Important Idioms and Phrases

Intermediate PART-II
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Sr.
Idiom Meaning Sentence
No.
1 Above board ‫کشےسابالرت‬ The honest people do everything above board.
2 A bad debt ‫ڈوابوہارقہض‬ A lot of companies go down because of bad debt.
3 Abide by ‫اپدنبیرکان‬ We should abide by the traffic rules.
4 All in all ‫رکاتدرھات‬ The principal is all in all in this college.
5 All and sundry ‫رہسکوانسک‬ We should help sincerely all and sundry.
6 Alpha and omega ‫اوكوآرخ‬ Allah is the alpha and omega of Islam.
7 A rotten egg ‫دنگہاڈنہ‬ The principal has struck off the rotten eggs of the class.
An apple of
8 ‫اسفدیکڑج‬ New business has become an apple of discord between them.
discord
9 Apple of one’s eye ‫وظنم ِررظن‬ The youngest son was the apple of his father's eye.
10 An eyewash ‫رظناکدوھاک‬ Government’s new scheme is just an eyewash.
Socialists have no political axe to grind; they
11 An axe to grind ‫اولدیساھرکان‬
just want to save the society.
12 Again and again ‫ابرابر‬ He requested my help again and again.
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13 As the crow flies ‫انکیکدیسھرپ‬ The hospital is only a mile as the crow flies from my house.
14 At a loss ‫وبالھکٹہاکاکشر‬ He was at a loss when he missed the last train.
15 At large ‫آزاد‬ The culprit of the Ali’s murder is still at large.
16 At home in ‫امرہ‬ He is at home in Physics.
17 At arm’s length ‫افےلصرپ‬ Keep bad friends at arm’s length.
At the eleventh
18 ‫نیعوتقرپ‬ The match was cancelled at the eleventh hour.
hour
19 Animal spirits ‫ وخشزمایج‬/‫وخشدیل‬ Even Young men today lack animal spirits.
20 At a stone’s throw ‫تہبرقبی‬ The hospital is at stone’s throw from my home.
At the daggers Local residents are at daggers drawn with the council over
21 ‫دنمشوہان‬
drawn rubbish collection.
22 A narrow escape ‫ابكابكانچب‬ He had a narrow escape from the railway accident.
23 A jail bird ‫ابرابرلیجاجےنواہل‬ His father is an escaped jailbird.
24 A queer fish ‫بیجعصخش‬ I cannot understand the ways of Mr. Arif. He is a queer fish.
 A blessing in ‫تبیصمےکروپںیم‬ Dad's illness was a blessing in disguise as it brought the family
25
disguise ‫راتح‬ Together for the first time in years.
Aslam is a close fisted man as he never spends a penny on
26 A close fisted man ‫وجنکسآدیم‬
entertainment.
‫احدہثوجوہےتوہےترہ‬
27 A near miss I managed to brake just in time and the accident was a near miss.
‫اجےئ‬
As cool as a
28 ‫رپوکسم‬ She was as cool as cucumber even when she caught red handed.
cucumber
29 A wild goose chase ‫ےباکروکشش‬ To look for a good restaurant in this town is a wild goose chase.
30 A gala day ‫وخیشاکدم‬ Every Sunday is gala day for students.
The late comers always come with a fishy story about the late
31 A fishy story ‫وھجیٹاہکین‬
arrival.
A fair weather
32 ‫یبلطمدوتس‬ A fair-weather friend isn't much help in an emergency.
friend
33 A blind alley ‫دنبیلگ‬ The latest evolutionary theory may turn out to be a blind alley.
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The nonsense talk will make you a laughing stock among your
34 A laughing stock ‫اشنہنکیحضت‬
friends.
35 A rolling stone ‫ےبدنیپےاکولاٹ‬ A rolling stone gathers no moss.
36 A sugar daddy ‫وجامونازوبڑاھ‬ Mr. akram is sort of a sugar daddy to the whole team.
37 Add fuel to fire ‫یتلجرپلیتڈاانل‬ Shouting at a crying child just adds fuel to the fire.
38 Back out ‫رکماجان‬ We should not back out of our promises.
39 Bag and baggage ‫وبرایرتسبتیمس‬ He left for another country bag and baggage.
40 Bad blood ‫دینمش‬ There should be no bad blood among the Muslims.
41 Blue blood ‫اےھچاخدناماک‬ Although Hina’s family is poor, she has blue blood in her veins.
You may think your heart is broken, but you'll feel better by and
42 By and by ‫آہتسہآہتسہ‬
by.
