CBSE Class 10 English Grammar: Common Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and ExamplesIdioms and Phrases Get PDF @ Rs. 99 – All Chapter Notes Get PDF @ Rs. 199 – Class 10 Notes Idioms and PhrasesWhat are Idioms and Phrases?A phrase is a group of words which represents a part of speech.• The big bad wolf – Noun Phrase• Surprisingly good – Adjective Phrase• Was sleeping – Verb PhraseWhen the group of words or a phrase represents an idea or a thought which has a deeper, figurative meaning, it is called an idiom.• Wolf in sheep’s clothing – A deceptive person or a thing• Flesh and blood – related by blood• No love lost – not on good termsIn this chapter, we shall learn some commonly used English idioms and phrases.Idioms Related to AnimalsIdioms Related to the ParanormalIdioms Related to FoodIdioms Related to Mental StateIdioms Related to Household Items and Miscellaneous ThingsIdioms Related to Parts of the Body• Down in the mouth Meaning: Depressed/sadUsage: After her friend’s departure, Margaret is a little down in the mouth.• All earsMeaning: To listen attentivelyUsage: Tell us all about your trip to Peru. We are all ears!• Break a legMeaning: A phrase said to actors in an ironic manner to avoid bad luck before a performanceUsage: I hope you all perform well. Go break a leg!• Cost an arm and a leg Meaning: Cost a lot/expensiveUsage: Vineeta’s new house by the bay cost her an arm and a leg.• Get something off one's chest Meaning: Make a confessionUsage: I want to get something off my chest; it was my dog that destroyed your flowerbed.• Have one's head in the clouds Meaning: To be in a fantasy worldUsage: He seems to have his head in the clouds ever since the boss promised him a promotion.• Keep one's chin upMeaning: To be optimistic during trying timesUsage: Be positive and keep your chin up. Your efforts will be rewarded.• Play something by earMeaning: To not have a plan and to take things as they comeUsage: None of us have any formal training; we just play by the ear.• Rule of thumb Meaning: A basic principleUsage: The thumb rule for making a delicious cake is getting the proportions of the ingredients right.• Wash one's hands of something Meaning: To disassociate oneself from a problemUsage: I have washed my hands of my neighbours; they are on their own now.Idioms Related to History/Mythology• Cross the rubicon Meaning: Pass a point of no returnExplanation: Julius Caesar had crossed a river (the rubicon), after which he became a part of a civil war.Usage: Salim crossed the rubicon by accepting the position of the assistant manager.• Achilles’ heelMeaning: A weak spot/primary weaknessExplanation: Achilles, the greatest warrior on earth, was invincible. The only part of his body which was vulnerable was his heel. He was killed after being struck on the heel with a poisonous arrow.Usage: Math has always been her Achilles’ heel.• Pyrrhic victoryMeaning: A victory which comes at a huge costExplanation: It is named after King Pyrrhus who incurred great losses despite his victory over the Romans.Usage: The king conquered new kingdoms but lost all his best men. It was unfortunately a pyrrhic victory.• Trojan horseMeaning: Something which looks harmless but intends to harm covertlyExplanation: It is named after the wooden horse the Greeks gifted the Trojans as a peace offering. In reality, it was a ruse and the wooden horse was full of Greek soldiers who were wheeled into Troy by the unsuspecting citizens. The soldiers broke out at night and burnt the city to the ground.Usage: His seemingly harmless offer is actually a Trojan horse; he will strike when you least expect it. (Note: Some harmful computer programs are also called Trojans/Trojan horses.)• Beware the Greeks bearing giftsMeaning: Do not trust your enemies even if they seem to have the best intentionsExplanation: Refer to the explanation for ‘Trojan Horse’.Usage: Person A: My arch rival is being good to me these days.Person B: You know the saying: beware the Greeks bearing gifts.• The face that launched a thousand ships Meaning: To be the primary cause of a big problemExplanation: It alludes to Helen of Troy who was the main cause of the war breaking out between the Greeks and the Trojans. She eloped with the young prince Paris which caused her husband King Menelaus to declare war on Troy.Usage: Hers is a face that launched a thousand ships. Both suitors were warring against each other in a bid to court her.• Hounds of hellMeaning: To be pursued by evil forces as a retribution for a wrongdoingExplanation: In Greek mythology, the underworld is guarded by devilish looking hounds. These hounds are also known to pursue sinners to punish them.Usage: If one dares to oppose the mafia crime boss, one would be pursued by his hounds of hell.• Midas touchMeaning: An ability to make money easilyExplanation: The phrase is named after king Midas who was known to turn anything he touched into gold.Usage: Subodh is a rich man today because of his fine business acumen. He is known to have a Midas touch.• Caesar’s wife should be above suspicionMeaning: A person in a high public position should have a very good reputation and should even be free of suspicionExplanation: Julius Caesar’s wife Pompeia was divorced by him since she was suspected of adultery. Even though Caesar knew that his wife was innocent, he still divorced her stating even the taint of suspicion should not befall his wife.Usage: The new political party positioned themselves as a cleaner alternative to existing corrupt parties. They should guard their reputation with their lives since Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion.Idioms Related to Business and WorkIdioms Related to Studies• A for effortMeaning: Acknowledging someone for his or her efforts even if it was not successfulUsage: Although he didn’t pass, I have to give Ganesh an A for effort.• Back to basicsMeaning: Learn the basic concepts againUsage: I have forgotten all the formulas. Looks like I have to go back to basics.• Cover a lot of groundMeaning: To accomplish a great deal within a short span of timeUsage: Although she was allotted only a week, our substitute teacher covered a lot of ground in History.• Show of handsMeaning: To put up one’s hands for the purpose of votes or surveyUsage: Through a show of hands, how many of you would want Gauri as the class representative?• School of hard knocksMeaning: Learning through life’s negative experiencesUsage: Whatever Bill has learnt in life is through the school of hard knocks.• An old head on young shoulders Meaning: Someone who is wise for his or her ageUsage: The precocious young child speaks with wisdom which is rare for a child of her age. She is truly an old head on a young body.• Learn the ropesMeaning: To understand the tricks and workings of a jobUsage: In barely a year, Vinayak has learnt the ropes in the industry.• Schoolboy error Meaning: A silly mistakeUsage: How can an inveterate lawyer commit such a schoolboy error? JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL Join Our WhatsApp Channel JOIN NOW