Common English Idioms You Must Know
A blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something good that seemed bad at first
अर्थ: बुरा लगने वाला लेकिन अंत में लाभदायक
A dime a dozen
Meaning: Very common
अर्थ: बहुत आम
Beat around the bush
Meaning: Avoid the main topic
अर्थ: मुद्दे से बचना
Bite the bullet
Meaning: Face a difficult situation bravely
अर्थ: मुश्किल का साहस से सामना करना
Break the ice
Meaning: Start a conversation
अर्थ: बातचीत की शुरुआत करना
Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Work late at night
अर्थ: देर रात तक काम करना
Call it a day
Meaning: Stop working
अर्थ: काम खत्म करना
Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: Regret something that can’t be changed
अर्थ: बीती बात पर पछताना
Cut corners
Meaning: Do something cheaply or carelessly
अर्थ: काम में लापरवाही करना
Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Say exactly the right thing
अर्थ: बिल्कुल सही बात कहना
In hot water
Meaning: In trouble
अर्थ: मुसीबत में होना
Jump the gun
Meaning: Act too early
अर्थ: जल्दीबाज़ी करना
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: Reveal a secret
अर्थ: राज़ खोल देना
Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely
अर्थ: बहुत कम
Piece of cake
Meaning: Very easy
अर्थ: बहुत आसान
Spill the beans
Meaning: Reveal secret information
अर्थ: भेद खोल देना
The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your decision now
अर्थ: अब फैसला तुम्हें करना है
Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill
अर्थ: बीमार महसूस करना
Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: Make a bad situation worse
अर्थ: आग में घी डालना
At the drop of a hat
Meaning: Immediately
अर्थ: तुरंत
Back to square one
Meaning: Start again from the beginning
अर्थ: फिर से शुरुआत करना
Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Accusing the wrong person
अर्थ: गलत दिशा में सोचना
By hook or by crook
Meaning: By any means
अर्थ: किसी भी तरह से
Face the music
Meaning: Accept consequences
अर्थ: परिणाम भुगतना
Go the extra mile
Meaning: Make more effort
अर्थ: अतिरिक्त प्रयास करना
Hit the sack
Meaning: Go to sleep
अर्थ: सोने जाना
In the long run
Meaning: Over a long period
अर्थ: लंबे समय में
Keep an eye on
Meaning: Watch carefully
अर्थ: ध्यान रखना
Make ends meet
Meaning: Manage expenses
अर्थ: खर्च चलाना
Miss the boat
Meaning: Lose an opportunity
अर्थ: मौका चूक जाना
On cloud nine
Meaning: Very happy
अर्थ: बहुत खुश
Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: Joke with someone
अर्थ: मज़ाक करना
Read between the lines
Meaning: Understand hidden meaning
अर्थ: छिपा अर्थ समझना
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Meaning: Success takes time
अर्थ: सफलता में समय लगता है
Shoot in the dark
Meaning: Guess without facts
अर्थ: अंदाज़े से कहना
Sit on the fence
Meaning: Avoid taking sides
अर्थ: निर्णय न लेना
Take with a grain of salt
Meaning: Don’t believe fully
अर्थ: पूरी तरह विश्वास न करना
Throw in the towel
Meaning: Give up
अर्थ: हार मान लेना
Turn a blind eye
Meaning: Ignore intentionally
अर्थ: जानबूझकर अनदेखा करना
Wild goose chase
Meaning: Useless search
अर्थ: बेकार खोज
At sixes and sevens
Meaning: In confusion
अर्थ: उलझन में
Bite off more than one can chew
Meaning: Take too much responsibility
