Top 30 Idioms and phrases for competitive exams

# Decked up – put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive
# Doing the rounds – to be passed from one person to another
# Between the cup and the lips – On the point of achievement
# A damp squib – Complete failure
# Put off – an evasive reply, to delay doing something, especially because you do not want to do it
# A dime a dozen – Anything that is common and easy to get
# Cast iron stomach– Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything
# A mare’s nest– A false invention
# Takes a beating – to be damaged because of performing badly or being criticized
# A chip on your shoulder – Being upset for something that happened in the past
# A toss-up – A result that is still unclear and can go either way
# An iron hand – By force
# A taste of your own medicine – When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others
# At the drop of a hat – Willing to do something immediately
# A man of straw – A weak person
# Bite your tongue – To avoid talking
# An eyewash – A pretence
# At sixes and seven– Persons who are having different opinions
# Bite off more than you can chew – To take on a task that is way too big to handle
# Can’t cut the mustard– Someone who isn’t adequate enough to compete or participate
# Call a spade a spade– Straight talks
Don’t count your chickens before they # hatch– Don’t rely on it until you sure of it
# Dog days of summer– The hottest day of the summer season
Ever and anon– Now and then, occasionally
Field day– An enjoyable day or circumstance
Bits and Pieces– small things of different types
 Kick the bucket– Die
Know the ropes– To understand the details
Latin and Greek– Unable to understand
Like a chicken with its head cut off– To act in a frenzied manner, crazily