Idioms and
Phrases
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At sixes and sevens: Home ruler, who were all at sixes and sevens among themselves
agreed only upon the one thing and that was the freedom of India.
All in all: The Head clerk is all in all in this office.
All the same: It is all the same to me whether the pull over is home-made or bazaar-made.
At large: The culprits are still at large.
By fits and starts: He works by fits and starts and does not apply him steadily.
Black sheep: We should be aware of the black sheep in our society.
A bone of contention: This property is a bone of contention between the two brothers.
To break the ice: We all wanted to talk on this subject by no one willing to break the ice.
A burning question: Kashmir is a burning question of the day.
To back out: He promised to help me but backed out at the eleventh hour.
To beat about the bush: Stop beating about the bush; say exactly what you mean.
Bed of roses: A military life is not bed of roses.
In cold blood: He murdered the merchant in cold blood.
To fall to the ground: The theory has fallen to the ground.
Go hand in hand: Diligence and prosperity go hand in hand.
Leave no stone unturned: Shah Faisal left no stone unturned to bring about unity in the Islamic world.
Live from hand to mouth: Our middle class people live generally from hand to mouth.
Look down upon: He is so proud of his promotion that he looks down upon all his former friends.
At a loss: He is never at a loss for an appropriate word.
To pay back in the same coin: If a person rude towards you, it does not mean that you should pay him in the same coin.
To keep pace with: Agriculture in the states has kept pace with manufacture, but it has far out stepped commerce.
Red tape: Flourence Nightingale was a sworn enemy of red tape.
To speak volumes: The murders spoke volumes about political conditions before Indian elections.
Up to the mark: You don’t look quite up to the mark today.
To get into hot water: Do not quarrel with your officers or you will soon get into hot water.
Time and again: Time and again proverbs come to be true.
Cut off: The supplies were cut off from the soldier due to snow fall.
Run against: Zuhair Akram Nadeem was running against Dr. Farooq Sattar in the elections 89.
To turn over a new leaf: The teacher pardoned the boy on the condition that he promised to turn over a new leaf in future.
To nip in the bud: The plot to overthrow the Government was detected and nipped in the bud.
To feel like a fish out of water: Being the only educated person in that village, I felt like a fish out of water.
To shed crocodile terars: Don’t be deceived by the beggar’s crying. They are only crocodile’s tears.
Lion share: The stronger person generally gets the lions share of the property.
To cry over spilt milk: The damage has been done but instead of crying over spilt milk do something to repair it.
It is high time: The exams begin next month so it is high time to study seriously.
To save something for the rainy day: He wasted his savings and has kept nothing for the rainy day.
With a high hand: He is the most unpopular because he decides matters with a high hand.
Day in and day out: I have been warning you day in and day out.
To make the most of: He let me use his bicycle for a week and I am going to make the most of it.
To make the fun of: We should not make fun of handicaps.
To make room for: They made room for more guests as all seats were full.
To go through: He went through the whole book within a week.
In all: He got 782 marks in all.
All alone: Yesterday night she was all alone in her house.
To put into practice: The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) put into practice what he preaches.
A wild goose chase: The robbers fled away and the police gave them a wild goose chase.
To end in smoke: All his efforts ended in smoke because they were not made sincerely.
With flying colours: If you work hard you will pass your examination with flying colours.
Odds and ends: The shopkeeper does not sell any particular article, but deals in odds and ends.
Under one’s nose: The police were on the lookout for the culprit who was hiding under their nose.
To poke one’s nose into: One should not poke one’s nose into others affairs.
To kick up a row: It is useless kicking up a row when the matters can be decided peacefully.
To wind up: He is winding up his business in the city, as he going abroad.
In black and white: I want your statement in black and white.
A red letter day: 14th August is a red letter day in the history of Pakistan.
To run into: Last night my friend ran into a cheat who deprived him of his brief case by changing it with an empty one.
To bring to light: A number of facts were brought to light by the Prime Minister in the recent Press Conference.
At the eleventh hour: The president postponed his meeting with the journalists due to visit of the French delegation at the eleventh hour.
To come across: In the wedding party, she come across he two very close friends of the University life.
To give up: The doctor has strictly advised him to give up drinking and smoking for the sake of his life.
To call a spade, a spade: Islam teaches us to call a spade, a spade even before a cruel ruler.
To look after: All the parents have to look after their children during the early period of the school life.
To break up: The two partners have decided to break up the partnership and divide the assets equally.
To get rid of: Pakistan must get rid of that type of foreign aid, which puts on her, undue political pressure.
At a stretch: Saeed Anwer played an aggressive inning and continued to score runs at a stretch.
To give in: Imran Khan and Miandad were real fighters and they would never give in till the last ball.
To let down: The rich feel proud of their wealth and usually let down the poor.
Once in a blue moon: I am not so fond of movies and watch some fine art movie once in a blue moon.
To fall out: A short tempered football player fell out with his opponents and got wounded.
