IDIOMS/PHRASES
l I think I’m right, but, if I’m wrong, 637. (1) alma mater : the school, col- 645. (4) under the weather : slightly
I’ll eat humble pie. lege or university that somebody ill/sick and not as well as usual.
The best option is suffer humil- went to. l She said she was under the
iation l He donated 20 Lakh to his alma weather and couldn’t make it to
629. (3) wild goose chase : a search mater. the meeting.
for something that is impossible The best option is institution The best option is sick.
for you to find, that makes you where I got education. 646. (2) keep a level head : to remain
waste a lot time. 638. (4) go Dutch : to share the cost calm and sensible in a difficult
l The police had been sent on a of something with somebody. situation.
wild goose chase. l How about dinner tonight ? We’ll l You have to keep a level head
go Dutch. during business negotiations.
The best option useless search
The best option is divide the The best option is was sensible
630. (2) make a beeli ne : to go
costs 647. (4) go for the jugular : to attack
straight towards something as
639. (3) high and dry : a boat in a somebody’s weaker point during
quickly as you can; rush.
position out of the water ; in a a discussion , in an aggressive
l As soon as she arrived at the par-
difficult situation without help or way.
ty, she made a beeline for the
money. l She went straight for the jugu-
food.
l They walked out on the party, lar at the end of the game.
The best option rushed The best option is attack all out
leaving me high and dry. (aban-
631. (4) at one’s wit’s end : to be so doned) 648. (4) make believe that... : to pre-
worried by a problem that you do The best option is left me done tend that something is true.
not know what to do next. Let’s make believe we’re elves.
to do the work l
l She was at her with’ end won- (dwarfs)
640.(3) make amends for : compen-
dering how she’d manage it all
sate The best option is pretence.
in the time.
l They must make amends for the 649. (1) to set the Thames on fire :
The best option is Not knowing
harm they’ve caused. to do such a work that needs a
what to do. strenuous effort.
The best option is compensate
632. (4) all thumbs : to be l To win Mount Everest is like set-
641.(4) spill the beans : to tell some-
awkward with your hands so ting the Thames on fire.
body something that should be
that you drop things or are un- The best option is do a heroic
kept secret or private.
able to do something; clumsy. deed.
l You know when you get nervous, l There is a surprise party for her.
650. (1) a close - fisted person : not
you are all-thumbs. Please don’t spill the beans.
liking to spend money; miser.
The best option is clumsy The best option is revealed the
l She has always been a close-fist-
secret information.
633. (3) get up/rise with the lark : ed person with her money.
to get out of bed very early in 642.(1) make a mountain out of a
molehill : to make an unimpor- The best option is miser
the morning.
l She always rises up with the tant matter seem important. 651. (1) a red-letter day : an impor-
lark. l Sita is always making moun- tant/auspicious day.
The best option is very early tains out of molehills. l Republic Day is a red–letter day
634. (3) as daft as a brush : very sil- The best option is exaggerate a in our history.
ly; minor problem. The best option is an important
(1) daft : silly, often in a way that is 643. (3) a snake in the grass : a per- day
amusing. son who pretends to be your 652. (4) finish with something : to
l As a kid, he was as daft as a friend but who cannot be trust- have something at the end, to
brush. ed. stop doing something, be
The best option is really silly through.
l It’s upsetting to learn that some-
635. (4) back : to give help or sup- l I’ll be finished with this matter
one you once viewed as a good
port to somebody/something. colleague is in fact a snake in by the end of the day.
l Doctors have backed plans to the grass. The best option is be through
raise the tax on cigarettes. The best option is an unreliable 653. (1) gut feeling : based on feeling
The best option is support and deceitful person. and emoti ons rather than
636. (3) close fisted : tight fisted; not thought and reason.
644. (2) at loggerheads : in strong
willing to spend much money; l My gut feeling was that she was
disagreement.
stingy. lying.
l The two governments are still at
l My parents are very closefisted The best option is strong instinct
loggerheads over the island.
with money and expenditure. 654. (4) out of sorts : ill/sick or up-
The best option is disagreeing
The best option is a miser set
on everything.
SEE–776