Introduction

Idioms refer to an expression or phrase that is:

  • not in a particular grammatical order;
  • has its own meaning which is not apparent from the meaning of  its individual words; 
  •  informal in nature.

Idioms are phrases or a fixed expression that has a figurative or literal meaning. Every language has a huge collection of idioms and phrases. These idioms and phrases add peculiarity and uniqueness to communication. Moreover, they often offer advice about how to live and also transfer some underlying ideas, principles, and values of a given culture.

These idioms and phrases can be mainly classified into the following categories:

1. Idiomatic pairs of nouns:

Here, two different nouns combine to give an entirely new meaning. 

For example, 

Loaves and fishes: Wordly benefits

Flesh and blood: Human nature

2. Idiomatic pairs of adjectives:

Here, two different adjectives combine to give an entirely new meaning.
For example,
Null and void: ineffective and invalid
All and sundry: everybody without distinction.

3. Idiomatic adverbs:

Here, different adverbs combine to give an entirely new meaning.
For example,
Few and for between: Very small in quantity 
Out and out: completely

4. Idiomatic phrase composed of an adjective and noun:

Here, adjectives and nouns are combined to develop an idiomatic phrase that gives an entirely new meaning.
Laughing-stock: An object of ridicule
An unearthly hour: the most inconvenient time.

5. Idiomatic verbal expression:

The idiomatic verbal expression has a verb with other parts of speech.
For example,
To take a leaf out of another book:
to take a hint from others' behavior.

6. Phrasal-pre-positional verb

These idioms in principle use prepositional verbs to give an entirely new meaning.
For example,
Go back on: fail to keep a promise
Boil down to: Have as its essence


Some of the popular idioms and their literal meanings are enlisted as follows:

