CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 29 Some Useful Phrases And Idioms
1. You know what phrases are. We will learn the correct usage of some very expressive phrases.
Idioms
An idiom can be defined as a number of words which, when taken together, have a different meaning from the individual meanings of each word.
Examples:
- be at large
- do someone proud
- be at daggers drawn
The second simply means that you make someone proud of you.
Be at dagger’s drawn: It means great enmity, but it is not very clear.
- Here in 2, the form is correct, meaning is also clear.
- In 1, the form is clear, but the meaning is unclear.
- In 3, the form is irregular, meaning unclear.
In English, many words are used in pairs to give emphasis; sometimes they are similar, as in safe and sound, sometimes they add emphasis by contrast, as in tooth and nail.
- The two children arrived safe and sound at their homes.
- The neighbours fought tooth and nail over a parking place in their colony.
2. Learn some interesting combinations.
- Might and main – with all strength
- In black and white – in writing
- Spick and span – very neat
- Wear and tear – damage sustained as a result of ordinary use
- Hard and fast – strict rules
- Hale and hearty – very healthy
- Hue and cry – loud protest
- Fits and starts – doing work in bits, not continuously
- Odds and ends – miscellaneous things
- First and foremost – the most important point
- Heart and soul – put all your efforts in some work
- By leaps and bounds – at great speed
- Rank and file – from the highest to the lowest
- Head and shoulders – much above others in qualities and abilities
- Ways and means – methods used
Exercise 1
Now, fill in the blanks with the pairs given to you above:
Question 1. The roads in Delhi are so bad that even the best cars cannot stand up to the ________ of driving on them.
Answer: The roads in Delhi are so bad that even the best cars cannot stand up to the strain of driving on them.
Question 2. He tried to find _________ to get over the dilemma he was facing.
Answer: He tried to find a way to get over the dilemma he was facing.
Question 3. Ramesh studies in _______ and cannot do well in the coming Board Exams.
Answer: Ramesh studies in fits and starts and cannot do well in the coming Board Exams.
Question 4. Sachin Tendulkar stands ________ above all the present cricketers.
Answer: Sachin Tendulkar stands head and shoulders above all the present cricketers.
Question 5. He wanted the agreement to be in _______ before he signed the project.
Answer: He wanted the agreement to be in writing before he signed the project.
Question 6. He put his ______ in the project and soon completed it.
Answer: He put his heart and soul in the project and soon completed it.
Question 7. Nalini is very house-proud, everything in her house is _____.
Answer: Nalini is very house-proud, everything in her house is spick and span.
Question 8. Even at the ripe old age of eighty, he is _______ and suffers from no ailments.
Answer: Even at the ripe old age of eight,y he is hale and hearty and suffers from no ailments.
Question 9. There was a great ________ raised by the opposition parties over the alarming rise in petroleum prices.
Answer: There was a great uproar raised by the opposition parties over the alarming rise in petroleum prices.
Question 10. Our _____ duty is to observe law and order in the country.
Answer: Our paramount duty is to observe law and order in the country.
Question 11. India has made progress by ________ in the communication sector.
Answer: India has made progress by leaps and bounds in the communication sector.
Question 12. There are no _______ to subdue the Rajputs.
Answer: There is no hard and fast to subdue the Rajputs.
Question 13. Akbar used all his ________ to subdue the Rajputs.
Answer: Akbar used all his might to subdue the Rajputs.
Question 14. The General was supported by ______ in achieving his aims.
Answer: The General was supported by hook or by crook in achieving his aims.
Question 15. Though he had completed his task, there were some ______ to be looked into.
Answer: Though he had completed his task, there were some loose ends to be looked into.
Exercise 2
Match the following idiomatic expressions with their meanings. One is done for you:
Answer:
Exercise 3
Here are some phrasal expressions. Match them with their meanings. (Take the help of the dictionary):
Answer:
Exercise 4
Explain briefly the following idiomatic expressions in the space given:
Question 1. Call off ____________
Answer: Call off
Meaning: To cancel an event or activity.
Example: “They called off the meeting due to bad weather.”
Question 2. To face the music ____________
Answer: To face the music
Meaning: To accept the consequences of one’s actions.
Example: “After failing the exam, he had to face the music at home.”
Question 3. To fight shy of ____________
Answer: To fight shy of
Meaning: To avoid or be reluctant to do something.
Example: “She fights shy of public speaking.”
Question 4. Call upon ____________
Answer: Call upon
Meaning: To formally ask someone to do something.
Example: “The teacher called upon the students to answer.”
