IDIOMS
1 Eat humble pie (to apology humbly, to yield)
In spite of all his brag he had to humble pie.
2 Eat one's words (to retract one statement)
Take care what you say lest you should eat your words.
3 To make both ends meet (to live within his income)
The cost of living has increased so much that he finds it difficult to make both ends meet.
4 Set one's face against (sternly opposed)
As a social reformer, he set his face against all awkward activities.
5 Lose ground (becoming less powerful or acceptable)
The belief in witchcraft is losing grounds in modern world.
6 win one’s laurels (acquire distinction or glory)
Allama Iqbal won his laurels as a poet.
7 With open arms (with a warm welcome)
A hospitable host receives his guest with open arms.
8 Play fast and loose (says one thing and does the other)
How can we trust a man who play fast and loose?
9 Take someone to task (rebuke or scold)
I took my younger brother for reading the useless books.
10 Turn a deaf ear (disregard or pay no heed)
A dull person always turns a deaf ear to the elder’s advice.
11 By hook or by crook (by fair and unfair means)
India wants to occupy the whole Kashmir by hook or by crook.
12 To all intents and purposes (practically or virtually)
To all intents and purposes the president of Pakistan is real ruler of our country.
13 Hang together (consistent with each other)
The allies of the government hang together in all matters related to the state.
14 Flesh and blood (human nature)
The flesh and blood of a rigid person is a hard nut to crack.
15 Gain ground (becoming more general)
The belief on Islamic teachings is gaining ground in our country.
16 To pay off old scores (to have his revenge)
From his attitude it is clear that to pay off old scores.
17 On and off (at intervals)
He has been working on and off several years to compile a dictionary.
18 Off and on (now and then or occasionally)
He visits me off and on that is why I do not wait for him. 19 Speak in one’s wheel (thwart one in the execution one’s design) It was my friend who spoke in my wheel.
20 Make one mark (distinguish oneself)
At an early age my younger brother made his mark as a lawyer.
21 Fall flat (meet with a cold reception)
In the nick of time, our hockey team fell flat.
22 Turn over a new leaf (change for the better or begin a different mode of life)
It is a matter of gratification to me that he has turned over a new leaf.
23 From hand to mouth (without any provision for the future)
Many people in our country are still living from hand to mouth.
24 In the long run (eventually or ultimately)
Steady work is sure to be rewarded in the long run.
25 Call in question (Express a doubt about)
Whatever else one may say of him, no one dare call in question his honesty of purpose.
26 In the nick of time/ at the eleventh hour (just at the right moment)
The police came to scene in nick of time/at the eleventh hour and dispersed the demonstrators.
27 Through thick and thin (under all conditions)
You are my well wisher so I will stand by you through and thick.
28 Throw cold water on (discourage someone)
His partner threw cold water on his scheme and he had to face tremendous loss.
29 With a high hand (oppressively)
Many rulers in Africa rule their subjects with high hand.
30 Hand and glove (on very intimate terms)
The two friends are hand and glove with each others.
31 Sit on the fence (halting between two opinions or be undecided)
Surgeons have to decide on time, they cannot sit on the fence.
32 Bring to light (disclose)
The inquiry has brought to light some startling facts.
33 Burn one’s fingers (get himself into troubles)
He burnt his fingers by interfering in his neighbor’s affairs.
34 Live by one’s wits (picks up money by deceit or fraud)
I suspect that fellow lives by his wits as he has no permanent job.
35 Strain every nerve (use his utmost efforts)
The supporter strained every nerve to get his friends elected.
36 Beside oneself (out of his mind)
When I saw him last he was beside himself with grief.
37 At sixes and sevens (in disorder or confusion)
When I entered the house everything was at sixes and sevens.
38 Bear the palm (win the prize)
Our players will bear the palm in the present tournament.
39 Give oneself airs (behave arrogantly)
As he passed the examination in good marks so he gives himself airs.
40 Keep pace with (progress at equal rate with)
Agriculture in Europe has kept pace with industrial progress.
41 Out of date (obsolete)
This text book of Chemistry is out of date so buy a new one.
42 Up to date (modern or recent)
This is the most up to date book on this subject.
43 Speaks volumes for (serves as a strong testimony)
It speaks volumes for Dr. Ali’s industry that he should have compiled a dictionary.
44 Hoping against hope (hope even when the case seems hopeless)
As a poor fellow, he is hoping against hope in the grim circumstances.
