×
>
<

Aptitude

Idioms and Phrases

Demonostrating Idioms and Phrases
  • The Idioms and Phrases have most commonly same rules to understand.
  • Idioms generally demonstrate behavior of human, reaction to certain thing, habits and traditions.
    An, idiom is a set of certain words which when used together, brings out a meaning which is entirely different from the meaning of each word when it is used individually.
  • To explain Phrases we can say that they are a counterpart of the Idioms.
    This means that both Idioms and phrases can be used inter-changeably and with each other.
Idioms And Phrases - Rules:

Idioms and Phrases are literal terms that induce a meaning that may be otherwise hidden behind the actual words.

  • They have a cultural value attached to themselves.
  • They are metaphorical in the sense that if you extract the literal meaning of all the words stated then it would be too unusual to believe or even farcical.
  • Idioms and phrases have the capacity to add a flavor to a boring prose or book and are used by authors to add something interesting or remove monotones from their writing.

While reading and answering Idioms and Phrases we can say that there is a slight difference in the two.

Difference between Idioms & Phrases
The difference is that in an idiom, the meaning arises from common usage. While a phrase is a small group of words that have a meaning when taken together.
Examples of Idioms and Phrases
Idioms Phrases
Being comfortable in one’s skin –
If you take the literal meaning it would be absurd to even explain.
However the actual meaning here that we can extract : ‘the feeling of being comfortable with yourself’.
One’s skin means own skin or to simplify ‘yourself’
Deep down – deeper feelings
Group of men and women – group of men and group of women
Beat around the bush –
With this idiom it doesn’t mean to actually take a bat and beat the bush but:
to talk about everything around the topic and try to ignore / avoid the main topic, the person, or a particular thing.
Challenge of imagination – challenging to be imaginative
Latin and Greek –  some strange meaning
List of Idioms and Phrases
S.NoIdioms & PhrasesMeaning
1To cut a sorry figureTo make a poor show
2With a high handOppressively
3Burn one’s fingersGet into trouble by interfering in other’s affairs
4Chip on your shoulderWhen someone is upset about something that happened a while ago
5Piece of cakeSomething that is easy to understand or do
6Golden handshakeA big sum of money given to a person when he/she leaves a company or retires
7Spill the beansTo disclose a secret
8Blessing in disguiseSomething good and useful that did not initially seem that way
9To be in the doldrumsTo be in low spirits
10Break the iceTo initiate a social conversation or interaction
11Hear it on grapevineTo hear rumors about something or someone
12Be on cloud nineBe very happy
13At the drop of a hatWillingness to do something instantly
14Afraid of one’s own shadowTo become easily frightened
15A house of cardsA poor plan
16To pour oil on troubled watersTo make peace
17Don’t put all your eggs in one basketDo not put all your resources in one basket (in one place or thing)
18Blow upTo explode
19Back UpTo support and sustain
20Back UponTo be relevant
21Break offTo end or discontinue
22Call forthTo provoke
23Call outTo shout
24Call uponTo order
25Carry onTo continue
26Cast awayTo throw aside
27Catch up withTo overtake
28Come offTo take place
29Cry DownTo make little of
30Catch up withTo overtake
31Cut outDesigned for
32Drop inTo Visit Casually
33Drop outTo fall
34Fall downFrom a higher position to a lower one
35Fall underTo come under
36Get alongTo Prosper; To Progress; To Proceed
37Get on withTo Live Pleasantly Together; To Progress
38Knock outTo win by hitting another one
39Keep something at bayKeep something away
40Out on a limbDo something risky