beat a dead horse (US) = flog a dead horse (UK)
Meaning: (Fig.) waste time and energy on a hopeless activity or on a matter that has already been settled. (Usually in continuous tenses).
Example: “You’re flogging a dead horse trying to persuade Simon to come to Spain with us – he hates going abroad.”
Examples:
A
- A bad egg: a bad person ( वाईट व्यक्ती)
- A duck’s egg: a zero (शून्य)
- An axe to grind: selfish motive ( स्वार्थी उद्देश )
- A lucky dog: A fortunate fellow (नशीबवान प्राणी )
- A jail bird – a hardened criminal
- Apple of one’s eyes – Very dear , dear as eye sight
- A crying evil – A evil requiring immediate correction
- A turn coat – one who changes parties
- A screw loose – Something wrong
- All and sundry – Everyone without distinction
- A knotty point: a complicated matter (गुंतागुंतीचा प्रश्न )
- A left handed oath: an oath which is not binding (बंधनकारक नसलेली शपथ )
- A cup of tea: a favourite thing (आवडती गोष्ट )
- A leap in the dark: a risky step ( साहसाची कृती )
- A fish story: an incredible story ( अविश्वसनीय गोष्ट )
- A hard nut to crack: a difficult problem to solve (अवघड प्रश्न)
- Above all: (सर्वात महत्त्वाचे, सर्वात विशेष) Importantly, above everything else.
My wife is very short tempered but above all she is very kind at heart. - Above board: (मनमोकळा, प्रांजळ, स्पष्टवक्ता, प्रामाणिक) Openly, very frank and honest.
He is above board in his business but none takes it other way. - Above the salt: (उच्च नितीमत्तेचा, प्रतिष्ठा असलेला) A person with high standing or honour.
In ancient days people of upper cast used to sit above the salt. (opposite is ‘below the salt) - Acid test: (कठीण परीक्षा, सत्त्वपरीक्षा, अग्निपरीक्षा) Real test, an ordeal.
It was an acid test for India when they were given the target of 420 runs in fifty overs. - Achilles’ heel: A weak point. (कमकुवतपणा, कच्चेपणा,) a serious or fatal weakness
Vodaka is Madan’s Achilles’ heel. - Adam’s ale: (पाणी) Water.
To quench the thirst, you need to have adam’s ale instead of cold drink. - Add fuel to fire: (आगीत तेल ओतणे) To aggravate anger or dispute, to increase the excitement
(समानार्थीः Add insult to injury) When a husband begins quarrel with his mother in his wife’s side, his wife always adds fuel to fire. - After all: (असं असलं तरीही) Nevertheless.
Though he behaved rudely, you must know after all he is the eldest brother. - After hours: (काम किंवा व्वसााची वेळ संपल्यानंतरचा काळ) After the time of work or business.
It’s a prime duty of doctors to reach to you after hours in the need of patients. - Against the grains: (तत्त्वांविरूद्ध, स्वभावाविरुद्ध) Unpleasant, contrary to or against one’s temperament.
To exercise franchise to any party in any election is against my grain. - A hard/tough nut to crack: (पटवण्यास कठीण प्रश्न/व्यक्ती) A difficult person or a question.
In competitive examination, there are always some questions which are hard nuts to crack. - Alpha and omega: (आरंभ आणि शेवट) Beginning and end of something.
The almighty god is an alpha and omega of this universe. - A man of word: (शब्दाचा पक्का, शब्द पाळणारा) A person who keeps his/her promises. In the Mahabharata, the generous Karna was a man of his words. It is very difficult, now-a-days, to find a man of his words.
- A narrow escape: (थोडक्यात वाचलेला अपघात इ. पासून) Close shave, escaped by narrow margin. Yesterday a school goer had a narrow escape from being run over while crossing the road.
- A slip of tongue: (तोंडातून सुटलेला शब्द) a slight mistake or error while speaking. Everyone was laughing at my slip of tongue when I uttered ‘dad’ instead of ‘dude’ in a speech.
- All agog: (अत्यानंदाची अवस्था) Be in a state of excitement. We were all agog when our class teacher announced a trip to Kerala.
- All at once: (अचानक, अनपेक्षितपणे) All of sudden, unexpectedly. All at once we heard a thud and we rushed to have found a young girl in a pool of blood.
- All but: (बहुतेक, जवळजवळ) Almost, nearly. No sooner did I find her breathing stopped than I all but collapsed on her.
- All out: (पूर्ण शक्तीनिशी, ताकद पणाला लावून ) With all strength, forcefully. In the final round P.V. Sandhu had an all out effort to win a gold medal.
- All the rage: (लोकप्रिय, फॅशन) Fashionable and very popular. Nowadays low waist jeans are all the rage amongst all youngsters.
- All the same: (a) (सारखा) alike Whether I start a business or join any job, it is all same to my family.
(b) (असं असलं तरीही) in spite of, nevertheless She promised to marry him. All the same she is marrying to someone else - All thumbs: (अंगठाछाप, अकुशल) Unskilled, clumsy, not dextrous, awkward. I am all thumbs when it comes to using computers and its related work.
- All and sundry: (एकूण एक सर्व) Everyone without distinction. The minister has invited all and sundry to attend his daughter’s marriage.
- All one’s eggs in one basket: (शासाठी एखाद्या गोष्टी किंवा व्क्तीवर अवलंबून असणे) To depend on a single plan or person for success (a) I apply for several jobs because I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket. (b) Having had all his eggs in one basket, he has reached such a pathetic situation.
- All in all: (अत्यंत महत्त्वाचे, प्रमुख) Most important. My father is all in all in our family
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. ((विश्रांती न घेता काम सतत करत राहिल्यास काम व काम करणारा या दोघांचेही नुकसान होते) This proverb means that it’s not good to work all the time and it bores people if they don’t get free time or some time off from work. - Animal spirits: (सळसळते चैतन्य, उत्साहाचा झरा) Liveliness, natural cheerfulness.
Virat Kohali is always in his animal spirits while playing. - Apple of discord: (भांडणाचे मूळ ) Bone of contention, thing causing rivalry.
Kashmir has become an apple of discord/a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, so is Arunachal Pradesh with China. - At the wheel: (गाडीचा ताबा असताना) In control of vehicle.
You were dozing at the wheel and we would have met with an accident if we hadn’t taken halt. - Augean stables: (घाण किंवा किड नष्ट करणे.) Correct a great abuse, remove nuisance or filth or corruption. (ऑगीस राजाकडील तबेल्यात तीन हजार बैल होते जे तीस वर्ष धुतले नव्हते. हरक्युलसच्या सातपैकी पाचव्या साहसामध्ये; त्याने एका दिवसात दोन नद्या त्या तबेल्याकडे वळवून त्यांना अंघोळ घातली. म्हणून कित्येक काळ साठलेली घाण म्हणजे ऑजीअन स्टेबल्स!) The whole of Indian system has become an Augean stable that desperately needs to be cleansed out.
- (Have an) Axe to grind: (आपमतलबी असणे; फक्त स्वार्थ पाहणे) To have selfish aim.
All politicians, while giving promises, have an axe to grind
B
- Back burner: (कमी महत्वाचे) less urgent; of low importance.
He has kept his marriage on back burner to focus his career. - Backseat driver: (न मागता सल्ला देणारा, अनाहूत सल्लागार) Anybody offering unwelcome or unsolicited advice. Some people are always backseat drivers and keep on irritating others.
- Back-of-the-envelope: (अंदाजममरकमेचा, किंमतीचा इ.) Approximate, rough.
You must have back-of-the-envelope estimate of land before buying. - Back stairs influence: (आतून ओळख किंवा वशीला, ओग् मार्ग) By unfair means.