अर्थ: अपनी क्षमता से अधिक काम लेना
Burn bridges
Meaning: Destroy relationships
अर्थ: रिश्ते खराब करना
Caught red-handed
Meaning: Caught while committing a crime
अर्थ: रंगे हाथ पकड़ा जाना
Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive
अर्थ: बहुत महंगा
Devil’s advocate
Meaning: Argue for the opposite side
अर्थ: विरोधी पक्ष की दलील देना
Hit the books
Meaning: Study seriously
अर्थ: गंभीरता से पढ़ाई करना
In a nutshell
Meaning: Briefly
अर्थ: संक्षेप में
Keep fingers crossed
Meaning: Hope for good luck
अर्थ: शुभकामना देना
Make a long story short
Meaning: Summarize
अर्थ: संक्षेप में कहना
No pain, no gain
Meaning: Hard work brings success
अर्थ: मेहनत बिना सफलता नहीं
Off the hook
Meaning: Free from blame
अर्थ: दोष से मुक्त
Out of the blue
Meaning: Suddenly
अर्थ: अचानक
Play devil’s advocate
Meaning: Question for debate
अर्थ: बहस के लिए सवाल उठाना
Put all eggs in one basket
Meaning: Risk everything
अर्थ: सारा जोखिम एक जगह लेना
Raise the bar
Meaning: Increase standards
अर्थ: मानक बढ़ाना
Smell a rat
Meaning: Suspect something wrong
अर्थ: शक होना
Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: Face a problem boldly
अर्थ: समस्या का डटकर सामना करना
Through thick and thin
Meaning: In all situations
अर्थ: हर परिस्थिति में
Up in the air
Meaning: Uncertain
अर्थ: अनिश्चित
A drop in the ocean
Meaning: Very small amount
अर्थ: ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा
Back against the wall
Meaning: In a difficult situation
अर्थ: मुश्किल में फँसना
Break a leg
Meaning: Wish good luck
अर्थ: शुभकामना देना
Cold feet
Meaning: Fear before action
अर्थ: घबरा जाना
Cut to the chase
Meaning: Get to the point
अर्थ: सीधे मुद्दे पर आना
Eleventh hour
Meaning: Last moment
अर्थ: अंतिम समय
Get out of hand
Meaning: Become uncontrollable
अर्थ: नियंत्रण से बाहर होना
In black and white
Meaning: Written clearly
अर्थ: लिखित रूप में
Leave no stone unturned
Meaning: Try everything
अर्थ: कोई कसर न छोड़ना
On the same page
Meaning: Agree on something
अर्थ: एक मत होना
Play with fire
Meaning: Take a big risk
अर्थ: जोखिम लेना
Rule of thumb
Meaning: General rule
अर्थ: सामान्य नियम
Take it with a pinch of salt
Meaning: Be skeptical
अर्थ: संदेह से लेना
The tip of the iceberg
Meaning: Small visible part of a big problem
अर्थ: समस्या का छोटा हिस्सा
Throw cold water on
Meaning: Discourage
अर्थ: उत्साह कम करना
Under one’s nose
Meaning: Very close but unnoticed
अर्थ: आँखों के सामने
Walk on eggshells
Meaning: Act very carefully
अर्थ: बहुत सावधानी से काम करना
Wash one’s hands of
Meaning: Refuse responsibility
अर्थ: जिम्मेदारी से पल्ला झाड़ना
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire
Meaning: Rumors often have truth
अर्थ: अफवाह के पीछे सच्चाई होती है
Word of mouth
Meaning: Spoken communication
अर्थ: मौखिक प्रचार
A fish out of water
Meaning: Uncomfortable in situation
अर्थ: असहज महसूस करना
Back to the drawing board
Meaning: Start again
अर्थ: फिर से योजना बनाना
Cross the bridge when you come to it
Meaning: Don’t worry early
अर्थ: समय आने पर सोचना
Get cold feet
Meaning: Lose courage
अर्थ: हिम्मत हार जाना
In the same boat
Meaning: In same situation
अर्थ: एक ही स्थिति में होना
Make a mountain out of a molehill
Meaning: Exaggerate
अर्थ: छोटी बात को बड़ा बनाना
On thin ice
Meaning: In risky situation
