ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT-1

Set-1:
1. To do something above board – to do something openly, without any secrecy or deception (
)
2. To settle one’s account with –to pay what one owes to someone ( )
3. On account of - because of( )
4. To take into account – to consider ( )
5. Within an ace of - failing, escaping by a narrow margin ( )
6. Achilles heel – any part, spot or area that is vulnerable( )
7. To add fuel to fire – to say something that makes people react more strongly or fiercely (
)
8. To put on airs – to behave in an unnatural way in the hope of impressing people (
)
9. Air and graces – much amused, helpless with laughter( )
10. Rolling in the aisles – much amused, helpless with laughter ( )
11. All the day long – through the whole day( )
12. Visits like those of angles – rare visits( )
13. Ever and anon – now and then, occasionally ( )
14. On/Upon the anvilin the state of formation or preparation ( )
15. A Gods’ ape – a born fool ( )
16. To play the ape – to mimic, to imitate( )
17. To make someone one’s ape/To put an ape in one’s hood – to befool someone( )
18. To go ape over – to be extremely enthusiastic over ( )
19. To keep up appearance – to maintain a public impression of prosperity despite ( )
20. To put in an appearance – to attend a social gathering for a very short time (
)
21. Apple pie order – perfect order ( )
22. To upset the apple cart – to throw all plans in confusion ( )
23. With open arms – cordially )
24. In the arms of Morpheus – [in the lap of sleep ( )
25. To cast aspersions – to make damaging or destroying remarks ( )
26. At daggers drawn – at great enmity ( )
27. No vice like avarice – greed is greater than any other vice ( )
28. To have an axe to grind – to have a selfish motive ( )
29. To put the axe in the helve – to solve a problem ( )
30. To get the axe – to be dismissed from a job ( )
31. To be one’s back – to be ill in bed ( )
32. To back slide – to fall back in morals ( )
33. To back spear – to question in order to bring out some information(
)
34. To back the wrong horse – to make a wrong choice ( )
35. Back bite – denounce somebody in his absence ( )
36. With a bad grace – unwillingly ( )
37. Bad blood – bitterness, enmity ( )
38. Whole a bad tricks – everything needed for a purpose ( )
39. In bottom of bag – the last option ( )
40. A bag of bones – a lean and thin person ( )
41. To set the bait – to lay a trap ( )
42. To keep the ball rolling – to continue a conversation or an activity ( )
43. To beat about the bush – to approach a subject without coming to the point (
)
44. To beat a retreat – to go back ( )
45. To beat black and blue – to beat severely ( )
46. At somebody’s beck and call – at somebody’s command ( )
47. Below the belt – contrary to the principals of fairness( )
48. Between the devil and the deep sea – in a dilemma( )
49. At bird’s eye view – a panoramic view; a general view ( )
50. Blue blood – alleged superiority by reason of birth( )
51. To blow one’s own trumpet – to boast( )
52. From the blue – sudden or unexpected( )
53. A bone of contention – a thing/subject of dispute
54. By leaps and bounds – very rapidly
55. To break the ice – to make a beginning; to overcome reserve
56. To pass the buck – to shift responsibility or blame to another person
57. A drop in the bucket/ocean – a quantity too small to make an impact
58. To burn the candle at both ends – to overtax one’s energies steadily so as to injure his health; work to
much
59. To bury the hatchet – to stop quarreling and become friends
60. To call spade a spade – to speak in plain terms
61. A feather in one’s cap – something of which one may be proud
62. To cap the climax – to cross the highest point
63. The carrot and the stick– the hope of rewards and the threat of punishment
64. To put the cart before the horse – to do or put things in a wrong order
65. To build castles in the air – to daydream
66. To bell the cat – to attempt something dangerous

67. To let the cat out of the lagto divulge a secret carelessly or by mistake
68. Cheek by the jowl – very near, very close
69. To close the book on – to stop working on something, especially a police operation because it is not
making any progress
70. To clear the cobwebs away – to make mind clear of old though
71. A cock and bull story – an incredible story or imaginary story
72. To give somebody the cold shoulder – to show deliberate disregard or indifference

73. To throw cold water on – to discourage

74. Pros and cons– arguments for and against
75. Crocodile tears – hypocritical show of sorrow
76. By hook or by crooks – by one means or another
77. To eat crow – to have to accept something embarrassing to one
78. To cry over spilt milk – to cherish useless regrets; to lament over what cannot be changed

79. To give currency – to spread; to make current, to publicise

80. A red latter day – a memorable day, especially an important or happy occasion
81. A square deal – a fair treatment in a bargain
82. To die in harness – to die while still working
83. To go down the drain – to become worthless, profitless
84. To play ducks and drakes – to squander, to waster money
85. To turn a deaf ear (to) – to refuse to help, to refuse to listen and consider

86. As white elephant – a very costly and useless possession

87. To make both ends meet – live within one’s income
88. To end in smoke – to waste
89. To take exception to – to take offence
90. To turn a blind eye – to agree entirely
91. To see eye to eye – to agree entirely
92. A fair weather friend –a person who ceases to be a friend when one is in trouble