Back stairs influence may give you a better opportunity but you should know if you have the caliber for it. - Back to the salt mines: (पुनः रुजू होणे- कामावर इ.) Return back to the workplace.
My fifteen days’ leave is over. Now back to the salt mines from tomorrow. - Bad apple: (अप्रामाणिक, अविश्वासू) Dishonest, or having adverse influence on others.
He was a bad apple everywhere due to his conduct - Bad blood: (शत्रूत्व, वाईट भावना) Ill feeling, enmity. Owing to the distribution of the property after father’s death, there has been bad blood between brothers.
- Bad form: (वाईट पद्धत किंवा रीत-वागण्याची) Bad manners. Isn’t it a bad form when one doesn’t say ‘excuse me’ or ‘sorry’ after sneezing.
- Bag and baggage: (संपूर्णपणे; सर्व सामानासकट) Completely, all one’s possessions. (संपूर्णपणे) Sometimes police search out head – to toe bag and baggages. (सर्व सामानासकट) At wagah bord, we had to disembark with bag and baggages for checks.
- Bag of bones: (अतिशय हडकूळा, कृश) Too thin. She’s become a bag of bones as her body has become a museum of diseases.
- Ball of fire: (महत्त्वाकांक्षी, कष्टाळू) Hard working, ambitious. He’s indeed a ball of fire. Didn’t you listen that he said he’d not satisfied yet?
- Balloon goes up: (उत्कंठा शीगेला पोहोचणे) Something dangerous or exciting begins. When is a match between India and Pakistan? The ballon is going up at 4 O’ clock today.
- Banana Republic: (ढासळलेल्या अर्थव्यवस्थेचा देश, निष्ठूर सरकार) Countries having weak economy, cruel government. Many countries in African continent are banana republic having rampant corruption and anarchy.
- Bandy words: (वागयुध्द खेळणे) Argue.
You cannot bandy words in army culture ; you have to follow your senior’s commands. - (One’s) Bark is worse than one’s bite: (एखादा रागीट असला तरी तेवढा त्रास न देणारा आहे)
Actions taken against someone are mild than threats. Though the Manager has reprimanded you, don’t panic as his bark is worse than his bite. - Bark up the wrong tree: (चुकीचा आरोप करणे भलत्या गोष्टीकडे लक्ष देणे) Take the wrong approach. It is not her fault, you are barking up the wrong tree.
- Bated breath: (श्वास रोखलेला- काळजी आणि भीतीमुळे) Anxiety.
The suspense in the movie was so nicely concocted that everyone was waiting to unfold it with bated breath. - Bear garden: (qहस्त्र श्वापदांप्रमाणे उद्दाम व प्रक्षुब्ध झालेल्या माणसांची जागा) Rude or turbulent people at one place. You must have watched on TV channel when our Parliament turns into a bear garden.
- Bear hard upon: (कठोरपणे समोर येणे, खूप दडपण आणणे) Press heavily upon, oppress.
This new law will bear hard upon people hoarding more gold. - Bean counter: (हिशेबनीस) An accountant.
A new bean counter has joined in the office from today. - Be an item: (प्रेमी युगुल) A couple with a romantic relationship.
We all know Sunny and Pinky are an item among all of us. - Bear one’s cross: (कठीण प्रसंगातून जाणे) Endure burden or difficulties.
It’s very difficult situation they faced after their parents’ sad demise. After all they had to bear their cross. - Beat the air: (निरूपयोगी qकवा निष्फळ प्रयत्न करणे) Make futile / useless efforts.
Knowing nothing about the given subject, he began beating the air in his speech. - Beat about the bush: (मुख्य मुद्दा सोडून बोलणे) Convey the meaning indirectly.
A person coming to demand money broached the topic by beating about the bushes. - Beat a retreat: (दूर जाणे, माघार घेणे) Abandon or go away, escape.
Having seen his strong built of the body, people around him beat a retreat and slowly dispersed away. - Beat the rap: (कायद्याला चपराक मारणे) Evade conviction & punishment for a crime.
Many lawyers, out of the greed, help real criminals beat the rap. - Be becoming: (सुयोग्य) Look well on, suitable.
(a) This new dress is becoming very nicely to her.
(b) His behavior has not become of a sincere student. - Be born yesterday: (अननुभवी, भाबडा) Naïve, innocent, inexperienced.
For your kind information, I want to tell you that I was not born yesterday. - Bed of roses: (पुष्पशय्या विरूद्ध कंटकशय्या) An enjoyable state. (‘Bed of thorns’ is its opposite idiom). The soldiers at the border never have a bed of roses.
- Be down in the mouth: (निराश, खिन्न असणे Feel discouraged, sad.
He was down in the mouth since he couldn’t succeed in the final attempt of U.P.S.C.. - Be even with: (हिशोब चुकता करणे, बदला घेणे) Settle scores, take revenge.
Getting ditched by her, I exposed her reality and was now even with her. - By and by: (लवकरच) Before long, soon.
By and by all passengers gathered near the bus to board. - By and large: (सर्वसाधारणपणे, सामान्यतः) In general, generally, mostly.
By and large India is now the fourth largest economy in the world. - By fits and starts: (दिरंगाई करणे, थांबत-थांबत करणे) At intervals.
If you work by fits and starts, it’s impossible to finish this work before schedule. - By hook or crook: (कोणत्याही मार्गाने) By one way or another.
Even professional doctors and hospitals are also after minting money by hook or crook. - By leaps and bounds: (प्रचंड वेगाने, खूप जोरात) Speedily, at rapid speed.
I.T. industries in India have progressed by leaps and bounds.
C
- Cake walk: Something extremely easy. (अतिशय सोपी गोष्ट)
Many a candidate, like you, think that appearing for U.P.S.C. examination is a cake walk. - Call a spade a spade: (तोंडावर बोलणे) Tell the truth.
True friends are always ready to call a spade a spade whenever they find their friend’s faults. - Call it a day: (त्या दिवसाचे काम थांबवणे) Stop working for the rest of the day.
I’m too tired today to do anything. Shall we call it a day today? - Call off the dogs: (टिका थांबवणे) stop someone criticizing.
He called off the dogs when she apologized to him for the words she had uttered for him. - Call on the carpet: (खडसावणे Reprimand, censure angrily
I don’t think that I will be called on the carpet by the Principal. - Call someone names: (उर्मटपणे नाव घेणे) Call by insulting or abusive names.
Being short tempered, he called the Principal names and was fined heavily. - Call the shots: (प्रमुख असणे) Be in charge, make the decisions.
In wedding ceremony, a bridegroom always calls the shots. - Capital punishment: (फाशीची शिक्षा) Punishment of death.
Capital punishment should be abolished. - Call in question: (शंका घेणे) To doubt
Some people in India call in question the demonetization policy of the government. - Call to order: (नियमांची जाणीव करून देणे) Warn not to break rules of meeting.
Now-a-days it’s often observed in Parliament that when MPs begin chaos, the Honorable Speaker has to call them to order. - Call to account: (जबाबदार, उत्तरदायी ठरवणे) Challenge or contest, to hold answerable for. Many now want to call him to account for the decision he has taken without taking opposition into confidence.
- Capital crime: (फाशी देण्यायोग्य गुन्हा) A crime punishable with death.
Rape should be made a capital crime legally. - Car pool: (एकमेकांबरोबर शाळा, ऑफीस, इ. साठी गाड्या शेअर करणारे लोक) A group of people who commonly share their cars in turns for school, office, etc.
Today it was my week to drive in car pool. - Carrot and stick policy / approach: (गाजर दाखवणे) Reward with punishment.
