Idiomatic Expressions List and Meaning PDF!
Learn the big list of idiomatic expressions with their meaning and example sentences, these idiomatic expressions are for IELTS and also British idiomatic expressions also get a quiz of idiomatic expressions.
Idiomatic Expressions List and Meaning Examples
| Expressions | Meanings | Examples |
| A bad quarter of an hour | uncomfortable time | He spent a bad quarter of an hour with the board of directors |
| A blue-eyed- boy | a favorite | Beware of him, he is the blue-eyed-boy of the principal |
| (To) affect ignorance | to pretend not to know | He affects the ignorance of any plan to dismantle the house |
| A Fish out of water | a person who feels uncomfortable in his present surroundings | He is a fish out of the water He cannot stay here for long |
| A Flash in the pan | Something that lasts only for a short time | It proved to be a flash in the pan All his efforts have ended in smoke |
| A Freudian slip | unintentional mistake revealing true thoughts | He made one mistake during his entire speech and it proves to be a Freudian slip |
| A friend at court | an influential friend | The most important factor of success these days is a friend at court |
| A going concern | successful business | This project is a lame-duck It needs courage and application to make it a going concert |
| A hot potato | an issue that is embarrassing to deal with | Do not bring up this subject for discussion in the meeting It is a hot potato |
Idiomatic Expressions-Video Lesson
Idiomatic Expressions List and Meaning PDF – Image 1
| A lame-duck | an enterprise that is not a success | This project is a lame-duck It needs courage and application to make it a going concern |
| A long way out | Inaccurate | Your assessment of the situation is a long way out |
| An eagle-eye | a very quick eye | It is very difficult to work beneath his eagle-eye |
| A passing fancy | temporary liking | It was a passing fancy He does not want to see any longer |
| Apple pie order | in perfect order | She set everything in the house in apple-pie order within a week of her Arrival |
| Pretty kettle of fish | state of confusion, a mix-up | It is a pretty kettle of fish you are in Am sorry I cannot help you out |
| A pretty penny | quite a lot of money | This house must have cost a pretty penny to build |
| A random shot | a wild guess | It was a random shot but it has come out to be true |
| A ready pen | someone who can write easily and quickly | A ready pen and will write this article for you within the stipulated period of time |
| A ruling passion | a passion that dominates a person’s life | The desire for popularity is his ruling passion and he will do everything to achieve it |
British Idiomatic Expression – Image 2
| A skeleton in the cupboard | something embarrassing or shameful | There is a skeleton in every cupboard, we had better not probe into the matter |
| Snake in the grass | a deceitful person | You should trust your secretory he is a snake in the grass |
| As good as one’s word | to keep promise | He promised me to send me a watch and he was as good as his words |
| A Thumb-nail sketch | a brief description or a small scale drawing | You must give me the thumbnail sketch on the man before I go to the meeting |
| Tower of strength | a person who can be relied upon for help in time of need | He is a tower of strength for me |
| At the first blush | at first glance | The project does not appeal at the first blush |
| Willing horse | a willing worker | I want only willing horses for my office |
| (to) be at a loss for words | to be so surprised that one does not know what to say | |
| (to) be at cross purposes | to misunderstand someone | He is at a cross purpose with his father but I hope that they will soon end their differences |
| (to) be at one’s best | to be most able | John is at his best when he is working under pressure |
| (to) be at one’s ease | to feel comfortable | He is at his ease in the absence of his boss |
| (to) be hard-pressed for something | to be under pressure | I am hard-pressed for time Please leave me alone for a while |
| (to) be hard put to do something | to have difficulty in doing something | He was hard put to give a convincing answer to my question |
| (to) be in a flutter | to be in a state of nervous excitement | He was in a flutter when he saw that the car had a flat tire |
| (to) be in keeping with something | to correspond | Jealousy is not in keeping with his character |
| (to) be in one’s elements | to be in agreeable circumstances | He is in his elements Everything has worked out according to his wishes |
| (to) be in one’s line | to be in one’s province | Singing is not in my line |
| (to) be in the bag | to be certain | John is sure that the contract is in the bag already |
| (to) be in tune | to be in a happy frame of mind, he is in tune. | You can talk to him about anything in the world |