93. A feather in one’s cap – an achievement of which one can be proud

94. To feather one’s nest – to take advantage of the opportunities to enrich oneself

95. To show the white feather – to show fear

96. To sit on the fence – to avoid taking sides
97. To play first fiddle – to play the prominent role
98. To burn one’s finger – to suffer injury by acting rashly

99. To keep one’s finger – to suffer injury by acting rashly

100. To go through fire and water – to brave any danger or endure any trial

Set-2:
1. To spread like fire – to spread rapidly
2. A fish out of water – a person out of accustomed environment

3. By/In fits and starts – irregularly, intermittently

4. To drop like flies – to collapses in large numbers
5. To flog a dead horse – to waste one’s efforts
6. To fly a kite – to test public opinion
7. To foam at the mouth – to be extremely angry
8. To have the gift of the gab – to be a good speaker
9. To play to the gallery – to try gain popular favour
10. To throw down the gauntlet – to give a challenge to a fight
11. To give up the ghost – to die
12. To give the game away – to reveal one’s intention or a secret
13. To be hand in glove with – to bribe
14. To greases somebody’s pain – to bribe
15. To green – eyed monster – jealously
16. To keep one’s hair on –to cool down
17. To keep one’s hair down – to behave informally
18. A hard nut to crack – a difficult task, problem
19. To die in harness – to die in service
20. To talk through one’s hat – to speak without knowing the facts
21. To play havoc with – to destroy, to ruin
22. To have too many irons in the fire – to have many projects in hand
23. To lose one’s head – to lose patience
24. To take to heart – to like very much
25. To show a clean pair of heels – to escape, to run away
26. To take to one’s heels – to run away
27. A herculean task – a very difficult task
28. To hit the jackpot – to win a large prize or amount
29. To go the whole hog – to do something thoroughly
30. To pick holes – to find faults
31. By hook or by crooks – by one means or another, by any means, right or wrong
32. On the horns of a dilemma – In a critical/difficult situation
33. To flog a dead horse – to try to do something impossible
34. A dark horse – an unexpected winner
35. At the eleventh hour – at the last moment
36. To cut no ice – to fail to make an impression
37. The ins and outs –the details and complexities
38. To keep somebody at arm’s length – to keep somebody away
39. To kick up one’s heels – to enjoy oneself
40. By leaps and bounds – very rapidly
41. To leave one in the lurch – to leave somebody in difficulty
42. To lea at somebody’s door – to be attributed to
43. To bring to light – to make known
44. Like a phoenix – with a new life
45. To read between the lines – to understand the unexpressed or implied meaning
46. The lion’ share – larger or largest part
47. Lock, stock and barrel – completely
48. A maiden speech – first speech
49. To make a mountain of a molehill – to give great importance to triffles

50. A man of letters – a man of literature

51. By fair means or foul – by hook or by crook by any means, honest or dishonest

52. To mince matters – to say something mildly

53. To be in two minds – in a dilemma
54. To speak one’s mind – to say frankly what one thinks
55. On the spur of the moment – without previous planning
56. Once in a blue moon – rarely
57. To face the music – to accept the consequences of one’s mistakes
58. To strain every nerve (to do something) – to make one’s best efforts
59. To turn over a new leaf – to make a fresh start
60. To look down one’s nose – to took contemptuously at
61. To pay through the nose – to pay an excessive price
62. To turn up one’s nose at – to regard with contempt
63. Off and on – occasionally, now and then
64. With open arms – with great affection
65. Ins and outs – the details
66. To greases somebody’s palm – to give a bribe, to bribe
67. A square peg in a round hole – a person unsuitable to the position he fills
68. From pillar to post – from one person to another
69. To play a second fiddle – to play a secondary role
70. To pour cold water on – to discourage
71. The pros and cons – arguments for or against something
72. To put two and two together –to guess the truth about a situation
73. To pick a quarrel - to start a quarrel
74. To beg the question – to take for granted, to assume the truth of the matter in question

75. Out of the question – impossible

76. In the red – in debt
77. To take for a ride – to murder; to trick’ to deceive
78. A rat race – to suspect something wrong
79. To smell a rat – to suspect something wrong
80. A red letter day – an/auspicious day
81. In the long run – ultimately
82. To run in the same groove – to advance in harmony
83. With a grain of salt – with reservation
84. Scot – free – without punishment or harm
85. To have a screw to lose – to be eccentric, to have crazy ideas
86. All at sea – in great loss
87. A black sheep – a selfish person
88. To come out of one’s shell - to become less shy, reserved etc
89. To put one’s shoulder to the wheel – to work hard at a task
90. At sixes and sevens – in disorder
91. To jump out of one’s skin – to be started
92. To have something up one’s sleeve – to keep secretly something for us when needed

93. To wear one’s heat in one’s sleeve – to express one’s emotion, especially one’s love for somebody

94. To take the rough with the smooth – to face the ups and down of life

95. In good spirits – in a pleasant mood

96. Out of spirits – in low spirits, depressed
97. On the spur of the moment – suddenly/without planning
98. To bring to a standstill – to halt, to stop; to bring to a cessation of movement
99. To come to a standstill – to halt, to stop; to come to a cessation
100. A standing joke – a continuous subject for mirth or ridicules
Set-3:
1. A storm in a tea cup – much ado about nothing
2. A cock and bull story – an absurd and improbably story especially one used as on excuse

