List-20
1. To make bricks without straw
Meaning: –to attempt to do something without proper materials or due preparation
Use:-Trying to cross the ocean in a boat is like trying to make bricks without straw.
2. Never cross the bridge until you come to it
Meaning: –Do not anticipate difficulties
Use:-Your fear about offending your officer is baseless. In fact, never cross the bridge until you come to it.
3. To bring down the house
Meaning: –to cause rapturous applause
Use:-His musical performance brought down the house.
4. To bring up the rear
Meaning: –to be the last in the line
Use:-As I reached, late, I brought up the rear.
5. It is as broad as it is long
Meaning: –It is the same whichever way you view it
Use:-This room is as broad as it is long.
6. To knit the brow
Meaning: –to frown
Use:-It is a bad habit to knit one’s brow.
7. To browbeat
Meaning: –to bully
Use:-Her is in the habit of browbeating others.
8. To kick the bucket
Meaning: –to die
 He kicked the bucket after a long distance.
9. To buckle on one’s armour
Meaning: –to set to work energetically
Use:-During the examination days, students buckle on their armour.
10. To take the bull by the horns
Meaning: –to tackle any difficulty in a bold and direct manner
Use:-Don’t be afraid of the difficulty and take the bail by the horns.
11. John Bull
Meaning: –an Englishman
Use: –A John Bull considers himself superior to others.
12. To Burke a question
Meaning: –to suppress or prevent any discussion on it.
 Use:-The Prime Minister tried to burke the question raised by the opposition parties.
13. To bury the hatchet
Meaning: –to forget past quarrels and be friends again
Use:-The American Indians had the custom of burying their tomahawks when peace was concluded, as a symbol of their peaceful intentions—Let us bury the hatchet and be good friends once again.
14. Good wine needs no bush
Meaning: –there is no need to advertise something good
Use:-Â Every student knows a good professor because a good wine needs no bush.
15. But me no huts
Meaning: –Do not bring forward objections
Use:-But me no buts in my efforts to help the poor. Â
16. To raise earn
Meaning: –to rebuke severely
Use:-Do not raise coin your child.
17. To take the cake
Meaning: –to take the first prize; to be the best of the lot
Use:-He, being the best player, took the cake.
18. To burn the candle at both ends
Meaning: –expend energy in two directions at the same time
Use:-He is a spendthrift and bums the candle at both ends.
19. The game is not worth the candle
Meaning: –the undertaking is not worth the trouble
Use:-Don’t run after that worthless girl; the game is not worth the candle.
20. To paddle your own canoe
Meaning: –to be responsible for your actions; to act independently
Use:-Now you are a grown-up boy and must learn to paddle your own canoe.
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