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Monday,14July2014

IDIOMSANDIDIOMATICEXPRESSIONSTHEIR
MEANINGSANDUSAGE3(5)(Incontinuationoflast
post)

EnglishGrammarTutorials

LatestChapterAdded

(continuedfromlastpost)
AnIdiomoridiomaticexpressionisaformofexpressionofwordsintheirpeculiarformas
prevalentinalanguage.Thewordsusedhavedifferentmeaningstotheirliteralmeanings.
Anidiomhasitsmetaphoricalratherthanliteralmeaning.Theuseofwordsinanidiomis
fixed.Theseidiomsundergochangeswiththepassageoftime.
The usage of idioms enhance the beauty of a language and give richness to it. Idioms
usually comprise of a few words but these words have their own meanings different from
their literal meanings. Just as the meaning of put is different from when some words are
addedtoitasPutup,Putout,PutofforToputupforarainydayetc.Thesewordsare
to be used as they are and these cannot be changed at all. The grammatical use of these
words is fixed.For example He has his own axe to grind cannot be changed to ground
hisaxeorsomeotherform.Idiomshavetheirmeaningsinmetaphoricalsenseratherthan
literalone.
Idiomsaddrichnesstoalanguagebuttheircorrectandappropriateuseisnecessary.Here
is a list of idioms with their meanings and usage though it is illustrative and not
exhaustive.

HOMONYMS,HOMOGRAPHS&
HOMOPHONES

ChaptersandExercisesIndex

Lessons:
K,L,M,N,O.
Kithandkin:(relatives,nearanddears):
Heinvitedallofhiskithandkintoattendtheparty.

Keepunderlockandkey:(tokeepthingsaplacedulylocked):
Hermotheradvisedhertokeepallherpreciousthingsunderlockandkey.

Keepaneye:(toobservestealthily):

Chapter1:SentenceFormationin
EnglishTenses
Chapter2:TypeofTenses
Chapter3:PresentTense

1. PRESENTINDEFINITETENSE
2. PRESENTCONTINUOUSTENSE

Theteacherkeptaneyeonallthestudentsduringtheexamination.

3. PRESENTPERFECTTENSE

Keepatbay:(toremainawayfrom):

4. PRESENTPERFECT
CONTINUOUSTENSE

Itisbetteryoukeepbadhabitsatbay.

Keepsoulandbodytogether:(tomakeone'sliving):

Chapter4:PastTense

Itisverydifficultforapoorpersonlikehimtokeephissoulandbodytogether.

Keepup:(tomaintain):
Youarefaringwellintheclass.Youmustkeepitup.

Keepatarm'slength:(tokeeponeaway):
Itisinyourowninterestthatyoukeeprogueslikehimatarm'slength.

Kickahabit:(tostopdoingsomething):

1. PASTINDEFINITETENSE
2. PASTCONTINUOUSTENSE
3. PASTPERFECTTENSE
4. PASTPERFECTCONTINUOUS
TENSE

Hejustcouldnotkickhishabitofsmoking.
Chapter5:FutureTense

Keepone'sheadabovewater:(tobeabletosurvive):
Bydoingextraworkafterhisofficehoursheiskeepinghisheadabovewater.

1. FUTUREINDEFINITETENSE

Tokeepunderone'shat:(tokeepsomethingsecret):

2. FUTURECONTINUOUSTENSE

Hegavemethisinformationbutadvisedmetokeepitundermyhat.
3. FUTUREPERFECTTENSE

Tokeepthewolfawayfromthedoor:(tokeeppovertyofffromoneself):
Thepoorfellowtoiledhardthroughouthislifetokeepthewolfawayfromthedoor.

4. FUTUREPERFECTCONTINUOUS
TENSE

Chapter5A:SentenceFormationUse
oftensesinsentencesCaseof
Conditionalsentenceswithexamples.

Toleadacatanddoglife:(tolivealifeastrifetornlife):
Itissobadtoseethecoupleleadingacatanddoglife.

Chapter5B:SentenceFormation
SequenceofTenses

Tolivefromhandtomouth:(toexpendwhateverisearned):

Sequenceoftenses(1)

Inthesedaysofhighpricesanaveragemanlivesfromhandtomouth.

SequenceoftensesErrorscorrection
(2)

Lifeandsoul:(primemember):

SequenceoftensesFillinBlanks(3)

Thechiefmanagerislifeandsouloftheoffice.

Toleaveinthelurch:(todeceive,toleavewhenoneisintrouble):
Afairweatherfriendcannotbetrustedupon.Heissuretoleaveoneinthelurch.

