Idioms and Phrases – Page 2

English Grammar: Idioms And Phrases (“Set-B”) | for CSS, PMS, PCS, NTS

Bad Blood:
(Enmity) – Misunderstanding caused much bad blood between the two friends.

Bad debts:
(Debts of which there is no hope that will ever be paid) – Among his assets he had included a number of bad debts.

Bag and Baggage:
(With all one’s belongings) – He has left Karachi with bag and baggage, as he intends to settle down in Islamabad.

Bear the Brunt:
Bear the main stress or burden (of a task, contest, etc.) – The Prime Minister will have to bear the brunt of the Opposition attack on the policy of the Government.

Beat about the bush:
(Talk around the point, instead of coming direct to a subject) – We should understand you better if you said exactly what you meant, instead of beating about the bush.

Beck and call:
(Always ready and waiting to carry out (someone’s) order or wishes) – She always has plenty of men at her beck and call.

English Grammar: Idioms And Phrases (“Set-A”) | for CSS, PMS, PCS, NTS

A Bed of Roses:
(An altogether agreeable position or situation) – A parochial life is not a bed of roses, Mrs. Mann. – Dickens

A bed of thorns: (Full of difficulties and troubles) – Shelley cried that his life was a bed of thorns.

A bird’s eye view: (A general account) – Maria had a bird’s eye view of the grand city from his apartment.

A black sheep: (An ill-conducted person; a member of society who is not considered respectable) I’m forbidden the house. I’m looked upon as a black sheep – a pest, a contamination.

A blank cheque: (Permission to do what one feels necessary with complete freedom) – He’s given me a blank cheque to carry out my plan.

A blue stocking: (A woman who prides herself on her learning) – Lucy Hutchinson was evidently a very superior young lady, and is known as a blue stocking by her colleagues

A bone of contention: (A cause of dispute) – Kashmir is still a bone of contention between India and Pakistan.

A bosom friend: (A very intimate friend) – “So I have heard; but he is not quite bosom friend enough with me to have told me all the particulars.”

A breathing-space: (A short time in which one can have a rest) – I’ve only a breathing-space of ten minutes before my next appointment.