Samacheer Kalvi 9th English Vocabulary Idioms
Samacheer Kalvi 9th English Vocabulary Idioms
Tamilnadu Samacheer Kalvi 9th English Vocabulary Idioms
An idiom is an expression in English with a special meaning of its own. Idioms do not give the literal meaning of the individual words used in them.
Here are a few sentences with idioms (meanings are given in brackets):
- Business is going from bad to worse, (deteriorate further)
- They always do things in a big way, (on a large scale)
- The government has taken a very hard line (not giving in) against illegal quarrying.
- Orders for the new product are coming in thick and fast, (in large numbers)
- How can any one make ends meet (manage with the money) with just ? 2000/- a month?
- Your son’s behavior is a matter of concern, (something to worry about)
- The name sounds familiar but I can’t call her face to mind, (recall something from memory; recognise)
- My uncle loves to tell us how to play cricket. He is an armchair expert.
(one who gives advice in an area in which he was not actively involved) - Ravi is our sincere employee. He has had a clean slate (a past record without discredit) for over twenty years.
- The policeman went near the damaged car to have a look at close quarters, (very near)
- Dr. Jacob is at the helm (in charge) of affairs in this hospital.
- No one can make a break even (make no profit or loss) in the first year of business.
- Because of the steep rice in prices, people living on pension feel the pinch, (feeling unpleasant change in one’s standard of living)
- Let us settle the bill for the damage fair and square, (in a fair way)
- I can hear you over phone loud and clear, (very clearly)
- By and by (as time goes by) he will realise that my going to Delhi was the right decision.
Idioms from the Textual Exercises
Idiom – Meaning
1. alarm bells ringing – a sign of something going wrong
2. back to the wall – in serious difficulty
3. below the belt – unfair or unsporting behavior
4. by the skin of one’s teeth – a narrow escape.
5. drive one up the wall – to annoy or irritate someone
6. asp / clutch at straws – try any method to overcome a crisis
7. hang out to dry – abandoning one who is in difficulty
8. have cold feet – feel nervousness and anxiety
9. hit the road – to begin one’s journey
10. in a nice pickle – in a troublesome or difficult situation
11. in our corner – on your side in an argument or dispute
12. in panic mode – in a frightening state
13. on the ropes – state of near collapse or defeat
14. right up to one’s alley – ideally suited to one’s interest
15. saved by the bell – help at the last moment rescuing one from a difficult situation
16. shot his bolt – to exhaust one’s effort
17. square off – prepare for a conflict
18. take (one) for a ride – to deceive someone
19. throw in the towel – to give up
20. tight corners – difficult situations
Some more idioms and meanings :
| 1 | a bolt from the blue | unexpected event; complete surprise (usually unwelcome) |
| 2 | a drop in the ocean | a very small amount compared with what is needed or expected |
| 3 | a great deal | plenty of |
| 4 | a penny for your thoughts | a way of asking what someone is thinking. |
| 5 | a stone’s throw | a very short distance |
| 6 | a storm in a teacup | a big fuss about a small problem |
| 7 | a wild goose chase | a worthless hunt or chase |
| 8 | a yellow streak | cowardice in one’s character |
| 9 | above board | honest, not a secret |
| 10 | add insult to injury | to worsen an unfavorable situation |
| 11 | armchair expert | one who gives advice in an area in which he was not actively involved |
| 12 | at close quarters | very near |
| 13 | at hand | very near |
| 14 | at loggerheads | to disagree strongly |
| 15 | at snail’s pace | very slowly |
| 16 | at the drop of the hat | without any hesitation |
| 17 | at the eleventh hour | at the last moment |
| 18 | at the end of one’s tether | to have no power, patience or endurance left |
| 19 | at the helm | in charge |
| 20 | at the mercy of | under the control of |
| 21 | barking up the wrong tree | accusing the wrong person |
| 22 | be armed with | be equipped with |
| 23 | be fit for | suitable |
| 24 | be part of | belong to |
| 25 | beat around the bush | avoiding the main topic |
| 26 | bed of roses | comfortable position |
| 27 | best of both worlds | all the advantages |
| 28 | big way | on a large scale |
| 29 | bite the bullet | to get something over with because it is inevitable |
| 30 | blessing in disguise | something good that isn’t recognized at first. |
| 31 | bolt from the blue | something that happened without warning |
| 32 | break even | make no profit or loss |
| 33 | break the ice | make people feel more comfortable |
| 34 | break through | penetrate |
| 35 | bring forth | produce |
| 36 | burst into | enter suddenly |
| 37 | by and by | as time goes by |
| 38 | by nature | because of natural habits |
| 39 | call it a day | stop working on something |
| 40 | can’t judge a book by its cover | cannot judge something primarily on appearance. |
| 41 | clean slate | a past record without discredit |
| 42 | comparing apples to oranges | comparing two things that cannot be compared |
| 43 | costs an arm and a leg | very expensive |
| 44 | curiosity killed the cat | being inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation. |
| 45 | devil’s advocate | to present a counter argument |
| 46 | draw a blank | unable to get information |
| 47 | every cloud has a silver lining | good-things come after bad things |
| 48 | eyesore | ugly sight |
| 49 | eyewash | something to deceive |
| 50 | fair and square | in a fair way |
| 51 | fall a prey to | become a victim |