अर्थ: खतरे में होना
Put one’s foot down
Meaning: Be firm
अर्थ: सख्ती से निर्णय लेना
The last straw
Meaning: Final irritation
अर्थ: सहनशक्ति की सीमा
Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: Start afresh
अर्थ: नई शुरुआत करना
At arm’s length
Meaning: Keep distance
अर्थ: दूरी बनाए रखना
Bite the dust
Meaning: Fail or die
अर्थ: हार जाना
Down to earth
Meaning: Practical
अर्थ: व्यवहारिक
Get the ball rolling
Meaning: Start something
अर्थ: शुरुआत करना
In full swing
Meaning: At peak activity
अर्थ: जोरों पर
Keep one’s fingers crossed
Meaning: Hope for success
अर्थ: सफलता की आशा करना
Make a clean breast of
Meaning: Confess
अर्थ: स्वीकार करना
On the spur of the moment
Meaning: Without planning
अर्थ: अचानक
Pull out all the stops
Meaning: Use all efforts
अर्थ: पूरी कोशिश करना
Strike while the iron is hot
Meaning: Act at the right time
अर्थ: सही समय पर काम करना
Above board
Meaning: Honest and legal
अर्थ: पूरी तरह ईमानदार
Achilles’ heel
Meaning: A weak point
अर्थ: कमजोरी का बिंदु
All ears
Meaning: Listening attentively
अर्थ: ध्यान से सुनना
At loggerheads
Meaning: In conflict
अर्थ: टकराव में होना
Back the wrong horse
Meaning: Support the wrong person
अर्थ: गलत व्यक्ति का समर्थन करना
Beggars can’t be choosers
Meaning: Poor people can’t be selective
अर्थ: मजबूरी में विकल्प नहीं होते
Below the belt
Meaning: Unfair
अर्थ: अनुचित
Between the devil and the deep sea
Meaning: Between two dangers
अर्थ: दुविधा में होना
Blow hot and cold
Meaning: Be inconsistent
अर्थ: कभी हाँ कभी ना करना
By leaps and bounds
Meaning: Rapidly
अर्थ: तेजी से
Cast pearls before swine
Meaning: Waste good things on unworthy people
अर्थ: अयोग्य को योग्य वस्तु देना
Come what may
Meaning: No matter what happens
अर्थ: चाहे जो हो
Cross one’s mind
Meaning: Occur as a thought
अर्थ: मन में आना
Cry wolf
Meaning: Give false alarm
अर्थ: झूठी चेतावनी देना
Draw a blank
Meaning: Get no result
अर्थ: कोई परिणाम न मिलना
Fair and square
Meaning: Honestly
अर्थ: ईमानदारी से
Feather in one’s cap
Meaning: An achievement
अर्थ: उपलब्धि
Fish in troubled waters
Meaning: Take advantage of chaos
अर्थ: अव्यवस्था का लाभ उठाना
Fit as a fiddle
Meaning: Very healthy
अर्थ: पूरी तरह स्वस्थ
Fly in the ointment
Meaning: A small problem
अर्थ: छोटी सी कमी
Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: Ignore someone
अर्थ: अनदेखा करना
Go haywire
Meaning: Go out of control
अर्थ: नियंत्रण से बाहर होना
Hanging by a thread
Meaning: In danger
अर्थ: खतरे में होना
Have a bone to pick
Meaning: Have a complaint
अर्थ: शिकायत होना
Hit below the belt
Meaning: Act unfairly
अर्थ: अनुचित व्यवहार करना
Hold one’s tongue
Meaning: Remain silent
अर्थ: चुप रहना
In the doldrums
Meaning: In low spirits
अर्थ: निराशा में होना
In the nick of time
Meaning: Just in time
अर्थ: ठीक समय पर
Keep one’s word
Meaning: Fulfill promise
अर्थ: वादा निभाना
Know the ropes
Meaning: Be experienced
अर्थ: काम की जानकारी होना
Lay bare
Meaning: Reveal
अर्थ: उजागर करना
Leave someone in the lurch
Meaning: Abandon
अर्थ: मुश्किल में छोड़ देना
Like two peas in a pod
Meaning: Very similar
अर्थ: बिल्कुल समान
Look down upon
Meaning: Consider inferior
अर्थ: नीचा समझना
Make hay while the sun shines
Meaning: Use opportunity
अर्थ: अवसर का लाभ उठाना
Make a beeline for
Meaning: Go straight towards