45 Get into hot water (into trouble)
If you adopt bad company you will get into hot water.
46 Have a finger in the pie (has something to do with the affair)
It is said that he has a finger in the pie that is why is worried.
47 Hit the nail on the head (say or do exactly the right time)
If you want to succeed you will have to hit the nail on the head.
48 In high spirits (cheerful or joyful)
After is success in the general election, he I sin high spirits.
49 Have an axe to grind (a personal interest in the matter)
A selfish person has always an axe to grind in every matter.
50 Spread like a wild fire (spread rapidly)
The news of his sudden death spread like a wild fire.
51 Take to heart (deeply affected by)
He took to heart the death of his bosom friend.
51 Gift of the gab (a talent for speaking)
He is not a great lawyer but he has the gift of the gab as he can speak for hours.
52 Out of gear (disturb the working of)
The strikers have thrown out of gear many of our important industries.
53 In one good books of (in favor with)
The office boy is not in the good books of his boss.
54 In one’s bad books (out of favor with him)
It looks to me that I am in his bad books as he opposes me in this matter.
55 All at sea/At sea (perplexed or at a loss what to do)
The new teacher was all at sea/at sea when the students asked him difficult questions.
56 Bring to book (punish the offender)
Smugglers are seldom brought to book.
57 Tooth and nail (with all power)
The players fought tooth and nail and won the competition.
58 Take one’s heels (ran off)
On seeing the police, the thief took to his heels.
59 Within a stone throw (at a short distance)
Our college is within a stone throw of the railway station.
60 Make a clean breast of (confessed without reserve)
A few days before his death, he made a clean breast of everything connected with that affair.
61 In touch with (has intimate knowledge)
He keeps in touch with the latest development in technology.
62 Keep in the dark (In ignorance)
For a long time he kept his father in the dark about the true state of affairs.
63 At the first blush (at first sight)
The scheme appears worthless at the first blush.
64 Die in harness (continue to the last in the business or profession)
It was his constant prayer that he might die in harness.
65 At ones wit’s end (quite puzzled or at a complete lose how to act)
He was at his wit’s end when he saw a bear.
66 Put the head together (consult one another)
The directors of the company put their heads together to formulate a new scheme.
67 Create bad blood (ill-feeling or bitterness)
The controversy is likely to create bad blood between the two families.
68 Rank and file (all small and big workers)
The rank and file of the company are expert in their field.
69 In cold blood (callously or mercilessly)
The American forces are killing the people in cold blood.
70 In black and white (in writing or in written form)
Take down the speech in black and white.
71 Show a clean breast of heels (ran away)
On the approach of a policeman the dacoit showed a clean pair of heels.
72 Smell a rat (have reason t suspect something)
I smell a rat in this matter, so keep away yourself from this.
73 Up to the mark (quite satisfactory)
The performance of the artists is not up to the mark.
74 Show one’s teeth (adopting a threatening attitude)
Now that he has nothing to fear from me, he is showing his teeth.
75 Stick to one’s gun (remain faithful to the cause)
A great leader always sticks to his gun whenever he is demanded.
76 Take stock of (to survey)
This is the time to take stock of the whole situation.
77 A man of straw (a man of no substance)
A man of straw cannot meet the challenges of life.
78 In full swing (very active)
The election campaign is now in full swing. 79 Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth. (born in a wealthy family) The young fellow was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
80 Take to stock (reproved someone)
The father took his son to task for his carelessness.
81 End in smoke (end fruitlessly)
After his confession, his lawyer efforts ended in smoke.
82 Leave no stone un turn (use all available means)
The police left no stone unturned to trace the culprits.
83 Rest on one’s laurels (to retire from active life)
As he was growing old, his friends persuaded him to rest on his laurels.
84 Harp on the same string/line (refer to same subject repeatedly)
I am tired of hearing him harp on the same string/line.
85 Blood run cold (terrify)
His blood ran cold when he heard that his friend was murdered.
86 Kick up a row/quarrel (make a great noise)
Bury the hatchet, don’t kick up a row/quarrel.
87 Ill at ease (uncomfortable or anxious)
Whenever he goes to a populous city, he becomes ill at ease.
88 Ins and outs (all details)
I know the ins and outs of that matter so don’t dictate me.
89 Over head and ears (deeply)
They are involved in this matter over head and ears.
90 Spick and span (in order)
On wedding day, everything was spick and span.
