Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and Examples

Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and Examples

Explore a comprehensive guide to idioms and phrases with meanings and examples. Discover the origins and uses of popular idiomatic expressions, enhancing your language skills and cultural understanding. Learn how to incorporate these phrases into your everyday conversations with confidence.

Idioms and phrases with meanings and examples “C”

Come into force (Make effective, কার্যকরি হওয়া) idioms examples: The law will come into force very soon.

Come to light (become known, প্রকাশিত হওয়া) idioms examples: Their private talk has come to light at last.

Come off with flying colours (win,জয়লাভ করা) idioms examples: Our school team came off with flying colours.

Cook the books/accounts (to deceive in accounts, নিজের সুবিধার জন্য হিসাবে কারচুপি করা) idioms examples: They tried their best to cook the books or accounts but could not succeed.

Crocodile tears (pretended cry, false sorrow, মায়া কান্না) idioms examples: He shed crocodile tears at our misery.

Cry over spilt milk (repent falsely, বৃথা অনুশোচনা করা) idioms examples: They is no use crying over spilt milk.

Crying need (urgent need, জরুরী প্রয়োজন) idioms examples: Mass education is the crying need of India.

Curry favour (be favorite through flattery, তোষামদ করে প্রিয় হওয়া) idioms examples: He knows how to curry favour with officers.

Curtain lectures (lectures given by a wife to her husband within the bed curtain/in bed, স্ত্রীর পরামর্শ) idioms examples: He is guided by curtain lectures.

Cut a sorry figure (make bad results,খারাপ ফল করা ) idioms examples: He cuts a sorry figure in the examination.

Cut and dry (already decided & fixed, পূর্বেই মিমাংসাকৃত) idioms examples: No cut and dried policy will do here

Cut and thrust (hand-to-hand light, হাতাহিত যুদ্ধ) They were involved in a cut and thrust for a trifling matter.

Cut to the quick (hurt, মর্মাহত হওয়া, কারো মনে কষ্ট দেয়া) I was cut to the quick by his words.

Cut someone dead (কাউকে দেখে না দেখার ভান করা) On my way to school I met an old friend of mine, but I did not have enough time to waste and so I had to cut him dead.

Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and Examples “D”

Dark horse (an unknown person,অপরিচিত ব্যক্তি) We were surprised at a dark horse like him.

Dead against (bitterly against, strongly, তিব্র/ঘোর বিরোধী) I am dead against his proposal.

Dead beat (extremely/very tired, খুব ক্লান্ত) I was dead beat when I swam across the river.

Dead language (a language no longer in use, not spoken, যে ভাষায় এখন আর কথা বলা হয় না, মৃত ভাষা) Sanskrit is a rich language, but it is now a dead language. Latin is a dead language.

Dead letter (law not in force, যে আইন আর চালু নেই/কার্যকর নেই) The law is a dead letter now.

Dead of night (midnight,মধ্যরাত্রি) The robbers broke into the house at dead of night.

Dead set (ultimate attack, প্রাণপণ আক্রমণ করা) The defenders made a dead set against the enemy.

Die in harness (die in service/business,কর্মরত অবস্থায় মারা যাওয়া) Dr. Sen died in harness.

Dog chance (a faint hope,ক্ষীণ আশা) He stands a dog’s chance to be successful this time.

Do yeoman’s service (render valuable service,বিশেষ উপকার করা; provide useful help, কল্যানকর সাহায্য করা) Raja Rammohan Roy has done yeoman’s service to our country.

Drug on the market (overabundant and not in demand, অনেক বেশি থাকায় চাহিদা নাই; unsalable for lack of demand, চাহিদার অভাবে অবিক্রিত পণ্য, কাটতিহীন) This product is a drung on the market.

Down in the mouth (out of spirits, ) He looks down in the mouth.

Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and Examples “F”

Face to face (in person, directly meeting each other, সামনাসামনি, মুখোমুখি) I prefer to talk to people face to face rather than talk on the phone.

Face value (outward appearance, বাহ্যিকতা) Do not accept it on its face value.

