Idioms for Class 9

Table of Content

What are Idioms?

Examples of Idioms

Why Use Idioms in Sentences?

List of Idioms

FAQ

What are Idioms?

An idiom is a phrase or expression with a metaphorical meaning that frequently deviates from the literal interpretation of its words.

Example of an Idiom: Jump on the bandwagon

In this idiom, "Jump on the bandwagon " doesn't mean that you are jumping. It means to follow a trend or popular activity.

Use of this idiom in a sentence: Many companies are jumping on the bandwagon of sustainable practices to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

Examples of Idioms

1. Between the cup and the lips - on the point of achievement

Sentence: John found himself caught between the cup and the lips when he stumbled over his words during a crucial point.

2. A mare's nest - a false invention

Sentence: Emily managed to unravel the complex problems, proving that her apprehensions about the exam were indeed a mare's nest.

3. A toss-up – a result that is still unclear and can go either way

Sentence: The outcome of the basketball championship was a toss-up until the final seconds, with both teams playing exceptionally well and making it a nail-biting finish.

4. Ever and anon - now and then, occasionally

Sentence: Students encountered Shakespearean sonnets that, ever and anon, captivated their imaginations with the timeless beauty of language and emotion.

5. An eyewash - a pretence

Sentence: His explanation about the missing homework was nothing more than an eyewash in front of his teacher.

6. An iron hand - by force

Sentence: Veronica managed to complete the challenging math competition with an iron hand because she had no interest in calculations.

7. At the drop of a hat - willing to do something immediately

Sentence: Mr Samuel was ready to provide a detailed explanation at the drop of a hat, showcasing his deep understanding of the project.

8. A man of straw - a weak person

Sentence: He proved to be a man of straw, easily swayed by the opinions of others and lacking the resilience needed to stand firm in his convictions.

9. See eye to eye - in agreement with someone

Sentence: Manuel and Samuel surprisingly managed to see eye to eye on the importance of open-mindedness and respectful discourse.

10. When pigs fly - something that will never happen

Sentence: Tom managed to complete the challenging science exam when pigs flew, surprising both his classmates and himself.

11. Once in a blue moon - an event that happens rarely

Sentence: In the science competition Mary answered every question correctly, came once in a blue moon.

12. To cost an arm and a leg - something is very expensive

Sentence: Buying the latest smartphone may be tempting, but it could cost an arm and a leg, so it's important to consider more affordable options.

13. Let the cat out of the bag - to accidentally reveal a secret

Sentence: Sussan accidentally let the cat out of the bag when she excitedly mentioned the decorations to the birthday girl.

14. Cut corners - do something perfunctorily so as to save time or money

Sentence: Jenny managed to cut corners and complete the project with impressive results.

15. To hit the nail on the head - find exactly the right answer

Sentence: In her insightful analysis of the novel, Veronica truly hit the nail on the head, identifying the central theme and its profound implications with precision and clarity.

16. A blessing in disguise - a good thing that seemed bad at first

Sentence: After joining an art club, Jake understands that it was a blessing in disguise as he discovered his true passion for painting.

17. A dime a dozen - something common

Sentence: In the bustling metropolis, talented street performers may be a dime a dozen, but finding a truly exceptional violinist is as rare as a shooting star.

18. Beat around the bush - avoid saying what you mean, usually because it is uncomfortable

Sentence: During the heated debate, instead of addressing the crucial issue at hand, the politician skillfully beat around the bush.

19. Better late than never - better to arrive late than not to come at all

Sentence: As the saying goes, "Better late than never", Sussan hoped her effort would still make a positive impact on her grades.

20. Call it a day - stop working on something

Sentence: After hours of intense brainstorming and collaborative effort on their class project, the students decided to call it a day.

21. Cut somebody some slack - don't be so critical

Sentence: After realizing that her classmate was going through a difficult time at home, the teacher decided to cut her some slack and allowed for an extension on the assignment.

22. Easy does it - slow down

Sentence: The teacher advised students with a reassuring smile, "Remember, class, easy does it; focus on each note, play with confidence and let the music flow naturally."

23. Get out of hand - get out of control

Sentence: Harmless protest against the new school policies, get out of hand and turned into a massive disaster.

24. Get something out of your system - do the thing you've been wanting to do so you can move on

Sentence: She was able to get all her excitement out of her system, making the experience truly unforgettable.

25. Get your act together - Work better or leave

Sentence: The teacher sternly advised students to get their act together, emphasizing the importance of focused study sessions and organized preparation.

