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meaning and usage of idioms and phrases-66

1) Rank And File-the ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders-

The party's rank and file are beginning to question the prime minister's choice of advisers.

2) Part And Parcel-something that cannot be separated from a condition or activity-

Being recognized on the street is part and parcel of being a celebrity.

3) Kith And Kin-friends and relatives, people known to someone-

I was delighted to find all my kith and kin waiting for me at the airport to welcome me home.

4) Heart And Soul-devotedly-

She loves those children heart and soul.

5) Over Head And Ears-excessively, completely -

They were over head and ears in debt.

6) Null And Void-having no legal force-

The change in the law makes the previous agreement null and void.

7) The Ins And Outs-the detailed or complicated facts of something-

I know how to use computers, but I don't really understand the ins and outs of how they work.

8) Be At Your Wits' End-to be so worried, confused, or annoyed that you do not know what to do next-

I am at my wits' end. I don't know how to help him.

9) Drag Your Heels/feet-to do something slowly because you do not want to do it-

I suspect the management is dragging its heels on this issue.

10) Throw Your Weight Around-to act as if you have a lot of power or authority, be unpleasantly self-assertive-

The district manager came to our office and tried to throw his weight around, but no one paid any attention to him.

11) A Bitter Pill To Swallow-something that is very unpleasant but must be accepted-

Losing to a younger player was a bitter pill to swallow.

12) Have An Axe To Grind-to have something to complain about, to have a selfish reason for saying or doing something, to have a strong opinion about something that influences your actions-

Environmentalists have no political axe to grind - they just want to save the planet.

13) In Fits And Starts-with irregular bursts of activity-

The economy was recovering in fits and starts.

14) A Stone's Throw Away-a short distance-

The lodge is within a stone's throw of the ski slopes.

15) Snake In The Grass-a secret enemy-

Ben secretly applied for the same job as his best friend; no one knew he was such a snake in the grass.

16) Be Like A Red Rag To A Bull-to be certain to produce an angry or violent reaction-

You do realize that bringing your new girlfriend to your ex-wife's house is like a red rag to a bull, right?

17) A Lion's Share-the largest part of something-

A lion's share of the museum's budget goes on special exhibitions.

18) Have Feet Of Clay-a fundamental flaw or weakness in a person otherwise revered-

Some of the greatest geniuses in history had feet of clay.

19)Live In A Fool's Paradise-be in a state of enjoyment based on false beliefs or hopes, a state of illusory happiness-

Fred is confident that he will get a big raise this year, but I think he is living in a fool's paradise.

20) A Feather In Your Cap-an achievement to be proud of-

It's a real feather in our cap to be playing in the state championship.

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