolt from the blue. –

. A bone of contention (reason of quarrel): The piece of land is a bone of contention between the two

neighbours.

Book worm (one who keeps reading): 'Don't turn into a bookworm; try to do some physical exercise as well.

Bread and butter (the primary source of living): The income from his job is too little for his bread and butter.

Break one's heart (to cause great pain): The untimely death of the elder son broke the mother's heart.

Bring to light ( disclose): The secret was brought to light.

Bring to book (to punish): I brought him to book for telling a lie.

Bring to mind (to remember): I failed to bring his name to my mind.

Bring to life ( restore to life): The older man was brought back to life through careful nursing.

By heart (to memorize): He got the poem by heart.

By turns (one after another): The students finished the work by turns.

By hook or by crook (by any means/by fair means or foul): I shall get this work done by hook or by

crook/ or by fair means or foul.

By leaps and bounds (rapidly):' The prices of daily necessaries are increasing by leaps and

bounds.

By fits and starts (not in a regular way): The student who reads by fits and stars can not succeed.

By fair means or foul (legally or illegally): He tried to stand in life by fair means or foul.

By this time (within the present time): He will have reached home by this time.

Beyond question (undoubtedly): It is beyond question that Mowlana Bhasani was a great leader.

Beyond measure (exceedingly): His failure shocked his parents beyond measure.

Body and soul together (wholeheartedly): The poor can hardly keep body and soul together.

 Better half (spouse/husband or wife): He is worried about the illness of his better half.

Big guns (people of the high society ): The big guns of the society do many good things for 

development.

Call in question (doubt): His honesty can not be called in question.

Call names (say bad things): He called me names in my absence.

Come round (to agree / to get better): It is difficult to make him agree, but I am sure he will come round.

Come to light (to be exposed): The reason for his decision comes to light very soon.

Care for (to be concerned about): He cares for his health and chooses food carefully.

Cats and dogs (heavily): It has been raining cats and dogs.

Carry on ( continue): I shall carry on with my studies at any cost. 

Carry out (to perform): Students should carry out their teacher's instructions. 

Close to (near): His house is close to mine.

Crocodile tears (false sorrow): You can never convince me with your crocodile tears.

Cut short (premature death/make shorter): His life was cut short by an accident./ Cut the story

short and tell me in a nutshell.

Crying need (requiring immediate): Primary education is the crying need of the day.

Dead against (in strong opposition): He is dead against me.

Day after day ( continuously): He kept reminding me day after day.

Day by day (gradually): He is growing fast day by day. •

End in smoke (come to nothing): His attempts ended in smoke.

Ever and anon (now and then ): He comes to my houses ever and anon.

Every now and then (frequently): He disturbs me every now and then.

Every other day ( every alternate day): Take the medicine every other day.

Ere long ( soon): He finished the work long.

Face to face (confront/in person): I must talk to him face to face, not on the phone.

Far and wide (everywhere): His name spread far and wide

Fair play (justice): The poor want fair play from the rich.

Far and near ( all places): His name spread far and near

Few and far between ( seldom): He comes to our house few and far between.

Feel at home ( feel comfortable): I never feel at home in a hotel.

Flesh and blood ( a human body): A flesh and blood can never tolerate such an insult.

From time to time ( occasionally): Try to visit me from time to time.

French leave (to leave without permission): No one should enjoy french leave.

For the sake of (on account of): I helped the poor man for the sake of humanity.

For good (forever): He left the country for good.

From time immemorial (from the very ancient time): From time immemorial, man has been living in society.

For a while ( for an instant): Await me for a while.

For the purpose of (on account of): I go to the library for the purpose of reading there.

Find fault with (blame): Do not find fault with others.

From hand to mouth (to live somehow): The poor live from hand to mouth.

From top to bottom (entirely): I looked at him from top to bottom.

Get by heart (memorize): I got the poem by heart.

Get out. (to go outside): Get out of the room.

Get rid of ( be free): Try to get rid of smoking.

Give up (abandon): He gave up his bad habit.