A
to add fuel to the flames: to excite the fury
B
to back the wrong horse: to help the wrong person
to bark at the moon: to rail uselessly at men in high places
to bark up the wrong tree: to direct one's attack, criticism, or efforts in the wrong quarter
to bear in the sunshine of: to enjoy the favor or good graces of
to bear a charmed life: to be almost incredibly fortunate, to be invulnerable
to bear the brunt of: to endure the shock of
to bear the palm: to win
to beat about the bush: to approach a matter that is in question
to beg the questions: assume the truth of the matter that is in question
to beggar description: to be so extraordinary as to make description impossible
to bell the cat: to take great personal risk
to be in the driving seat: in control
to be taken for a ride: to be cheated or deceived
to be tied to somebody's apron string: too long or too much under somebody's control
to be left out in the cold: be ignored or neglected
to bide one's time: wait for a favourable opportunity
to bite the dust: to suffer defeat or humiliation
to bite off more than one can chew: attempt too much
to blow hot and cold: to be inconsistent and unreliable
to blow off steam: to find an outlet. by action or speech, for pent-up energy and emotion
to blow one's own trumpet: to speak highly of oneself
to break new ground: to begin operations or a new course
to break the back of something: to finish the hardest or larger piece of work
to break the ice: to commence conversation where there has been an awkward silence 
to break the news: to disclose information tactfully
to bring down the house: to call forth general and loud applause
to bring to the book: to punish; to call the account
to burn one's boats/bridges: to destroy all means of going back, so that one must go forward
to burn the candle at both ends: use up too much energy, work very early and very late
C
to call a spade a spade: to speak the plain truth
to call one's short: to state exactly what one intends to do
to call it a day: to stop work or an activity
to carry everything before one: to be completely successful
to carry the day: to be victorious
to cast aspersions on somebody: slander him; say false things about him                
to cast pearls before swine: to offer people things that they are incapable of appreciating
to catch a person napping: to take a person unawares
to catch a tartar: to deal with too troublesome an opponent
to catch at a straw: an opponent to avail oneself of even the slightest chance of rescue
to cause a flutter: to cause excitement
to change colour: to shift allegiance to
to chew the cud: to reflect, to meditate
to clear the deck: to get ready for action
to clip a person's wings: to reduce his power or authority
to close in upon: to approach and surround
to come a cropper: to fail completely
to come full circle: end at the starting point
to come of age: to mature, to reach the age of twenty-one
to come off with flying colours: to emerge from an affair splendidly and creditably
to come to the crunch: a difficult moment when something important must be decided
to come ahead: to reach a crisis
to come through / off/ with flying colours: make a great success of something
to come to grips: to master the difficulties in dealing with a situation
to create a scene: to make an exhibition of excited feelings
to cross swords: to enter into a dispute or an argument
to cry from the house-tops: to announce to one and all
to cry over split milk: to repent for the wrong that cannot be corrected
to cudgel one's brain: force oneself to think hard
to curry favour: to try to win attention by insincere means
to cut a figure: to make a conspicuous appearance
to cut a sorry figure: to create a poor impression
to cut no ice: to make no impression
to cut someone down to size: to show someone to be less good and important than they think they are
to cut the Gordian knot: to solve a difficult problem
D
to dance attendance on/upon a person: to be constantly in his company, paying attention to his every  wish and whim                                                                 
to die in harness: to die while actively engaged in one's regular work
to dole out: to distribute at intervals in small quantities with a suggestion of charity
to do something off one's own bat: do it without help
to draw a blank: get nothing (after hoping to win or find something)
to drive a hard bargain: try to force an agreement favourable to oneself 
to drive a nail into somebody's coffin: to do something that will bring his death or ruin nearer
to drive at: to employ, to hint
to drive mad: to cause one to become mad
to drive one to the wall: to force one to a helpless or desperate position
E
to eat humble pie: to submit meekly and apologetically to blame or humiliation
to egg on: to urge on, to incite
to end in fiasco: to end in confusion
F
to fall back upon: to depend upon
to fall flat: to fail to meet with any response
to fall in with: to agree with
to fall to pieces: to break up completely
to feather one's nest: to take advantage of one's opportunities, to benefit oneself
to fight with one's back to the wall: to make a final, desperate struggle
to fill/fit the bill: to do all that is required or expected
to find a snug berth: an easy or pleasant job
to flag a dead horse: to pursue an argument when the matter is settled
to foot the bill: to pay the bill
to force an issue: to compel a decision to be reached
G
to gatecrash: to attend a party without having been invited
to get down to brass tacks: to come to the really important factors or business
to get in the way: to obstruct
to get into hot water: to get into difficulties
to get into somebody's goods graces: to try and make a.favorable impression on somebody
to get no change out of somebody: get no help, information, or advantage from
to get off somebody's back: stop being a burden or hindrance
to get on one's nerves: to make one irritated
to get the hang of: to understand a situation, scheme, story, etc.
to get the jitters: to become nervous
to get the sack: to be dismissed from employment
to get/grow too big for one's boots: become conceited
to get wind of: to catch the scent or hear rumours of
to grid up one's loins: to brace oneself up for vigorous action
to give a free hand to: to allow a person complete liberty
to give a good account of oneself: to show worth, to impress favourably
