Idioms & Phrases

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"a piece of cake" means a very easy task. Example: After weeks of practice, the quiz was a piece of cake for Asha. Answer: a very easy task

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"break the ice" means to start a conversation in an awkward situation. Example: The host told a joke to break the ice at the meeting. Answer: to start a conversation in an awkward situation

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"once in a blue moon" means very rarely. Example: My uncle visits us once in a blue moon. Answer: very rarely

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"hit the nail on the head" means to say exactly the right thing. Example: You hit the nail on the head when you said the plan lacked money. Answer: to say exactly the right thing

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"spill the beans" means to reveal a secret. Example: Ravi spilled the beans about the surprise party. Answer: to reveal a secret

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"under the weather" means slightly unwell. Example: Meena stayed home because she felt under the weather. Answer: slightly unwell

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"burn the midnight oil" means to work late into the night. Example: Students burn the midnight oil before the exams. Answer: to work late into the night

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"cost an arm and a leg" means to be very expensive. Example: That designer watch costs an arm and a leg. Answer: to be very expensive

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"call it a day" means to stop working for the day. Example: It was past nine, so the team decided to call it a day. Answer: to stop working for the day

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"put off" means to postpone. Example: Do not put off your work until the last day. Answer: to postpone

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"call off" means to cancel. Example: The match was called off because of rain. Answer: to cancel

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"look into" means to investigate. Example: The police will look into the matter. Answer: to investigate

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"a blessing in disguise" means something that seems bad but turns out good. Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise; he started his own business. Answer: something that seems bad but turns out good

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"in the nick of time" means just in time, at the last moment. Example: The ambulance reached in the nick of time. Answer: just in time, at the last moment

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"raining cats and dogs" means raining very heavily. Example: We could not go out as it was raining cats and dogs. Answer: raining very heavily

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"beat around the bush" means to avoid coming to the main point. Example: Stop beating around the bush and tell me the result. Answer: to avoid coming to the main point

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"bite the bullet" means to face an unpleasant situation bravely. Example: He bit the bullet and told his boss about the mistake. Answer: to face an unpleasant situation bravely

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"the ball is in your court" means it is your turn to make the next decision. Example: I have made my offer; now the ball is in your court. Answer: it is your turn to make the next decision

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"barking up the wrong tree" means pursuing a mistaken course or blaming the wrong person. Example: If you think I took your pen, you are barking up the wrong tree. Answer: pursuing a mistaken course or blaming the wrong person

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"back to square one" means back to the starting point. Example: The deal collapsed, and we were back to square one. Answer: back to the starting point

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"add insult to injury" means to make a bad situation worse. Example: He missed the train, and to add insult to injury, it started raining. Answer: to make a bad situation worse

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"turn a blind eye" means to deliberately ignore something wrong. Example: The manager turned a blind eye to the late arrivals. Answer: to deliberately ignore something wrong

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"throw in the towel" means to give up. Example: After three failed attempts, he threw in the towel. Answer: to give up

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"pull someone's leg" means to tease or joke with someone. Example: Don't worry, I was only pulling your leg. Answer: to tease or joke with someone

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"the last straw" means the final problem that makes a situation unbearable. Example: His rude reply was the last straw, and she left the meeting. Answer: the final problem that makes a situation unbearable

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"face the music" means to accept the consequences of one's actions. Example: He broke the window and now has to face the music. Answer: to accept the consequences of one's actions

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"get cold feet" means to become too nervous to go through with something. Example: The groom got cold feet just before the wedding. Answer: to become too nervous to go through with something

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"jump the gun" means to act too soon, before the right time. Example: Do not jump the gun; wait for the official announcement. Answer: to act too soon, before the right time

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"miss the boat" means to lose an opportunity. Example: Those who delay investing may miss the boat. Answer: to lose an opportunity

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"on cloud nine" means extremely happy. Example: Priya was on cloud nine after getting her offer letter. Answer: extremely happy

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"play second fiddle" means to take a lower or supporting position. Example: She refused to play second fiddle to her junior. Answer: to take a lower or supporting position

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"take with a pinch of salt" means to not believe completely. Example: Take his stories with a pinch of salt; he likes to exaggerate. Answer: to not believe completely

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"steal the show" means to attract the most attention and praise. Example: The little girl stole the show with her dance. Answer: to attract the most attention and praise

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"turn down" means to reject. Example: She turned down the offer as the salary was too low. Answer: to reject

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"come across" means to meet or find by chance. Example: I came across my old school friend at the airport. Answer: to meet or find by chance

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"a white elephant" means a costly possession that is of little use. Example: The unused stadium became a white elephant for the city. Answer: a costly possession that is of little use

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"the lion's share" means the largest part. Example: The eldest brother took the lion's share of the property. Answer: the largest part

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"at loggerheads" means in strong disagreement. Example: The two partners have been at loggerheads over the budget. Answer: in strong disagreement

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"hand in glove" means in very close association, often for a bad purpose. Example: The officer was hand in glove with the smugglers. Answer: in very close association, often for a bad purpose

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"a bolt from the blue" means a completely unexpected event. Example: The news of the company's closure came as a bolt from the blue. Answer: a completely unexpected event

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"sit on the fence" means to refuse to take sides. Example: Stop sitting on the fence and tell us whom you support. Answer: to refuse to take sides

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"leave no stone unturned" means to try every possible means. Example: The detectives left no stone unturned to find the thief. Answer: to try every possible means

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"swan song" means the last performance or work before retirement or death. Example: The film was the veteran actor's swan song. Answer: the last performance or work before retirement or death

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"tongue in cheek" means said jokingly, not seriously. Example: His remark about working on Sundays was tongue in cheek. Answer: said jokingly, not seriously

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"run out of steam" means to lose energy or enthusiasm. Example: The campaign ran out of steam after the first month. Answer: to lose energy or enthusiasm