Give vent to (to express): He gave vent to my anger on me.

Go to the dogs (go astray): He has gone to the dogs.

Give ear to (to listen): He gave ear to my speech.

Go through (to read thoroughly): You should go through the book carefully.

Great of heart (kind-hearted): Noble deeds are done by men great of heart.

Grow out (increase): Jute plants grow out quickly.

Gala day (a happy day): Eid festival is a gala day for Muslims.

Hard and fast (strict): Nazrul never cared about hard and fast rules.

Hard nut to crack (challenging): The problem is a hard nut to crack.

Heart and soul (wholeheartedly): He loves me, heart and soul.

Hale and hearty ( healthy): I hope you are hale and hearty.

Head or tail (anything whatsoever): I do not understand the head or tail of your speech.

High time (right time): It is high time you leave the place.

In a fix (puzzled): I am in a fix on what to do.

In a body (together): The students came to the principal in a body.

In accordance with (according to): He acted in accordance with my plan.

In black and white (in writing): Give your statement in black and white. • \

In case of (in the event of): What will you do in case of failure? \

In course of (during): In course of time, he will be a leader.

In any case (whatever may happen): I shall always be with you in any case.

In no case (in no way): You will not be allowed to enter the room in any case.

In good faith (in honest belief): I gave him five thousand takas in good faith.

In the long run ( at last /in the end): Sinners will suffer in the long run.

In the end (at last): In the end, the Pak Armies had to surrender.

In lieu of (instead of): He took history in lieu of logic.

In a hurry (quickly): You should not do anything in a hurry.

In full swing (at full speed): Our classes are going on in full swing. 

In fine (in conclusion): In fine, he advised us to read more and more. 

In good time (in the right time): He married at a good time.

In the heart of (in the middle): Dhaka City College is situated in the heart of the city. 

In one's bad book (not in the favour of): He is in the bad book of the principal. 

In keeping with (consistent with): Your dress is not in keeping with you. In the guise of (in disguise): The caliph went out in the guise of a merchant. 

In obedience to (to obey): Students should read in obedience to their teacher's advice. 

In pursuit of (follow to catch hold of): They all ran in pursuit of the thief. In point of (regarding): He is superior to me in point of age. 

In order that (so that): He works hard in order that he may prosper in life. 

In respect to (in answer to a question): I know nothing in respect of his character. 

U In reference to (regarding): In reference to your advertisement I am going to apply. 

In the least (at all): I am not in the least hungry.

In spite of (notwithstanding): He came to college in spite of his illness. 

Ins and outs (all details): He knows the inns and outs of the matter.

In season and out of season (at all times): Don't disturb him in season and out of season. 

In the dark (ignorant): I am in the dark about the murder. 

Incapable of (unablet): I am incapable of doing the work. 

Inclined to (tend to): She is inclined to talk about me. 

In fact (really): She was in fact a woman of forty. 

Instead of (in lieu of): He took logic in stead of history.

In the nick of time (just time): He availed himself of the opportunity in the nick of time. 

Keep body and soul together (live somehow): The poor work hard to keep body and soul together. 

Keep up late (keep awake till late at night): To keep up late tells upon health. 

Keep in the dark (to keep secret): He keeps his plan in the dark. 

Kith and kin (relations): I have no kith and kin.

Keep an eye (watch): The police kept an eye on the prisoner. 

Look after (to take care): We should look after our parents.

 Look for (find out):-1 am looking for a good job. 

Long for (desire): He longs for happiness.

Long since (many days ago): It was long since I had seen her last. 

Lose heart (to become hopeless): He lost his heart at the sudden death of his father. 

Lay by (save): We should lay by something against rainy day.

Leave no stone unturned (to try in every possible way): The patriot left no stone unturned to please 13 his countrymen.

Maiden speech (first speech): His maiden speech charmed us all. I

 Make good (compensate): I shall make good of your loss. I          

Make room (make space): He made a room for me in the bench.

Make sure (to be sure): He made sure of one seat for me in the bench.