To call on: The winners of 1994 World Cup called on the President, with their captain.
To call off: The University students finally decided to call off the strike as their demands were accepted.
To bring home to: Rizwan brought home to her all the important aspects of the matter.
To get over: The Indian Government made all possible efforts to get over the epidemic of plague.
To get across: The news of Mr. Eddhi’s self-exile got across the country within no time.
To make up for: The Government and people of Iraq are working day and night to make up the loss caused by the Gulf war.
To make off: The robbers made off through the back door just as the security guard started firing into air.
To bring out: The telephone Corporation has brought a decent Directory in three volumes.
To bring up: Abraham Lincoln was brought up by his parents in a state of very limited financial resources.
To take off: The Hajj flight will take off every morning during the next couple of weeks.
To take place: The wedding of my cousin will take place in the first week of November, next.
To keep up: Our cricket team must go through an extensive training and practice session to keep up their position in the next world cup.
To stir up: The statement given by Mr. Abdul Sattar Eddhi caused great stir up in the political circles.
To go off: While the police man was cleaning his rifle, it suddenly went off because it was loaded.
To let off: Finally, the defaulter was let off by the civil authorities in view of his undertaking to abide by the rules in future.
To beg for: The Quaid-e-Azam begged for peace and friendship with his former enemies, the Congress leaders.
To furnish with: The chief justice was furnished with all the documentary proofs against the accused.
To look for: After the panic had subsided, people started looking for their misplaced baggage.
To run after: According to Einstein, ordinary people run after ordinary objects such as property and luxury.
To turn down: The secretary was taking down the main points to prepare a summary of the Seminar on pollution.
To watch over: Sensible parents make it a point to watch over the outdoor activities of their growing up children.
To bank on: Never bank on a fair weather friend because he will certainly cheat you.
To blow hot and cold: It is part of his nature to blow hot and cold as he favors this political party today the other party tomorrow.
To break the news: It was really very hard to break the shocking news of her husband’s accidental death to her.
To call names: He is such loose tempered man that he often begins to call names to his neighbors.
To turn the tables: The pace attack by Wasim Akram and Waqar turned the tables against India and our cricket team got victory.
To hold water: The judge will give a favorable verdict only when you lawyer’s arguments hold water.
To face the music: Those who are responsible for terrorism in the city must face the music and be dealt with.
To be under the cloud: These days, the opposition leaders are under a cloud and being tortured by the Government.
By hook or by crook: The corrupt politicians try to win in every general election by hook or by crook.
To run short of: These days most areas in Karachi are running short of water supply.
All in all: The Head clerk is all in all in this office.
All the same: It is all the same to me whether the pull over is home-made or bazaar-made.
At large: The culprits are still at large.
By fits and starts: He works by fits and starts and does not apply him steadily.
Black sheep: We should be aware of the black sheep in our society.
A bone of contention: This property is a bone of contention between the two brothers.
To break the ice: We all wanted to talk on this subject by no one willing to break the ice.
A burning question: Kashmir is a burning question of the day.
To back out: He promised to help me but backed out at the eleventh hour.
To beat about the bush: Stop beating about the bush; say exactly what you mean.
Bed of roses: A military life is not bed of roses.
In cold blood: He murdered the merchant in cold blood.
To fall to the ground: The theory has fallen to the ground.
Go hand in hand: Diligence and prosperity go hand in hand.
Leave no stone unturned: Shah Faisal left no stone unturned to bring about unity in the Islamic world.
Live from hand to mouth: Our middle class people live generally from hand to mouth.
Look down upon: He is so proud of his promotion that he looks down upon all his former friends.
At a loss: He is never at a loss for an appropriate word.
To pay back in the same coin: If a person rude towards you, it does not mean that you should pay him in the same coin.
To keep pace with: Agriculture in the states has kept pace with manufacture, but it has far out stepped commerce.
Red tape: Flourence Nightingale was a sworn enemy of red tape.
To speak volumes: The murders spoke volumes about political conditions before Indian elections.
Up to the mark: You don’t look quite up to the mark today.
To get into hot water: Do not quarrel with your officers or you will soon get into hot water.
Time and again: Time and again proverbs come to be true.
Cut off: The supplies were cut off from the soldier due to snow fall.
Run against: Zuhair Akram Nadeem was running against Dr. Farooq Sattar in the elections 89.
To turn over a new leaf: The teacher pardoned the boy on the condition that he promised to turn over a new leaf in future.
To nip in the bud: The plot to overthrow the Government was detected and nipped in the bud.
To feel like a fish out of water: Being the only educated person in that village, I felt like a fish out of water.
To shed crocodile terars: Don’t be deceived by the beggar’s crying. They are only crocodile’s tears.
Lion share: The stronger person generally gets the lions share of the property.
To cry over spilt milk: The damage has been done but instead of crying over spilt milk do something to repair it.
It is high time: The exams begin next month so it is high time to study seriously.
