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| Arup Roy, Lecturer in English Language & Literature, Kanchkura University College |
T
To take one to task (To rebuke):
- The principal took him to task for coming late to college.
On tenterhooks (In suspense):
- Till the exams were over I was on tenterhooks.
A Herculean task (A very difficult task):
- Eradication of poverty is a Herculean task for any government.
To stem the tide (To meet a force well):
- His spirited campaign stemmed the time and saved his party to defeat.
Thick-skinned (Insensitive):
- The politicians are thick-skinned people.
To take a back seat (To occupy a subordinate position):
- In the bedlam, the man issue took a back seat.
To take French leave (To be absent without permission):
- He was away on French leave and hence was punished.
To through the baby out with the bathwater (To through away a useful thing along with the useless):
- Privatization of all industries is like to throughout the baby with the bathwater.
To through a spanner in the works (To disturb a plan):
- Rising contentious issues is like throwing a spanner in the works of the ruling party
Topsy turvy (Upside down):
- His world turned topsy turvy on his father's death.
Under someone's thumb (Controlled by someone):
- She is completely under her husband's thumb.
To play one's trump card (To make one's most powerful move):
- He decided to play his trump card and had them floored.
Be on one's toe (To be ready or prepared for action):
- They were all on their toes to hearing their master coming.
To hold one's tongue (Be silent, say nothing):
- With great difficulty, I managed to hold my tongue.
Armed to the teeth (Completely armed):
- The soldiers were armed to the teeth.
Put one's card on the table (Be honest and open about one's intentions):
- He decided to put his cards on the table so that they could come to an agreement.
U
In unison (Together):
- They sang in unison.
Underway (To progress):
- The preparation for the concert is underway.
Up in arms (Rebellious):
- The workers were up in arms fighting for their rights.
Upwardly mobile (Aspiring to advance in life)
- The youth leaders are upwardly mobile class.
V
In vogue (In fashion):
- The dress is in vogue today.
Vested interest (Personal interest):
- He had a vested interest in awarding the contract to the firm.
A voice in the wilderness (No listener for a message):
- His opinion was a voice in the wilderness.
W
To hold water (To be sound in reason):
- These arguments will not hold water in a court of law.
To be worth its weight in gold (To be precious):
- An honest person is worth his weight in gold.
To run amuck / wild (To grow undisciplined):
- The soldiers ran amuck leading to mutiny.
To win the day (To be victorious):
- His bravery won the day for them.
The writing on the wall (A warning to someone to take immediate heed):
- His defeat at the election was written on the wall after the civic election six months ago.
Keep the wolf from the door (Have enough money to avoid hunger and need):
- They earn so little that it is difficult to keep the wolf from the door.
Y
Yeoman service (Useful help):
- Mother Teresa did a yeoman service for the poor and the sick.
Yes, man (A submissive man):
- The manager was a yes man to the top management.
Young Turk (Young person eager for radical change in the established order):
- The young Turks demanded a change in the leadership of the party.
Year in and year out (Throughout the year):
- We hear of heinous crimes year in and year out.
Z
Zero hours (The crucial moment):
- he raised the question at zero hours.
Zero-in-on (To focus one's attention on):
- They zeroed in on the militants.
Zebra crossing (Striped street crossing):
- We must cross the road at the zebra crossing.
References
Singh, M., & Singh, O. P. (2002). Art of Effective English Writing (New Edition, pp. 207–209). S. Chand & Company Limited.