Vocabulary - Word Meanings
Expressions, Clauses & Phrases Explained
(Based on latest changed style used in Competition Exams.)
Meaning of the phrase/clause/word used in sentences with explanation
Meaning -- To calm down.
-- To stop being angry or agitated.
-- To maintain one's composure.
Meaning --To feel perfectly all right if earlier not so good.
After recovery from her illness, she is feeling right as rain now.
Meaning -- To make a new or fresh start.
-- To create something new.
Use in sentence
Meaning -- To spend money as quickly as possible.
Use in sentence
If we want people to eat here, we need here better chefs. Without doing that improving the decor will be like putting lipstick on a pig.
Unless effective changes are made in the education system of the country, all efforts to generate employment avenues for the youth are like putting lipstick on a pig.
If one says he had a blast he means that he enjoyed himself to the fullest. He had a very good time. Generally this expression is used for saying about enjoying in a party with friends or family members etc. It has nothing to do with the literal meaning of the word blast as it appears to be.
Use in sentence
On New Year's eve I went out with my friends for a party and we all had there a blast.
I still remember the farewell party of the college where we all class fellows had a blast.
In every language there are certain words or group of words which have meanings different from those in their normal forms.Similarly in English also words are used with their meanings different from their usual meanings. These are used as a practice in the language. Some examples are here under:
1. To Pull Oneself Together
Meaning -- To calm down.
-- To stop being angry or agitated.
-- To maintain one's composure.
When one tells someone to pull himself together what he is required to do id to calm down
--- to stop being angry or upset about something. In other words one is required to regain one's composure. For example -
He has been tough on others whenever things don't go according to the plan. He was told to pull himself together. Meaning thereby to cool down or not to be agitated under the situation.
Use in a sentence:
In old age one cannot pull oneself together.
He cannot pull himself together if things are not according to him.
2. Right As Rain
Meaning --To feel perfectly all right if earlier not so good.
If something is not going so good but after doing something or taking some action things have gone under change perfectly as required, it is said that things have been 'right as rain.'
Use in sentence
After a minor repair my car is right as rain.
3. Start From Scratch
Meaning -- To make a new or fresh start.
-- To create something new.
This expression appears to have its origin from sports. In earlier times a line was scratched on the ground at the point of the start with the help of a stick or a stone.Every player started the game from that line. Every fresh start was to be made from that scratched line.
Use in sentence
My boss did not like my project report. So I had to discard everything and start from scratch.
They are not interested to purchase an old factory.They want to start their own from scratch.
4.Burn A Hole In The Pocket
Meaning -- To spend money as quickly as possible.
Generally this expression is used to express that a lot of money or a large amount of money is being spent. But it is used to say that one is very eager to spend the money one possesses.The money in one's pocket is very hot and one is very eager to spend that money, though the money is not necessarily required to be large.
Use in sentence
The money she received this morning was burning hole in her pocket.
Stop behaving like a teenager with money burning hole in your pocket. If you want to buy a house you need to start saving money.
5. Jump The Gun
Meaning -- To start something too soon.
-- To act hastily.
This expression appears to have its origin from sports. A game is started with the firing of a gun in the air.Every player is required to start only when the gun is fired.If someone starts prior to that he or she is said to have jumped the gun.So doing an act out of turn is called jump the gun.The word 'Jump' in the phrase indicates a sudden movement as a jump in the queue or jump the signal. So this phrase is also used for anything done too soon.
Use in Sentence
He tried a number of times to jump the gun to deliver his lecture but the secretary did not allow him.
She is in the bad habit of jumping the gun while marking morning attendance in the register.
He tried a number of times to jump the gun to deliver his lecture but the secretary did not allow him.
She is in the bad habit of jumping the gun while marking morning attendance in the register.
6. To Be Fit As Fiddle
Meaning -- To be in pink of health.
---To be in excellent physical condition.
--- To be in good condition of health.
The origin of this expression appears to be from "fiddlers" or "violin players" of earlier times. Violin players used to entertain people and as such they were supposed to keep themselves in good health to do their job. So a fiddler was supposed to be always in good health.
Use in Sentence
At the age of sixty even he is fit as fiddle and performs his duties very well.
He appears to be having a very feeble body but he is fit as fiddle.
---To be in excellent physical condition.
--- To be in good condition of health.
The origin of this expression appears to be from "fiddlers" or "violin players" of earlier times. Violin players used to entertain people and as such they were supposed to keep themselves in good health to do their job. So a fiddler was supposed to be always in good health.
Use in Sentence
At the age of sixty even he is fit as fiddle and performs his duties very well.
He appears to be having a very feeble body but he is fit as fiddle.
7. Put Lipstick On A Pig
Meaning -- To make superficial changes to make something more appealing.
It is to make a temporary solution of a problem by making minor changes which are not effective. These are only to make believe the people that everything is as required. It is only to befool the people.
Use in sentence
If we want people to eat here, we need here better chefs. Without doing that improving the decor will be like putting lipstick on a pig.
Unless effective changes are made in the education system of the country, all efforts to generate employment avenues for the youth are like putting lipstick on a pig.
8. To Have A Blast
Meaning -- To enjoy oneself.
-- To have a good time. If one says he had a blast he means that he enjoyed himself to the fullest. He had a very good time. Generally this expression is used for saying about enjoying in a party with friends or family members etc. It has nothing to do with the literal meaning of the word blast as it appears to be.
Use in sentence
On New Year's eve I went out with my friends for a party and we all had there a blast.
I still remember the farewell party of the college where we all class fellows had a blast.
9. On A Slippery Slope
Meaning -- To be surrounded by a number of
problems beyond one's control.
On a slippery slope means to be in a situation which is beyond one's control and is full of problems. One cannot escape from the situation once one gets into it.
He confirmed to the boss that he would complete the project within a week but now he finds himself on a slippery slope as it seems not possible for him.
She was on slippery slope when she tried to please both of her sons by giving valuable presents to them.
10. To Eat A Humble Pie
Meaning -- To be humiliated
When one is made to eat a humble pie it means that one is humiliated. One is put in a humiliating situation.
Our college had to eat a humble pie when our cricket team lost the match.
His parents had to eat a humble pie when it was detected that he had stolen the purse.