Question 5. Pull through ____________
Answer: Pull through
Meaning: To recover from illness or overcome a difficult situation.
Example: “With proper care, he pulled through the illness.”
Question 6. To go to the dogs ____________
Answer: To go to the dogs
Meaning: To deteriorate or decline in quality.
Example: “The old park has gone to the dogs.”
Question 7. Fair-weather friends ____________
Answer: A fair-weather friend
Meaning: Someone who is only a friend in good times.
Example: “He disappeared when I needed help—a true fair-weather friend.”
Question 8. Too keep one’s fingers crossed ____________
Answer: To keep one’s fingers crossed
Meaning: To hope for good luck or success.
Example: “I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your interview.”
Question 9. Hold back ____________
Answer: Hold back
Meaning: To restrain or hesitate to act.
Example: “She held back her tears during the speech.”
Question 10. Tell upon ____________
Answer: Tell upon
Meaning: To have a noticeable effect (usually negative).
Example: “Stress began to tell upon his health.”
2. Learn Some More Useful Phrases And Idiomatic Expressions
- Bad blood – unfriendliness or enmity between two people or families
- Bad news travels fast– bad news spreads more quickly than good news
- Come to a bad end – said about someone who leads an unhealthy life, and faces disgrace
- Big deal – (terrific!) great! said when one is not impressed
- A big mouth – someone who boasts, exaggerates
- In a big way – on a large scale
- A dead end – a road that doesn’t lead anywhere. A stage where no further progress can be made
- Dead silence – a total, unbroken silence
- Over my dead body – said when the speaker is very much against something
- Good for nothing – lazy, unreliable, having no good qualities
- Good riddance! – feeling of relief when one gets rid of an unpleasant person or something unwanted
- Hard to please – a person who is very critical, has a very high standard
- hard of hearing – partly deaf
- A hard nut to crack- a difficult problem to overcome
- High and dry – abandoned, ignored, isolated
- In high places – friends or people in top-level positions
- It’s high time – when something must be done without more delay
- In the long run – over a long period
- The long and short of it – essential facts of a matter
- A chip off / of the old block – son or daughter who is very much like his or her father in character, in temperament
- An old hand – someone with a lot of experience
- A shortcut – qa uicker or easier way of going somewhere or doing things
- A short notice – with little warning
- As thick as thieves – very friendly, sharing same interests
- Through thick and thin– through good times and difficult times
- Vanish into the air– disappear without trace
- At the end of one’s tether– a position where no more patience is left
- At a loose end – having nothing to do
- Make both ends meet– somehow manage with the meagre money one has
- Sign on the dotted line – agree to do something without any conditions
- Read between the lines – understand or sense more than the actual words
- No laughing matter – something very serious
- A matter of time – bound to happen, sooner or later
- To give someone a piece of one’s mind – to scold or reprimand someone
- Make up one’s mind – take a decision
- Out of sight, out of mind – people or things that cannot be seen or are far away, are soon forgotten
- Go one’s own way – act independently
- In a word – briefly
- Word for word – literally
- Out of this world – wonderful
- On top of the world – very happy
- All and sundry – everybody
- Believe it or not – it is true, whether you believe or you disbelieve it
- Cut it out! – stop it!
- Play it by the ear – act according to the situation
- Like it or lump it – whether you like it or not, accept the situation
- Rub it in – continue to emphasise something
- Run for it – run fast to get out of danger
- Too good to be true – so good, one can hardly believe it
- A blessing in disguise – a mishap that turns out to be fortunate in the end
- Child’s play – easy task
- A drop in the ocean – a small amount
- A jack of all trades – a person capable of doing many things but not great expert in anything.
- At a stone’s throw – very near, at a short distance
- A hole and comer business – very secretive, dishonest dealing
- A wet blanket – a person who spoils a jolly atmosphere
3. Idiomatic Pairs
Learn about some common pairs in English language.