अर्थ: सीधे बढ़ना
Move heaven and earth
Meaning: Make every effort
अर्थ: पूरा प्रयास करना
Neck and neck
Meaning: Equal competition
अर्थ: बराबरी की टक्कर
On one’s last legs
Meaning: Near collapse
अर्थ: अंत के करीब
Out of one’s depth
Meaning: Beyond ability
अर्थ: क्षमता से बाहर
Pass the buck
Meaning: Shift responsibility
अर्थ: जिम्मेदारी टालना
Play second fiddle
Meaning: Be less important
अर्थ: गौण भूमिका निभाना
Put the cart before the horse
Meaning: Do things in wrong order
अर्थ: गलत क्रम में काम करना
Read someone like a book
Meaning: Understand completely
अर्थ: पूरी तरह समझ जाना
Rest on one’s laurels
Meaning: Be satisfied with past success
अर्थ: पुरानी सफलता पर संतुष्ट होना
Rule the roost
Meaning: Be in charge
अर्थ: नियंत्रण में होना
See eye to eye
Meaning: Agree
अर्थ: सहमत होना
Set one’s heart on
Meaning: Desire strongly
अर्थ: दिल से चाहना
Show one’s true colors
Meaning: Reveal real nature
अर्थ: असली स्वभाव दिखाना
Skeleton in the cupboard
Meaning: Hidden secret
अर्थ: छिपा हुआ राज
Smack of
Meaning: Suggest
अर्थ: संकेत देना
Spick and span
Meaning: Very clean
अर्थ: बिल्कुल साफ
Stand one’s ground
Meaning: Refuse to give up
अर्थ: डटे रहना
Stick to one’s guns
Meaning: Maintain position
अर्थ: अपने निर्णय पर कायम रहना
Take someone for granted
Meaning: Not value properly
अर्थ: महत्व न देना
The lion’s share
Meaning: Major portion
अर्थ: सबसे बड़ा हिस्सा
Through and through
Meaning: Completely
अर्थ: पूरी तरह
Tooth and nail
Meaning: With great effort
अर्थ: पूरी ताकत से
Turn the tables
Meaning: Reverse situation
अर्थ: स्थिति पलट देना
Up to the mark
Meaning: Satisfactory
अर्थ: अपेक्षा के अनुसार
Wash one’s dirty linen in public
Meaning: Expose private matters
अर्थ: घरेलू बातें सार्वजनिक करना
Weather the storm
Meaning: Survive difficulty
अर्थ: कठिनाई सहना
With flying colors
Meaning: With great success
अर्थ: शानदार सफलता से
Without rhyme or reason
Meaning: Illogical
अर्थ: बिना कारण
A bolt from the blue
Meaning: Unexpected event
अर्थ: अचानक घटना
At one’s wit’s end
Meaning: Extremely worried
अर्थ: बहुत परेशान
Bear the brunt
Meaning: Suffer most
अर्थ: सबसे अधिक सहना
Bell the cat
Meaning: Take a risky task
अर्थ: जोखिम उठाना
Bring to book
Meaning: Punish
अर्थ: दंड देना
Carry weight
Meaning: Be influential
अर्थ: प्रभावशाली होना
Clear the air
Meaning: Remove misunderstanding
अर्थ: गलतफहमी दूर करना
Cut a sorry figure
Meaning: Appear foolish
अर्थ: बेवकूफ दिखना
Fall flat
Meaning: Fail badly
अर्थ: बुरी तरह असफल होना
Get wind of
Meaning: Hear a rumor
अर्थ: खबर लगना
Give the game away
Meaning: Reveal secret
अर्थ: राज खोल देना
Have one’s hands full
Meaning: Be very busy
अर्थ: बहुत व्यस्त होना
Hold water
Meaning: Be valid
अर्थ: तर्कसंगत होना
Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: Follow trend
अर्थ: भीड़ का अनुसरण करना
Keep the wolf from the door
Meaning: Earn enough to survive
अर्थ: गुजर-बसर करना
Leave no room for doubt
Meaning: Be certain
अर्थ: संदेह की कोई गुंजाइश न छोड़ना
Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Avoid old issues
अर्थ: पुरानी बात न छेड़ना
Make short work of
Meaning: Finish quickly
अर्थ: जल्दी निपटाना
On tenterhooks
Meaning: Anxious
अर्थ: बेचैन
Out of the woods
Meaning: Out of danger
अर्थ: खतरे से बाहर
Pay through the nose
Meaning: Pay too much
