Chapter 2

Idioms & Phrases

Every Idioms & Phrases SSC has asked, from all lists of the book, in one A to Z run. A word asked in more than one list appears once, with all its PYQs together. The small badges on a card show where the word comes from: List A (SSC 2018–24), List B (SSC 1999–2018), List C (other exams), 2025–26, More PYQs or 2026.

Group 1

Group 1 · ABC of something – Aladdin's cave

ABC of something — The basic facts or principles of something (क ख ग भी न आना)
An about turn — Complete change of opinion (अपनी बात से पलट जाना)
Above board — Honest and frank (ईमानदार)
Above one’s head — Too difficult to understand (सिर के ऊपर से निकल जाना)
Above/Over one's head — Beyond one's capability to understand something (सिर के ऊपर से निकल जाना)
Absence makes the heart grow fonder — We feel more affection for those we love when parted from them (दूरी से प्यार बढ़ता है)
To accept the gauntlet — To accept or respond to a challenge (चुनौती स्वीकार करना)
An ace in the hole — A major advantage that one keeps hidden until an ideal time (तुरुप का इक्का)
An ace in the hole/An ace up your sleeve — A major advantage that one keeps hidden until an ideal time. (तुरुप का इक्का)
Achilles' heel — A hidden weakness in a strong person (कमज़ोर नस)
An acid test — A fact, event or situation that proves something (कसौटी पर खरा उतरना)
Actions speak louder than words — What you do is more important than what you say (कथनी से करनी बड़ी)
Adam's ale — Unadulterated water (शुद्ध जल)
To add fuel to fire — To make a bad situation worse (आग में घी डालना)
Add fuel to the fire — To worsen an already bad situation (आग में घी डालना)
Add insult to injury — To make a bad situation worse (जले पर नमक छिड़कना)
Afraid of one's own shadow — To be frightened of things in a way that is not reasonable or necessary (अपनी परछाई से भी डरना)
After a fashion — To only a certain extent but not very well (जैसे-तैसे काम चलाना)
After one's own heart — Someone who has likes and dislikes similar to one's own (दिल से दिल मिलना)
Against one's grain — Contrary to one's feelings, nature, wishes etc. (स्वभाव के विरुद्ध)
Against the clock — In a great hurry to do something (समय से होड़ लेते हुए)
Aid and abet — To help someone to commit a crime (बुरे काम में सहायता और उकसावा)
To air dirty linen in public — To discuss private matters openly (घर की बात बाहर करना)
Airy-fairy — Not practical or useful in real situations (हवा-हवाई बातें)
Aladdin's cave — A place that contains many interesting objects (एक ऐसी जगह जहां बहुत सी दिलचस्प चीजें हों)

Group 2

Group 2 · Alarums and excursions – All wet

Alarums and excursions — Confused activity and uproar (शोरगुल भरी अफ़रातफ़री)
An albatross around the neck — A heavy burden that torments someone constantly (गले की फाँस)
Alive and kicking — In good health (भला-चंगा होना)
All agog — Excited or eager, often in anticipation of something. (उत्सुकता से भरा)
All and sundry — Everyone without distinction (सब लोग, हर कोई)
All bark and no bite — Full of talk, but low on action (जो गरजते हैं, वो बरसते नहीं)
All ears — Listening with full attention (कान लगाकर सुनना)
All eyes — Watching eagerly/To be attentive (टकटकी लगाकर देखना)
All eyes and ears — With full focus and attention (पूरे ध्यान से देखना और सुनना)
All good things must come to an end — Every pleasant experience must end eventually (चार दिन की चाँदनी, फिर अँधेरी रात)
All Greek — Completely incomprehensible (बिल्कुल समझ से परे)
All Greek to me — Incomprehensible (सिर के ऊपर से निकल जाना)
All hands on deck — Everyone available to help with a problem/Everyone needs to work together to achieve goal (सबको मिलकर जुटना)
All hat and no cattle — One who is full of big talk but lacks substance and action (ऊँची दुकान, फीके पकवान)
All in — Exhausted/tired (थककर चूर होना)
All in a day's work — Part of a person's typical work (रोज़मर्रा का काम)
All in all — Having all authority; On the whole; altogether (सर्वेसर्वा होना)
All moonshine — Empty talk or promises; impractical or unrealistic. (हवा-हवाई बातें करना)
All of a sudden — Very quickly and unexpectedly (एकाएक, यकायक)
All our might and main — Full force (एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना)
All over hell's half acre — Everywhere (all over the place) (चारों तरफ़ बिखरा हुआ)
All's fair in love and war — In certain highly charged situations, any method of achieving your objective is justifiable (प्यार और जंग में सब जायज़ है)
All that glitters is not gold — Attractive things are not always valuable (हर चमकती चीज़ सोना नहीं होती)
All thumbs — Very awkward with your hands (बेढंगा, अनाड़ी)
All wet — Completely mistaken (पूरी तरह गलत)

Group 3

Group 3 · Alma mater – As a matter of fact

Alma mater — The school, college, or university that someone has graduated from (मातृ संस्था, जहाँ से पढ़ाई की हो)
Alpha and omega — Beginning and end (आदि से अंत तक)
Alphabet soup — Incomprehensible or confusing mixture of things (अक्षरों का उलझा हुआ मिश्रण)
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride — Someone who always comes second (हमेशा पास पहुँचकर रह जाना)
To and fro — Forward and backward (आगे और पीछे)
To angle for something — Try to get something in an indirect or roundabout way (चालाकी से कुछ पाने का प्रयास करना)
Another kettle of fish — A completely different matter (बिल्कुल अलग मामला)
To appeal to Caesar — Appeal to the highest possible authority (सर्वोच्च सत्ता से अपील करना)
Apple-cart — Spoil careful plans (बना-बनाया खेल बिगाड़ना)
Apple of discord — The cause of dispute, misunderstanding or fight. (झगड़े की जड़)
An apple of one's eye — A person that someone loves very much (आँख का तारा)
Apple of one’s eye — A person who is dearly loved (आँख का तारा)
Apple-pie order — In perfect order (सही क्रम में होना)
Apples and oranges — Unequal comparison (दो बिल्कुल अलग चीज़ें)
Apropos of nothing — Having no relevance to any previous discussion or situation (बिना किसी संदर्भ के)
Argus-eyed — Carefully observant or attentive (हर चीज़ पर नज़र रखने वाला)
An arm and a leg — Very expensive (बहुत महँगा)
Armchair critic — A person who criticises without any real experience (बिना अनुभव के आलोचना करने वाला)
Armed to the teeth — Fully armed, having many weapons (पूरी तरह हथियारबंद)
Arm's length — A distance that avoids close involvement (दूरी बनाकर रखा गया संबंध)
Around the clock — For an entire 24-hour day (दिन-रात एक करना)
Around the corner — Very near in time; going to happen soon (बहुत नज़दीक, जल्द आने वाला)
An arrow in the quiver — Strategies that can be followed (तरकश में रखा एक तीर)
An article of faith — A firmly held belief (अटूट विश्वास)
As a matter of fact — In reality; actually (दरअसल, वास्तव में)

Group 4

Group 4 · As clean as a whistle – As you sow, so shall you reap

As clean as a whistle — Completely clean or pure (बिल्कुल साफ, बेदाग)
As clear as a bell — Readily understood (बिल्कुल साफ़)
As clear as mud — Impossible to understand (बिल्कुल अस्पष्ट)
As cool as a cucumber — Calm and composed (शांत और संयमित)
As daft as a brush — Extremely foolish or silly. (एकदम मूर्ख)
As dead as a doornail — Completely obsolete (पूरी तरह ख़त्म)
As fit as a fiddle — In good health (पूरी तरह स्वस्थ)
As genuine/phony as a three-dollar bill — Completely fake (बिल्कुल नकली या झूठा)
As good as gold — A person who is obedient and well behaved (खरा सोना होना)
As hard as nails — Physically or mentally tough (शारीरिक एवं मानसिक रूप से दृढ़ व्यक्ति)
As high as a kite — Intoxicated with alcohol/to feel very happy and excited (ख़ुशी से फूले न समाना)
As keen as mustard — Very excited and interested (बहुत उत्सुक, बहुत उत्साहित)
Ask for trouble — To be likely to cause problems or difficulties for yourself (आ बैल मुझे मार / मुसीबत मोल लेना)
Asleep at the wheel — Not attentive to one's duties (कर्तव्य पालन में लापरवाह)
As mad as a hatter — Eccentric (पागलपन, सनकी व्यक्ति)
As phony as a three-dollar bill — Completely fake (पूरी तरह नक़ली)
As plain as day — Very obvious and easy to understand (दिन के उजाले की तरह साफ़)
As right as rain — In very good health; perfectly well (बिल्कुल स्वस्थ और ठीक-ठाक)
As sly as a fox — Smart and clever (लोमड़ी की तरह चालाक होना)
Assume airs — Pretend superiority (शेखी बघारना)
As swift as an eagle — Moving or able to move quickly (तेजी से चलने में सक्षम)
As the crow flies — The shortest route (सीधी रेखा में नापा गया)
As thick as thieves — Having a close friendship (दाँत काटी रोटी होना)
As thick as two short planks — Extremely stupid (अक्ल का दुश्मन)
As you sow, so shall you reap — Your actions decide your results (जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी)

Group 5

Group 5 · At a crossroads – At sea

At a crossroads — A point in life where your decisions will have long term consequences (दोराहे पर खड़ा होना)
At all cost/costs — Whatever is needed to achieve something (किसी भी क़ीमत पर)
At a loose end — Having nothing to do (हाथ पर हाथ धरे बैठना)
At a loss for words — Not knowing what to say (बोलती बंद होना)
At a low ebb — In a depressed or weak state (गिरावट की स्थिति में)
At any rate — In any case (हर हाल में)
At a push — If required, probably possible but difficult (मुश्किल परंतु संभव कार्य)
At a snail's pace — Very slowly (कछुए की चाल चलना)
At a stone's throw — At a close distance (दो कदम की दूरी पर)
At a stretch — Continuously (लगातार, बिना रुके)
At cross purposes — Misunderstanding each other or working towards different aims (एक दूसरे को ग़लत समझते हुए)
At daggers drawn with somebody — Bitterly hostile towards each other (छत्तीस का आँकड़ा होना)
At each other's throats — Arguing angrily (तू-तू मैं-मैं होना)
At first blush — At first glance, before closer examination (पहली नज़र में)
At his disposal — Available for use (उपयोग के लिए उपलब्ध; किसी के इशारे पर काम करने को तैयार)
At large — Not caught/free/As a whole (पकड़े नहीं जाना, पूरी तरह से)
At loggerheads — In strong disagreement (आपस में ठन जाना)
At one’s beck and call — Always ready to do whatever someone asks (किसी के इशारों पर चलना)
At one's elbow — Next to someone (के नजदीक/के बगल में)
At one's fingertips — Readily available and within one's mental grasp (उँगलियों पर होना)
At one sitting — in one continuous period (एक ही बैठक में)
At one's wit's end — So worried or puzzled that one does not know what to do (अक्ल जवाब दे जाना)
At one's wits' end — Completely at a loss what to do (अक़्ल जवाब दे जाना)
At random — Without order or fixed purpose (अंधाधुंध)
At sea — Perplexed/confused (कुछ पल्ले न पड़ना)

Group 6

Group 6 · At short notice – A bad egg

At short notice — Immediately after one has been told about something (बहुत कम समय में)
At sixes and sevens — Confused (अस्तव्यस्त, गड़बड़)
At stake — In danger of being lost or at risk (दाँव पर लगना)
To a T/Tee — Exactly (एकदम सही)
At the drop of a dime/hat — Without hesitation; immediately (आनन-फानन में)
At the drop of a hat — Immediately and without hesitation (तुरंत, बिना सोचे)
At the eleventh hour — At the last moment (ऐन वक़्त पर)
At the top of your lungs — Extremely loudly (गला फाड़कर चिल्लाना)
At variance with — In disagreement or conflict with (मतभेद होना)
Average itself out — To be or become equal in amount or number (औसतन ठीक होना)
An axe to grind — A personal reason for being involved in something (अपना उल्लू सीधा करना)
The ayes have it — The affirmative votes are in the majority (पक्ष के मत बहुमत में हैं)
Babe in the woods — A young defenceless person (भोला और अनुभवहीन व्यक्ति)
Back in the saddle — To resume duty (फिर से काम पर लौटना)
Back me — To support or help someone (पीठ पर हाथ रखना)
Back on one's feet — Well or successful again (फिर से अपने पैरों पर खड़ा होना)
A backseat driver — Someone who gives unnecessary advice (बिना ज़िम्मेदारी के अनचाही सलाह देने वाला व्यक्ति)
Back seat driving — Giving unwanted advice about something you are not doing (बिना ज़िम्मेदारी के सलाह देना)
Back to back — Something follows immediately after something else (एक के बाद एक बिना रुके)
Back to basics — Returning to the simple and most important things (मूल बातों की ओर लौटना)
Back to square one — Come to the original point (फिर से शुरुआत पर)
Back to the drawing board — To start thinking about a new way of doing something after a previous plan has failed (असफलता के बाद फिर से योजना बनाना)
Back to the wall — In a difficult or a serious situation (आगे कुआँ, पीछे खाई)
Bad blood — Hostility between people (पुरानी दुश्मनी)
A bad egg — Someone who is dishonest and unreliable (एक गंदी मछली सारे तालाब को गंदा करती है)

Group 7

Group 7 · Bad hair day – To be all at sea

Bad hair day — A day on which everything seems to go wrong (मनहूस दिन)
Bad hat — A disreputable or dissolute person (बुरा व्यक्ति, बदमाश)
Bad iron — Bad luck (फूटी क़िस्मत)
A bad patch — A period of time when a person faces lots of troubles (कठिनाइयों से भरा समय)
Bad-tempered — Often angry or impatient (चिड़चिड़ा व्यक्ति)
A bad workman always blames his tools — A person who does poor work blames his equipment (नाच न जाने आँगन टेढ़ा)
Bag and baggage — With all one's possessions (बोरिया-बिस्तर समेटना)
A bag of bones — A person or animal that is extremely thin (बहुत दुबला-पतला व्यक्ति या जानवर)
A baker's dozen — A group of 13 (तेरह, बारह की जगह)
The ball is in your court — It is up to you to make the next move (अब आपकी बारी है)
The ball is now in their court — It is now their turn to act (अब उनकी बारी है)
A ball of fire — An active and energetic person (बहुत उत्साही व्यक्ति)
Banana oil — Nonsensical talk /Exaggerated flattery (मक्खन लगाना)
Banana republic — A small, poor country with an unstable and often corrupt government (अस्थिर, कमज़ोर सरकार वाला छोटा गरीब देश)
Bang for the buck — More value for money (पैसे का पूरा मोल)
Bank on — To rely or depend on someone or something (किसी पर भरोसा करना; निर्भर रहना)
Barking dogs seldom bite — Those who threaten loudly rarely act (जो गरजते हैं वो बरसते नहीं)
Bark is worse than his bite — Someone who seems aggressive or threatening but is actually harmless. (गरजने वाले बादल बरसते नहीं)
Bark up the wrong tree — To pursue a mistaken line of action or blame the wrong person (ग़लत दिशा में प्रयास करना)
Batten down the hatches — Prepare for a difficult situation (कमर कस लेना)
Be a dab hand at something — To be very skilled at something (किसी काम में निपुण होना)
Be afraid of one's own shadow — To be very nervous or timid (अपनी परछाईं से भी डरना)
Be a law unto yourself — To behave in your own way, ignoring normal rules and expectations (अपने ही नियम चलाना, अपरंपरागत ढंग से व्यवहार करना)
To be all at sea — To be completely confused (पूरी तरह उलझन में होना)

Group 8

Group 8 · Be all ears – Beat the rap

Be all ears — To listen attentively (पूरे ध्यान से सुनना)
Be all one to — Make no difference (कोई फ़र्क़ न पड़ना)
Beam/grin/smile from ear to ear — Smiling broadly, to look extremely happy (बाँछें खिलना)
Beaming from ear to ear — Smiling very broadly with happiness (बाँछें खिल जाना)
Be an open book — To be easy to understand and hide nothing (खुली किताब होना)
Bear a grudge — To feel angry against somebody for a past incident (मन में गाँठ रखना)
Beard the lion in his den — To confront a powerful person on their own ground (शेर की माँद में हाथ डालना)
Bear fruit — Produce positive results (मेहनत रंग लाना)
A bear garden — A place of noise and disturbance (मछली बाज़ार बना देना)
Bear in mind — To remember or consider something. (गाँठ बाँध लेना)
Bear the brunt of — To endure the impact of something (सबसे ज़्यादा भार सहना)
Bear the palm — To be a winner (विजयी होना)
Bear up — To remain strong and cheerful in a difficult situation (कठिन समय में हिम्मत बनाए रखना)
A beast of burden — An animal that carries luggage (बोझ ढोने वाला)
To beat about the bush — To avoid coming to the main point (गोल-मोल बातें करना)
Be at a crossroads — At a point where an important choice must be made (दोराहे पर खड़ा होना)
Beat a dead horse — To make a futile effort (मरे घोड़े को कोड़े मारना)
Be at a loose end — To have nothing definite to do (हाथ पर हाथ धरे बैठना)
Beat a retreat — To leave a situation/to run away from a difficult situation (जल्दी से पीछे हट जाना)
Beat around/about the bush — To avoid discussing the main topic (बात को घुमा-फिराकर कहना)
Beat around the bush — To avoid coming to the main point (बात को घुमा-फिराकर कहना)
To be at daggers drawn — To be bitter enemies (छत्तीस का आँकड़ा होना)
Beat one's brains out — To try very hard to understand or solve something (दिमाग़ पर बहुत ज़ोर डालना)
To be at the end of one’s tether — To be so tired, worried, or annoyed by something that you feel unable to deal with it any more (नाक में दम होना)
Beat the rap — To escape or avoid blame or punishment (दोष या दंड से बच जाना)

Group 9

Group 9 · Be at your wit’s end – Be hard up

Be at your wit’s end — Completely at a loss what to do (अक़्ल जवाब दे जाना)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder — The perception of beauty is subjective (सुंदरता देखने वालों की नजरों में होती है।)
Beauty is only skin deep — Physical appearance is no guide to a person's character (सूरत नहीं, सीरत देखो)
Beauty of it — The most pleasing aspect of something (इसकी सबसे अच्छी बात)
The beauty of something — A quality that makes something especially good (विशेष गुण)
Be bad news — To be a person or thing likely to cause trouble (मुसीबत की जड़ होना, अवांछित व्यक्ति)
Be behind the times — Be old fashioned (पुराने ज़माने का)
Be dead meat — To be in serious trouble (शामत आना)
A bed of nails — A problematic situation (काँटों की सेज)
A bed of roses — Pleasant condition of life (फूलों की सेज)
A bed of thorns — A situation full of difficulties (काँटों की सेज)
Be down with — To agree with or approve of something (informal) (सहमत होना, स्वीकृति देना)
A beehive — A busy place (व्यस्त जगह)
The bee's knees — Extraordinary (असाधारण)
Be fed up — To be disgusted, annoyed or unhappy (तंग आ जाना, ऊब जाना)
Be finished with this — To have no further need for (something) (किसी वस्तु की जरूरत खत्म हो जाना)
Be full of beans — Lively and full of energy (जोश और ऊर्जा से भरा)
Be/get back on one's feet — To be/get well or successful again (फिर से स्वस्थ/सफल हो जाना)
Beggar description — Something that is so unusual or extreme that it is difficult to describe. (जिसका वर्णन करना मुश्किल हो)
Beggars cannot be choosers — Those who depend on others cannot demand (दान की बछिया के दाँत नहीं देखे जाते)
Begin to exist and evolve — To start a new life (नयी शुरुआत करना)
Be glad to see the back of — Be happy when a person leaves (जान छूटना)
Be going places — To be likely to become successful (झंडे गाड़ना)
Be hard hit — To be severely affected by something unpleasant (बुरी तरह प्रभावित होना)
Be hard up — (To be) short of money (तंगी में होना)

Group 10

Group 10 · Behind closed doors – Below the belt

Behind closed doors — Discussed or done secretly (गुप्त रूप से चर्चित/की गई)
Behind one's back — In someone's absence (पीठ पीछे बुराई करना)
Behind the scenes — Out of public view; secretly (पर्दे के पीछे)
Behind the times — Old fashioned (पुराने जमाने/विचारों वाला होना)
To be in a fix — To be in a difficult or troublesome situation. (उलझन में फँस जाना)
Be in eclipse — To be overshadowed and less successful or important than before (ग्रहण में होना, फीका पड़ना)
Be in force — In effect; actually working or operating (प्रभावी होना)
To be in high dudgeon — To be extremely angry and offended (आग बबूला होना)
Be in raptures over/ about (to go into) raptures over/about — To be extremely delighted/in a state of great happiness (आनंद में होना)
Be in seventh heaven — To be extremely happy (बेहद खुश होना, सातवें आसमान पर होना)
Be in someone's shoes — Face the same situation as another person (किसी अन्य व्यक्ति के समान स्थिति का सामना करना)
To be in the dark — To be uninformed about something (अंधेरे में रखना)
Be in the eye of the storm — To be at the centre of a controversy or crisis (विवाद या संकट के केंद्र में होना)
Be in the red — To be in debt (घाटे में चलना)
Be in the running — To have a real chance of winning (जीतने की दौड़ में बने रहना)
Be in the same boat — To be in the same difficult situation as others (एक जैसी मुश्किल हालत में होना)
Be in the soup — To be in trouble or difficulty (मुसीबत में होना)
Be in two minds — Unable to decide/Holding conflicting opinions (दुविधा में होना)
Be left stranded — Unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money (फंस जाना, अकेला छोड़ दिया जाना)
Be like a bear with a sore head — To be in a bad mood that causes you to treat other people badly (चिड़चिड़ा होना)
Be like chalk and cheese — Be absolutely different (ज़मीन-आसमान का अंतर होना)
Bells and whistles — Attractive but unnecessary features added to products (ग़ैर ज़रूरी सजावटी सुविधाएँ)
Bell the cat — To do the impossible task/To take on a dangerous task (बिल्ली के गले में घंटी बाँधना)
A belly laugh — A loud and unrestrained laugh (हँसते-हँसते पेट में बल पड़ना)
Below the belt — Cruel and unfair (अनुचित और चोट पहुँचाने वाला)

Group 11

Group 11 · To be moved to tears – Better late than never

To be moved to tears — To be deeply affected emotionally (आँखें भर आना)
Be my guest — Please do it (शौक़ से कीजिए)
Bend over backwards — To exert a lot of effort towards some end (किसी के लिए बहुत मेहनत करना)
Bent out of shape — Very upset or angry (बहुत नाराज या परेशान होना)
Be off — To leave, or to be spoiled (चले जाना, या ख़राब हो जाना)
To be off your food — To have no appetite (भूख मर जाना)
Be old hat — To be outdated (पुरानी और घिसी पिटी बात)
To be on a roll — To be having a run of success (लगातार सफलता के दौर में होना)
To be on cloud nine — To be extremely happy (सातवें आसमान पर होना)
Be on tenterhooks — to be in a state of anxious suspense (साँस अटकी रहना; बेचैनी से नतीजे का इंतज़ार करना)
Be out for the count — To be unconscious or deeply asleep (बेहोश या गहरी नींद में होना)
Be out of action — To be unable to work or function because of damage or injury (काम से बाहर होना, चालू न रहना)
Be out on one's ear — To be dismissed or thrown out suddenly (अचानक निकाल दिया जाना)
Be over and done with — To be completely finished (बात आई-गई हो जाना)
Be over the hill — To be too old to do things well (बुढ़ापे की ओर, ढलती उम्र का होना)
Beside oneself — Almost out of one's senses, consumed by an emotion (आपे से बाहर होना)
Beside the mark — Not relevant or not to the point. (विषय से हटकर)
Be snowed under — To be busy, to have too much to do (व्यस्त होना)
The best of both worlds — An advantageous situation from two different things at a time (दोनों हाथों में लड्डू)
The best thing since sliced bread — Most useful innovation in a long time (बहुत बढ़िया नई चीज़)
Be taken aback — To be surprised (हैरान होना)
Be the devil’s advocate — To argue the opposite side for the sake of debate (जानबूझकर विपरीत पक्ष रखना)
Be through — Finish with something (समाप्त करना)
Be thrown in at the deep end — To be made to face a difficult task without preparation or help (बिना तैयारी के कठिन काम में झोंक दिया जाना)
Better late than never — Better to arrive late than not to come at all (देर आए दुरुस्त आए)

Group 12

Group 12 · Better the devil you know than the devil you don't – A bite at the cherry

Better the devil you know than the devil you don't — It is better to face a known bad situation than an unknown worse one (अपरिचित बुराई/स्थिति से परिचित बुराई/स्थिति से सामना करना बेहतर है।)
Between a rock and a hard place — To be stuck in two equally unpleasant situations (इधर कुआँ, उधर खाई)
Between Scylla and Charybdis — Choice between two unpleasant alternatives (इधर कुआँ, उधर खाई)
Between the devil and the deep blue sea — Between two equally unacceptable choices (इधर कुआँ, उधर खाई)
Be under someone's thumb — Be controlled by someone completely/under control of (किसी की मुट्ठी में होना)
Be up to the minute — To be as modern or current as possible (एकदम ताज़ा या नवीनतम होना)
Be useful — To serve a helpful purpose (काम आना)
Be worlds apart — To be completely opposed or different (ज़मीन-आसमान का अंतर)
Beyond the pale — Unacceptable or outside the bounds of accepted behaviour or standards. (हद पार करना / मर्यादा लाँघना)
Beyond the shadow of a doubt — With certainty; for sure (बिना किसी संदेह के)
To bid defiance — To openly challenge or defy (खुली चुनौती देना)
Bid defiance to something — To openly resist or challenge something (खुली चुनौती देना)
Bide one's time — To wait for the right time (सही समय का इंतजार करना)
Bid fair — To seem likely (संभावना लगना)
Big bucks — A lot of money (मोटी रकम)
The big fish — An important or influential person (बड़ी मछली)
Bigger fish to fry — Something more important to do (कोई और ज्यादा महत्वपूर्ण कार्य होना)
Big ticket — Costing a great deal of money; very expensive (बहुत महँगा)
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush — A certain small gain is better than an uncertain bigger one (नौ नक़द न तेरह उधार)
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush — It is better to have something small but certain rather than the mere possibility of a greater one (नौ नक़द न तेरह उधार)
A bird's eye view — A cursory look/Aerial view (विहंगम दृष्टि, ऊपर से समग्र दृश्य)
Bird’s eye view — A general view from above; an overview (सरसरी नज़र डालना)
Birds of a feather flock together — Similar people tend to associate with each other (एक ही थैली के चट्टे-बट्टे)
Birds of the same feather — People with similar characteristics (एक जैसे लोग साथ रहते हैं)
A bite at the cherry — An attempt or opportunity to do something (कुछ करने का एक मौक़ा)

