Important Idioms and Phrases

• Like a fish out of water - In a strange situation
• Smell a rat - Suspect something foul
• Read between the lines - Understand the hidden meaning
• Tooth and Nail - With all of one’s power
• Spread like wild fire - Spread quickly
• Hit the nail on the head - Do or say the exact thing
• Burn the midnight Oil - Work or study hard
• Under his thumb - Under his control
• With a high hand - Oppressively
• Gain ground - Become popular
• By leaps and bounds - Rapidly
• Make off with - To run away with
• Pass away - To die
• To cry for the moon - Ask for the impossible
• To make a pig of oneself - To over-eat
• Donkey’s years - Very long time
• To pull one’s leg - To joke; tease
• To keep one’s fingers crossed - To hope fervently
• To eat humble pie - To apologize in a humble manner
• To fight a losing battle - Struggle without hope of success
• A deadlock - A position when no progress can be made
• A daredevil - A person who does not care for any consequences
• Once in a blue moon - Very rarely
• At a premium - Difficult to get or obtain
• To play the game - To act honestly