Idioms and Phrases for important for Govt job exams

1. Like a fish out of water: In a strange situation

2. Smell a rat: Suspect something foul

3. Read between the lines: Understand the hidden meaning
4. Tooth and Nail: With all of one’s power

5. Spread like wild fire: Spread quickly

6. Hit the nail on the head: Do or say the exact thing

7. Burn the midnight Oil: Work or study hard

8. Under his thumb: Under his control

9. With a high hand: Oppressively

10. Gain ground: Become popular

11. By leaps and bounds: Rapidly

12. Make off with: To run away with

13. Pass away: to die

14. To cry for the moon: Ask for the impossible

15. To make a pig of oneself: To over-eat

16. Donkey’s years: Very long time

17. To pull one’s leg: to joke; tease

18. To keep one’s fingers crossed: to hope fervently

19. To eat humble pie: To apologize in a humble manner

20. To fight a losing battle: Struggle without hope of success

21. A deadlock: A position when no progress can be made

22. A daredevil: A person who does not care for any consequences

23. Once in a blue moon: Very rarely

24. At a premium: Difficult to get or obtain

25. To play the game: To act honestly

26. Be in a tight corner: In a very difficult situation

27. Cock and bull story: Made up story that one should not believe

28. Cat and dog life: Life full of quarrels

29. Like a cat on hot bricks: Very nervous

30. Have a card up one’s sleeve: Have a secret plan in reserve

31. Tell against: To prove adverse to; to go against

32. Run through: To squander or waste

33. Run over: to drive over

34. Alive and kicking: Active and healthy

35. To bell the cat: To face the risk

36. To break the ice: To break the silence

37. To call a spade a spade: To be frank and truthful

38. Behind one’s back: In the absence of

39. At sea: Confused or lost

40. To burn one’s fingers: To lose on account of foolish behavior

41. A cold fish: A person devoid of emotions

42. To cross the Rubicon: To take a decisive step

43. Double-dealing: Deceiving

44. To die hard: Change with great difficulty

45. To die in harness: To work till the last day of one’s life

46. To plough a lonely furrow: To work without help or support

47. Lock stock and barrel: Completely

48. The long and the short: the main point

49. Bring to light: Disclose

50. The bottom line: The final criteria