- Alive and kicking – well and active
- Bom and bred – bom and brought up
- Cut and dried– settled, decided
- Fair and square – in a fair way
- Rough and ready – only approximate, not exact
- Short and sweet – without unnecessary details
- Sick and tired – thoroughly bored or annoyed
- Give and take – compromise
- By hook or by crook – by any method, fair or unfair
- Lock, stock, and barrel – everything, every item
- Without rhyme or reason – illogical, not making sense
- Part and parcel – part of something
- Aches and pains – health complaints
- Hammer and tongs – argue, quarrel loudly
- Ifs and buts – excuses
- The ins and outs – intricate details, difficult to explain
- Man to man – openly and sincerely
- Stuff and nonsense – foolish talk, ideas
- Touch and go – critical, close to both success and failure
- As and when – whenever
- Far and wide – everywhere
- By and large – taken as a whole
- More or less – roughly, practically
- To and fro – one way and then the other, up and down
- Up and about – recovered, in good health
- Loud and clear – very clearly
- Chop and change – change one’s mind, opinions, plans
- Do or die – make the greatest effort or fail
- Forgive and forget – be reconciled, forget enmity
- Wait and watch – wait patiently
- Through and through – thoroughly, completely
- On and on – continue without stopping
- By and by – in the course of time
- Toss and turn – sleep restlessly, because of worry
- Over and over – repeatedly
- Blow by blow – to give an account of something, including all the details, events in order
- Live and let live – to be tolerant towards others
- Again and again – repeatedly
- From door to door – going to all the houses in the streets
- Round and round – moving in circles, spinning
- Hit and miss – not exact, random, sometimes good and sometimes bad
- Pick and choose – to take time and trouble to choose very selectively
- Sink or swim – survive or face
- Little by little – gradually, at a slow rate
- Step by step – one step at a time, slowly
Exercise 5
Study the idioms in the box, then complete the sentences given below correctly:
Question 1. They all disliked their new neighbour who had caused _____ between the two communities living peacefully in the village.
Answer: They all disliked their new neighbour who had caused bad blood between the two communities living peacefully in the village.
Question 2. The old sarpanch was _____ in dealing with property disputes and soon settled the mattter.
Answer: The old sarpanch was an old hand in dealing with property disputes and soon settled the mattter.
Question 3. Ramesh stood by his friend ______ and was always there to help.
Answer: Ramesh stood by his friend through thick and thin and was always there to help.
Question 4. The announcement that there will be a further rise in petrol prices was received by the workers in ____________.
Answer: The announcement that there will be a further rise in petrol prices was received by the workers in dead silence.
Question 5. He left his family _______ on the road to face the problem of a broken axle, and left for his office in a taxi.
Answer: He left his family high and dry on the road to face the problem of a broken axle, and left for his office in a taxi.
Question 6. He thought it was a _______ to win awards in competition.
Answer: He thought it was a child’s play to win awards in competition.
Question 7. To their utter surprise, it was their ________ son who won fame in the field of sports.
Answer: To their utter surprise, it was their good for nothing son who won fame in the field of sports.
Question 8. The people are really terrified by the experiment to be made on 11th September, it’s ______ for them.
Answer: The people are really terrified by the experiment to be made on 11th September, it’s no laughing matter for them.
Question 9. He replied briefly, in fact ______which meant “Leave.”
Answer: He replied briefly, in fact in a word which meant “Leave.”
Question 10. “Do not panic, Rani, watch the audience, just _______ and you will succeed,” said the director of the play.
Answer: “Do not panic, Rani, watch the audience, just play it by ear and you will succeed,” said the director of the play.
Exercise 6
Fill in the blanks with a single word for each of the following words given in brackets. take the help of the words in the box.
Question 1. The _____ were small and he was unhappy (the money workmen get for work)
Answer: The wages were small, and he was unhappy (the money workmen get for work)
Question 2. An _______ of plague broke out in the town after the earthquake (a disease which is widespread at the same time, same place among many people)
Answer: An epidemic of plague broke out in the town after the earthquake (a disease which is widespread at the same time, same place among many people)
Question 3. He never made the mistake of underrating his _______ and was successful in beating them in every game (persons against whom one fights, struggles, plays games, or argues)
Answer: He never made the mistake of underrating his opponents and was successful in beating them in every game (persons against whom one fights, struggles, plays games, or argues)
Question 4. After a long ________, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha. (discussion at a public meeting or in parliament)
Answer: After a long debate, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha. (discussion at a public meeting or in parliament)
Question 5. India has made great progress in the last _______ (a period of ten years)
Answer: India has made great progress in the last decade (a period of ten years)
Exercise 7
Make your own sentences of the following expressions :
Question 1. On And On
Answer: On And On – The Speaker Kept Talking On And On Without Taking A Break.
Question 2. By And by
Answer: By And By – By And By, She Began To Understand The True Meaning Of Friendship.
Question 3. Up And About
Answer: Up And About – After A Week Of Illness, He Was Finally Up And About Again.
Question 4. More Or Less
Answer: More Or Less – I’ve Finished My Homework, More Or Less.
Question 5. Touch And Go
Answer: Touch And Go – It Was Touch And Go Whether The Patient Would Survive The Night.