Achilles’ heel (weak point) Everyone has his Achilles’ heel At one’s wits’ end (perplexed)- Sohan was at his wit’s end to find that his younger brother has taken poison. At one’s fingertips (complete knowledge)- All the rules of synthesis are at his fingertips. At the spur of the moment (at the exact time)- In an interview we must reply at the spur of the moment. All in all (most important)- as he was the only son in a big family, he was all in all in his home. At close quarters (close examinations)- Many of my friends proved selfish at close quarters. Apple-pie order (in perfect order)- On the eve of inspection everything was kept in apple- pie order. Above board (honest and straightforward)- He is known for his above board conduct. Above all (before everything else)- Above all, he is blunt and dare devil. As fit as a fiddle (strong and healthy)- He has recovered from illness and now he is as fit as a fiddle. At random (aimlessly)- The militants fired at random killing a lot of innocent persons. At a loose end (unoccupied, idle)- Now a days he is at a loose end because he has wound up his business. At logger heads (to be at strife)- The partners of our firm are at logger heads these days. At odds (in dispute)- The members of the group were at odds over the selection procedure. An apple of discord (cause of quarrel)- Ancestral property is an apple of discord between two sisters. At cross purposes (have conflicting intentions)- How can there be peace in their family when husbands and wife are at cross purposes. After one’s own heart (to one’s liking)- When Deepa met a man she went after her own heart, she got married to him. At the bottom of (to be mainly responsible for)- it was found later that Shanu was at the bottom of the whole trouble. At a loss (to be unable to decide)- I am at a loss to know what to do. At dagger’s drawn (to have bitter enmity)- The quarrel between the two brothers has grown more bitter now and they are at dagger’s drawn. At large (abscond, to keep unchained)- People keep their dogs at large at night. At sea (applied to a person confused)- My sister is quite at sea in maths; she cannot solve a single problem. Add fuel to the flame or fire (to make matter worse)- The attempt to suppress the agitation of the strikers only added fuel to the flame. At sixes and sevens (in disorder)- There was robbery in our neighbourhood last night and when I entered the house to inquire, everything was at sixes and sevens. Assumer airs (to pretend superiority)- The rich are in the habit of assuming airs in the presence of their poor relations. Argus eyed (careful, observant)- as a politician, He is Argus Eyed and never over verlook even a small matter. At a stone’s throw (very close)- My friend’s house is at a stone’s throw from mine. [B] By hook or by crook (by one means or another)- He is determined to obtain first division in his class by hook or by crook Bear the burnt of (to bear the main shock of)- The poor have to bear the burnt of increasing prices. Bell the cat (to take first step at personal risk)- Many people can boast of their bravery, but very few can bell the cat. Bid defiance (to ignore)- Rohan bade defiance to his father’s wish of becoming a doctor and instead became an engineer. Blow one’s trumpet (to praise oneself)- No one likes to talk to those who are always blowing their own trumpet. 2● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Break the news (to give bad news)- He broke the news of her husband’s death very gently so as to lessen the intensity of the shock. Burn a hole in one’s pocket (money spent quickly)- Money given to a spend thrift only burns a hole in his pocket. Bury the hatchet (to make peace)- India and Pakistan must bury the hatchet to bring about peace to the region. Besides oneself (to feel excessively)- Due to the accidental death of his wife he was beside himself with grief. Bad blood (bitter relations)- the riots have created bad blood between the two communities in India. Black and blue (to beat mercilessly)- The thief was beaten black and blue by the police. Beat about the bush (to talk in a roundabout manner)- We should always come to the point and should not beat about the bush. Beat the air (to make useless efforts)- some speakers merely beat the air in speech while preaching. Build castles in the air (to make visionary schemes)- Many people who live in dreams build castles in the air and do not succeed in life. Break the ice (to speak first after prolonged silence)- In the meeting Rajesh broke the ice and suggested the plan to solve the problem. Bring to book (to punish, to call to account)- The manager was bought to book for his negligence. Breathe one’s last (to die)- He breathed his last in the prime of his life. Back stairs influence (by unfair means)- These days many persons are given good posts through back stairs influence. Bird’s eye view (concise view)- We had a bird’s eye view of the whole fair from the top of a giant wheel. Bolt from the blue (sudden or unexpected shock)- The news of her husband’s death in the air crash came to her as a bolt from the blue . Burn one’s boats (point of no return)- By declaring that we were not going to sign C.T.B.T. we burnt our boat By the by (by the way)- By the by, what is your age? Be up to (to be equal to)- He is up to all the tricks of the trade to grind his own axe. Bated breath (in anxiety, expectancy)- The fate of the match hung in balance and everybody waited for the result with bated breath. Bandy words (to wrangle, to argue)- Obedient children don’t use bandy words with their parents when they are advised. Bee in one’s bonnet (to be fussy)- She seems to have a bee in her bonnet because she is always finding faults with others. Bite the dust (to be defeated)- Pakistan had to bite the dust in the final of the world cup. Blue stocking (educated but pedantic lady)- Nobody likes to mix with her because she is a blue stockings Book worm (a person in the habit of pouring over books)- He has no time for social activities because he is a book worm. Bring down the house (receive applause)- Though it was his maiden speech, he brought down the house because of his oratory skill. Brow beat (to bully)- The president of the college union always tries to brow beat the students opposed to him. Bad egg (a worthless)- He comes of a noble family but he himself is a bad egg. Beside the mark (irrelevant)- No body agreed with him because his arguments were beside the mark. Burn one’s fingers (to get into trouble)- Those who interfere in the affairs of others, often burn their fingers. Brown study (reverie, day-dream)- He could not follow the significance of my offers. He was in brown study. Bank on (depend on, count on)- Blaze the trail (to start a movement)- t. Bull in a china shop (one who causes damage)- By the rule of thumb (according to practical experience)- ● Big draw (a huge attraction)- The match between India and Pakistan is always a big draw. Broken reed (support that failed)- When he needed help, his friend proved broken reed. By the skin of the teeth (support that failed)- He escaped death in the accident by the skin of the teeth. Bone of contention (cause of quarrel)- Since India got independence, Kashmir problem has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Bit/piece of one’s mind (to scold)- My father wrote to my brother giving a piece of his mind about his insulting conduct Born with silver spoon (to be born in a rich family)- Burn candle at both ends (squander)- By fits and starts (irregularly)- By dint of (by force of)- . Blow hot and cold (to speak in favour and against at the same time)- By and by (gradually)- Blue blood (aristocratic blood)-