Tolickthedust:(tosufferaloss,toberuined):
Itisduetohisbadhabitsthatheislickingthedusttoday.

Laughingstock:(someoneorsomethingpeoplelaughat):

Chapter6:ListofWordsMisusedin
English

1. ListofWordsMisusedinEnglishfor
AlphabetA
2. ListofWordsMisusedinEnglishfor
AlphabetAContinued

Hisrideinthatoldcarhasmadehimalaughingstockamonghisfriends.

Lendone'sear:(tolistentosomeone):
Ifyoutellyourproblemtohimhewillcertainlylendhiseartoyouwithgreatsympathy.

3. ListofWordsMisusedinEnglishfor
AlphabetB
4. ListofWordsMisusedinEnglishfor
AlphabetC

Leavenostoneunturned:(tomakeallefforts,totryallways):
The host left no stone unturned to make comfortable arrangements for stay of all the
guests.

5. ListofWordsMisusedinEnglish
ForAlphabetD

Labouroflove:(todoataskwithoutanyinterestofmoneyorreward):
His father after retirement from his active service continues to serve the company as a
labouroflove.

Chapter7:IdiomandPhrases
Idioms&Idiomaticexpressions(1)
Idioms&Idiomaticexpressions(2)

Letbygonesbebygones:(toforgetaboutgrievancesofthepast):

Idioms&Idiomaticexpressions(3)

Both the brothers let the bygones be bygones and restarted their relationship of love with
eachother.

Idioms&Idiomaticexpressions(4)

Likeafishoutofwater:(inamiserablecondition):

Idioms&Idiomaticexpressions(5)
Exerciseswithsolutions

Sincehelosthisservicehehasbeenfeelinglikeafishoutofwater.

Likeaducktowater:(tofeelathomeinajoborawork):

1. ListofWordsofComparisons

Hegladlyjoinedtheschooltoworkasateacherandhefeelstherelikeaducktowater.
Chapter8:SentenceCorrectionRules

Letthecatbeoutofthebag:(toletasecretbecomeopentoothers):
Our plans remained a close secret throughout the time because none of us let the cat be
outofthebag.

Lion'sshare:(amajorportionof):
Alion'sshareofthepropertyofthedeceasedfatherwenttohiselderson.

1. UseofSingular&Pluralnumbers
2. UseofNouns,UseofApostrophes
3. DifferenttypesofPronounsand
RulestousePronouns

Likeawildfire:(tohappenveryquickly):
Thenewsofsuspensionofthemanagerspreadlikeawildfireintheoffice.

4. CommonlyusedAdverbialPhrases

Lockstockandbarrel:(todoanactwhollyorcompletely):
Thefamilyhadtoleavethathouselockstockandbarrelafterthatincident.

Lipservice:(tomakefakepromisesorshowsympathyinwordswithoutany
practicalaction):
Youcannotdependuponapersonlikehimbecauseheextendstoalllipserviceonly.

Tolookblank:(toactwithoutanyemotionsorfeelings):

Chapter9:ListofDifficultWordswith
Meanings

1. WordMeaningsListofwords
AlphabetsAtoC

Theyoungboylookedblankwhenwasdeclaredunsuccessfulinhisexamination.

Chapter10:Samewordusedas
differentpartsofSpeechNew

Lockhorns:(tocreateadisputeaboutsomething):
The new manager and the boss are locking their horns over their own ways of
administrationintheoffice.

1. AtoCAlphabet
2. DtoLAlphabet

Losenotime:(spendnomoretime,withoutanydelay):
Theyoungboystandingtherelostnotimeandrushedthepatienttoanearbyhospital.

3. MtoPAlphabet

Lookbeforeyouleap(tothinkbeforedoinganact):

4. QtoZAlphabet

Whilemakingsuchahugeinvestmentyoumustthinkbeforeyouleapandshouldnotact
inhaste.

Chapter11:Rearrangementof
sentencesinaparagraphtomakeit
meaningful.
Rearrangementofsentencesina
paragraphtomakeitmeaningfulMore
Examples.

Amare'snest:(apparentlyimportantbutactuallyinsignificantthing,fiasco):
Hestartedhisexpeditiontourbuteventuallyitturnedouttobeamare'snest.

Tomakethemarego:(tomakethethingspossible):

Chapter12:UseofModalsDifferent
typesofverbsandtheirusagewith
examples

Hebribedtheofficialconcernedandthismadethemarego.

Tomakeupone'smind:(todecide):
After his son's marriage, the merchant made up his mind to give a lion's share of his
propertytohim.

Amaidenspeech:(Firstspeech):

Chapter13:PhrasalVerbsMeaning&
theirusagewithexamplessentences
usingphrasalverbs.
ExercisesUsageofPhrasalVerbs
basedonquestionsfromexaminationQ.
Papers.

