Phrases and Idioms |
Meaning |
|
401. |
hammer - hammer something home |
To convey one’s message across effectively by speaking intelligibly. |
402. |
hammer - under the hammer |
Be for sale at an auction. |
403. |
hand - hand and hand |
Be involved with |
404. |
hand - hand in glove |
In close cooperation with someone in an illegal activity. |
405. |
hand - hand to mouth |
With just enough money and food to survive on. |
406. |
hand - hand-and-glove |
Inseparable or on intimate terms. |
407. |
hand – lend a hand |
To help someone in doing something. |
408. |
hand – out of hand |
Out of control. Immediately; without thinking. |
409. |
hang – hang your head |
To look ashamed and guilty. |
410. |
hard – be hard hit |
Adversely affected by something. |
411. |
hard - be hard on |
To be too strict or harsh on someone. |
412. |
hard – be hard put |
To have difficulty doing something. |
413. |
hard - hard done by |
To be treated in an unfair or harsh manner. |
414. |
hard - hard luck story |
A story told to gain sympathy. |
415. |
hard - hard of hearing |
Having difficulty in hearing. |
416. |
hard – hard to take |
Difficult to accept or believe. |
417. |
hard - no hard feelings |
No feelings of resentment. |
418. |
hard – take something hard |
Feel very unhappy or disappointed about something. |
419. |
hard - the hard stuff |
Strong alcoholic drink |
420. |
hard – times are hard |
Time when one has problems and difficulties. |
421. |
head - a clear head |
Being able to think clearly in a difficult situation. |
422. |
head - a head for |
An ability to tolerate something. |
423. |
head - come to a head |
Reach a crisis. |
424. |
head – head over heels |
Madly in love with something. |
425. |
head – head will roll |
Some people will be punished or dismissed. |
426. |
head – keep one’s head |
Remain calm. |
427. |
head – lose one’s head |
Lose self-control. |
428. |
heart – break someone’s heart |
To make someone feel very sad. |
429. |
heart – change of heart |
Change in one’s thinking. |
430. |
heart – cross one’s heart |
Used to make a promise. |
431. |
heart – from the heart |
With the sincerest feeling. |
432. |
heart – have the heart |
Show pity; be merciful. |
433. |
heart – heart and soul |
With all one’s affections. |
434. |
heart – heart of gold |
A kind or generous nature. |
435. |
heart – heart-to-heart |
Frank, sincere (talk) |
436. |
heart – learn by heart |
Learn by memorizing. |
437. |
heart – one’s heart’s desire |
Someone’s greatest wish for something. |
438. |
heart – open one’s heart |
To make known one’s feelings or thoughts. |
439. |
heart – take to heart |
Take something seriously. |
440. |
hearth – hearth and home |
One’s home and family. |
441. |
hedge – hedge your bets |
Avoid total loss by placing similar bets on the other side. |
442. |
heel - take to (one’s) heels |
Run away quickly. |
443. |
hell – hell for leather |
At great speed. |
444. |
hell – hell on earth |
A place that is extremely unpleasant. |
445. |
high – have high hopes |
Confident of successful outcome. |
446. |
high - high and dry |
Left with nothing. |
447. |
high – high and mighty |
Feeling self-important; arrogant. |
448. |
history – history repeats itself |
There’s a tendency for events to happen again in a similar way. |
449. |
hit – hit rock bottom |
To descend to the lowest level. |
450. |
hit – hit it off |
To become friends in a natural way. |
451. |
hit – hit the bottle |
To start to drink to excess. |
452. |
hit – hit the jackpot |
To win a huge amount of money. |
453. |
hit – hit the road |
Set forth on a journey |
454. |
hold – hold a conversation |
To get engaged in a conversation with someone. |
455. |
hold – hold one’s horses |
To stop for some reason. |
456. |
hold – hold one’s own |
To do something or succeed without help from anyone. |
457. |
hold – hold the fort |
To take over someone’s responsibility while they are away. |
458. |
hold – hold the line |
To not yield; to wait until the other person is ready to answer one’s telephone call. |
459. |
hold – hold your fire |
Used to order soldiers to cease firing. |
460. |
hold – no holds barred |
Without any restrictions or rules. |
461. |
holier – holier than-thou |
Self-righteous. |
462. |
home – home and dry |
Having succeeded in getting something done. |
463. |
honour - do the honours |
To do things such as serve food or drink at a social occasion. |
464. |
honour – in honour of |
Used to show respect and admiration of someone. |
465. |
honour – man of honour |
A man of high moral standards. |
466. |
honour – on one’s honour |
Under a moral duty to do something. |
467. |
honour – on/upon my honour |
Used to express one’s sincerity. |
468. |
hook - off the hook |
No longer in a difficult situation. |
469. |
hop – on the hop |
Unprepared; busy. |
470. |
hope – hope against hope |
Hope for something that probably will not happen. |
471. |
house – house of God |
A church, a temple. |
472. |
house – on the house |
A drink or meal paid for by the bar, restaurant, etc. management. |
473. |
human - the human touch |
A close relationship of communication or understanding. |
474. |
ice – on thin ice |
In a risky situation. |
475. |
idea - get the idea |
To start to understand something |
476. |
idea - have no idea |
Have no knowledge of |
477. |
idea - that’s the idea |
That’s exactly right |
478. |
ill – ill at ease |
Feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed. |
479. |
ill – speak ill of |
Say something bad about someone. |
480. |
immemorial – since/from time immemorial |
Starting from a time in the distant past which people cannot now recall. |
481. |
influence - under the influence |
Affected by an effect or an imperceptible power exerted by someone or something that causes changes in conduct or the character. |
482. |
ins – ins and outs |
The details of a system, workings, etc. |
483. |
inside – on the inside |
Being able to provide internal information. |
484. |
issue – die without issue |
To die without having any children. |
485. |
issue – take issue with |
To dispute the truth or validity of. |
486. |
itchy – have itchy feet |
Have the desire to travel or go somewhere. |
487. |
Jekyll – Jekyll and Hyde |
A person having dual personalities, one good and one evil. |
488. |
job – just the job |
The very job that is wanted. |
489. |
job – on the job |
While doing work; being part of the work. |
490. |
join – join forces |
Combine efforts for a common purpose. |
491. |
jump – jump a light |
To drive past a red traffic light. |
492. |
jump – jump for joy |
To be very excited and happy. |
493. |
jump – jump the gun |
To begin something without proper planning. |
494. |
jump – jump the queue |
Move ahead of other people in a queue. |
495. |
jump – jump to conclusions |
To form a quick opinion without considering the facts. |
496. |
key – in/out of key |
In/not in agreement or harmony with. |
497. |
kick – kick a habit |
Stop doing something which one does habitually. |
498. |
kick – kick one’s heels |
To be kept waiting for a long time. |
499. |
kick – kick someone upstairs |
Promote someone to an ostensibly higher and more influential position in a business. |
500. |
kick – kick the bucket |
Die. |