Idioms and Phrases

What are Idioms and Phrases?

A phrase is a group of words which represents a part of speech.

The big bad wolf – Noun Phrase
Surprisingly good – Adjective Phrase
Was sleeping – Verb Phrase

When the group of words or a phrase represents an idea or a thought which has a deeper, figurative meaning, it is called an idiom.

Wolf in sheep’s clothing – A deceptive person or a thing
Flesh and blood – related by blood
No love lost – not on good terms

In this chapter, we shall learn some commonly used English idioms and phrases.

Down in the mouth Meaning: Depressed/sad

Usage: After her friend’s departure, Margaret is a little down in the mouth.

All ears

Meaning: To listen attentively

Usage: Tell us all about your trip to Peru. We are all ears!

Break a leg

Meaning: A phrase said to actors in an ironic manner to avoid bad luck before a performance

Usage: I hope you all perform well. Go break a leg!

Cost an arm and a leg Meaning: Cost a lot/expensive

Usage: Vineeta’s new house by the bay cost her an arm and a leg.

Get something off one's chest Meaning: Make a confession

Usage: I want to get something off my chest; it was my dog that destroyed your flowerbed.

Have one's head in the clouds Meaning: To be in a fantasy world

Usage: He seems to have his head in the clouds ever since the boss promised him a promotion.

Keep one's chin up

Meaning: To be optimistic during trying times

Usage: Be positive and keep your chin up. Your efforts will be rewarded.

Play something by ear

Meaning: To not have a plan and to take things as they come

Usage: None of us have any formal training; we just play by the ear.

Rule of thumb Meaning: A basic principle

Usage: The thumb rule for making a delicious cake is getting the proportions of the ingredients right.

Wash one's hands of something Meaning: To disassociate oneself from a problem

Usage: I have washed my hands of my neighbours; they are on their own now.

Cross the rubicon Meaning: Pass a point of no return

Explanation: Julius Caesar had crossed a river (the rubicon), after which he became a part of a civil war.

Usage: Salim crossed the rubicon by accepting the position of the assistant manager.

Achilles’ heel

Meaning: A weak spot/primary weakness

Explanation: Achilles, the greatest warrior on earth, was invincible. The only part of his body which was vulnerable was his heel. He was killed after being struck on the heel with a poisonous arrow.

Usage: Math has always been her Achilles’ heel.

Pyrrhic victory

Meaning: A victory which comes at a huge cost

Explanation: It is named after King Pyrrhus who incurred great losses despite his victory over the Romans.

Usage: The king conquered new kingdoms but lost all his best men. It was unfortunately a pyrrhic victory.

Trojan horse

Meaning: Something which looks harmless but intends to harm covertly

Explanation: It is named after the wooden horse the Greeks gifted the Trojans as a peace offering. In reality, it was a ruse and the wooden horse was full of Greek soldiers who were wheeled into Troy by the unsuspecting citizens. The soldiers broke out at night and burnt the city to the ground.

Usage: His seemingly harmless offer is actually a Trojan horse; he will strike when you least expect it. (Note: Some harmful computer programs are also called Trojans/Trojan horses.)

Beware the Greeks bearing gifts

Meaning: Do not trust your enemies even if they seem to have the best intentions

Explanation: Refer to the explanation for ‘Trojan Horse’.

Usage: Person A: My arch rival is being good to me these days.

Person B: You know the saying: beware the Greeks bearing gifts.

The face that launched a thousand ships Meaning: To be the primary cause of a big problem

Explanation: It alludes to Helen of Troy who was the main cause of the war breaking out between the Greeks and the Trojans. She eloped with the young prince Paris which caused her husband King Menelaus to declare war on Troy.

Usage: Hers is a face that launched a thousand ships. Both suitors were warring against each other in a bid to court her.

Hounds of hell

Meaning: To be pursued by evil forces as a retribution for a wrongdoing

Explanation: In Greek mythology, the underworld is guarded by devilish looking hounds. These hounds are also known to pursue sinners to punish them.

Usage: If one dares to oppose the mafia crime boss, one would be pursued by his hounds of hell.

Midas touch

Meaning: An ability to make money easily

Explanation: The phrase is named after king Midas who was known to turn anything he touched into gold.

Usage: Subodh is a rich man today because of his fine business acumen. He is known to have a Midas touch.

Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion

Meaning: A person in a high public position should have a very good reputation and should even be free of suspicion

Explanation: Julius Caesar’s wife Pompeia was divorced by him since she was suspected of adultery. Even though Caesar knew that his wife was innocent, he still divorced her stating even the taint of suspicion should not befall his wife.

Usage: The new political party positioned themselves as a cleaner alternative to existing corrupt parties. They should guard their reputation with their lives since Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion.

A for effort

Meaning: Acknowledging someone for his or her efforts even if it was not successful

Usage: Although he didn’t pass, I have to give Ganesh an A for effort.

Back to basics

Meaning: Learn the basic concepts again

Usage: I have forgotten all the formulas. Looks like I have to go back to basics.

Cover a lot of ground

Meaning: To accomplish a great deal within a short span of time

Usage: Although she was allotted only a week, our substitute teacher covered a lot of ground in History.

Show of hands

Meaning: To put up one’s hands for the purpose of votes or survey

Usage: Through a show of hands, how many of you would want Gauri as the class representative?

School of hard knocks

Meaning: Learning through life’s negative experiences

Usage: Whatever Bill has learnt in life is through the school of hard knocks.

An old head on young shoulders Meaning: Someone who is wise for his or her age

Usage: The precocious young child speaks with wisdom which is rare for a child of her age. She is truly an old head on a young body.

Learn the ropes

Meaning: To understand the tricks and workings of a job

Usage: In barely a year, Vinayak has learnt the ropes in the industry.

Schoolboy error Meaning: A silly mistake

Usage: How can an inveterate lawyer commit such a schoolboy error?