IDIOMS/PHRASES
l They are good customers who l Your work isn’t really up to the gordion knot without going
always pay on the nail. mark. through the bureaucracy.
The best option is pay prompt- The best option is according to The best option is to perform a
ly. the required standard. difficult task.
602. (2) go to the dogs : to get into a 611. (3) all moonshine : silly talk ; 620. (1) a beehive (N.) : a place where
very bad situation. nonsense busy people are assembled ; a
l He was a marvellous actor, but l That’s just moonshine! I don’t crowded, busy place.
his drinking problems caused his believe a word. l Where ever you go an airport a
career to go to the dogs. concocted (V.) : to make up railway station, etc. – all seem
The best option is to be ruined. The best option is concocted to be a beehive.
603. (2) eat like a horse : to eat a lot. 612. (1) show a clean pair of heels : The best option is a busy place
l John works like a horse and eats to run away fast; to flee swiftly. 621. (2) to draw the line : to set a
like a horse, so he never gets l Bobby showed them all a clean limit.
fat. pair of heels as he raced for the l We would have liked to invite all
The best option is eats a lot of finishing line. our relatives, but you have to
food. The best option is ran away draw the line somewhere.
613. (1) tooth and nail : with all The best option is fix a limit.
604. (3) Make a mockery of some-
strength. 622. (4) in the soup : in trouble
thing : to make something seem
l The residents are fighting tooth l We’re all in the soup now.
ridiculous or useless.
l The film made a mockery of a
and nail to stop the new devel- The best option is to be in trou-
serious illness. opment ble
The best option is there was no The best option is with all their 623. (4) laurels : honour and praise
serious outcome might given to somebody because of
614. (4) give away : distribute something that they have
605. (3) an about turn : a complete achieved
l The mayor gave away the prizes
change of opinion, plan or behav-
at the school sports day. l She won laurels for her first
iour etc. novel.
l The government did an about
The best option is distributed
615. (4) give somebody a piece of The best option is to earn great
turn over nuclear energy.
your mind : to tell somebody prestige.
The best option is complete
that you disapprove of their be- 624. (4) a bird’s eye view : a view of
change of opinion. haviour or are angry with them. something from a high position
606. (4) for good : permanently l There’s the car that almost hit looking down
l This time she’s leaving for good. us this afternoon- I’m going to l From the top of the church tow-
The best option is permanently give those people a piece of my er you get a splendid bird’s eye
mind. view of the village.
607. (3) to grease the palm : to give
The best option is scolding The best option is a general view
somebody money in order to per- from above.
suade them to do something dis- 616. (1) beside the mark : not to be
accurate, hence irrelevant. 625. (1) lay it on thick : to talk about
honest; bribe.
l That’s very interesting, but be- somebody/something in a way
l Some of those candidates spent
side the mark. than they really are; exaggerate
money greasing the palms of
The best option is irrelevant l Praise them when necessary,
local political bosses.
but don’t lay it on too thick.
The best option is to bribe 617. (1) in black and white : in writing
The best option is an exaggera-
l I never thought they’d put it in
608. (2) black sheep : a person who tion
is considered bad or embarrass- black and white on the front
page. 626. (4) be taken aback : to be
ing. shocked surprised and confused
l He is the black sheep of the fam-
The best option is in writing
l She was completely taken aback
ily. 618. (2) a hard nut to crack : a diffi-
by his anger.
The best option is person with cult situation or problem to deal
with. The best option is shocked
bad reputation
l A company whose product has
627. (2) play ducks and drakes : to
609. (4) a red letter day : an impor- waste/squander
tant day. sold well in the states may find
the European market a tougher l He lost his job for playing ducks
l Independence Day is a red let-
nut to crack. and drakes with the fund of cor-
ter day in Indian History.
The best option is difficult poration.
The best option is an important
619. (1) to cut the Gordian knot : to The best option is spent lavish-
day
solve a problem by taking action. ly
610. (3) up to the mark/up to snuff/
l I’m trying to devise some kind of 628. (2) to eat humble pie : to say
up to scratch : as good as it
way by which we can cut the sorry for mistakes.
should be.
SEE–775