3. To go down to go down stream – to move down the river

4. To pull the strings/wires – to control events or the actions of other people

5. To cross the swords with – to dispute with

6. To take to task – to call to account, scold, chide
7. To take to one’s heels – to run away
8. Wear and tear – damage caused by ordinary use
9. To cut one’s teeth on –to gain experience form something
10. On tenterhooks – waiting nervously for the result
11. On good terms – friendly
12. To throw down the gauntlet – to challenge somebody to do something
13. To turn the tide – to turn a situation
14. To turn over a new leaf – to make a new and better start
15. To put two and two together – to draw a correct conclusion from the given circumstances

16. To give vent to – to express freely

17. To go through fire and water – to undergo severe hardships and trials
18. To pour cold water on – to discourage
19. A wild goose chase – an absurd pursuit of something unobtainable
20. To go to the winds – to dissipate
21. To take the winds out of one’s sails – to take away one’s advantage suddenly

22. At one’s wits’ end – to be perplexed, to be totally confused

23. Ask for – ask somebody to give something
24. Back down – take back a claim or a demand
25. Back up – support; encourage
26. Bear with – wait; be patient
27. Beat off – to repel an attack, to drive back by force
28. Blow over – subside, be forgotten
29. Break down – destroy; fail; cease to function properly
30. Break in – enter by force
31. Break off – become separate from something by using force; separate from something by using force
32. Bring about – cause to happen
33. Bring forth – produce; give birth to
34. Burn out – become extinguished
35. Call for – make necessary
36. Carry out – obey; execute
37. Catch up (with) – overtake
38. Clear off – get rid of
39. Clear out – leave quickly
40. Cope with – adjust with
41. Enter on/upon – make a start on; begin
42. Fall back – move or turn back away
43. Fall flat – fail; be ineffective
44. Fallthrough – fail; come to nothing
45. Give in – surrender; yield; submit
46. Give up – abandon
47. Hit on/upon – think of a plan, a solution, etc. Suddenly or by chance
48. Keep up with – continue without stopping
49. Lay off – stop working
50. Lay out – spend (money)
51. Leave off – stop working, stop doing something
52. Look about for – be in search of
53. Look into – examine carefully
54. Look to(somebody) – stare
55. Make of -
56. Make out – manage to see, read (usually implying difficulty)
57. Measure up – be good enough to a particular job or to reach a particular standard
58. Muster up – gather, assemble
59. Pass away – die
60. Point out – show something
61. Pull up – scold, rebuke, reprimand
62. Put across – communicate something successfully
63. Put back – return something to its usual place
64. Put off – postpone
65. Put up – raise; increase
66. Put up with – tolerate, endure bear
67. Run down – knock down; hit and knock to the ground
68. Run into – collide with (of vehicles), accidentally crash into
69. See about – make arrangements
70. Set forth – make known, declare
71. Set off – begin a journey
72. Stand bysupport, help (somebody in a difficult situation
73. Stave something off – keep off, delay (danger, disaster, bankruptcy etc.
74. Take after – resemble; look like; behave like an older member of your family

75. Turn downrefuse, reject an offer application etc

76. To be one’s beadsto worship
77. To spill the beans – to give away secret information
78. To bear away the palm – to win
79. To lose one’s bearings – to deviate from the right path
80. Bed and board – food and lodging
81. A bed of roses – an easy, comfortable situation
82. To die in bed – to die a natural death
83. To have a bee in one’s bonnet – to be obsessed with one idea; to have fanciful ideas or schemes

84. To beg the question – to assume the truth of the very point raised in a question

85. To go behind one’s word – to deny

86. To bear the bell – to get the first position
87. To give a wide berth to – to avoid
88. Few and far between – infrequent
89. Between wind and water – uncertain
90. A bill of mortality – an official statement showing the number of deaths in a place within a given time

91. A foul bill of health – a written statement certifying that there is some diseases
92. Birds of a feather – people of the same sort
93. Bit and sip – something to eat and drink
94. To bite one’s lips – to repress one’s emotion

95. To bite the dust – to be killed; to fall to the ground

96. To bite the hand that feeds one – to betray somebody who gives help
97. To bite a trail – to be pioneer in something
98. Not a penny to bless oneself with – very poor
99. To count one’s blessing – to be grateful for what one has
100. Blind man’s buff – game of hide and seek
101. One’s own flesh and blood – One’s near relatives
102. To blow hot and cold –to keep changing one’s opinion about something
103. Blue devils – despressed felling

Set-4:
1. To call someone’s bluff – to expose a person’s deception
2. In the same boat – in the same situation
3. To keep body and soul together – to maintain life, to support oneself
4. To take a leaf out of one’s book – to act as behave in a similar way to somebody
5. To die in one’s bootsto die while actively engaged in one’s work
6. In the same box – of the same nature
7. Brain sauce – wisdom
8. To cudgel one’s brainsto think hard
9. Bread and cheese – simple food
10. To eat the bread of idleness – to remain idle
11. By a hair’s breadth – by a very small amount or distance
12. To break into sweat – to perspire suddenly
13. To make a clean breast of – to make a full confession of, to confess everything of which one is guilty