Group 13

Group 13 · Bite off more than you can chew – Blow his top

Bite off more than you can chew — To take on more responsibility than one can handle (क्षमता से ज़्यादा काम ले लेना)
To bite one's thumb at someone — To insult someone with a rude gesture (अपमानजनक इशारा करना)
Bite one's tongue — To refrain from speaking out; to stop yourself from saying something (ज़ुबान पर लगाम लगाना)
Bite someone's head off — To respond to someone with anger that is often sudden or unprovoked (बात बात पर भड़क जाना)
Bite the bullet — To decide to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been putting off or hesitating over (मुश्किल को हिम्मत से सहना)
Bite the dust — To suffer a defeat/To die (धूल चाटना)
Bite the hand that feeds you — To harm somebody who has helped you or supported you (जिस थाली में खाना, उसी में छेद करना)
Bite your tongue — To stop yourself from saying something (ज़ुबान पर लगाम लगाना)
Bit off more than I could chew — Took on more than I could manage (क्षमता से ज़्यादा काम ले लिया)
A bitter pill to swallow — A difficult or unpleasant fact or situation that has to be accepted (कड़वा घूँट पीना)
Black and blue — Badly bruised/injured (मार-मारकर नीला कर देना)
Black and white — In writing, or a matter of clear extremes (लिखित में, या स्पष्ट दो पक्ष)
Black out — To lose consciousness (आँखों के आगे अँधेरा छाना)
A black plum is as sweet as a white — People should not be judged by their appearance (सूरत नहीं, सीरत देखो)
A black sheep — A disgrace for the family (कुल का कलंक)
A blast from the past — Something from long ago that reappears (अतीत से अचानक लौटी कोई चीज़)
Blaze a trail — To be the first to do something new and important (नया रास्ता बनाना)
To blaze the trail — To lead the way for others (औरों के लिए राह बनाना)
A blessing in disguise — A bad thing that turns out to be good (छिपा हुआ वरदान)
A blind alley — A situation in which no further progress can be made (जिसका कोई नतीजा न निकले)
The blind leading the blind — people without knowledge or experience guiding others who are equally ignorant (अंधा अंधे को राह दिखाए; अनजान व्यक्ति दूसरे अनजान को राह दिखाए)
A blind spot — An area in your range of vision that you cannot see properly but which you really should be able to see (निगाहों से परे)
Blood is thicker than water — Familial bonds are stronger than other relationships (अपना अपना ही होता है)
Blow a fuse — To react very angrily (आग बबूला होना)
Blow his top — Be very angry (पारा चढ़ जाना)

Group 14

Group 14 · Blow hot and cold – Brain drain

Blow hot and cold — Vacillate/To change your opinion too often (बार बार राय बदलना)
Blowing smoke — Saying untrue things to impress or mislead others (आँखों में धूल झोंकना)
Blow/let off steam — To get rid of your energy or strong emotion by doing something active or noisy (मन का गुबार निकालना)
Blow one's own trumpet — To boast about one's own qualities (अपने मुँह मियाँ मिट्ठू बनना)
Blow one’s own trumpet — To boast about oneself (अपने मुँह मियाँ मिट्ठू बनना)
Blow one's top — To be very angry (बहुत गुस्सा होना)
Blow one's trumpet — To praise oneself (अपने मुँह मियाँ मिट्ठू बनना)
Blow over — To go away without having a serious effect (बात आई-गई हो जाना)
Blow something out of (all) proportion — To treat a particular event or problem far too seriously (बात का बतंगड़ बनाना)
Blow up — To destroy or burst by explosion; to lose one's temper (विस्फोट से उड़ा देना; क्रोध में फट पड़ना)
Blue blood — Member of a noble, socially prominent family (ऊँचे खानदान का होना)
Blue-eyed boy — The favourite of a person or group (आँखों का तारा)
Blue in the face — Exhausted or breathless from effort, especially from talking or trying in vain (थक कर चूर हो जाना; बहुत कोशिश या बहस के बाद बेदम हो जाना)
Bob's your uncle — It becomes easily and quickly achievable (चुटकी बजाते ही काम हो जाना)
Body and soul — Wholly and entirely (तन-मन से)
Boil down to — To have a particular thing as the main or central part (सार में आ टिकना)
Boil the ocean — Try to do something impossible (आसमान से तारे तोड़ लाना)
A bolt from the blue — An unexpected event (बिना बादल के बिजली गिरना)
A bone of contention — A cause of dispute (झगड़े की जड़)
A bone to pick — A complaint that one wants to discuss with someone (किसी से शिकायत होना)
Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth — Born in a very rich family (अमीरी में पलना)
A bosom friend — A very close friend (लंगोटिया यार)
The bottom line — The most important fact (सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात)
A bowl of cherries — Life is wonderful and pleasant (पाँचों उँगलियाँ घी में होना)
Brain drain — The movement of skilled people to other countries for better prospects (प्रतिभा पलायन, कुशल लोगों का विदेश जाना)

Group 15

Group 15 · Brain sauce – A broken reed

Brain sauce — Wisdom (विवेक, बुद्धिमत्ता)
Bread and butter — Means of livelihood (रोज़ी-रोटी)
Break a leg — To wish someone good luck (शुभकामना देने का एक तरीक़ा)
Break down — To lose control of one's emotions and weep; to stop working (भावनाओं पर काबू खोकर रो पड़ना; ख़राब हो जाना)
Break fresh / new ground — To do something that was not done before (लीक से हटकर काम करना)
Break in — To train, or to enter by force (प्रशिक्षण देना, या ज़बरदस्ती घुसना)
Break new ground — To do something innovative (नई राह बनाना)
Break off — To stop suddenly; to end a relationship (अचानक रुक जाना; संबंध तोड़ देना)
Break one's duck — To score or succeed for the first time (खाता खोलना)
Break sweat — To use a lot of energy or effort (पसीना बहाना)
Break the bank — To cost too much (जेब पर भारी पड़ना)
Break the ice — To say or do something that makes people relax, especially at the start of a meeting (चुप्पी तोड़ना)
Breast the tape — To win a race (बाज़ी मार लेना)
Breathing down his neck — To chase after someone closely (सिर पर सवार रहना)
Breath of fresh air — Someone or something new and refreshing (ताज़ी हवा का झोंका)
Bridge the gap — To reduce differences and reconcile (खाई पाटना)
Bring about — To cause something to happen (किसी चीज़ को घटित कराना)
Bring down the house — To make the audience applaud enthusiastically (महफ़िल लूट लेना)
Bring home the bacon — To earn the money that is needed to live (दाल-रोटी चलाना)
Bring someone to book — To punish/scold someone (जवाबदेह ठहराना)
Bring the house down — To make the audience applaud very enthusiastically (दर्शकों द्वारा तालियों से उत्साह बढ़ाना)
Bring to light — To reveal or make something known. (पर्दाफ़ाश करना)
Bring to one's knees — To force to submit (घुटने टेकने पर मजबूर करना)
Broke a lance with — To argue against (के विरुद्ध बहस करना)
A broken reed — A weak or unreliable support (कमजोर और अविश्वसनीय व्यक्ति या वस्तु)

Group 16

Group 16 · A broth of a boy – Button your lip

A broth of a boy — A lively, energetic and young person (जिंदादिल नौजवान)
A brown study — A mood in which one is absorbed in one's own thoughts (ख़यालों में खोया रहना)
Bugs me — Irritates me (नाक में दम करना)
Build castles in the air — To think of impossible hopes and dreams. (हवाई महल बनाना / ख़याली पुलाव पकाना)
A bull in a china shop — A clumsy person in a delicate situation (नाज़ुक जगह पर अनाड़ी व्यक्ति)
A bull market — Market where prices are rising (बढ़ता हुआ बाजार)
Bull's-eye — Something that is the centre of a target (निशाना ठीक बैठना)
A bun in the oven — Being pregnant (गर्भवती होना)
Burn bridges — To destroy relationships so there is no going back (रिश्ते हमेशा के लिए तोड़ देना)
Burning question — An important question/issue (ज्वलंत मुद्दा)
Burning your bridges — Destroying any chance of going back (वापसी का रास्ता जला देना)
Burn one's boats — To commit oneself to a course of action (आर या पार)
Burn one's bridges — To make it impossible to return to an earlier state (आर या पार)
Burn one's fingers — To suffer a loss by acting rashly (हाथ जला बैठना)
To burn the candle at both ends — To work excessively hard, staying busy from early morning till late at night (हद से ज़्यादा काम करके ख़ुद को थका देना)
Burn the midnight oil — To work/read late into the night (दिन-रात एक करना)
Burst the bubble — To destroy someone's illusion or hopes (सपना चकनाचूर होना)
Bury one's head in the sand — To refuse to face an unpleasant truth (बिल्ली को देखकर कबूतर का आँखें बंद कर लेना)
Bury the hatchet — To forget past quarrels (गिले-शिकवे भुलाना)
Butterfingers — A clumsy person/A person who often drops things (जिसके हाथ से चीज़ें फिसलती हों)
Butterflies in one's stomach — Feel nervous (दिल धक-धक करना)
Butterflies in the stomach — A nervous fluttering feeling before an event (घबराहट महसूस होना)
Butt in — To interfere in a conversation or situation without being invited. (टाँग अड़ाना)
Button one's lips — To keep silent (मुँह पर ताला लगाना)
Button your lip — To stop talking (मुँह पर ताला लगाना)

Group 17

Group 17 · Buy a lemon – The calm before the storm

Buy a lemon — To buy something that is of very little value (घाटे का सौदा करना)
Buy the farm — To die (चल बसना)
By and by — Gradually (धीरे धीरे, थोड़े समय बाद)
By and large — On the whole (सामान्य रूप से)
By a whisker — By a small margin (बाल-बाल बचना)
By courtesy of — Given or allowed by/By permission of (के द्वारा प्रदान किया गया)
By fair means or foul — To get one's way with honesty or dishonesty (साम, दाम, दंड, भेद)
By far — By a great margin; much more than any other (कहीं अधिक; बहुत अंतर से)
By fits and starts — In an irregular and inconsistent way (रुक रुक कर, अनियमित रूप से)
By hook or by crook — Using whatever methods necessary (साम, दाम, दंड, भेद)
By leaps and bounds — Swiftly (दिन दूनी रात चौगुनी)
By the seat of one's pants — You do it using only your own experience and trusting your own judgement (अंदाज़े से काम चलाना)
By the skin of one's teeth — By a very narrow margin (बाल-बाल बचना)
By the skin of one’s teeth — By a very narrow margin (बाल-बाल बचना)
By the skin of your teeth — By a very narrow margin (बाल-बाल बचना)
By the sweat of one's brow — Hard work (खून-पसीने की कमाई)
By word of mouth — In spoken form (मुँह-ज़ुबानी)
A cakewalk — Easy task (बाएँ हाथ का खेल)
Call a spade a spade — To talk in a straightforward manner (दो टूक बात करना)
Call in question — To challenge the truth or validity of something (सवाल खड़े करना)
Call it a day — To stop working for the rest of the day (आज का काम यहीं रोक देना)
Call on — To visit, or to ask someone to do something (मिलने जाना, या आह्वान करना)
Call the shots — To be the person in charge (बागडोर अपने हाथ में होना)
Call upon — To formally request or to visit (आह्वान करना, या मिलने जाना)
The calm before the storm — A period of unusual tranquillity or stability that seems likely to presage difficult times (तूफ़ान से पहले की शांति)

Group 18

Group 18 · Came of age – Castles in the air

Came of age — Reached maturity or full legal adulthood (वयस्क या परिपक्व होना)
Can't cut the mustard — To be unable to do a job (किसी के बस की बात न होना)
Can't hear oneself think — Used when a place is so noisy that one cannot concentrate (इतना शोर कि अपनी सोच भी सुनाई न दे)
Cap in hand — Humbly or submissively. (हाथ जोड़कर विनती करना)
Cap it all — Finish or complete something (कुछ समाप्त करना)
Capital punishment — The legally authorised killing of someone as punishment for a crime. (फाँसी की सज़ा)
The cards were stacked against him — Luck was against him (क़िस्मत साथ न देना)
Care a hang — Showing no interest (रत्ती भर परवाह न करना)
The carrot and the stick — (Policy/approach) Mixture of rewards and punishments (किसी से कुछ करवाने के लिए जरूरत के हिसाब से उपहार या दंड देने की नीति)
Carry a chip on one's shoulder — An angry attitude from someone who feels unfairly treated (मन में गाँठ रखना)
To carry all before one — Be completely successful (झंडे गाड़ देना)
Carry coals to Newcastle — To do something completely unnecessary (उल्टे बाँस बरेली को)
Carry the ball — Be in charge (बीड़ा उठाना)
Carry the can — To take the responsibility for some misdemeanour (बलि का बकरा बनना)
Carry the day — To win/get success (बाज़ी मार लेना)
Carry weight — Be important (बात में वज़न होना)
Cart before the horse — To do things in the wrong order (उल्टी गंगा बहाना)
To carve out a niche — To build a special, secure position for oneself (अपने लिए खास जगह बनाना)
Cash-strapped — Not having enough money (हाथ तंग होना)
Cast aside — To reject/To stop thinking about (किनारे लगा देना)
Cast a slur upon — To damage/to bring discredit (कीचड़ उछालना)
Cast aspersions — To make damaging remarks about someone (कीचड़ उछालना)
Cast away — to throw aside as worthless; to discard (बेकार समझकर फेंक देना)
Casting pearls before swine — Offer valuable things to people who do not appreciate them. (भैंस के आगे बीन बजाना)
Castles in the air — plans or hopes that are unlikely to be realised (हवाई किले; ख़याली पुलाव)

Group 19

Group 19 · Cast one's bread upon the waters – Cheek by jowl

Cast one's bread upon the waters — To do good without expecting any reward (बिना फल की इच्छा के भलाई करना)
Cast someone adrift — To leave someone without any support or purpose (मँझधार में छोड़ देना)
Cast the first stone — To be the first to accuse or criticise someone (सबसे पहले किसी पर आरोप लगाना या उसकी आलोचना करना)
A catch-all — Something that includes or covers everything (सब कुछ शामिल करने वाला)
Catch a tartar — To catch an opponent more powerful than imagined (सेर को सवा सेर मिलना)
Catch one's eye — To get someone's attention, especially by looking at them (किसी का ध्यान आकर्षित करना)
Catch red-handed — To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong (रंगे हाथों पकड़ना)
A catch-22 situation — A difficult situation in which the solution to a problem is impossible (आगे कुआँ, पीछे खाई)
Catch time by the forelock — To seize an opportunity at once (मौक़े को हाथ से न जाने देना)
Cat nap — A short, light sleep. (झपकी लेना)
Cat's in the cradle — Complicated relationship (जटिल रिश्ता)
A cat's paw — A person used as a tool by another (किसी के हाथों की कठपुतली बनना)
Cat's whiskers/meow/pyjamas — To be better than everyone else (हज़ारों में एक)
Caught red-handed — Caught in the act of doing wrong (रंगे हाथों पकड़ा जाना)
Chalk and cheese — Completely different from each other (ज़मीन-आसमान का अंतर)
Change for the better — An improvement in the situation (पहले से बेहतर)
Change hands — To pass from one owner to another (मालिक बदल जाना)
Change horses in midstream — Change plans (बीच में योजना बदलना)
A change of heart — Changed opinion about someone or something (हृदय परिवर्तन होना)
Change one's tune — To change one's opinion (सुर बदल जाना)
Chapter and verse — An exact reference or authority (पूरा ब्यौरा, सटीक हवाला)
Charity begins at home — Care for your own family before others (पहले घर, फिर बाहर; अपना घर पहले)
A charley horse — Cramp or stiffness in a muscle (मांसपेशियों में ऐंठन)
Chase rainbows — To pursue unrealistic goals (मृगतृष्णा के पीछे भागना)
Cheek by jowl — Very close together. (कंधे से कंधा मिलाकर)

Group 20

Group 20 · Chewing the cud – Cloak-and-dagger

Chewing the cud — To think slowly and carefully about something (जुगाली करना)
To chew someone out — To scold someone severely (आड़े हाथों लेना)
Chew something over — To think about or discuss something carefully for a long time (सोच-विचार करना)
To chew the cud of reflection — To think something over slowly and deeply (गहराई से मनन करना)
Chew the fat — To talk to someone in an informal and friendly way (गप्पें लड़ाना)
Chew the scenery — To act overly emotional (हद से ज़्यादा नाटकीय होना)
Chickened out — Backed out through fear (दुम दबाकर भागना)
Chicken-hearted — Someone who lacks courage and is easily frightened (डरपोक व्यक्ति)
The child is the father of the man — Childhood traits shape the adult (पूत के पाँव पालने में ही दिख जाते हैं)
Children should be seen and not heard — Children should not speak in the presence of adults (बच्चों को वयस्कों की उपस्थिति में नहीं बोलना चाहिए)
A child's play — An easy task (बाएँ हाथ का खेल)
Child’s play — Something very easy to do (बच्चों का खेल)
Chill out — To calm down (शांत हो जाना)
Chink in one's armour — An area of vulnerability (कमज़ोर नस)
A chip off the old block — A person who is similar to one's parents in behaviour or looks (जैसा बाप, वैसा बेटा)
Clam up — To suddenly stop talking (चुप्पी साध लेना)
Clean hands — Innocent (दामन पाक होना)
Cleanliness is next to godliness — Being clean is a great virtue (स्वच्छता में ईश्वर का वास है)
A clean slate — Situation in which you can start again (फिर से शुरू करने का अवसर)
Clear-cut — Clear or obvious without needing any proof (बिल्कुल स्पष्ट)
Clear the air — To deal openly with misunderstandings to get rid of them (मन का मैल धोना)
To clip one's wings — To restrict someone's freedom or power (पर कतरना)
Clip someone's wings — to restrict someone's freedom or power (पर कतरना; किसी की आज़ादी या शक्ति सीमित करना)
Cloak and dagger — Involving secrecy and spying (गुप्त एवं रहस्यमयी)
Cloak-and-dagger — To describe an exciting story involving secrets and mystery (गुप्त और रहस्यमय)

Group 21

Group 21 · A closed book – Come to light

A closed book — A mystery (रहस्य)
Closed the book on — Stopped working on (किसी मामले पर पर्दा डालना)
A close-fisted person — A miserly person (चमड़ी जाए पर दमड़ी न जाए)
A close shave — A narrow escape from any danger or disaster (बाल-बाल बचना)
Close to one's heart — Dear and important to oneself (दिल के करीब होना)
Cloven hoof — To reveal someone's evil intentions (असली रंग दिखाना)
Coals of fire upon his head — To shame an enemy by showing kindness (भलाई से शत्रु को शर्मिंदा करना)
A cock and bull story — A foolish and concocted story (बेतुकी एवं मनगढ़ंत कहानी)
A cog in the machine — Very small part of a big organisation (मामूली भाग/व्यक्ति)
A cold comfort — Very little satisfaction (झूठी या नाममात्र की तसल्ली)
A cold day in July — A time or event that seems unlikely or will never come to pass (जब सूरज पश्चिम से उगेगा)
Cold feet — A sudden loss of courage before doing something (हाथ-पाँव फूल जाना)
Cold fish — A person lacking in sympathy (रूखा और भावहीन व्यक्ति)
Comb through — To carefully look through (छान मारना)
Come about — To happen (घटित होना)
Come hell or high water — No matter what (चाहे आँधी आए या तूफ़ान)
Come in handy — To be useful (काम आना)
Come in high — To enter in a prominent position (ऊँची स्थिति में आना)
Come out swinging — To start something in a strong, forceful way (काम को जोश के साथ शुरू करना)
Come rain or shine — Under any circumstances (चाहे आँधी आए या तूफ़ान)
Come round — To become conscious again; to change one's opinion (होश में आना)
Come to blows — To start fighting after a disagreement (हाथापाई पर उतर आना)
Come to grief — Have an accident/meet with disaster (मुँह की खाना)
Come to light — To become known (पोल खुलना)

Group 22

Group 22 · Come to the point – Crack someone up

Come to the point — To speak plainly about the real issue (मुद्दे की बात पर आना)
Come true — To happen in the way you hoped or dreamed (सपना साकार होना)
Come up — To arise or be raised for discussion (चर्चा के लिए सामने आना)
Come up with — To produce or think of an idea, plan or solution (कोई विचार या योजना सुझाना या निकालना)
Come what may — No matter what happens (चाहे जो हो जाए)
To complain about — To say that you are annoyed, unhappy, or not satisfied about someone or something (किसी चीज की शिकायत करना)
Cooked your goose — Ruined your chances (बना-बनाया खेल बिगड़ना)
Cook one's goose — To ruin someone's plans or chances (किसी का खेल बिगाड़ना)
Cook the books — To falsify financial records (हिसाब में हेरफेर करना)
Cool about working — Ready to work (काम के प्रति सहज होना)
Cool as a cucumber — Not nervous or emotional/To be calm and composed (ठंडे दिमाग से काम लेना)
To cool it — To relax or make someone calm (शांत हो जाओ)
Cool your heels — To be kept waiting/Unwillingly wait for something or someone (एड़ियाँ रगड़ना)
Cope with — To deal/To handle/To face (मुश्किल से निपटना)
Copycat — One who imitates another closely (नकलची बंदर)
Cordoned off — To stop people from getting into an area by surrounding it with police, soldiers, etc. (घेरा डालना)
Cost a bomb — To be very expensive (बहुत महँगा होना)
Cost an arm and a leg — To be extremely expensive (जेब ढीली होना)
Cost someone dearly/ dear — To cause someone to lose something or to cost a lot of money (महँगा पड़ना)
Couch potato — A lazy person/A person who watches too much television (आलसी, बैठे रहने वाला)
Counting down the days — To eagerly await an upcoming event (दिन गिन-गिनकर काटना)
Count one's blessings — Be grateful for what one has (जो मिला उसी में संतोष करना)
Course of events — The things that have happened, that are happening, or that will happen (घटनाओं का क्रम)
Cover up — Hide or conceal (पर्दा डालना)
Crack someone up — To make someone laugh (हँसा-हँसाकर लोटपोट कर देना)

Group 23

Group 23 · Crash and burn – A cup of Joe

Crash and burn — To fail completely (मिट्टी में मिल जाना)
Creature comforts — Things that contribute to bodily comfort and ease (ऐशो-आराम)
Creature of habit — One who always does the same things in the same way (एक ही ढर्रे पर चलना)
Crocodile tears — False tears (घड़ियाली आँसू बहाना)
Cross one's mind — To think of something (मन में ख़याल आना)
Cross out — To eliminate or remove (काट देना)
Cross swords — To fight (तलवारें खिंच जाना)
Cross that bridge when one comes to it — To deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not before (समस्या आने पर ही उससे निपटना, पहले से चिंता न करना)
Cross the bridge — To solve the problem (समस्या का समाधान करना)
Cross the Rubicon — To make an irreversible change (ऐसा क़दम उठा लिया जो वापस नहीं हो सकता)
Crow over — to gloat over one's success or someone else's defeat (जीत पर इतराना; किसी की हार पर ख़ुशी जताना)
Crow over something — To revel boastfully over something (डींग हाँकना)
The crux of the matter — Critical/Main point of the issue/problem (असली मुद्दा)
Cry down — To depreciate (किसी की साख गिराना)
Cry for the moon — To make an impractical or unreasonable request (असंभव चीज़ माँगना)
A cry in the wilderness — An unheeded warning (नक्कारखाने में तूती की आवाज़)
Cry over spilt milk — To feel sorry over a mistake that can't be changed (अब पछताए होत क्या, जब चिड़िया चुग गई खेत)
To cry stinking fish — To speak badly of one's own work (अपनी ही चीज़ की बुराई करना)
Cry wolf — To raise a false alarm (मदद की झूठी पुकार लगाना)
Cry your eyes out — To cry a lot about a problem or situation (रो-रोकर बुरा हाल करना)
A cuckoo in the nest — An intruder or outsider in a group or situation. (अनजान घुसपैठिया)
Cudgel one's brain — To think hard (दिमाग़ खपाना)
Culture vulture — A person who is very keen on art, music, theatre and literature (कला-साहित्य का शौकीन व्यक्ति)
Cupboard love — Affection shown only in order to get something (स्वार्थ से भरा प्यार)
A cup of Joe — A cup of coffee (एक कप कॉफी)

Group 24

Group 24 · A cup of tea – Cut the Gordian knot

A cup of tea — Something one likes/excels in (पसंद की चीज़)
Curry favour — To seek or gain favour through flattery or other means. (जी-हुज़ूरी करना)
Curses, like chickens, come home to roost — The consequences of doing wrong always catch up with the wrongdoer (जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी)
Curtain lecture — An instance of a wife scolding her husband in private (पत्नी द्वारा पति को पड़ी हुई डांट)
A cut above something — Superior to (किसी से बीस होना)
Cut a long story short — To tell something briefly (लब्बोलुआब यह कि)
Cut and dried — Already decided/settled (पत्थर की लकीर)
Cut and run — To leave a difficult situation suddenly to avoid trouble (मुसीबत से अचानक भाग निकलना)
Cut a poor figure — To make a bad impression (किरकिरी होना)
Cut a poor/sorry figure — To make a poor impression (किरकिरी होना)
Cut a sorry figure — To make a poor impression (किरकिरी होना)
Cut corners — To do something perfunctorily so as to save time or money (शॉर्टकट लेकर काम बिगाड़ना)
Cut down on — To reduce (कटौती करना)
Cut from the same cloth — To be of a similar nature (एक ही थैली के चट्टे-बट्टे)
Cut me dead — To ignore someone deliberately (मुँह फेर लेना)
Cut no ice — Have no influence or effect. (कोई असर न डालना)
Cut off without a shilling — To refuse to let somebody receive any of your property after you have died. (जायदाद से बेदखल करना)
Cut one short — To interrupt someone (बात काटना)
Cut short — To stop something before it is finished (अचानक रोक देना)
Cut someone slack — To not manage someone very strictly or critically (ढील देना)
To cut someone some slack — To be less strict with someone (ढील देना)
Cut straight to the chase — To avoid unnecessary introduction and go to the more important part (सीधे मुद्दे पर आना)
Cut the cord — To become independent of someone who has looked after you (निर्भरता खत्म करके आत्मनिर्भर बनना)
Cut the crap — An impolite way of telling someone to stop talking nonsense and be honest (बकवास बंद करना, सीधी बात करना)
Cut the Gordian knot — To solve a difficult problem in a very direct way by doing something forceful or extreme (एक झटके में मसला सुलझाना)

