HBSE 10th Class English Grammar Idioms
Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions Grammar Idioms Exercise Questions and Answers.
Haryana Board 9th Class English Grammar Idioms
1. Above all (chiefly, before everything else) – He is rich and good. Above all, he is honest.
2. Above-board (not open to question, honest, straightforward, beyond reproach) – His integrity is above-board.
3. Above par (of superior quality) – Of all my suits, the blue one is above par.
4. On account of – (for the sake of) – The college will be closed on account o/holidays.
5. On no account (not for any reason) – On no account will I help you.
6. To give a good account of oneself (to act with credit to oneself) – She gave a good account of herself in singing.
7. A fidus Achates (a faithful friend) – I can trust Gurgeet as he is a fidus Achates.
8. The heel of Achilles (a weak spot) – Drinking of wine proved to be the heel ofAchilles for him.
9. An Adonis (a very handsome man) – Simran fell in love with Harjeet as he is an Adonis.
10. To build castles in the air (to think of something impossible of realisation; to day-dream; to conceive fanciful ideas) – Do some solid work; do not build castles in the air.
11. To assume airs (to affect superiority) – He is an egoist; he always assumes airs.
12. To air one’s opinions (to give vent to one’s feelings in public) – Don’t air your opinions in this controversial matter.
13. To stand aloof (to keep to oneself and not mix with others) – I have decided to stand aloof on this issue.
14. To lead to the altar (to marry) – He is willing to lead Harsharan to the altar.
15. An Amazon (a warlike woman) – He fears his wife as she is an Amazon.
16. An Ananias (a liar) – Nobody trusts him, because he is known as an Ananias.
17. To weigh anchor (to be about to sail) – I boarded the ship as it was to weigh anchor.
18. To cast anchor (to drop anchor into the sea; to fix oneself) – The captain ordered the crew to cast anchor at New York.
19. An Apollo (a man with a perfect physique) – Even an Apollo cannot lift this stone.
20. The apple of discord (a cause of strife, contention, or quarrel) – Land is the apple of discord between the two brothers.
21. To upset the apple cart (to disturb the peace) – His tricks have upset the apple cart of his rival.
22. Apple pie order (in perfect order) – I keep all my things in an apple pie order.
23. To be tied to his mother’s apron strings (to be under the control and influence of his mother) – As he is tied to his mother’s apron strings, he cannot take any decision by himself.
24. Arcadian life (A blissfully happy rural and simple life) – People living in big cities are not acquainted with the Arcadian life.
25. To keep a person at arm’s length (to avoid coming in contact with a person) – I always keep selfish friends at arm’s length.
26. To take up arms (to fight; to go to war) – Bhagat Singh took up arms against the British Rule.
27. To receive with open arms (to welcome cordially) – My friend in Mumbai received me with open arms.
28. Attic salt [refined subtle wit (for which the Athenians were famous)] – Among the scholarly circles, he is known as a man of attic salt.
29. To cleanse the Augean stables (to effect great improvements in government, or to abolish great abuses) – To remove corruption is like cleansing the Augean stables.
30. To have an axe to grind (to have some selfish objective in view) – Behind his offer of help, he has an axe to grind.
31. Not to know B from a bull’s foot (to be ignorant of even the simplest things) – He cannot succeed in life as he does not know B from bull s foot.
32. A Babel (A confused noise) – I was disturbed by a Babel of voices from the next room.
33. To break the back of anything (to perform the most difficult part of it) – I have broken the backbone of the problem.
34. To backbite a person (to slander or to speak ill of someone) – He is in the habit of backbiting others.
35. To get one’s back up (to rouse one s anger) – By making a noise, the students got the teacher s back up.
36. He is the backbone of his team (he is the one on whom his team mainly relies for its successes) – Virat is the backbone of our cricket team.
37. He has no backbone (he has no will of his own) – A henpecked husband has no backbone.
38. Backstairs influence (influence exerted in an underhand or clandestine manner) – He went scot-free in the case because of his backstairs influence.