14. Under one’s breath – in a low voice, in a whishper

15. To spend one’s breath – to talk uselessly and be tired
16. To bridge the gulf – to remove the differences and reconcile
17. Water under the bride – an event, mistake that has already occurred and cannot be altered, so there is
no use worrying about it

18. To bring up the rear – to be in rear in a procession

19. To prick the bubble – to destroy somebody’s illusion about something

20. To pass the buck – to shift responsibility or blame to another person

21. To nip something in the bud – to put an end to something in its beginning stage

22. To build castles in the air – to indulge in daydreaming or visionary schemes

23. A bull market – a market where prices are rising

24. To take a bull by the horns – to face a difficulty or danger boldly
25. To burn the midnight oil – to work or study until late at night
26. To burn the candle at both ends – to overtax one’s energies steadily so as to injure his health; work to
much
27. To bun one’s fingers – to suffer injury or loss by acting rashly
28. To burn one’s boats/bridges – to act very firmly in a way that will not allow one to change one’s mid
later
29. To bury one’s head in the sand – to avoid reality
30. To buy a house over the tenant’s house – to buy a house which is already having a tenant

31. To buy a pig in a poke – to purchase a thing without previously examining it to see what its real value
is
32. To set the by the ears – to instigate
33. Cakes and adle – the good things of life, enjoyments
34. Not worth the candle – not worth the trouble or effort involved
35. To speak by the card – to speak precisely and to the point
36. To carry hearer with one – to influence the audience

37. To carry the day – to be successful against somebody/something

38. To put the cart before the house – to do or put things in a wrong order
39. A cast of the eye – a squint
40. To cast one’s net wide – to cover a wide field
41. A cat and dog life – a life in which parents are constantly quarrelling
42. To set the cat among the pigeons – to introduce something that creates disturbance

43. To rain cats and dogs – to rain very heavily

44. To catch/clutch at a straw – to try any expedient thing however useless
45. To catch a tartar – to deal with a very troublesome or powerful person
46. By a long chalk – by a wide margin
47. Between Scyila and Charybdis – between two great dangers
48. To cast a chill over – to spread sadness
49. Burnt to a cinder – made useless by burning
50. In the clouds – in an unreal world/imaginary world
51. To carry coals to Newcastle – to take goods to a place where they are already plentiful

52. To coax fire to fight – to get one’s work done by coaxing

53. A cold fisha person lacking in normal cordiality, sympathy or other feelings

54. To give colour to – to give an appearance of probability to

55. To come to blow – to start fighting
56. To come to a pretty pass – to be in a difficulty out of which there is no escape
57. To come to an untimely end – to die prematurely
58. Pros and cons – arguments for and against something
59. To turn the corner – to pass through a crisis safely
60. To count the cost – to anticipate the risk involved in undertaking a venture

61. A child in the cradle – a baby; an innocence person

62. To cross one’s mind – to occur, strike
63. To cry halves – to claim an equal share
64. Much cry and little wool – much fuss with little result
65. To cry stinking fish – to decry one’s own goods
66. To give currency – to spread; to make current; to publicise
67. To cut the knot – to solve the difficulty
68. To cut a figure – to make a show of one’s presence
69. To cut capers – to play pranks
70. To cut and dried – readymade
71. A square deal - a fair treatment a bargain
72. In deep water – in great difficulty
73. In die in a ditch – to die a cowardly death
74. Dim and distant – long past
75. To throw dirt at somebody – to defame or condemn somebody
76. To drive a hard bargain – to insist on the best possible price

77. To lick the dust – to be killed

78. To be all ears – to listen carefully
79. Wet behind the ears – naïve, immature
80. To have an itching ear – to be desirous of hearing curious news
81. To eat humble pic – to be very apologetic
82. To tread upon eggs – to walk or behave cautiously
83. Up to one’s elbows – very busy
84. To be at one’s wits end – to be perplexed
85. At a lose end – unoccupied, having nothing important or interesting to do
86. To fall foul of – to quarrel
87. To fall into abeyance – to cease to be in use
88. To play fast and lose with – to act in an irresponsible or inconsiderate manner

89. To kill the fatted calf – to celebrate especially at a prodigal’s return

90. To feel in one’s bones – to know or sense something intuitively
91. To cut a fine/bold figure – to create a good impression by one’s behaviour
92. To slip through one’s fingers – to elude one as an opportunity not taken

93. To fight fire with fire – to return like for like

94. To fish in troubled waters – to try to win advantages for oneself from a distributed state of affairs; to take
advantage of troubled or uncertain conditions for personal gain
95. In the flesh – in life, in bodily form
96. To flog a dead horse – to waste one’s efforts
97. To live in a fool’s paradise – to live in a state of care free happiness that cannot last
98. To the fore – prominent

Set-5:
1. And so forth – and so on
2. To get into hot water – to get into trouble
3. To give up the ghost – to die
4. To go on a fool’s errand – to go on an expedition such as fool might go on

5. Good for nothing – worthless

6. To dig the grave of – to be cause of destruction; cause destruction
7. To grind to a halt – (of a vehicle) to stop noisily; to stop slowly