Thecaptainofourteammadeaveryimpressivemaidenspeechtoday.
Chapter14:

TomisstheboatORtomissthebus:(toloseachance):

Idioms&IdiomaticPhrases

Youmustactwithagreatcarewhilemakingadealofthisplototherwiseyoumaymissthe
boat.

Meanings&theirusage

Withmightandmain:(withfullforce):
Iassureyouifyouattemptyourexaminationwithmightandmain,thereisnottheslightest
chancetolose.

Meekandmild:(gentleandquiet):

Part1
Part2
Part3.
Part4.
Part5
Exerciseofidioms&idiomaticPhrases.

Rabbitisameekandmildanimal.

Manofletters:(ascholar,alearnedperson):
Ourschoolprincipalisamanofletters.

Manofhisword:(apersonwhofulfillshispromise):
Youcandependuponhimundoubtedlyheisamanofhisword.

Chapter15:
Narration
ChangeSentencesfromDirectto
Indirectform
Simplesentences

Manofstraw:(notsoimportant,insignificant):

Sentencesofdifferenttenses
InterrogativeSentences1
Interrogativesentences2

Ialwaysconsideredhimaveryinfluentialpersonbutheturnedouttobeamanofstraw.

Interrogative(combined)sentences

Manofparts:(Learnedorableperson):
Hissonisamanofparts.Hewilldefinitelygofarinhiscareer.

Marktime:(towaitfortherightopportunitytoact):
Heismarkingtimeonlyandhewillcertainlyavengeuponherwheneverthereisachance.

Muchadoaboutnothing:(toshowofffornothing):
He made much ado about nothing for such a trivial incident happened with him in the
school.

Makeamendsof:(tomakefortheloss):
Weshouldgivehimachancetomakeamendsofhisfolliesofthepast.

Makeacleanbreastof:(toacceptinclearterms):
Themanagermadeacleanbreastofhisfaultbeforethebossandwasthussavedfromany
punishment.

Makeover:(tohandover):
Finallythechildrenweresafelymadeovertotheirparents.

Makeupwith:(tobefriendsomeone):
Hisbrotherisaverynobleperson.Youshouldtrytomakeupwithhim.

Imperativesentences
Exclamatory&Optativesentences
Assortedsentencesexerciseswith
solutions
SentenceswithExamplesOptative
sentences
SentenceswithexamplesIndirectto
Directspeech
Chapter16:
ChangetheVoiceActiveVoice&
Passivevoice.
SimpleSentences
SentencesofPerfectContinuousTense
SentencesofFutureTense
Imperative&Interrogativesentences,
sentenceswithtwoobjects.
SentenceswithModals
Assortedsentenceswithsolution1.
Assortedsentenceswithsolution2.
Assortedsentenceswithsolution3
Assortedsentenceswithsolution4
Chapter17:

Tomakeone'smark:(todosomethingimportant):
Beforelongheissuretomakeamarkinhiscareer.

TensesFormationofsentences
Conditionalsentences
Errorsduetotensessentenceformation

Movemountains:(tomakeallefforts):
Hemovedmountainstoachievethefirstpositionintheexamination.
Chapter18:
Antonyms&Synonyms
MeaningswithExplanations
withExamplesForPractice

Nookandcorner:(alltheplaces):
Shesearchedhernecklaceineverynookandcornerofthehousebutcouldnotfindit.

NullandVoid:(tobeineffective):

Chapter19:
Gerunds,Infinitives&Participles
Usewithexplanation&Examples

Thenewlyelectedhousemadealltherulesframedbytheprevioushousenullandvoid.

Nowandthen:(sometimes,offandon):

PRACTICEEXERCISES

Hegoestoseehisparentsinthevillageoffandon.

Nipinthebud:(tofinishinthebeginning):

Topic1:SentenceCorrection

Itisalwayswisetoniptheevilinthebud.

Anarrowescape:(tobesavedfromadanger):
His car met with an accident on the road and all the occupants of the car had a narrow
escape.

1. Exercise1.1
2. Exercise1.2
3. Exercise1.3

Nearanddear:(Relativesandfriends):
Heinvitedallhisnearanddeartoattendhisparty.

Nolovelost:(notgoodrelations,enmity):
The two brothers are at daggers' drawn with each other and there is no love lost between
them.

NuptialKnot:(marriagetie,tomarry):
LastSundayhissonandhisfriend'sdaughterweretiedinnuptialtie.

