Learn Important Idioms and Phrases for Competitive Exams with meaning | Important Idioms and Phrases with meaning
Candidates preparing for the competitive examinations for getting job in the Government sector like SSC, UPSC, CDS etc have to prepare for different sections and English is one of the sections that is needed to be scored high. The Important Idioms and Phrases are the main topics that are needed to be covered. We are providing all Idioms and Phrases with meaning to make it easy for the candidates, if any question is raised from this category candidates will be able to answer it correctly. The important Idioms and Phrases with meanings are as given
Important Idioms and Phrases :
Idioms and Phrases starting with alphabet “A”
| Idioms | Phrases |
| Above all | Chiefly, mainly |
| An Adonis | a very handsome man |
| An apollo | a man with perfect physique |
| Apple Pie Order | in perfect order |
| The apple of discord | reason of quarrel |
| Arcadian life | blissful, happy, rural life |
| As you make your bed, so must you lie on it | you will have to bear the consequences of your mistakes or misdeeds |
| A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush | having certain which is certain is better than taking a risk for more |
| A Dime & Dozen | Anything that is easy to get |
| A chip on Your shoulder | Being upset for something that happened in past |
| A house divided against itself cannot Stand | Everyone involved must unify & function together or it will not work out |
| A Leopard can’t change his spots | you cannot change who you are |
| A Penny saved is a Penny earned | by not spending money, you are saving money |
| At wit’s End | Not Knowing what to do |
| A Piece of Cake | task that can be done easily |
| A close fisted man | a miser |
| at loggerheads | Disagreeing on everything |
| A picture paints a thousand words | a visual perception is far better descriptive than words |
| At the eleventh hour | at the last moment |
Important Idioms and Phrases starting with “B”:
| Idioms & Phrases | Meaning |
| Be in a tight corner |
in a difficult situation |
| behind one’s back | in the absence of one (without one’s knowledge) |
| Bring to light | Disclose |
| Burn the midnight oil | work or study hard |
| By leaps and bounds | Rapidly |
| By word of mouth | By spoken message |
| Between the devil & deep blue sea | Between two dangers |
| Back to square one | having to start all over again |
| Back To The Drawing Board | When an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over |
| Barking Up The Wrong Tree | A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve |
| Beat a dead horse | To force an issue that has already ended |
| Beating Around The Bush | avoiding main topic and not speaking directly of the issue |
| Bend Over Backwards | willing to do anything it takes to help |
| Bite your tongue | to avoid talking |
| Between a rock and a hard place | Stuck between two very bad options |
| Bite off more than you can chew | To take on a task that is way to big |
| Blood is thicker than water | The family bond is closer than anything else |
| Buy a Lemon |
the vehicle which constantly gives problem and breaks down continously |
| Blue moon | a rare event or occurence |
Important Idioms and Phrases Starting with “C”:
| Care killed the cat |
don’t fret and worry yourself to death |
| Chicken- hearted | timid, weak |
| Close fist | Mean |
| chip Off the old block | one is as good as one’s father |
| Chew the cud |
to discuss the matter in a ponderous way, can be reminiscing |
| Cock and Bull Story |
An unbelievable tale |
| Cut to the Chase |
Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point |
| Curiosity Killed The Cat |
Being Inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation |
| Cry Wolf | Intentionally raise a false alarm |
| Cry Over Spilt Milk |
When you complain about a loss from the past |
| Crack Someone Up |
To make someone laugh |
| Can’t Cut The Mustard |
Someone who isn’t adequate enough to compete or participate |
| cut your cloth according to your income | live in your income |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “D”:
| Donkey’s year | a very long year |
| Double- dealing | Deceiving |
| Dutch Courage | courage gained after having alcohol |
| Drink like a fish | drink very heavily |
| Don’t put all the eggs in one basket | Don’t put all your resouces in one possibility |
| D oozy | Outstanding |
| Dog days of summer | Hottest days of summer season |
| Don’t Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth |
When someone gives you a gift, don’t be ungrateful |
| Dead ringer | 100% duplicate |
| Dark horse | One who was previously unknown but is now prominent |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “E”:
| Evil days | A period of misfortune |
| Eagle eye | Quick to discover |
| Every Dog has his day | sooner or later, every one has his share of good fortune |
| Empty vessels make the most noise |
those who know or have little knowledge often shout the loudest |
| Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining |
Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days |
| Excuse my French | Please forgive me for cussing |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “F”:
| Fuddy-duddy: |
An old-fashioned and foolish type of person. |
| From Rags To Riches |
To go from being very poor to being very wealthy |
| Full Monty |
“the whole thing” or “completely nude” |
| Flip The Bird |
To raise your middle finger at someone |
| Foam at the Mouth |
Being enraged and show it |
| Flash In The Pan |
Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end |
| Field Day | An enjoyable day or circumstance |
| Finding Your Feet | Being comfortable in whatever you are doing |
| Finger licking’ good |
A very tasty food or meal |
| Feeding Frenzy |
An aggressive attack on someone by a group |