| (to) be of a piece with | in keeping with | The latest letter is of a piece with her usual conduct |
| (to) be one too many | to be better than | John is one too many for Shaun at chess |
| (to) butter someone up | to flatter | You will have to butter him up to get something from him |
English Idiomatic Expression – Image 3
| (to) catch someone napping | to discover someone not doing what one should be doing | The manager caught some workers napping when he visited the factory |
| (to) clip someone’s wings | to slow down someone’s progress | The bank manager clipped his wings when he refused to advance the required loan |
| (to) cool one’s heels | to wait | I was left in the car to cool my heels for about half an hour |
| Crossed in love | disappointed in love | He has been crossed in love a number of times |
| (to) drop a line | to write | She dropped a line to thank me for the birthday gift |
| Every inch | completely, entirely | Shylock was every Inch a Jew |
| Eye-wash | deceit | All this sweet talk is eye-wash In fact he does not like me |
| (to) feel someone’s pulse | to find out the secret opinion | In his conversation yesterday, he tried to feel my pulse about the new project |
| Feet of clay | to be weak or cowardly | He has feet of Clay You cannot depend on him |
| (to) fight shy of something | to avoid | Why do you fight shy of writing articles for literary magazines? I am you can do it |
| (to) Fly off the handle | to become furious | He flew handle when she accused him of double |
| French leave | leave without permission | He goes French leave so often that sometimes it becomes difficult for me to provide him necessary cover |
| (to) get a word in edgeways | to get a chance to speak | I could hardly get a word in edgeways It was khan who Spoke all the time |
| Give a dog a bad name and kill him | to attribute fault and dismiss | He was given a dog name and killed only because he did not carry out the evil wish of the landlord |
| (to) go flat out | to do with all one’s power | Imran Khan went flat out and captured three wickets in one spell of five overs |
| (to) go grey | to become grey-haired | He is going grey even at 3 |
| (to) go into black | to mourn | She went into black for her husband |
| (to) go red | to blush | His unbridled praise for her physical charms made her go red |
| Good at heart | kind | I could not care less about what He has said I know he is good at heart |
| (to) hand a bouquet | to pay compliments | The retiring Principal was handed a bouquet worthy of his services to the College |
| (to) handle someone with kid gloves | to treat very Carefully | She is a very sensitive lady You will have to handle her with kid gloves |
| (to) hang on to something | retain, not to part with | Old Jeopardy should have retired long ago, but he is hanging on to his job |
Idiomatic Expressions List and Meaning PDF – Image 4
Also Check: List of Common Idioms
| (to) have a bee in one’s bonnet | to be slightly unbalanced mentally | His actions are erratic because he has a bee in his bonnet |
| (to) have a bone in the leg | to be tired | I cannot walk in his place I have a bone in the leg |
| (to) have a bone to pick | to have a cause of complaint | she has a bone to pick with him about the quarrel they had yesterday |
| (to) have a way with one | to have some pleasing Characteristic | She is not a charming girl but she has a way with her that is appealing |
| (to) have the gift of the gab | to have the talent for speaking | The only thing he has is the gift of the gab |
| (to) hold water | to be sound | This argument does not hold water |
| In good time | with time to spare | He finished his work in good time |
| In the pink | good in health | I am very happy to learn that you are in the pink |
| Iron something out | resolve | You can iron out your differences only if you sit down and talk |
| (to) join forces with someone | to cooperate | I appealed to him to join forces with me to restore the prestige of the family |
| To keep one’s fingers crossed | to hope for the best | He is very unpredicted We can only keep our fingers crossed |
| To kick up a row | to make fuss | She kicked up such a big row over nothing |
| To knuckle under | to give way | He knuckled under after putting up some resistance |
| Let someone off | forgive | The principal let the student off with a warning |
| To live by one’s wits | to live by deceit or fraud | I suspect your friend lives by his wits |
| (to) look green | to look sick | You do look green Is anything the matter? |
| (to) lose one’s head | to lose the presence of mind | He lost his head as soon as he read the charge-sheet |
| (to) meet someone halfway | to make a compromise | I am prepared to meet him halfway You can tell him so on my behalf |
