Important Idioms n Phrases

1. Like a fish out of water – In a strange situation
2. Smell a rat – Suspect something foul
3. Read between the lines – Understand the
hidden meaning
4. Tooth and Nail – With all of one’s power
5. Spread like wild fire – Spread quickly
6. Hit the nail on the head – Do or say the exact
thing
7. Burn the midnight Oil – Work or study hard
8. Under his thumb – Under his control
9. With a high hand – Oppressively
10. Gain ground – Become popular
11. By leaps and bounds – Rapidly
12. Make off with – To run away with
13. Pass away – to die
14. To cry for the moon – Ask for the impossible
15. To make a pig of oneself – To over-eat
16. Donkey’s years – Very long time
17. To pull one’s leg – to joke; tease
18. To keep one’s fingers crossed – to hope
fervently
19. To eat humble pie – To apologize in a humble
manner
20. To fight a losing battle – Struggle without
hope of success
21. A deadlock – A position when no progress
can be made
22. A daredevil – A person who does not care for
any
consequences
23. Once in a blue moon – Very rarely
24. At a premium – Difficult to get or obtain
25. To play the game – To act honestly