List - 7
121. To rise
to the occasion ( to prove worthy of expectations )
** After Indira's assassination,
Rajiv Gandhi had risen to the occasion.
122. To run
the gauntlet ( to expose oneself to criticism )
** If you do this work, you will
have to run gauntlet.
123. To rub
shoulders ( to mix up freely ) Raju can rub shoulders with any stranger.
124. To stem
the tide of ( to check )
** Our government should try its
best to stem the tide of terrorism.
125. To spread
like a wild fire ( to spread rapidly )
** The bitterness between one
community and another is spreading like a wild fire.
126. To stir a
finger ( to make a least effort )
** He wants to pass I. A. S.
examination only by stirring his finger.
127. To show a
clean pair of heels ( to run away out of fear )
** The cowards show a clean pair
of heels in the battle field.
128. To see
eye to eye ( to agree )
** In the expenditure of the
Boys' Fund amount, the Principal did not see eye to eye with the President.
129. To strike
while the iron is hot ( to act at a favourable opportunity )
** Last night theft has occurred
at his place. He should immediately lodge a report with the police, to strike
while the iron is hot.
130. To set at
naught ( to challenge, to disregard )
** If dharma is set at naught,
nothing will exist in limits.
131. To turn
over a new life ( to change for the better )
** The Principal has turned over
a new leaf in the history of the college.
132. To throw
cold water ( to discourage )
** He wanted to go to America,
but his father threw cold water on his aspirations.
134. To turn a
deaf ear ( to disregard )
** His father advised him to
give up smoking, but he turned a deaf ear.
135. To turn
the tables ( to reverse position )
** The invention of big sputniks
had turned the tables in favour of Russia.
136. To take
to one's heels ( to flee )
** As soon as the thief saw the
police, he took to his heels.
137. To take
French leave ( to go away without permission )
** The clerk who was on French
leave yesterday, has been punished.
138. To throw
light upon ( to explain )
** In Ramcharit Manas, Tulsidas
has thrown light upon the life of Ram.
139. To talk
tall ( to boast )
** Kuldeep always talks tall.
140. To take
aback (to astonish )
** I was taken aback to see the
magician climbing up the rope hung in the air.
141. To take
the bull by the horns( to make a bold attack on a dangerous thing )
** He faced the dacoits boldly
and thus he took the bull by the horns.
142. To take
anything to heart ( to take a thing seriously )
** Vimal is an intelligent boy.
He took my advice to heart.
143. To wash dirty
linen in public ( to reveal private affairs in public )
** You have been insulted by him
but do not wash this dirty linen in public.
144. To win
laurals ( to be victorious )
** A debate took place in the
college. Naresh won laurels in it.
145. To wear
one's heart upon one's sleeves ( to show one's innermost feelings to
everybody )
** He is in the habit of wearing
his heart upon his sleeves. It is a weakness in his personality.
146. To
worship the rising sun ( to honour the man who is coming into power )
** The newly appointed Principal
has taken over the charge. The staff have started worshipping the rising sun.
********************************************************