Sometimes parents have to adopt a carrot stick policy towards their kids. - Carry coal to Newcastle: (अनावश्यक साहस करणे) Do something unnecessary, a meaningless venture. Helping monetarily with money to a rich person like him is nothing but carrying coals to Newcastle.
- Carry the ball: (पदाचा ताबा घेणे) Take charge and control.
They must have thought that Mr Cyrus Mistry was unable to carry the ball. - Cash cow: (दुभती गाय) That which earns steady returns, moneymaker.
The products under the name of ‘Patanjali’ have become cash cow for many shopkeepers. - Castle in the air: (हवेतील मनोरे) A visionary project, day dream.
Studying M.S. in the US after failure in the final examination is nothing but building a castle in the air. - Carry conviction: (पटवणे) Convince.
His story of his being kidnapped doesn’t carry conviction. - Carry matters with a high hand: (कठोरपणे हाताळणे) Deal strictly with persons.
The P.M. should carry the matters of corruption very sternly and sack the ministers and bureaucrats. - Carry the day: (विजय मिळवणे) Win a victory.
India carried the day because of 400 runs partnership for the fifth wicket between Virat Kohali and Ashwin. - Carry a torch for: (प्रेम न ओळखणाèया व्यक्तीकडे प्रेमाने आकर्षित होणे, – च्या निष्कारण नादी लागणे) Love or be romantically infatuated with such a person who doesn’t reciprocate.
Bharati carried a torch for life time and didn’t marry whole life. - Cast a spell over: (भारून टाकणे; मोहिनी, भुरळ पाडणे) Have a magic effect.
Her classical singing cast spell over the audience. - Cast pearls before swine: (गाढवासमोर वाचली गीता) Offering good things to people who are incapable of appreciating their value.
Sending committee to create peace between two communities is casting pearls before swine. - Cast a new light upon: (नवीन प्रकाश टाकणे) Give new information.
The latest information in her murder case cast a new light upon the intention behind her murder. - Cat and dog life: (दुःखी वैवाहिक) Unhappy married life.
He had to live a life of cat and dog after marrying to such an ambitious woman. - Catch 22 situation: (कठीण परिस्थिती) Difficult situation.
When I was offered a job on a condition that I would have to stay away from my family for three years, it was a catch 22 situation for me. - Catch it: (शिक्षा झालेला qकवा ओरडा बसलेला) Be punished or severely reprimanded.
He caught it when he was found smoking and boozing with his friends. - Cut one dead: Break relations with someone completely. (पूर्ण संबंध तोडणे)
After the death of his parents he cut all his relatives dead in order to lead ascetic life. - Cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face: (दुसèयाला दुःख देण्यासाठी स्वतःच्या पायावर धोंडा पाडणे) Injure oneself to harm an adversary.
To annoy his divorced wife, he married her sister who was very old and widow. It’s a nice example of cutting one’s nose to spite one’s face. - Cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth: (अंथरूण पाहून हातपाय पसरणे) Not to spend more money than one has, live within one’s means.
While purchasing the car, you should have cut your coat according to your cloth so now you don’t have to repent for it. - Cut short: (अंत होणे) Bring to an end.
Rohan’s life was cut short by cancer. - Cut throat competition: (जीवघेणी स्पर्धा) Tough competition.
It is cut throat competition among the telecom giants to achieve customers. - Cut the Gordian knot: (कठीण समस्या सोडवणे – शक्तीच्या जोरावर) Solve a difficult problem. Will P.M. Modi be able to cut the Gordian knot of the Uniform Civil Code as well as P.O.K.?
D
- (At) Daggers drawn: (कट्टर वैरी) Bitter enemies.
Now-a-days both brothers are at daggers drawn with each other. - Damp squib: (काही यश न मिळणे) Complete failure, thing that doesn’t come up to expectations. The visit of P.M. Modi on Sharif’s birthday appeared to be a damp squib.
- Dare devil: (जीवाची पर्वा न करणारा, फाजील धीट) Reckless irresponsible person, lunatic.
He is such a dare devil that he is not afraid of encountering even mafias. - Dark horse: (अचानक प्रसिद्धीच्या झोतात आलेली व्यक्ती) A person who was earlier unknown but becomes suddenly famous.
Satish became dark horse and surprised us by becoming An I.A.S. officer in the first attempt. - Day lark: (लवकर उठे, लवकर नीजे) One who gets up early and goes to bed early.
Children should be day larks in school days. - Days of reckoning: (केल्या कर्माचा हिशोब देण्याची वेळ) Time to answer one’s deeds.
You can keep committing sins but days of reckoning are not too far for you. - Dead-alive: (चैतन्यहीन) Spiritless.
He has taken his failure very seriously and looks dead-alive. - Dead broke: (दरिद्री, निष्कांचन) Penniless.
He has become dead broke after making his son-in-law a partner. - Dead duck: (मेलेला कोंबडा) One that is doomed.
I’m not afraid of any consequences as I’m a dead duck ! - Dead heat: (समतुल्य स्पर्धा) Close contest, equal contest between two rivals.
The election between him and me was a dead heat. - Dead letter: (प्रचलित, अस्तित्वात नसलेला qकवा अप्रचलित कायदा) Something which is now not in force . The law against dowry has proved to be a dead letter in India.
- Dead men’s shows: (प्रचलित, अस्तित्वात नसलेला qकवा अप्रचलित कायदा) Waiting one’s death to get benefits out of his death. All his relatives were present there for dead men’s shows.
- Dead wood: (नुसताच बसून असलेला कामगार) Workers who don’t contribute to an organization. There s a lot of dead wood in that company.
- Die down: (क्षीण होणे) Become less loud or violent.
Noise on main roads of cities dies down as night envelopes cities. - Die hard: (कट्टर) Inflexible, traditionalist.
My father is die hard supporter of R.S.S. - Die in harness: (कर्तव्य/काम करताना मृत्यू होणे) Die in one’s regular work or profession.
Many a person like Baba Amte prefer to die in harness. - Dig the grave: (स्वतःसाठी खड्डा बनवणे) Tarnish or sully.
People criticizing and taking side of the Congress policies dug the grave of their political career in the last general election. - Dime a dozen: (पैशाला दहा – इथे डझनभर, स्वस्त, सरर्राास सगळीकडे असलेला) Common, inexpensive, available everywhere. §New candidates with B.E. degrees are a dime a dozen these days.
- Dog-in-the manger policy: (गव्हाणावर कुत्र्याला नेमण्याचे धोरण मम आपल्याला मिळत नसलेले दुसèयालाही मिळू नये असे वागणारा विघ्नसंतोषी माणूस) Policy of a selfish person of not letting others to enjoy something even when it is of no use to him.
There are many dogs-in-the manger around us everywhere. - Dogs are barking: (पायाला इजा होणे) Feet are hurting.
After walking for ten miles, my dogs are barking. - Draw a blank: (निराशाजनक कामगिरी) Cut a sorry figure, make poor show.
Though he scored well on home grounds he drew a blank on foreign tours. - Draw the long bow: (अतिशयोक्ती करणे) Exaggerate.
Calling him the best PM India ever saw is nothing but drawing the long blow. - Drink like a fish: (अति मद्यधुंद होणे) Drink excessively.
Satish drank like fish in yesterday’s party. - Drive into a corner: (कोपèयात पकडणे; सुटायला मार्ग न ठेवणे) Cut off all means of escape. By declaring him a terrorists and banning his organization, the government drove him into a corner.
- Drop names: (मोठ्या माणसांची ओळख सांगणे) Show acquaintance with big people.
Many people have habit of dropping names when they are caught while violating traffic rules. - Dead shot: (तरबेज, निष्णात, नेमबाज) Accurate marksman who never misses the aim.
