Page 235 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

Unit 16: Vocabulary and Usage: Idioms and Idiomatic Phrases and Their Usages

54. Kith and kin (relatives and friends): I should look after my kith and kin whatever be the Notes
circumstances.
55. A hard nut to crack (difficult thing/person to deal with): Our principal is a hard nut to crack in
matters concerning discipline.
56. A cold reception (a welcome, lacking affection or warmth): He was given a cold reception at the
party.
57. Black sheep (bad person): He is the black sheep of our family.
58. A bird’s eye view (a general view): I had a bird’s eye view of the Himalayas recently, while I was
flying to Sri nagar.
59. A burning question (issue keenly discussed): The budget presented recently, is a burning question
now-a-days.
60. A bed of roses (easy and comfortable): Do not consider life to be a bed of roses.
61. Bad blood (a feeling of enmity): The cricket match ended up creating bad blood between the two
teams.
62. A bookworm (one who is always busy with his studies): In spite of being a bookworm, he barely
manages to pass.
63. A fair weather friend (a friend only during the times of prosperity): That fair weather friend of
mine was not to be seen during my days of adversity.
64. To add fuel to the fire (to aggravate the matter): His blatant lies after stealing the money only
added fuel to the fire.
65. To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth (to be born in a rich family): Not many are
privileged to be born with a silver spoon in their mouths.
66. To blow one’s own trumpet (to boast): He keeps on blowing his own trumpet and in the process,
makes a fool of himself.
67. A bolt from the blue (an unexpected disaster): The news of his brother’s death was a bolt from the
blue for him.
68. To beat black and blue (to beat mercilessly): The pick-pocket when caught red-handed, was
beaten black arid blue by the co-passengers.
69. To cast an aspersion (bring discredit to): The official’s involvement in the corruption case has
cast an aspersion on the integrity of his character.
70. To change hands (to pass to a different owner): Soon after the millionaire’s death, his bungalow
changed hands.
71. To cry over spilt milk (to feel sorry for what has already happened): Brooding after failing in the
examination is like crying over spilt milk.
72. To die hard (to change or disappear very slowly): Old habits die hard.
73. To end in smoke (fail): All his proposals ended in smoke for want of popular support.
74. To cut a sorry figure (to make a poor impression): She cut a sorry figure when she could not speak
correct English in front of her teachers.
75. To go to the dogs (to be ruined): The institution will go to the dogs if someone does not stop this
corruption.
76. To hang in the balance (to be undecided): The fate of the accused will hang in balance till the
court resumes its proceedings.
77. To hit the nail on the head (to do the right thing at the right time): By accepting this job, you
have hit the nail on the head.
78. To have the upper hand (to have more say or influence): The English had the upper hand in
everything while they ruled over India.
79. To hold water (sound logical): His explanation does not hold water any more.

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