8. To grind to one’s mill- to turn something to one’s own profit or advantage

9. To have grounds for – to have a cause of/reason for

10. In the gutter – in a poverty – stricken, criminal environment
11. To split hairs – to find faults with
12. Hammer and tongs – with great noise or vigour
13. A hard nut to crack – a difficult task, problem
14. Hard and fast rules – strict rules/principles
15. As hard as nails – strong and muscular (
16. To be out of harness – to retire from service
17. To make a hash of – to spoil
18. To have clean hands – to be perfectly innocent
19. To play havoc with – to destroy, to ruin
20. To keep one’s head above water – to manage or survive a difficult experience
21. To cry one’s heart out –to weep bitterly
22. In the seventh heaven –extremely happy
23. Heavy tidings – bad news
24. To pay heed to/to take heed of – to give attention to
25. Under the heels – dominated by
26. Hen – pecked – (a man) ruled by his wife
27. A Herculean task – a very difficult task
28. High and dry – abandoned
29. High days and holidays – festivals and occasions
30. To hit the jackpot – to win a large prize or amount
31. To go the whole hog – to do something thoroughly
32. To have an ace in the hole – to keep secretly something effective in reserve

33. To reckon without one’s host – to plan or calculate without talking all important factors into account

34. To blow hot and cold – to keep changing one’s opinions; to beat and fondle

35. To break the ice – to succeed initially , to make a beginning; to overcome reserve

36. To add insult to injury – to harm as well as insult

37. To jump down somebody’s throat – to speak to somebody in anger
38. To keep a thing dark – to keeps one’s opinions, plans etc. secret

39. To kiss the ground – to be killed

40. To help a lame dong over a stile –to help someone in trouble
41. The last straw – an addition to a task, burden etc. which strains one’s patience to the limit

42. To die in the last ditch – to fight till the end

43. To look to one’s laurels– to be alert to the possibility of being excelled
44. To laze away one’s time – to kill time; to pass time in idleness
45. French leave – absence without permission
46. To pull one’s legs – to deceive
47. Lily white – purely white
48. To tear somebody limb from limits – to attack somebody very violently
49. To push one’s luck – to take risk in the hope of bright future
50. A maiden speech – first speech
51. A man before the mast – a common sailor
52. A main in the moon – a very rare person
53. A drug on the market – a thing that cannot be sold because there is no purchaser for it

54. To play the market – to buy or sell stocks and shares to make a profit

55. To meet one’s waterloo – to lose a decisive contest

56. To mount the throne – to become king, queen etc
57. In a muck – in an untidy state
58. Music to one’s ears – good news
59. Tooth and nail – with all one’s resources or energy
60. On the nails – on the spot, at once
61. Neck and crop – completely
62. To poke one’s nose into – to interfere
63. To hit or strike a false note – to say or do the wrong thing
64. The nuts and bolts – basic practical details
65. To sow one’s wild oats – to lead a dissolute life in one’s youth, especially to be promiscuous before
marriage
66. Odd and even – game of chance
67. Off and on – occasionally, now and then
68. To pour oil on the flames – to make a situation worse
69. Out of the ordinary – exceptional
70. Over and above – besides
71. At a snail’s pace – very slowly
72. To set the pace – to run, walk at a speed which others try to follow

73. To pack one’s bags – prepare to leave

74. Under pain of death – liable to the penalty of death
75. As pretty as paint – extremely beautiful
76. To pay one in one’s own coin – to retaliate
77. To peck out – to pierce hole in
78. To peg away (at something) – to work hard and persistently
79. To peg somebody down – to force or persuade somebody to be specific or make a definite promise

80. Penny wise and pound foolish – saving small sums at the risk of large ones
81. A pretty penny – a lot of money
82. To pick and steal – to pilfer
83. Pie in the sky – the illusory aspects of future benefits
84. From pillar to post – from one person to another
85. Pitch and toss – a game of chance
86. To play off against – to cause two people or groups to oppose each other esp for one’s own advantage

87. To pocket one’s anger – to control one’s anger

88. To poke one’s nose into something – to interfere in another person’s affairs
89. To miss the post – to be late for the clearance of mail
90. To catch the post – to be in time for the clearance of mail
91. To potter away one’s time – to waste time
92. To be/fall a prey toto be caught
93. To prick the bubble – to destroy/somebody’s illusion about something

94. A printer’s devil – the youngest apprentice in a printing office

95. To pull a face – to make an unusual expression with face
96. To pull somebody’s leg – to make fun of somebody
97. To pull the trigger – to press the trigger
98. To get purple with rage – to become very angry
99. To loosen the purse strings – to increases expenditures
100. To push one’s luck – to take ever increasing risks or chances

Set-6:
1. To push the boat out – to celebrate unmindful of the expenditures
2. To put the saddle on the right horse – to impute blame to the proper party
3. To put one’s oar in – to interfere
4. To put to rights – to put in good order
5. To put one on the right scent – to put one on the right track
6. To patch up a quarrel – to end a quarrel
7. On the quivive – alert, watchful
8. On the rack – in severe pain or mental distress
9. To go to rack and ruin – to fall into a ruined or disorganized state through neglect

10. From rags to riches – from extreme poverty to wealth

11. A red rag to a bull – something likely to cause to strong resentment, anger, violence etc

12. To fly into a rage – to get very angry

13. To ride for a fail – to take a risk
14. Right to the bottom – up to the bottom
15. To rise and shine – to get out of bed and be active
16. To rise in the world – to get into a higher or better position in life
17. At the end of one’s rope – at the end of one’s endurance or means