Group 25

Group 25 · Cut the mustard – Devil's advocate

Cut the mustard — To reach the expected or necessary standard (कसौटी पर खरा उतरना)
Cut to the chase — To get to the point (सीधे मुद्दे पर आना)
Cut to the quick — To hurt someone's feelings deeply (दिल पर गहरी चोट करना)
Cut your coat according to your cloth — Spend within your means (तेते पाँव पसारिए जेती लांबी सौर)
A dab hand at something — Skilled in a particular area (किसी काम में हाथ सधा होना)
Damocles' sword — Something bad seems very likely to happen (सिर पर लटकती तलवार)
Damp squib — Something that fails to meet expectations or disappoints despite initial excitement (खोदा पहाड़ निकली चुहिया)
A damsel in distress — A helpless woman (मुसीबत में फंसी युवती)
Dance attendance on somebody — To be with somebody and do things to help and please them (जी-हुज़ूरी करना)
Dance to someone's tune — To do what others want you to do (किसी के इशारों पर नाचना)
A daredevil — A fearless person (जान हथेली पर रखना)
A dark horse — An unexpected winner (छिपा रुस्तम)
Day and night — All the time/Continuously (आठों पहर)
A dead duck — A person or thing that is useless (जो चल ही नहीं सकता)
A dead heat — A close contest that ends in a tie (बराबरी का परिणाम)
Dead in the water — No chance of succeeding or making any progress (सफल होने की कोई आशा न होना)
A dead letter — No longer effective (जो अब प्रभावी या लागू न हो)
A deadlock — A state in which progress is impossible (ऐसी परिस्थिति जिसमें प्रगति असंभव हो)
A dead loss — Completely useless (किसी काम का न होना)
Dead men's shoes — A job or position one can get only when the present holder dies or leaves (जो पद किसी के हटने पर ही खाली हो)
A dead ringer — An exact duplicate (हूबहू जैसा दिखने वाला)
Dead set against — Strongly opposed to (पूरी तरह खिलाफ)
Death blow — An action or event that causes something to end or fail (घातक प्रहार, जो किसी चीज़ को ख़त्म कर दे)
The devil is in the details — Small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later. (कोई नजरअंदाज की गई छोटी चीज या गलती जो बाद में परेशानी का कारण बने)
Devil's advocate — Someone who argues the opposite side, to test an idea (जानबूझकर विपरीत पक्ष की दलील देने वाला)

Group 26

Group 26 · The devil's beating his wife – A dog’s breakfast

The devil's beating his wife — Sunshower/the sun is shining while it rains (गीदड़ की शादी होना)
A diamond in the rough — Someone or something whose good qualities are hidden (गुदड़ी का लाल)
Dicing with death — Taking a very dangerous risk (मौत से खेलना)
Die a dog's death — A shameful death (कुत्ते की मौत मरना)
Die hard — Unwilling to change (दृढ़ या न झुकने वाला)
Die in harness — To continue an occupation till death/ To die while working (कार्यकाल के दौरान मृत्यु होना)
The die was cast — A decision was made that cannot be reversed (तीर कमान से निकल चुका)
Dig around — To search for information (खोजबीन करना)
Dig up dirt on someone — Discover damaging information about someone (किसी पर कीचड़ उछालना)
A dime a dozen — Common and easily available (कौड़ियों के मोल मिलना)
Dirt cheap — Extremely cheap (बहुत सस्ता, कौड़ियों के भाव)
Disappear into thin air — To vanish suddenly and completely (अचानक पूरी तरह गायब हो जाना)
Discretion is the better part of valour — Avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do (जान बची तो लाखों पाए)
Do a good turn — To do someone a helpful act (किसी की मदद करना)
Do a roaring trade — To sell a lot of goods very quickly (धंधा चमकना)
Do away with — To abolish (जड़ से खत्म करना)
Do away with wholly — To remove it completely or put an end to it (समाप्त कर देना)
Doctored the accounts — To manipulate or influence the accounts (हिसाब में घपला करना)
Dodge a bullet — To narrowly avoid a dangerous or unpleasant situation (बाल-बाल बचना)
A dog and pony show — An elaborate presentation or display meant to impress people (लोगों को प्रभावित करने के लिए किया गया दिखावटी प्रदर्शन)
The dog days — The hottest period of summer (गर्मी के सबसे तपते दिन)
Dog eat dog — Ruthlessly competitive (गला-काट प्रतिस्पर्धा)
Dog in a manger — One who prevents others from enjoying something despite having no use for it (न ख़ुद खाए, न खाने दे)
Dog in the manger — A person who stops others enjoying what he cannot use (न खाऊँगा, न खाने दूँगा)
A dog’s breakfast — Something that is messy or poorly done. (गुड़ गोबर कर देना)

Group 27

Group 27 · A dog's life – Down to the wire

A dog's life — A miserable existence (दर-दर की ठोकरें खाना)
Dog tired — To be extremely tired (थककर चूर होना)
Do it on autopilot — To do something automatically without thinking (बिना सोचे आदतन कर देना)
Dole out — To distribute something, either physically or verbally. (बांटना, वितरित करना)
Done up/in — Exhausted (थककर चूर होना)
Donkey's years — A very long time (ज़माना बीत जाना)
Do not count your chickens before they hatch — Do not celebrate success before it happens (सूत न कपास, जुलाहे से लट्ठम-लट्ठा)
Do not cry over spilt milk — Do not waste time regretting what cannot be undone (अब पछताए होत क्या जब चिड़िया चुग गई खेत)
Do not put all your eggs in one basket — Do not risk everything on one plan (सारा दाँव एक ही चाल पर मत लगाओ)
Don't count your chickens before they hatch — Do not count on a good thing that has not happened (ख़याली पुलाव पकाना)
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch — Do not assume success before it happens (पहले से जीत मान मत लो)
Do or die — To make a final effort (करो या मरो)
Do something by the skin of one's teeth — Just manage to do something (बाल-बाल बचना)
Dot one's i's and cross one's t's — Be detailed and exact/To pay attention to minute details of a task (बाल की खाल निकालना)
Double-talk — Speech that sounds meaningful but is confusing or has two meanings (घुमा-फिराकर बोलना, दोहरे अर्थ वाली बात)
Down and out — Without money (दाने-दाने को मोहताज होना)
Down for the count — Defeated or unable to continue (हथियार डाल देना)
Down in the dumps — Sad and depressed (दिल बैठ जाना)
Down in the mouth — Unhappy (मुँह लटकाना)
Down the drain — Wasted or lost (पानी में बह जाना)
Down the road — At a later time in the future (भविष्य में, आगे चलकर)
Down the tubes — To be failing completely (पानी में बह जाना)
Down to earth — Practical and without pretension (ज़मीन से जुड़ा होना)
Down-to-earth — Practical and direct (ज़मीन से जुड़ा होना)
Down to the wire — To the last minute; to the very end (आख़िरी साँस तक)

Group 28

Group 28 · Draconian law – Dropping like flies

Draconian law — Extremely severe law (अत्यंत कठोर क़ानून)
Drag one's feet — To delay taking a decision (टालमटोल करना)
To drag one’s feet — To delay doing something deliberately (हीला-हवाली करना)
Drastic times call for drastic measures — When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions (कठिन समय में कठोर क़दम)
Draw a blank — To get no results (हाथ ख़ाली रहना)
Draw a line — To fix a limit/Accept something up to a particular point/To stop before a point where something okay gets not okay (हद तय करना)
Draw first blood — Be the first to gain an advantage or score against an opponent (पहली बाज़ी मारना)
To draw the line — (To have) to set a limit on something (किसी चीज की सीमा निर्धारित करना)
Draw the line at something — To set a limit on what one will accept (सीमा तय कर देना)
To draw the long bow — To exaggerate greatly (राई का पहाड़ बनाना)
To draw the longbow — To exaggerate or embellish stories or facts. (बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर बात करना)
Dressed to kill — Dressed to attract attention (बन-ठनकर निकलना)
Dressing down — A severe reprimand or scolding (खरी-खोटी सुनाना)
Dressing-down — A severe scolding (कड़ी फटकार)
Drew on his fancy — Used his imagination (अपनी कल्पना का सहारा लेना)
Drill into one's head — To emphasise repeatedly (दिमाग़ में बिठा देना)
Drink life to the lees — To live life fully to the very end (जीवन का हर क्षण पूरी तरह जीना)
Drive home — To make a point forcefully clear (बात पर ज़ोर देकर समझाना)
Drive someone up the wall — To make someone extremely angry (नाक में दम करना)
Drop a brick — To say something tactless by mistake (बेध्यानी में ग़लत बात कह देना)
Drop a line — To write a short letter or message to someone (किसी को संक्षिप्त पत्र या संदेश लिखना)
Drop in — To visit someone casually without prior notice (बिना बताए अचानक मिलने जाना)
A drop in a bucket — A very small amount compared to what is needed (ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा)
A drop in the bucket/ocean — A very small amount compared with what is needed (ऊँट के मुँह में ज़ीरा)
Dropping like flies — Collapsing in large numbers/A large number of people either falling ill or dying (कीड़े-मकोड़ों की तरह मरना)

Group 29

Group 29 · Dropping names – Egg on one's face

Dropping names — Casually mention the names of famous people one knows or claims to know in order to impress others. (प्रभावित करने के लिए प्रभावशाली लोगों का नाम लेना)
A drowning man catches at a straw — A desperate person tries anything (डूबते को तिनके का सहारा)
A dry run — A rehearsal (पूर्वाभ्यास)
Ducks and drakes — To squander or waste recklessly (पानी की तरह पैसा बहाना)
Dust and ashes — Something that is very disappointing (किए-कराए पर पानी फिर जाना)
Dyed in the wool — Having firm beliefs that never change (पक्का, अटल विश्वास वाला)
An eagle eye — Sharp vision; the ability to observe keenly (तेज निगाह)
Early bird — A person who gets up or arrives early (जल्दी उठने या पहुँचने वाला व्यक्ति)
The early bird catches the worm — One who starts early gets the best chance (जो पहले पहुँचे वही पाए)
An ear to the ground — Informed and updated about everything (किसी चीज की पल-पल की खबर रखना)
Ease somebody's mind — Alleviate someone's anxiety (ढाँढस बँधाना)
Easier said than done — Not as easy as it appears to be (कहना आसान करना मुश्किल)
Easy does it — Used to tell someone to do something slowly and carefully (धीरे-धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होय)
Easy handed — An easy job (एक सरल कार्य)
Easy money — Money made without much effort, maybe illegally (दो नंबर का पैसा)
Eat anyone's salt — To be one's guest (किसी का नमक खाना)
Eat crow — To admit that one is wrong (ग़लती मानकर अपमान सहना)
Eat humble pie — To feel sorry and apologise for a mistake (नाक रगड़ना)
Eat like a bird — To eat very little (बहुत कम खाना)
Eat like a horse — To eat too much (बहुत ज़्यादा खाना)
Eat one's hat — Used to say one is completely sure something will or will not happen (ऐसा न हुआ तो मेरा नाम बदल देना)
Eat one's words — To retract what one has said (अपनी बात वापस लेनी पड़ना)
Egged you on — To urge or encourage (someone) to do something that is usually foolish or dangerous. (शह देना)
To egg on — To encourage someone to do something (उकसाना, बढ़ावा देना)
Egg on one's face — Embarrassed because of one's action (किरकिरी होना)

Group 30

Group 30 · Elbow grease – An eyesore

Elbow grease — Hard physical effort (ख़ून-पसीना एक करना)
Elbow room — Enough space or freedom to move or act (पर्याप्त जगह या छूट)
Elephantine task — A huge, very difficult task (लोहे के चने चबाना)
The elephant in the room — A problem that people are avoiding (एक ऐसा मुद्दा जिस पर लोग चर्चा करने से कतरा रहे हों।)
Empty vessels make much noise — Ignorant people talk the most (थोथा चना बाजे घना)
Ended in a fiasco — Finished disastrously or with a complete failure. (टांय-टांय फिस्स होना)
To end in smoke — To produce no concrete or positive result (किए-कराए पर पानी फिर जाना)
The end justifies the means — A good result excuses any wrong method used to achieve it (अच्छे परिणाम के लिए गलत साधन भी उचित हैं)
End of her rope — At the limit of one's patience or resources (सब्र का बाँध टूटना)
Enough rope — To give someone enough freedom of action to bring about their own downfall (ढील देना)
Ethnic cleansing — Deliberate killing of people of an ethnic or religious group (जातीय सफ़ाया)
Even a worm will turn — Even the meekest person retaliates when pushed too far (अति का अंत; कमज़ोर भी पलटवार करता है)
Evening of life — The later part of one's life, especially when approaching old age. (ढलती उम्र)
Every cloud has a silver lining — Every difficult situation has a hopeful aspect to it (हर अँधेरी रात के बाद सवेरा होता है)
Every dog has his day — Everyone gets a chance at success eventually (घूरे के भी दिन फिरते हैं)
Every dog has its day — Everyone has good luck or success at a point of time (घूरे के भी दिन फिरते हैं)
Every inch a gentleman — Completely and in every way a gentleman. (सोलह आने शरीफ़)
Every nook and cranny — Every part of a place (चप्पा-चप्पा छान मारना)
Everyone and his brother — A very large number of people (बहुत सारे लोग, हर कोई)
Excuse my French — Said when you are pretending to be sorry for using a word that may be considered offensive (मेरी भाषा के लिए माफ करें)
Explore all avenues — Try out every possibility to get a result (एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना)
Extremely happy — Feeling great joy (फूले न समाना)
Eye for an eye — Someone should be harmed as they harmed someone else (जैसे को तैसा)
An eye-opener — A shocking revelation (आँखें खोल देना)
An eyesore — Something that is unpleasant to look at (आँखों में खटकना)

Group 31

Group 31 · Eye wash – Fall out

Eye wash — A deception/A pretence (आँखों में धूल झोंकना)
An eyewash — A pretence (आँखों में धूल झोंकना)
A face like thunder — Very angry (आग-बबूला होना)
Face-saving — Done to avoid embarrassment or loss of respect (नाक बचाना)
Face-saving measure — an action taken to avoid embarrassment or keep one's dignity (इज़्ज़त बचाने के लिए उठाया गया क़दम)
Face the music — To accept unpleasant consequences (जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी)
Face to face — With another person in their presence rather than, say, by phone or letter (आमने-सामने)
Face up to — To accept a difficult situation (सच्चाई का सामना करना)
Faint-hearted — Timid (दिल का कच्चा)
Fair and square / Fairly and squarely — Honest/Honestly (पूरी ईमानदारी से)
Fair's fair/Fair do's — Equal treatment (जो न्यायसंगत है वह मानना चाहिए)
A fair-weather friend — A selfish friend (सुख के साथी)
Fair-weather friends — Friends who leave in difficult times (मतलब के यार)
Fall back on — To turn to something or someone for help when other things fail (अन्य उपाय विफल होने पर किसी का सहारा लेना)
Fall by the wayside — To fail to continue; to give up before the end (बीच रास्ते में हार मानकर छूट जाना)
Fall down — To drop to the ground suddenly (अचानक गिर जाना)
Fallen off the radar — No longer noticed or tracked (नज़रों से ओझल हो जाना)
Fall flat — To fail to have an effect (औंधे मुँह गिरना)
Fall for — To be deceived by something (किसी के झाँसे में आना)
Fall foul of — To get into trouble because of failing to do what is required by (the law, a rule, etc.) (मुसीबत मोल लेना)
Fall head over heels — To fall deeply in love with someone (किसी पर लट्टू होना)
Fall in a heap — To collapse suddenly, especially when overcome by strong emotion (भावनाओं पर काबू खोकर टूट जाना)
Fall on deaf ears — To be ignored (कान पर जूँ न रेंगना)
Fall on stony ground — To have little or no effect (बेअसर रहना)
Fall out — To quarrel/Stop being friendly after an argument (झगड़ना)

Group 32

Group 32 · Fall out with someone – Feet of clay

Fall out with someone — To stop being friendly after an argument (झगड़ा करके किसी से संबंध बिगाड़ लेना)
Familiarity breeds contempt — The better you know someone, the less you respect them (घर की मुर्गी दाल बराबर)
Fan the flames — To make a bad situation worse (आग में घी डालना)
Far and wide — Over a large area (दूर-दूर तक)
A far cry — To be very distant, to be completely different from something (बहुत दूर, किसी चीज से पूर्णतया भिन्न/ अलग होना)
Far cry from — Very different from something (ज़मीन-आसमान का अंतर)
A fat cat — A rich and powerful person (धनवान)
A fate worse than death — An extremely unpleasant situation (मृत्यु से भी बदतर स्थिति)
Feast one's eyes on — To gaze at something with pleasure (आँखें ठंडी होना)
A feather in one's cap — An achievement to be proud of (उपलब्धि, गर्व की बात)
Feather one's nest — To enrich oneself unfairly from a position (अपना उल्लू सीधा करना)
Feather one’s nest — To make oneself rich, often dishonestly (अपना घर भरना)
Feather one's own nest — To promote one's own interests, often dishonestly (अपना उल्लू सीधा करना)
The feathers fly — People fight or argue angrily and noisily (झगड़ा या तीखी बहस होना)
Feather your own nest — To enrich yourself unfairly from a position (अपना उल्लू सीधा करना)
Feeding frenzy — A situation in which a lot of people become very excited about something often in a destructive or negative way (किसी चीज़ पर टूट पड़ना)
Feel a bit under the weather — To feel slightly unwell (तबीयत ढीली होना)
Feel at home — To feel comfortable (अपने घर जैसा लगना)
Feel at sea — To feel confused and lost (दिमाग़ चकरा जाना)
Feel blue — Gloomy (उदास होना)
Feel his pulse — Find his views (नब्ज़ टटोलना)
Feeling under the weather — Feeling slightly unwell (तबीयत ढीली होना)
To feel like a fish out of water — To feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings (जल बिन मछली होना)
Feel the pinch — To have less money than you used to have before/Experience hardship (हाथ तंग होना)
Feet of clay — A weakness or hidden flaw in the character of a greatly admired or respected person (आदर्श व्यक्ति में छिपा दोष)

Group 33

Group 33 · Fell flat – Fit like a glove

Fell flat — Failed to produce the intended effect (फुस्स हो जाना)
Fell foul of — Come into conflict with. (किसी से ठन जाना)
Few and far between — Not very many or not appearing very frequently (इक्का-दुक्का)
Fiddle while Rome burns — To do trivial things while a crisis unfolds (संकट के समय बेकार के काम करना)
Fight fire with fire — To fight against an opponent by using the same methods or weapons that the opponent uses (लोहा लोहे को काटता है)
Fight one's own battles — To solve one's own problems (अपनी समस्याएँ ख़ुद सुलझाना)
Fight one's own battles oneself — To do things oneself (अपनी लड़ाई आप लड़ना)
Fight shy of — To try to avoid something (कन्नी काटना)
Fight shy of me — Avoid meeting or confronting someone (कन्नी काटना)
Fight tooth and nail — To fight or compete with great ferocity and intensity (एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना)
Finding your feet — To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing (पैर जमाना)
Find oneself in troubled waters — (To be) in difficulties (मँझधार में फँसना)
Find one's feet — To begin to understand the work and feeling confident (पैर जमाना)
Find yourself in troubled waters — To get into a difficult situation (मुश्किल में फँस जाना)
Fine kettle of fish — An awkward situation (बड़ी समस्या)
A fine state of affairs — An unpleasant situation (अप्रिय स्थिति)
Finger in every pie — To be involved in many different activities (हर काम में टाँग अड़ाना)
Fire in someone's belly — Strong ambition, energy and enthusiasm (भीतर की तीव्र लगन)
Fire in the belly — A strong ambition and determination to succeed (भीतर की प्रबल महत्वाकांक्षा और जुनून)
Fire the imagination — To make someone feel very interested in something and excited about it. (उत्साहित करना या जिज्ञासा बढ़ाना)
First and foremost — Most important aspect (सबसे पहले और सबसे ज़रूरी)
Fish in troubled waters — To take advantage of a difficult situation (मुश्किल हालात का फ़ायदा उठाना)
A fish out of water — In an uncomfortable position (असहज महसूस करना)
Fit as a fiddle — In very good health (हट्टा-कट्टा होना)
Fit like a glove — To fit snugly (बहुत अच्छी तरह से फिट होना)

Group 34

Group 34 · A fit of the blues – A fool's paradise

A fit of the blues — A spell of sadness or depression (उदासी का दौर)
Five-finger discount — Shoplifting; stealing goods from a shop (हाथ की सफ़ाई)
Fixed in one's ways — Unwilling to change one's habits or way of doing things (लकीर का फ़क़ीर होना)
A flash in the pan — Something that is successful for a short time (क्षणिक सफलता)
Flea market — A market where old or used goods are sold cheaply, usually outside (पुरानी वस्तुओं को बेचने का बाजार; कबाड़ी बाजार)
Flesh and blood — One's own family or close relatives (अपना खून)
Flex one's muscles — To give or make a show of one's strength (शक्ति प्रदर्शन करना)
Flog a dead horse — To waste time on useless things (मरे घोड़े को कोड़े मारना, व्यर्थ मेहनत)
Floored his listeners — Amazed or confused the audience completely (दाँतों तले उँगली दबाना)
Fly high — To make good progress (आसमान छूना)
Flying by the seat of our pants — Acting on instinct without a plan (बिना योजना के अंदाज़ से काम करना)
A flying visit — A visit that lasts for only a very short time (कम समय की भेंट)
Fly into a passion — To become angry suddenly (आग बबूला होना)
Fly into a rage — To suddenly become very angry (आग बबूला होना)
Fly off at a tangent — To start discussing something irrelevant/To change the subject suddenly (मुद्दे से भटकना)
Fly off the handle — To lose one's temper suddenly and unexpectedly (आपे से बाहर होना)
A fly on the wall — An unperceived observer (अनदेखा दर्शक)
Fly the nest — Children leaving their parents' home to live on their own (अपने पैरों पर खड़ा होना)
To foam at one's mouth — To be extremely angry (आग-बबूला होना)
Foam at the mouth — To be enraged and show it (गुस्से से लाल-पीला होना)
Follow one's nose — To go straight ahead; to trust one's instinct (सीधे चलते जाना; अपनी सहज बुद्धि पर चलना)
Follow suit — To do the same as others (देखा-देखी करना)
Food for thought — Something worth thinking seriously about (सोचने लायक़ बात)
A fool and his money are easily parted — Stupid individuals don't know how to save their cash (मूर्ख का पैसा टिकता नहीं)
A fool's paradise — A state of imaginary happiness (ख़याली पुलाव पकाना)

Group 35

Group 35 · Foot the bill – Full of hot air

Foot the bill — To make payment (ख़र्च उठाना)
For all intents and purposes — Essentially; in all important respects. (व्यावहारिक रूप से)
For a song — Very cheaply (कौड़ियों के भाव)
For better or (for) worse — To accept whatever results; good or bad (परिणाम स्वीकार करना चाहे अच्छा हो या बुरा)
A foregone conclusion — A result that is certain and can be predicted before it happens (पहले से तय परिणाम, अपरिहार्य निष्कर्ष)
For good — For ever (हमेशा के लिए)
For keeps — Permanently or for a long time (स्थायी रूप से)
For old time's sake — Because of sentimental memories of the past (पुरानी यादों की ख़ातिर)
Forty winks — A short nap (झपकी)
Fought to the bitter end — Carried on a contest regardless of the consequences (आख़िरी साँस तक लड़ना)
A foul play — Unfair or dishonest behaviour (बेईमानी या अपराध)
Four corners of the earth — From all parts of the world (दुनिया के कोने-कोने से)
Free and easy — Casual and informal (अनौपचारिक)
A French leave — An unauthorised leave (बिना सूचना के लिया गया अवकाश)
A friend in need is a friend indeed — A true friend helps in difficulty (मित्र वही जो मुसीबत में काम आए)
Fringe benefits — Extra advantages given with a job (वेतन के अतिरिक्त सुविधाएँ)
From cradle to grave — Throughout one's life (जीवन भर)
From far and wide — From many places, near and distant (दूर-दूर से)
From pillar to post — From one place to another, repeatedly, without any rest or result (इधर से उधर भटकना, दर-दर की ठोकरें खाना)
From rags to riches — To go from very poor to being very wealthy (रंक से राजा बनना)
From scratch — From the very beginning with nothing ready (बिल्कुल शुरू से)
From stem to stern — All the way from the front of a ship to the back (सिर से पाँव तक)
Full of beans — Lively/full of energy (जोश और ऊर्जा से भरा)
Full of hot air — Talking a lot of nonsense (गाल बजाना)

Group 36

Group 36 · Full of sound and fury – Get into hot water

Full of sound and fury — Merely loud and angry words but ineffective (थोथा चना बाजे घना)
A full plate — Onerous amount of work (बहुत काम होना)
Full steam ahead — Move onward with determination (जी-जान से जुट जाना)
To gain ground — To make progress or become more accepted (पैर जमाना)
Gall and wormwood — Bitterness and resentment. (अत्यंत कड़वा और द्वेषपूर्ण)
Gate-crasher — Someone who attends an event without being invited. (बिन बुलाया मेहमान)
To gather roses only — To look for all the enjoyments of life (जीवन में केवल सुख ही खोजना)
Gave a single shot — Attempted something with a single try (एक ही प्रयास करना)
Gave away — Distributed prizes, or revealed a secret (पुरस्कार बाँटे, या भेद खोल दिया)
Gave way — Yielded or collapsed (घुटने टेक देना)
Gear up for — To prepare for something (कमर कसना)
A gentleman at large — A man without a job (जिसके पास कोई नियत काम न हो)
Get across — To make something understood (बात समझा पाना)
Get a foot in the door — To have a chance to do something (पहला छोटा मौक़ा पाना)
Get a gold star — To earn a merit point for doing well (पीठ थपथपाना)
Get a second wind — To have renewed energy (पुनः शक्ति/जोश/ऊर्जा प्राप्त करना)
Get a taste of your own medicine — To be given the same treatment that you have given to others (जैसे को तैसा)
Get away — To leave (चले जाना)
To get cold feet — To become nervous and back out (क़दम पीछे खींच लेना)
Get cracking — To start doing something immediately (जल्दी काम शुरू करना)
Get down to brass tacks — To start taking up the most important facts of a situation (मुद्दे की बात पर आना)
Get in someone's hair — To annoy someone, usually by being present all the time (सिर पर सवार रहना)
Get into a scrape — To become involved in a difficult or troublesome situation, often due to one's own actions or decisions (मुसीबत मोल लेना)
Get into a soup — To get into trouble (मुसीबत मोल लेना)
Get into hot water — To get into trouble (मुसीबत मोल लेना)