4. Exercise1.4:MultipleChoicesmall
Exercise
5. Exercise1.5:3Questions
SentenceCorrectionExercisewith
usefulCorrectiontips
6. Exercise1.6:VocabularyBuilding
Exercise:Sentence/Paragraph
Completion
7. Exercise1.7:Substitutethe
sentencemarkedinItalic,with
optionequivalenttomeaning.

Opensecret:(asecretknowntoall):

8. Exercise1.8:SentenceFormation
ExercisesforPracticewith
answers.New

Hisfailureintheexaminationisanopensecretnow.

Outandout:(completely):

Topic2:MisusedWordsinEnglish

Heisoutandoutagentleman.
1. Exercise2.1

Overandoveragain:(repeatedly):
He requested the shopkeeper over and over again to change the suit but he turned down
hisrequest.

Offandon:(sometimes,occasionally):
Heusedtocometoourplaceoffandon.

Onceforall:(Forever,forgood):

2. Exercise2.2
3. Exercise2.3
4. Exercise2.4

Topic3:IdiomandPhrases

HeleftIndiaforChinaonceforall.

Ofoneaccord:(toagreejointly):
Thejurywasofoneaccordonawardofpunishmenttotheaccused.

Ofone'saccord:(willingly):
Hissonleftthehouseofhisownaccord.

Ofthefirstwater:(ofahighdegree,inabsoluteterms):
Heisafoolofthefirstwater.Donottrustonhim.

1. Exercise3.1:Usethemin
sentencesandsubmitincomments
onthatpage.

Topic4:RearrangementofSentences

1. Exercise4.1:Rearrangementof
Sentencestomakeitmeaningful
New

Onthespurofthemoment:(Immediatelyatthatmoment):
Thecaptainofthewinningteammadeanimpressivespeechonthespurofthemoment.
Hisfathercalledforadoctorforhimonthespurofthemoment.

Onthevergeof:(nearto,approximately,almost):
Thepoorfamilyisonthevergeofstarvation.

Topic5:Samewordusedasdifferent
partsofSpeech

1. Exercise5.1New

Thisbridgeappearstobeonthevergeofbreaking.Itcangivewayatanymoment.

Onrocks:(inadifficultsituation):

2. Exercise5.2:ListofWordsSame
WordUsedAsDifferentPartsof
Speech

Unlessheabandonshisbadhabitsofdrinkingandgamblinghesoonwillbeonrocks.

3. Exercise5.3:Chapter2

Onone'slastlegs:(atafinalstage):

4. Exercise5.4:Chapter3

Illiteracyinthestateisonitslastlegs.
5. Exercise5.5:Chapter4

Onthesilverplatter:(easilyavailable):
Byusingmoderntechnologyonegetsalltypesofinformationonthesilverplatterbuthow
faritiscorrectisnotcertain.

Topic6:Useofasentenceinalltypesof
tenseswithaffirmative,negative&
interrogativeforms.

Onice:(anythingkeptpendingforthetimebeing):
Forwantoffundshehaskeptallhisprojectsonice.

1. Exerciseofuseoftensesin
sentences.

Ontenterhooks:(tobeimpatientandwaitexcitingly):
Allthestudentswereontenterhooksuntiltheirresultwasdeclared.

Onthecards:(expectedtohappensoon):
Acabinetreshuffleisonthecardsanditislikelytobeannouncedatanymoment.

Onthefly:(toactwithoutgivinganythoughtoranypreparation):
The boss is not in the habit of taking decisions on the fly. He will take his own time to
decideinthematter.

Onthemap:(tobecomeverypopularduetosomereason):
ThefactthatthetopperoftheIASexaminationbelongstoourvillagehasbroughtourtiny
villageonthemap.

Topic7:UseofPhrasalVerbstheir
usage

1. ExerciseUseofphrasalverbsin
sentences.
Topic8:UseofAntonyms&Synonyms
theirusage

1. ExerciseMeaningsofAntonyms
&Synonyms

Onthesly:(toactinasecretway):
Themanagerhobnobbedwiththeclerkontheslyandleakedoutinformationtotheparty.
AboutMe

Onthetrot:(continuouslyatastretch):
Heabsentedhimselffromtheofficeforthreedaysonthetrot.

Onone'slastlegs:(atlaststage):
Ifearthatthepatientisonhislastlegsnow.

Outofsorts:(feelingunwellordistressed):
Iamfeelingmyselfoutofsortsandshallnotbeabletoattendtheofficetoday.

Outoftheblue:(allofasudden,unexpectedly):
Hissuspensionfromtheservicecametohimoutoftheblue.

SurinderMahna
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An Idiom or idiomatic expression is a form of expression of words in their
peculiar form as prevalent in a language.The words used have different ...

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