18. A rough diamond – a person, who is good – natured, but lacking polished manners, education, etc.

19. A hard row to the hoe – a difficult task or assignment

20. Rule of thumb – practical method of measuring something
21. In the long run – ultimately
22. Run – of the mill – ordinary
23. A run in music – a succession of notes rapidly played or sung
24. To cut and run – to make a quick or sudden escape
25. To runthe gauntlet – to undergo sever criticism or attack
26. Sadder but wiser– having learnt something important from a mistake or failure

27. Safe and sound – secure and unharmed

28. To sail close to the wind – to sail in the direction of the wind

29. The salt of the earth – very decent, honest person

30. Above the salt – respectable guest
31. To save for a rainy day – to save money for future needs
32. To pinch and save scrape – to live in a very miserly way
33. A saving grace – a thing that makes up for the poor qualities in somebody/something

34. To turn the scales – to decide in favour of one side or faction

35. To hold the scaled even – to be fair in – judgement
36. To be on the right scent – to be on the right way
37. To have a screw to lose – to be eccentric, to have crazy ideas
38. A work in season – advice at a time when it is likely to be useful
39. To set at defiance – to disregard
40. To set one cap at somebody – to try at attract as a suitor
41. To set people by the ears – to provoke people to quarrel

42. A settled weather – clear, calm weather

43. To shift one’s ground – to take up a new position
44. To keep one’s shirt on – not to lose one’s temper
45. To die in one’s shoes – to die in harness
46. To rub shoulders with – [to mingle with
47. To have a god head on one’s shoulders – to have practical ability, commonsense etc.
48. At sixes and sevens – in disorder
49. A sitting duck – a person or a thing that is an easy target to be attacked

50. By the skin of one’s teeth – by an extremely narrow margin

51. To get under one’s skin – to anger or irritate
52. A car up one’s sleeve – a secret held in reserve until needed

53. To snap one’s fingers at – to show contempt for

54. To speak the same language – to have similar tastes and ideas
55. To spike somebody’s guns – to spoil his plans
56. Out of spirits – in low spirits, depressed
57. To split one sides – to laugh uncontrollably
58. A spy hole – a peep hole
59. A narrow squeak – [a narrow escape
60. A stab in the back – [an act of treachery
61. To stand on stepping stones – to be very punctilious
62. To lie in state – (of a corpse) to be exhibited publicly with honors before burial, cremation etc.

63. To steal one’s thunder – to appropriate or use another’s idea or plan

64. Under one’s own steam – with one’s own effort
65. On the stick– alert, moving: active
66. To leave no stone unturned – to try utmost
67. To mark somebody with a white stone – to make fortunate
68. To pull out all the stops – to use all one’s power or resources in order to achieve something

69. A straw in the wind – a slight indication of how things may develop
70. The man in the street – the common man
71. To strike at the root – to attack at the source
72. To strike a bargain – to agree to terms
73. Have two strings to one’s bow – to have two resources as security
74. To pull the strings/wires – to control events or the actions of other people

75. Between sun and sun – from sunrise to sunset

76. Under the sun – on earth
77. A month of Sundays – a long period of time
78. All and sundry – everyone without distinction
79. According to one’s sweet will – just as one pleases
80. To swim with the stream side – to do as the majority do
81. At one fell swoop – in a single, deadly action
82. To draw the sword – to being a war
83. To sheathe a sword – to stop a war
84. To lay something on the table – to postpone indefinitely
85. Take somebody by the throat – to seize him by the throat
86. To take a statement on trust –to accept it as true without inquiry

87. To talk down to – to speak condescendingly to; to patronise

88. To bore (somebody) to death/tears – to bore somebody intensely
89. To tear somebody limb from limb – to attack somebody very violently
90. Wear and tear – damage caused by ordinary use
91. To get into a temper – to become angry
92. A contradiction in terms – a statement containing two words which contradict each other’s meaning

93. At the end of one’s tether – at the end of one’s strength or resources or patience

94. To give a thick ear to – to give a blow on the ear

95. Thick and fast – rapidly and in great numbers
96. To hang by a single tread – to depend on something small
97. To cut one’s own throat – to bring about one’s own ruin
98. To be in the throes of – struggling with the task of
99. To throw down the gauntlet – to challenge somebody to do something
100. To throw one over – to get rid of; to abandon

Set-7:
1. To work double tides – to work round the clock
2. To go with the tides – to work according to circumstances
3. To have a tile loose – to be whimsical
4. On the tiles – enjoying oneself away from home in a wild or drunken way

5. In times gone by – in times indefinitely past

6. A kick in the teeth – an unpleasant and often unexpected action
7. Long in the tooth – rather old
8. Tooth and nail – with all one’s resources or energy; fiercely
9. Touch – and – go – risky
10. A man about town – a man who spends much time at fashionable parties, clubs, theaters