Why Use Idioms in Sentences?

Following are some benefits of Idioms:

→ Idioms while used in sentences help convey complex ideas, emotions, or situations easily. They can make communication more engaging and interesting.
→ Idioms help speakers to convey ideas quickly and effectively.
→ Idioms highlight the conversation and make it more memorable.
→ Idioms avoid repetitive expressions in a sentence.
→ Idioms often make communication more relatable to listeners.

List of Idioms

Idiom	Meaning	Example Sentence
1. Kick the bucket	To die	a) He's so old; he might *kick the bucket* soon. b) I hope to accomplish all my dreams and goals before I *kick the bucket*.
2. Hit the nail on the head	Accurately describe or identify something	a) Her explanation *hit the nail on the head. b) She hit the nail on the head* with her idea for a science exhibition.
3. Get out of hand	Not in one's control anymore	a) The party started off as a small gathering, but it quickly *got out of hand* with more and more people arriving. b) The argument between the two friends *got out of hand*.
4. To burn the midnight oil	To work late into the night	a) She had to *burn the midnight oil* to finish her project. b) Kerry had to *burn the midnight oil* to prepare for her entrance.
5. Like two peas in a pod	Be together always	a) Me and my best friend are like *two peas in a pod. b) The twins, Mark and Mike, look so much alike that they are like two peas in a pod*.
6. Know which way the wind blows	To understand what is happening	a) She always *knows which way the wind blows* when it comes to fun activities. b) The experienced coach always knows *which way the wind blows* with his team's performance.
7. Catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar	Getting what you want by being nice	a) He decided to be polite and friendly, like this, she can *catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. b) Being kind and with an approachable tone, the boss gives feedback to his team members and catches more flies with honey than can with vinegar*.
8. Let someone off the hook	Releasing someone or letting someone go	a) Charlie forgot to do his homework, but the teacher *let her off the hook* when he explained that his dog had chewed up her assignment. b) Tiger was supposed to clean the garage, but his parents *let him off the hook* because he had a lot of studying to do for his upcoming exams.
9. Like riding a bicycle	A skill that you learn and will never forget	a) Learning to swim was challenging at first, but once I got the hang of it, it was *like riding a bicycle. b) I sat down at the piano, it was like riding a bicycle* – my fingers remembered the keys and I played a beautiful tune.
10. Blame one's tools	Blaming something on someone else	a) Luke didn't do well on his art project and tried to *blame his tool. b) During the soccer game, Tony missed a crucial shot and blamed it on his tool*.
11. It's not rocket science	Not that difficult to comprehend	a) Winny, don't worry! Solving this math problem is *not rocket science. b) Mark, take your time and follow the instructions step by step. Remember, it's not rocket science*.
12. Spill the beans	Reveal a secret	a) Ketty accidentally *spilt the beans* about the surprise party. b) The detective tried to get the witness to *spill the beans* about what he saw at the crime scene.
13. Get the show on the road	Start something or begin an enterprise	a) After spending hours preparing for the event, it's time to *get the show on the road* and start welcoming the guests. b) We've discussed the plan long enough, now let's *get the show on the road* and start implementing it.
14. Pull the last straw	The final point in a series of unfortunate events when you feel you cannot take it anymore	a) I had been late to school multiple times and when he missed an important exam, it was like he pulled the last straw for his teacher. b) Selena's constant complaining about her job was already annoying her coworkers, but when she blamed them for her mistakes, that was the *last straw she pulled*.
15. That ship has sailed	It is too late to do something	a) Shelly wanted to apply for that scholarship, but she missed her chance and now she realizes *that the ship has sailed. b) John regretted not investing in that company when it was just starting. Now it's a huge success, and he knows that the ship has sailed* on that opportunity.
16. It is always the darkest before dawn	Things will get better	a) Do not be worried about your career; it is *always the darkest before dawn. b) Her coach reminded the team that it's always the darkest before dawn* and they should keep playing with determination.
17. Have one's head in the clouds	To have no concentration at all	a) Elizabeth always has her *head in the clouds* during math classes. b) Instead of focusing on his responsibilities, Jack often has his *head in the clouds*, lost in thoughts.
