Useful Idioms with Examples, Sentences & Meanings | English for CLAT PDF Download

A – F

1. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush
   Meaning: An opportunity in hand is better than a prospect in the future.
   Example: The detective caught three criminals but didn’t chase the fourth, knowing a bird in hand is better than two in the bush.

2. A black sheep
   Meaning: A disgrace to the family.
   Example: He became the black sheep of the family after breaking their trust.

3. A bolt from the blue
   Meaning: A sudden, unexpected event.
   Example: The pandemic came as a bolt from the blue in 2020.

4. A left-handed compliment
   Meaning: An insult disguised as praise.
   Example: Her remarks felt like a left-handed compliment.

5. A piece of cake
   Meaning: Something very easy.
   Example: The exam was a piece of cake for him.

6. A slap on the wrist
   Meaning: A small punishment.
   Example: He got a slap on the wrist for breaking the rules.

7. Ace up one’s sleeve
   Meaning: A hidden advantage.
   Example: She kept quiet but had an ace up her sleeve during the meeting.

8. Against the clock
   Meaning: Working in a hurry or with little time.
   Example: We were racing against the clock to finish the project.

9. An arm and a leg
   Meaning: Very expensive.
   Example: That designer bag cost an arm and a leg.

10. At sea
    Meaning: Confused.
    Example: I was at sea while choosing an outfit for the wedding.

11. At the 11th hour
    Meaning: At the last moment.
    Example: He packed his bag at the 11th hour.

12. Back against the wall
    Meaning: In a difficult situation with no escape.
    Example: He was back against the wall with debt piling up.

13. Back to square one
    Meaning: Starting over.
    Example: The failed experiment put us back to square one.

14. Back to the drawing board
    Meaning: Restart after failure.
    Example: The plan didn’t work, so it’s back to the drawing board.

15. Bear a grudge
    Meaning: Hold anger against someone.
    Example: She still bears a grudge from years ago.

16. Be glad to see the back of
    Meaning: Be happy when someone leaves.
    Example: I’ll be glad to see the back of him tomorrow.

17. Be in a tight corner
    Meaning: Be in difficulty.
    Example: Her poor grades put her in a tight corner.

18. Be in the doldrums
    Meaning: To feel low in spirit.
    Example: The constant bad news left me in the doldrums.

19. Behind one’s back
    Meaning: Secretly, without knowledge.
    Example: He pretends to be nice but talks behind your back.

20. Bell the cat
    Meaning: To take a risky task.
    Example: Someone must bell the cat and confront the boss.

21. Beside yourself with joy
    Meaning: Extremely happy.
    Example: She was beside herself with joy at the news.

22. Bite off more than you can chew
    Meaning: Take on too much.
    Example: He promised too much and bit off more than he could chew.

23. Bite the bullet
    Meaning: Do something unavoidable.
    Example: He bit the bullet and went through surgery.

24. Black and blue
    Meaning: Bruised.
    Example: His arm was black and blue after the accident.

25. Blackout
    Meaning: Faint.
    Example: She blacked out from exhaustion.

26. Blow hot and cold
    Meaning: Keep changing moods.
    Example: He blows hot and cold during meetings.

27. Blow off steam
    Meaning: Release anger or stress.
    Example: She went jogging to blow off steam.

28. Boil the ocean
    Meaning: Try to do the impossible.
    Example: Fixing the entire system in a week is like boiling the ocean.

29. Bounce something off someone
    Meaning: Share an idea for feedback.
    Example: Can I bounce this idea off you?

30. Break a leg
    Meaning: A way to say good luck.
    Example: Break a leg at your performance!

31. Break fresh/new ground
    Meaning: Do something innovative.
    Example: The scientist broke new ground with her research.

32. Break the bank
    Meaning: Be very expensive.
    Example: The luxury vacation nearly broke the bank.

33. Burn your boats/bridges
    Meaning: Make going back impossible.
    Example: By resigning, he burned his bridges.

34. Bury the hatchet
    Meaning: End a quarrel, make peace.
    Example: They buried the hatchet and became friends again.

35. By the skin of your teeth
    Meaning: Barely succeed.
    Example: He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.

G – L

36. Get in shape
    Meaning: To become fit or strong.
    Example: I need to get in shape before the graduation ceremony.

37. Get your act together
    Meaning: Get organized and effective.
    Example: To succeed, you must get your act together.

38. Give it a whirl
    Meaning: Try something.
    Example: I’ll give skydiving a whirl someday.

39. Go back to the drawing board
    Meaning: Start over after failure.
    Example: The plan failed, so it’s back to the drawing board.

40. Go cold turkey
    Meaning: Quit something addictive abruptly.
    Example: He went cold turkey on sweets after being diagnosed with diabetes.

41. Go the extra mile
    Meaning: Make extra effort.
    Example: She always goes the extra mile for her students.

42. Good things come to those who wait
    Meaning: Patience is rewarded.
    Example: He got the promotion—good things come to those who wait.