A dead shot like him is never afraid of encountering goons. - Do away with: (नष्ट करणे, ठार मारणे) Abolish, murder.
He did away with the last eye witness and escaped the charges police put on him. - Dog-eat-dog: (स्वतःच्या फायद्यासाठी जीवापाड झटणे) Succeed by hook or crook.
Still you are a child; so you don’t know we live in dg-eat-dog world. - Dogs of war: (दुष्काळ, युद्ध आणि आग) Famine, sword and fire.
Dogs of war take too much toll of human lives. - Dog’s age: (दिर्घकाळ, खूप मोठा कालावधी) Long period of time.
It’s been a dog’s age since I watched the last movie. - Dot the i’s and cross the t’s: (बारीक सारीक तपशील पाहणे) Take care of every detail.
Before talking of the project to the CEO, we should dot the i’s and cross the t’s. - Down and out: (हलाखीची परिस्थिती) In a state of poverty, in strained circumstances.
I found Sanjay down and out when I met him a week ago. - Down in the mouth: (दुःखी, उद्विग्न) Sad or discouraged.
These days he is down in the mouth as he couldn’t do away with the old currency he had and ran a big loss. - Do yeomen’s service: (खूप सेवा करणे) Do excellent work.
Gandhi did yeomen’s service by taking lots of efforts to eradicate untouchability. - Draconian law: (जुलमी कायदा) Very strict law.
Is an atrocity law a Draconian law? - Dress down: (खूप खडसावणे) Thrash, severely scold.
The Manager dressed him down for being late again. - Drive a hard bargain: (धंदा, व्यवसायात चलाख असणे) Deal shrewdly in business
He always drove a hard bargain with everyone. - Drop a line: (एक ओळ लिहिणे, चार ओळी खरडणे) Writing a short letter.
When there were no cell phones, people used to drop a line to their parents when they would be away from their beloved ones. - Dutch courage: (मद्याच्या प्रभावाखाली येणारे शौर्य) Bravery under alcoholic influence.
After getting inebriated, he began talking of his Dutch courage and his encounter with a tiger in a jungle. - Dwell in an ivory tower: (हस्तीदंती मनोèयात वास्तव्य करणे) Be detached from preoccupations. It is time when politicians didn’t dwell in ivory towers and served the nation.
- Early bird: (हाजिर तो वजिर, प्रथम येणाèयास प्राधान्य) One who arrives early before most others.
Early birds were given 20% discount on the newly launched product. - Drop names: (मोठ्या माणसांची ओळख सांगणे) Show acquaintance with big people.
Many people have habit of dropping names when they are caught while violating traffic rules. - Dead shot: (तरबेज, निष्णात, नेमबाज) Accurate marksman who never misses the aim.
A dead shot like him is never afraid of encountering goons. - Do away with: (नष्ट करणे, ठार मारणे) Abolish, murder.
He did away with the last eye witness and escaped the charges police put on him. - Dog-eat-dog: (स्वतःच्या फायद्यासाठी जीवापाड झटणे) Succeed by hook or crook.
Still you are a child; so you don’t know we live in dg-eat-dog world. - Dogs of war: (दुष्काळ, युद्ध आणि आग) Famine, sword and fire.
Dogs of war take too much toll of human lives. - Dog’s age: (दिर्घकाळ, खूप मोठा कालावधी) Long period of time.
It’s been a dog’s age since I watched the last movie. - Dot the i’s and cross the t’s: (बारीक सारीक तपशील पाहणे) Take care of every detail.
Before talking of the project to the CEO, we should dot the i’s and cross the t’s. - Down and out: (हलाखीची परिस्थिती) In a state of poverty, in strained circumstances.
I found Sanjay down and out when I met him a week ago. - Down in the mouth: (दुःखी, उद्विग्न) Sad or discouraged.
These days he is down in the mouth as he couldn’t do away with the old currency he had and ran a big loss. - Do yeomen’s service: (खूप सेवा करणे) Do excellent work.
Gandhi did yeomen’s service by taking lots of efforts to eradicate untouchability. - Draconian law: (जुलमी कायदा) Very strict law.
Is an atrocity law a Draconian law? - Dress down: (खूप खडसावणे) Thrash, severely scold.
The Manager dressed him down for being late again. - Drive a hard bargain: (धंदा, व्यवसायात चलाख असणे) Deal shrewdly in business
He always drove a hard bargain with everyone. - Drop a line: (एक ओळ लिहिणे, चार ओळी खरडणे) Writing a short letter.
When there were no cell phones, people used to drop a line to their parents when they would be away from their beloved ones. - Dutch courage: (मद्याच्या प्रभावाखाली येणारे शौर्य) Bravery under alcoholic influence.
After getting inebriated, he began talking of his Dutch courage and his encounter with a tiger in a jungle. - Dwell in an ivory tower: (हस्तीदंती मनोèयात वास्तव्य करणे) Be detached from preoccupations.
It is time when politicians didn’t dwell in ivory towers and served the nation.
E
Early bird : (हाजिर तो वजिर, प्रथम येणाèयास प्राधान्य) One who arrives early before most others. Early birds were given a 20% discount on the newly launched product.
F
- Face only a mother could love: (अतिशय कुरूप, विद्रुप) Very ugly face.
See those conjoined twins having faces that only a mother could love. - Face the music: (संकटांचा सामना करणे) Face the trouble.
The great personalities of the world faced the music in their career while aiming their target. - Face to face (with): (चार हात करणे) Confronting each other, be opposite.
The army of both India and Pakistan is now-a-days face to face at the border. - Fair and square: (प्रामाणिक व न्याय्य व्यवहार) Honest, just.
In my every dealing of the business, I am always fair and square. - Fair deal: (दोघांसाठी फायदेमंद) Fair and just transaction in dealings for both parties.
It is a fair deal. I’m offering you twenty five lakh rupees for this piece of land.
(A) Fair weather friend : (वैभवात साध देणारा) A friend in prosperity only.
Fair weather friends don’t require invitation. They gather easily around you. - Fall flat: (निष्प्रभ ठरणे) Fail to create impression or effect.
He fell flat and couldn’t be selected in the first interview. - Fall for someone : (प्रेमात पडणे Fall in love.
He fell for her at first sight when they were in college. - Fall prey to : (च्या भक्ष्यस्थानी पडणे) Be caught and eaten by, be greatly troubled by.
He fell prey to his dishonest promises and duped for a large sum. - Fall head over heels for someone : (च्यावर पूर्णपणे लुब्ध होणे) Hopelessly smitten, very much in love with someone. They met at a club and soon found themselves head over heels in love with one another.
- Fall on deaf hear : (तक्रारीकडे दुर्लक्ष होणे qकवा करणे) Complaint, request,etc to be ignored. I send many e mails telling about bribe demanding at government offices but it fell on deaf ears.
- Fast man : (उधळ्या) A spendthrift, an extravagant man.
Only a person from affluent society can be a fast man. - Fall through the cracks : (नजरेतून निसटणे) Escape necessary notice or attention.
Check every item according to the list and be sure that nothing falls through the cracks. - Fan the flame : (विस्तवावर फुंकर मारणे) Increase flames.
Though he seems loyal, he fans the flames of treachery. - Feather one’s nest : (स्वतःची तुंबडी भरणे) Make money by unfair means.
Politicians and corrupt officials feather their nests by siphoning money of public funds. - Feather in one’s cap : (शिरपेचात तुरा रोवणे) An honour or an achievement.
Bharatratna title is another feather in Sachin’s cap. - Fed up with : (वैतागणे) Be tired of.
People, after a month duration, are fed up with the cash crunches. - Feel one’s way : (स्वतःचा मार्ग शोधणे) Act slowly and carefully.
