IDIOMS
Thalabathi
This time i am coming with a very useful post as far as my concern.
"Idioms and their meanings" some of us are using in their day to day
life.
Hope this post will be very useful to you all.
Let me start with idioms starting with letter -'a'
** above and beyond **
More than is required.
This somewhat redundant expression--above and beyond here both denote
excess--often precedes the call of duty,
which means exceeding what a particular job requires.
Thus Putting in overtime without pay is above and beyond the call of
duty.
** above suspicion **
So trustworthy as never to be suspected of wrongdoing,
as in "The wife of Caesar must be above suspicion" (
Charles Merivale, A History of the Romans under the Empire, 1850).
The phrase was given further currency when it was used for the title
of a very popular
World War II spy film starring Joan Crawford ( Above Suspicion,
1943).
A similar idiom using above in the sense of "beyond" is above the
law,
usually describing an individual or business behaving as though exempt
from rules or laws that apply to others.
** absence makes the heart grow fonder **
Separation intensifies love,
as in After a year in another country she accepted his proposal,
so I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder, or, used ironically,
The boss leaves earlier every day; oh well, absence makes the heart
grow fonder.
Although versions of this saying date from Roman times,
it only became popular after Thomas Haynes Bayly used it as the last
line of a song in The Isle of Beauty (1850).
** according to Hoyle **
In keeping with established rules; on the highest authority,
as in The tax records are in excellent order, all according to Hoyle.
Edmond Hoyle (1679-1769) of England, author of books of rules for card
games,
was so highly regarded that numerous writers used his name on their
own rule books,
even for games that had not been invented by the time of Hoyle's
death,
so that his name became synonymous with any rules.
** ace in the hole **
A hidden advantage or resource kept in reserve until needed,
as in The prosecutor had an ace in the hole: an eyewitness.
The term comes from stud poker, where each player is dealt one card
face down--the so-called hole card--and the rest face up.
Should the hole card be an ace, the player has a hidden advantage.
Hole here simply means "a hiding place." In the 19th-century American
West,
the expression was used to refer to a hidden weapon, such as a gun
concealed in a shoulder holster.
By the 1920s it had become a metaphor for any surprise advantage or
leverage.
** Achilles' heel **
A fatal weakness, a vulnerable area,
as in This division, which is rarely profitable, is the company's
Achilles' heel.
The term alludes to the Greek legend about the heroic warrior
Achilles
whose mother tried to make him immortal by holding the infant by his
heel
and dipping him into the River Styx. Eventually he was killed by an
arrow shot into his undipped heel. [c. 1800]
** air one's grievances **
Complain publicly,
as in Jane was afraid to complain at work but freely aired her
grievances at home.
This figurative exposure to the open air is far from new; to air one's
opinions or ideas dates from t
he early 1800s, and the precise idiom appears in James Joyce's Ulysses
(1922).
** albatross around one's neck **
A heavy burden of guilt that becomes an obstacle to success,
as in The failed real estate scheme became an albatross around her
neck,
for now she could not interest other investors in a new project.
This idiom comes from Samuel Coleridge's narrative poem, The Rime of
the Ancient Mariner (1798),
which is based on the widespread superstition that it is unlucky to
kill this large white sea bird.
In the poem a sailor does kill an albatross, and when the ship then is
becalmed near the equator
and runs out of water, his shipmates blame him and force him to wear
the dead bird around his neck.
** alive and kicking **
Also, alive and well. Alive and alert; living and healthy.
For example, John's completely recovered;
he's alive and kicking, or You're quite mistaken;
our lawyer is alive and well. The first expression, sometimes
shortened to live and kicking,
originally was used by fishmongers hawking their wares to convince
customers of their freshness
and has been considered a cliché since about 1850.
The variant originated in the 1960s as a denial of someone's reported
death.
** add insult to injury **
Hurt a person's feelings after doing him or her harm; also, make a bad
situation worse.
For example, Not only did the club refuse him, but it published a list
of the rejected applicants--
that's adding insult to injury, or The nearest parking space was half
a mile away, and then,
to add insult to injury, it began to pour: The phrase is an ancient
one, even older than its
often cited use in the Roman writer Phaedrus's fable of the bald man
and the fly.
A fly bit the head of a bald man, who, trying to crush it, gave
himself a heavy blow.