अर्थ: बहुत ज़्यादा कीमत देना
Pull the strings
Meaning: Control secretly
अर्थ: परदे के पीछे नियंत्रण रखना
Raise a red flag
Meaning: Signal danger
अर्थ: खतरे का संकेत देना
Run in the family
Meaning: Hereditary
अर्थ: पीढ़ीगत होना
Strike a chord
Meaning: Create emotional response
अर्थ: भावनाओं को छूना
Sweat blood
Meaning: Work extremely hard
अर्थ: बहुत मेहनत करना
Take the wind out of one’s sails
Meaning: Discourage
अर्थ: उत्साह कम करना
Toe the line
Meaning: Follow rules
अर्थ: नियमों का पालन करना
Turn a deaf ear
Meaning: Ignore deliberately
अर्थ: जानबूझकर अनसुना करना
Walk the tightrope
Meaning: Be in risky balance
अर्थ: जोखिम भरी स्थिति में होना
Win by a whisker
Meaning: Win narrowly
अर्थ: बहुत कम अंतर से जीतना
Write off
Meaning: Cancel as loss
अर्थ: नुकसान मान लेना
Year in, year out
Meaning: Every year
अर्थ: हर साल
Zero in on
Meaning: Focus closely
अर्थ: ध्यान केंद्रित करना
Breathe down one’s neck
Meaning: Watch closely
अर्थ: कड़ी निगरानी रखना
Call a spade a spade
Meaning: Speak plainly
अर्थ: साफ-साफ कहना
Bark up the wrong tree
Meaning: To make a wrong assumption
Hindi: गलत व्यक्ति या कारण को दोष देना
Beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid the main point
Hindi: इधर-उधर की बात करना
Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on too much responsibility
Hindi: अपनी क्षमता से अधिक काम लेना
Blow off steam
Meaning: To release anger or stress
Hindi: गुस्सा या तनाव निकालना
By hook or by crook
Meaning: By any means necessary
Hindi: किसी भी तरह से
Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working
Hindi: काम समाप्त करना
Cast pearls before swine
Meaning: To offer something valuable to those who don’t appreciate it
Hindi: अयोग्य को मूल्यवान चीज देना
Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To worry about past mistakes
Hindi: बीती बातों पर पछताना
Cut corners
Meaning: To do something cheaply or poorly
Hindi: काम में शॉर्टकट अपनाना
Dark horse
Meaning: An unexpected winner
Hindi: अप्रत्याशित विजेता
Draw a blank
Meaning: To fail to find an answer
Hindi: कुछ याद न आना
Drive someone up the wall
Meaning: To irritate greatly
Hindi: बहुत परेशान करना
Drop the ball
Meaning: To make a mistake
Hindi: गलती कर बैठना
Face the music
Meaning: To accept consequences
Hindi: परिणाम भुगतना
Fall flat
Meaning: To fail badly
Hindi: बुरी तरह असफल होना
Feather in one’s cap
Meaning: An achievement to be proud of
Hindi: गर्व की उपलब्धि
Fish out of water
Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable in a situation
Hindi: असहज महसूस करना
Get cold feet
Meaning: To become nervous
Hindi: आखिरी समय में डर जाना
Get the hang of it
Meaning: To understand how something works
Hindi: समझ जाना
Go the extra mile
Meaning: To make extra effort
Hindi: अतिरिक्त प्रयास करना
Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To be exactly right
Hindi: बिल्कुल सही कहना
In hot water
Meaning: In trouble
Hindi: मुसीबत में
Jump the gun
Meaning: To act too soon
Hindi: जल्दीबाजी करना
Keep one’s fingers crossed
Meaning: To hope for good luck
Hindi: शुभकामना रखना
Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To achieve two goals at once
Hindi: एक तीर से दो निशाने
Leave no stone unturned
Meaning: To try every possible way
Hindi: कोई कसर न छोड़ना