91 Stand on ceremony (act with reserve)
Intimate friends need not stand on ceremony.
92 At cross purpose (misunderstand each other)
The ministers were at cross purposes, one had to resign.
93 Snake in the grass (hidden danger or enemy)
Beware of him, he is a snake in the grass.
94 Make light of (treat lightly)
He made light of his friend’s warning.
95 Hang in the balance (undecided)
The fate of the accused hangs in the balance.
96 Fall short of expectation (disappoint someone)
This year the mango-crop has fallen short of our expectations.
97 A fish out of water (in a strange situation)
A true scholar is like a fish out of water whenever he is away from his library
98 By fits and starts (irregularly or without steady application)
Those who work by fits and starts never succeed in life.
99 Take a leaf out of one’s book (imitate)
Shortly afterwards my rival took a leaf out of my book.
100 Take into account (consider)
You should take into account his past services.
101 On the spur of moment (at once or without deliberation)
I cannot give you a definite reply on the spur of the moment.
102 Take to heart (feel deeply)
He managing director took the failure of his business to heart.
103 For good (permanently)
Our old friend ahs left this place for good.
104 At one beck and call (under absolute control)
Do you expect me to be at your beck and call?
105 Bury the hatchet (cease fighting or forget the past)
Let us bury the hatchet and work for the progress of our country.
106 Burn midnight oil (work day and night)
My friend burnt midnight oil and passed the CSS examination with distinction.
107 Feather one’s nest (make money unfairly)
Mr. Rashid who is one of the trustees of a certain big charity, is suspected of feathering his nest.
108 Blow one’s own trumpet (praising oneself)
A sensible person does not blow his own trumpet in every matter.
109 Make ducks and drakes (Squander one’s money)
That foolish person made ducks and drakes and now he is leading a miserable life.
110 Catch red handed (in the very act of committing the theft)
The thief was caught red handed and handed over to the police.
111 Give cold shoulder (treat on in a cold and distant manner)
His bosom friend gave him the cold shoulder in his distress.
112 Give a false coloring (misrepresenting)
The editor of that paper is accused of giving a false coloring to the incident.
113 All ears (deeply attentive)
Throughout the speech all the boys were all ears.
114 Keep one’s head above water (to keep out of debt)
With a small income, he finds it rather difficult to keep his head above water.
115 Set Thames on fire (do something remarkable)
He will never set the Thames on fire as I know him very well.
116 Come to grief (be ruined)
You will come to grief if you follow his advice.
117 At arm’s length (at a distance)
Keep that rogue at length if you want to live a respectable life in society.
118 Keep up appearance (Keep up an outward show of personality)
He is keeping up appearance although he has lost his whole fortune.
119 Bag and baggage (with all belongings)
Bag and Baggage we waited for the train.
120 Bone of contention/apple of discord (a subject of dispute)
That territory is a bone of contention/apple of discard between the two countries.
121 Swollen headed (conceited)
Since his easy success in the elections, he has become swollen headed.
122 Curry favor (using mean acts to ingratiate oneself)
He is currying favor with his rich neighbor.
123 Cut one’s own throat (ruin oneself)
You will cut your throat if you adopt the habit of gambling.
124 Cut a poor figure (produce a poor impression)
The witness cut a poor figure in his cross-examination.
125 A dead letter (no longer in force)
Some old laws are now dead letter in this modern age.
126 Draw the line (fix the limit)
We should draw the line between the honest and corrupt people.
127 See eye to eye (to be in complete agreement)
I don’t expect him to see eye to eye with me on the question of prohibition.
128 Crocodile tears (pretence of sorrow)
She shed crocodile tears on the death of his enemy.
129 With a grain of salt (doubt)
He sometimes tells lies, so people take his statement with a grain of salt.
130 Leave in the lurch (desert someone in difficulties)
It never occurred to me that you would leave me in the lurch.
131 Beside the mark (not to the point)
His observations were beside the mark.
132 Move heaven and earth (make every possible effort)
His adversaries moved heaven and earth to get him discussed.
133 Lead by the nose (to follow submissively)
He wants and independent life so he refused to be led by the nose.
134 Hard nut to crack (a difficult problem to solve)
Successive ministers have found the question of employment a hard nut to crack.
135 Rest on one’s on oars (Stop working and take rest)
This gentleman, having worked successfully in business, is now resting on his oars.
136 Bring into play (give an opportunity for exercise)
All his abilities will be brought into play.