By hook or by
43 ‫رہاجزئواناجزئرطےقیےس‬ He wants to become rich by hook or by crook.
crook
44 By fits and starts ‫ےباقدعیگےس‬ The dull students are not regular, they work by fits and starts.
By leaps and
45 ‫دمدوینگراتوچینگ‬ Our country is making progress by leaps and bounds.
bound
46 Bed of roses ‫وھپولںیکجیس‬ Life is a hard challenge, not a bed of roses.
Beat about the
47 ‫اٹكوٹمكرکان‬ Don’t beat about the bush, just come to the point.
bush
48 Beat in the air ‫اناکلوکششرکان‬ If you want to make him a good boy, you are beating the air.
49 Bird’s eye view ‫رسرسیاگنہ‬ We had a bird's eye view of the old town from the top of the hill.
50 Broken reed ‫ریغینیقیاہسرا‬ You cannot rely on Usama’s support as he is a broken reed.
51 Black sheep ‫دبنلچااسنم‬ One black sheep can spoil the whole class.
Amina kept blowing hot and cold about the idea of working abro
52 Blow hot and cold ‫یھبکاخمفلیھبکوماقف‬
ad.
53 Break the news ‫( اتزہ) ربخانسان‬ I broke the news of his son’s excellent result in exams.
54 Bread and butter ‫روزیرویٹ‬ Teaching at the local college is his bread and butter.
56 Bring to book ‫وجاببلطرکان‬ The umpire was brought to book for wrong decision.
57 Broad daylight ‫رو ِزرونش‬ The robbers robbed the bank in the broad daylight.
58 Better half (imp) ‫ویبی‬،‫زوہج‬ His better half is an educated lady.
59 Between two fires ‫دووتبیصمںےکدرایمم‬ They decided to retreat lest they would be between two fires.
60 Bosom friends ‫اباامتعددوتس‬ Ali is my bosom friend, and I trust him.
Bone of
61 ‫اسفدیکڑج‬ Kashmir is a bone of contention between Pakistan and India.
contention
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62 Bolt from the blue ‫البےئاناہگین‬ His death at the age of 28 is a bolt from the blue for his parents.
There was complete silence in the class and the teacher broke
63 Break the ice ‫وکستوتڑان‬
the ice.
64 Burning question ‫امہرتنیہلئسم‬ Kashmir is burning question between India and Pakistan.
Burn the mid night ،‫راتوکدریکتڑپانھ‬
65 You have to burn midnight oil to pass the exams.
oil ‫تخستنحمرکان‬
Burn the candle at
66 ‫وضفكرخیچرکان‬ You'll wear out if you keep burning the candle at both ends.
both ends
Both parties have buried the hatchet after 28 years of family
67 Bury the hatchet ‫دینمشرتکرکان‬،‫حلصرکان‬
enmity.
Call a spade a
68 ‫اصفاصفابترکان‬ The honest people always call a spade a spade.
spade
69 Call in question ‫کشرکان‬ Our religion forbids calling any one’s character in question.
70 Carry one’s point ‫اانپآپونماان‬ We can carry our point by dint of hard work.
Our team didn't play well at
71 Carry the day ‫اکایمیباحلصرکان‬
first, but we carried the day in the end.
72 Cast aside ‫رتسمدرکان‬ I knew you would cast me aside once you became famous.
73 Catch at straw ‫تبیصمںیماہھتاپؤںامران‬ A drowning man catches at a straw.
74 cat’s paw ‫آہلاکر‬ Aslam is not the mastermind of this plan; he is just a cat’s paw.
75 Close shave ‫رقیبیاعمہلم‬ The shot missed him, but it a close shave.
76 Cock and bull story ‫نمڑھگتاہکین‬ I cannot believe in his cock and bull story.
77 Call names ‫اگایلںدانی‬ Bad boys call names of others.
Cold blooded
78 ‫افساکہنلتق‬ I condemn the cold blooded murder of the innocent child.
murder
79 Come to light ‫اظرہوہان‬ Four officers have faced charges since the scandal came to light l
 ast month.
In the end, he came to grief because he did not follow
80 Come to grief ‫دصہمانچنہپ‬
instructions.