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret
Hindi: भेद खोल देना
Make a mountain out of a molehill
Meaning: To exaggerate a small problem
Hindi: छोटी बात को बड़ा बनाना
Miss the boat
Meaning: To lose an opportunity
Hindi: मौका चूक जाना
On cloud nine
Meaning: Extremely happy
Hindi: बहुत खुश
Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely
Hindi: कभी-कभार
Out of the blue
Meaning: Suddenly
Hindi: अचानक
Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To tease or joke
Hindi: मज़ाक करना
Put one’s foot in one’s mouth
Meaning: To say something embarrassing
Hindi: गलत बात कह देना
Read between the lines
Meaning: To understand hidden meaning
Hindi: छिपा अर्थ समझना
Rule of thumb
Meaning: A general principle
Hindi: सामान्य नियम
See eye to eye
Meaning: To agree
Hindi: सहमत होना
Sit on the fence
Meaning: To remain neutral
Hindi: तटस्थ रहना
Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal secret information
Hindi: राज़ खोलना
Take with a grain of salt
Meaning: Not believe completely
Hindi: पूरी तरह विश्वास न करना
The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your decision now
Hindi: अब फैसला तुम्हारा है
Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up
Hindi: हार मान लेना
Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill
Hindi: अस्वस्थ महसूस करना
Up in the air
Meaning: Uncertain
Hindi: अनिश्चित
Walk on eggshells
Meaning: To act very carefully
Hindi: बहुत सावधानी से काम करना
Water under the bridge
Meaning: Past issue no longer important
Hindi: बीती बात
When pigs fly
Meaning: Something impossible
Hindi: कभी नहीं होने वाला
Wild goose chase
Meaning: A useless search
Hindi: बेकार की खोज
Wrap one’s head around
Meaning: To understand something complex
Hindi: अच्छी तरह समझना
Zero in on
Meaning: To focus closely
Hindi: ध्यान केंद्रित करना
At the eleventh hour
Meaning: At the last moment
Hindi: अंतिम समय पर
Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Work late at night
Hindi: देर रात तक पढ़ाई/काम करना
Cross the bridge when you come to it
Meaning: Deal with problems when they occur
Hindi: समस्या आने पर समाधान करना
Cut to the chase
Meaning: Get to the point quickly
Hindi: सीधे मुद्दे पर आना
Go down in flames
Meaning: Fail spectacularly
Hindi: बुरी तरह असफल होना
In black and white
Meaning: Clearly written
Hindi: लिखित रूप में स्पष्ट
Keep something at bay
Meaning: Prevent from happening
Hindi: दूर रखना
Move the goalposts
Meaning: Change rules unfairly
Hindi: नियम बदल देना
Not one’s cup of tea
Meaning: Not something one enjoys
Hindi: पसंद न होना
A dime a dozen
Meaning: Very common
Hindi: बहुत आम
Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: Make a bad situation worse
Hindi: आग में घी डालना
Against the clock
Meaning: In a hurry
Hindi: समय की कमी में
All ears
Meaning: Listening attentively
Hindi: पूरी तरह ध्यान देना
At arm’s length
Meaning: At a distance
Hindi: दूरी बनाए रखना
At the drop of a hat
Meaning: Immediately
Hindi: तुरंत
Backseat driver
Meaning: Someone who interferes unnecessarily
Hindi: बेवजह दखल देने वाला
Bank on
Meaning: Rely on
Hindi: भरोसा करना
Below the belt
Meaning: Unfair or cruel
Hindi: अनुचित
Bend over backwards
Meaning: Try very hard
Hindi: पूरी कोशिश करना
Bite the bullet
Meaning: Face a painful situation bravely