137 All the rage (very popular)
Mobile phone is all the rage now a days as all and sundry can afford it.
138 Speak volume for (serve a strong testimony to)
His letter to his ward speaks volumes for his forbearance and good sense.
139 A wild goose chase (a vain or fruitless effort)
I suspect that fellow has sent us on a wild goose chase. (Beat the air, To catch the wind in the net, Plough in the sand also mean a fruitless effort)
140 In hot water (in trouble)
You will be hot water if you adopt bad company.
141 Wash one’s dirty linen in public (discuss private matters before strangers)
There is nothing so bad as washing one’s dirty linen in public.
142 Keep the wolf from the door (Keeping off starvation)
He finds no little difficulty in keeping the wolf from the door.
143 Under the thumb of (completely under the influence of)
A henpeck is always under the thump of his wife.
144 In the teeth of (in defiance)
He carried out his project in the teeth of opposition from his community.
145 Talk shop (talk about the relative business)
People who always talk shop are generally waste their time.
146 A square meal (a delicious meal)
A square meal is presented to the chief guest in parties.
147 Rubbed shoulders (come into close contact)
In his travel he claims to have rubbed shoulders with all sorts of people.
148 Black sheep (a rotten egg or bad egg)
There are black sheep in every community.
149 Stand to one’s gun (maintain his own opinion)
The speaker was unmercifully heckled, but he manfully stood to his guns.
150 French leave (going away without permission)
Factory owners do not like French leave in any condition.
Idioms/Phrasal Verbs of past papers
Year 2014
1 Act upon (Do accordingly)
You should act upon your teacher’s advice if you want to succeed.
2 Back out (go back on one’s words)
Don’t go back out of your promise.
3 Give in (Surrender)
Our players will never give in any circumstances. 4 Get on with (bear with someone) It is hard to get on with such fool a fellow.
5 Long for (aspire for)
I long for good days when there will be peace in our country.
6 Abide by (do according to)
A true citizen always abide by the law of the country
7 In hot water (Get into difficulty)
You will get into hot water if you adopt bad company.
Year 2015
1 Deliver the goods (Show the best)
He will have to deliver the goods if he wants to pass the medical examination.
2 Face the music (Face the results of mistakes)
One who does a mistake must face the music.
3 Cut a sorry figure (Make a poor impression)
He wasted time and cut a sorry figure in the end.
4 Wait on (Serve someone)
Many servants wait on the new king.
5 Pull down (annihilate or destroy)
They have pulled down the house to construct a plaza.
6 Cut down (decrease something)
Try to cut down your needless expenses in this age of dearness.
7 Let off (acquit)
The judge warned the accused and let him off.
Year 2016
1 Burn one’s boats (end chance of retreat)
By signing that agreement, he burnt his boats.
2 Carry on (continue)
Carry on labor, you will succeed in the end. 3 Run down (be in poor condition) His health has run down because of fever. 4 Snake in the grass (hidden danger) Beware of him, he is a snake in the grass. 5 Shed crocodile tears (a pretense of sorrow) She shed crocodile tears at the death of her enemy. 6 Cast in one’s teeth (react reproachfully) Pakistan can cast her enemy’s teeth.
7 Take after (resemble)
The daughter takes after her mother.
Year 2017
1 Break down (become out of order)
His car broke down on the way and he got late.
2 Drop out (have to leave)
Kamran had to drop out due to poor performance.
3 Turn down (reject)
The manager turned down my proposal. 4 A dark horse (a man if hidden qualities) Like a dark horse he stood first against all hopes.
5 Break the ice (to end silence)
To break the ice, I started talking when the others were silent.
6 Flog a dead horse (expect effort from an incapable man)
Don’t try to borrow from a miser, don’t flog a dead horse.
7 Agree with (Fall with)
They do not agree with our point of view.
Year 2018
1 Hue and cry (shout and cry)
Hue and cry is no remedy for the loss.
2 To show a clean pair of heels (flee or run away)
Be brave, don’t show a clean pair of heels in the field.
3 Neck or nothing (final effort)
In his final attempt, he fought neck and nothing.
4 Do for (substitute for)
The room is small, so this sofa will do for a bed.
5 Kith and kin (close relatives)
Invite all kith and kin to your party.
6 Calls names (to abuse)
If you call him names, he will also abuse you.
7 Go by (To pass)
Many day went by but he did not turn up.
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