39. To cause bad blood (to cause strife and enmity) – The land dispute has caused bad blood between the two brothers.
40. A bad egg (a bad penny a worthless fellow) – He has proved a bad egg!penny in his family.
41. Bad form (bad manners) – To curse is bad form.
42. Bag and baggage (with all one’s belongings) – He has shifted from Ludhiana to Phagwara with bag and
baggage. .
43. To keep the ball rolling (to keep things going on) – Don’t stop the fun; keep the ball rolling.
44. To bandy words (to wrangle or exchange arguments) – You should not bandy words with your seniors.
45. Baptism of fire (a soldier’s first experience of actual war) – He faced his baptism office in the Kargil sector.
46. To call to the bar (to admit as a barrister) – Kulwant was called to the bar last year.
47. Barmicide’s feast (imaginary benefits) – Barmicide s feast has no charm for me.
48. Off one’s own bat (on one s own initiative) – I’ll succeed in life off my own bat.
49. To bear down on (to sail in the direction of) – The angry mob was bearing down on the culprit.
50. To lose one’s bearings (to be uncertain of one sposition) – He is sure to lose his bearings when confronted with corrupt police.
51. To beat about the bush (to talk in a round about manner) – Come to point; don’t beat about the bush.
52. To be dead beat (worn out by fatigue) – After a long journey, I am dead beat.
53. Bed and board (lodgings and food) – You will be provided with bed and board at our expenses.
54. As you make your bed, so you must lie on it (you will have to bear the consequences of your own mistakes or misdeeds) – You will have to suffer for your sins for as you make your bed, so you must lie on it.
55. To take to one’s bed (to have to be confined to bed as a result of sickness) – Due to over work, he took to his bed.
56. To have a bee in one’s bonnet (to be cranky) – He is a mechanic but wants to buy a Roll Royce car. He must be having a bee in his bonnet.
57. Bee-line (the shortest distance between two places) – There is no bee-line to success. You must work hard for it.
58. To go a-begging (to be sold very cheaply because no one cares to buy) – Soon after the summer season, fans go a begging.
59. Behind one’s back (without one’s knowledge) – My son started learning music behind my back.
60. Behind the scenes (in private; out of sight) – Most of the politicians do evil things behind the scenes.
61. To make’believe (to feign or pretend) – He made me believe that he was rich.
62. To bell the cat (to do something extremely dangerous) – Asking the boss for Increasing the salary was like belling the cat.
63. To hit below the belt (to act unfairly in a contest) – If you hit below the belt, you will be punished.
64. To give a person a wide berth (to keep as far away from him as possible) – As he is dishonest, I always like to give him a wide berth.
65. His better half (a man s wife) – He is fully under the control of his better half.
66. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (certainly is better than possibility) – I don’t want to wait for the prices to go up for selling my scooter as I believe that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
67. An old bird is not to be caught with chaff (Experienced people are not easily fooled or deceived)-You cannot make him pay you money; an old bird is not to be caught with chaff.
68. To take the bit between one’s teeth (to get out of control; to become unmanageable) – Because his father’s excessive love, Manpreet has taken the bit between his teeth.
69. To bite the dust (to be defeated in war) – In the war India made Pakistan bite the dust.
70. The bitter bit (to cheat the cheater) – The bitter was bitten at last when he picked the pocket of a thief.
71. His bark was worse than his bite (He usually makes a lot of vain verbal threats) – Although his actions were harmless his bark was worse than his bite.
72. Let me see it in black and white (Write it down) – The agreement was in black and white.
73. A wet blanket (a person who discourages others; one who is a damper to enjoyment) – Don’t take him to the picnic, he is like a wet blanket.
74. To have kissed the blarney stone (to have a very persuasive tongue) – Although he has kissed the blarney storie, he cannot be fool me.