81 With flying colours ‫اشدناراکایمیباحلصرکان‬ Sidra qualified for the race with flying colours.
82 Crocodile tears ‫وھجٹومٹےکآوسن‬ He shed crocodile tears on the death of his revolting wife.
83 Cheek by jowl ‫تہبرقتبوہان‬ The two families lived cheek by jowl in one house.
84 Chicken-hearted ‫زبدك‬ Chicken-hearted people die before their death.
85 Cut a sorry figure ‫رشدنمیگااھٹان‬ British high commissioner cut a sorry figure on visa scandal.
86 Cut one to quick ‫ذجابترجموحرکان‬ Your heartless comments cut me to the quick.
87 Dark horse ‫اپھچرمتس‬ A dark horse player can win if all the others are creeps.
88 Drawn game ‫ریغبےجیتنےک‬ Neither of the teams could win the game; it was a drawn game.
‫یلمعزدنیگےکدورام‬
89 Die in harness Quad-e-Azam died in harness.
‫وافتاپان‬
The ceasefire agreement is a dead letter between India and
90 Dead letter ‫اکدعلل‬
Pakistan because neither side follows it.
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91 Every inch ‫لمکموطررپ‬،‫وپروپر‬ Nobody in politics is every inch a gentleman.
92 Eat one’s words ‫اافلظواسپانیل‬ Look before you leap otherwise you will have to eat your words.
Face the music
93 ‫ایمخزہانتگھب‬ You've been caught cheating now you must face the music.
(imp)
94 Fair and square ‫اصفافشف‬،‫دایدتنار‬ Fair and square elections are difficult in Pakistan.
95 Fall flat ‫ےبارثوہان‬ My advice fell flat on the naughty boy.
96 Flesh and blood ‫ااسنینرطفت‬ This cold weather is more than what flesh and blood can stand.
From hand to
97 ‫لکشمےسزگررسبرکان‬ After she lost her job she was living from hand to mouth.
mouth
98 French leave ‫ریغباالطعیٹھچ‬ He has received a notice for taking a French leave.
99 Fall back on ‫اہسراانیل‬ Ali fell back upon his old complaint.
Few and far
100 ‫یھبکاھبکر‬ He visits me few and far between.
between
101 First and foremost ‫اونیل‬ The first and foremost duty of a student is to work hard.
102 Find fault with ‫ہتکنینیچرکان‬ Man is apt to find fault with others.
103 For good ‫ہشیمہےکےیل‬ He had a quarrel with his wife and left the house for good.
104 Give vent to ‫ااہظررکان‬ Children give vent to their anger in various ways.
105 Get into hot water ‫لکشمںیمانسنھپ‬ We'll get into hot water if the teacher hears about this.
106 Get wind of ‫ااشرہایربخانلم‬ Our competitors must not be allowed to get wind of our plans.
107 Get rid of ‫اجنتاحلصرکان‬ It is difficult to get rid of insects.
108 Gift of the gab ‫رقتریاکنف‬ Our new English professor has a great gift of grab.
109 Give up the ghost ‫وافتاپاجان‬ He gave up the ghost after a prolonged illness of two months.
110 Go back on ‫دوھےکےساسنھپدانی‬ He went back on me, and joined a rival company in such a way.
111 Go hand in hand ‫دحتمرانہ‬ Wealth and power go hand in hand in most societies.
Go to dogs/go to Owing to the corruption, the economy of our county is going to
112 ‫ابتہوہان‬
wall walls/dogs.
Go through fire Ahmad is always ready to go through fire and water for the sake
113 ‫رہرطخےاکاسانمرکان‬
and water of his friends.
114 Hand in glove with ‫رہگےدوتسوہان‬ The two friends are hand in glove with each other.
Hair breadth
115 ‫لکشماچبؤ‬ She had a hair breadth escape in the bus accident.
escape
The new principal has set some hard and fast rules for the
116 Hard and fast ‫تخس‬
students.
117 Heart and soul ‫دكواجم‬ I will put my heart and soul into this job.
Hit the nail on its Bob doesn't say much, but every now and then he hits the nail ri
118 ‫اکلحیحصوتقرپرکان‬
head ght on its head‫۔‬
119 Hope against hope ‫انادیمیںیمیھبادیمرانھک‬ I'm hoping against hope that someone will return my wallet.
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120 Hold water ‫دیقنتربداتشرکان‬ Nothing you’ve said so far holds water.
121 Hue and cry ‫وشرولغ‬ There was a hue and cry on the bomb blast spot.
122 In a fix ‫انھجلںیم‬ The surprise attack of China put India in a fix.
123 Ill at ease ‫ذینہوطررپرپاشیم‬ He is always ill at ease when facing his step-father.
124 Ins and outs ‫امتلالیصفتت‬ He knows all the ins and outs if this plan.
125 In black and white ‫رحترییوطررپ‬ He submitted his explanation in black and white.
126 In a nutshell ‫رصتخم‬ Tell me your new idea in a nutshell.
127 In the air ‫زابمزداعل‬ His secret affairs were soon in the air.
128 In full swing ‫وپرےوجنبرپ‬ When we arrived the party was already in full swing.
129 In the teeth of ‫اخمتفلےکابووجد‬ The new policy was adopted in the teeth of fierce criticism.
The company is struggling to keep pace with changes in the
130 Keep pace with ‫اطمتقباایتخررکان‬
market.