To save something for the rainy day: He wasted his savings and has kept nothing for the rainy day.
With a high hand: He is the most unpopular because he decides matters with a high hand.
Day in and day out: I have been warning you day in and day out.
To make the most of: He let me use his bicycle for a week and I am going to make the most of it.
To make the fun of: We should not make fun of handicaps.
To make room for: They made room for more guests as all seats were full.
To go through: He went through the whole book within a week.
In all: He got 782 marks in all.
All alone: Yesterday night she was all alone in her house.
To put into practice: The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) put into practice what he preaches.
A wild goose chase: The robbers fled away and the police gave them a wild goose chase.
To end in smoke: All his efforts ended in smoke because they were not made sincerely.
With flying colours: If you work hard you will pass your examination with flying colours.
Odds and ends: The shopkeeper does not sell any particular article, but deals in odds and ends.
Under one’s nose: The police were on the lookout for the culprit who was hiding under their nose.
To poke one’s nose into: One should not poke one’s nose into others affairs.
To kick up a row: It is useless kicking up a row when the matters can be decided peacefully.
To wind up: He is winding up his business in the city, as he going abroad.
In black and white: I want your statement in black and white.
A red letter day: 14th August is a red letter day in the history of Pakistan.
To run into: Last night my friend ran into a cheat who deprived him of his brief case by changing it with an empty one.
To bring to light: A number of facts were brought to light by the Prime Minister in the recent Press Conference.
At the eleventh hour: The president postponed his meeting with the journalists due to visit of the French delegation at the eleventh hour.
To come across: In the wedding party, she come across he two very close friends of the University life.
To give up: The doctor has strictly advised him to give up drinking and smoking for the sake of his life.
To call a spade, a spade: Islam teaches us to call a spade, a spade even before a cruel ruler.
To look after: All the parents have to look after their children during the early period of the school life.
To break up: The two partners have decided to break up the partnership and divide the assets equally.
To get rid of: Pakistan must get rid of that type of foreign aid, which puts on her, undue political pressure.
At a stretch: Saeed Anwer played an aggressive inning and continued to score runs at a stretch.
To give in: Imran Khan and Miandad were real fighters and they would never give in till the last ball.
To let down: The rich feel proud of their wealth and usually let down the poor.
Once in a blue moon: I am not so fond of movies and watch some fine art movie once in a blue moon.
To fall out: A short tempered football player fell out with his opponents and got wounded.
To call on: The winners of 1994 World Cup called on the President, with their captain.
To call off: The University students finally decided to call off the strike as their demands were accepted.
To bring home to: Rizwan brought home to her all the important aspects of the matter.
To get over: The Indian Government made all possible efforts to get over the epidemic of plague.
To get across: The news of Mr. Eddhi’s self-exile got across the country within no time.
To make up for: The Government and people of Iraq are working day and night to make up the loss caused by the Gulf war.
To make off: The robbers made off through the back door just as the security guard started firing into air.
To bring out: The telephone Corporation has brought a decent Directory in three volumes.
To bring up: Abraham Lincoln was brought up by his parents in a state of very limited financial resources.
To take off: The Hajj flight will take off every morning during the next couple of weeks.
To take place: The wedding of my cousin will take place in the first week of November, next.
To keep up: Our cricket team must go through an extensive training and practice session to keep up their position in the next world cup.
To stir up: The statement given by Mr. Abdul Sattar Eddhi caused great stir up in the political circles.
To go off: While the police man was cleaning his rifle, it suddenly went off because it was loaded.
To let off: Finally, the defaulter was let off by the civil authorities in view of his undertaking to abide by the rules in future.
To beg for: The Quaid-e-Azam begged for peace and friendship with his former enemies, the Congress leaders.
To furnish with: The chief justice was furnished with all the documentary proofs against the accused.
To look for: After the panic had subsided, people started looking for their misplaced baggage.
To run after: According to Einstein, ordinary people run after ordinary objects such as property and luxury.
To turn down: The secretary was taking down the main points to prepare a summary of the Seminar on pollution.
To watch over: Sensible parents make it a point to watch over the outdoor activities of their growing up children.
To bank on: Never bank on a fair weather friend because he will certainly cheat you.
To blow hot and cold: It is part of his nature to blow hot and cold as he favors this political party today the other party tomorrow.
To break the news: It was really very hard to break the shocking news of her husband’s accidental death to her.
To call names: He is such loose tempered man that he often begins to call names to his neighbors.
To turn the tables: The pace attack by Wasim Akram and Waqar turned the tables against India and our cricket team got victory.
To hold water: The judge will give a favorable verdict only when you lawyer’s arguments hold water.
To face the music: Those who are responsible for terrorism in the city must face the music and be dealt with.
To be under the cloud: These days, the opposition leaders are under a cloud and being tortured by the Government.
By hook or by crook: The corrupt politicians try to win in every general election by hook or by crook.
To run short of: These days most areas in Karachi are running short of water supply.
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