75. In cold blood (deliberately; not in passion) – It was a murder in cold blood.
76. Blood is thicker than water (One usually takes the side of one s relation against another who is not of one s own blood) – He appeared as a witness in favour of his criminal son; after all blood is thicker than water.
77. To blow hot and cold (to do one thing at one time and the opposite soon after) – I don’t trust him, for he always blows hot and cold.
78. A blue stocking (a learned woman, inclined to pedantry) – She is respected in the society of scholars, as she is a blue stocking.
79. Once in a blue moon (a very rare occurrence) – He visits me once in a blue moon.
80. Blue Ribbon (the highest prize in any sport competition or tournament) – He won the Blue Ribbon in the athletic meet.
81. At first blush (at first sight) – He fell in love with her at first blush.
82. In the same boat (in the same misfortune or circumstances) – My friends and I are sailing in the same boat.
83. A bolt from the blue (a sudden and unexpected occurrence) – The crash of the stock market was bolt from the blue for him.
84. A bone of contention (a cause of dispute) – Property is the bone of contention between the two brothers.
85. To have a bone to pick with someone (to have something to say to someone which might cause a quarrel) – He is rough and always has a bone to pick with one or the other.
86. A bookworm (a person who has excessive love of reading books) – He spends most of his time in the library as he is a bookworm.
87. By leaps and bounds (with remarkable speed) – India is making progress by leaps and bounds.
88. Homeward bound (on the way home) – As our cricket team did not reach the semifinals, it was soon homeward bound.
89. To Bowdlerise (to remove all the objectionable passages from a book (Thomas Bawdier in 1818 published an expurgated version of Shakespeare s works) – hence the name)-His speech was published after it had been bowdlerised.
90. To boycott (to avoid; to shun; to have no dealings with) – Lala Lajpat Rai boycotted the Simon Commission.
91. Breach of promise (Failure to keep a promise to marry one to whom you are betrothed) – She accused Jhanda Singh of breach of promise.
92. One’s bread and butter (one s means of livelihood) – He earns his bread and butter by selling fruit.
93. His bread is well buttered (He is in fortunate circumstances As his bread is well buttered; he does not care for expenses.)
94. To bread winner – (one who provides the means of livelihood for himself and his family) – Kuldeep is the breadwinner of his family.
95. To break in (to tame; to bring under control in a gentle manner) – The lion was broken in with a great difficulty.
96. To break the news (to reveal something unpleasant in a gentle manner) – I don’t know how to break the news of his failure.
97. To break the ice (to be the first to begin; to break the silence) – Mohan broke the ice in this matter.
98. To make a clean breast of anything (to make a full confession) – He made a clean breast of having committed the theft. Rahul made a clean breast his role in the conspiracy.
99. To breathe one’s last (to die) – He breathed his last after a long illness.
100. To breathe freely again (to feel comfortable) – She was able to breathe freely again after the death of her mother-in-law.
101. To make bricks without straw (to attempt to do something without proper materials or due preparation) – Trying to cross the ocean in a boat is like trying to make bricks without straw.
102. Never cross the bridge until you come to it (Do not anticipate difficulties) – Your fear about offending your officer is baseless. In fact, never cross the bridge until you come to it.
103. To bring down the house (to cause rapturous applause) – His musical performance brought down the house.
104. To bring up the rear (to be the last in the line) – As I reached, late, I brought up the rear.
105. It is as broad as it is long (It is the same whichever way you view it) – This room is as broad as it is long.
106. To knit the brow (to frown) – It is a bad habit to knit one’s brow.
107. To brow beat (to bully) – He is in the habit of brow beating others.
108. To kick the bucket (to die) – He kicked the bucket after a long distance.
109. To buckle on one’s armour (to set to work energetically) – During the examination days, students buckle on their armour.
110. To take the bull by the horns (to tackle any difficulty in a bold and direct manner) – Don’t be afraid of the difficulty and take the bull by the horns.
111. John Bull (an Englishman) – A John Bull considers himself superior to others.
112. To burke a question (to suppress or prevent any discussion on it.) – The Prime Minister tried to burke the question raised by the opposition parties.