Fag end (The last part,শেষাংশ) I have heard the fag end of his thrilling story.

Fall flat (have/produce no effect, cause no interest, ফলপ্রসু না হওয়া) My advice fell flat on him.

Far and wide /Far and near (everywhere, সর্বত্র) His fame as a scholar spread far and wide.

Far cry (long distance, অনেক দূরের পথ ) From Munseiff to a High court judge is a far cry.

Far and away (Beyond comparison,অতুলনীয় ) He is far and away the best boy here.

Fair play (deceitless, প্রতারণাবিহীন নীতি বা কাজ) I believe in the practice of fair play in my business.

Fair field and no favour (impartial justice, নিরপেক্ষ বিচার) I want only fair and no favour.

Fair and square (honest, সৎ, সরল) He is fair and square in his dealings.

Fare and fury (excitement, উত্তেজনা) When he talked with the rebellious workers, he added fare and fury in his speech.

Feet of clay (fundamentally week and coward, মূলত ভীতু)  He appeared to be a strong and forceful man but later proved to a feet of clay.

Fight shy of (avoid, এড়িয়ে চলা) Why do you fight shy of me? তুমি আমাকে এড়িয়ে চলছ কেন?

Fish out of water (in an uneasy situation, অস্বস্তিকর অবস্থায়; অপরিচিত পরিবেশে থাকার কারণে অস্বস্তি বা FOR FREE) When he came to the village, he felt like a fish out of water.

Fish in a troubled water (take advantage of disturbed situation, বিশৃঙ্খল অবস্থার সুযোগ নেওয়া) He wanted to fish in the troubled water. (সে ঘোলা জলে মাছ শিকার করতে চেয়েছিল)

Fit as a fiddle (in good condition, ভালো অবস্থায়) Though he has grown old, he is fit as a fiddle.

Flesh and blood (human body, রক্ত মাংসের শরীর) Flesh and blood cannot bear with such insult

Fly in the ointment (a small thing that spoils everything, ক্ষুদ্র বস্তু যা সব কিছুকে নষ্ট করে) party was well attended but his absence was a fly in the ointment.

Flying visit (a very short visit,খুব সময়ের ভ্রমণ) He paid a flying visit to us last month.

Fly in the face (oppose directly at risk, প্রকাশ্যে বিরোধিতা করে বিপদ বরণ করা) Why do you fly in the face of the Principal order.

For good (forever, permanently, চিরতরে, চিরকালের জন্য ) He left the country for good.

From A to Z (beginning to end, প্রথম থেকে শেষ পর্যন্ত) The statement is true from A to Z.

Foregone conclusion (anticipated result, পূর্বানিমিত ফল) It was a foregone conclusion that he would win the race. The result of the election/vote is a foregone conclusion.

Fool’s paradise (illusory happiness,বোকার স্বর্গ, কাল্পনিক সুখ) If you expect any help from him, you are living in a fool’s paradise.

Foot the bill (Pay,বিল পরিশোধ করা) He asked me to dine with him, but I had to foot the bill.

Foul play (Treacherous or unfair act, অসদাচারণ করা) Be honest, do not indulge in foul play.

Free and easy (Frank, খোলাখুলি, মনখোলা) He talked in free and easy manner.

French leave (being absence from duty without permission, বিনা অনুমতিতে কর্তব্যে অনুপস্থিত) The boy was punished for taking French leave from his class.

Fresh blood (newly enthusiastic person, নতুন উৎসাহী লোক) I want fresh blood in the office.

Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and Examples “G”

Gala day (a day of festivity, উৎসবের দিন) The Eid day is a gala day to the Muslims.

Get rid of (to be free from, throw away, remove, নিস্তার পাওয়া) I can’t get rid of this headache.

Gift of the gab (the ability/talent of convincing people, persuasiveness, eloquence,কথা দিয়ে রাজি করানোর ক্ষমতা, বাক্‌পটুতা, চোপার জোর) An advocate should have the gift of the gab.

Going concern (a successful business, সফল ব্যবসা) I am the head of a going concern now.