43. Having an ace up the sleeve
    Meaning: Keeping a hidden advantage.
    Example: He had an ace up his sleeve during the game.

44. Heart misses a beat / skips a beat
    Meaning: Feel nervous or excited.
    Example: Her heart skipped a beat when her name was announced.

45. Have sticky fingers
    Meaning: Be prone to stealing.
    Example: The cashier had sticky fingers and stole money.

46. Have the blues
    Meaning: Feel sad.
    Example: After the breakup, he had the blues.

47. Hit the books
    Meaning: To study.
    Example: I need to hit the books for my exams.

48. Hit the sack
    Meaning: Go to bed, sleep.
    Example: After a long day, I hit the sack early.

49. Hook, line and sinker
    Meaning: Completely, totally.
    Example: He believed the story hook, line and sinker.

50. Ignorance is bliss
    Meaning: Sometimes not knowing is better.
    Example: She didn’t know the truth—ignorance is bliss.

51. In cold blood
    Meaning: Do something cruel deliberately.
    Example: The crime was committed in cold blood.

52. In for a penny, in for a pound
    Meaning: Once involved, go all the way.
    Example: He invested fully—in for a penny, in for a pound.

53. In the fast lane
    Meaning: A life full of excitement.
    Example: She quit her job to live in the fast lane.

54. In the same boat
    Meaning: In the same situation.
    Example: We’re all in the same boat with these deadlines.

55. In for forty winks
    Meaning: A short nap.
    Example: He lay down for forty winks.

56. Jam on the brakes
    Meaning: Brake suddenly.
    Example: He had to jam on the brakes when a dog crossed.

57. Jump the gun
    Meaning: Act prematurely.
    Example: He jumped the gun and sent the email early.

58. Keep an ear to the ground
    Meaning: Stay informed.
    Example: Journalists keep an ear to the ground for news.

59. Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
    Meaning: Destroy something profitable for short-term gain.
    Example: Closing the attraction was like killing the goose that lays golden eggs.

60. Knee-jerk reaction
    Meaning: Immediate, unthinking reaction.
    Example: His words were just a knee-jerk reaction.

61. Left out in the cold
    Meaning: Ignored.
    Example: He felt left out in the cold during decisions.

62. Light at the end of the tunnel
    Meaning: Hope after difficulties.
    Example: She saw light at the end of the tunnel after therapy.

63. Like a cakewalk
    Meaning: Very easy.
    Example: The test was a cakewalk for him.

64. Like a cat on a hot tin roof
    Meaning: Very nervous.
    Example: She was like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for results.

65. Look before you leap
    Meaning: Think before acting.
    Example: Look before you leap into investments.

66. Look to your laurels
    Meaning: Beware of losing your achievements.
    Example: Look to your laurels, competition is rising.

67. Lose your marbles
    Meaning: Go insane.
    Example: He’s lost his marbles after retirement.

M – R

68. Make a long story short
    Meaning: Tell briefly.
    Example: To make a long story short, he left the company.

69. Make ends meet
    Meaning: Manage on limited money.
    Example: It’s tough to make ends meet with rising prices.

70. Method to the madness
    Meaning: Seemingly odd but with purpose.
    Example: His messy desk has a method to the madness.

71. Miss the boat
    Meaning: Miss an opportunity.
    Example: He missed the boat by applying late.

72. Move heaven and earth
    Meaning: Do everything possible.
    Example: She moved heaven and earth to save her child.

73. Mum’s the word
    Meaning: Keep quiet.
    Example: Mum’s the word about the surprise party.

74. Neck of the woods
    Meaning: A particular area.
    Example: We’re from the same neck of the woods.

75. Needle in a haystack
    Meaning: Something very hard to find.
    Example: Finding my keys in this mess is like a needle in a haystack.

76. Nest egg
    Meaning: Saved money.
    Example: He built a nest egg for retirement.

77. New York minute
    Meaning: Very quick.
    Example: She was out of the room in a New York minute.

78. No dice
    Meaning: No success.
    Example: He tried convincing her, but no dice.

79. No pain, no gain
    Meaning: Nothing worthwhile comes easy.
    Example: He exercises daily—no pain, no gain.

80. No room to swing a cat
    Meaning: A very small space.
    Example: The flat is so tiny, no room to swing a cat.

81. Not playing with a full deck
    Meaning: Not mentally sound.
    Example: He acts strangely—maybe not playing with a full deck.

82. Off one’s rocker
    Meaning: Acting crazy.
    Example: People thought he was off his rocker.

83. Off the hook
    Meaning: Out of trouble.
    Example: He was off the hook after the evidence cleared him.

84. Off the record
    Meaning: Not official.
    Example: The comment was strictly off the record.

85. On the ball
    Meaning: Alert and effective.
    Example: She’s really on the ball at work.

86. On the ropes
    Meaning: In trouble, near failure.
    Example: The company is on the ropes financially.

87. Once bitten, twice shy
    Meaning: Cautious after a bad experience.
    Example: He avoids online deals—once bitten, twice shy.