11. To tread the boards –to play a role on the stage

12. To tread on somebody’s heels – to follow somebody closely
13. In fear and trembling – in a frightened or cowed manner
14. To wear the pants/trousers – (usually of a women) to be the dominant person in a relationship,
especially a marriage
15. To turn the corner – to pass through a crises safely
16. To trun a matter over in one’s mind – to consider a though or project carefully and look at it from all
sides
17. To turn one’s hand to – (to be able) to undertake
18. To turn the fortunes of the day – to change radically the good luck of
19. To turn something inside out – to cause the inner side to reverse to face the outside
20. To twiddle one’s thumbs – to be idle
21. To be up before somebody – to appear in court
22. To keep a stiff upper lip – to face misfortune bravely and resolutely

23. To tickle somebody’s vanity – to do or say something that flatters him

24. To throw the veil of – to appear on one’s true form
25. Beyond the veil – in the world high above
26. Waifs and strays – homeless children; odds and ends
27. To go to the wall – to be in a difficult or desperate situation
28. To make a hole in the still water – to invite troubles
29. To muddy the waters – to make a situation confused unclear
30. To meet one’s waterloo – to be badly defeated in a contest
31. To go the way of all flesh – to die as other people do, suffer the same changes, dangers, etc as other
people
32. To have a way with one – to have the power to attract or persuade others

33. The weaker sex – women in general

34. Weal and woe – prosperity and adversity
35. Under the weather – feeling somewhat indisposed, ill
36. To throw one’s weight around/about – to misuse one’s power
37. To put one’s shoulder to the wheel – to work hard at a task
38. Once in a while – occasionally
39. The whys and the wherefore –the reasons
40. A wild cat strike – an illegal strike
41. Beyond one’s wildest dream – for more than one could ever have imagined or hoped for

42. At one’s own sweet will – just as one pleases, often in spite of the wishes of others
43. To win something hands down – to get an easy win by a large margin
44. To get one’s second wind – to feel strong again after getting very tired
45. To get wind of something – to hear a rumour that something is happening

46. Sound in wind and limb – physically fit

47. To tip on the wink – to give a secret hint
48. Under the wire – just within the limit or deadline
49. To have a wolf in the stomach – to be very hungry
50. To see a wolf – to get frightened
51. To bark up the wrong tree – to be mistaken about something
52. Add to – increases the size, amount, number etc.
53. Back off – move away from
54. Bring out – publish
55. Bring up – educated or rear
56. Burst in on – to come suddenly
57. Buy somebody over – bribe or corrupt somebody
58. Call for – demand
59. Call on/upon – pay a short visit to a person
60. Call up – telephone; ring; make a phone call (to a person or a place)
61. Carry away – axcite
62. Catch somebody out – dismiss a batman by catching the ball
63. Climb up – ascend
64. Come along – make haste
65. Come forward – offer to give help, information
66. Come in for – get; obtain
67. Come of – be descended from
68. Come out with – say
69. Comethrough – recover from a serious illness; to get better after a serious illness

70. Come up against – face

71. Come up to – approach; reach
72. Come up to – reach an acceptable level or standard
73. Crop with – sow
74. Cry off – decide not to do something promised or agreed to do
75. Cut down on –reduce one’s consumption
76. Cut off – remove by cutting
77. Deal with – have relation with
78. Die off – die one by one
79. Do away with – abolish; get rid of; eliminate
80. Do something up – redecorate; repair, renovate, restore
81. Drop back – come to a position behind
82. Drop off – decreases in number or amount
83. Dwell on/upon – think, talk or write about something for too lour

84. Eat into – gradually damage or destroy

85. End off – finish
86. Explain away – show why one should not be blamed for a fault, mistake, etc
87. Fade away – gradually become less strong, clear or frequent and disappear

88. Fall back on – use in the absence of something better

89. Fall off –decreases (in number or quantity)

90. Fight something down – repress; overcome
91. Get along with – agree
92. Get off – depart
93. Get round – persuade somebody to let you do or have something
94. Give out –come to an end
95. Go away with – take with; abscond with
96. Go forward – advance; progress; go ahead
97. Go off – explode; be fired
98. Hand over –give somebody else your position or power or authority
99. Hang about – [spend time uselessly
100. Hit out – strike vigorously

Set-8:
1. Hold off – keep at a distance
2. Hold off – remain at a distance
3. Hold with – agree; approve
4. Hunt for – search for; try to find
5. Idle away – spend in an idle nammer; spend (time) doing nothing very important

6. Imbue with – fill, inspire

7. Insist on – declare that a purpose cannot be changed

8. Itch for – want something very much

9. Keep in with – continue to be friendly with
10. Keep up with – advance at the same place as
11. Knock off –stop work
12. Lash out – attack violently
13. Laugh off – try to make people think that something is not serious or important, by making a joke about
it
14. Lay aside – keep something to use in the future, save
15. Lay off – dismiss for a short time
16. Lay out – spend (money)
17. Let in – allow to enter; admit
18. Let off – refrain from punishing; pardon
19. Let through – allow to pass
20. Lie on/upon – depend on
21. Lie down – make people forget something very embarrassing or bad you did in the past
22. Live through – experience something difficult or unpleasant and survive
23. Look for – search for; seek
24. Look round – examine possibilities before deciding something

25. Look to (something) – be careful of or about (something)

26. Look up to – respect
27. Make away with– get rid of; commit suicide
28. Make for – rush towards; attack
29. Make of – understand
30. Make off – hurry or rush away
31. Make off (something) – hurry or rush away especially when somebody is trying to escape or has stolen
something
32. Make up for – [to do or provide something good to balance or reduce the effects of something bad