Gone to the dogs (be ruined, গোল্লায় যাওয়া, উচ্ছন্নে যাওয়া) He has gone to the dogs. সে গোল্লায় গেছে

Go/get into the red (incurred liabilities that exceeded assets, পাওনার চেয়ে দায় অধিক) Because of prolonged strikes and lock-outs, the company got into the red.

Greek and Latin (difficult meaning,দুর্বোধ্য ) What you say is Greek and Latin to me.

Green horn (inexperienced, অনভিজ্ঞ) I cannot depend upon a green horn like you.

Green with envy (extremely jealous/envious, চরম ঈর্ষান্বিত; নিজের না থাকায় অন্যের কোন কিছুতে খুব ) He became green with envy when he heard about my winning the lottery.

Grey matter (intelligence,বুদ্ধিমত্তা ) I wish I had a little of your grey matter.

Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and Examples “H”

Hall mark (mark of greatness/purity,শ্রেষ্ঠতা বা বিশুদ্ধতার ছাপ) The plan bears hall mark of skill.

Hair breadth escape (narrow escape, অল্পের জন্য প্রাণ বাঁচানো, মারাত্মকভাবে জখম হওয়া এড়ানো)

Hang in the balance (undecided, অমিমাংসিত) The fate of the prisoner hangs in the balances.

Hard and fast (rigid, fixed, বাঁধাধরা) There is no such hard and fast rule in this matter.

Hard nut to crack (a difficult problem, কঠিন সমস্যা; a difficult person, কঠিন লোক, বেশ শক্ত লোক) The leakage of question papers is a hard nut to crack./ Mr. Anis is a hard nut to crack.

Harps on the same strings (repeat tediously, talk about the same subject, এক কথা বার বার বলে বিরক্ত করা) He always harps on the same strings of his past services.

Haul over the coals (criticize / insult/rebuke severly, ভুল/অন্যায়ের জন্য কাউকে কড়া ভাষায় তিরস্কার করা) He was hauled over the coals by his boss for coming in late for work.

Heart and soul (earnestly, completely,মনেপ্রাণে, সর্বশক্তিতে) He tried heart and soul to help me.

Heart to heart (Candid, মনখোলা) I have a heart to heart talk with him about the matter.

Hit below the belt (hit unfairly, mainly in boxing give a foul blow, প্রতিযোগিতায় অসৎ পথ অবলম্বন করা) He is too honourable to hit his enemy below the belt.

High and mighty (haughty and proud, উদ্ধত এবং গর্বিত) He is high and mighty in his attitude

Hit the nails on the head (say/describe what is exactly right,একদম সঠিক কথা বলা, হুবহু একই কথা বলা) With regard to the gentleman’s comments, I think he has hit the nail right on the head.

Hold the baby (take unwanted, troublesome responsibility,পরের অনাবশ্যক ঝামেলা নিজ কাঁধে নেওয়া) He failed to turn up at the appointed day and I had to hold the baby.

Hold good (remain binding, is valid,কার্যকর হওয়া) This offer holds good for to days.

Hold the olive branch (bear symbol of peace, শান্তির প্রতীক বহন করা) He held the olive branch to his enemies. India held out an olive branch to Pakistan by releasing 42 prisoners.

Hold the fort (defend, fog,প্রতিহত করা, রক্ষা করা) David had to hold the fort in absence of his father.

Hold the scale even (make justice, ন্যায় বিচার করা) He is a just man and will surely hold the scale even between the parties.

Hold water (bear examination, appear to be effective/logical, কার্যকরি হয়ে ওঠা) This policy will not hold water in this situation. This arguemnt just does not hold water.

Hole and corner (secret, underhand, গোপনীয়, প্রতারণাপূর্ণ) I hate a hole and corner wedding.

Host in oneself (একাই একশ) He is a host in himself and requires no help.

House of cards (insecure things,তাসের ঘর, ক্ষণস্থায়ী সৃষ্টি) All his plans failed like a house of cards Household word (familiar name, সকলের পরিচিত নাম) Now ‘Sopner BCS’ is a household word.