to give a person a piece of one's mind: to scold, to tell him in strong terms one's unfavourable
opinion of his conduct or character
to give a person rope: to allow him freedom to act independently and take initiative
to give a person the sack: to dismiss a person from employment
to give a wide berth to: to keep one at a distance from, to avoid
to give no quarter to: to attack relentlessly, to offer no shelter
to give somebody a blank cheque: full power to act as he thinks best
to give the slip: to escape and remain uncaptued
to given vent to: to express openly
to gloss over: to try to minimize by ignoring or excusing
to go a begging: to go in vain
to go against the grain: against human nature
to go at it hammer and tongs: to engage in an undertaking or quarrel with energy
to go back on: to betray, to desert
to go berserk: to go uncontrollably wild
to go off the air: stop broadcasting
to go pit-a-pat: (applied to one's heart) to beat irregularly through fear
to go places: to be increasingly successful
to go through fire and water: to pass through difficulties
to go through thick and thin: to go through both good and bad times
to go to dogs: to be ruined
to go to rack and ruin: implies wreckage, decay, and destruction
to go to the winds: to be utterly lost
to go wool-gathering: to become absent-minded
H
to hang by a thread: to be in an extremely delicate condition
to hang fire: to hesitate, to delay
to harp on the same string: to dwell persistently on one subject
to have an affair with somebody: have an emotional (and sexual) relationship with somebody
to whom one is not married
to have a bash at something: attempt it
to have a bowing/nodding acquaintance with: have some acquaintance with a person or a subject
to have a cold feet: feel afraid or reluctant to do something involving risk
to have a field day: to get the greatest possible advantage
to have one's name bandied about: be talked about in an unfavourable way
to have somebody at one's back and call: have some body always waiting to obey one's order
to have somebody at one's feet: make a good chance of attaining success
to have one's back to the wall: being in a difficult position, forced to defend oneself.
to have a card up one's sleeve: have a secret plan in reserve
to have a chip on one's shoulder: have a defiant air, ready to accept a challenge
to hold/keep one's card close to one's chest: be secretive
to have one's cake and eat it: preserve something unchanged and allow it to change (that is, an impossibility)
to have a been in one's bonnet: be obsessed by an idea
to hit below the belt: give an unfair blow
to hit the nail on the head: to guess right; to come to the right conclusion
to hit the headlines: get into the news
to hit the jackpot: to have a big success
to hold a man to ransom: keep him as captive and ask for ransom
to hold no brief for: not to support or be in favour of
to hold all the cards: to have a very strong advantage
to hold out the olive branch: to make a gesture of peace
to hold water: to be sound
to husband one's resources: to use economically all the capital one has
J
to join forces with: to become associated with
to join issue with: to take an opposite position in a dispute
to jump to a conclusion: to assume rashly and without justification on a conclusion
K
to keep abreast of: to keep oneself up-to-date 
to keep a straight face: to remain intentionally inexpressive or serious
to keep at bay: to keep in check
to keep body and soul together: to manage a bare existence
to keep late hours: to be late in retiring to bed at night
to keep one's powder dry: to be prepared for action
to keep the ball rolling: to continue or maintain some programs
to keep the pot boiling: to secure means to live
to keep the wolf from the door: to avoid starvation or acute poverty
to keep up appearances: to maintain
to keep track of: to keep oneself informed
to kick against the pricks: to struggle against what cannot be prevented
to kick up a row: to create a disturbance
to knit one's eyebrows: to frown
to knock the bottom out of: to make a scheme, arrangement etc. ineffective, to make a theory invalid
to know where the shoe pinches: to know the circumstance that is the cause of trouble
L
to lay down one's arms: to surrender one's weapon as a conquered person
to lead a cat-and-dog life: to quarrel constantly
to let oneself go: to allow full freedom to emotion
to lick someone's boots: humble oneself to gain someone's favour
to look black at somebody: look at him angrily
to look blank: to seem puzzled or distressed
to look off colours: seem unwell, in low spirit
to look through coloured spectacles: to see things not as they are
to look sharp: to hurry, to act promptly
to lose one's bearings: to get lost, to be bewildered
M
to make a clean breast of: to confess the whole truth
to make a clean sweep of: to get rid of or dispose of everything concerned
to make a face: to show a strong distaste by a contortion of the features
to make a hash of: to make a mess of, to bungle
to make a mess of: to muddle
to make a mountain out of a molehill: to exaggerate a small matter
to make amends for: to compensate for some injustice or wrong
to make an ass of oneself: behave stupidly so that one is ridiculed
to make both ends meet: to live within one's income
to make capital out of: to take advantage of
to make good: to repair or replace what has been destroyed or injured or is deficient
to make much ado about nothing: to exaggerate
to make no scruples: to have no hesitation
to make one's blood boil: to make one furiously angry
to make one's blood creep: to fill one with terror
to make one's blood run/cold: to frighten
to make one's brain reel: to stagger mentally
to make one's flesh creep: to give one a feeling of fear and horror
to make the best of a bad bargain: to try to get any good out of unfortunate circumstances
to meet half-way: to compromise
to mince matters: not to talk plainly and frankly
to miss the bus: to be late for, to lose the last chance when it comes
to muster strong: to assemble in large numbers
N
to nip in the bud: to destroy before it develops
O
to out-herod Herod: to exceed into weaknesseven the most notoriously wiked character
P
to pat someone on the back: to show him appreciation
to pay a man back in the same/his own coin: treat him as he has treated you
to pay lip service: to pretend to be faithful