When one has no experience in business, he has to feel his way without haste. - Flog a dead horse : (श्रम वाया घालवणे) Waste energy.
Discussing the causes of our debacle in last series is now flogging dead horse. - Fly in the face of : (उघड उघड न जुमानणे) Defy or oppose directly.
PM Modi is now perfectly in the saddle and no one is ready to fly in the face of him. - Fly into a rage/ temper/ passion : (उघड उघड न जुमानणे) Get very much angry.
No sooner had I heard the news of his son’s failure than he flew into rage.
(A) Fly in the ointment : (बेचव करणे, रंगाचा बेरंग करणे) That which spoils taste of anything. He is a fly in the ointment when any debate continues. - Foot it : (a) (चालणे) walk
I’m always ready to foot it.
(b) (नाचणे) dance
The boys attended his party were merrily footing it. - Follow suit : (अनुकरण करणे) Do as other person has done before, behave in the same manner. He began shouting slogans and we all followed suit.
- Fool’s paradise : (मुर्खांचे नंदनवन) Unreal happiness.
I think he is living in fool’s paradise as he thinks of becoming prime minister of India. - For all the world : (कोणत्याही परिस्थितीत) For any price, for anything.
We should not hurt our parent’s feelings for all the world. - For a song : (अतिशय स्वस्तात) Very cheaply.
I bought this brand new Apple i-pod on OLX for a song. - For fear of : (- च्या भीतीस्तव) Lest, in order to avoid.
He left home on tiptoe for fear of waking up his wife as he knew that she would not let him go on travel by bike. - For good (and all) : (कायमचे) Forever, permanently.
He decided to leave India for good. - For keeps : (a) (कायम, कायमचे) permanently.
You can have this dress for keeps if you like it so much.
(b) (गंभीरपणे) seriously, not for fun.
I want you to be here for my help it is for keeps. - Foreign to: (अयोग्य, स्वभावात नसणे) Unsuitable for, not belonging to.
(a) According to your nature, sitting idle is foreign to you.
(b) Your doubt about her character is foreign to her behaviour. - For my money : (मा या मताप्रमाणे)In my opinion.
For my money, it was a wise decision of Dhoni to quit from all forms of cricket. - Forty winks : (वामकुक्षी) Short sleep.
I was trying to catch forty winks before her arrival. - Free-lance : (कोणत्याही संस्थेचा qकवा पक्षाचा नसलेला माणूस) Person not belonging to any part or organization. (This term was originally used for mercenary soldier fighting for any leader who hired him and not for love of country).
I would not like to join here as an employee. I’d prefer a freelance journalist. - French leave : (न सांगता qकवा विनाअर्ज घेतलेली रजा) Be absent without intimation or applying for leave. I am not attending the office today as I’m on French leave.
- Fritter away/fool away (time or money) : (क्षुल्लक गोष्टीवर वेळ qकवा पैसा खर्च करणे) Spend foolishly on trifle things. Last Sunday we just frittered away wandering through the city as there was ‘band’ in the city.
- From good hands : (विश्वसनीय सूत्रांकडून) From a reliable source.
From good hands it’s confirmed that the Government is mulling over investigating properties of people. - From hand to mouth : (हातावर असलेले पोट) Without anything for future.
There are many people in our country who live hand to mouth. - From scratch : (शून्यापासून; सुरूवातीपासून कष्टाने) From the beginning.
Without money and rich friends, I had to run my business from scratch. - From the bottom of one’s heart : (अंतःकरणापासून) Deeply and sincerely.
For the help they you have offered to us I thank you from the bottom of my heart. - From the cradle to the grave : (पाळण्यापासून स्मशानापर्यंत म्हणजेच संपूर्ण जीवन) Whole life.
The poor have to work hard from the cradle to the grave. - From pillar to post : (इतस्ततः, इकडून तिकडे-तिकडून इकडे) Hither and thither indiscriminately. Owing to less marks in the final examination, he had to run from pillar to post for admission in a good knowledge.
- Full-fledged : (सर्व दृष्टीने युक्त, जरूर ते सर्व असलेला) Complete, having everything that is needed. His book on Economy has full-fledged information about the world economy.
- (Be) Full of beans : (अत्यंत उत्साहात) Active & lively, enthusiastic & energetic person. We always find that wherever he goes he’s full of beans.
- (In) Full swing : (ऐन भरात) In great progress
The protest against the Government’s decision of not supporting reservation is in full swing.
G
- Get rid of – be free
- Gain ground : (प्रगती करणे) Make progress, succeed steadily and slowly.
The people are optimistic and think that India can certainly gain ground under the leadership of Narendra Modi. People believe that eradication of corruption and black money is gaining ground. - Gala day: (सणाचा, उत्सवाचा दिवस) Happy holiday, day of gaiety and festivity.
Deepawali days are gala days in India, - Gall and wormwood: (दुःखद आणि मानहानीकारक) Extremely painful or bitter.
Exit polls predicting B.J.P.’s win was gall and wormwood to leftists and Congress alliance. 4. Genie is out of the bottle : (असंतोष उफाळणे) Something that can’t be eliminated or undone has been brought into reality.
You cannot pacify his supporters now, the genie is out of the bottle now. - Good for: (a) (चांगले असणे) Suitable for, beneficial to.
This book is good for studying politics.
(b) (पैसे देण्याची इच्छा करणे) Willing to pay money
He is good for two thousand rupees. - Good Samaritan: Kind and charitable person. (परोपकारी व्यक्ती)
Nana Patekar, Makarand Anaspure and Akshay Kumar are good Samaritans. - Good turn: (सत्कृत्य) Act of kindness or goodness.
By lending me a good amount of money in the financial crisis, my friend did a good turn. - Go with the tide: (सर्वसामान्य लोकांप्रमाणे वागणे) Do as others do.
One has to go with the tide in this world. - Grease the palm: (हात ओले करणे) Act of bribing.
If you want to get the work done in government offices, you have to grease the palm of officials. - (The) Great unwashed: (मोठा जनसमुदाय) Great mass of people.
The great unwashed were walking on a street of the city. - Green horn: (नवखा) Inexperienced.
Though he was a green horn in the business, he had foresight. - Grow grey: (काळ्याचे पांढरे करणे; दिर्घकाळ काम करणे) Be in a service for a longer period. He began work here at the age of twenty and has grown grey now.
H
- Hair – breadth escape: (थोडक्यात बचावलेला) Very narrow escape.
In a bizarre accident of truck and Maruti Alto, a two month’s baby got a hair-breadth escape. - Hale and hearty: (निरोगी तब्येत) In a good health.
In spite of old age, he looks hale and hearty. - Hang fire: (प्रलंबित) Be delayed or postponed, be kept pending.
G.S.T. bill’s been hanging on fire since last two years. - Hand in glove or hand and glove: (हातात हात धरून) On very intimate terms, in very close relations. My brother and I hand in glove in all our business dealings.
- Hand in hand: (हातात हात धरून बरोबर जाणे) Accompany each other, closely connected. Beauty and intelligence seldom or never go hand in hand.
- Hand to mouth: (हातावरील पोट) Day to day, with no provision for future.
Large number of population in our country have to live from hand to mouth. - Hang by a thread: (मृत्यूच्या उंबरठ्यावर, नाजूक परिस्थितीत) Be in delicate & dangerous state. Though he was successfully operated, for the next some days his life is hung by thread.
- Hard and fast: (कडक) Strict.
There is no hard and fast rule to enter any political party. - Hard up: (कडकी असलेला) Short of money.
Because of recession I am hard up these days. - Harp on the same string: (तेच तुणतुणे वाजवणे) Repeat the same thing again and again. She continued harping the same thing about her health issue on phone.
