Human Being Idioms & Phrases
By hook or by crook: By one means or another; in any way possible – fair or unfair
Don’t worry, she’ll arrange the admission fee tomorrow, by hook or by crook.
Cry over spilt milk: Repent; to be upset over something that can’t be fixed
Yes, we made a mistake, but there is no point in crying over spilt milk. We should think about future now.
Call names: To abuse; to mock with rude or offensive names
John was punished for calling his teacher names.
Dig (one’s) own grave: To destroy; to do something that causes serious harm
She dug her own grave when she made fun of the boss.
Die in harness: Die while in service or working
Soldiers mostly die in harness.
Dare devil: Fearless person
He is a daredevil on racing-track.
Eat one’s words: Take a statement back; to regret about what has previously said
After my wrong prediction of grade 10 result, I ate my words when I saw the report card.
Eat humble pie: To apologize; to admit that one is wrong
I had to eat humble pie, when Harry won first prize, who I said would never own any prize.
Enough to keep body and soul together: Very little or only enough to survive
Can’t we give them more food? This is only enough to keep body and soul together.
Be (as) fit as fiddle: To be very healthy and strong
My grandmother is 89, but she is as fit as fiddle.
Gentleman at large: A man without a job or any serious occupation
He sold his business and is now a gentleman at large.
Good Samaritan: One who helps people in trouble or strangers
A good samaritan offered us a room in his house during rain and storm.
Give up the ghost: Of a person, to die; of a machine, to stop working
As per medical report, uncle is going to
give up the ghost sooner or later.
Our old TV has finally given up the ghost.
Kith and kin: Blood relation or family relationship
I sent cards to my kith and kin, wishing them a happy new year!
Man of letters: Literate person; usually a writer, who knows a lot about literature
As a man of letters, the professor could easily speak for hours on the works of Shakespeare.
Midas touch: A touch which turns anything into gold or profitable
He seems to have Midas touch when it comes to playing cards.
Man of parts: A man of many talents or qualities
My grandfather was an artist, author, and musician – he was truly a man of parts.
Man of straw: A weak person
We thought she was strong, but she turned out to be a man of straw.
No love lost: Intense dislike; disrespect for one another
There is no love lost between Doris and Arvind.
Rank and file: Common man; and ordinary worker
The rank and file of the party has lost confidence in the leadership.
On the spur of the moment: A decision or action taken without any planning
On the spur of the moment, we decided to go to the beach.
Steal someone’s thunder: Make a better impression; to do what someone else was going to do before they do it
Husband stole the thunder of wife when he announced in family that his wife was pregnant.
Take someone/somewhere by storm: To surprise unexpectedly
The army took city after city by storm.
Bare one’s soul or heart: To share one’s intimate thoughts or feelings with another person
There are very few people I would bare my soul or heart to.
Pour out one’s soul: To confess something; to reveal one’s deepest concern
Every time she calls, she takes an hour to pour out her soul.
Yeoman’s service: Excellent work
My cell phone (Samsung A5) has done yeoman’s service over the past five years, but now it’s time to upgrade.
Thank you for reading it complete.
My girlfriend always steals my thunder and not even let me speak.
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