18. On thin ice	Refers to a sensitive scenario or a person who is in trouble	a) After forgetting to do his homework for the third time, Tim was really *on thin ice* with his teacher. b) Daisy knew she was *on thin ice* with her boss because of her frequent tardiness.
19. Give a cold shoulder	Act rudely to someone	a) When Phillip tried to apologize for his mistake, his friend *gave him a cold shoulder* and didn't speak to him for days. b) During the school project presentation, John felt nervous and *gave a cold shoulder* to the audience by avoiding eye contact and speaking softly.
20. Cannot make an omelette without breaking some eggs	Everything has a cost to pay	a) When you want to improve your grades, you'll have to study, you *can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs. b) To become a skilled painter, you'll have to practice a lot and make some mistakes along the way. You can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs*!
21. Once bitten, twice shy	Being extremely cautious as you have been hurt already	a) Whenever Jonas sees dark clouds forming, he grabs her umbrella because *once bitten, twice shy right?* b) He's been afraid of all dogs, even small ones. After all, *once bitten, twice shy!*
22. Out from the blue	Something that happens unexpectedly or without a warning	a) He became my best friend, *out of the blue. b) I was completely shocked when I received a job offer out of the blue* from a prestigious company.
23. When it rains, it pours	When everything goes wrong at once	a) She not only had a tough week, but she also lost her job. *When it rains, it pours!* b) He failed his math exam on the same day, he lost his bicycle too. *When it rains, it pours!*
24. Miss the boat	To act too slowly and miss an opportunity	a) Now the concert's tickets have been sold out and Daizy has *missed the boat. b) The club is full and I missed the boat* to be a part of it.
25. Pull someone's leg	To make fun of someone	a) Don't *pull my leg! b) He kept on pulling my younger brother's leg*.
26. No pain no gain	Suffering or making efforts is required to achieve something	a) If you want to be a doctor, you have to study hard. *No pain no gain.* b) Wrestling asks for hard work. *No pain no gain*.
27. See eye to eye	Have the same opinion	a) My sister and I, *see eye to eye. b) We both think the same way. We have the same eye to eye*.
28. Wear your heart on your sleeve	To be extremely open about what you feel and think	a) If you are not happy here, *wear your heart on your sleeve* and tell him. b) You should *wear your heart on your sleeve* if you are hurting so long.
29. Takes two to tango	Two persons are equally responsible for what is happening or has happened	a) You can't blame only one person for the argument. Remember, it *takes two to tango. b) In a friendship, it takes two to tango*.
30. Come rain or shine	No matter what happens	a) Smith is always there to help his friends, *come rain or shine. b) The dedicated postal workers deliver mail to our doorstep every day, come rain or shine*.
Idiom	Meaning	Examples
31. Break a leg	Wishing good luck	a) Before the play, I told my brother to *break a leg. b) Break a leg* at your audition!
32. Piece of cake	Very easy	a) The math test was a *piece of cake. b) Building a sandcastle is a piece of cake*.
33. Hit the books	Start studying	a) I need to *hit the books* for my science test. b) She *hit the books* for her history exam.
34. Cost an arm and a leg	Very expensive	a) That new video game console *costs an arm and a leg. b) Going to a fancy restaurant is like spending an arm and a leg*.
35. It's raining cats and dogs	Heavy rain	a) We had to stay inside because it was *raining cats and dogs. b) I got soaked when it started raining cats and dogs* on my way home.
36. Don't cry over spilt milk	Don't worry about the past	a) I accidentally broke my toy, but I know I shouldn't *cry over spilt milk. b) Don't cry over spilt milk*; just clean it up and move on.
37. Biting the bullet	Facing a difficult situation with courage	a) She's *biting the bullet* and going to the dentist today. b) I had to *bite the bullet* and tell the truth.
38. On the same page	Having a shared understanding or agreement	a) We need to be *on the same page* about the project's goals. b) It's essential that the team is *on the same page* for the presentation.
39. Under the weather	Feeling unwell or sick	a) I won't be at school today because I'm *under the weather. b) She's a bit under the weather*, so she's staying home.
40. All ears	Listening attentively	a) I'm *all ears, tell me what happened. b) When the teacher started the story, the students were all ears*.
41. The ball is in your court	It's your responsibility	a) I've given you all the information; now the *ball is in your court. b) After the instructions, the success of the project is in your court*.
42. A piece of the pie	A share or portion of something	a) If you work hard, you can have *a piece of the pie. b) Everyone in the team deserves a piece of the pie* for th eir efforts.