The fly then jeered, "You want to avenge an insect's sting with death;
what will you do to yourself,
who have added insult to injury?" In English it was first recorded in
1748.
** alpha and Omega **
The beginning and the end, the first and the last,
as in She had to master the alpha and omega of the new computer
program before she could even begin.
This idiom and its meaning, based on the first and last letters of the
Greek alphabet,
appears in the New Testament (Revelation 1:8): "I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the ending,
saith the Lord," where it is repeated three more times.
** all roads lead to roam **
Many different methods will produce the same result.
For example, So long as you meet the deadline, I don't care how much
help you get--all roads lead to Rome.
Based on the fact that the Roman Empire's excellent road system
radiated from the capital like the spokes of a wheel,
this metaphor was already being used in the 1100s.
** ambulance chaser **
An attorney who seeks to profit from someone's injury or accident;
also, an inferior lawyer.
For example, Karen refused to join any law firm that included
ambulance chasers.
The practice of suing for damages on behalf of the injured person in
exchange for a contingency fee--
usually a large percentage of the amount so won--may be older,
but this derogatory term began to be used for lawyers who actively
sought out individuals
injured in accidents who required an ambulance. [Slang; late 1800s]
** ants in one's pants have **
Be extremely restless, uneasy, impatient, or anxious,
as in This child just can't sit still; she must have ants in her
pants.
This rhyming idiom calls up a vivid image of what might cause one to
be jumpy. [Slang; 1920s]
Be eager for sexual activity, as in Bill's got ants in his pants for
Rita.
This usage is less common today. [Slang; 1920s]
** apple pie order **
Extreme neatness,
as in David keeps his financial records in apple-pie order.
This term is generally believed to be an English corruption of the
French nappes pliées,
"neatly folded linen." [Early 1600s]
** apropos of **
Concerning, in connection with,
as in Apropos of keeping in touch, I haven't heard from her in
months.
This idiom was a borrowing of the French à propos de ("to the purpose
of") in the 17th century.
At first it was used without of and meant "fitting" or "opportune,"
as in Their prompt arrival was very appropos. By the 1700s it was also
being used with of,
as in the current idiom, for "concerning" or "by way of."
** arm and a leg **
An exorbitant amount of money,
as in These resort hotels charge an arm and a leg for a decent meal,
or Fixing the car is going to cost an arm and a leg. According to Eric
Partridge,
this hyperbolic idiom, which is always used in conjunction with verbs
such as
"cost," "charge," or "pay," and became widely known from the 1930s
on,
probably came from the 19th-century American criminal slang phrase,
if it takes a leg (that is, even at the cost of a leg), to express
desperate determination.
** armed to teeth **
Overly well equipped or prepared,
as in With her elaborate gown and makeup,
she was armed to the teeth for her first New York appearance.
The expression to the teeth meant "well equipped" in the 14th
century,
when knights often wore head-to-foot armor. The idiom, however, only
gained currency in the mid-1800s,
at first still applied to weapons or other military equipment. Today
it is used still more figuratively.
** ass in a sling, have one's **
Also, get one's ass in a sling. Be (or get) in trouble, in a painfully
awkward position,
as in When the news about the slump in sales gets out he'll have his
ass in a sling.
Probably originating in the American South, this idiom may refer to so
vigorous a kick in the buttocks
(for which ass is a rude synonym) that the injured person requires a
sling of the kind used to support
a broken arm. [Vulgar slang; c. 1930]
** as the crow flies **
In a straight line, by the shortest route,
as in It's only a mile as the crow flies, but about three miles by
this mountain road.
This idiom is based on the fact that crows, very intelligent birds,
fly straight to the nearest food supply. [Late 1700s]
** at each other's throats **
Arguing or fighting.
For example, It was a very dramatic trial, with the prosecutor and the
defense attorney constantly
at each other's throats. This idiom, with its vivid image of two
persons trying to strangle each other,
is often applied to less physical forms of disagreement.
** at loggerheads **
Engaged in a quarrel or dispute,
as in The two families were always at loggerheads,
making it difficult to celebrate holidays together.
This term may have come from some earlier meaning of loggerhead,
referring either to a blockhead or stupid person,
or to a long-handled iron poker with a bulb-shaped end that was heated
in the fire and used to melt
pitch. If it was the latter, it may have been alluded to as a weapon.
