Category: English

Idioms and phrases are important for competitive examination. Following are some important Idioms and Phrases with Meaning for various competitive examinations like SSC, CTET, UPTET and other TETs, Railways, GRE, KVS etc.

Also Read: विश्व की प्रमुख मुद्राएं Currency of Different Countries in Hindi

• Hit Below the belt- to strike unfairly
• A mare’s nest – a false invention
• Sow wild oats – irresponsible pleasure seeking
• With a high hand – Oppressively
• To build castles in the air – make imaginary schemes
• Once in a blue moon – something happen very rarely
• Hope against hope – hope in-spite of disappointment
• Have the gift of the grab – art of speaking
• Beat a dead horse – To persist or continue far beyond any purpose,interest or reason
• Have an axe to grind – to have selfie interest
• Cry over spilled milk – complaining about a loss or failure from the past
• Hold water –Sound tenable
• Hang together – Support one another
• Spill the beans – to disclose a secret
• To sit on teh fence – to remain neutral
• Burn one’s Fingers – to get into trouble
• Call off the dogs – When you want someone to stop criticizing you
• Bated breath – in anxiety
• Bird’s eye view – concise viewing, general view
• Can’t judge a book by its cover – cannot judge something primarily on appearance
• Break the ice – to speak first action prolonged silence
• Let the cat out of the bag – to reveal the secret carelessly or by mistake
• At the drop of a hat – willingness to do something instantly
• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – Do not put all your resources in one basket
• Back up – to support and sustain
• Break down – failure in something

Also Read: Learning Disabilities – for CTET and other TET Exams

• To come to pass – to occur
• Catch up with – to overtake
• Cry out against – to complain loudly against
• To come to light – to become known
• To catch fire – to become alight
• Be a chicken – Be a coward
• Hold to – abide by
• To catch one’s eye – to attract one’s notice by being seen
• To come to age – to become adult
• Pen is mightier than the sword – words and communication have a greater effect than war
• Reap the harvest – benefit or suffer as a direct result of past actions
• Be like a fish out of water – to feel uncomfortable in a situation
• To come to head – to be ready to burst
• As gentle as a lamb – innocent, mild-mannered people
• At random – without pattern or system
• Above board – honest and straightforward
• See eye to eye – to be in agreement
• Back the wrong horse – to support someone or something that later cannot be successful
• Take a back seat – choose to be less important in a role
• To carry matters with a high hand – to take strong measure
• Above all – chiefly,mainly
• To come to close quarters mean – to tackle an enemy closely
• He has no backbone – he has no will of his own
• To burn candle at both ends – to expend energy in two directions at the same time

Also Read: भारत में नदियों के किनारे बसे शहर/ Nadiyon ke Kinare base Sahar

• To bring to light – to reveal
• Be a cold fish – be a person who is distant and unfeel
• Burning question – a widely debated issue
• To set the Thames on fire – to do something sensational or remarkable
• To commit the memory – to learn by heart
• Crocodile tears – hypocritical tears
• To be snowed under – to be very busy
• To put in a nutshell – to say in a few words to make something concise
• To beat the air – to make effort that are useless or vain
• Evil days – a period of misfortune
• Whole nine yards – Everything All of it
• Your guess is as good as mine – to have no idea about anything
• To get the sack – to be dismissed from your job
• To move heaven and earth – to exert all efforts
• Goes back on his words – breaks his promises
• To throw dust in one’s eyes – to try to deceive someone or mislead someone

Also Read: Human Growth and Development Difference for CTET

• To wash dirty linen in public – to quarrel openly
• To read between the lines – to understand the hidden meaning of the word
• Foul play – cheating
• Make hay while the sun shine – take advantage of all opportunities
• A cash cow – A product or service that makes alot of money for a company
• Have a card up one’s sleeve – have a secret plan in reserve
• Like a cat on hot bricks – very nervous
• To cook the book – to modify financial statements
• To put two and two together – to conclude from obvious fact.
• Be in a tight corner – in a very difficult situation
• Out of the question – impossible
• Leave no stone unturned – use all available measure
• In hot water – in trouble
• To bell the cat – to face the risk
• To blow one’s own – to praise one’s own trumpet achievement
• Bring to light – disclose
• Through thick and thin – under all conditions
• A bone of contention- a source of quarrel

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Check Complete List – English

• Can, May, Should और Must का प्रयोग
• UNDER और OUT OF का Use
• Use of These and Those
• अँग्रेजी में क्रमवाचक और अंशवाचक गिनती
• अँग्रेजी में प्रश्नवाचक शब्द