to pin faith to: to rely on
to pin one's faith on: to put complete belief in
to play a person false: to  deceive
to play fast and loose with: to say one thing and do another
to play into the hands of another: to act in such a way to benefit another
to play one's trump card: to make one's most powerful or effective move
to play second fiddle: to play subordinate role
to pay through the nose: to pay an excessive price
to play to the gallery: to aim at impressing the vulgar crowd
to play truant: to absent oneself from school
to pull one's weight: to do one's share in contributing to a result
to put a spoke in one's wheels: to stand in the execution of one's design
to put the cart before the horse: to reverse the natural or proper order
R
to rest on one's oars: to stop work for a while and rest
to ride roughshod over: to treat without any consideration of hurting a person's feelings
to ring a bell: recall to memory something half-forgotten
to ring down the curtain: to bring an affair to an end
to rise form the ranks: to be a self-made man
to rule the roost: to have full power and authority over others
to run counter to: to be opposed to
to run amuck: to go mad, run about wildly and act violently
S
to scotch the rumour: to destroy the cause of evil
to see no farther than one's nose: to be lacking in mental vision
to see something in its true colours: see a thing as it really is
to sell like hot cakes: very fast
to separate the sheep from the goats: to divide the good or useful people from the bad or useless
to shed crocodile tears: shed insincere tears
to shilly-shally: to waver
to show a clean pair of heels: escape from pursuit 
to show one's mettle: to show one's spirit
to sit on the fence: to hesitate between what to do and what not to do
to snap one's fingers at: to defy
to speak volumes: to reveal a great deal in a few words
to spill the beans: to give away information, specially something not intended to be made known
to spin a yarn: to make up a story
to split hairs: to make subtle and useless distinction
to stand in good stead: to prove useful
to stand in the way: to obstruct
to stand one's ground: to refuse to change one's statement or opinion
to start from scratch: to start again from the beginning
to start with a clean slate: to begin a new
to steal a march on: to surpass
to steer clear of: to avoid, to evade
to stew in one's own juice: to suffer the results of difficulties one has got into
to stick in one's threat: to be extremely offensive to one
to stick to one's colours: refuse to change one's opinion or party
to stick to one's guns: to remain faithful to the cause
to stir up a hornet's nest: to excite the averse criticism of many
to stoop to conquer: to humiliate oneself to achieve success in the end
to strike a bargain: to reach a final compromise
to sweep something under the carpet: hide/ignore something in order to delay action
T
to take time by the forelock: to act promptly
to take to heart: to be deeply affected
to take up the cudgels: to defend tenaciously
to talk shop: to discuss one's business or professional affairs on ordinary social occasions
to tell things or persons apart: distinguish one from the other
to tell upon: to affect
to throw down the gauntlet: to throw a challenge
to thrust down a person's throat: to force on a person's attention an opinion, a fact or an act
that is unwelcome
to tilt at wind mills: to waste energy in combatting imaginary evils
to tread stately measure: to walk majestically
to turn a blind eye to something: to pretend not to see it
to turn one's coat: to change loyalty
to turn over a new leaf: to change for the better
to turn the corner: to overcome the critical state in a difficulty or trouble
to turn tail: to withdraw cowardly
W
to welcome somebody with open  arms: warmly, with enthusiasm
to win laurels: to acquire distinction or glory
to work against the clock: work fast to finish before a certain time
to work around the clock: work all day and night
to worship the rising sun: to honour the man who is rising in power
to write off: to reduce or wipe out a debt
REMAINING:
a beast of burden: one who has to carry a lot of burden
a black sheep: a good-for-nothing person
a bolt from the blue: something unexpected and unpleasant 
a bone of contention: something that causes contention
a burning question: a live issue
a close call: almost an accident, disaster or failure
a close shave: a narrow escape from collision or accident
a cold blooded murder: pitiless murder
airs and graces: foolish, exaggerated ways of behaving
a fair weather friend: a person who ceases to be a friend when one is in trouble
apple of discord: cause of quarrel
a short in the dark: a guess unsupported by arguments 
a sleeping partner: a silent partner
a slow coach: a person who thinks, moves or acts slowly
at one's wit's end: not knowing what to do or say
at sixes and sevens: confused and disordered
at snail's pace: very slow speed or rate of activity
a turncoat: one who deserts one party to join another for safety and advantage
a wet blanket: person who by being gloomy himself prevents others from enjoying themselves
a wild goose chase:  a search, expedition etc.
a white elephant: something which is costly but useless and unwanted
at full blast: with maximum activity
at the eleventh hour: at the latest possible time
be-all and end-all: the most important
bird's eye view: wide view seen from high up, with full details
blow-by-blow account (of the match  or meeting): minutely detailed account
by fits and starts: in short periods, not regularly
by hook or by crook: by the means and another
by leaps and bounds: very rapidly
cakes and ale: merry-making
cheek by jowl (with): very close together, closely connected
chip of the old block: son who is very like his father
few and far between: few and widely scattered or separated
flesh and blood: one's relation
for want of: lack
from pillar to post: from one resource to another
in the long run: in the end
in the teeth of: against the strength of
on pins and needles: in a state of anxious expectation
on the cards: likely or possible
on the horns of a dilemma: having to choose between two unpleasant things or courses
the apple of one's eye: somebody or something dear to one
storm in a tea cup: much excitement over something trivial
with no holds barrel: not keeping to any rules or limits

