idioms

ILLUSTRATIVE USE OF IDIOMS FOR ENGLISH

1. To add insult to injury - to harm a person and then insult him later.

2. Apple of the eye - someone or something dearly loved.

3. Once in a blue moon - very rarely.

4. To break the ice - to get people in friendly terms.

5. To kick the bucket - to die.

6. To call a spade a spade - to speak plainly/to be outspoken.

7. To let the cat out of the bag - tell a secret without intending to do so.

8. To look daggers - to look with anger/hatred/challenged/jealousy/fighting spirit.

9. To rain cats and dogs - to rain very heavily.

10. To turn a deaf ear - to refuse to listen.

11. To make one's flesh creep - to give one's feeling of fear or horror.

12. Out of the frying pan into the fire - from a bad situation to another.

13. To fly off the handle - to get angry/raged.

14. Lion's share - the largest part.

15. For love or money - by any means/for anything.

16. To cry for the moon - to try to get something beyond one's reach.

17. In a nick of time - at the right moment.

18. A bolt from the blue - something that comes as a complete surprise.

19. A thorn in one's flesh - a person/thing that caused nothing but trouble/problem/pain for a

long time.

20. To be at a discount - not to be valued/thankful.

21. A snake in the grass - treacherous friend/enemy.

22. To turn tail - to retreat/run away.

23. Sink or swim - whatever happens.

24. The skeleton at the feast - the person who spoils the enjoyment.

25. Crocodile tears - pretended sorrow.