- Halcyon days: (शांततेचा व सुखाचा काळ) Peaceful days
My father’s retired life is Halcyon days of his life. - Haul over the coals: (एखाद्याच्या चुकीबद्दल त्याला खूप दम देणे, रागे भरणे) Censure.
If your bad habits become known, you will be hauled over the coals. - Have a brush with: (समोरासमोर गाठ पडणे) Have encounter.
The P.M. had a brush with the leader of opposition in the Loksabha yesterday over the issue of bringing black money back. - Have a cow / kittens: (काळजीमुळे भीतीचे काहूर उठणे) Be angry, upset or very worried.
I had a cow yesterday when my daughter remained out till late. - Have a finger in every pie: (प्रत्येकाशी मिळून-मिसळून असणे) Be mixed up in some affair An extrovert person has a finger in every pie wherever he goes.
- Have all one’s eggs in one basket: (सर्व पैसे एकाच ठिकाणी) Risk everything on the same venture. By investing all money you have, you now have all your eggs in one basket.
- Have one’s hands full: (कामांची गर्दी असणे) Be very much busy.
I have my hands full these days so I can’t accept your proposal now. - Have a bone to pick: (भांडणासाठी कारण सापडणे) Have a complaint/grievance, a contentious issue to discuss In every project, he always has some or other bone to pick.
- Have a mind like sieve: (अत्यंत विसरभोळा असणे) Have a poor memory.
He has a mind like sieve so it is better you tell him this again. - Have big ears: (टवकारलेले कान असणे) Listen to others’ private conversations.
He has big ears so be careful talking to each other when he’s around. - Have butterflies in his stomach: (पोटात गोळा येणे) Be nervous or anxious.
On the eve of her marriage she had butterflies in her stomach. - Have had it up here: (संतप्त होणे) Be very frustrated or angry, reach the limit of patience. Once in Loksabha, L.K. Adawani had had it up here with the clamour raised by opposition.
- (Not) Have a truck with: (च्याशी देवाण-घेवाण नसणे) Have dealings with.
India shouldn’t have any truck with Pakistan as it foments terrorism in India. - Have money to burn: (पैसा उधळणे) Be very rich and extravagant.
He seems to have money to burn for his wife is always buying extravagant things. - Hard nut to crack: (पटवण्यास कठीण) Difficult to solve.
Don’t try to convince her. She is a hard nut to crack. - Hard pill to swallow: (अप्रिय पण सहन करावी लागणारी गोष्ट) Difficult to accept.
That a twelve year old boy could commit such a heinous crime is a hard pillow to swallow. - Hard pressed: (कमतरता असणे) Barely able, having difficulty doing something.
The tsunami left the residents hard pressed. - Head and ears: (नखशिखान्त) Completely.
My friend is now over head and ears in debt. - Head and shoulder: (वरीष्ठ) Superior.
Virat Kohali is head and shoulder above his contemporaries. - Heart breaking: (हृदय विदीर्ण करणारी / तीव्र करूणाजनक) Causing extreme sorrow or grief. It was heart breaking for the lonely and old mother that her son got a job in the U.S.
- Helter skelter: (इतस्ततः) Here and there.
The children ran helter skelter as soon as they got off the bus. - Hem and haw: (कृती न करता विलंब करणे, कामात खो घालणे) To discuss or deliberate rather than taking action. If you hem and haw for a very long these days there are other people who are ready to take this opportunity.
- Henpecked husband: (बायकोच्या मुठीत असलेला नवरा, बाईलवेडा) A man snubbed by his wife. Sanjana has got a henpecked husband.
- Herculean task: (अत्यंत अवघड काम) Very difficult or uphill task.
To eradicate poverty and maintain India clean are Herculean tasks in front of the government. - High-handed: (अरेरावीने वागणारा) Haughty and unjust, arrogant.
Some bosses high-handed attitude towards their subordinates. (also : with high hand) - High and mighty: (स्वतःला सर्वश्रेष्ठ मानणारा) Proud person.
High and mighty doesn’t believe in the power of the Almighty. - High time: (एकदम योग्य वेळ) The proper time otherwise it may be too late.
It is high time, India should capture P.O.K. - High turnout: (मोठ्या प्रमाणावर मतदान) Number of people voted.
There was high turnout this time everywhere in India as people were seeking a change. - Hit below the belt: (अनितीने वागणे, कमरेखाली वार करणे) Fight unfairly, strike another unfairly. (a) In campaigning, many candidates often hit their rivals below the belt.
(b) We should not hit our enemy below the belt and be ready to face anything. - Hit a home run: (सहज विजय मिळवणे) Succeed.
With his outstanding performance, he hit a home run in both rounds of the game. - Hit the ceiling: (आकाश पाताळ एक करणे) Be very angry & begin shouting.
When she knew the truth, she hit the ceiling. - Hit the nail on the head : (अगदी अचूक बोलणे) Touch the exact point.
He deliberately hit the nail on the head and made everyone keep silence. - Hit the panic button : (विनाकारण भीती पसरवणे) Panic suddenly.
Someone in the theater shouted snake and thus pressed/hit the panic button.
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J
K
L
- Labour of love: (विनामोबदला स्वीकारलेले काम) Task done voluntarily without expecting monetary gains. Assisting orphan children to complete their graduation is a favourite labour of love for me.
- Lady or tiger: (प्रचंड नफा qकवा तोटा चंचल असतात असे परिणाम) Gamble with highly divergent outcomes. Daily trading in stock market is a place for lady or tiger for common investors.
- Lag behind: (मागे राहणे, मागे पडणे) Fall behind.
India lags behind in technology due to lack of technocrats. - (Be in the) Land of living: (या जगात असणे) Be alive or awake.
(a) I don’t know due to this work load whether I’ll be in the land of living till tomorrow evening. (b) Seeing her in the last week after so long, I came to know that she is still in the land of living. - Laugh in one’s sleeves: (गालातल्या गालात हसणे) Be secretly happy or amused.
Hearing speaker’s foolish words, we were all laughing in our sleeves. - Laughing stock: (हास्यास्पद व्यक्ती, कुचेष्टेचा विषय) An object of ridicule, a source of laughter. A bag of bone becomes a laughing stock if he poses as a body builder in front of people.
- Law of jungle: (जंगलचा कायदा, पाशवी वृत्तीचे साम्राज्य) Survival of the fittest.
In this competitive world you must know a law of the jungle. - Lay waste: (वैराण करणे) Make desolate.
Some regions were laid waste in drought last year. - Law unto oneself: (कायद्याची पर्वा न करता मन मानेल तसे वागणे) Behave independently by ignoring rules. Tanaya is a law unto herself and cannot be tied by the obligations and set rules of marriage.
- Last nail in the coffin: (नाश ओढवून घेणे) Causing ruin.
Demonetization along with cashless dealings for even smaller transactions will certainly be a last nail in the coffin for black money. - Last straw: (काम करणे असह्य होऊन बसते अशी गोष्ट) The last event which finally exhausts one’s patience. It was the last straw for her when her boss demanded sexual favour from her.
- Last word: (अंतिम शब्द qकवा मत) The final say in something.
I never think I’m the last word in grammar. - Lay it on with a trowel : (खुप प्रशंसा करणे) Praise excessively.
Some people have the habit to lay it on with a trowel while telling about their achievements. - Lead astray : (चुकीचे मार्गदर्शन करणे) Guide wrongly.
At tender age children are often led astray by wrong company they are in. - Lead by the nose : (आपल्याला हवे तसे वागायला दुसèयाला लावणे) Make people follow you under your influence, control person completely.