131 Kith and kin ‫زعزیوااقرب‬ He is very kind to his poor kith and kin.
132 Keep an eye on ‫رظنرانھک‬ Keep an eye on the notice boards for forthcoming events .
133 Keep abreast of ‫وافقرانہ‬ Read the papers if you want to keep abreast of current affairs.
134 Keep back ‫ابزرانھک‬ She was unable to keep back her tears, and wept freely.
135 Kick the bucket ‫رماجان‬ His heirs were greedily waiting for him to kick the bucket.
136 Lame excuse ‫وھجاٹاہبان‬ She's always got some lame excuse for being late.
137 Lay by ‫اھبنسكرکرانھک‬ He laid his tools by for the next project.
138 Lay down arms ‫ایھتہرڈاكدانی‬ The rebel soldiers laid down their arms and surrendered.
139 Lick the dust ‫تسکشاھکان‬ You will never lick the dust unless you give up!
140 Look down upon ‫اقحرتےسدانھکی‬ You shouldn't look down upon him just because he is a dustman.
141 Lead by nose ‫لمکموطررپاتمرثرکان‬ He thinks she's perfect, and she leads him around by the nose.
Lead a cat and dog
142 ‫ڑلےتڑگھجےترانہ‬ The love married couple soon started to lead a cat and dog life.
life
Let the cat out of I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Amina went and let
143 ‫رازاظرہرکان‬
the bag the cat out of the bag.
144 lion’s share ‫تہبڑباہصح‬ Boss took the lion’s share of bribed amount.
145 Life and soul ‫روحرواں‬
ِ My parents are life and soul of my aspirations.
146 Long and short ‫بلِابلب‬ Please write the long and short of this essay.
147 Maiden speech ‫یلہپرقتری‬ His maiden speech was too long and boring.
Make both ends
148 ‫زگررسبرکان‬ I have to work at two jobs to make both ends meet.
meet
149 Make amends for ‫التیفرکان‬ They must make amends for the harm they've caused you
150 make fun of ‫زماقاڑاان‬ The boys made fun of her short dress at the party.
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151 Man of parts ‫اقلبآدیم‬ Men of parts achieve their goals.
152 man of letters ‫اعملصخش‬ Prof. Anjum is a man of letters.
We visit my parents
153 Now and then ‫ارثک‬
now and then, but we rarely see our other relatives.
154 Null and void ‫اکدعلل‬ The old rules of taxation are null and void now.
Once in a blue
155 ‫اشزواندر‬ We go out to eat once in a blue moon.
moon
156 On the eve of ‫درںیوصرت‬ He felt sick on the eve of the race.
157 Oily tongue ‫وخاشدمیزابم‬/‫رنل‬ She has an oily tongue but bad heart.
158 Pay lip service ‫رصفزابمےسانہک‬ The government always pays lip service to women issues.
159 Play truant (imp) ‫وکسكوریغہےساھبگاجان‬ Our institute is clamping down on those who often play truant.
160 Part and parcel ‫الزیمزج‬ Breathing is the part and parcel of life.
He did not retaliate and pocketed an insult when his friend called
161 Pocket an insult ‫ےبزعیتربداتشرکان‬
him by names.
162 Rainy day ‫رضورتاکوتق‬ Wise people save something for the rainy day.
163 Rank and file ‫ومعمیل‬،‫اعل‬ Most rank and file police officers rejected the new pay offer.
164 Red tape ‫یبملدرتفیاکروایئ‬ It takes months for a case to get through the red tape.
165 Royal road ‫آاسمراہتس‬ There is no royal road to success.
166 Safe and sound ‫ریخبواعتیف‬ I reached home safe and sound.
167 Set off ‫رواہنوہان‬ We ate a hearty breakfast before we set off.
168 Sixes and sevens ‫رھکبیوہیئ‬ The books were laying sixes and sevens on the table.
169 Smell a rat ‫کشرکان‬ He could smell a rat in the way the men were talking.
170 Snake in the grass ‫ہیفخدنمش‬ Beware of your new friend, he is a snake in the grass.
171 Split hairs ‫ابكیکاھکكااتران‬ Scholars nowadays just split hairs; they never address the basics.
172 Spick and span ‫اصفرھتسا‬ She keeps her room spick and span.
173 Storm in a tea cup ‫ومعمیلابترپاگنہہم‬ His anger was unreasonable, it was just a storm in a teacup.
174 Talk tall ‫یخیشاھگبران‬ Some people talk tall about their achievements.
175 Time and tide ‫زگاتوتق‬ Time and tide waits for none.
The sum and
176 ‫بلِابلب‬ Quickly tell me the sum and substance of your proposal.
substance
The apple of one’s He has five kids, but his only daughter is clearly the apple of his e
177 ‫آھکناکاترہ‬
eye ye.
