Give short shrift To give short shrift is to treat someone in an unfriendly or inconsiderate way. When Mrs Das left Delhi, no one wrote to her. She, however, missed her friends terribly and could not understand why she was being given such short shrift....
A grass window “We must invite Mrs Mehra to our party,” said Mrs Kapoor to her husband. “She’s a grass window, and must be lonely.” “What’s that?” asked Mr Kapoor. His knowledge of English idioms didn’t stretch to this one. “A grass window,” explained his...
Gut feelings A gut feeling is one that comes from one’s innermost being. “I have a gut feeling that something is wrong,” said Mrs Das, when her husband had not returned home till midnight. “He just got his driver’s licence two weeks ago!”
Flying Blind This expression is meant to describe a person who is uncertain, confused or wrong about something. In other words, he is like a bird who doesn’t know in which direction he is flying. “Your answers,” said Rohit’s teacher to him, “show that...
Fish out of water Imagine that you were a fish and out of water. How would you feel? Just like Mrs Verma who hadn’t studied past school, and had to attend a social gathering where she met some very learned and erudite professors. She felt...
Free-loader If you’re a free-loader you eat and drink at another’s expense — like a sponge which absorbs liquid. “I don’t want to have anything to do with Sachin. He’s a free-loader, and how long can I continue to feed him?”
Free hand “I have been given a free hand in redecorating my room,” announced Aarti triumphantly to her brother, “so don’t interfere.” When you give someone a free hand you give him or her complete freedom of action.
Fair play When justice is done according to the accepted rule in any game or contest it is known as fair play. An unbiased umpire was selected to ensure fair play in the cricket match. Figuratively, when you play fair you are being just, and...
Far-fetched Rohit told a rather far-fetched story to his Maths teacher as to why he could not do his homework. His house, he said, had caught fire, and all his books were burnt. He himself apparently had had a miraculous escape. His teacher, of course,...
There’s plenty more fish in the sea This idiom means that there are many other people and things that are as good as the one that has proved unsuccessful. She thought that she was indispensable. But she was surprised when he fired her saying that...