| From hand to hand | From one person to another |
| Foul play | cheating |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “G”:
| Good wine needs no bush |
there is no need to advertise something good |
| Get Your Walking Papers |
Get fired from a job |
| Get Down to Brass Tacks |
To become serious about something |
| Get Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed |
Someone who is having a horrible day. |
| Go Out On A Limb | Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone/something |
| Go The Extra Mile |
Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand. |
| Graveyard Shift |
Working hours from about 12:00 am to 8:00 am. The time of the day when most other people are sleeping |
| Go Dutch |
Splitting bills |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “H”:
| Hit The Sack |
Go to sleep |
| Hit The Nail on the Head |
Do something exactly right or say something exactly right. |
| Hit The Hay |
Go to sleep |
| High on the Hog |
Living in Luxury |
| Have an Axe to Grind |
To have a dispute with someone. |
| He Lost His Head | Angry and overcome by emotions |
| Head over heels | Very excited, joyful |
| Hell in a Hand basket |
Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster. |
| Haste Makes Waste |
Quickly doing things results in a poor ending |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “I”:
| In high spirits | Very happy |
| In a nutshell | By summing up the words |
| If wishes were horses, beggars might ride |
if all people’s wishes came true every body would be rich |
| Icing On The Cake |
When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have. |
| Idle Hands Are The Devil’s Tools |
You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do |
| In The Heat Of The Moment |
Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment |
| It Takes Two To Tango |
A two person conflict where both people are at fault. |
| Its Anyone’s Call |
A competition where the outcome is difficult to judge or predict |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “J”:
| John bull | An English man |
| Jay walk | Crossing the road without using crossing |
| Joshing me | Tricking me |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “K”:
| Know the Ropes |
To understand the details |
| Knee Jerk Reaction |
A quick and automatic response |
| Keep your chin up |
To remain joyful in a tough situation |
| Keep An Eye On Him |
Carefully watching on someone |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “L”:
| Loose cannon | Someone who can cause damage if not kept in check |
| Like a chicken with its head cut off |
To act in anger |
| Level playing field |
A fair competition where no side has an advantage |
| Let The Cat Out Of The Bag |
To share a secret that wasn’t suppose to be shared |
| Let Sleeping Dogs Lie |
To avoid restarting a conflict |
| Lend Me Your Ear |
To politely ask for someone’s full attention. |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “M”:
| Move Heaven and earth |
Try one’s best to achieve something in life |
| Make hay while the sun shines |
take advantage of all opportunities |
| Make Both ends meet |
To make expenditure own limit as per income |
| Man of Straw |
A very weak person |
| Mother Wit |
Common sense |
| Midas Touch |
Who has extraordinary power to make everything profitable |
| Make No Bones About |
To state a fact so there are no doubts |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “N”:
| Never cross the Bridge until you come to it |
don’t anticipate difficulties |
| Not to know a B from a bull’s foot |
to be ignorant of even the simplest things |
| Nig-Nag |
Poking to irritate someone |
| Nook and corner |
At each and every place |
| No love lost |
Who has no love in his/her life |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “O”:
|
On and On |
Continue on same thing or process |
| Oily tongue |
Language try to please someone |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “P”:
| Pandora’s box |
A box full of difficulties |
| Play Ducks and Drakes |
To Waste money on un-usable articles |
| Pulling one’s leg |
To make fun of other person |
| Poison someone’s ears |
To speak to someone against a person |
| Putting the cat among the pigeons | An unliked statement by no of persons |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “R”:
| Royal Road |
Easy way |
| Red Tapism |
Official formalities |
| Red handed |
Man caught while committing a crime |
| Rain like cats and dogs | Heavy raining |
Idioms and Phrases Starting with “S”:
| Stone’s throw |
Very near |
| Steal a march |
Get an advantage by secret means |
| Stand on one’s own legs |
Independent |
| Snake in grass |
Secret enemy |
| Smell a rat |
To suspect |
| Slip of tongue |
Spoken without understanding |
| See red |
Very angry |
| Shoulder to Shoulder | Very fast friend or relative in difficult time |
Important Idioms and Phrases Starting with “T”:
| Throw cold water Upon |
To Discourage someone |
| Tooth and Nail |
Very hardly/Violently |
| To have an axe to grind |
to have some selfish objective in view |
| To take up arms |
to fight, to go to war |
| To cause bad blood |
to cause rancor |
| To build castles in the air |
To day dream |
| To lead to the altar |
To marry |
Important Idioms and Phrases Starting with “U”:
| Uphill task |
Very difficult task |
| Up and Down |
Good and Bad time |
Important Idioms and Phrases Starting with “W”:
| White elephant |
Very expensive but of no use |
| Wet Blanket |
Spoils the enjoyment |
| Word for Word |
Reply in same manner |
| Wild goose chase | Useless search |
These important idioms and phrases will help candidates enhance their speaking and communication skills too by using these important idioms and phrases in speaking
Also learn: click here to learn the Important Organizations & its headquarters
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