Group 37

Group 37 · Get itchy feet – Get the sack

Get itchy feet — To want to travel or do something new (पैरों में चक्कर होना)
Get it off one's chest — To tell someone something that was worrying you (दिल का बोझ हल्का करना)
Get mixed up — To get confused about something (भ्रमित होना)
To get more kicks than half pence — To receive more harsh treatment than rewards (इनाम से ज़्यादा सज़ा मिलना)
Get off on the wrong foot — To start a relationship or activity badly (शुरुआत ही ग़लत होना)
Get on/along like a house on fire — To get on extremely well with someone (गाढ़ी छनना)
Get one's dander up — To lose one's temper (आग बबूला होना)
Get one's ducks in a row — To have everything properly organised (शुरू करने से पहले सब व्यवस्थित करना)
Get oneself into a mess — To involve oneself in a difficult situation (मुसीबत मोल लेना)
To get one's own back — To do something bad or unpleasant to someone who has treated one badly or unfairly (हिसाब बराबर करना)
Get one's walking papers — To be dismissed from a job (नौकरी से निकाल दिया जाना)
Get on like a house on fire — To get along extremely well ((किसी से) गाढ़ी छनना)
Get on one's nerves — To annoy or irritate someone. (नाक में दम करना)
Get out of hand — To become difficult to control (हाथ से निकल जाना)
Get someone's goat — To irritate someone (नाक में दम करना)
Get something off one’s chest — To say something that has been troubling you (दिल का बोझ हल्का करना)
Get something off your chest — To say what has been troubling you (दिल का बोझ हल्का करना)
Gets on my nerves — Irritates me persistently (नाक में दम करना)
Get the axe — To lose one's job (नौकरी खोना)
Get the ball rolling — Set an activity in motion (शुरुआत कर देना)
Get the game in the bag — To be certain of winning the game (जीत मुट्ठी में होना)
Get the hang of — To learn how to operate or do (something) (किसी कला को सीखना)
Get the jitters — To feel nervous or anxious, usually before something important (घबराहट होना, बेचैनी महसूस करना)
Get the message — Understand what is implied by a remark or action (इशारा समझना)
Get the sack — To be fired from a job or task. (नौकरी से निकाला जाना)

Group 38

Group 38 · Get through with – Give someone the benefit of the doubt

Get through with — To finish or complete a task. (काम पूरा करना)
Getting a new lease of life — Being given a fresh start or renewed energy (नई जान पड़ जाना)
Getting a preview of something — Seeing something before it is generally shown (पहले से झलक मिल जाना)
Get under someone's skin — To annoy or irritate someone deeply (किसी को बहुत खिझाना, परेशान करना)
Get up on the wrong side of the bed — To be bad-tempered all day for no obvious reason (दिन भर चिड़चिड़ा रहना)
Get wind of something — Hear about something/Come to know/To learn something secret (भनक लगना)
Get your act together — To start to organise yourself so that you do things in an effective way (ख़ुद को सँभालो और ठीक से काम करो)
Get your money's worth — To pay and get something of good value (पैसा वसूल होना)
The gift of the gab — The ability to speak easily and confidently (वाक्पटुता)
To gird up the loins — To prepare for hard work (कमर कसना)
Gird up your loins — To prepare oneself for a difficult situation (कमर कसना)
Give a free hand — To give complete freedom to act (खुली छूट देना)
Give a hand — To help someone (किसी की मदद करना)
Give and take — Adjustment/Obliging each other mutually (तालमेल और आपसी समझौता)
Give a piece of one's mind — To rebuke someone strongly (खरी-खोटी सुनाना)
To give a wide berth — to keep a safe distance from someone or something (किसी से दूरी बनाए रखना)
Give a wide berth to — To stay away from (दूर से ही सलाम करना)
To give currency — To make something credible (किसी विचार को मान्यता देना)
Give it a whirl — To attempt to do something, often for the first time (एक बार आज़मा कर देखना)
Give oneself airs — Pretend to be better than someone or others (हवा में उड़ना)
Give somebody a leg up — To help someone to succeed or to improve their position (किसी को आगे बढ़ने में मदद देना)
Give somebody a ring — Call someone on the telephone (किसी को फ़ोन करना)
To give someone a piece of one's mind — To speak to someone in an angry way (खरी-खोटी सुनाना)
Give someone a taste of their own medicine — To mistreat someone in the same way they have treated others (जैसे को तैसा)
Give someone the benefit of the doubt — To believe someone is innocent or truthful when you have no proof (सबूत न होने पर किसी को बेक़सूर मानना)

Group 39

Group 39 · Give someone the cold shoulder – Go belly up

Give someone the cold shoulder — To ignore someone (किसी से मुँह फेर लेना)
Give the benefit of doubt — To believe something good about someone, rather than something bad (संदेह का लाभ देना)
To give the cold shoulder — To deliberately ignore someone (मुँह फेर लेना)
To give the devil his due — To acknowledge someone's positive qualities or actions despite disliking them overall. (बुरे व्यक्ति की भी अच्छाई मानना)
Give the game away — To tell a person something that you are trying to keep secret (भेद खोल देना)
To give the gun — To cause something to start or gain speed (आगे बढ़ाना/शुरू करना)
Give the shirt off one's back — To do anything to help someone (किसी की मदद के लिए अपना सब कुछ दे देना)
Give the slip — To escape (चकमा देना)
Give up — To stop doing something; to quit (छोड़ देना; हार मान लेना)
Give up the ghost — To stop working/to die (दम तोड़ देना)
Give vent to — To express (a strong emotion, such as anger) in a forceful and open way (भड़ास निकालना)
Give vent to something — Express forcefully (भड़ास निकालना)
Give way — To break or fall down suddenly (टूट जाना, या झुक जाना)
Giving a false alarm — A situation when people wrongly think that something bad is going to happen (झूठी चेतावनी)
Glad to see the back of — To be happy when a person leaves (किसी के जाने पर राहत महसूस करना)
A glass ceiling — Something that prevents someone from getting a more important position in their organisation (usually used for women) (ऐसी स्थिति/लोग जो उन्नति के मार्ग में बाधक बनते हैं।)
Gnash your teeth — To express anger, frustration, or despair. (दाँत पीसना)
The gnomes of Zurich — A group of powerful bankers or investors (शक्तिशाली बैंकर्स या वित्तीय संस्थाएँ)
Go against the grain — To be against one's nature or principles (स्वभाव के विरुद्ध होना)
Go a long way — To become successful in life (बहुत काम आना, या बहुत आगे जाना)
Go around in circles — To be very active but with no results (कोल्हू का बैल)
Go at equal speed — Keep up with (कदम से कदम मिलाकर चलना)
Go back to the drawing board — To start planning all over again (असफलता के बाद फिर से योजना बनाना)
Go bananas — To become angry, irrational or excited (आपे से बाहर होना)
Go belly up — To fail completely/to go bankrupt (दिवाला निकलना)

Group 40

Group 40 · Go bonkers – A good grief

Go bonkers — To go mad or become very excited (दिमाग़ फिर जाना)
Go by the book — To follow the rules and procedures exactly (नियमों का पूरी तरह पालन करना)
Go cold turkey — To stop an addiction completely (किसी आदत को पूरी तरह छोड़ देना)
Go down in flames — To fail completely (मिट्टी में मिल जाना)
Go down like a lead balloon — To be received badly by an audience (औंधे मुँह गिरना)
A god's ape — A born fool (पैदाइशी मूर्ख)
Go Dutch — Each person participating in a paid activity covers their own expenses (आपस में खर्चे बाँटना)
Go easy on something — To use only a small amount of (हाथ रोककर ख़र्च करना)
Goes hard — Becomes difficult or severe (कठिन हो जाना)
Go for a song — To be sold for an unexpectedly low price (कौड़ियों के मोल बिकना)
To go for broke — To risk everything in an all-out effort to succeed (सब कुछ दाँव पर लगा देना)
Go for the jugular — Be aggressive or unrestrained in making an attack (कमज़ोर नस पर तीखा प्रहार करना)
Go from rags to riches — From very poor to very rich (रंक से राजा बनना)
A go-getter — A real achiever (उपलब्धि हासिल करने वाला)
Go haywire — Become wildly confused, out of control, or crazy (गुड़-गोबर हो जाना)
Going over one's head — Beyond one's capacity to understand (सिर के ऊपर से निकल जाना)
Going through a sticky patch — Passing through a difficult period (बुरे दिन चलना)
Going with his tail between his legs — Leaving in shame after a defeat (दुम दबाकर भागना)
A golden handshake — A payment made to an employee when they leave their job as a reward for very long or good service (नौकरी छोड़ने पर कर्मचारी को दी जाने वाली बड़ी राशि)
Golden mean — Middle course between two extremes (बीच का मार्ग)
Golden opportunity — A very favourable and rare opportunity (सुनहरा अवसर)
Gone bananas — Become very excited or angry (आपे से बाहर होना)
Gone to the dogs — Deteriorated badly (मिट्टी में मिल जाना)
To go nuts — To become very excited or angry (आपे से बाहर होना)
A good grief — An expression of surprise or frustration (आश्चर्य या खीझ का उद्गार)

Group 41

Group 41 · A good Samaritan – Grasp at straws

A good Samaritan — A person who selflessly helps others, especially those in distress. (नेक, भला इंसान, परोपकारी व्यक्ति)
A good turn — A helpful act (सहायता वाला काम)
Go off — To explode; to stop working; to go bad (food) (फटना; खराब हो जाना; काम करना बंद कर देना)
Go off at a tangent — To suddenly start talking about something unrelated (अचानक विषय से भटक जाना)
To go off the air — To stop broadcasting, especially on radio or television. (प्रसारण बंद हो जाना)
To go out on a limb — To take a bold position that goes against most people's view (जोखिम उठाकर अलग रुख अपनाना, अकेले पड़ने का ख़तरा लेना)
Go pear-shaped — To fail completely (बना-बनाया काम बिगड़ जाना)
Gordian knot — A very difficult problem that is solved by bold action (बहुत जटिल समस्या)
Go red in the face — To feel embarrassed (शर्म से पानी-पानी होना)
Go/Start with a bang — Very exciting and successful (धूम मचाना)
Got cold feet — To become nervous and back out (पाँव पीछे खींचना)
Got down to business — Began to work seriously (कमर कसना)
Go the extra mile — To go above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand (ज़रूरत से ज़्यादा मेहनत करना)
To go the whole hog — To do something completely and thoroughly (पूरी तरह कर डालना)
Go through a rough patch — To experience problems (बुरे दिन देखना)
Go through fire and water — To pass through all types of hardships (हर मुश्किल से गुज़रना)
Go through the hoops — To do a complicated or annoying series of things in order to get or achieve something (पापड़ बेलना)
Got on well — Had a friendly relationship (अच्छी पटना)
Go to rack and ruin — Get into a bad condition (मिट्टी में मिल जाना)
To go to somebody's head — To make someone conceited, or to intoxicate (दिमाग़ आसमान पर होना)
Go to the dogs — To become worse (चौपट हो जाना)
Go to the wall — To fail (असफल होना)
Go to the winds — To be dissipated; to be utterly lost (हवा हो जाना)
Go with the flow — Do what others are doing (हवा के रुख़ के साथ चलना)
Grasp at straws — Trying to find some ways to succeed when nothing you choose is likely to work/Desperate attempt to succeed (डूबते को तिनके का सहारा)

Group 42

Group 42 · Grasp/clutch/catch at a straw/straws – Hadn't a leg to stand on

Grasp/clutch/catch at a straw/straws — Trying to find some way to succeed when nothing you choose is likely to work (डूबते को तिनके का सहारा)
The grass is always greener on the other side — Others' situations always look better (दूर के ढोल सुहावने)
The grass is greener on the other side — Other people always seem to be in a better situation, although it might not be true (दूर के ढोल सुहावने)
A grass widow — A woman whose husband is away from home frequently or for a long time (एक ऐसी औरत जिसका पति अधिकांशतः उससे दूर रहता हो)
Grave error — Himalayan blunder/big mistake (बहुत बड़ी भूल)
Graveyard shift — A work shift that occurs late at night. (रात की पाली)
Grease someone's palm — To bribe someone (मुट्ठी गरम करना)
To grease the palm — To bribe someone (मुट्ठी गर्म करना)
Great minds think alike — Intelligent people think like each other. (बुद्धिमान लोग एक जैसा सोचते हैं)
Great oaks grow from small acorns — Large successful operations can begin in a small way (बूँद-बूँद से घड़ा भरता है)
Greek to me — Completely beyond my understanding (सिर के ऊपर से निकल जाना)
Greener pastures — A place or thing that is an improvement on one's current situation. (बेहतर अवसर या स्थान)
Green-eyed — Envious or jealous (जल-भुन जाना)
The green-eyed monster — Jealousy (छाती पर साँप लोटना)
Green fingers — A natural skill at growing plants (बाग़वानी का हुनर)
A greenhorn — An inexperienced person (कच्चा खिलाड़ी होना)
Green light/To give green light/go-ahead — To permit something to proceed (हरी झंडी देना)
Green thumb — Natural skill at gardening (बाग़वानी का हुनर)
A grey area — An unclear situation (अस्पष्ट स्थिति)
Grin/Beam from ear to ear — To smile a lot because of happiness (खुशी से फूले न समाना)
Grin from ear to ear — To smile very broadly (बाँछें खिल जाना)
Grist to one's/the mill — Something that provides useful advantage (काम आने वाली चीज़)
A gut feeling — An instinctive feeling or intuition (अंदर की भावना)
Gut instinct — An intuition (मन की आवाज)
Hadn't a leg to stand on — Had no facts or support to back one's claim (अपने पक्ष में कोई ठोस आधार न होना)

Group 43

Group 43 · A hair in the butter – Haste is waste

A hair in the butter — A challenging situation (नाज़ुक और उलझी स्थिति)
A hair's breadth escape — A very narrow escape (बाल-बाल बचना)
Halcyon days — Period of calm during the winter, when storms don't occur/Peaceful days (शांति और सुख के बीते दिन)
Hale and hearty — Strong and healthy (हट्टा-कट्टा)
Half a loaf is better than none — It's better to get less than what you want than get nothing (भागते भूत की लँगोटी भली)
Hand and glove — On very intimate terms (चोली-दामन का साथ)
Hand in glove — Working closely together, often secretly (एक ही थैली के चट्टे-बट्टे होना)
Handle with kid gloves — To treat something very delicately or carefully (बहुत सँभालकर पेश आना)
Hands down — Easily and without a doubt (बाएँ हाथ का खेल)
Hang by a thread — In a dangerous situation (अधर में लटकना)
Hang fire — To delay taking action or a decision (मामला लटकाना)
Hang in the balance — To remain undecided (अधर में लटकना)
Hang in there — Don't give up (हिम्मत न हारना)
Hang one's head — To be ashamed (सिर नीचा होना)
Hang on every word — To listen very carefully (कान लगाकर सुनना)
Hang up your boots — To take retirement (संन्यास ले लेना)
Hard and fast — Strict/not to be changed (पत्थर की लकीर)
A hard nut to crack — A difficult problem or person (लोहे के चने चबाना)
Hard of hearing — Partially deaf (ऊँचा सुनना)
Hard to swallow — Difficult to believe (बात गले न उतरना)
A hard/tough nut to crack — A problem or situation that is difficult to solve or deal with (टेढ़ी खीर)
Harp on the same string — To keep repeating the same point (एक ही राग अलापना)
Has a face like thunder — Very angry (आग बबूला होना)
Has gone to the dogs — To become ruined (मिट्टी में मिल जाना)
Haste is waste — Doing things in a hurry does not give fruitful results (जल्दी का काम शैतान का)

Group 44

Group 44 · Haste makes waste – Have cold feet

Haste makes waste — Hurrying leads to mistakes (जल्दी का काम शैतान का)
Has two strings to his bow — Has more than one skill to rely on (एक से अधिक योग्यता रखना)
Hats off to someone — Congratulations to/praise for someone (किसी की प्रशंसा में सिर झुकाना)
Have a bash — To try or attempt (something) (हाथ आज़माना)
Have a bee in one's bonnet — To be obsessed with an idea and keep talking about it (भूत सवार होना)
Have a bee in your bonnet — An obsessive idea about something (धुन सवार होना)
Have a bone to pick — Disagree or be annoyed with someone (किसी से शिकायत होना)
Have a brush with — To encounter or come in conflict with (आमना-सामना होना)
To have a cast-iron stomach — Someone who can eat all kinds of things without ever feeling sick (मजबूत पाचन शक्ति का होना)
Have a chip on one's shoulder — To hold a grudge and act aggrieved (मन में गाँठ रखना)
Have a conniption fit — To have a sudden fit of anger or hysteria (अचानक बहुत गुस्सा या उन्माद में आ जाना)
Have a finger in every pie — To be involved in a large and varied number of activities or enterprises (हर काम में हाथ डालना)
To have a gut feeling — To have an instinctive feeling about something (मन गवाही देना)
To have a jaundiced eye — To see things with prejudice or bitterness (सावन के अंधे को हरा ही हरा दिखना)
Have a lot on one's plate — Having a great deal to deal with (बहुत सी ज़िम्मेदारियाँ होना)
Have a narrow escape — To barely avoid danger or failure (बाल-बाल बचना)
To have an axe to grind — To have a selfish or hidden motive (अपना उल्लू सीधा करना)
To have an itching palm — To be greedy for money or bribes (रिश्वत का लालच होना)
To have a nodding acquaintance — To know someone or something only slightly (दुआ-सलाम का रिश्ता होना)
Have a nodding/passing acquaintance — Know somebody/something slightly (दुआ-सलाम भर का परिचय)
Have a soft spot for someone — To like someone a lot (दिल में ख़ास जगह होना)
To have at one's fingertips — To have something readily in memory (उँगलियों पर होना)
Have a whale of a time — To enjoy oneself very much (मौज उड़ाना)
To have bigger fish to fry — To have more important things to do (ज़्यादा ज़रूरी काम होना)
Have cold feet — To become nervous or frightened (हाथ-पाँव फूल जाना)

Group 45

Group 45 · To have egg on one's face – Heath Robinson

To have egg on one's face — To be embarrassed by one's own mistake (किरकिरी होना)
Have egg on your face — To be embarrassed by your own mistake (किरकिरी होना)
Have it in the bag — Has already secured the win (जीत मुट्ठी में होना)
Have one's back — To support (किसी की पीठ पर हाथ होना)
Have one's heart set on something — To want something very much (किसी चीज़ को पाने की बहुत इच्छा रखना)
Have skin in the game — Bear financial risk by investing in something (किसी काम में अपना पैसा या हित दाँव पर होना)
To have something on the brain — To think about something constantly (सिर पर भूत सवार होना)
Have the ball at your feet — To be in the best position to do something (मौक़ा पूरी तरह आपके हाथ में)
Have the last laugh — To succeed when others thought you would not (अंततः सफल होना)
Have too many irons in the fire — Engaged in too many activities (दो नावों पर सवार होना)
Have your head in the clouds — To be lost in daydreams (हवाई क़िले बनाना)
Have your heart in your mouth — To be extremely nervous or frightened (कलेजा मुँह को आना)
Having a chip on one’s shoulder — Holding a grudge and acting aggrieved (मन में गाँठ रखना)
Head and shoulders above — To be far superior (सबसे बेहतर)
Head in the clouds — Being absent minded (ख़याली पुलाव पकाना)
Head over heels — Madly in love/Being completely in love (किसी पर लट्टू होना)
Heads will roll — Used to say that people will be severely punished (गाज गिरना)
Hear someone out — To let someone finish what they are saying (पूरी बात सुन लेना)
Heart and soul — With all effort you can put (तन-मन से जुट जाना)
Heart missed a beat — Very excited (दिल बल्लियों उछलना)
The heart of stone — To feel no pity (पत्थर दिल होना)
Hearts go out to — To feel sympathy for someone when they are distressed (किसी के प्रति सहानुभूति महसूस करना)
Heart skipped a beat — Felt a sudden shock or excitement (दिल धक से रह जाना)
Heart-to-heart talk — Frank talk/Candid talk (दिल खोलकर बात करना)
Heath Robinson — Absurdly complicated machine or system made for a very simple task (साधारण काम के लिए बनी बेहद जटिल मशीन या व्यवस्था)

Group 46

Group 46 · To heave a sigh of relief – Hit the nail on the head

To heave a sigh of relief — To express relief after a stressful situation. (चैन की साँस लेना)
Heavy duty — Designed for heavy work (अत्यधिक टिकाऊ)
Held up — Delayed, or robbed at gunpoint (देरी से, या लूट लिया गया)
Henpecked husband — Oppressed husband (जोरू का ग़ुलाम)
A Herculean task — A task that requires very great strength or effort (लोहे के चने चबाना)
He who laughs last laughs loudest — Final success matters more than early success (अंत भला तो सब भला)
High and dry — Abandoned (मँझधार में छोड़ देना)
High and low — Everywhere (चप्पा-चप्पा छान मारना)
High and mighty — Arrogant; behaving as if superior to others (घमंड में चूर होना)
Highest priority — First and foremost (सर्वाधिक महत्वपूर्ण)
High horse — An attitude of moral superiority (नैतिक श्रेष्ठता का घमंड)
High on the hog — To live in a luxurious or costly way (ठाठ-बाट से रहना)
High time — Used to say that you think somebody should do something soon (अब तो समय आ ही गया)
Himalayan blunder — Grave error (बहुत बड़ी भूल)
His heart is in the right place — He means well even if he acts clumsily (दिल का साफ़ होना)
Hit a bad patch — Experienced difficulty (बुरे दिन आना)
Hit a brick wall — To encounter an obstacle (रुकावट का सामना करना)
Hit a dead end — Reach a situation that leads to nothing further (ऐसी स्थिति पर पहुंचना जिससे आगे नहीं बढ़ सकते हैं।)
Hit below the belt — To act or speak unfairly and cruelly (अनुचित या ओछा वार करना)
Hit the books — To study hard (बहुत मेहनत से पढ़ाई करना)
Hit the bull's eye — To achieve exactly the right result (तीर निशाने पर लगना)
Hit the ceiling — To become extremely angry (आग बबूला होना)
Hit the hay — To go to bed (सोने चले जाना)
Hit the jackpot — To be very successful at something (पौ बारह होना)
Hit the nail on the head — To do something exactly right (पते की बात कहना)

Group 47

Group 47 · Hit the roof – Hope against hope

Hit the roof — To become angry suddenly (आग बबूला होना)
Hit the sack — to go to bed; to go to sleep (सोने चले जाना)
Hit the sack/hay — To go to sleep (सोने चले जाना)
A Hobson's choice — A choice forced upon someone (जिसमें कोई असली विकल्प न हो)
Hobson’s choice — A choice with only one option; no real choice (कोई असली विकल्प न होना)
Hoist with one's own petard — To be harmed by the very trap or plan one made for others (अपने ही बिछाए जाल में फँसना)
Hold a brief for — To support someone's cause (किसी की वकालत करना)
Hold a candle to — To be as good as; to compare with (किसी की टक्कर का होना)
Hold good — To remain valid (लागू और सही बना रहना)
Hold one's horses — To tell someone to stop and consider carefully (किसी को संयम/धैर्य से काम करने की सलाह देना)
Hold one's tongue — To keep quiet (ज़बान पर लगाम लगाना)
Hold out an olive branch — Do something to show that you want to end a disagreement with them (दोस्ती का हाथ बढ़ाना)
Hold someone or something at bay — Prevent someone or something from moving closer (पास आने से रोकना)
Hold someone’s feet to the fire — To pressure someone to keep a commitment (वादा निभाने पर दबाव डालना)
To hold something in leash — To provide very little freedom to someone (नकेल कसना)
Hold the fort — To take responsibility for a situation temporarily (मोर्चा सँभालना)
Hold the key — To have control of something (कुंजी हाथ में होना)
Hold up one's head — To be proud (सिर उठाकर जीना)
Hold water — To appear to be valid or reasonable (बात में दम होना)
Hold your horses — To wait and be patient (धैर्य रखो, ज़रा रुको)
The Holy Grail — An important object or goal that is hard to achieve (परम लक्ष्य, सबसे बड़ी और दुर्लभ चाह)
The home stretch — The last part of something that is being done (किसी काम का अंतिम चरण)
Honesty is the best policy — Being truthful always pays in the end (ईमानदारी सबसे अच्छी नीति है)
Hook, line and sinker — Used to emphasise that someone is tricked or forced into a situation completely (किसी के जाल में पूरी तरह फँस जाना)
Hope against hope — Nurture an impossible hope (निराशा में भी आस लगाए रहना)

Group 48

Group 48 · A hornet's nest – In a quandary

A hornet's nest — An unpleasant situation (बर्रे के छत्ते में हाथ डालना)
Horse sense — Basic common sense (मूलभूत व्यावहारिक ज्ञान)
Horses for courses — Different people are suited for different jobs (अलग काम के लिए अलग विशेषज्ञ)
A hot potato — A controversial issue (विवादास्पद मुद्दा)
A house of cards — An insecure situation (रेत का महल)
Hue and cry — Protest (हो-हल्ला मचाना)
Hunger is the best sauce — Everything tastes good when hungry (भूख में गुड़ भी मीठा; भूख सबसे अच्छी चटनी है)
A hunky-dory situation — A situation in which everything is fine and satisfactory (सब कुछ ठीक-ठाक और संतोषजनक स्थिति)
Husband one's resources — To use resources carefully and sparingly (चादर देखकर पाँव फैलाना)
Hustle and bustle — Busy and excited activity (चहल-पहल, भागदौड़)
The icing on the cake — Something that makes a good situation even better (सोने पे सुहागा)
I don't buy it — I am not convinced (बात गले न उतरना)
If it's not one thing, it's another — When one thing goes wrong, then another, and another (एक के बाद एक मुसीबत आते रहना)
Ignorance is bliss — Not knowing about something unpleasant can keep one happy (अज्ञानता में ही सुख है)
Ill at ease — Feel uncomfortable or worried in a situation (किसी परिस्थिति में चिंतित या असहज महसूस करना)
In a brown study — In a state of reverie (विचारमग्न, ख्यालों में खोया हुआ)
In a flutter — In a nervous state (हाथ-पाँव फूल जाना)
In a fog — Confused and dazed (उलझन में, कुछ साफ़ न दिखना)
In a jiffy — Very quickly; in an instant. (चुटकियों में)
In a lather — Very angry, worried or upset about something (हाथ-पाँव फूल जाना)
In a nutshell — Briefly and concisely (गागर में सागर भरना)
In a pickle — In trouble (मुश्किल में फँसा हुआ)
In apple-pie order — Completely arranged (सुव्यवस्थित)
In a quandary — Confused/in doubt (दुविधा में होना)

