IDIOMS

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of its constituent
words. Knowledge of idioms is an important part of comprehension of the English language.
Below is a list of some commonly used idioms in English with their meanings and usage.
TURN OVER A NEW LEAF

Changing for the better

After Ajit was released from prison, he decided to turn over a new leaf and become an honest
man.
PULL UP ONES SOCKS

To make an effort to improve

Rajesh scored only forty on his English mid-term exams. He needs to pull up his socks if he
wants to do well in his finals.
HIT BELOW THE BELT

To act in an unfair manner

The candidate of the opposition party spread false rumours about the Minister. People felt that
he was hitting below the belt.
GIFT OF THE GAB

The ability to speak well

Pooja was able to keep the audiences amused with her stories. She surely has the gift of the
gab.
WILD GOOSE CHASE

Futile search

Searching for hidden gold in the village field is nothing but a wild goose chase.
HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS

Reconsider a decision

Rajiv began to have second thoughts about his decision to study Economics when he realised
that he could not even pay attention during the lectures.
TAKE TO TASK

To reprimand someone

Payal was taken to task by her mother when she failed her Mathematics exam.

FACE THE MUSIC

To face the consequences of ones

action

I lost my fathers pen. I will have to face the music when I reach home.
BREAK THE ICE

Overcome initial shyness

The teacher asked the students to introduce themselves to each other to break the ice.
MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A
MOLEHILL

To give great importance to minor

things

Manoj stopped talking to Rupa because she did not lend him her notebook. I think he is making
a mountain out of a molehill.
AT LOGGERHEADS

To differ strongly

The two brothers can never work together. They are always at loggerheads.
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN
SHINES

Make the best of a good situation

while it lasts

Mr. Sharma got the big contract to supply machine parts to a big Japanese company. He should
make hay while the sun shines.
LET BYGONES BE BYGONES

Ignore the bad things of the past

We have not spoken to each other since the time we had a fight a few months back. We should
let bygones be bygones and become friends again.
HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

Be exact or accurate

Ram is a genius. He hit the nail on the head when he said that the car was overheating because
of a leaking radiator.
THROW IN THE TOWEL

To accept defeat

I am unable to solve this question. I am ready to throw in the towel.

NO STONE UNTURNED

Make all possible efforts

Ramesh has joined two coaching classes. He is leaving no stone unturned in his efforts to get
into an engineering college.
BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN To be born in a very rich family
ONES MOUTH
Priya was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father gave her an expensive car on her
eighteenth birthday.
KEEP ONES FINGERS CROSSED Hope for a positive outcome
My results will come out day after tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK

Using any means, fair or foul

There is a cricket match tomorrow. Raj will make sure he gets the day off from office by hook
or by crook.
BURN ONES FINGERS

Suffer for something that one has

done

I will never bet again. I burnt my fingers betting at the race course today.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate idiom.

1. If you have a group of strangers together, it is good to start with an
activity to break the ice.
2. By hook or by crook, the organiser must find another singer to perform
tonight.

3. Jamal invested all his money on the project without seeking expert
advice and burnt his fingers in the process.
4. The doctors have operated on my mother. All I can do now is to pray
and keep my finger crossed that she will put through and make a full
recovery
5. You hit the nail on the head when you said that he is the mastermind of
the whole plan.
6. Dont throw in the towel in the first round itself. Push yourself into the
limit.
7. The drug addict promised to turn over a new leaf after his release.
8. The debater deserves to be the best speaker because he clearly has the
gift of the gab.
9. They are all going to pull up their socks and play a bit better.
10. Political campaigns often hit below the belt and say horrible thing about
the adversary.
11. I wasted all afternoon on a wild goose chase to find my missing mobile
phone.
12. Lionel Messi appears to be having second thought about his retirement
in football.
13. I lost a big contract, and the boss took me to task in front of everyone.
14. Come on, you only lost RM10. It's not that much, so I think you might
be making a mountain out of a molehill.
15. The twins were at loggerheads over who should take the larger room.
16.
Most of the students at the exclusive private college were born with silver s
poons in their mouths.
17. Ive got a few hours to finish the housework before the kids come home so I might
as well make hay while the sun shines.
18. Mary broke a dining room window and had to face the music when her father got
home.
19. Arif held a grudge against her cousin for a long time but she finally let bygones be
bygones.
20. Dont worry. Well find your stolen car. Well leave no stone unturned.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate idiom.

1. If you have a group of strangers together, it is good to start with an
activity to __________.
2. ______________________, the organiser must find another singer to perform
tonight.
3. Jamal invested all his money on the project without seeking expert
advice and ______________________ in the process.
4. The doctors have operated on my mother. All I can do now is to pray
and __________ __________ that she will put through and make a full recovery
5. You ______________________when you said that he is the mastermind of the
whole plan.
6. Dont ______________________ in the first round itself. Push yourself into
the limit.
7. The drug addict promised to ______________________after his release.
8. The debater deserves to be the best speaker because he clearly has the
_______________.
9. They are all going to ______________________ and play a bit better.
10. Political campaigns often ______________________ and say horrible thing
about the adversary.
11. I wasted all afternoon on a ______________________ to find my missing
mobile phone.
12. Lionel Messi appears to be ______________________ about his retirement in
football.
13. I lost a big contract, and the boss ______________________
in front of everyone.
14. Come on, you only lost RM10. It's not that much, so I think you might
be ______________________
15.
The twins were ______________________over who should take the larger room.
16.Most of the students at the exclusive private college were _______________
_______in their mouths.

17. Ive got a few hours to finish the housework before the kids come home so I might
as well ______________________.
18. Mary broke a dining room window and had to ______________________ when her
father got home.
19. Arif held a grudge against her cousin for a long time but she finally ___________
20. Dont worry. Well find your stolen car. Well leave ______________________

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate idiom.

1. If you have a group of strangers together, it is good to start with an
activity to __________.
2. ______________________, the organiser must find another singer to perform
tonight.
3. Jamal invested all his money on the project without seeking expert
advice and ______________________ in the process.
4. The doctors have operated on my mother. All I can do now is to pray
and __________ __________ that she will put through and make a full recovery
5. You ______________________when you said that he is the mastermind of the
whole plan.
6. Dont ______________________ in the first round itself. Push yourself into
the limit.
7. The drug addict promised to ______________________after his release.
8. The debater deserves to be the best speaker because he clearly has the
_______________.
9. They are all going to ______________________ and play a bit better.
10. Political campaigns often ______________________ and say horrible thing
about the adversary.
11. I wasted all afternoon on a ______________________ to find my missing
mobile phone.
12. Lionel Messi appears to be ______________________ about his retirement in
football.
13. I lost a big contract, and the boss ______________________
in front of everyone.

14. Come on, you only lost RM10. It's not that much, so I think you might
be ______________________
15.
The twins were ______________________over who should take the larger room.
16.Most of the students at the exclusive private college were _______________
_______in their mouths.
17. Ive got a few hours to finish the housework before the kids come home so I might
as well ______________________.
18. Mary broke a dining room window and had to ______________________ when her
father got home.
19. Arif held a grudge against her cousin for a long time but she finally ___________
20. Dont worry. Well find your stolen car. Well leave ______________________