I refused to be led by the nose by my junior who was inferior to me in every aspect. - Lead up the garden path/ lead someone down the garden path : (एखाद्याला भलत्याच मार्गाला नेणे; फसवणे) Deceive, cheat. (a) He led her to garden path assuring of her career.
(b) The schemes of all hospitals regarding health care only lead common people down the garden path.
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O
- Olive branch: an attempt at a compromise. ( शांतीचे चिन्ह , समेट )
- Off & on: now and again ( कधी कधी )
- Out and out : (पूर्णपणे) Thoroughly.
He is out and out gentleman, befriend him. - Out of the frying pan into the fire: (आगीतून फुफाट्यात) From bad to worse state.
I left the job of the company which is in its last leg and decided to run my father’s business then I realised that I was out of the frying pan into fire. - Out of the wood: (अडचणीतून मुक्त) Free from danger.
We were all out of wood when the kidnappers released us on the condition of keeping anonymity of their whereabouts.
P
- Part and parcel: An essential part ( एक आवश्यक भाग )
- Pachyderm: (गेंड्याच्या कातडीचे, भावनाशून्य) Someone with thick skin, someone who is insensitive. All politicians seem to have become pachyderm.
- Pack on the pounds : (लठ्ठ होणे) Gain weight.
She is very foodie and packing on the pounds. - Paddle one’s own canoe : (स्वतःचे काम स्वतःच करणे) Decide independently and make fate. When I left my home, I’ve to paddle my own canoe and I began my new business.
- Paint oneself into a corner : (स्वतःवर आपत्ती ओढवून घेणे) Create predicament or problem for oneself. Giving a word to marrying a divorcee having two children, he has painted himself into a corner.
- Palmy days : (भरभराटीचे, वैभवाचे दिवस) Prosperous, affluent days.
In his last days, he would tell us about palmy days of his life. - Paper tiger : (कागदी वाघ- फक्त दिसायला शूर व शक्तिशाली) A person/thing seems fierce but having no ability to back up words.
There were many paper tigers in India’s team in earlier days. - Part and parcel : (अविभाज्य भाग) Inseparable part.
Happiness and sorrows is a part and parcel of life. - Parthian shot: (जाता जाता मारलेला टोमणा) Insulting remark while parting, retort.
It was a Parthian shot from my wife when she said any wise and sensible woman could not have lived with me for so many years. - Party animals: (पाट्र्यांमध्ये रंगणारा, शौकिन) A person who frequents party enthusiastically. Most of the youngsters are party animals these days.
- Party pooper: (पार्टीमध्ये रंगाचा बेरंग करणारा) One who dampens fun.
You are really a party pooper, not participating in any activity. - Pass muster: (समाधानकारक ठरणे) come up to the mark; be so good as not to be rejected. This presentation showing gradual but steady increase in demand of our product will surely pass muster.
- Pass the buck: (एखाद्या गोष्टची जबाबदारी दुसèयावर ढकलणे) Transfer responsibility or blame each other. All political leaders pass the buck when stance of their party is debatable.
- Pass the hat: (देणगी गोळा करणे) Ask for money.
Many N.G.O.s pass the hat to serve a group of afflicted people.
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R
- Rattle someone’s cage: (qपजरा बडवणे, लक्ष वेधणे) Nag, nudge, demand attention.
No one wants to solve this problem so it’s time to rattle their cage. - Read between the lines: (भावार्थ, गुप्तार्थ समजणे) Understand the hidden meaning.
Having read the message carefully and repeatedly, the general could read between the lines. - Rap on the knuckles: (केलेल्या गोष्टीबद्दल गंभीर इशारा मिळणे, हाताचा पंजा उलटा करून बोटांच्या हाडावर मारणे) Sharp rebuke.
The manager rapped him on the knuckles as he gave him a nonsense idea of asking for favours in the form of money. - Red herring: (मूळ गोष्टीवरून लक्ष उडवून भलतीकडे वळवणे – कात्रजचा घाट दाखवणे) Attempt to divert attention from the subject.
The opposition was drawing a red herring across the G.S.T. by raising the issue of the black money. - Red ink: (कमाईपेक्षा खर्च जास्त) A situation, especially of an organization or business, in which expenditure is much more than its earning.
Our company had been in red ink since last two years.
(A) Red letter day :(संस्मरणीय घटना, घडलेला दिवस, आनंदाचा दिवस) Auspicious day, happy day. Fifteenth August is, though Independence day, for me a red letter day. - Red rag to bull : (पित्त खवळणारी गोष्ट) Something that provokes.
For hoarders of black money, demonetization is certainly a red rag to bull. - Red tape : (लाल फित, शासकीय दिरंगाई) Official routine formalities delaying actions.
Red tape or red tapism is the main hindrance in the progress of our nation. - Reduce to rubble : (जमीनदोस्त करणे) Raze to the ground, destroy completely.
The new commissioner has decided to reduce all illegal construction to rubble. - Ready pen : (कधीही सहज लिहिणारा लेखक) One who composes and writes quickly and easily. He is a ready pen and writes on any issue for the leading newspaper.
- Rest on one’s laurels : (भूतकाळात केलेल्या कामगिरीवर संतुष्ट राहून पुढे काहीही न करणे) Be content or happy over what has done in the past.
Dhoni should now rest on his laurels and give way to the younger generation. - Return to our muttons : (आपल्या पूर्वीच्या व्यवसायाकडे परत वळणे) Get back to the business at hand. After struggling to start a new business, I decided to return our muttons.
- Rhyme or reason : (तर्कशास्त्र) Logic
There is neither rhyme nor reason in their lobbying against the government. - Ride a hobby : (आवडता छंद जोपासणे) Follow a favourite pursuit persistently.
He has ridden his hobby for the last twenty hours and earned fame all over Maharashtra. - Ride a wave : (लाटेवर स्वार होणे) Take advantage of a profitable period.
The B.J.P. seems to be riding a wave these days in all elections in all parts of India. - Rip up old scores : (जुनी भांडणे उकरून काढणे) Revive old quarrels.
His brother ripped up old scores whenever they meet.
S
- Spick and span – Neat and smart
- Set in – to begin and expected to continue
- Set the Thames on fire: काहीतरी आश्चर्यकारक करामत करून दाखवणे) Do remarkable.
He set the Thames on fire by securing first rank in civil service examination. - Settle an old score: (जुन्या गोष्टीचा सूड घेणे) (Harm someone because they have harmed you in the past). I’m fully aware of what he is doing as he is settling old scores with me.
- Shed crocodile tears: (नक्राश्रु ढाळणे) Pretend to show sorrow.
Don’t shed crocodile tears. It is of no use now. - Shoot the works: (असलेल्या सर्व पैशाची बाजी लावणे) Spend all the money you have, try as much as you can. Having seen the spark in his son, he shot the works on his son.
- Shot in the arm: (नवीन चैतन्य देणारी गोष्ट) Something that makes bad much better.
New move of demonetization is a much needed shot in the arm for some politicians. - Show fight: (लढण्यास सज्ज होणे) Ready to fight.
The crocodile showed fight the moment he was attacked. - Show a bold front: (तीव्र विरोध करणे) Resist firmly.
When the union leaders showed a bold front, the management yielded to their demands. - Show one’s teeth: (राग व्यक्त करणे) Express anger or annoyance.
Having slapped him, he showed his teeth. - Show one’s true colour: (मूळचा स्वभाव प्रगट करणे) Reveal how one rally is.
Newly wedded girl begins to show her true colour after she gets used to husband’s home. - Show the white feather: (शरणागतीचा पांढरा ध्वज दाखवणे) Act like coward.