Group 49

Group 49 · In a soup – In seventh heaven

In a soup — In trouble (मुसीबत में होना)
In a tight corner — (In) a very difficult situation to escape from (आगे कुआँ, पीछे खाई)
In a tight spot — (In) a difficult situation (मुश्किल परिस्थिति में)
In bad taste — Not suitable or offensive (अशिष्ट और अनुचित)
In black and white — In writing (लिखित रूप में)
In cahoots with — In an alliance or partnership with (मिलीभगत होना)
In cold blood — Deliberately and cruelly (निर्दयतापूर्वक, ठंडे दिमाग़ से)
In deep water — In great difficulty (बड़ी मुश्किल में)
In dire straits — In a very bad or difficult situation (मुश्किल में होना)
In dribs and drabs — In small irregular amounts (बूँद-बूँद करके)
In fits and starts — Irregularly (अनियमित)
In for a penny, in for a pound — One should finish what one has started to do even though it may be difficult or expensive (ओखली में सिर दिया तो मूसलों से क्या डरना)
In full swing — To be very active (ज़ोरों पर होना)
In high spirits — Cheerful (आनंद एवं जोश से भरपूर)
In hot water — in trouble, especially for having done something wrong (मुसीबत में पड़ना)
In lieu of — In the place of (के बदले में)
In light of — Because of (की वजह से)
In line with — In agreement with someone/something (के अनुरूप, के अनुसार)
In no time — Very soon (पलक झपकते ही)
In ones and twos — In small numbers (इक्का-दुक्का)
In poor taste — Inappropriate (अनुपयुक्त)
In queer street — In debt (कर्ज़ में डूबना)
In raptures — Extremely delighted (फूले न समाना)
Ins and outs — Detailed description (पूरी बारीकियाँ)
In seventh heaven — Extremely happy (सातवें आसमान पर होना)

Group 50

Group 50 · In someone's shoes – In the prime of life

In someone's shoes — Face the same situation as another person (किसी की स्थिति के समान ही स्थिति का सामना करना)
In stitches — Laughing uncontrollably (हँसते-हँसते लोटपोट होना)
In the air — Undecided; not yet settled (अनिश्चित; अभी तय नहीं)
In the ascendant — Rising in power or influence (सितारे बुलंद होना)
In the blink of an eye — Within a very short period of time (पलक झपकते ही)
In the blues — Cheerless and depressed/low spirited (उदास)
In the bud — At a very early stage (प्रारंभिक अवस्था में)
In the dark — Not knowing something that others know (अँधेरे में रहना)
In the doldrums — In low spirits and despair (निराशा और ठहराव की स्थिति में)
In the driver's seat — To have control (बागडोर हाथ में होना)
In the driver’s seat — In control of a situation (बागडोर हाथ में होना)
In the egg — In an early stage (प्रारंभिक चरण में)
In the eye of a storm — Deeply involved in a difficult situation (समस्या के ठीक बीच में)
In the fast lane — A life filled with excitement (उत्साह से भरा जीवन)
In the flesh — In bodily form (आमने सामने)
In the good books — To be greatly treated or favoured by someone (किसी की नज़रों में चढ़ना)
In the groove — Starting to perform very well (लय में होना)
In the heat of the moment — At a time when you cannot think carefully (क्रोध के कारण बिना सोचे समझे कुछ कहना या करना)
In (the) light of — Considering or taking into account (ध्यान में रखते हुए)
In the limelight — The centre of attraction (सुर्ख़ियों में रहना)
In the long run — Eventually/In the end (अंत में)
In the nick of time — At the last possible moment (ऐन मौक़े पर)
In the offing — Appear soon (शीघ्र होने वाला)
In the pink — In very good health (हट्टा-कट्टा होना)
In the prime of life — In the best period of life (सबसे सुनहरे दौर में)

Group 51

Group 51 · In the running – Jack of all trades

In the running — Having a good chance of winning a contest (किसी सीट, स्थान, सम्मान, जीत के लिए प्रतियोगिता में भाग लेना)
In the same boat — To be in the same difficult situation as someone else (एक ही नाव में सवार होना)
In the same breath — To say two different (contrary) things at one instant (एक ही साँस में दो उलटी बातें)
In the soup — To be in trouble (मुसीबत में होना)
In the swim — Well-informed and up-to-date (अच्छी तरह से सूचित होना)
In the teeth of — In direct opposition to (कड़े विरोध के बावजूद)
Into execution — A carrying through of something to its finish (अमल में लाना)
Into hot water — Into trouble (मुसीबत मोल लेना)
In touch with — In a state in which people communicate with each other especially by calling or writing (संपर्क में रहना)
In two minds — To be in a dilemma (असमंजस में होना)
In vogue — In fashion (प्रचलन में)
In weal and woe — In prosperity and adversity (सुख-दुख में साथ देना)
In your birthday suit — Not wearing any clothes, naked (बिना कपड़ों के)
Iron fist — Strictly (सख्ती से)
An iron hand — Strict and harsh control (सख्त और कठोर नियंत्रण)
It beats me — Used to say one cannot understand something (समझ न आना)
Itchy palm — To be greedy for money (लालची होना)
It goes without saying — Something that is understood or obvious. (हाथ कंगन को आरसी क्या)
It is no use crying over spilt milk — Regret cannot undo a loss (अब पछताए होत क्या जब चिड़िया चुग गई खेत)
It's all Greek to me — I cannot understand it at all (मेरी समझ से बिल्कुल बाहर है)
It's a small world — Used when you unexpectedly meet someone you know in an unexpected place (दुनिया गोल है)
It’s raining cats and dogs — It is raining very heavily (मूसलाधार बारिश हो रही है)
It takes two to tango — For an argument both parties are equally responsible (ताली दोनों हाथों से बजती है)
Ivory tower — A place or situation remote from problems and practical affairs of normal life (वास्तविकता से कटा हुआ स्थान)
Jack of all trades — A person who can do many different kinds of work (हरफ़नमौला)

Group 52

Group 52 · Jack up – Keep a straight face

Jack up — To raise (prices, rates) sharply ((कीमतें या दरें) अचानक बढ़ा देना)
A jaundiced eye — A negative view or opinion prejudiced by past experiences. (पक्षपातपूर्ण दृष्टिकोण)
Jaw-dropping — Amazing (मुँह खुला का खुला रह जाना)
Jewel in the crown — The best or most valuable part of something (सिरमौर होना)
Jog someone's memory — To cause someone to remember something (याद ताज़ा करना)
Joined at the hip — Very close to each other (चोली-दामन का साथ)
Judas kiss — Deceitful pretence of friendship (पीठ में छुरा घोंपना)
Judge a book by its cover — To evaluate someone's worth by their outward appearance (सूरत से सीरत का अंदाज़ा लगाना)
Jump at the opportunity — To accept an opportunity eagerly and quickly (मौक़ा लपक लेना)
Jumping down my throat — To respond angrily to someone (किसी पर बरस पड़ना)
Jumping in with both feet — Becoming fully involved in something with great enthusiasm (पूरी तरह कूद पड़ना)
Jump on the bandwagon — Follow a trend (भेड़चाल चलना)
Jump out of one's skin — To be extremely startled or frightened (चौंककर उछल पड़ना)
To jump ship — To leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another (साथ छोड़कर दूसरे पक्ष में चले जाना)
Jump the gun — To start something too soon or act hastily (समय से पहले कर देना)
Jump the shark — To pass the peak and begin to decline (चरम के बाद गिरावट शुरू होना)
Kangaroo court — False court that doesn't follow the legal standards (गैर-कानूनी कचहरी)
Keep abreast of — To keep oneself updated (जानकारी से अवगत रहना)
Keep a civil tongue — To speak with great politeness (ज़बान सँभालकर बोलना)
Keep a good table — To offer sumptuous food to one's guests (अच्छे भोजन से मेहमानों की सेवा करना)
Keep a lid on — To keep something under control or secret (क़ाबू में या गुप्त रखना)
Keep a low profile — To not draw any attention towards oneself (अपनी ओर ध्यान आकर्षित करने से बचना)
Keep an eye on — To watch over closely/attentively (नज़र रखना)
Keep a stiff upper lip — To hide one's feelings and stay brave in difficulty (मुश्किल में भी धीरज रखना)
Keep a straight face — Not laugh or change your expression even though you want to laugh (हँसी दबाना)

Group 53

Group 53 · Keep at bay – Keep up with the Joneses

Keep at bay — To keep something or someone at a safe distance. (दूर रखना, क़ाबू में रखना)
Keep body and soul together — To manage to survive on very little (मुश्किल से गुज़र बसर करना)
Keep count of — To remember a total (गिनती रखना)
Keep/get the ball rolling — To cause an activity or process to continue (किसी काम को शुरू करना या जारी रखना)
To keep in abeyance — To postpone or suspend something temporarily. (स्थगित रखना)
Keep in check — To keep under control (लगाम कसना)
Keep in touch — To maintain contact with another person (संपर्क बनाये रखना)
Keep one's cards close to one's chest — To keep one's plans and thoughts hidden (अपने पत्ते न खोलना)
Keep one's head — To remain calm (ठंडे दिमाग़ से काम लेना)
Keep one's powder dry — to stay ready for action but wait for the right moment (तैयार रहकर सही समय की प्रतीक्षा करना)
Keep one's temper — To remain calm (आपा न खोना)
Keep one's word — To do as one has promised. (ज़बान का पक्का होना)
Keeps an open house — Welcome friends or visitors (खुले दिल से स्वागत करना)
Keeps his word — Does what he promised ([object Object])
Keep someone at arm's length — To avoid becoming too close or friendly with someone (किसी से दूरी बनाए रखना)
Keep someone in the loop — To keep someone informed (जानकारी देते रहना)
Keep someone on a tight leash — To allow someone very little freedom (किसी को बहुत कम आज़ादी देना)
Keep someone posted — To keep sharing the latest information (नई जानकारी साझा करना)
Keep something under your hat — To not tell anyone about something (बात पेट में रखना)
Keep/stay/steer clear of — To avoid or keep away from (कोसों दूर रहना)
Keep the pot boiling — To make sure that a process does not stop (घर का चूल्हा जलता रखना)
Keep the wolf from the door — To avoid starvation (दो वक़्त की रोटी जुटाना)
Keep under one's hat — To keep something secret (बात पेट में रखना)
Keep up appearances — To maintain an outward show of well-being (बाहरी दिखावा बनाए रखना)
Keep up with the Joneses — To show that one is as good as other people by getting what they have and doing what they do (देखा-देखी करना)

Group 54

Group 54 · Keep your chin up – Large-hearted

Keep your chin up — Remain cheerful and hopeful in difficult circumstances (हिम्मत न हारना)
Keep your ear to the ground — To try to keep informed about something, especially if there are rumours or uncertainties (हवा का रुख़ भाँपना)
Keep your pants on — To stay calm and be patient (शांत रहो, धैर्य रखो)
Keep your shirt on — To stay calm and not lose your temper (शांत रहो, गुस्सा मत करो)
Keep your shirt/pants on — To remain cool (आपे में रहना)
Kept a level head — To remain calm. (ठंडे दिमाग़ से काम लेना)
A kick in the teeth — A great disappointment (करारा झटका)
Kick someone when they are down — To cause further trouble to someone already in a difficult situation (जले पर नमक छिड़कना)
Kick the bucket — To die (चल बसना)
Kick up a fuss/row/stink — To make a big disturbance (आसमान सिर पर उठा लेना)
Kick up a row — To cause a disturbance (बखेड़ा खड़ा करना)
Kill the goose that lays the golden egg — To destroy something that would make you rich, successful, etc. (सोने का अंडा देने वाली मुर्गी को मारना)
Kill two birds with one stone — To achieve two things by doing a single action (एक पंथ दो काज)
Kith and kin — Friends and relatives (नाते रिश्तेदार और मित्र)
Kitty-corner — In a diagonal or oblique position (तिरछे सामने, विकर्ण स्थिति में)
Knock around — To spend time in (a place) without having a goal or purpose (समय व्यतीत करना)
Knock down — To demolish; to strike someone to the ground (गिरा देना; ढहा देना)
Know inside out — To know something thoroughly (रग-रग से वाक़िफ़ होना)
Know like the back of one's hand — To have detailed knowledge of something (चप्पे-चप्पे से वाक़िफ़ होना)
Knows how many beans make five — Well informed and intelligent (समझदार और बुद्धिमान होना)
Know something inside out — To know something completely ([object Object])
Know the ropes — To understand the details (काम के तरीकों से वाकिफ होना)
Know which way the wind blows — To understand the trend or situation (हवा का रुख़ पहचानना)
A lame excuse — An inappropriate excuse (बेतुका बहाना)
Large-hearted — Generous (उदार)

Group 55

Group 55 · Last but not least – To leave someone in the lurch

Last but not least — Last in order of mention or occurrence but not last in importance (अंतिम पर किसी से कम नहीं)
Last resort — Last option after all others have been tried (आख़िरी सहारा)
The last straw — The final problem in a series of problems that makes the situation intolerable (सब्र का बाँध टूटना)
Latched on to — To begin using, doing, or enjoying (something) in an enthusiastic way. (उत्साहपूर्वक (किसी चीज का) उपयोग या आनंद लेना शुरू करना)
Latch on — To understand, or to attach oneself to something (समझ जाना, या चिपक जाना)
Late in the day — Too delayed to be of any use (अब पछताए होत क्या जब चिड़िया चुग गई खेत)
Latin and Greek — Incomprehensible (सिर के ऊपर से गुज़र जाना)
A laughing stock — An object of laughter/an object of ridicule (हँसी का पात्र बनना)
Laugh like a drain — To laugh loudly (ठहाके लगाना)
Laying it on thick — To exaggerate praise or emotion in order to try to impress people (नमक-मिर्च लगाकर बताना)
Lay our heads together — To work in consultation (सिर जोड़कर बैठना)
Lay someone by the heels — To confine somebody in prison (जेल की हवा खिलाना)
To lead astray — To misguide (राह से भटकाना)
To lead by the nose — To control someone completely (नाक में नकेल डालना)
Lead someone by the nose — To control someone completely (नाक में नकेल डालना)
Lead someone up the garden path — to mislead or deceive someone (झाँसा देना; गुमराह करना)
Lean and mean — Ready and efficient (चुस्त और बिना फ़ालतू के)
A lean patch — A period of poor performance (खराब प्रदर्शन का दौर)
Leaps and bounds — Very rapid progress ([object Object])
Learn by heart — To memorise something thoroughly. (ज़बानी याद करना)
Learn the ropes — To learn how to do a job or activity (किसी काम को करने का तरीका सीखना)
Leave it on the back burner — To postpone something as less important (ठंडे बस्ते में डालना)
Leave no stone unturned — To make all possible efforts (एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना)
Leave sb in the lurch — To desert someone in his difficulties (मँझधार में छोड़ देना)
To leave someone in the lurch — To abandon someone in a difficult moment (मँझधार में छोड़ देना)

Group 56

Group 56 · A left-handed compliment – Life and soul of the party

A left-handed compliment — A compliment that is actually insulting or condescending. (तारीफ़ के नाम पर ताना)
Left me high and dry — To leave someone in a difficult situation without any help (बीच मँझधार में छोड़ देना)
Left no stone unturned — Tried every possible course of action ([object Object])
Left out in the cold — To be ignored ([object Object])
Left, right and centre — Happening in a lot of places or to a lot of people (चारों तरफ़, हर किसी को)
Lend an ear — To pay attention to (कान देना)
Lend/give sb a hand — To help someone (हाथ बँटाना)
Lend me your ears — To politely ask for someone's full attention (अपनी बातों पर ध्यान देने के लिये विनती करना)
A leopard can't change its spots — One can't change one's character or personality (कुत्ते की दुम टेढ़ी की टेढ़ी)
Let bygones be bygones — To forgive and forget (बीती ताहि बिसार दे)
Let down — To fail (निराश करना)
Let off the hook — To free someone from blame or responsibility (पिंड छूटना)
Let sleeping dogs lie — To leave a situation alone so as to avoid worsening it. (बर्रे के छत्ते में हाथ न डालना)
To let someone off — To excuse someone from punishment (बख़्श देना)
Let something slip through one's fingers — To waste an opportunity to achieve something (मौका हाथ से निकल जाना)
Let the cat out of the bag — To reveal a secret (भांडा फोड़ना)
Let the chips fall where they may — Let something happen without bothering about the consequences (जो होगा देखा जाएगा)
Let the dust settle — To wait until a situation becomes calm (हालात शांत होने का इंतज़ार करना)
Let the grass grow under one's feet — To remain idle (हाथ पर हाथ धरे बैठना)
Let your hair down — Behave freely and uninhibitedly/To take it easy and relax (आराम से निश्चिंत रहना)
A level head — The ability to remain calm and composed (ठंडे दिमाग़ से काम लेना)
Level playing field — A situation in which everyone has a fair and equal chance of succeeding/A fair competition where no side has an advantage (एक समान अवसर)
Lie in the bed you have made — To face the unpleasant consequences of your own acts (जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी)
Lie low — Try not to be noticed (दुबककर बैठना)
Life and soul of the party — A person who brings energy to the party (महफ़िल की जान)

Group 57

Group 57 · Life in the fast lane – Live on your nerves

Life in the fast lane — An exciting, busy and often risky way of living (तेज़, रोमांचक और जोखिम भरी जीवनशैली)
Life in the raw — Real life as it is, without any softening or decoration (जीवन का असली, बिना सजावट का रूप)
Light at the end of the tunnel — Hope of success, happiness after a long period of difficulty (उम्मीद की किरण)
Light years away — An extremely long time away, in the past or future (बहुत लम्बा समय)
Like a bat out of hell — Extremely fast ([object Object])
Like a cat on a hot tin roof — Being in a state of agitation (बेहद बेचैन)
Like a dying duck in a thunderstorm — Dejected (मुँह लटकाए बैठना)
Like a phoenix — With a new life (एक नए जीवन के साथ)
Like a shag on a rock — Completely alone (बिल्कुल अकेला)
Like a sitting duck — Easy to attack, cheat, or take advantage of (असुरक्षित)
Like chalk and cheese — Completely different from each other (ज़मीन-आसमान का अंतर)
Like nailing jelly to a tree — Incredibly foolish and next to impossible (बालू से तेल निकालना)
Like talking to a brick wall — Completely ignored or disregarded by someone (भैंस के आगे बीन बजाना)
Lily-livered — Cowardly or fearful (कायर या डरपोक)
The lion's mouth — A dangerous situation (शेर के मुँह में हाथ डालना)
The lion's share — The largest portion (सबसे बड़ा हिस्सा)
The lion’s share — The largest part of something (सबसे बड़ा हिस्सा)
Listen with half an ear — To listen without giving full attention (आधे मन से सुनना, ध्यान न देना)
A little bird told me — To keep the identity of informant secret/ receive information from a secret source (उड़ती-उड़ती ख़बर मिलना)
Little by little — Gradually (बूँद-बूँद से घड़ा भरता है)
A little gush of gratitude — A sudden feeling of thankfulness (कृतज्ञता का भाव)
Little/no love lost — Mutual dislike between people (छत्तीस का आँकड़ा)
Live from hand to mouth — To be extremely poor, having only enough money to provide food and shelter (रोज़ कुआँ खोदना, रोज़ पानी पीना)
Live in a fool's paradise — To be happy because you will not accept how bad a situation really is (झूठी उम्मीदों की दुनिया में जीना)
Live on your nerves — To be in a constant state of nervous worry (लगातार तनाव और चिंता में रहना)

Group 58

Group 58 · A live wire – Lose one's head

A live wire — A very active or energetic person (बहुत सक्रिय या ऊर्जावान व्यक्ति)
Living in a fool’s paradise — Living in false happiness based on illusion (झूठी ख़ुशफ़हमी में जीना)
Loaves and fishes — Material gain or benefits (भौतिक लाभ, निजी फ़ायदे)
Lock horns — To fight with someone (दो-दो हाथ करना)
Lock, stock and barrel — Completely/including everything (पूरी तरह/सब कुछ)
Long in the tooth — To be too old to do something (उम्रदराज़)
A long shot — Little chance of success (जीत की थोड़ी सम्भावना)
Look after — To take care of someone or something (देखभाल करना)
Look a gift horse in the mouth — to find fault with a gift or a favour (मिले उपहार में कमी निकालना)
Look before you leap — To think carefully of the consequences (बिना विचारे जो करे, सो पाछे पछताय)
Look black — To seem unfavourable or threatening (प्रतिकूल या निराशाजनक दिखना)
Look blue — To have a worried or unhappy look on the face (चेहरा उतर जाना)
Look down upon — To regard someone as inferior; to despise (किसी को तुच्छ समझना; हीन दृष्टि से देखना)
Looking for a needle in a haystack — Searching for something almost impossible to find ([object Object])
Look into — To investigate or examine (जाँच-पड़ताल करना)
Look out — To be careful; to watch for danger (सावधान रहना)
Look to your laurels — To take care to keep your position because others are catching up (अपनी जगह बचाने के लिए सतर्क रहना और मेहनत बढ़ाना)
Loose cannon — An unpredictable person who may cause damage (अनियंत्रित और ख़तरनाक व्यक्ति)
Loosen the purse strings — Allow more money to be spent. (थैली का मुँह खोलना)
Lose by a neck — Lose by a small margin (थोड़े से अंतर से हारना)
Lose count of — To forget the accurate total (गिनती भूलना)
Lose face — To become less respected by others (नाक कटना)
Lose ground — To become less acceptable (पिछड़ जाना)
Lose heart — To stop believing that you can succeed (हिम्मत हारना)
Lose one's head — To lose one's self-control (आपा खो देना)

Group 59

Group 59 · Lose (one's) marbles – Make a mockery of

Lose (one's) marbles — To go insane/To be or become mentally deficient, incompetent (दिमाग़ का पेंच ढीला होना)
Lose your head — To lose self control ([object Object])
Lose your touch — Not to be as successful as previously (पुराना हुनर खो देना)
A lot on one's plate — A lot to do/having many responsibilities (बहुत काम सिर पर होना)
Lynch law — Punishment, often execution, carried out by a mob without a legal trial (बिना मुकदमे भीड़ द्वारा दी गई सज़ा)
Mad as a hatter — Eccentric/Completely crazy (दिमाग़ फिरा होना)
Made a beeline — Went straight and quickly towards something (सीधे और तेज़ी से किसी ओर जाना)
Made his mark — Achieved recognition through his work (अपनी पहचान बना ली)
Made light of — Treated it lightly (बात को हवा में उड़ा देना)
Maiden speech — First speech (पहला औपचारिक भाषण)
Make a beeline — To go straight and quickly towards something (सीधे और तेज़ी से किसी की ओर जाना)
Make a beeline for — To go directly and quickly towards something (सीधे किसी ओर बढ़ना)
Make a clean breast — To confess one's crime (दिल साफ़ कर देना)
Make a clean sweep — To eliminate unwanted persons/things (सफ़ाया कर देना)
Make a comeback — To return to a former state of success (वापसी करना)
Make a day of it — To spend a whole day enjoying an activity (सारा दिन मौज-मस्ती करना)
Make a dent — To decrease something slightly or to make weaker (कमजोर करना)
To make a fuss about — To complain or protest loudly about something. (बात का बतंगड़ बनाना)
Make a fuss of sb — To give someone a lot of attention (सिर-आँखों पर बिठाना)
Make a hash of — To do something very badly (गुड़-गोबर कर देना)
Make a killing — To earn a large amount of money quickly (थोड़े समय में बहुत पैसा कमाना)
Make a living — To earn enough money for things you need (रोज़ी-रोटी कमाना)
To make amends — To compensate for a wrong done (क्षतिपूर्ति करना)
Make amends for — To correct a mistake (भूल सुधारना)
Make a mockery of — To make something seem foolish or worthless (खिल्ली उड़ाना)

Group 60

Group 60 · Make a mountain out of a molehill – Make one's blood boil

Make a mountain out of a molehill — To give great importance to trifles (राई का पहाड़ बनाना / तिल का ताड़ बनाना)
Make an ass out of — Cause someone or oneself to look foolish or stupid (उल्लू बनाना)
Make an entry — To come into a place (कहीं पर पहुंचना/आना)
Make a pig's ear — To do something badly, wrongly, or awkwardly (काम का कबाड़ा कर देना)
Make a scene — Make a public disturbance or excited emotional display (तमाशा खड़ा करना)
Make a song and dance — To make unnecessary fuss about something (बात का बतंगड़ बनाना)
Make away with — To steal something and escape with it (कोई चीज़ चुराकर भाग जाना)
Make a wry face — To twist one's face to show displeasure (नाक-भौं सिकोड़ना)
Make believe — To pretend that something is true (झूठा दिखावा, ढोंग)
Make both ends meet — To have just enough money to live (गुज़ारा चलाना)
Make bricks without straw — To attempt a task without the necessary materials or resources (ज़रूरी साधनों के बिना काम करने की कोशिश करना)
Make do with — To manage with what is available ([object Object])
Make good the loss — To compensate for damage caused (नुक़सान की भरपाई करना)
Make hay while the sun shines — To turn to the best advantage (बहती गंगा में हाथ धोना)
Make head or tail of something — Understand/To figure out something (सिर-पैर समझ न आना)
Make heavy weather of something — To make a simple task seem much harder than it really is (छोटे काम को बेवजह मुश्किल बनाना)
Make his own way — To do what one wants to do despite the desires, plans, etc. of others (अपनी मर्ज़ी चलाना)
Make it big — To achieve great success, fame, or fortune. (नाम कमाना)
Make it big time — To attain fame and success (नाम कमाना)
Make my flesh crawl — To make someone feel afraid (रोंगटे खड़े हो जाना)
Make no bones about — To state something clearly (दो टूक कहना)
Make no bones about it — To say something plainly without hesitation (दो टूक बात कहना)
Make no headway — To be unable to progress ahead (कोई प्रगति न होना)
Make off with — To run away carrying something, especially stolen (कोई चीज़ लेकर भाग जाना)
Make one's blood boil — To make someone extremely angry (ख़ून खौलना)

Group 61

Group 61 · Make one's flesh crawl/creep – Mealy-mouthed

Make one's flesh crawl/creep — To make someone feel disgusted, afraid, frightened (रोंगटे खड़े हो जाना)
Make one's flesh creep — To frighten someone deeply ([object Object])
Make one's mark — To attain success/Attain recognition (अपनी छाप छोड़ना)
Make one’s mark — To achieve recognition through one's work (अपनी छाप छोड़ना)
Make one's mouth water — Cause one to eagerly long for something (मुँह में पानी आना)
To make one's peace — To end a quarrel and become friendly again (झगड़ा खत्म करके सुलह करना)
Make out of whole cloth — Entirely false and fabricated (मनगढ़ंत कहानी गढ़ना)
Make room — To create space or opportunity for someone or something. (जगह बनाना)
Make short work of sth — To dispose of quickly (चुटकियों में निपटाना)
Make up one's mind — To decide to do something (मन बना लेना / ठान लेना)
Make up with — To become friends again after a quarrel (झगड़े के बाद फिर से दोस्ती करना)
Make waves — To cause trouble (हलचल मचाना)
Making a quick buck — Earning money fast and often dishonestly (जल्दी पैसा कमाना)
The man in the street — The ordinary man (आम आदमी)
The manner born — To do something as though it comes naturally (जन्म से ही उस काम के लिए बना)
A man of letters — Scholar/a well educated and wise person (विद्वान, साहित्यकार)
A man of means — A wealthy man with lots of money or assets (धनी व्यक्ति)
Man of parts — A man of many talents (गुणों की खान होना)
A man of spirit — A very courageous man (साहसी व्यक्ति)
A man of straw — Someone who has a weak character (कमजोर चरित्र वाला व्यक्ति)
Many hands make light work — A job is done easily and quickly when many people help (मिलकर काम करने से बोझ हल्का होता है)
A mare's nest — A false invention/a confused situation (खोदा पहाड़ निकली चुहिया)
A match made in heaven — A very happy and well-suited marriage or partnership (आदर्श जोड़ी, ऊपर वाले की बनाई जोड़ी)
Matter of life and death — Gravely serious (जीवन-मरण का प्रश्न)
Mealy-mouthed — Hesitant or afraid to speak plainly; not outspoken (गोलमोल बात करने वाला)

