Idioms and phrases
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Win laurels : to win honours
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Wash dirty linen in public: to expose private affairs in public
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Turn one’s coat: to change one’s party
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Tall talk : boasting
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Strain every nerve : to make every possible efforts
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live wire : a person who is lively or energetic
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apple of discord : something that cause trouble or unhappiness
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break the ice : initate a talk
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bull in a china shop : a clumsy person
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on the horns of dilemma : having to decide between between two things.
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penelop's web: an endless job
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a close shave: a narrow espace from danger
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a salad days: the days of one's youthful
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on the same page: thinking in a similar way
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plain smiling: smooth and easy progress in a process or activity
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the gift of the gab: ability to speak well
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to get cold feet : to be afraid
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a golden mean : middle course between two extremes
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catch time by the forelock: seize an opportunity
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alma mater: from which one's graduate
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sail in the same boat: to be in same situation
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to take a leap in the dark: to do hazardous thing without any idea of the result
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to catch somebody on the hop: to catch somebody off gurad
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off guard: not willing to do something
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to be in obey once: in suspension postpone
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to swap one's fingure: to become contemptuous of
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the aplha and omega: beginning and end
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pull a fast one: to succeed in an act of deception
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feather one's own nest: to make one self richer in a dishonest or imporoper way
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without rhyme or reason : without any justification
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wild goose chase: useless efforts
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turn one's coat : to change one's party
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under the rose: secretely
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rub shoulders with: to meet and spend time with
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to give currency: make publicily known
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to haul over the coals: to put to task
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to temp providence : to take reckless risks
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a storm in a tea cup: much excitement over something trivial
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to workship the rising sun: to honour the promising people
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Cut both ends : to argue in support of both sides of the issue
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Dark horse : unexpected winner
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Dead broke : penniless
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Die hard : resistant to change
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Cut throat : tough
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Cloven hoof : symbol of evil intention
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Cock a snook : to show impudent contempt
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Cold reception : not a heartly welcome
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Come across : meet by chance
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Come home to : to understand
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Come in handy : to be useful
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Come to a pass : a difficult situation
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Cool one’s heel : to be kept waiting
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Curry favour : to win favour by flattery
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Curtain lecture : to private scolding by wife to her husband
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Call a spade a spade : to be frank
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Call names : to abuse
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Capital punishment : death penalty
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Carrot and stick policy : reward and punishment policy.
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Carry matters with a high hand : to deal with a person strictly
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Cast a slur : to bring disgrace
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Cave in : one must not cave in under pressure or temptation
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Cheek by jowl : close together
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Clip one’s wings : to weaken the power
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Close shave : a narrow escape
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Blue stocking : an educated intellectual lady
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Break the ice : to break silence by speaking first
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Bring down the house : receive great applause
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Bring home : to explain
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Book to book : to punish
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Bring to light : to disclose
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Brow beat : to intimidate
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Burn ones boats : point of no return
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By and by : gradually
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By and large : on the whole
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By the rule of thumb : according to practical experience
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Bated breath : holding your breath
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Bear the palm : to be victorious
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Beat the air : to make useless efforts
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Bee in one’s bonnet : go on talking about something which other people think is not important
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Below the belt : to strike unfairly
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Beside oneself : to feel extremely nervous
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Beside the mark : irrelevant
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Between scylla and charybdis : between two great dangers
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Blaze the trail : to be a pioneer and make path for others
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Blessing in disguise : something intrinsically good but having a bad appearance
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Add a new feather in one’s cap: to occupier a new honour or distinction
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An eye wash: a pretence
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An old head on young shoulders: to be more matured than one’s own age
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As fit as a fiddle: strong and healthy
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Assume airs: to pretend superiority
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At a stone’s throw: at a little distance
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At large: absconding
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At loggerheads: to be at strife
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At one’s beck and call: at service
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Backstairs influence : improper and private influence
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A nig - nog : a foolish man
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a penelope’s web: something is routinely undone
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A sore point : a sensitive or annoying issue
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A square deal : fair deal
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Above board : to do something openly
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Accept the gaunlet : accept challenge
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Ace up ones sleeve: a secret weapon for advantage
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Achilles heel : weakness
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Acid test : tough task
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Adams ale : water
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All agog : amazed
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All and sundry : all people
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All greek : expression difficult to understand