Telangana TSBIE TS Inter 2nd Year English Study Material Grammar Idioms and Phrases Exercise Questions and Answers.
TS Inter 2nd Year English Grammar Idioms and Phrases
Q.No. 12 (4 Marks)
Do you have any idea of what an idiom is?
Let us read this conversation.
Anitha : Hi, Akhila… seem to be over the moon!
Akhila : Yeah…Don’t you know? The Inter results are music to my ears. What about you?
Anitha : Ah! I had to eat humble pie.
Akhila : Why… ? You burnt the midnight oil… I think.
Anitha : Nevertheless, I failed in one subject.
Akhila : Don’t cry your eyes out. Pull up your socks. Prepare we for the next exam.
Anitha : It’s OK. But my father doesn’t have belief in my ability, often says, “Don’t tell me cock and bull stories”.
Akhila : Come on Anitha. Don’t cry over spilt milk. Keep bad company at bay. You will succeed. Cheer up…
Anitha : Thank you Akhila. You have been a pillar of support.
Akhila : It’s alright. See you
Have you gone through the groups of words in italics ? What do they mean? What can you get from the words in isolation? Don’t they sound strang Yes, they are called idioms.
What is an idiom ?
An idiom is an artistic expression whose meaning is unpredictable from the usual meaning of its component words. Use of idioms adds glamour to the language, and finds a place in everyday use of language as well.
Now, let’s look at some idiomatic expressions and their usage.
1. once in a blue moon: happen very rarely
He attends classes once in a blue moon.
2. an arm and a leg: very expensive
It cost me an arm and a leg to study in the USA.
3. a piece of the cake: very easy
Batting is a piece of cake for Virat these days.
4. a drop in the ocean: a tiny part of something much bigger
The small donation was just a drop in the ocean.
5. bite one’s tongue: want to say something but stop oneself
Sitara wanted to speak out about the unfair decision. But she bit her tongue.
6. go the extra mile: doing much more than required
My father always goes the extra mile to help the needy.
7. get ducks in a row: to get one’s affairs in order or organized
I can’t hope to do well at my job until I get my ducks in a row.
8. let the cat out of the bag: reveal a secret accidentally
Joel let the cat out of the bag about my surprise birthday party.
9. working against the clock: not having enough time to do something
I am really working against the clock now. I must hurry.
10. flogging a dead horse: attempting to continue with something that is over We are flogging a dead horse. Our present business is making no money.
So, let’s do something else.
11. on cloud nine: very happy
Rahul is on cloud nine since he got a good job.
12. bolt from the blue: something happened unexpectedly
The results of the recent polls were a bolt from the blue to many parties.
13. storm in a tea cup: making unnecessary fuss/ getting excited about something unimportant
There was a storm in a tea cup over who should be the Chief Guest on Hostel Day.
14. make hay while the sun shines : to take advantage of a good situation that may not last long
Our boss is on vacation. Let’s make hay while the sun shines and relax.
15. beat black and blue: covered with bruise marks caused by being hit
Kiran was beaten black and blue by the violent crowd.
16. fight an uphill battle: struggle against very unfavourable circumstances
The Kings XI Punjab must fight an uphill battle to win the IPL title.
17. donkey’s years: a long time .
I have been teaching grammar for donkey’s years.
18. at the eleventh hour: at the last possible moment
If you want to do your best, don’t do things at the eleventh hour.
19. bee in one’s bonnet: an idea that constantly occupies one’s thoughts
Our English teacher has a bee in her bonnet about correct pronunciation.
20. cook someone’s goose: spoil someone’s plans or chances of success
This year’s severe drought cooked Ramaiah’s goose.
21. feather in one’s cap: the achievement of which one can be proud of
Bahubali’s success is a feather in Rajamouli’s cap.
22. rags to riches: start offbeing very poor and become very rich and successful
Dhirubhai Ambani’s life is a story of rags to riches.
23. in the blink of an eye: happen fast and instantaneously
The announcement of intermediate results reached every come” in the blink of an eye.
24. in/by leaps and bounds: make rapid or spectacular progress
Our business flourished in leaps and bounds.
25. risk life and limb: in danger of death or severe injury
Don’t risk your life and limb by participating in reality shows.
26. save one’s neck/skin: escape from death, punishment, etc. especially by leaving others in an extremely difficult situation
Satish got his friends into trouble to save his skin.
27. birds of a feather flock together: similar in many ways, so spend time together
Arun and Varan are sports enthusiasts and are often found together. So, our friends usually speak of them as birds of a feather (flock together).
29. bite off more than you can chew: try to manage something too difficult
Actor Shireesh bit off more than he could chew in his debut movie.
30. take the bull by the horns: act decisively to deal with a complex problem
I want to take the bull by the horns by deciding to swim across the fiver.
31. leave no stone unturned: try everything possible to achieve something
President Kalam left no stone unturned to motivate the youth.
32. no spring chicken: one is quite old or well past one’s youth
I am no spring chicken, you know. How can I dance?
33. beyond wildest dreams: better than you imagined for
Last year’s rainfall was beyond our wildest dreams.
34. keep your nose to the grindstone: concentrate on working or studying hard (informal)
In the Intermediate class, my daughter has to keep her nose to the grindstone. No time for games or music.
35. paddle your own canoe: do something without the help of others
Sonu refused all help as he believed in paddling his owm canoe.
36. have a bone to pick: annoyed with somebody and talk to them about it
Lakshmi has a bone to pick with Revati as she was not invited to the marriage.