88. Open Pandora’s box
    Meaning: Create unexpected troubles.
    Example: Leaking the files opened Pandora’s box.

89. Out of sight, out of mind
    Meaning: Forgotten when not around.
    Example: He moved abroad—out of sight, out of mind.

90. Out of the blue
    Meaning: Unexpectedly.
    Example: She called me out of the blue.

91. Over the moon
    Meaning: Extremely happy.
    Example: They were over the moon after their wedding.

92. Play cat and mouse
    Meaning: To tease or trap someone.
    Example: The detective played cat and mouse with the suspect.

93. Pull a fast one
    Meaning: Trick someone.
    Example: He pulled a fast one with the fake ticket.

94. Pull yourself together
    Meaning: Calm down.
    Example: Stop crying and pull yourself together.

95. Put all your eggs in one basket
    Meaning: Rely on only one plan.
    Example: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket when investing.

96. Put the cart before the horse
    Meaning: Do things in the wrong order.
    Example: Starting marketing before research is putting the cart before the horse.

97. Put your foot down
    Meaning: Be firm.
    Example: She put her foot down and refused the deal.

98. Rain on someone’s parade
    Meaning: Spoil plans.
    Example: Don’t rain on my parade by being negative.

99. Read between the lines
    Meaning: Understand hidden meaning.
    Example: Read between the lines of his letter.

100. Red-handed
     Meaning: Caught in the act.
     Example: The thief was caught red-handed.

101. Red tape
     Meaning: Excessive rules or bureaucracy.
     Example: The project was delayed by red tape.

102. Rome wasn’t built in a day
     Meaning: Important things take time.
     Example: Learning a language takes patience—Rome wasn’t built in a day.

S – Z

103. Safe and sound
     Meaning: Unharmed and safe.
     Example: She arrived home safe and sound.

104. See eye to eye
     Meaning: Agree.
     Example: They rarely see eye to eye on politics.

105. Shoot the breeze
     Meaning: Chat casually.
     Example: We sat on the porch and shot the breeze.

106. Shot in the arm
     Meaning: Something encouraging.
     Example: The new funding was a real shot in the arm for the project.

107. Smell a rat
     Meaning: Suspect something wrong.
     Example: I smelled a rat when he offered me free money.

108. Spill the beans
     Meaning: Reveal a secret.
     Example: He spilled the beans about the surprise party.

109. Spread like wildfire
     Meaning: Spread rapidly.
     Example: The rumor spread like wildfire.

110. Stab someone in the back
     Meaning: Betray someone.
     Example: She stabbed her colleague in the back to get the promotion.

111. Steal someone’s thunder
     Meaning: Take credit for another’s idea.
     Example: He stole my thunder during the meeting.

112. Step up one’s game
     Meaning: Improve performance.
     Example: You need to step up your game to win.

113. Storm in a teacup
     Meaning: A big fuss over nothing.
     Example: Their fight was just a storm in a teacup.

114. Take a back seat
     Meaning: Accept a lower priority.
     Example: He took a back seat during the negotiations.

115. Take it with a grain of salt
     Meaning: Don’t take it literally.
     Example: Take his story with a grain of salt.

116. Take the bull by the horns
     Meaning: Face a problem directly.
     Example: She took the bull by the horns and confronted her boss.

117. The ball is in your court
     Meaning: It’s your decision.
     Example: I’ve done my part—the ball is in your court.

118. The best of both worlds
     Meaning: Enjoy advantages of two things.
     Example: Remote work gives the best of both worlds.

119. Throw in the towel
     Meaning: Give up.
     Example: The boxer threw in the towel after ten rounds.

120. Through thick and thin
     Meaning: In good times and bad.
     Example: They stayed friends through thick and thin.

121. Turn a blind eye
     Meaning: Ignore deliberately.
     Example: The teacher turned a blind eye to the mischief.

122. Under the table
     Meaning: Secretly, dishonestly.
     Example: He was paid under the table.

123. Under the weather
     Meaning: Feeling unwell.
     Example: I’m under the weather today.

124. Up in arms
     Meaning: Angry and protesting.
     Example: The workers were up in arms over pay cuts.

125. Walk on eggshells
     Meaning: Be very cautious.
     Example: He walks on eggshells around his strict boss.

126. When pigs fly
     Meaning: Never.
     Example: He’ll apologize when pigs fly.

127. Wild goose chase
     Meaning: A useless pursuit.
     Example: Finding that file was a wild goose chase.

128. With flying colors
     Meaning: With great success.
     Example: She passed the exam with flying colors.

129. Wolf in sheep’s clothing
     Meaning: A dangerous person pretending to be harmless.
     Example: Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

130. You can’t judge a book by its cover
     Meaning: Don’t judge by appearance.
     Example: She looks strict, but you can’t judge a book by its cover.