113. To bury the hatchet (to forget past quarrels and be friends again) – The American Indians had the custom of burying their tomahawks when peace was concluded, as a symbol of their peaceful intentions – Let us bury the hatchet and be good friends once again.
114. Good wine needs no bush (there is no need to advertise something good) – Every student knows a good professor because a good wine needs no bush.
115. But me no buts (Do not bring forward objections) – But me no buts in my efforts to help the poor.
116. To raise cain (to rebuke severely) – Do not raise coin your child.
117. To take the cake (to take the first prize; to be the best of the lot) – He, being the best player, took the cake.
118. To burn the candle at both ends (expend energy in two directions at the same time) – He is a spendthrift and bums the candle at both ends.
119. The game is not worth the candle (the undertaking is not worth the trouble) – Don’t run after that worthless girl; the game is not worth the candle.
120. To paddle your own canoe (to be responsible for your actions; to act independently) – Now you are a grown up boy and must learn to paddle your own canoe.
121. If the cap fits, wear it (If you think the remarks made refer to you, then act accordingly) – The officer has great trust in you; if the cap fits, wear it.
122. To go cap in hand (to beseech in a humble manner) – After making mischief, he went cap in hand to apologise to the teacher.
123. Capital punishment (the death sentence or penalty) – Some people think that capital punishment is better than life imprisonment.
124. Capital ship (a warship of the most powerful kind) – The Capital ship was sunk in the war.
125. To put the cart before the horse (to do first what ought to be done afterwards; to reverse the proper order of things) – By taking the last step first, he tried to put the cart before the horse.
126. To let the cat out of the bag (to expose the trick; to let out the secret) – He let the cat out of the bag by disclosing that his friend was the culprit.
127. To fight like cats and dogs (to be always quarrelling and fighting) – Gurbux and his wife always fight like cats and dogs.
128. Care killed the cat (Don’t worry and fret yourself to death) – You should not worry much about this problem, for care killed the cat.
129. See which way the cat jumps (Sit on the fence; see how things are likely to turn out before deciding on a course of action) – Before joining any party, I will see which way the cat jumps.
130. To rain cats and dogs (to rain incessantly) – It has been raining cats and dogs since morning.
131. He is a cat’s paw (one used as a tool to do something dangerous.) – In the fable the Monkey used the Cat’s paw to pull chestnuts out of the fire. He is not guilty but he has been used as a cat’s paw by his officer.
132. To catch one’s eye (to attract attention)- – -She caught everyone’s eye at the function.
133. To give a sop to Cerberus (to appease someone by gift or bribe; to bribe) – These days you have to give a sop to Cerberus in every office for getting your work done.
134. To take the chair (to preside at a meeting) – Mohan took the chair at the meeting of the working committee.
135. To ring the changes (to be continually making alterations and trying new methods) – He never follows old methods and is always ringing the changes.
136. Chauvinism (absurd patriotism which manifests itself in warlike conduct) – From Nicholas Chauvin, a soldier ardently devoted to Napoleon. Chauvinism is a dangerous trait of character.
137. Catch at a straw (a help in dire need) – A drowning man catches at a straw.
138. She is no chicken (She is older than she says, or appears to be) – She appears to be very young but she is no chicken.
139. Chicken-hearted (weak timid, cowardly) – He appears to be very brave but in fact he is a chicken- hearted fellow.
140. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched (Don’t calculate your gains before they are realised) – Let the result come; don t count your chickens before they are hatched.
141. A chip of the old block (a son resembling his father in face, disposition, habits etc) – He resembles his father in appearance and actions; he is a chip of the old block.
142. Chock full (full to overflowing) – The drains of the city are chock full.
143. Hobson’s choice (no alternative; take what you are offered or none at all.) – Girls these days are not given Hobson ’s choice at the time of their marriage.