Some phrases with their meaning are listed below:

Bear with: to sustain
Bear upon: to sustain
Bear away: to win
Bear out: to confirm
Bear through: to support
Bear  up: to sustain
Bear down upon: to attack
Break into: enter forcibly
Break off: to stop suddenly
Break with: to cut off relations
Break forth: to burst out
Bring round: to induce
Bring to bear on: to use force
Bring home to: to convince someone
Call in: to send for
Call at: to visit
Call upon: to order 
Call for: need
Call forth: to bring in action
Call of: to stop/withdraw
Call into play: to give scope
Carry off: to win/to kill
Carry through: to support
Carry away: to be influenced
Carry out: to accomplish
Come upon: to be equal to
Come to terms: to settle down
Come to pass: to happen
Cut off: take place
Cut in: to interference
To cut off: to die 
To drop off: to disappear
Done up: to be exhausted
To fall out: to quarrel
To fall to: to start eating
To fall in with: to agree
To get round: to prevail upon
To get off: to escape
To give in: to yield
To go off: to explode/to pass
To hold out: to offer resistance
To keep back: to conceal
To lay by: to save for future
Look upon: to regard
Look up to: to regard/with regard
To make off: to run away with
To make away with: to kill
Make over: to transfer
To make up for: to go in the direction of
To make up: to compensate
To pull through: to recover
To pull together: to work in harmony
Put in: to submit/work/speak
To put by: to save
Put up with: to tolerate
To put off: postpone
Put down: to suppress
Put out: to extinguish/to be confused
Run into: to be involved
Run out: to expire
Run through: to waste
Take up cause: to support
Turn out: to prove
Turn up: to appear

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