IDIOMS AND PHRASES
For all competitive exams
1. All and sundry : All without exception.
Ex. : He gave sweet to All and sundry.
2. At a low ebb : Decreasing
Ex. : His popularity is at a low ebb.
3. To be at one : Agree
Ex. : He was at one with me on all points.
4. To be at the end of : At the end of resources.
Ex. : One’s tether : He was at the end of his tether by spending foolishly.
5. Read between the line : Find out the secret meaning.
Ex. : Read the letter between the lines to know his real intention.
6. Look black at somebody : Look angrily.
Ex. : He looked black at me when I disobeyed him.
7. Black tidings : Sad news, causing despair.
Ex. : He was informed of black tidings when he woke up.
8. Down in the mouth : Out of spirits.
Ex. : He is looking down in the mouth today.
9. In abeyance : In a state of suspension.
Ex. : The other has been kept in abeyance.
10. Ins and outs : Full details.
Ex. : I know the inns and outs of the matter.
11. In black and white : In writing
Ex. : Put it down in black and white.
, 12. In round numbers : Roughly
Ex. : The cost will be Rs. 500 in round unumbers.
13. On the cards : Likely.
Ex. : A change of the ministry is on the cards.
14. On the dot : In time
Ex. : He is never marked late in his office, he reaches office on the dot.
15. Out of spirits : Out of zest.
Ex. : You seem out of the wood yet.
16. Out of the wood : Free from difficulties.
Ex. : I am not out of the wood yet.
17. Sum and substance : The purpose.
Ex. : The Sum and substance of the story is this
18. All the crow flies : Straight.
Ex. : My house is 5 Km. from the station as the crow flies.
19. A better pill to swallow : Something unpleasant to accept.
Ex. : The new posting to him was a better pill to swallow but he had no choice.
20. Cog in the machine : An unimportant person of a big enterprise.
Ex. : He is just a cog in the machine.
21. Herculean task : A difficult task.
Ex. : Solving this problem is a herculean task.
22. Hush money : Bribe for silence.
Ex. : He offered me hush-money not to give out the secret but I refused it.
23. Itching palm : Habits of taking bribe.
Ex. : I abhore him for he has an itching palm.
24. On the carpet: Under consideration
For all competitive exams
1. All and sundry : All without exception.
Ex. : He gave sweet to All and sundry.
2. At a low ebb : Decreasing
Ex. : His popularity is at a low ebb.
3. To be at one : Agree
Ex. : He was at one with me on all points.
4. To be at the end of : At the end of resources.
Ex. : One’s tether : He was at the end of his tether by spending foolishly.
5. Read between the line : Find out the secret meaning.
Ex. : Read the letter between the lines to know his real intention.
6. Look black at somebody : Look angrily.
Ex. : He looked black at me when I disobeyed him.
7. Black tidings : Sad news, causing despair.
Ex. : He was informed of black tidings when he woke up.
8. Down in the mouth : Out of spirits.
Ex. : He is looking down in the mouth today.
9. In abeyance : In a state of suspension.
Ex. : The other has been kept in abeyance.
10. Ins and outs : Full details.
Ex. : I know the inns and outs of the matter.
11. In black and white : In writing
Ex. : Put it down in black and white.
, 12. In round numbers : Roughly
Ex. : The cost will be Rs. 500 in round unumbers.
13. On the cards : Likely.
Ex. : A change of the ministry is on the cards.
14. On the dot : In time
Ex. : He is never marked late in his office, he reaches office on the dot.
15. Out of spirits : Out of zest.
Ex. : You seem out of the wood yet.
16. Out of the wood : Free from difficulties.
Ex. : I am not out of the wood yet.
17. Sum and substance : The purpose.
Ex. : The Sum and substance of the story is this
18. All the crow flies : Straight.
Ex. : My house is 5 Km. from the station as the crow flies.
19. A better pill to swallow : Something unpleasant to accept.
Ex. : The new posting to him was a better pill to swallow but he had no choice.
20. Cog in the machine : An unimportant person of a big enterprise.
Ex. : He is just a cog in the machine.
21. Herculean task : A difficult task.
Ex. : Solving this problem is a herculean task.
22. Hush money : Bribe for silence.
Ex. : He offered me hush-money not to give out the secret but I refused it.
23. Itching palm : Habits of taking bribe.
Ex. : I abhore him for he has an itching palm.
24. On the carpet: Under consideration