43. Walking on air	Feeling extremely happy or elated	a) After winning the game, she was *walking on air.* b) His surprise birthday party left him *walking on air*.
44. Hitting the nail on the head	Making an accurate statement	a) When he described the issue, he really *hit the nail on the head. b) Her explanation of the problem hit the nail on the head*.
45. Jump on the bandwagon	Join a popular trend or activity	a) Many people are *jumping on the bandwagon* of fitness these days. b) She decided to *jump on the bandwagon* and start painting like her friends.
46. Clouds on the horizon	Problems/ Trouble	a) Sussan noticed that her friend was showing it as *clouds on the horizon* and suspected that something might be bothering her. b) The company's financial report showed a decline in profits for the third quarter, which was like *clouds on the horizon* for the investors.
47. A blessing in disguise	Something that you think is bad but turns out to be a blessing	a) Due to rain, we didn't visit an amusement park but it turned out to be *a blessing in disguise* because we stayed home and found out about a fantastic new video game. b) I didn't get selected for the sports club but it turned out to be *a blessing in disguise* because I joined the school's art club instead and discovered my talent for painting.
48. Blue in the face	To be exhausted due to strain or anger	a) He argued with his friend about their favourite football team until he was *blue in the face, but they still couldn't agree on which team was better. b) She tried to convince her parents to let her go to the sleepover party until she was blue in the face*, but they remained firm in their decision to say no.
49. Make a long story short	To say something in simple words in a brief manner	a) They decided to *cut the long story short* and tell them what happened to them. b) My father decided to *cut the long story short* and did what he wanted to.
50. Cup of tea	Not something that a person would do	a) Cooking has never been my *cup of tea. b) It's their matter, not my cup of tea* to deal with.
51. Beating a dead horse	Overdoing something or a pointless action	a) My friend is like someone *beating a dead horse* because I already know what to do. b) Answering the same question repeatedly is like *beating a dead horse*.
52. Speak of the devil	It refers to a person who appears as soon as they are being mentioned	Quick Video Recap In this section, you will find interesting and well-explained topic-wise video summary of the topic, perfect for quick revision before your Olympiad exams. × >> Join CREST Olympiads WhatsApp Channel for latest updates. Curio - AI Doubt Solver This is Curio, your AI Doubt Solver. Here to help you with any educational doubts you encounter while preparing for your Olympiad exams. Feel free to ask questions and learn! Share Your Feedback CREST Olympiads has launched this initiative to provide free reading and practice material. In order to make this content more useful, we solicit your feedback. Do share improvements at info@crestolympiads.com. Please mention the URL of the page and topic name with improvements needed. You may include screenshots, URLs of other sites, etc. which can help our Subject Experts to understand your suggestions easily. English Related Topics Voice and Narration Jumbled Words Collocation Pronouns Antonyms Synonyms Nouns Vocabulary Homophones Verbs Conjunctions Adverbs Articles Prepositions Information Retrieval Spoken and Written Expressions Adjectives Punctuation Tenses Other Subjects for Class 9 Maths Reading Material for Class 9 Science Reading Material for Class 9 × × Register For CREST Olympiads Leave this field empty Student Name School Name Email Mobile Number Home About Us FAQs Register Your School Become Coordinator Sample Papers Privacy Policy Terms of Use Press Release Country-wise Olympiads Teacher Olympiads Marking Scheme Exam Schedule Syllabus Cut-Offs & Ranking Criteria Awards & Recognition Olympiad Preparation Brain Yoga Blog Schools Buy Workbooks Career Olympiads CREST Mathematics Olympiad (CMO) CREST Science Olympiad (CSO) CREST English Olympiad (CEO) CREST Reasoning Olympiad (CRO) CREST Cyber Olympiad (CCO) CREST Mental Maths Olympiad (CMMO) International Green Warrior Olympiad (IGWO) CREST International Drawing Olympiad (CIDO) CREST International Spell Bee Summer (CSB) CREST International Spell Bee Winter (CSBW) Subject Rankers Subject Cut-off Zones +91-98182-94134 info@crestolympiads.com Contact Us B2-234, Spaze IT Park, Sector-49, Gurgaon, Haryana-122018, India CREST Olympiads^TM 2018 – 2024 70%

Idioms for Class 9

Table of Content

What are Idioms?

Examples of Idioms

Why Use Idioms in Sentences?

List of Idioms

Quick Video Recap

Curio - AI Doubt Solver

Share Your Feedback

English Related Topics

Other Subjects for Class 9

Register For CREST Olympiads