Mind's eye (inner sight): The sight of the accident flashed in my mind's eye.

Muster Strong (to gather in large numbers): Students mustered strong in the meeting.

Make fun of (joke): They made a fun of the fool.

Make out (realise): I could not make out the meaning of the poem.

Make the best use of (proper utilization): Students should make the best use of their time.

Make both ends meet (to live somehow): The poor can not make both ends meet.

Make haste (to quicken): Make haste lest you should miss the train.

Man of the world (worldly): He is a man of the world.

Man of word, (true to word): Sher-e Bangla was a man of word.

Next to impossible (nearly impossible): It will be next to impossible to help you for the second time

Nip in the bud (destroy at the outset): His hopes were nipped in the bud at the sudden death of father.

Nook and corner (thoroughly): I searched the nook and corner of the room for the missing pen.

No sooner than (as soon as): No sooner had I reached the station than the train left.

Notwithstanding (in spite of): Notwithstanding his illness he joined the meeting.

Null and void (out of order): This rule is now null and void.

Of one's own accord (willingly): The soldiers went to the battle of their own accord.

Off and on (sometimes): He comes to my house off and on.

On account of (because of): I could not go to college on account of my illness.

On easy terms (on easy conditionst): Loans should be given to the farmers on easy terms.

On the other hand (to do just the opposite): I tell him to study more, on the other hand he kills his

time.

Once for all (for the last time): He left the village once for all.

On the verge of (on the last point): He is on the verge of ruin.

On the look out for (in search of): I am on the look out for a good job.

On the contrary (on the otherhand): He hates me; on the contrary I love him.

Out of date (backdated): This fashion is out of date now.

On behalf of (in favour of): The captain came to the teacher on behalf of the students.

On good terms (good relationship^ They are on good terms.

On the plea of (on the pretext of): The lady took champagne on the plea of her doctor's advice.

On tiptoe (silently): The thief entered the room on tiptoe.

On and on (repeatedly): The weather is getting colder on and on.

Once and again (more than once): He tried once and again to pass the examination.

Open mind (unbiased): He is an open minded man.

Out and out (totally): He is out and out a good man.

Out of stock (exhausting of stock): Dano milk is now out of stock.

Out of one's wits (in a fix): He was out of his wits for his brother's illness.

Out of temper (ill tempered): A gentleman is never out of temper.

Part and parcel (essential part): A library is a part and parcel of a college.

Pandora's box (seems to be): His words proved to be Pandora's box.

Pave the way (to make way): Perseverance paves the way to a man's success.

Pin money (wife's pocket money): She bought a nice present for her husband with her pin money.

Pick a quarrel (to start a quarrel): Don't pick a quarrel with others.

Pick one's pocket (to steal from the pocket): My pocket has been picked.

Play tricks (try to deceive): Politicians play tricks on the simple people.

Play truant (to steal away from school): Nazrul played truant.

Pluck up one's heart (to gather courage): He plucked up his heart to face the danger.

Point blank (directly): He told me point blank that he would not support me.

Pour cold water on (to discourage):- He always pours cold water on my plan.

Put out (to extinguish):-He put out the lamp.

Pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages):-! know the pros and cons of the matter.

Put an end to (to stop):- He had to put an end to his study for his father's death.

Play false (deceive): Politicians play false with the innocent people.

Rag day (the last day of the student life):- Students enjoy the Rag day.

Rainy day (hard time): - We should save something against rainy day.

Ranks and fashion (the high society):- The so called ranks and fashion hate the poor.

Rank and file (ordinary soldier):- A rank and file always obeys their superiors.

Red handed ( caught while the crime was being committed):- He was caught red handed.

Red letter day (lucky day): The sixteenth December is a red letter day.

Skin and bone (lean and thin ):- Dysentry has made him skin and bone.

Slip of the tongue (slight error while talking):- He made a slip of the tongue in his speech.

Slip of the pen (unintentional mistakes in writing):- His answer was full of slip of the pen.