33. Mess up – put into disorder or confusion

34. Muster up – gather, assemble
35. Nose something out – discover by smelling
36. Nuzzle up (against/to) – rub or push with the nose
37. Open with – begin, start
38. Pass away – die
39. Pass off – of pain; a crisis) end
40. Pass over – ignore, avoid
41. Pass through – undergo
42. Pay off – finish paying money that somebody owes for something

43. Pick out – choose; select

44. Play on/upon – make use of (somebody’s felling sets)
45. Pull apart – tear into pieces
46. Pull off – succeed; win
47. Pull through – succeed in doing something very difficult
48. Push off – go; leave
49. Push over – cause to fall; overturn
50. Put something about – spread
51. Put aside – save for future
52. Put away – put something in a box, drawer, etc after using it
53. Put down to –attribute to
54. Put in for – apply for
55. Put something out – extinguish; make something stop burning
56. Quest for – look for
57. Rule out – declare that something is out of question
58. Run after – strive after
59. Run away – flee
60. Run somebody in –arrest somebody and take him to a police station
61. Run off –escape from; move quickly away from
62. Run over – drive over accidentally
63. See off – accompany a traveller to his train, boat etc.
64. See over – visit and look at a place carefully
65. See through – discover a hidden attempt to deceive
66. Send something down – cause to fall
67. Send out – produce
68. Set apart – put on one side for future use

69. Set aside – save for future use; put aside

70. Set down – (of a vehicle or its driver) stop and allow somebody to get off/out
71. Set forth – make known, declare
72. Set in – begin and seem likely to continue
73. Set off – begin a journey
74. Settle something on/upon (somebody) – (legal) give somebody (property, etc) to use for/during his/her
lifetime
75. Settle on – choose; make a decision about
76. Shake off – escape from, get rid of somebody who is chasing
77. Shake off – get rid of (an illness, etc)
78. Shake up – mix well up shaking
79. Show off – display (skill, knowledge, etc.)
80. Smile upon – to favour
81. Shut off – stop functioning (machine etc.)
82. Shut up – stop talking
83. Sit out– not take part in something
84. Sleep in – remain in bed longer than usual
85. Stand against – oppose
86. Stand down – stop talking part in something; leave the place, where you stand for evidence
87. Stand for –be a candidate for; represent; support
88. Stand off – move away
89. Stand with – be on terms with
90. Stay off – keep away; not return
91. Stay up – not go to bed
92. Step down – resign
93. Step up – increase rate of or speed of
94. Stick at – work continuously at something in a determined way
95. Stick out – make something, especially part of your body come through a whole
96. Stick to – refuse to change one’s mind
97. Stick up for – [support or defend
98. Stop over – stop somewhere for a short tiem when you are on a long journey

99. Strike off – remove something from a text or list by drawing a line through it
100. Strike on – get or find suddenly or unexpectedly

Set-9:
1. Strike up – being a friendship, a relationship, a conversation etc (with somebody)
2. Sum up – give the main points in a few words
3. Talk back to – reply defiantly; retort
4. Talk somebody down – silence him by talking loudly at him
5. Take after – resemble; look like; behave like an older member of your family

6. Take away from – make the effect or value of something seem less
7. Take off – leave the ground (of aeroplane)
8. Take in – allow somebody to stay in your home
9. Take off –remove clothes, etc
10. Take to – start liking
11. Take up – lift up; raise
12. Tear up – tear into pieces
13. Tell somebody/something apart – to able to distinguish somebody/something from other similar
people or things
14. Tell somebody off – speak angrily to somebody; rebuke, chide, scold
15. Thing something out – consider all the details carefully
16. Thing something over – consider something carefully before making a decision

17. Think up – create an idea, a plan, etc in your mind

18. Throw something in – include something with what you are selling

19. Throw on/upon – place reliance on

20. Throw somebody over – end a relationship with somebody

21. Try on – put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits and how it looks
22. Tumble down– collapse
23. Tumble over – fall down
24. Turn back – return
25. Turn into – convert into
26. Turn off – change direction, leave (one road) for another
27. Turn on – depend on, rely on
28. Turn up – arrive
29. Use something up – consume
30. Usher something in – mark or be the start of something new
31. Vouch for – be responsible for
32. Wait on – serve as a servant
33. Wait up – not go to bed until somebody comes home or arrives
34. Wake up to – be surprised; come to sense
35. Walk away from – leave a difficult or unpleasant situation
36. Walk off – leave a place or a person suddenly because you are angry
37. Wash away/off/out – remove something by washing
38. Watch for – look and wait for something to happen or for suddenly to come
39. Wave aside – dismiss
40. Wave somebody off – wave goodbye to somebody as he leaves
41. Wind up – bring or come to an end
42. Wipe out – destroy completely
43. Wipe up – clean a substance, especially a liquid from a surface especially with a piece of cloth

44. Work off– get rid of by physical effort

45. Write somebody down as – describe as
46. Write something down – put down (on paper) in words, write something on paper so that you don’t
forget
47. Year for – long for with tender felling, affection etc.
48. Yell out – suddenly shout in a loud voice
49. Zip through (something) –do, read something (very) quickly
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