Hindi: कठिन स्थिति स्वीकार करना
Break the ice
Meaning: Start a conversation
Hindi: बातचीत शुरू करना
Burn bridges
Meaning: Destroy relationships
Hindi: संबंध तोड़ लेना
By the skin of one’s teeth
Meaning: Narrowly escaped
Hindi: मुश्किल से बचना
Call the shots
Meaning: Be in control
Hindi: फैसले लेना
Carry weight
Meaning: Have influence
Hindi: प्रभाव डालना
Caught red-handed
Meaning: Caught while doing wrong
Hindi: रंगे हाथ पकड़ा जाना
Come clean
Meaning: Tell the truth
Hindi: सच बता देना
Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive
Hindi: बहुत महंगा
Cross one’s mind
Meaning: Think of briefly
Hindi: ध्यान में आना
Cut no ice
Meaning: Have no effect
Hindi: कोई असर न होना
Down in the dumps
Meaning: Very sad
Hindi: बहुत दुखी
Eat humble pie
Meaning: Admit mistake
Hindi: गलती स्वीकार करना
Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: Good comes from bad
Hindi: हर बुराई में अच्छाई
Fall into place
Meaning: Start making sense
Hindi: सब ठीक होना
From pillar to post
Meaning: From one place to another repeatedly
Hindi: इधर-उधर भटकना
Get out of hand
Meaning: Become uncontrollable
Hindi: नियंत्रण से बाहर होना
Give the benefit of doubt
Meaning: Assume innocence
Hindi: संदेह का लाभ देना
Go cold turkey
Meaning: Quit suddenly
Hindi: अचानक छोड़ देना
Go overboard
Meaning: Do too much
Hindi: हद से ज्यादा करना
Hand in glove
Meaning: Closely connected
Hindi: मिलीभगत में
Hard and fast rule
Meaning: Strict rule
Hindi: सख्त नियम
Have a chip on one’s shoulder
Meaning: Feel resentful
Hindi: नाराज़गी रखना
In the long run
Meaning: Eventually
Hindi: अंततः
Keep an eye on
Meaning: Watch carefully
Hindi: नजर रखना
Know the ropes
Meaning: Be experienced
Hindi: काम की समझ होना
Make ends meet
Meaning: Manage expenses
Hindi: खर्च चलाना
Neck and neck
Meaning: Equal competition
Hindi: बराबरी की टक्कर
On the back burner
Meaning: Delayed for later
Hindi: बाद के लिए टालना
On thin ice
Meaning: In a risky situation
Hindi: खतरे में
Out of the woods
Meaning: Free from danger
Hindi: खतरे से बाहर
Play it by ear
Meaning: Decide as things happen
Hindi: स्थिति के अनुसार चलना
Put the cart before the horse
Meaning: Do things in wrong order
Hindi: उल्टा काम करना
Raise eyebrows
Meaning: Cause surprise or suspicion
Hindi: हैरान करना
Rock the boat
Meaning: Disturb stability
Hindi: स्थिति बिगाड़ना
Show one’s true colors
Meaning: Reveal real nature
Hindi: असली रूप दिखाना
Stick to one’s guns
Meaning: Maintain position
Hindi: अपने फैसले पर अडिग रहना
Take the plunge
Meaning: Make a bold decision
Hindi: साहसिक कदम उठाना
Turn a blind eye
Meaning: Ignore deliberately
Hindi: जानबूझकर अनदेखा करना
Under one’s nose
Meaning: Very obvious
Hindi: बिल्कुल सामने
Up the ante
Meaning: Increase demands
Hindi: मांग बढ़ाना
Wash one’s hands of
Meaning: Refuse responsibility
Hindi: जिम्मेदारी से पल्ला झाड़ना
Wear many hats
Meaning: Perform many roles
Hindi: कई भूमिकाएँ निभाना
Whole nine yards
Meaning: Everything possible
Hindi: पूरी तरह
Word of mouth
Meaning: Information spread orally
Hindi: मुँह-जबानी प्रचार
Write off
Meaning: Cancel as loss
Hindi: नुकसान मान लेना
You can say that again
Meaning: Strong agreement
Hindi: बिल्कुल सही
Zip one’s lip
Meaning: Stay silent
Hindi: चुप रहना
Zoom in on
Meaning: Focus closely
Hindi: बारीकी से ध्यान देना