144. To pick and choose (to make a careful selection) – It is not easy to pick and choose a wife.
145. A Cicerone (a guide who takes strangers and tourists over a country and explains to them all the curiosities and features of the place ) – A Cicerone enlighted us about the importance of the ancient monument.
146. Cimmerian darkness (profound darkness) – There was Cimmerian darkness in the room.
147. To square the circle (to attempt something impossible) – By trying to reform Harbhajan, you are trying to square the circle.
148. Close fisted (mean, miserly) – Don’t expect any charity from him as he is a close-fisted man.
149. Every cloud has a silver lining (Adverse conditions do not last for ever, brighter days are usually in store) – Don’t lose heart in your adversity as every cloud has a silver lining.
150. To have one’s head in the clouds (to live in dreamland; to have fanciful ideas) – He is not a practical man; he has his head in the clouds.
151. To live in clover; to be in clover (to be living in great luxury) – Almost all the film stars live in clover he is the son of a millionaire and lives in clover.
152. To carry coals to Newcastle (to do anything superfluous or unnecessary) – Newcastle, a great coal port in England.’ By teaching business tips to that great businessman, you are trying to carry coal to Newcastle.
153. To haul over the coals (to scold severely; to reprimand) – If you make a noise, your teacher will haul you over the coals.
154. To heap coals of fire (to return good for evil) – A saint has no ill will; he heaps coals of fire.
155. The coast is clear (the danger is past; there is no sign of interference) – Don’t be afraid. Everybody is asleep and the coast is clear.
156. Cut your coat according to your cloth (Live within your income; make what you possess serve your needs) – If you don’t cut your coat according to your cloth, you will repent.
157. A cock and bull story (a foolishly incredible story) – Nobody will believe your cock and bull story of having seen a ghost.
158. To be cock-sure (to be absolutely certain; extremely self-reliant) – He is cock-sure of getting first division.
159. To throw cold water upon anything (to discourage effort) – His treachery threw cold water upon my plans.
160. To give the cold shoulder (to rebuff, to treat with indifference) – He went to meet his friend with great hope but was given a cold shoulder by him.
161. Off colour (not in the usual form) – He is off colour and does not appear cheerful.
162. To show one’s colours (to reveal one s true intentions by no longer pretending) – In time of my need he showed his colours.
163. To come off flying colours (to succeed brilliantly) – He came off with flying colours in the final examination.
164. To commit to memory (to learn by heart) – He has committed the whole book to memory.
165. Too many cooks spoil the broth (When there are more workers than necessary they are likely to get in each other s way and the result is apt to be a failure) – He was attended by four doctors, yet he died; too many cooks spoiled the broth.
166. To send to Coventry (to boycott; to refuse to be on familiar terms or to have any dealings with someone) – He tried to be friendly with his class-fellows but they sent him to Coventry.
167. An admirable Crichton (a very talented person) – An admirable Crichton is successful in life.
168. Crocodile tears (hypocritical tears) – He shed crocodile’s tears at his uncle’s death.
169. By hook or crook (by fair means or foul) – He wants to succeed in life by hook or crook.
170. As the crow flies (in a direct line, the shortest distance between two points) – For reaching the post office, turn left and then go as the crow flies.
171. To take up the cudgels (to champion or fight for someone) – He has taken up the cudgels against his corrupt officer.
172. To curry favour (to seek favour by flattery) – He does not work but tries to curry favour of his officer.
173. Cut and dry (ready made) – He is in search of a cut and dry formula for success.
174. To cut a dash (to make an impression) – He cut a dash by his excellent performance.
175. A cut-throat (a murderer) – The police has caught the cut-throat who committed two murders.
176. To be at daggers drawn (to be deadly enemies) – Santa Singh dnd Banta Singh are at daggers drawn over a piece of land.
177. To have the sword of Damocles hanging over one’s head (to be in imminent danger of losing one’s life; to live in constant fear of some impending danger) – As his post is temporary, he has the sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
178. A Daniel – (an imperial judge) (‘Shakespeare, “Merchant of Venice”; Daniel I-VI) – The officer is so honest that people call him a Daniel.