Slowcoach (an idle person): -A slow coachman can never shine in life.

Slow and steady (a slow person): A proverb goes that slow and steady wins the race.

Storm in a teacup (a fuss on a trifling matter):- They raised a storm in a teacup over a trifle matter.

Somehow or other (anyway):-1 ordered him to do the work somehow or other.

Small hours (towards the end of night):-The thief entered the house in the small hours of the night.

Small fry ( man of minor importance): Small fry are accused of in big crime.

Spare no pains (to try one's best): He spared no pains to satisfy me.

JO- Summer Mends (friend in one's good time):- Summer friends remain away in time of danger. 

Step by step (by degrees):- He advanced step by step. 

Take one to task (chide):-He took me to task for smoking. 

Take heart (to gather courage):-We should take heart in any kind of danger.

 Take advantage of (to avail):- We should not take advantage of one's weakness. 

Take pity on (to sympathize): - At last God took pity on him.,

 Take to one's heel (flee away): -The enemies took to their heel.

Take for granted (think to be true): -The lady took for granted that the servant had broken the plate. 

Take into account (to consider): -His sincere service was taken into account. 

Take place (to happen):-The incident took place in a second. 

Take the chair (become president):-The principal took the chair in the meeting. 

Take off ( put off):-He took off his shoe. 

Take after (to be similar): The girl takes after her mother. 

Tell upon (to bring a loss): Smoking tells upon health.

Thankless job (to get no thanks for a job): I find no interest in such a thankless job.

Right-hand man (chief assistant): The assistant headmaster is the right-hand man of the

headmaster.

Red tape (official rules and procedures that seem unnecessary and cause delay):-His promotion was delayed for red tape formalities.

Rise and fall (ups and down): - There is a rise and fall in every man's life.

Rise in arms (an armed revolt): The soldiers had to rise in arms.

Run short of (shortage): Their drinking water supply ran short.

Run into debt (to be in debt): -If he spends money lavishly, he will run into debt.

Run a risk (to take a risk): - He ran a risk in the business and profited.

Safe and sound (safely): -I reached my destination safe and sound.

See to (consider):- I requested him to see my appeal.

See the light (to be born):-Many children see the light every hour in the USA.

Set on fire (to burn):- The shop was set on fire by accident.

Set foot on (come to):- Many days ago, I set foot in my native village.

Set out (to start a journey):-I set out for Khulna.

Stand by (support): - I shall stand by you in time of danger.

Short cut (shortened way ):-Jerry used a short cut from the orphanage to the cabin.

Short temper (hot-headed):- A man with a short temper suffers in the long run.

Shoulder to shoulder (together):- We should work shoulder to shoulder.

Sum and substance (gist):-1 could not write down the sum and substance of the poem.

To and fro (here and there):- He is moving to and fro.

Ups and downs (good and bad fortune):-There are ups and downs in a man's life.

Up and down (to and fro):- The thief ran up and down for shelter. 

Up-to-date (modern): -Now-a-days ladies are very up- to-date. 

lip to the mark (as expected):- My honours result was not up to the mark. 

Upper hand (authority):- He got the upper hand in the selection. 

Under lock and key (closed):-He kept the money under lock and key. 

Under age (not yet matured):- He could not cast his vote because he was underage. 

Under construction (being constructed): The building is under construction. 

Undertrial (under judgment): -His case is under trial.

Well and good (all right):-If he comes to my help, well and good; if he not, it is also good. 

Well off (rich):-Jim and Delia were not well off. \ 

Well -to- do (rich):): He was not born into a well-to-do family. Well up (well versed):-Dr. Shahidullah was well-up in the English language. 

Weal and woe (happiness and sorrow): Weal and woe come by turn. 

With a view to (with the object of):-He goes to college with a view to attending the class. 

Worthy of (fit): He is worthy of getting a good job.

What not (and many more things): I gave him books, pens, money and whatnot. 

With one voice (unanimously):- They protested with one voice.

Ways and means (means of):-Please devise ways and means for the development of the Institute.