37. give a tongue-lashing: scold someone severely
The teacher gave the lazy boy a tongue-lashing when he called Rani a lazy girl.
38. dressed up to the nines: wearing bright or glamorous clothes
Actors often dress up to the nines for public functions.
39. make one’s ears burn: embarrassed by hearing something being said about you
The discussion about my childhood pranks made my ears burn.
40. turn a deaf ear: refuse to listen to somebody
Our boss turned a deaf ear to our request to change the meeting venue.
41. back to the salt mines: returning to work with some reluctance
After the vacation, the students had to go back to the salt mines.
42. nuts and bolts: detailed facts and the practical aspects (informal)
Unless I get to know the nuts and bolts of the business, I can’t venture into it.
43. step into someone’s shoes: take over a job / a position held by someone before you
When the manager retires, I’ll step into his shoes.
44. catch-22: a frustrating situation that will lead to further frustration
In big cities, if you don’t have a place to live in, you can’t get a job, and with no job, you can’t get a place to live in! Thus, it’s a catch-22 situation.
45. at the drop of a hat: do it immediately without hesitation
The wealthy socialite throws parties at the drop of a hat.
46. wild goose chase: a search for something that is impossible for you to find or that does not exist, that makes you waste a lot of time
Without a proper address or phone number, it would be a wild goose chase to locate someone in Hyderabad.
47. taste your own medicine: have the same bad treatment that you have given to others
The evil-minded will taste their own medicine sooner or later.
48. blow one’s horn: to praise oneself; to boast
People avoid her as she constantly blows her horn.
49. burn the midnight oil: to work very late into the night
I have to present this report by tomorrow. So, I must bum the midnight oil tonight.
50. thrilled to bits: extremely pleased about something
I was thrilled to bits when I received a fancy gift.
51. a bed of roses: something which is easy
Life is not always a bed of roses.
52. a white elephant: expensive but not that useful
His new car has become a white elephant.
53. hit the nail on the head: say something correctly
She hit the nail on the head with her response.
54. spill the beans: to reveal a secret
They were afraid he would spill the beans.
55. hot cakes: fastselling
The new model cars are selling like hot cakes.
56. face the music: accept unpleasant consequences
Having lost his character, he has to face the music.
57. judge a book by its cover: judge something primarily on appearance
You can’t judge a book by its cover. Just because he looks strange, that doesn’t mean . he is not a nice person.
58. Achilles heel: a weak (vulnerable) spot
Maths has always been my Achilles heel.
59. by a whisker: by a very small amount/margin
Finally, our team lost by a whisker and I was disappointed.
60. every cloud has a silver lining: every misfortune has some positive aspect
If we hadn’t missed the plane, we wouldn’t have met you. It is rightly said every cloud has a silver lining.
61. part and parcel: an essential or fundamental element
Don’t get disheartened at losing your form. It’s part and parcel of being a professional.
62. a thick skin: an ability to not be upset by criticism
A politician needs a thick skin.
63. a sea change: a complete change in someone’s attitude or behavior
There is a sea change in the behavior of the culprit after his release from the prison.
64. in a nutshell: briefly; in essence
Let me explain the proceedings in a nutshell.
65. get the nod: to receive permission from someone to start something
Rahul got the nod after a lengthy discussion among the members.
66. take the rap: to be blamed or punished, especially for something you have not done
She was prepared to take the rap for the shoplifting, though it had been her sister’s idea.
67. dark horse: one who is previously unknown and is now prominent
The Gujarat Titans has proved to be a dark horse in the recent IPL.
68. a hot potato: controversial and sensitive issue
Racism is currently a hot potato in the international cricket.
69. a square meal: a large, filling, nutritious meal
The soldiers are very tired. They haven’t had a square eat for four days.
70. by fair means or foul: by any possible method
They never gave up trying to recover their property by fair means or foul.
71. a labour of love: a task that you do for pleasure without expecting payment
Preparing this book is clearly a labour of love.
72. keep the pot boiling: keep going on actively
I threw in a question just to keep the pot boiling while my brain caught up.
73. tie the knot: to get married
The couple tied the knot last year.
74. from top to bottom: very thoroughly
I would clean my room from top to bottom every Sunday.
Exercises
I. Fill in the blanks ITI the following sentences with suitable idiomatic expressions given below. Make necessary changes in the idioms if needed.
take the rap
in a nut shell
a sea change
by a whisker
get the nod
a thick skin
1. Finally, our team lost _____________ and I was disappointed.
2. A politician needs _____________
3. There is _____________ in the behavior of the culprit after his release from the prison.
4. Let me explain the proceedings _____________
5. Rahul _____________ after a lengthy discussion among the members.
6. She was prepared to _____________ for the shoplifting, though it had been her sister’s idea.
Answers:
1. by a whisker
2. a thick skin
3. a sea change
4. in a nutshell
5. go the nod
6. take the rap
II. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with suitable idiomatic expressions given below. Make necessary changes in the idioms if needed.
on cloud nine
tie the knot
go the extra mile
apiece of cake
turn a deaf ear
hot cakes
1. The new model cars are selling like _____________
2. My father always _____________ since he got a good job.
3. Rahul is _____________ for Virat these days.
4. The couple _____________ last year.
5. Our boss _____________ to our request to change the meeting venue.
Answers:
1. hot cakes
2. goes the extra mile
3. on cloud nine
4. a piece of cake
5. tied the knot
6. turned a deaf ear