179. A dare-devil (a fearless, reckless man) – He fought like a dare-devil in the battle.
180. Up to date (recent, modem) – This is an up to date directory.
181. In Davy Jones’s locker (drowned, at the bottom of the sea) – He got in Davy Jones’s locker when swimming.
182. He has seen better days (He was once prosperous) – He is a bankrupt, but he has seen better days.
183. Evil days (a period of misfortune) – I have fallen on evil days. You should face these evil days bravely.
184. To gain or win the day (to be victorious) – Our hockey team has won the day.
185. Halcyon days (a time when there is peace and happiness in the land) – During the reign of Harshwardhan India witnessed its Halcyon days.
186. Dead beat (quite exhausted) – After the long journey, I am dead beat.
187. Dead broke (penniless) – Gambling made him dead broke.
188. To run dead heat (a race in which the contestants came in together) – It was a dead heat race and the winner was judged with the help of video re-play.
189. A dead letter (something which no longer exists) – In some parts of India Sati system is still not a dead letter.
190. To step into dead man’s shoes (to come into an inheritance; to succeed someone who died) – He has stepped into the dead man’s shoes and is managing his father’s business.
191. To give the devil his due (give a person credit for his good qualities however worthless he may be) – He is mischievous, but to give the devil his due he is intelligent also.
192. Go to the devil (Be off) – Go to the devil, and don’t disturb me.
193. Devil’s playthings (playing cards) – He has been ruined by Devil’s playthings.
194. Devil’s bones (dice) – In the past a kind of gambling was played with Devil s bones.
195. To be between the devil and the deep sea (to be faced with two dangerous situations, each of which is to be dreaded as much as the other) – I will be ruined both ways; I am between the devil and the deep sea.
196. To be on the horns of a dilemma (to be in such a position that it is difficult to decide what to do) – I am on the horns of a dilemma whether I should lend him money or not.
197. Give a dog a bad name and hang him (Once a person loses his reputation, he is likely to be blamed for the misdeeds of other) – He is not guilty, but the opposition parties are trying to give a dog a bad name and hang him.
198. To be a dog in the manger (to prevent others from using what one cannot use oneself; to be selfish) – He neither plays himself nor lets others play. He is a dog in the manger.
199. Every dog has his day (Sooner or later, everyone has his share of good fortune) – From a clerk, he has become an officer. Every dog has his day.
200. To be in the doldrums (to be in low spirits; to be out of sorts) – After losses in business Mahinder is in doldrums.
201. The Dole (money given in charity, and also allowances to the unemployed) – The dole granted to the war widow is not sufficient.
202. To dole out (to give out in small quantities) – A very small amount of money is being doled out to the flood victim.The government has doled out a small amount of money to be spent on education.
203. To darken one’s door (to pay a visit to one’s house) – Yesterday, one of my old friends darkened my door.
204. Ups and downs (varying fortunes; changes and chances of life) – Life is full of ups and downs.
205. Down and out (penniless, ruined) – After loss in business, he is down and out.
206. Draconian legislation (very severe laws) – From Draco an Athenian legislator, whose laws were extremely severe) – The government passed Draconian legislation during the emergency.
207. To draw the long bow (to relate fantastic stories) – He draws the long bow about his visit to America.
208. To draw the line at (to refuse to go beyond a certain limit) – I have drawn the line and will not give you any more money.
209. To throw dust in one’s eyes (to try to deceive someone) – He threw dust in the police’s eyes and ran away.
210. Dutch courage (bravery induced by alcoholic liquors) – His Dutch courage has been of no use to him.
211. Eagle-eye (quick to discover, very discerning) – Nothing can escape Mohan’s eagle-eye.
212. To set by the ears (to cause strife or incite to quarrel) – The clever wife set her husband by the ears against his own brother.
213. To eat one’s words (to apologise; to take back what one has said) – He spoke without thinking and had to eat his words later.