Group 62

Group 62 · Meet one's eyes – The movers and shakers

Meet one's eyes — To look directly at someone's eyes while they are watching you (नज़र मिलाना)
Meet one's Waterloo — To be badly defeated in a contest (मुँह की खाना)
Memory like a sieve — Poor memory (बहुत कमज़ोर याददाश्त)
Mend your ways — To improve your behaviour ([object Object])
A method to/in my madness — A good reason for the actions that seem strange or crazy (पागलपन में भी एक तरीक़ा)
Method to my madness — A purpose or reason behind seemingly crazy or meaningless actions (पागलपन में भी एक तरीक़ा)
Method to one’s madness — A sensible reason behind apparently odd behaviour (अजीब व्यवहार के पीछे भी तर्क)
Midas touch — Ability to make money (मिट्टी को सोना बना देना)
Might is right — The powerful decide what is right (जिसकी लाठी उसकी भैंस)
A milestone — Important event (मील का पत्थर)
Milk and water — Weak or insipid (फीका, कमजोर)
Milk of human kindness — Natural compassion and sympathy for others (दया और सहानुभूति की स्वाभाविक भावना)
Mind one's P's and Q's — To be careful about behaving in a polite or proper way (तमीज़ से पेश आना)
Miss the boat — To lose an opportunity by being late ([object Object])
Miss the bus/boat — To miss an opportunity (मौक़ा हाथ से निकल जाना)
Money does not grow on trees — Money is hard earned and is limited (पैसा पेड़ पर नहीं उगता)
A month of Sundays — A long time (युग बीत जाना)
Months on end — For many months continuously (महीनों तक लगातार)
A moot point — An issue open to debate or discussion (विवादास्पद मुद्दा)
Mop down — To clean something by wiping or mopping (सफाई करना)
More or less — Approximately (कम-ज़्यादा / लगभग)
Mother wit — Natural wit or intelligence (जन्मजात बुद्धिमत्ता)
Move heaven and earth — Make every effort to achieve something (धरती आसमान एक कर देना)
The movers and shakers — People who have a lot of power and influence (प्रभावशाली लोग)

Group 63

Group 63 · Move the goalposts – A night owl

Move the goalposts — To change the rules while someone is trying to do something in order to make it difficult (बीच में नियम बदल देना)
Much ado about nothing — Making a big fuss over a small thing (बात का बतंगड़ बनाना / राई का पहाड़ बनाना)
Muddy the waters — To make a situation more complicated or confusing (मामले को उलझाना)
Mull something over — To think carefully about something for a long time (सोच-विचार करना)
Mumbo jumbo — Nonsense or meaningless speech (ऊल-जलूल बकना)
Mum's the word — Say nothing about it (मुँह पर ताला लगाना)
Murdered in cold blood — A murder done without feeling (निर्दयतापूर्वक हत्या)
My two cents — My opinion, offered modestly (मेरी राय (विनम्रता से))
Nail-biting — Suspenseful (साँसें थम जाना)
To nail your colours to the mast — To say publicly and clearly what you believe or who you support (डंके की चोट पर कहना)
A narrow escape — A situation in which one just manages to avoid danger or trouble (बाल-बाल बचना)
Near the horizon — Likely to happen or exist soon (जल्दी होने वाला)
Necessity is the mother of invention — A real need pushes people to find new ways and solutions (आवश्यकता आविष्कार की जननी है)
Necessity knows no law — A desperate person ignores rules (मरता क्या न करता)
Neck and crop — Totally and completely (पूर्णतः/पूरी तरह से)
Neck of the woods — Neighbourhood (इलाक़ा, आसपास का क्षेत्र)
A needle in a haystack — Something impossible to find (भूसे के ढेर में सुई ढूँढना)
Neither fish nor fowl — Sth which can neither be categorized easily nor be accepted befittingly (न इधर का न उधर का)
Nerves of steel — An absence of fear or anxiety (फ़ौलादी जिगर)
Never-never land — An imaginary place where everything is pleasant (सपनों की दुनिया जहाँ सब कुछ अच्छा हो)
Never test the depth of water with both feet — Do not invest all of your resources in one thing (फूँक-फूँककर क़दम रखना)
New brooms sweep clean — New people work with extra enthusiasm (नया मुल्ला ज़्यादा प्याज़ खाता है; नौ दिन चले अढ़ाई कोस का उल्टा भाव)
New kid on the block — Someone new to the group or area. (किसी दल में आने वाला नया व्यक्ति)
The nick of time — At the last possible moment (ऐन मौक़े पर)
A night owl — A person who prefers to be awake late at night (देर रात तक जागने वाला व्यक्ति)

Group 64

Group 64 · Nine days' wonder – Not one's cup of tea

Nine days' wonder — A dazzling short-lived spectacle of no real value/a short-lived sensation (चार दिन की चाँदनी फिर अँधेरी रात)
A nine days' wonder/A seven days' wonder/A one-day wonder — A short-lived sensation/someone or something that is successful for a short period only (चार दिन की चाँदनी, फिर अँधेरी रात)
Nine times out of ten — In most cases (अधिकांश बार/ज्यादातर)
Nip in the bud — To destroy early (जड़ से उखाड़ फेंकना / शुरू में ही कुचल देना)
Nipped it in the bud — Stopped something at an early stage (शुरुआत में ही ख़त्म कर देना)
No backbone — Lacking courage or firmness (रीढ़विहीन, कमज़ोर इरादे वाला)
Nobody's fool — Not easily deceived (जिसे आसानी से मूर्ख न बनाया जा सके)
No ifs and buts — No doubts (कोई अगर-मगर नहीं)
No love lost between — A relationship where two people or groups dislike each other intensely (छत्तीस का आँकड़ा होना)
No man is an island — No one is self-sufficient; everyone relies on others (अकेला चना भाड़ नहीं फोड़ सकता)
No pain no gain — It is necessary to work hard in order to succeed (बिना तपे सोना कुंदन नहीं बनता)
No smoke without fire — A suspicion or rumour usually has a basis in fact (बिना आग के धुआँ नहीं उठता)
No spring chicken — A person who is no longer young (अब जवान नहीं रहा)
No stone unturned — To try everything possible (एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना)
No strings attached — Without condition or restrictions (बिना किसी शर्त के)
Not fit to hold a candle — Inferior/Cannot be compared to (पाँव की धूल भी न होना)
Not fit to hold a candle to — Far inferior to someone else (पाँव की धूल भी न होना)
To not have a clue — To know nothing about something (कुछ भी पता न होना)
Not have the ghost of a chance — To not have even the slightest possible chance of something. (बिल्कुल भी संभावना ना होना)
Nothing ventured, nothing gained — You cannot succeed unless you are willing to take a risk (जोखिम उठाए बिना कुछ नहीं मिलता)
Not hold water — Does not seem to be reasonable /Cannot be believed (बात में दम न होना)
Not in my line — Outside my area of skill or interest (मेरे क्षेत्र का नहीं)
Not make head or tail — To be unable to understand (सिर-पैर समझ में न आना)
Not mince one's words — To speak in a very direct and honest way without worrying about offending sb (दो टूक बात कहना)
Not one's cup of tea — Not one's choice or preference (अपनी पसंद का नहीं)

Group 65

Group 65 · Not one’s cup of tea – On a fool's errand

Not one’s cup of tea — Not to one's taste or liking (अपनी रुचि का नहीं)
Not playing with the full deck — Someone who lacks intelligence (मूर्ख)
Not see eye to eye — To have different opinions (अलग विचार होना)
Not to look a gift horse in the mouth — Don't find fault with a free gift or chance benefit (दान की बछिया के दाँत नहीं गिनते)
Not to mince matters — To speak directly and honestly, without avoiding unpleasant truths. (बिना लाग-लपेट के कहना)
Not worth one's salt — Undeserving of one's pay or respect; not good at one's job (अपनी तनख्वाह या सम्मान के लायक नहीं; अयोग्य)
Null and void — Invalid; having no legal force or effect. (पूरी तरह रद्द और अमान्य)
An obstacle to progress — Something that blocks advancement (प्रगति में बाधा)
Odd man out — Person who doesn't fit into a group (समूह से अलग व्यक्ति)
Off and on — Sometimes but not regularly (कभी कभी, रुक रुक कर)
Off-colour — Feeling slightly ill (चेहरा उतरा हुआ होना)
Off one's rocker — Mentally unstable; crazy (पागल; मानसिक रूप से असंतुलित)
Off the cuff — Without preparation (बिना तैयारी के)
Off the hook — No longer in difficulty or trouble /Allowed to escape from blame (पिंड छूटना)
Off the record — Informally, not officially (अनौपचारिक रूप से, दर्ज न करते हुए)
Of the first water — Of the best quality (उच्चतम गुणवत्ता का)
Of the old school — Old fashioned in thoughts (पुराने ढर्रे का, परंपरावादी)
Oily tongue — Flattery (चिकनी-चुपड़ी बातें करना)
An old flame — A person with whom one once had a romantic relationship (पुराना प्रेमी या प्रेमिका)
Old hand — Experienced person (मँजा हुआ खिलाड़ी होना)
Old head on young shoulders — Someone who is mature or wise beyond their years. (कम उम्र में बड़ी समझ)
An olive branch — A gesture of peace (सुलह का हाथ बढ़ाना)
On account of — Because of (के कारण)
On a collision course — Heading towards an unavoidable conflict (टकराव की ओर बढ़ना)
On a fool's errand — A task that has no hope of success (ऐसा काम जिसमें सफलता की कोई आशा न हो)

Group 66

Group 66 · On a roll – On second thoughts

On a roll — To be experiencing a successful period/In the midst of successes (सितारे बुलंद होना)
On a wing and a prayer — Hoping that you will succeed, although you are not prepared enough for it (भगवान भरोसे होना)
Once and for all — Finally and permanently (हमेशा के लिए, आख़िरी बार)
Once bitten, twice shy — More careful next time (दूध का जला छाछ भी फूँक-फूँक कर पीता है)
Once for all — Conclusively, completely & finally (पूर्ण रूप से, निर्णायक रूप से)
Once in a blue moon — Very rarely (गूलर का फूल होना)
Once-over — A quick look or check of something (एक सरसरी नज़र, जल्दी में जाँच)
On cloud nine — Very happy (सातवें आसमान पर होना)
On edge — Nervous and unable to relax (तनाव और बेचैनी में)
One foot in the grave — Near to death (क़ब्र में पैर लटकाए होना)
One's back against the wall — To have very serious problems (जटिल समस्याओं में होना)
One's cup of tea — One's chosen or preferred thing (पसंद की चीज़)
One's green fingers/thumb — Expert in gardening (बागवानी में निपुण)
One's hands are full — Very busy (सिर उठाने की फ़ुर्सत न होना)
One's heart goes out — To convey/feel sympathy (सहानुभूति जताना)
One's heart in one's mouth — Extremely frightened (कलेजा मुँह को आना)
To one's heart's content — As much as one wants (जी भरकर)
One's lips are sealed — To promise not to reveal a secret or information to anyone (मुँह पर ताला लगाना)
One swallow does not make a summer — One good sign does not prove a trend (एक अच्छे संकेत से नतीजा तय नहीं होता)
One-track mind — Always thinking of only one thing (एक ही बात पर टिका दिमाग़)
On its last legs — In a bad condition (आख़िरी साँसें गिनना)
On one's toes — Alert and ready to act (सतर्क और तैयार)
On pins and needles — Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of something (बेचैन होना)
On purpose — Deliberately (जानबूझकर)
On second thoughts — After reconsidering (दोबारा सोचने पर)

Group 67

Group 67 · On shank's mare – An open book

On shank's mare — On foot (पैदल)
On tenterhooks — Worried or nervous about something that is going to happen (बेचैनी और चिंता की स्थिति में)
On the back burner — To temporarily not deal with some matter because it is not urgent (ठंडे बस्ते में डालना)
On the ball — Doing a job in a competent manner (चुस्त और सतर्क)
On the breadline — Be very poor (दाने-दाने को मोहताज होना)
On the brink/verge of — At the point of (कगार पर, बहुत करीब)
On the cards — Possible or likely (जिसकी संभावना हो)
On the cuff — With the promise of future payment; on credit (उधार पर)
On the double — At a fast pace (बहुत तेज़ी से)
On the fence — Undecided between two options (दुविधा में)
On the hook — To be responsible for something (जिम्मेदार ठहराया जाना)
On the horizon — An event that is likely to happen soon (जो जल्द होने वाला है)
On the job — Working at a particular job (काम करते हुए)
On the level — Honest; truthful. (ईमानदार)
On the same page — Agreeing about something (एक ही सोच रखना)
On the same wavelength — Understanding each other easily (एक ही सोच पर होना)
On the spur of the moment — Acting impulsively without thinking (अचानक, बिना सोचे)
On the straight and narrow — Living an honest and morally acceptable life (ईमानदारी की राह पर)
On the tip of my tongue — Almost, but not quite, remembered (ज़बान पर होना)
On the verge of — Very close to experiencing it (के कगार पर)
On the wane — On the decline (ढलान पर होना)
On the warpath — Angry and looking for a confrontation (मरने-मारने पर उतारू होना)
On the wrong side of seventy — Older than seventy years of age (सत्तर वर्ष से अधिक आयु का होना)
On thin ice — In a risky or precarious situation. (जोखिम भरी स्थिति में)
An open book — A person or thing that is easy to learn about and understand (खुली किताब होना)

Group 68

Group 68 · Opened a Pandora's box – Over egg the pudding

Opened a Pandora's box — Started something that caused many problems ([object Object])
Opened the discussion — Started the discussion; began talking about a subject (चर्चा शुरू करना)
Open Pandora's box — To do something that causes many unexpected problems (ऐसा क़दम उठाना जिससे अनगिनत नई मुसीबतें खड़ी हों)
Open secret — Something that is supposed to be a secret but is actually widely known (ऐसा रहस्य जो वास्तव में सबको पता हो)
Open your heart — To share your deepest feelings (दिल खोलकर रख देना)
Order of the day — Conditions prevailing at the time (उस समय का आम चलन)
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — A little prevention is better than a lot of cure later (परहेज़ इलाज से बेहतर है)
Out and about — Active outside the house; going about one's normal activities (घर से बाहर सक्रिय; सामान्य दिनचर्या में लौटा हुआ)
Out and out — Absolute or complete, often in a bad way (पूरी तरह से)
Out for the count — Unconscious or in deep sleep (बहुत थका हुआ, गहरी नींद में)
Out of bounds — Not allowed to be entered; forbidden (जहाँ जाने की मनाही हो, प्रवेश वर्जित)
Out of courtesy — With kindly consideration (शिष्टाचार के कारण)
Out of date — Something old fashioned (प्रचलन से बाहर)
Out of gear — In disorder (गड़बड़ा जाना)
Out of my wits — To cause extreme fear in someone (होश उड़ जाना)
Out of print — No longer being published (जिसका प्रकाशन बंद हो चुका)
Out of sight, out of mind — We forget those we do not see (आँख ओझल, पहाड़ ओझल)
Out of sorts — To be unwell (तबीयत या मिज़ाज ठीक न होना)
Out of spirits — Gloomy or sad (उदास और निराश)
Out of the blue — Completely unexpected (अचानक, बिना किसी संकेत के)
Out of the frying pan and into the fire — Things going from bad to worse (आसमान से गिरे, खजूर में अटके)
Out of the woods — To be out of danger (ख़तरा टल जाना)
Out on a limb — In a risky position without support (खतरे में होना)
Over and above — In addition to (के अतिरिक्त)
Over egg the pudding — To spoil something by trying too hard ([object Object])

Group 69

Group 69 · Over head and ears – Pay heed to

Over head and ears — Completely (गले तक डूबा होना / आकंठ डूबना)
Over my dead body — Opposing something fiercely (मेरे जीते-जी ऐसा नहीं होगा)
Over one's head — Beyond one's capability to understand something (सिर के ऊपर से निकल जाना)
To overplay one's hand — To spoil your chances by being overconfident (अति-आत्मविश्वास में मौका गँवा देना)
Overstay one's welcome — To stay as a guest for so long that the host no longer wants you (मेज़बान के लिए बोझ बनने तक मेहमान बने रहना)
Overstep the mark — To behave in a way that is not acceptable and upsets people (मर्यादा लाँघना)
Over the moon — To be extremely happy (फूले न समाना)
Pacing up and down — Walking back and forth out of anxiety (बेचैनी में टहलते रहना)
Paddle one's own canoe — To depend on oneself (अपने पैरों पर खड़ा होना)
A pain in the neck — Someone or something that is very annoying (सिरदर्द बन जाना)
Pale into insignificance — To become unimportant or insignificant compared to something else. (तुलना में महत्वहीन लगने लगना)
Palm off — To get rid of something worthless by tricking someone into taking it (किसी के गले मढ़ना)
Palsy-walsy — Very friendly, sometimes in a way that is not quite sincere (बहुत घनिष्ठ, गहरे दोस्त जैसा)
Pandora's box — A prolific source of trouble (मुसीबतों का पिटारा)
Paper over the cracks — To hide problems (समस्या छिपा देना)
Paper tiger — A person or group that seems powerful but is actually weak (कागज़ी शेर, दिखावटी ताक़त वाला)
A part and parcel — An integral part (अभिन्न हिस्सा)
A Parthian shot — A remark that you make when you are leaving, so that it has a stronger effect (जाते जाते किया गया तीखा वार)
Pass oneself off as — To pretend to be someone or something else (खुद को कुछ और बताकर धोखा देना)
Pass the buck — Blaming another person (ज़िम्मेदारी दूसरे के सिर मढ़ना)
Pass the hat — To collect money (चंदा इकट्ठा करना)
Pat myself on the back — To praise oneself for an achievement ([object Object])
Pat on the back — Give praise or approval for doing good (पीठ थपथपाना)
Pay a flying visit — To take a quick trip/visit (बहुत छोटी मुलाक़ात करना)
Pay heed to — To listen carefully (किसी बात पर कान धरना)

Group 70

Group 70 · Pay lip service – A picture paints a thousand words

Pay lip service — To express support for something without really acting on it (ज़बानी जमा-ख़र्च करना)
To pay off old scores — To harm someone because they have harmed you in the past (पुराना हिसाब चुकाना)
Pay only lip service — To support in words but not in action ([object Object])
Pay over the odds — To pay more than the usual or fair price for something (ज़रूरत से ज़्यादा दाम चुकाना)
Pay through his nose — To pay too much money for something (बहुत ज़्यादा दाम चुकाना)
To pay through the nose — to pay a very high or unfair price (किसी चीज़ की बहुत अधिक क़ीमत चुकाना)
A pearl of wisdom — A wise and valuable piece of advice (समझदारी भरी, मूल्यवान सलाह)
Pedal to the metal — To go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle (पूरी रफ़्तार से)
Pell-mell — In a hurried and disorderly way (अफ़रा-तफ़री मचना)
Pen and ink — Smells foul (बदबू आना)
A Penelope's web — An endless job (कभी ख़त्म न होने वाला काम)
The pen is mightier than the sword — Ideas and writing are more powerful than force (तलवार से क़लम बड़ी)
The penny drops — Said when someone suddenly understands something (अचानक बात समझ में आ जाना)
A penny for your thoughts — A way of asking what someone is thinking (क्या सोच रहे हो)
Penny wise and pound foolish — Careful and economical in small matters while being wasteful and extravagant in large ones (अशर्फ़ियाँ लुटें, कोयलों पर मुहर)
Penny-wise and pound-foolish — Careful about small sums but careless about large ones (छोटी बचत में सावधान, बड़े ख़र्च में लापरवाह)
People rolling in the aisles — Make an audience laugh uncontrollably (हँसते-हँसते लोटपोट होना)
A perfect storm — The worst possible situation (कंगाली में आटा गीला)
Pick and choose — To select carefully from many options (छाँटकर चुनना)
Pick a quarrel — To start a disagreement or argument (झगड़ा मोल लेना)
To pick holes — To find the weak points in something (मीन-मेख निकालना)
To pick holes in someone's coat — To find fault with someone (मीन-मेख निकालना)
Pick up the threads — To restart from the previous closing point (रुका हुआ काम फिर से शुरू करना)
A picture is worth a thousand words — An image explains more than a long description (एक चित्र हज़ार शब्दों के बराबर)
A picture paints a thousand words — A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words (एक तस्वीर हजारों शब्दों के बराबर होती है।)

Group 71

Group 71 · A piece of cake – Play with fire

A piece of cake — An easy task (बाएँ हाथ का खेल)
A piece of one's mind — A frank and angry criticism (खरी-खोटी सुनाना)
A piece of the pie — A share in money or business (हिस्सेदारी)
A pie in the sky — Something good that is unlikely to happen (ख़याली पुलाव पकाना)
Pigeonhole — To typecast someone (किसी पर ठप्पा लगाना)
A pig in a poke — Something that is bought without knowing whether it is good enough (बिना देखे ख़रीदी गई चीज़)
Pillar to post — From one place or situation to another without rest or stability. (दर-दर की ठोकरें खाना)
Pin back one's ears — To listen very carefully (ध्यान से सुनना, कान खोलकर सुनना)
Pink slip — A notice of dismissal from one's job (बर्ख़ास्तगी का आदेश)
Pin-money — Allowance made to a lady for her expenses/a small amount of money (छोटे ख़र्चों के लिए थोड़ा पैसा)
A pipe dream — An illusory plan/An unreal hope on your part (शेख़चिल्ली के सपने)
Plain as day — Completely obvious ([object Object])
Play by ear — To do something without special preparation (विशेष तैयारी के बिना शुरू करना)
Play devil's advocate — To argue, just for the sake of it (बिना किसी वजह के बहस करना)
Play ducks and drakes — To use recklessly (पानी की तरह पैसा बहाना)
Played havoc — To cause chaos or destruction or both (कहर बरपाना / तहस-नहस करना)
Play fast and loose — To behave irresponsibly or dishonestly (थाली का बैंगन होना)
Play gooseberry — To be an unwanted third person with a couple (कबाब में हड्डी)
Playing a joke — To trick someone for fun (किसी के साथ मजाक करना)
Play it by ear — To do something without special preparation (बिना तैयारी के हालात देखकर करना)
Play one's ace — To use one's best weapon or resource (तुरुप का इक्का चलना)
Play second fiddle — To be less important or in weaker position than someone else (दूसरे दर्जे की भूमिका निभाना)
Play to the gallery — To seek to win approval/To say things that will make people admire you (वाहवाही लूटना)
Play truant — To stay away from school or duty without permission (बिना इजाज़त स्कूल या काम से ग़ैरहाज़िर रहना)
Play with fire — To take a foolish risk (आग से खेलना)

Group 72

Group 72 · A plum job – Pull a rabbit out of a hat

A plum job — An easy and pleasant job that also pays well (एक सरल और अच्छे वेतन वाली नौकरी)
Pocket an insult — To tolerate insult without protest (अपमान का घूँट पीकर रह जाना)
Point blank — From a very close position/in a very definite way (दो टूक कहना)
Point of no return — The stage after which a course of action cannot be reversed (वह मोड़ जिसके बाद पीछे लौटना संभव नहीं)
Poke one’s nose — To interfere in others' affairs ([object Object])
To poke one’s nose into — To interfere in others' affairs (टाँग अड़ाना)
Poker face — An expressionless face that hides one's true feelings or intentions (भावनाहीन चेहरा जो सच्ची भावनाओं को छिपाता है)
Poke your nose — To interfere unnecessarily (किसी के मामले में टाँग अड़ाना)
Polish off — To finish something quickly, especially food (जल्दी से खत्म कर देना (खासकर खाना))
The pot calling the kettle black — People are guilty of the very fault they identify in others (उल्टा चोर कोतवाल को डाँटे)
A pound of flesh — A harsh demand for something that is legally due (कानूनी रूप से हक़ की कठोर माँग)
Pound the pavement — To walk or run on the street especially in search of something (जूतियाँ घिसना)
Pour cold water on — To spoil someone's plan (किसी की योजना पर पानी फेरना)
Pour oil on troubled waters — To calm a dispute or placate a situation (आग पर पानी डालना)
Pour out one's heart — To speak very freely to someone (दिल खोलकर रख देना)
Practice makes perfect — Repeated practice brings mastery (करत करत अभ्यास के जड़मति होत सुजान)
Practise what you preach — Do the work first before you encourage others to do the same (पहले खुद अमल करो, फिर दूसरों से कहो)
Prevention is better than cure — Stopping a problem early is better than fixing it later (इलाज से परहेज़ भला)
Prime the pump — To encourage the growth of something (शुरुआती धक्का देना)
Pros and cons — Arguments for and against something (ऊँच-नीच समझना)
Provide a blueprint — To give a detailed plan or scheme (ख़ाका तैयार करना)
Pull a face — To make a silly or rude expression (मुँह बिचकाना)
Pull a fast one — To trick someone (आँखों में धूल झोंकना)
Pull a long face — To look sad or disappointed ([object Object])
Pull a rabbit out of a hat — To do something unexpected (कुछ अजूबा करना)

Group 73

Group 73 · Pull/have a long face – Put my nose to the grindstone

Pull/have a long face — To look sad (मुँह लटकाना)
Pull out all the stops — To make every possible effort (एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना)
Pulls no punches — To speak in an honest way without trying to be kind (खरी-खरी सुनाना / दो टूक बात कहना)
Pull someone's leg — To joke with someone (टाँग खींचना)
Pull someone up — To criticise or reprimand someone (किसी को टोकना या डाँटना)
Pull something off — Make something happen (मैदान मार लेना)
Pull strings — Use personal influence (व्यक्तिगत प्रभाव का प्रयोग करना)
Pull the plug — To end something (बंद कर देना)
Pull the strings — To control someone or something often in a secret way (पर्दे के पीछे से डोर खींचना)
Pull the trigger — To commit to a course of action (आख़िरकार फ़ैसला ले लेना)
Pull the wool over someone's eyes — To trick or deceive someone (आँखों में धूल झोंकना)
Pull together — To work together in harmony (मिलजुल कर काम करना)
Pull up his socks — To make a greater effort to improve (कमर कसना)
Pull up your socks — To make an effort to improve ([object Object])
Pull yourself together — Calm down after an upsetting incident (ख़ुद को सँभालना)
Pull your socks up — To make an effort to do better (सुधर जाओ, बेहतर काम करो)
To pull your weight — To do your fair share of the work (अपने हिस्से का काम करना)
A purple patch — A period of great success or good form (सफलता या शानदार प्रदर्शन का दौर)
To put a brave face on — To pretend to be cheerful despite difficulty (दिल पर पत्थर रखना)
Put all your eggs in one basket — To depend for your success on a single person or plan of action (सब कुछ एक ही दाँव पर लगा देना)
Put a rose on his nose — Nobody cares (मेरी बला से)
Put a spoke in my wheel — To thwart someone's plan (टाँग अड़ाना)
Put his foot down — To be very strict in opposing what sb wishes to do (अंगद का पाँव)
Put in mind — To remind (याद दिला देना)
Put my nose to the grindstone — To work very hard (दिन-रात एक करना)