[Late 1600s]
** at wit's end **
Also, at wits' end. Completely puzzled and perplexed, not knowing what
to do.
For example, I've tried every possible source without success, and now
I'm at my wit's end.
This idiom, which uses wit in the sense of "mental faculties,"
appeared in Piers Ploughman (c. 1377).
** at first blush **
Also, at first glance or sight. When first seen.
For example, At first blush we thought it was an elegant restaurant,
but it soon became obvious that it was hardly the place for a special
dinner,
or At first glance the contract looked just fine. All three phrases
date from the 1300s.
The noun blush is used with the obsolete meaning "glimpse" or
"momentary view" and in
this idiom has nothing to do with showing embarrassment.
** at sixes and sevens **
Confused, disorganized, disorderly,
as in We've just moved in, and the office is still at sixes and
sevens,
or The new college admissions tests were poorly explained, leaving the
students at sixes and sevens.
This ancient term is thought to come from a game of dice in which
throwing a six or seven
had a particular significance. The name of the game has been lost, but
most likely betting on
such a throw was very risky, denoting disorder and confusion. [Late
1300s]
** at some one's beck and call **
Required to comply with someone's requests or commands,
as in The boss expects the entire staff to be at his beck and call.
The noun beck, now obsolete except in this idiom, meant "a gesture or
signal of command,
such as a nod or hand movement," whereas call signifies "a vocal
summons."
** at the top of one's lungs **
Also, at the top of one's voice. With an extremely loud voice.
For example, The babies in the nursery all were crying at the top of
their lungs.
The noun top here refers to the greatest degree of volume (that is,
loudest) rather than high pitch,
a usage dating from the mid-1500s.
** at someone's elbow **
Immediately beside someone, close by,
as in The apprentice was constantly at the master's elbow.
Why this idiom focuses on the elbow rather than the arm, shoulder, or
some other body part is not known.
Moreover, it can mean either that someone is so nearby as to
constitute a nuisance or in order to
readily provide assistance. Either can be meant in the example above.
[Mid-1500s]
** at swords' point **
Also, at swords' points. Antagonistic, hostile,
as in Father and son were at swords' points. Dating from the days when
swords were
used to settle quarrels, the idiom today generally signifies only a
bitter quarrel.
** avail oneself of **
Take advantage of, benefit by.
For example, To get a better mortgage, he availed himself of the
employee credit union. [Late 1500s]
Use, employ, as in I'll avail myself of the first cab to come along.
[Mid-1800s].
** at the outset **
Also, from the outset. At the start, from the start.
For example, He wanted to explain his position from the outset, but
there wasn't time,
or At the outset the problem seemed simple, but then it became quite
complicated.
The noun outset is rarely heard today except in these phrases.
[Mid-1700s]
** at the helm **
In charge, in command, as in With Charles at the helm, the company is
bound to prosper.
This phrase transfers the idea of steering a ship to directing other
enterprises. [Early 1500s]
** at the mercy of **
Also, at someone's mercy. Subject to the power of, helpless against,
as in The captured rebels were at the mercy of the army commander.
[Late 1500s]
Without any protection against, as in On top of Mount Washington we
were at the mercy of the elements.
** avoid like the plague **
Evade or elude at any cost, shun.
For example, Since Bob was taken into police custody, his friends have
been avoiding him and
his family like the plague. This seemingly modern expression dates
from the Latin of the
early Middle Ages, when Saint Jerome (a.d. 345-420) wrote, "Avoid, as
you would the plague,
a clergyman who is also a man of business." The plague, a deadly
infectious disease in his day,
has been largely wiped out, but the term remains current.
** ax to grind **
A selfish aim or motive,
as in The article criticized the new software, but the author had an
ax to grind,
as its manufacturer had fired his son. This frequently used idiom
comes from a story by Charles Miner,
published in 1811, about a boy who was flattered into turning the
grindstone for a
man sharpening his ax. He worked hard until the school bell rang,
whereupon the man, instead of
thanking the boy, began to scold him for being late and told him to
hurry to school.
"Having an ax to grind" then came into figurative use for having a
personal motive for some action.
sunder
collection (only starting with 'a').
A very useful one ;-)
Cheers,
Sunder
Thalabathi
The source i referred is Answer.com
Yours
Thalabathi.........
On Mar 21, 2:45 pm, "Thalabathi" <aravindsun...@gmail.com> wrote:
Nirmal
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