| 52 | far cry from | very different from |
| 53 | far from | distant |
| 54 | feel the pinch | feeling unpleasant change in one’s standard of living |
| 55 | fit as a fiddle | in good health |
| 56 | fortune favours the bold | take risks |
| 57 | give (someone) a piece of one’s mind | to tell someone frankly what one thinks especially when one disapproves of the other’s behaviour |
| 58 | give someone the cold shoulder | ignore someone |
| 59 | go down in flames | fail spectacularly |
| 60 | go on a wild goose chase | to do something pointless |
| 61 | going from bad to worse | deteriorate further |
| 62 | good-for-nothing | worthless |
| 63 | hang around | someone strongly to loiter |
| 64 | hang in there | don’t give up |
| 65 | hard to come by | difficult to find |
| 66 | have a hand | to get involved |
| 67 | have no hand in | does not take part in an activity |
| 68 | head back | return |
| 69 | herculean task | difficult task |
| 70 | hit the nail on the head | do or say something exactly right |
| 71 | hit the sack | go to sleep |
| 72 | holds good | valid at the time of discussion |
| 73 , | honour bound (to do something) | required to do something as a moral duty but not by law |
| 74 | in a nutshell | briefly |
| 75 | in all walks of life | all social groups |
| 76 | in deep waters | in trouble |
| 77 | in hot pursuit | following closely |
| 78 | in short supply | Not enough / scarce |
| 79 | in the hands of | in the care of |
| 80 | in the service of | available for |
| 81 | it is a piece of cake | it is easy |
| 82 | it’s Taining cats and dogs | it’s raining hard |
| 83 | keep pace with | to move with same speed |
| 84 | keep something at bay | keep something away |
| 85 | kicked the bucket | passed away |
| 86 | leave no stone unturned | look everywhere |
| 87 | let the cat out of the bag | give away a secret |
| 88 | lion’s share | major share |
| 89 | look down upon | treat with contempt . |
| 90 | loud and clear | very clearly |
| 91 | make both ends meet | live within means |
| 92 | make fun of | ridicule |
| 93 | make up one’s mind | decide, determine |
| 94 | matter of concern | something to worry about |
| 95 | miss the boat | it’s too late |
| 96 | muffle up | to cover |
| 97 | not playing with a full deck | someone who lacks intelligence |
| 98 | note of hand | promissory note |
| 99 | null and void | invalid |
| 100 | on cloud nine | to be extremely happy |
| 101 | once and for all | completely and finally |
| 102 | once in a blue moon | vary rarely |
| 103 | one thing leads to another | series of events in which each event was caused by the previous one. |
| 104 | out of place | unsuitable |
| 105 | pink of health | extremely healthy, in perfect condition |
| 106 | play an important role | to have a significant position |
| 107 | pull yourself together | calm down |
| 108 | put on airs | behave in an unnatural way to impress others |
| 109 | shadow of one’s self | not having the strength, former self influence, etc., that one once had |
| 110 | side by side | along with |
| 111 | speak volumes | to express something very clearly and completely |
| 112 | spill the beans | give away a secret |
| 113 | take to one’s heels | to run away |
| 114 | taken a very hard line | not giving in |
| 115 | the ball is in your court | it’s your decision |
| 116 | the burning question | a crucial issue |
| 117 | the whys and wherefores | the reasons for something |
| 118 | thick and fast | in large numbers |
| 119 | tit for tat | revenge |
| 120 | told him flat | expressed opinion directly |
| 121 | tread on | walk with difficulty |
| 122 | trial and error | to try many times to succeed |
| 123 | tricks of the trade | the expertise of doing business |
| 124 | well-balanced | well adjusted |
| 125 | whole nine yards | everything, all of it |
| 126 | wouldn’t be caught dead | would never like to do something |
| 127 | with a bang | in a very exciting way |
Exercises
(i) Choose the correct option to complete the given idioms.
1. A bolt from _________.
(a) the white (b) the sky (c) the green (d) the blue
Answer:
(d) the blue
2. A storm _________.
(a) at sea (b) in the ocean (c) in a coffee cup (d) in a tea cup
Answer:
(d) in a tea cup
3. Can’t judge a book, _________.
(a) by the colour (b) by its cover (c) by its pages (d) by its author
Answer:
(db) by its cover
4. Every cloud _________.
(a) is dark (b) hides the sun (c) has a silver lining (d) brings rain
Answer:
(c) has a silver lining
5. Casts an arm _________.
(a) and a face (b) and a finger (c) and a leg (d) and some money
Answer:
(c) and a leg
6. Add insult to _________.
(a) friend (b) enemy (c) neighbor (d) injury
Answer:
(d) injury
7. A penny for _________.
(a) a picture (b) honesty (c) hard work (d) your thoughts
Answer:
(d) your thoughts
8. Fortune favors
(a) the hardworking (b) the poor (c) the rich (d) the bold
Answer:
(d) the bold
9. Hit the nail _________.
(a) on the wall (b) on the door (c) in the bench (d) on the head
Answer:
(d) on the head
10. Once in a _________.
(a) blue moon (b) in a tea cup (c) new moon (d) full moon
Answer:
(a) blue moon
(ii) Give a suitable idiom for the given meanings.
1. Say something exactly right.
Answer:
To hit the nail on the head.
2. All social groups.
Answer:
All walks of life.
3. It’s raining hard.
Answer:
Its raining cats and dogs.
4. Passed away.
Answer:
Kicked the bucket.
5. Live within means.
Answer:
To make both ends meet.
6. Invalid.
Answer:
Null and void.
7. Extremely healthy.
Answer:
Pink of health.
8. Give away a secret.
Answer:
To let the cat out of the bag.
9. Revenge.
Answer:
Tit for that.
10. In trouble.
Answer:
In deep waters.
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