Group 74

Group 74 · Put off – Rain on your parade

Put off — To postpone (स्थगित करना; टालना)
To put one out of countenance — To make one feel ashamed (पानी-पानी कर देना)
Put one's cards on the table — To be honest (अपने पत्ते खोलना)
Put one's foot in one's mouth — To accidentally embarrass or upset someone (बेध्यानी में ग़लत बात कह देना)
Put on ice — To postpone or delay (ठंडे बस्ते में डालना)
Put our heads together — Consult and work together (मिलकर काम करना)
Put out to pasture — To make someone retire, especially because of age (सेवानिवृत्त कर देना, काम से हटा देना)
Put someone's back up — To irritate someone (किसी को नाराज़ कर देना)
Put the cart before the horse — Do things in the wrong order (उल्टे क्रम में काम करना)
Put the screws on — To use pressure to make someone do what you want (दबाव डालकर काम करवाना)
Put two and two together — To make a correct guess based on what has been seen or heard (प्राप्त जानकारी के आधार पर सटीक अनुमान लगाना)
Put up the shutters — To close a business permanently or temporarily. (दुकान बढ़ाना)
To put up with — To tolerate something unpleasant (सहन करना)
Put your best foot forward — To try as hard as one can (एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना)
A Pyrrhic victory — a victory won at too great a cost (हार जैसी महँगी जीत)
Quaking in his boots — To be very nervous (हाथ-पाँव फूल जाना)
Queer fish — A strange or unusual person (अजीब स्वभाव वाला व्यक्ति)
Queer somebody's pitch — To spoil someone's plans (बना-बनाया खेल बिगाड़ना)
Queer the pitch — To upset someone's plan (बना-बनाया खेल बिगाड़ना)
A quick buck — Easily and quickly earned money (आसानी से और जल्दी पैसा कमाना)
Quicken the pulse — To make someone excited (उत्साहित कर देना, रोमांचित कर देना)
Rack one's brains — To think very hard in order to remember or solve something (दिमाग पर बहुत ज़ोर डालना)
Rain cats and dogs — To rain very heavily (मूसलाधार बारिश)
Rain on someone's parade — To spoil someone's plans (रंग में भंग डालना)
Rain on your parade — To spoil your plans (रंग में भंग डालना)

Group 75

Group 75 · A rainy day – A red letter day

A rainy day — Time of difficulty (बुरे वक़्त के लिए बचाकर रखना)
Raise a dust — To cause disruption or confusion (हंगामा खड़ा करना)
Raise a few eyebrows — To cause surprise or shock (आश्चर्य पैदा करना)
Raise an alarm — Warn of a dangerous situation (ख़तरे की घंटी बजाना)
Raise eyebrows — To cause surprise or mild disapproval (चौंकाना, भौंहें चढ़ाना)
Raise one’s hackles — To greatly irritate (ख़ून खौला देना)
Raise the bar — To be better than before/To set higher goals (मानक ऊँचा कर देना)
Raise the roof — To play or sing very loudly and enthusiastically (आसमान सिर पर उठा लेना)
The rank and file — Ordinary people (साधारण सदस्य या कर्मचारी)
Ran riot — Not controlled, running in all directions or being noisy or violent (बेकाबू हो जाना)
A rap over the knuckles — Criticism or punishment given in a gentle way for something one did wrong (कान खींचना)
A rare bird — An exceptional person or thing (गूलर का फूल)
Raring to go — Full of enthusiasm or eagerness (उत्साहित होना)
A rash of something — A large number of similar things happening in a short period (कम समय में एक साथ कई चीजें होना)
Rat race — Fierce competition for power (अंधी दौड़)
A raw deal — Unfair treatment (अन्यायपूर्ण व्यवहार)
A ray of hope — A small sign of positive outcome (आशा की किरण)
Reach fever pitch — To reach a state of great excitement or intensity (उत्तेजना या तनाव का चरम पर पहुँचना)
Read between the lines — To understand something that is not said outright (छिपा अर्थ समझना)
Read somebody the Riot Act — To warn or scold someone strongly (खरी-खोटी सुनाना)
Reap the whirlwind — Suffer negative consequences as a result of one’s actions (जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी)
Receive a new lease of life — To become energetic again (नई जान आ जाना)
Receiving a kickback — Getting an illegal payment (ऊपर की कमाई)
Red herring — Something that misleads or distracts from the real issue (भटकाने वाला झूठा संकेत)
A red letter day — A memorable and important day (महत्वपूर्ण और यादगार दिन)

Group 76

Group 76 · Red-letter day – Rome was not built in a day

Red-letter day — A memorable and important day (यादगार दिन)
A red rag to a bull — An object, utterance, or act which is certain to provoke someone (भड़काने वाली बात या चीज़)
Red tape/red tapism — Official rules and bureaucracy that make it difficult to do something (लालफ़ीताशाही)
Refused to yield — Firmly declined to give in (टस से मस न होना)
Rein in — To limit or control something (लगाम कसना)
Reinventing the wheel — Wasting one's time on things that have already been satisfactorily done (बना बनाया काम दोबारा करना)
Rest on their laurels — To be satisfied with your achievements (अपनी उपलब्धियों पर संतुष्ट हो जाना)
To reveal a secret — To make hidden information known (पोल खोलना)
Rift in the lute — A problem that causes a break in a relationship (छोटी दरार जो सब बिगाड़ दे)
Right as rain — Fit and in excellent health (भला-चंगा होना)
Ring a bell — To sound familiar (जाना-पहचाना लगना)
Rip up old sores — To revive a forgotten quarrel (गड़े मुर्दे उखाड़ना / पुराने ज़ख़्म कुरेदना)
Rise and shine — Used to tell someone to wake up and get out of bed (उठना, जागना)
Rise like a phoenix — To become successful after seeming to have failed (राख से फिर उठ खड़ा होना)
Rises with the lark — Get up early in the morning (मुँह-अँधेरे उठना)
Rise to the occasion — To show you can deal with a situation successfully (मौके पर खरा उतरना)
Road to Damascus — A sudden, radical change in attitude, perspective or belief (हृदय परिवर्तन होना)
Rock the boat — Disturb a stable situation (बनी-बनाई बात बिगाड़ना)
Roll back — To withdraw or reverse something/To reduce something (वापस ले लेना, घटा देना)
Rolling in cash — Have a large quantity of money (पैसों में खेलना)
A rolling stone gathers no moss — A person who does not settle in one place for a long time, does not gain any wealth, name or fame (जो लगातार बदलता रहे वह टिकाऊ कुछ नहीं बना पाता)
Roll up your sleeves — Get ready to do something difficult or hard work (कमर कसना)
Roll your sleeves up — To get ready to do hard work (कमर कस लेना, मेहनत के लिए तैयार होना)
Rome was not built in a day — Nothing great is achieved without hard work and time. (धीरे-धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होय)

Group 77

Group 77 · Rose-coloured glasses – A safe pair of hands

Rose-coloured glasses — An unduly optimistic view of life (हर चीज़ को अच्छा मान लेने वाली दृष्टि)
A rotten apple — A single bad person or thing in a group that spoils the others (एक मछली सारे तालाब को गंदा करती है)
Rub a person up the wrong way — To annoy or offend a person (किसी को परेशान करना)
Rub in the wrong way — To annoy someone by manner or words (अपने ढंग से किसी को खिजा देना)
Rub shoulders with — To meet and spend time with people (लोगों से मिलना और साथ में समय बिताना)
Rub the wrong way — To irritate someone (किसी को चिढ़ा देना)
Ruffle someone's feathers — To make someone annoyed (किसी को नाराज़ कर देना)
Rule of thumb — A rule or principle that you follow which is not based on exact calculations, but rather on experience (सामान्य नियम)
Rule the roost — To be in complete control (किसी की तूती बोलना)
Run amok — To suddenly start behaving violently (आपे से बाहर होना)
Run around in circles — To be busy without making progress (बिना नतीजे के चक्कर काटना)
Run around like a headless chicken — To do many things in a disorganised manner (बदहवास होकर इधर उधर भागना)
Run in the same groove — To be moving in the same direction (एक ही लीक पर चलना)
Run into rough weather — To experience difficulties (कठिनाइयों का अनुभव करना)
To run like clockwork — To go smoothly (बिल्कुल सटीक और समय पर होना)
Running behind time — To be late; behind schedule (तय समय से पीछे होना, देर से चलना)
Run-of-the-mill — Average (साधारण)
To run one down — To criticize someone or something (नीचा दिखाना)
Run out of steam — To lose enthusiasm and stop doing something (जोश ठंडा पड़ जाना)
Run short — Become insufficient (किसी चीज की कमी हो जाना)
Run the gauntlet — to face criticism or attack from many people at once (चारों ओर से आलोचना या हमले झेलना)
Run wild — To grow or behave without any control or restraint (बेकाबू होना, बेलगाम बढ़ना)
Rust bucket — A vehicle which is very old or almost broken (जंग लगी पुरानी गाड़ी)
A sacred cow — Something considered immune from question or criticism, especially unreasonably so (ऐसी चीज जिस पर सवाल उठाना या आलोचना करना वर्जित माना जाए)
A safe pair of hands — A person who can be trusted to do something efficiently (भरोसेमंद व्यक्ति)

Group 78

Group 78 · Sail close to the wind – Set about

Sail close to the wind — Do something that is dangerous or even illegal (आग से खेलना)
Salad days — A period of carefree innocence, idealism, and pleasure (जवानी के दिन)
The salt of the earth — A very good and honest person (गुणवान, सच्चा व्यक्ति)
Saved by the bell — Rescued from trouble at the last possible moment (बाल-बाल बचना)
Save your breath — To not bother speaking because it will be useless (भैंस के आगे बीन बजाना)
Say your piece — To state your opinion fully and frankly (अपनी बात खुलकर कहना, राय रखना)
A scapegoat — A person who is blamed for something that someone else has done (बलि का बकरा)
School of hard knocks — Learning through difficult experience, not formal education (जीवन के कड़वे अनुभवों से सीखने की पाठशाला)
Scot-free — To escape punishment or consequences without paying or suffering any penalty. (बिना सज़ा पाए बच निकलना)
Scrape the barrel — To be forced to use one's last and weakest resource (आख़िरी और घटिया विकल्प तक पहुँच जाना)
Scraping the bottom of the barrel — Using the last and worst of what is available (आख़िरी और घटिया विकल्प तक पहुँचना)
Scratch one's head — To think hard in a puzzled way (सिर खपाना)
Sea change — Major transformation (कायापलट होना)
The seamy side — Unpleasant aspect (किसी चीज का बुरा पक्ष)
Second banana — A person in a subordinate position (अधीनस्थ पद पर बैठा व्यक्ति)
Second wind — Burst of energy (थकने के बाद फिर से आई ऊर्जा)
See eye to eye — To agree with someone (पूरी तरह सहमत होना)
See the light — Suddenly realise something (आँखें खुल जाना)
See the light of day — To become publicly known (प्रकाश में आना)
To seize as a penalty by an authority — Confiscate (जब्त करना)
Sell like hot cakes — To sell quickly (हाथों-हाथ बिकना)
Send someone packing — To dismiss someone abruptly (किसी को अचानक भगा देना या निकाल देना)
To send to Coventry — To refuse to speak to someone as a punishment (हुक्का-पानी बंद करना)
Separate the wheat from the chaff — To separate the valuable from the worthless (दूध का दूध और पानी का पानी करना)
Set about — To begin doing something (किसी काम को शुरू करना)

Group 79

Group 79 · Set aside – Show one's hand

Set aside — To reject or cancel (a decision); to keep apart for a purpose ((फ़ैसले को) रद्द करना; किसी काम के लिए अलग रखना)
Set forth — To start (शुरू करना)
Set one's face against — to oppose something firmly (दृढ़ता से विरोध करना)
Set sights on — To set one's goal and do everything possible to achieve it (किसी लक्ष्य पर निशाना साध लेना)
Set their face against — To be strongly opposed to or disapproving of something (विरोध करना)
To set the Thames on fire — To cause a lot of excitement or strong feelings (तहलका मचा देना)
Set the wheels in motion — To start something (कुछ शुरू करना)
Shake a leg — To make haste (जल्दी करना)
Shake in one's shoes — To be afraid (थर-थर काँपना)
Shake off — To get rid of (पीछा छुड़ाना)
Sharp as a tack — Mentally active/A clever person (बहुत ही बुद्धिमान)
Sharp practice — Dishonesty (बेईमानी)
Sharp practices — A way of behaving, in business, that is dishonest but not illegal (चालाकी, बेईमानी से कुछ करना)
Shed light on — To explain a situation (प्रकाश डालना)
The ship has sailed — The chance to do something has gone and cannot be recovered (मौका हाथ से निकल चुका है)
Shook in their shoes — To tremble with fear or apprehension (थर-थर काँपना)
Shooting fish in a barrel — Exceptionally easy to do (बाएँ हाथ का खेल)
Shooting off the cuff — Speaking or performing without preparation or planning (बिना तैयारी के बोलना)
To shoot the breeze — Have a casual conversation. (गप्पें लड़ाना)
Shot for safety — Taking a conservative approach (सुरक्षा के लिए कदम)
A shot in the arm — A boost or stimulant (कोई उत्साहवर्धक चीज)
A shot in the dark — A guess made without information (अंधेरे में तीर चलाना)
A shot/stab in the dark — A guess (अँधेरे में तीर चलाना)
Show a clean pair of heels — To run away; to escape quickly (नौ दो ग्यारह होना)
Show one's hand — To reveal one's plans or intentions (अपनी योजना ज़ाहिर कर देना)

Group 80

Group 80 · Show one's true colours – Slow and steady wins the race

Show one's true colours — To reveal one's real character (असली रंग दिखाना)
A show-stopper — A performance or thing so good that the audience applauds loudly (कार्यक्रम को रोक देने वाली शानदार प्रस्तुति)
Show the white feather — To show cowardice (दुम दबाकर भागना)
A shrinking violet — A very shy person (बहुत शर्मीला व्यक्ति)
To shun evil company — To avoid bad company (बुरी संगत से बचना)
A sight for sore eyes — A person or thing that one is extremely pleased or relieved to see (आँखों को ठंडक मिलना)
The silver lining in the cloud — The good side of a bad situation (हर अँधेरे के बाद उजाला)
Sing a different tune — To change the way one talks about something (सुर बदलना)
Sit on a gold mine — To own something potentially valuable (मूल्यवान वस्तु का मालिक होना)
Sit on the fence — To avoid taking a decision or a side (तटस्थ बने रहना)
Sit/ride shotgun — To ride in the front passenger seat of a car (ड्राइवर के पास बैठ कर यात्रा करना)
Sit tight — To wait patiently (धैर्यपूर्वक प्रतीक्षा करना)
Skating on thin ice — Taking a serious risk (आग से खेलना)
Skating/Walking on thin ice — In a risky situation (जोखिम भरी स्थिति में)
A skeleton in the cupboard — An embarrassing fact to be kept secret (शर्मिंदा करने वाला पुराना रहस्य)
Slack off — To be lazy in your work (काम में ढिलाई बरतना)
A slap on the wrist — A mild punishment (नाममात्र की सज़ा)
Sleep like a log — To sleep soundly (घोड़े बेचकर सोना)
Sleep on it — To wait before making a decision (रात भर सोचकर फ़ैसला लेना)
To sleep with the fishes — To be killed and have one's body disposed of in the sea or a river (मार दिया जाना)
Slip my mind — To forget something (भूल जाना)
To slip through one's fingers — To fail to seize an opportunity (मौक़ा हाथ से निकल जाना)
Slip your mind — To be forgotten (दिमाग़ से निकल जाना)
Slow and steady — Consistent progress for success (धीमा लेकिन लगातार प्रयत्न करने वाला)
Slow and steady wins the race — Consistent effort beats hasty brilliance (सहज पके सो मीठा होय)

Group 81

Group 81 · Sly as a fox – Speak/talk of the devil

Sly as a fox — Very cunning and crafty (लोमड़ी की तरह चालाक)
The smallest room in the house — A polite way of saying 'toilet' (शौचालय के लिए विनम्र शब्द)
Small fry — Unimportant people or things (तुच्छ या महत्वहीन लोग)
Small potatoes — Unimportant (अमहत्वपूर्ण)
Smash hit — A very successful song, film, show, or performance (ज़बरदस्त सफलता)
Smell a rat — To have reason to suspect (दाल में काला होना)
Smooth ruffled feathers — To calm and soothe people who are upset or offended (नाराज़ लोगों को शांत करना)
Smooth sailing — Easy progress (बिना किसी बाधा के प्रगति करना)
A snake in the grass — Hidden enemy (आस्तीन का साँप)
A snowball effect — An accelerating growth of magnitude (तेजी से वृद्धि करना)
Snowed under — Overwhelmed with too much work (काम के बोझ तले दबा होना)
So far so good — Things are going well so far (अब तक तो ठीक है)
Soft option — Easy and agreeable option/Do the thing that is easiest or least likely to cause trouble in a particular situation (आसान विकल्प)
Someone eating out of your hand — Easily make someone do or think what you want (उँगलियों पर नचाना)
Someone's ears are burning — The feeling that other people are talking about you (यह एहसास कि लोग आपके बारे में बात कर रहे हैं)
Someone's ears are flapping — Someone is listening hard, keen to overhear a conversation (कान लगाकर बातें सुनना)
Someone's heart is in the right place — Someone is good even if they sometimes behave in a wrong manner (दिल का साफ़ होना)
A sore point — An issue about which someone feels distressed or annoyed (किसी की दुखती रग पर हाथ रखना)
Sought after — In great demand (काफी मांग में)
Sound and fury — Loud activity without real meaning (थोथा चना, बाजे घना)
The sound of leather on willow — The sound of a cricket ball hitting the bat (क्रिकेट में गेंद के बल्ले से टकराने की आवाज़)
Sow wild oats — To indulge in youthful or irresponsible behaviour. (जवानी में मौज मस्ती और लापरवाही करना)
Speak one's mind — To voice one's thoughts plainly or bluntly. (खरी-खरी कहना)
Speaks his mind — Says exactly what he thinks (दो टूक बात कहना)
Speak/talk of the devil — The person we were just talking about showed up (शैतान का नाम लिया, शैतान हाज़िर)

Group 82

Group 82 · Speak volumes – Steal a march on

Speak volumes — To express one's opinions without using words (इशारों में कुछ कहना)
Spick and span — Neat and clean (एकदम साफ़ सुथरा)
Spiff up — To make oneself or a place look neat and smart (खुद को या जगह को साफ़-सुथरा, स्मार्ट बनाना)
Spill the beans — To reveal a secret unintentionally (भंडा फोड़ना)
Spin one's wheels — To make ineffective or fruitless efforts. (निरर्थक प्रयास करना)
Spin your wheels — To waste time without progress (समय बर्बाद करना)
Split hairs — To argue over very small, unimportant details (बाल की खाल निकालना)
Split one's sides — Be extremely amused (हँसते-हँसते लोटपोट होना)
Spread like wildfire — To spread rapidly (जंगल की आग की तरह फैलना)
Spring to mind — To occur to one suddenly; to come into one's thoughts at once (अचानक ध्यान में आना; तुरंत याद आना)
Square an account — To settle one's debt (हिसाब चुकता करना)
A square deal — An honest and fair transaction or trade (ईमानदारी से किया गया लेनदेन)
A square peg in a round hole — A misfit in the environment (मख़मल में टाट का पैबंद)
The squeaky wheel gets the grease — Someone who complains is more likely to receive attention than someone who stays quiet (बिन रोए माँ भी दूध नहीं पिलाती)
Stab in one's back — To betray someone (पीठ में छुरा घोंपना)
Stand a chance — Have a possibility (सफलता की संभावना होना)
Stand in one's own light — To act against one's own interest (अपने पैरों पर कुल्हाड़ी मारना)
Stand-offish — Unfriendly, cold and too formal towards other people (रूखा और अलग-थलग व्यवहार करने वाला)
Stand one's ground — To maintain one's position (डटे रहना)
Star-crossed lovers — Lovers whose relationship is doomed by fate (जिनका प्रेम भाग्य से बाधित हो)
Start from scratch — To start entirely from the beginning (शुरुआत से शुरू करना)
Start/set/get the ball rolling — To begin or start something (किसी प्रक्रिया को शुरू करना)
Stave off — To prevent something bad from happening (संकट टालना)
To steal a march — To gain an advantage by acting early (बाज़ी मार ले जाना)
Steal a march on — To gain an advantage by acting early (बाज़ी मार ले जाना)

Group 83

Group 83 · Steal someone's thunder – To strike one's colours

Steal someone's thunder — To take the attention or praise meant for someone else by acting first (दूसरों का श्रेय छीनना)
Steer clear of — Avoid someone or something because it is dangerous for you (जानबूझकर दूर रहना)
Step up to the plate — Take control of a situation (ज़रूरत पड़ने पर ज़िम्मा उठाना)
A stick-in-the-mud — A person who resists change (लकीर का फ़कीर)
Stick to one's guns — Maintain one's own opinion/To stand firm against all difficulties and challenges (टस से मस न होना)
Sticky fingers — A habit of stealing (चोरी की आदत)
A stiff-necked person — An obstinate person (टस से मस न होना)
Still waters run deep — People who are silent have profound thoughts (शांत नदी गहरी होती है; गंभीर व्यक्ति गहरा होता है)
A sting in the tail — An unexpected, typically unpleasant or problematic end to something (आख़िर में छिपा झटका)
Stir up a hornet's nest — To make trouble (बर्रे के छत्ते में हाथ डालना)
Stir up a hornets' nest — To provoke a great deal of trouble (बर्र के छत्ते में हाथ डालना)
A stitch in time saves nine — It is better to solve a problem straight away and not let it become bigger (समय पर किया गया छोटा काम बड़ी मुसीबत बचाता है)
A stone's throw — A very small distance (दो क़दम की दूरी पर)
A storm in a teacup — A lot of anger and worry about trivial things (राई का पहाड़ बनाना)
Straight and narrow — An honest and morally acceptable way of living (ईमानदार और नैतिक जीवन का रास्ता)
Straight from the horse's mouth — From the person directly concerned or involved (सीधे असली स्रोत से)
Straight from the horse’s mouth — From the most reliable source (सबसे भरोसेमंद सूत्र से)
A straight shooter — A thoroughly upright and straightforward person (खरी-खरी कहना)
Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel — To make a fuss over small matters while ignoring serious ones (छोटी बातों पर हंगामा करना और बड़ी बातों को अनदेखा कर देना)
Strain every nerve — To try extremely hard to do something (एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना)
Straw in the wind — A small sign of what is coming (आने वाले की छोटी सी झलक)
The straw that broke the camel’s back — The final small thing that causes a collapse (सब्र का बाँध टूटना)
Stretch one's legs — To go for a walk after sitting for a long time (पैर सीधे करना)
To strike a chord — To strongly impress (someone) (दिल को छू लेना)
To strike one's colours — To surrender (घुटने टेक देना)

Group 84

Group 84 · Strike when the iron is hot – To take after

Strike when the iron is hot — To act while conditions are favourable (लोहा गरम है, हथौड़ा मार दो)
Strike while the iron is hot — To act at the right moment (बहती गंगा में हाथ धोना)
Struck a chill to the heart — To make someone extremely frightened (दिल दहल जाना)
Struck several bad patches — Had many professional difficulties (बुरे दिन देखना)
A stuffed shirt — A pompous or self-important person (अहंकारी व्यक्ति)
Stumbled upon — To find or learn about (something) unexpectedly (अचानक पा लेना, संयोग से मिल जाना)
A stumbling block — An obstacle to progress (रास्ते का रोड़ा)
Suit (one) to a 'T' — To suit someone perfectly (बिल्कुल उपयुक्त होना, पूरी तरह जँचना)
Sum and substance — Essence (सारांश, सार)
To sup with the devil — To deal with a dangerous or immoral person (बुरे व्यक्ति से साझेदारी करना)
A swan song — A person's last achievement or performance (किसी व्यक्ति की अंतिम उपलब्धि या प्रदर्शन)
Sweat bullets — To be extremely nervous or anxious (बहुत घबराया हुआ या चिंतित होना)
The sweat of his brow — Hard work (ख़ून-पसीना एक करना)
Sweeping statement — A statement which applies to all things of a particular kind (बिना सोचे सब पर लागू किया गया सामान्य कथन)
Sweep under the carpet — To hide a problem in the hope that people will forget it (समस्या को दबाना ताकि लोग भूल जाएँ)
Swept under the rug — Concealed from others (पर्दा डालना)
Swim with the tide — To agree with the popular opinion (हवा के रुख़ के साथ चलना)
Swollen-headed — Conceited (सिर पर चढ़ जाना)
The sword of Damocles — An impending threat (सिर पर तलवार लटकना)
Take a back seat — To become less important or to give up control over things (ख़ुद पीछे हटकर दूसरे को आगे करना)
Take a chill pill — To calm down (दिमाग ठंडा रखना)
Take a cue from someone — To follow someone's example or be strongly influenced by them (किसी से प्रभावित होकर सीखना)
Take a dim view — To disapprove of (नाक-भौं सिकोड़ना)
To take a fancy to — To start liking (दिल आ जाना)
To take after — To resemble a parent or older relative (बाप पर जाना)

Group 85

Group 85 · Take a leaf out of someone's book – Take something with a pinch of salt