Through thick and
178 ‫اےھچاورربےوتقںیم‬ Good friends stand by each other through thick and thin.
thin
To be caught red
179 ‫رےگناہوھتںرگاتفروہان‬ The thief was caught red handed.
handed
180 To pass on ‫ررکان‬p‫ونم‬ The committee passed on the proposal, so work can now begin.
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181 To pass away ‫رماجان‬ I'm sorry to hear that your father passed away last night.
182 To be taken aback ‫اکہاکبرہاجان‬ I was taken aback by the news of his death.
183 To nip in the bud ‫رشوعںیمدابدانی‬ A bad habit in a child should be nipped in the bud.
They must take practical measures to carry out their plan;
184 To end in smoke ‫ےبافدئہاثتبوہان‬
otherwise it will end in smoke.
185 Turn a deaf ear to ‫اکماندرھان‬ The boss turned a deaf ear to my explanation.
186 Up to the mark ‫ایعمرےکاطمقب‬ Her latest batch of work just isn't up to the mark.
187 Ups and downs ‫بیشنورفاز‬ There were many ups and downs in his political career.
188 Up to the mark ‫ایعمرےکاطمقب‬ Her school work is not quite up to the mark.
189 Wet blanket ‫وجشڈنھٹارکدےنیواال‬ A selfish person is a wet blanket.
190 White elephant ‫اھگےٹیکزیچ‬ The old car has now become a white elephant for him.
191 With a view to ‫یکاخرط‬ He's painting the house with a view to selling it.
192 With open arms ‫رپاپتک‬ Reduction in income tax will be welcomed with open arms.
193 Work wonders ‫تہبزایدہافدئہدنم‬ This new medicine works wonders with my headaches
Phrases
Sr.
Phrase Meaning Sentence
No.
Break
1 Break away ‫امسجینےضبقےسوھچٹاجان‬ I tried to break away from him, but he was holding me too tight.
2 Break into ‫بقناگلان‬ Spies have been trying to break into my computer.
3 Break out ‫ااچکنوھپٹڑپان‬ A fire broke out in the forest.
Bring
4 Bring down ‫یمکرکان‬ Government brought down the prices of petrol last month.
5 Bring in ‫یئنزیچاعتمرفرکواان‬ Our new boss has brought in new rules in the company.
6 Bring out ‫اشعئرکان‬ I hear you have brought out a new edition of your book.
We brought up the puppies carefully and sold them for a good pr
7 Bring up ‫رپورشرکان‬
ofit.
8 Bring about ‫ابثعاننب‬ Floods bring about destruction on large scale.
9 Bear out ‫دصتقیرکان‬ Her theories were not borne out by the research I did.
Give
10 Give away ‫میسقترکدانی‬ He gave away all his money before his death.
11 Give up ‫رتکرکان‬ If you give up smoking, you will live longer.
12 Give in ‫اہرامانن‬ This government will not give in to terrorism.
Put
13 Put off ‫وتلمیرکان‬ Don’t put off what you can do today till tomorrow
When he put on the wig and false moustache I could not
14 Put on ‫اننہپ‬
recognize him.
15 Put out ‫اھجبان‬ It took two hours to put out the fire.
16 Put in ‫دروخاتسرکان‬ I am writing to boss to put in for a transfer.
17 Put down ‫ےبزعیترکان‬ They frequently put down their sister for walking slowly.
Carry
18 Carry out ‫مکحیکلیمعترکان‬ You must carry out my orders.
19 Carry on ‫اجریرانھک‬ Let's carry on this discussion at some other time.
20 Carry off ‫وچریےسااھٹاجیلان‬ I think someone carried off the lawn chairs last night.
Come
21 Come of ‫قلعترانھک‬ He comes of a noble family.
The fire is so great that the whole building will have to come
22 Come down ‫ابتہوہان‬
down.
23 Come by ‫اہھتانگل‬ Cheap organic food is still difficult to come by.
24 Come across ‫اسانموہان‬ Suddenly I came across my old friends on the road.

2nd year English notes complete