214. A bad egg (a worthless person) – Satvinder is a bad egg in the whole class.
215. To egg on (to spur on to further action) – He egged me on to talk to the officer, but I was hesitant.
216. Do not put all your eggs in one basket (Do not stake all your money on a single industry; Spread your resources over a variety of transactions) – By purchasing the shares of one company, he has put all his eggs in one basket.
217. A white elephant (a useless possession which is extremely expensive to keep) – His imported car is a white elephant for him.
218. At the eleventh hour (at the last moment) – I reached the railway station at the eleventh hour and caught the train.
219. Give him an inch he’ll take an ell (He will abuse his privilege and take great libertie) – Don’t give him any concession, for if you give him an inch, he ‘ll take an ell.
220. Elysian happiness (a state of perfect bliss) – The period of a few months after marriage was Elysian happiness for him.
221. At his Writ’s end (utterly confounded) – He was at his wit’s end when he got the news of his failure.
222. At the end of his tether (unable to proceed any further) – After working for ten hours, I was at the end of my tether.
223. Odds and ends (remnants) – He gathered his odds and ends and went away.
224. To make both ends meet (lo keep expenses within one income) – These days it is difficult for a poor man lo make both ends meet.
225. Without end (forever lasting) – These days student unrest seems to be without end
226. A blot on the escutcheon (a disgrace on the reputation of a family) – His bad ways are a blot on the escutcheon
227. An exodus (the departure of a large body of people. From the Exodus of the is raelites from Egypt under Moses) – These days there is an exodus of people from villages to cities.
228. An eye for an eye (tit for tat; to return evil for evil; retaliaze) – He believes in the principle of an eye for an eye.
229. To keep an eye on (to watch carefully) – You should keep an eye on your expenses.
230. To see eye to eye (to be in complete agreement with the views of another) – The two brothers cannot see each other eye to eye.
231. Fabian tactics (a policy of wearing down an opponeni by delaying action; harassing an enemy by avoiding open battle) – Fabians Maximus, a Roman Consul, wore down Hannibal by refraining from engaging him in actual battle in the second Public War. The employers adopted Fabian tactics when the workers went on strike.
232. To save one’s face (to avoid disgrace) – In order lo save face, the corrupt minister resigned.
233. The fairer sex (women) – Many battles have been fought for the sake of the fairer sex.
234. Bad faith (dishonest intentions) – I cannot trust him as he is a man of bad faith,
235. In good faith (with honest intentions) – l told him my secret in good faith.
236. A breach of faith (to act contraly to what one had professed) – It was a breach off faith on your part to disclose my secret to my enemies.
237. To fall out (lo quarrel) – The two friends have fallen out on a trivial matter.
238. To fall through (to fail) – The plan fell through for want of funds.
239. To fall upon (to anack) – The lion fell upon the lamb.
240. To sail under false colours (to attempt to deceive) – The criminal tried to sail under false colours but was caught.
241. A feather In one’s cap (an honour; a distinction) – He added another feather in his cap by getting first division.
242. Birds of a feather flock together (People of similar tastes and dispositions crave each other s company) – Most of his friends are of his age, for birds of a feather flock together.
243. To feather one’s nest (to provide for the furture) – He has feathered his nest by saving a lot of money.
244. To show the white feather (to show signs of cowardice) – H e showed a white feather in the battle.
245. To sit on the fence (to remain neutral; to take neither side in a conhvversy) – He has not joined any party; he is sitting on the fence.
246. As fit as a fiddle (in excellent health) – He remained ¡II for many days but now he is flt as a fiddle.
247. To play second fiddle (to take a subordinate position) – He plays second fiddle to his wife.
248. To march In single, or Indian file (to march in a single line, one behind another) – The students came out of the class in Indian file.
249. To have at one’s finger tips (to know thoroughly) – I have all the details of the case at my finger tips.
250. To set the Thames on fire (to do something sensational or remarkable) – His interview to the press has set the Thames on fire.