Take a leaf out of someone's book — Imitate or emulate someone in a particular way (किसी के नक़्श-ए-क़दम पर चलना)
Take a rain check — To decline an offer politely, hoping to accept it later (अभी नहीं, फिर कभी)
Take a right choice — To make a right choice (सही निर्णय लेना)
Take a stand — To publicly state a firm opinion or position (खुलकर अपना पक्ष रखना, दृढ़ रुख अपनाना)
Take a toll — To harm or damage (भारी नुकसान पहुँचाना)
Take away your breath — Astonishing/To be extremely exciting (दाँतों तले उँगली दबाना)
Take exception to — To object strongly (आपत्ति करना)
Take for granted — To value too lightly or fail to appreciate (someone or something) (घर की मुर्गी दाल बराबर)
To take French leave — To leave without permission (बिना अनुमति के ग़ैरहाज़िर होना)
Take heart — To gain courage or confidence (हिम्मत बाँधना)
Take into account — To consider (ध्यान में लेना)
Take it with a grain of salt — To accept something with doubt (संदेह के साथ मानना)
Take it with a grain/pinch of salt — To not believe something completely (किसी बात पर पूरा विश्वास न करना)
Take notice — To consider (संज्ञान में लेना)
Take one's eye off the ball — To stop paying attention for a moment (ध्यान हटना)
To take one’s hat off — To express admiration for someone (लोहा मानना)
Take one’s hat off to someone — To express admiration for someone (किसी का लोहा मानना)
Take pains — To try hard (कष्ट उठाना, अत्यधिक प्रयास करना)
Take somebody to task — To call (someone) to account for a shortcoming (आड़े हाथों लेना)
To take someone for a ride — To deceive or cheat someone (उल्लू बनाना)
To take someone to task — To criticize someone (आड़े हाथों लेना)
Take something at face value — To accept something as it appears to be rather than studying it more closely (बिना जाँचे मान लेना)
Take something in one's stride — To deal with a difficulty calmly, without being upset (मुश्किल को शांति से सहन कर लेना)
Take something to heart — To be very upset because of taking something very seriously (दिल पर लेना)
Take something with a pinch of salt — To accept something with doubt (संदेह के साथ मानना)

Group 86

Group 86 · Take stock of – Taste of his own medicine

Take stock of — To assess a situation (जायज़ा लेना)
Take the bull by the horns — To handle difficulties (डटकर मुक़ाबला करना)
To take the cake — To win the prize (बाज़ी मार लेना)
Take thee at thy word — Believe someone truly (किसी की बात पर विश्वास करना)
Take the heat — To receive criticism (आलोचना झेलना)
Take the spear — To take charge or leadership (कमान सँभालना)
Take the veil — To become a nun (संन्यासिनी बन जाना)
To take to heart — To take something seriously or personally (दिल पर लेना)
Take to one's heels — To run away (नौ दो ग्यारह होना)
Take to task — To rebuke (आड़े हाथों लेना)
To take up (pick up) the gauntlet — To accept a challenge (चुनौती स्वीकार करना)
Take up the hatchet — To begin a fight or a war (लड़ाई छेड़ देना)
Take with a grain of salt — To accept with some doubt (थोड़ी शंका के साथ स्वीकार करना)
Take your eye off the ball — To stop paying attention for a moment (कुछ समय के लिए ध्यान हटा लेना)
Taking a break — To stop something for a short period (कुछ समय के लिए कार्य को रोक देना)
Taking a bull by the horns — Facing a difficulty directly (मुश्किल का सीधे सामना करना)
Taking a toll on — Having a damaging effect over time (धीरे धीरे नुकसान पहुँचाना)
Talk chalk and cheese — (To express) difference between two different things or people (ज़मीन-आसमान का अंतर)
Talking nonsense — Saying things that make no sense (बे-सिर-पैर की बातें करना)
Talk over — To discuss thoroughly (विचार विमर्श करना)
Talks through his hat — Talking nonsense (बेसिर-पैर की बातें करना)
To talk through one’s hat — To talk nonsense (बे-सिर-पैर की बातें करना)
Talk twenty to the dozen — To talk very fast and without stopping (बहुत तेज़ और लगातार बोलना)
Tap dance like mad — To do or say a lot of things in order to achieve something or distract others (लोगों का ध्यान अपनी ओर आकर्षित करने या कुछ पाने का पूर्ण प्रयास करना)
Taste of his own medicine — To do the same bad thing to someone that they have done to you (जैसे को तैसा)

Group 87

Group 87 · Teething problems – Throw caution to the wind

Teething problems — Small difficulties at the start of something new (शुरुआती दिक़्क़तें)
Tell tales — Reveal secrets about someone (कान भरना)
Tell upon — To have a harmful effect over time (धीरे धीरे असर डालना)
A tempest in a teapot — A great fuss over a small matter (छोटी-सी बात पर बड़ा हंगामा)
Test the waters — To try something out (कुछ आजमाना)
That's all she wrote — There is nothing more to be said (कुछ कहने के लिए बाकी न रहना)
That ship has sailed — Too late to do something (अब पछताए होत क्या जब चिड़िया चुग गई खेत)
To the letter — Exactly and strictly, in every detail (हर बारीकी से, अक्षरशः)
To the nines — To perfection or to the highest degree (पूरी तरह सज धज कर)
There is no gainsaying — It cannot be denied (इसमें कोई इनकार नहीं किया जा सकता)
There is no smoke without fire — Rumours usually have some basis (बिना आग के धुआँ नहीं उठता)
There's many a slip between the cup and the lip — Things can still go wrong before a task is finished, so do not be sure of success too soon (काम पूरा होने से पहले भी गड़बड़ हो सकती है; पहले से सफलता मान लेना ठीक नहीं)
Thick as thieves — Having a close friendship (बहुत गहरी दोस्ती में)
The thin end of the wedge — The beginning of a process that could have negative consequences. (बड़ी बात की छोटी शुरुआत)
Think outside the box — Think creatively or differently (लीक से हटकर सोचना)
A thorn in the flesh — A constant source of trouble or annoyance (आँख की किरकिरी होना)
Through and through — Completely (पूरी तरह से)
Through the back door — In an indirect or unfair way (पिछले दरवाज़े से घुसना)
Through the grapevine — By talking in an informal way to other people (उड़ती-उड़ती ख़बर सुनना)
Through the roof — (of prices or levels) extremely high; rising very sharply (आसमान छूना; बहुत ऊँचा हो जाना)
Through thick and thin — In good and bad times (हर सुख-दुख में साथ देना)
Throw a fit — To express extreme anger (आपे से बाहर होना)
Throw a hissy fit — To have an angry outburst over something small (छोटी बात पर भड़क जाना)
Throw a spanner in the works — To do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding (रंग में भंग डालना)
Throw caution to the wind — To do something without worrying about the risk (जोखिम उठाना)

Group 88

Group 88 · Throw caution to the winds – Tighten one's belt

Throw caution to the winds — To take a risk without worrying about the consequences. (बिना सावधानी बरते काम करना)
Throw cold water — To discourage a plan or an idea (किसी के अरमानों पर पानी फेरना)
Throw cold water on — To discourage an idea or plan (किसी के उत्साह पर पानी फेरना)
Throw down the gauntlet — To issue a challenge (चुनौती देना)
To throw dust in one’s eyes — To mislead or confuse someone (आँखों में धूल झोंकना)
Throw dust in someone's eyes — To mislead or deceive someone (आँखों में धूल झोंकना)
Throw dust into someone's eyes — Mislead or deceive someone (आँखों में धूल झोंकना)
Throw in the towel — To admit defeat or failure (हथियार डाल देना)
Throw mud at — To make damaging accusations against someone (कीचड़ उछालना)
Throw one's hat into the ring — To announce that one is entering a contest (मैदान में उतरना)
Throw someone a curveball — To surprise someone with something unexpected or tricky (किसी को अचानक चौंकाने वाली या मुश्किल स्थिति में डाल देना)
Throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks — To try many things and hope that some of them work (कई तरीके आज़माना इस उम्मीद में कि कुछ तो काम करेगा)
Throw the baby out with the bathwater — To discard something good along with something bad (जूँओं के डर से गुदड़ी नहीं फेंकी जाती)
Throw up one's cards — To give in; to confess defeat (हथियार डाल देना)
Throw up the sponge — To surrender or give up the contest (हथियार डाल देना)
Tick all the boxes — To fulfil the required norms (आवश्यक मापदंडों को पूरा करना)
Tickled pink — Very much pleased or entertained (फूले न समाना)
Tide over — To overcome (मुश्किल दौर से निकाल देना)
Tide someone over — To give temporary help, usually financial (मुश्किल दौर से निकाल देना)
Tied herself up in knots — Become very confused when you are trying to explain something (उलझ जाना, घबरा जाना)
Tied to someone's apron strings — Too dependent on or controlled by one's mother (or a woman) (माँ (या किसी स्त्री) पर बहुत निर्भर या उसके नियंत्रण में)
Tie the knot — Get married (गठबंधन में बँधना)
To tie yourself in knots — To become confused while trying to explain (समझाते समझाते ख़ुद उलझ जाना)
Tighten his belt — To reduce spending (चादर देखकर पैर फैलाना)
Tighten one's belt — To spend less because money is short (पेट काटना)

Group 89

Group 89 · Tight-lipped – Treading on thin ice

Tight-lipped — To keep quiet (होंठ सिल लेना)
Till the cows come home — For a very long time (बहुत लंबे समय तक)
Tilt at windmills — To waste effort fighting imaginary or unimportant enemies (काल्पनिक या तुच्छ शत्रुओं से लड़कर समय बर्बाद करना)
Time after time — Repeatedly (बार-बार होना)
Time and again — Repeatedly (बार-बार होना)
Time and tide wait for none — Time does not stop for anyone (गया वक़्त फिर हाथ नहीं आता)
The tip of the iceberg — A small visible part of a much bigger problem (समस्या का छोटा दिखाई देने वाला हिस्सा)
Tit for tat — Counter attack (जैसे को तैसा)
Toe the line — To obey rules and conform (नियमों का पूरी तरह पालन करना)
Toffee-nosed — Pretentiously superior, one who thinks himself of a high class and looks down on people of lower class (नाक-भौं सिकोड़ना)
Token strike — A situation in which a group of workers refuses to work, but only for a short period (सांकेतिक हड़ताल)
Too close a call — A very narrow margin, narrow escape (बाल-बाल बचना)
Too fond of one's own voice — To like talking a lot or too much (बहुत बातूनी होना)
Took the wind out of her sails — Removed her confidence or advantage (हवा निकाल देना)
Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians — A situation with too many leaders and too few workers (सब मुखिया, काम करने वाला कोई नहीं)
Too many cooks spoil the broth — When too many people are involved in a task, the result is spoilt (ज़्यादा जोगी मठ उजाड़)
Too many irons in the fire — To be involved in too many activities at once (एक साथ बहुत सारे काम हाथ में होना)
Tooth and nail — With all one's strength and determination (एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना)
Top-notch — Of the highest quality; excellent (सर्वोत्तम दर्जे का, बेहतरीन)
Touch all bases — To include everything (हर ज़रूरी पहलू छू लेना)
Touch and go — Uncertain (अनिश्चित)
Touch base with someone — To contact someone briefly, especially to share news (किसी से थोड़ी देर संपर्क करना)
Tough cookie — A strong, determined person who is hard to defeat (मज़बूत इरादों वाला व्यक्ति जिसे हराना कठिन हो)
Tout de suite — Immediately (a French phrase used in English) (तुरंत (फ़्रेंच वाक्यांश))
Treading on thin ice — To be in a dangerous risky position (आग से खेलना)

Group 90

Group 90 · Tread on eggshells – Turn the tables

Tread on eggshells — To be very careful in what you say and do so as not to upset someone (बोलने और करने में बहुत सावधान रहना)
Tread on the toes — To upset someone (किसी को नाराज करना)
Tread on your toes — To offend someone by interfering (किसी के काम में दख़ल देकर नाराज़ करना)
The tricks of the trade — Special skills or knowledge (विशेष कौशल या ज्ञान)
Trip the light fantastic — To dance (नाचना)
True blue — Loyal and steadfast (वफ़ादार और अडिग)
True personality — True colours (असली रंग दिखाना)
Trump up — To invent a false accusation (मनगढ़ंत आरोप बनाना)
Turn a blind eye — To deliberately ignore something wrong (आँखें मूँद लेना)
Turn a deaf ear — To refuse to listen (कान पर जूँ न रेंगना)
Turn an honest penny — To earn money honestly through hard work (मेहनत की रोटी खाना)
Turned a deaf ear to — Deliberately ignored (कान पर जूँ न रेंगना)
Turned down — Rejected or refused (अस्वीकार कर दिया)
Turn his hand to — To try new things (नया काम अपना लेना)
A turning point — Anything that brings about changes / The time at which an important change starts (नया मोड़/एक निर्णायक मोड़)
A turn of the screw — An action that makes a bad situation even worse (बुरी हालत को और बिगाड़ने वाला क़दम)
Turn one's stomach — To make someone feel sick or disgusted (जी मिचलाना, घिन आना)
Turn over a new leaf — To make a fresh start (नया अध्याय शुरू करना)
Turn someone off — Cause to lose interest (जी उचट जाना)
Turn someone's head — Make someone conceited. (दिमाग़ आसमान पर चढ़ जाना)
Turn tail — To run away from difficulty (दुम दबाकर भागना)
Turn the clock back — Return to a time in the past (अतीत में वापस लौटना)
Turn the corner — To get past the most difficult area or period in something and begin to improve (मुश्किल परिस्थिति से निकल जाना)
Turn the tables — Reverse a situation (बाज़ी पलटना)

Group 91

Group 91 · Turn topsy-turvy – Up a creek without a paddle

Turn topsy-turvy — To throw something into total confusion or change it completely (उलट-पलट कर देना, पूरी तरह बदल देना)
Turn turtle — To overturn or flip over, especially in reference to a vehicle. (पूरी तरह उलट जाना)
Turn up one's nose — To treat something with contempt (नाक-भौं सिकोड़ना)
Turn up one's nose at — To refuse something because one thinks it is not good enough (नाक-भौं सिकोड़ना)
Turn up one's nose at someone — To treat someone with no respect (नाक-भौं सिकोड़ना)
Twiddle one's thumbs — To be idle (हाथ पर हाथ धरे बैठना)
Twiddling one’s thumbs — Wasting time doing nothing (हाथ पर हाथ धरे बैठना)
Twist of the knife — An act or remark that makes someone feel worse when already unhappy (पहले से दुखी को और दुख पहुँचाना)
Twist someone's arm — To try to force someone to do something (किसी को मजबूर करने की कोशिश करना)
Two heads are better than one — Two people working together can achieve more than one person working alone (एक और एक ग्यारह)
Two peas in a pod — Look very similar in appearance or character (दिखने या चरित्र में बहुत समान होना)
Uncharted waters — An unfamiliar situation where nobody knows what will happen (अनजानी स्थिति जिसका कोई पूर्व अनुभव न हो)
Under a/the cloud — In disgrace/under suspicion (संदेह के घेरे में)
Under duress — Under pressure (दबाव या धमकी में)
Under one's belt — Having achieved or experienced something (कुछ हासिल करना)
Under the gun — To be under pressure (सिर पर तलवार लटकना)
Under the nose — Right in front of someone, yet unnoticed (नाक के नीचे से)
Under the rose — Secretly or privately (चोरी-छिपे)
Under the table — Done secretly and often illegally, especially a payment of money (चोरी-छिपे, गुप्त रूप से (अक्सर गैर-क़ानूनी लेन-देन))
Under the weather — Feel sick (तबीयत नासाज़ होना)
Under the wire — At the very last moment; just in time (ठीक आखिरी क्षण में)
Under wraps — Secretly (चोरी-छिपे)
Union is strength — Unity makes people powerful (एकता में बल है)
United we stand, divided we fall — Unity gives strength; disunity leads to defeat (एकता में बल है)
Up a creek without a paddle — In a difficult situation without help (बुरी तरह फँस जाना)

Group 92

Group 92 · Up against the wall – Walking on thin ice

Up against the wall — In a desperate situation with no options (आगे कुआँ पीछे खाई)
An uphill task — Difficult task (लोहे के चने चबाना)
Up in arms — In rebellion (मोर्चा खोलना)
Up in the air — Not yet decided; uncertain (अधर में लटकना)
Upset someone’s applecart — To spoil someone's plans (बना-बनाया खेल बिगाड़ना)
Upset the apple cart — To cause trouble, to spoil someone's plans (बना-बनाया खेल बिगाड़ना)
Upset the applecart — To spoil a plan or arrangement (बना-बनाया खेल बिगाड़ना)
Up the ante — To increase the stakes (दाँव ऊँचा करना)
Up the creek — In serious difficulty (बुरी तरह फँसा हुआ)
Up to the hilt — Completely (पूरी तरह से)
Up to the mark — Up to the required standard (अच्छा/जरूरत के अनुसार)
Utopian idea — An ideal plan that cannot be realised (हवाई क़िले बनाना)
Vanish into the air — To disappear completely (छू-मंतर हो जाना)
Vanish into thin air — To disappear completely (छू-मंतर हो जाना)
Variety is the spice of life — Life is more interesting and enjoyable when it includes many different things (नए और विविध अनुभव जीवन को दिलचस्प बनाते हैं)
Vent your spleen — To express angry feelings (भड़ास निकालना)
Verbal diarrhoea — Talking too much, usually without thinking (बहुत ज़्यादा और बिना सोचे बोलना)
A vexed question — A difficult and much-debated issue (विवादास्पद प्रश्न)
A vicious cycle — A sequence of events that compound each other (दुष्चक्र)
Vis-à-vis — In relation to/face-to-face (के संबंध में; आमने-सामने)
Vote with one's feet — To show one's approval or disapproval of something through one's presence or absence (किसी भी चीज के लिए अपनी इच्छा या अनिच्छा दिखाना)
Vote with your feet — Show their disapproval/To show that you do not support something (असहमति जताना)
Waiting in the wings — Ready to step in or take over when needed (ज़रूरत पड़ने पर आगे आने के लिए तैयार)
Walk a tightrope — To act very carefully in a risky or delicate situation (बहुत सावधानी से चलना, नाज़ुक स्थिति सँभालना)
Walking on thin ice — Doing something risky (तलवार की धार पर चलना)

Group 93

Group 93 · Walk into the lion's den – A whale of a time

Walk into the lion's den — To deliberately place yourself in a dangerous or difficult situation (आ बैल मुझे मार)
A walk of life — A person's occupation or position within society (समाज में किसी व्यक्ति-विशेष की स्थिति, पद या स्तर)
Walk on air — To be extremely happy (ख़ुशी से फूले न समाना)
Walk on eggs — To walk or act very cautiously (फूँक-फूँककर कदम रखना)
Walk on eggshells — To be very careful not to upset or offend someone (फूँक-फूँक कर कदम रखना, बहुत सावधान रहना)
Walk the tightrope — To act very carefully in a risky situation (तलवार की धार पर चलना)
Want to curl up and die — To feel terribly ashamed and sorry (शर्म से पानी-पानी होना)
Wash one's hands of sth — Refuse to be responsible for something (पल्ला झाड़ना)
Wash your dirty linen in public — To discuss private matters in front of others (घर की बात सबके सामने लाना)
A watched pot never boils — Time seems to pass slowly when you wait anxiously for something (इंतज़ार में समय धीमा लगता है)
Watching grass grow — Very boring (बहुत उबाऊ)
Water under the bridge — Something from the past that isn't significant or important anymore (बीती ताहि बिसार दे)
Waxed and waned — Increased and decreased alternately (घटता बढ़ता रहा)
Ways and means — The methods and resources used to achieve something (तरीक़े और साधन)
Weal and woe — Good times and bad times (सुख और दुख)
Wear and tear — Damage (घिस-पिस कर टूट जाना)
Wear one's heart on one's sleeve — to show one's feelings openly (अपनी भावनाएँ खुलकर प्रकट करना)
Wear the green willow — To grieve over unreturned love (एकतरफ़ा प्रेम का दुख सहना)
Wear your heart on your sleeve — To display one's emotions openly (भावनाएँ प्रकट करना)
To weather the storm — To survive a difficult period (मुश्किल दौर पार कर जाना)
Well begun is half done — A good start is half the success (अच्छी शुरुआत आधी सफलता)
We'll leave no stone unturned — We will try every possible course of action (कोई कसर न छोड़ना)
Wet behind the ears — To be young and without experience (अभी दूध के दाँत भी नहीं टूटे)
A wet blanket — Someone who ruins other people's fun (रंग में भंग डालना)
A whale of a time — A very enjoyable time (असाधारण रूप से मजेदार या रोमांचक अनुभव प्राप्त करना)

Group 94

Group 94 · What a small world – A wild-goose chase

What a small world — A coincidence (अकस्मात् मिलना)
Whatever floats your boat — Whatever makes you happy (जो तुम्हें अच्छा लगे)
The wheels have come off — For something previously successful to start faltering or failing (योजना का असफल हो जाना)
When it rains, it pours — Problems seem to happen together (कंगाली में आटा गीला)
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade — Make the best out of difficult situations (मुश्किल को अवसर में बदलना)
When pigs fly — Something that is impossible (जब सूरज पश्चिम से निकलेगा)
When the crunch comes — At the moment of decision (जब असली वक़्त आएगा)
Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise — Sometimes not knowing is better (जहाँ अज्ञान सुख है वहाँ ज्ञान मूर्खता है)
Where there is a will, there is a way — If you are determined enough, you can find a way to achieve what you want (जहाँ चाह वहाँ राह)
Where the shoe pinches — Where the difficulty lies (असली तकलीफ़ कहाँ है)
Whet your appetite — To increase someone's desire for something (और पाने की इच्छा जगा देना)
While there is life, there is hope — Hope remains as long as one is alive (जब तक साँस, तब तक आस)
Whistle in the dark — To try to remain optimistic in a difficult situation. (डर के बावजूद हिम्मत दिखाना)
A white elephant — A costly but useless possession (सफ़ेद हाथी पालना)
A white lie — A small lie told to avoid hurting someone (भलाई के लिए बोला गया छोटा झूठ)
Whole bag of tricks — All the possible methods or techniques for achieving something (सारे हथकंडे अपनाना)
The whole ball of wax — Everything (सब कुछ)
The whole nine yards — The entirety of something (किसी चीज की संपूर्णता)
Whoop it up — To celebrate noisily, usually in a group (धूम मचाना)
The whys and wherefores — Reasons or explanation (कारण या स्पष्टीकरण)
A wide berth — To avoid or stay away from (someone or something) (किसी से कोसों दूर रहना)
Wild and woolly — Uncouth in appearance or behaviour (उजड्ड और असभ्य)
A wildcat strike — A strike by workers without official union support (यूनियन की मंजूरी के बिना कर्मचारियों की हड़ताल)
A wild goose chase — A futile search/effort (व्यर्थ की भागदौड़)
A wild-goose chase — A hopeless and pointless search (बेकार की भागदौड़)

Group 95

Group 95 · Will-o'-the-wisp – Working my fingers to the bone

Will-o'-the-wisp — Something elusive or unattainable. (मृग-मरीचिका)
Wine and dine — To entertain someone with an expensive meal (भव्यता से खान-पान करवाना)
Win laurels — To achieve honours and glory (प्रतिष्ठा और सम्मान पाना)
Wipe the floor with someone — To defeat someone very easily (धूल चटा देना)
Wipe the nose of — To cheat or rob someone of something (आँखों में धूल झोंकना)
A wise head keeps a still tongue — An intelligent person knows when to stay silent (ऐसा इंसान जो बहुत सोच समझ कर बोलता है)
With a fine-tooth comb — Examining something in great detail and with great care (चप्पा-चप्पा छान मारना)
With a heavy heart — Feeling sad and unwilling to do something (भारी मन से, दुखी होकर)
With all guns blazing — With a lot of force and energy (पूरी ताक़त झोंक देना)
With a vengeance — With great force or energy; to an extreme degree (पूरी तीव्रता के साथ)
With bated breath — In anxious suspense (साँस रोककर, बेचैनी से)
With bells on — Eagerly and happily; ready to enjoy (उत्साह और खुशी से)
With great care — Very carefully (सावधानी से)
Within a stone's throw — Very close by (दो क़दम की दूरी पर)
With might and main — With all one's strength (जी-जान से)
With one's tail between one's legs — With a feeling of being embarrassed or ashamed especially because one has been defeated (दुम दबाकर लौटना)
With one voice — Unanimously; in agreement. (एक सुर में बोलना)
With open arms — Warmly/with great affection (पलकें बिछाना)
Without question — Beyond a doubt (बिना किसी संदेह के)
Without rhyme or reason — Without a reasonable explanation (बे-सिर-पैर का)
A wolf in sheep's clothing — A dangerous person pretending to be harmless (भेड़ की खाल में भेड़िया)
Won his laurels — Gained honour and recognition (प्रतिष्ठा अर्जित की)
Word of mouth — People tell it to each other rather than it being printed in written form (कानों-कान ख़बर फैलना)
Work against the clock — To work fast to meet a deadline (समय से होड़ लेते हुए काम करना)
Working my fingers to the bone — Working extremely hard (ख़ून-पसीना एक करना)

Group 96

Group 96 · Work like a charm – Zip your lip

Work like a charm — To work very well (जादू की तरह काम करना)
Work like a dream — To succeed perfectly (बिना रुकावट के काम पूरा होना)
Work the system — To use rules and procedures cleverly, often unfairly, for personal gain (नियमों का चालाकी से अपने फ़ायदे के लिए इस्तेमाल करना)
The world is your oyster — You are in a position to take the opportunities that life has to offer (दुनिया आपकी मुट्ठी में होना)
Worth his weight in gold — Extremely valuable and useful (अत्यंत मूल्यवान)
Worth its weight in gold — Very useful, valuable, or important (अत्यंत मूल्यवान)
To wrangle over an ass's shadow — To argue over trivial matters. (बेमतलब की बात पर झगड़ना)
Wrap my head around it — To manage to understand something difficult (मुश्किल बात को समझ पाना)
Wrap one's head around something — To understand something (दिमाग़ खपाना)
Wrap someone in cotton wool — To protect someone too much from risk or difficulty (किसी को ज़रूरत से ज़्यादा सुरक्षित रखना)
Wrinkled and shrunken — Shrivelled (झुर्रियों वाला और सिकुड़ा हुआ)
Writing on the wall — The writing on the wall means the likelihood that something bad will happen (ख़तरे की घंटी बजना)
X marks the spot — This is the exact spot or location (यही सही जगह है)
Yellow bellies — Cowards (कायर लोग)
Yellow journalism — News reporting that uses shocking, exaggerated or false stories to attract readers (सनसनीखेज़, झूठी या बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर लिखी पत्रकारिता)
Yeoman service — Excellent service/Useful help in need (निष्ठापूर्ण और उपयोगी सेवा)
Yeoman's service — Excellent and loyal service (सराहनीय सेवा)
Yeoman’s service — Loyal and valuable service (निष्ठावान और मूल्यवान सेवा)
You can say that again — Used to show that you completely agree with what someone has said (सोलह आने सच)
Your guess is as good as mine — To have no idea of the answer (मुझे भी उतना ही पता है जितना तुम्हें)
You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours — If you help me, I will help you in return (एक-दूसरे का उपकार, तुम मेरा काम करो मैं तुम्हारा)
You snooze, you lose — If you are not alert, you are likely to miss opportunities (जो सोया, सो खोया)
To zero in on — To direct all attention to one thing (निशाने पर केंद्रित होना)
Zero tolerance — A policy of not allowing any violations of a rule or law (बिल्कुल छूट नहीं)
Zip your lip — One should remain silent or keep a secret (मुँह पर ताला लगाना)

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