EXERCISE-27
1. Actions speak louder than words-
Meaning – When you say that actions speak louder than words, you mean that what a person does is more important than what they say.
Use- This government is always saying it cares about the poor, but actions speak louder than words.
2. Add insult to injury-
Meaning –To treat someone badly and make them feel worse after you have already hurt or upset them in another way.
Use-After damaging the water pipe, the plumber added insult to injury by sending us a bill for the repair.
3.The apple of your eye-
Meaning – Someone or something is the apple of your eye if you love them most and are very proud of them.
Use-E.g. Little Molly is the apple of her mother’s eye.
4. Take your breath away-
Meaning – Something or someone that takes your breath away is extremely beautiful or extremely surprising.
Use-The view from the hotel balcony will take your breath away, believe me.
5. Stab someone in the back-
Meaning – When someone stabs you In the back, they do something harmful, hurtful or disloyal to you when you trusted them to support or help you.
Use-Her oldest friend stabbed her in the back by publishing cruel stories about her.
6. Make a beeline for something or someone-
Meaning – To go straight towards something you want.
Use- Rachel came into the room and made a beeline for the crisps.
7. Put your best foot forward-
Meaning – You put your best foot forward when you start an activity, especially a difficult activity, in a determined way, aiming to do your best.
Use- It is a challenging job, but I’m sure Nick will put his best foot forward and make a success of it.
8.Out of the blue-
Meaning – When something happens out of the blue, it is totally unexpected.
Use- Suddenly out of the blue, a whole crowd of tourists appeared in front of us.
9. Have your cake and eat it-
Meaning – If you want to have your cake and eat it, you want to enjoy two things or situations at the same time, even though it is normally impossible to have them both together.
Use- You’re trying to have your cake and eat it– if you spend all your pocket money every week, how do you expect to save money to buy Christmas presents?
10.Lay (or put) your cards on the table-
Meaning – If you lay your cards on the table, you tell someone the truth about your situation, what you are planning put your reasons for doing something.
Use- Let me lay my cards on the table– I’ve been appointed to assess the effectiveness of this workforce and the need for such a large one.
11. A feather in one’s cap
Meaning: –an honour; a distinction
Use:-He added another feather in his cap by getting first division.
12. Birds of a feather flock together
Meaning: –People of similar tastes and dispositions crave each other’s company
Use:-Most of his friends are of his age, for birds of a feather flock together.
13. To feather one’s nest
Meaning: –to provide for the future
Use:-He has feathered his nest by saving a lot of money.
14. To show the white feather
Meaning: –to show signs of cowardice
Use:-He showed a white feather in the battle.
15. To sit on the fence
Meaning: –to remain neutral; to take neither side in a controversy
Use:-He has not joined any party; he is sitting on the fence.
16. As for fit as a fiddle
Meaning: –in excellent health
Use:-He remained ill for many days but now he is fit as a fiddle.
17. To play second fiddle
Meaning: –to take a subordinate position
Use:-He plays second fiddle to his wife.
18. To march in single, or Indian file
Meaning: –to march in a single line, one behind another
Use:-The students came out of the class in Indian file.
19. To have at one’s fingertips
Meaning: –to know thoroughly
Use:-I have all the details of the case at my fingertips.
20. To set the Thames on fire
Meaning: –to do something sensational or remarkable
Use:-His interview to the press has set the Thames on fire.
21. A skeleton in the cupboard, the family skeleton
Meaning: –a dreadful domestic secret
Use:-There are skeletons in everyone’s cupboard
22. To save one’s skin
Meaning: –to escape harm or injury
 Use:- He saved his skin by becoming a state witness.
23. To turn the tables
Meaning: –to reverse the conditions
Use:-He tried to deceive me, but I turned the tables upon him.
24. To turn tail
Meaning: –to desert, to run away
Use –When I challenged him, he turned tail and ran away.
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