Idioms and phrases
An idiom is a collection of words that have a meaning that is distinct from the meaning of the individual words.
A phrase is a collection of words that form an idiomatic expression.
1. ABC. (Basic Principles)
She doesn’t know the ABC of photography.
2. At one’s beck and call (ready to obey).
He had a dozen men at his beck and call.
3. At sixes and sevens (in disorder)
The drawing room articles were lying at sixes and sevens on the floor.
4. A wet blanket ( a discouraging person)
Don’t allow Rakesh to accompany you to the hunting trip because he is a wet blanket.
5. A big gun. ( an important person)
Mr Smith is a big gun in our city
6. At a stone’s throw ( at a short distance from)
The hospital is at a stone’s throw from my house .
7. A man of word ( a person who keeps his promise)
Mr Sharma is a man of word.
8. A man of few words. (a remarkable person)
Gandhiji was a man of few words.
9. At arm’s length. (to keep away)
we should always keep bad boys at arm’s length.
10. A bolt from the blue (a sudden and unexpected event)
The news of my friend’s death came to me like a bolt from the blue .
11. A man of letters. (a scholar)
Rahul was a man of letters.
12. A hard nut to crack. (a puzzling problem)
To get a win over American basketball team is a nut to crack for India.
13. A yeoman’s service. ( service which is beneficial to the human beings)
He did yeoman’s service through his life.
14. A snake in the grass ( a hidden foe)
Beware of him because he seems to be a snake in the grass.
15. Acid test ( hard test)
The election will be an acid test for the ruling party.