| (to) mind one’s p’s and q’s | to be very polite | Yesterday you made a very bad impression You must mind your p’s and q’s in polite society |
| Neck or nothing | every risk must be taken | There was no choice It was a case of neck or nothing with us |
| On the square | above board | I am sure, they will succeed in their business There dealings are on the square |
| Other fish to try | other business to do | She can’t come to see you daily, she has other fish to try |
| Out of character | not typical | He was not his usual self today His conversation was completely out of character |
| (to) pat someone on the back | to congratulate someone on something | You deserve a pat on the back for the excellent job you have done |
| (to) pay through the nose | to pay dearly | She is paying through the nose for her faults |
| (to) pick holes in something | to find fault with something | Don’t pick holes in everything that other people do |
| (to) play fast and loose | to say one thing and do another | He always plays fast and lose it has become his second nature |
| (to) pluck at someones heart strings | to try to arouse sympathy | Do not pluck at everyone’s heart strings by narrating your tale of woe |
| (to) plumb the depths of something | to try to find out the truth | wish to plumb the depths of the problem she is facing She is really leading a miserable life |
| (to) put your best foot forward | to make effort | You won’t be able to complete this work before the end of the month unless you put your best foot forward |
| (to) run in the blood | characteristic of the members of a family | Gallantry runs in the blood of Indians |
| (to) set her cap at | to pay attention to | In my opinion, Sana has set her cap at Joe |
| Settle for something | be prepared to accept | I am not prepared to settle for a second-rate job |
| Shake someone up | upset | The news of his father’s death has shaken him up badly |
| (to) sit on the fence | not to take sides | the policy of sitting on the fence does not always pay |
| (to) spill the beans | to tell a secret | Why can’t you be careful You have spilled the beans |
| (to) stick to one’s colors | to be faithful to the cause | The Principal advised the students to stick to their colors |
| Stir something up | revoke | He is trying to stir up trouble again, but he would not succeed this time |
| (to) take a firm line | to deal decisively | you will have to take a firm line with those employees who do not pull their weight |
| (to) take with a grain of salt | to doubt | I take his Statements with a grain of salt |
| (to) talk shop | to talk exclusively about one’s professional affairs | He always talks shop That is why so many Persons shun his company |
| (to) talk through one’s hat | to talk nonsense | He is talking through his hat when he says that he is going to help you in time or need |
| Tell a person straight | to speak frankly | Told her straight that I meant business |
| The olive branch | offer of peace | America holds out the olive branch to all its neighbors |
Idiomatic Expression for Ielts – Image 5
| The backbone | chief support | He is the backbone of the family |
| The finger of fate | destiny | The finger of fate has always guided him to success |
| The fourth estate | the press | the fourth estate plays an important role in a democratic set-up |
| The pick of the bunch | boss of all | Rose is the pick of the bunch among flowers |
| The skin of one’s teeth | just manage to escape | we escaped from falling into the river by the skin of our teeth |
| The underdog | a person at a disadvantage | She always sympathizes with the underdog |
| Till the cows come home | a long time to wait | He is prepared to wait for her till the cows come home |
| (to) tighten one’s belt | to spend less money | We must tighten our belts to pull through this crisis |
| Touch bottom | to sink very low | He cannot sink any lower He has already touched bottom |
| Tongue in cheek | to say one thing and mean another | G B Shaw often writes with his tongue in his cheek |
| Up with the lark | to rise very early | You must get up with the lark and go for a walk if you want to improve your health |
| Walkout on someone | abandon | When reconciliation failed she walked out on her husband |
| (to) wear the breeches | to be the controlling force in the house | He is only a figurehead It is his wife who wears the breaches |
| With the tail between the legs | with a beaten look | He retired from the ring with his tail between the legs |
| Win one’s spurs | to make one’s reputation | He won his spurs as a statesman in the parliament |
| Win the palm | to win a prize | I hope your daughter wins the palm by topping the 1st of successful candidates this year |
| Wreathed in smiles | smiling broadly | Her face was wreathed in smiles when she saw her fiancé |
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