The great Shivaji showed Afazalkhan a white feather intentionally and brought him at Jawali valley. - Sit on the fence: Hesitate to support any opportunity. (कुंपणावर असणे, दोन्हीकडे पाय ठेवणे) Some politicians who sit on the fences know very well that they can get a plump portfolio in ministry by doing so.
- Skin someone alive: (सालटी काढणे) Punish severly.
My father skinned me alive when he saw me smoking with my friends who were urchins. - Sleep under the same bridge : (कायद्यापुढे सर्व समान) Equal under the law.
The rich and the poor sleep under the same bridge. - Sleeping giant : (निद्रिस्त राक्षस) Someone or something with great and latent strength. India is really a sleeping giant and need to be woken up.
- Slip through one’s fingers : (निष्काळजीपणामुळे निसटणे) Escape or be lost through carelessness. The tender was slipped through my fingers since the cost I quoted was just a hundred bucks more. 44. (A) Skeleton in the cupboard: (गुप्त गोष्टी) A secret.
It is a tip of ice berg, there are many skeletons yet to come out. - Smell a rat : (संशयास्पद वाटणे) Feel something suspicious or wrong.
Police also smelt rat behind so much cash in the minister’s jeep at the time of election. - Smell of the lamp: (रात्री जागून लिहून काढलेले दिसणे) Have marks of great labour and study. There is a smell of the lamp in his success at so early stage.
T
- To know what is what – to know how to behave (खडानखडा माहिती )
- To bring to light – to reveal clearly (उघड होणे , शोध लागणे )
- To bring to book – to call to account to punish ( शिक्षा करणे , दंड करणे )
- To bring home to – to cause one to feel or understand or realize (पुनरुज्जीवन करणे , आठवण काढणे )
- To bear the brunt of – To bear the main burden of a task
- To bell the cat – Great risk
- Turn against: to become hostile to (एखाद्यावर उलटणे )
- Topsy turvy: in a state of disorder (अव्यवस्थितपणे )
- Tooth and nail: Violently , fiercely (जोरदारपणे , प्रखरपणे प्रतिकार करणे )
- Them and us: (दोन भिन्न समाजातील मतभेद) Disagreements between different communities/ social groups. There was them and us situation about the place of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya.
- The straw that broke the camel’s back : (थोडा सुद्धा भार सहन न होणे) Something very small that isn’t endured. Coming late one day was the only straw that broke the camel’s back and he was fired.
- Thin end of the wedge : (सुरूवातीला छोटा पण नंतर खूप मोठा होणारा बदल qकवा मागणी) Something if accepted to a small degree would lead to encroachment.
I think allowing gay marriages will be thin end of the wedge for India’s culture. - Thorn in flesh : (न संपणारी पीडा) Cause of trouble.
Arunachal Pradesh is a thorn in flesh for China to continue bilateral talk. - Throw a spanner in the work : (योजना उधळून लावणे) Something unexpected, troublesome, obstacle. When a half of task was completed, the boss threw the spanner saying that this project hadn’t been approved.
- Throw a tantrum : (लहान मुलासारखे चिडणे, क्रोधाचा झटका येणे) Have temper tantrum, a fit of childish anger. A wife throws a tantrum when she isn’t given enough money for her usual shopping.
- Throw cold water upon : (नाराज करणे) Discourage.
My family threw water upon my planning of touring north India during this Diwali vacation. - Throw down the gauntlet : (आव्हान देणे) Throw a challenge.
He threw down the gauntlet by telling us that he was resigning the job.
(विरूद्धार्थी Phrase – Take up the gauntlet : Accept the challenge) - Throw dust into the eyes of : (डोळ्यात धूळ फेकणे, फसवणे) Deceive.
Charles Shobharajan threw dust into the eyes of Indian sleuths many times. - Throw in the towel / in the sponge : (सपशेल माघार घेणे, पराभव कबूल करणे) Admit defeat. I had to threw in the towel at last when she showed she was correct in judging our son.
- Throw the baby out with the bathwater : (एखादी गोष्ट टाकताना अनावश्यक गोष्टींबरोबर आवश्यक गोष्टीही टाकून देणे; सुक्याबरोबर ओले जळते.) To discard/ to let something essential when you remove something unwanted.
They were rejecting the entire project but they were unaware that they are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. - Through and through : (पूर्ण) Completely.
He is through and through gentleman. - Through thick and thin : (चांगल्या qकवा वाईट सर्व प्रकारच्या परिस्थितीत) In every situation.
God stands by his devotees through thick and thin. - Tickle someone’s funny bone : (मनाला गुदगुल्या करणे, मनोरंजन करणे) Amuse.
‘Chala Hawa Yeu Dya’ is such a sort of show that succeeds in tickling your funny bone. - Tide over : (अडचणीतून निभावून जाणे) Overcome difficult situation.
Due to sudden demand to its products, it seems that the company is tiding over but truly speaking the position of the company has too deteriorated. - Tighten your belt : (उपाशी रहायला सिद्ध असणे) Try to spend less or use less resource.
When there were financial crises and less revenue, we had to tighten our belt.
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V
Virgin soil : (कधीही पिके घेतली नाहीत अशी जमिन) Soil which has never yet been cultivated. It’s difficult to find virgin soil in our area.
W
- Wage a war : (युद्ध पुकारणे) Continue a war.
Pakistan army has waged a war against India by supporting terrorists’ outfits and funding them. - Wag one’s chin : (बडबड करत राहणे) Talk.
Why don’t you stop wagging your chin and mind your work? - Walk of life : (धंदा qकवा व्यवसाय) Occupation, social class.
My students are there in every walk of life. - Wash dirty linen in public : (कौटुंबिक वाद चव्हाट्यावर आणणे, त्यावर चर्चा करणे) Discuss personal matters before strangers. In the latest Presidential election of America many famous women began washing dirty linen in public to humiliate Donald Trump.
- Wash one’s hands of (business) : (हात झटकून मोकळे होणे; यापुढे आपला काही संबंध नाही असे म्हणणे) Refuse to do, refuse to have anything.
You cannot blame me for this loss as I already washed my hands of this business year ago. 6. Waste breath : (असंबद्ध मुद्दे मांडणे, निरर्थक बडबड करणे) Speak in futile manner, make unnecessary points. He always wastes breath raising irrelevant points. - Wax and wane : (चढ, उतार होणे – चंद्राच्या कलांप्रमाणे) Increase and decrease.
Her love for politics never waxed and waned throughout her life. - Wear/ Don many hats : (अनेक भूमिका पार पाडणे) Play many roles at once.
Any working woman has to wear many hats in her home. - Weekend warrior : (फक्त सुट्टीच्या दिवशी खेळणारा) Indulging in sport only on weekends. I am a weekend warrior and love playing badminton.
- Wild goose chase : (मुखपर्णाचे व निष्फळ साहस) Foolish and fruitless search.
It is a wild goose chase of searching golden treasure underground just over the prediction of a fake baba. 11. Wind fall : (अचानक झालेला खूप मोठा आर्थिक लाभ) Unexpected huge profit.
Winning lottery is windfall for a person.- - When pigs fly : (घडणे, केवळ अशक्य अशी गोष्ट घडणे) Impossible to happen.
Pakistan will give up its claim on Kashmir when pigs fly. - White elephant : (पांढरा हत्ती) anything which is too costly.
For a middle class person like me, a car is a white elephant. - White lie : (सफेद झुठ, धूळफेक) Innocent falsehood.
I knew he was lying but it was white lie harming no one. - Window shopping : (खरेदी न करता फक्त मांडलेल्या वस्तू पाहत फेरफटका मारणे) Browsing of shop windows without intention of buying.
She was just killing the time by window shopping.
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Y
Z