2000 Important idioms - Set 07

151. A passing fancy

• Meaning: A temporary liking for something or someone.

• Sentence Usage 1: His interest in painting turned out to be just a passing fancy.

• Sentence Usage 2: She had a passing fancy for collecting vintage stamps but soon lost interest.

152. A past master

• Meaning: An expert.

• Sentence Usage 1: He's a past master in the art of negotiation.

• Sentence Usage 2: As a past master in the culinary arts, she could create exquisite dishes effortlessly.

153. A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned

• Meaning: By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little).

• Sentence Usage 1: Grandma always emphasized the importance of saving, saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned."

• Sentence Usage 2: Following the principle of "A penny saved is a penny earned" can lead to financial stability.

154. A pet aversion

• Meaning: Someone or something greatly disliked.

• Sentence Usage 1: His pet aversion was attending large social gatherings.

• Sentence Usage 2: Cleaning the house became her pet aversion over the years.

155. A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

• Meaning: A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.

• Sentence Usage 1: The artist believed in the saying "A picture paints a thousand words" and expressed complex emotions through paintings.

• Sentence Usage 2: The documentary filmmaker understood the power of visuals, stating that sometimes "a picture paints a thousand words."

156. A piece of cake

• Meaning: A task that can be accomplished very easily.

• Sentence Usage 1: For her, solving math problems was a piece of cake.

• Sentence Usage 2: Completing the assignment was a piece of cake for the experienced researcher.

157. A poison pen

• Meaning: A person who writes malicious.

• Sentence Usage 1: The anonymous letters were written by a poison pen, causing turmoil in the office.

• Sentence Usage 2: The tabloid journalist was known for being a poison pen, targeting celebrities with harmful stories.

158. A practical joke

• Meaning: A trick played upon a person in order to make him look ridiculous.

• Sentence Usage 1: The office prankster enjoyed playing practical jokes on his colleagues.

• Sentence Usage 2: The comedian's practical joke during the live show left the audience in splits.

159. A pretty kettle of fish

• Meaning: A total mess.

• Sentence Usage 1: The unexpected turn of events created a pretty kettle of fish for the event organizers.

• Sentence Usage 2: Trying to fix the plumbing issue turned into a pretty kettle of fish.

160. A queer fish

• Meaning: Strange personality.

• Sentence Usage 1: The new colleague was a bit of a queer fish, with eccentric habits.

• Sentence Usage 2: The artist was known to be a queer fish, creating unconventional and avant-garde pieces.

161. A rainy day

• Meaning: Bad times.

• Sentence Usage 1: Saving money for a rainy day is a wise financial practice.

• Sentence Usage 2: The family kept a reserve fund for unforeseen expenses, ensuring financial security during rainy days.

162. A raw deal

• Meaning: Unjust or harsh treatment.

• Sentence Usage 1: Despite his hard work, he felt he got a raw deal in the promotion process.

• Sentence Usage 2: The employees protested against what they considered a raw deal in the new company policies.

163. A ready pen

• Meaning: Someone who is able to compose/write easily and quickly.

• Sentence Usage 1: The author was known as a ready pen, consistently producing novels at a fast pace.

• Sentence Usage 2: In the newsroom, journalists with a ready pen were valuable for covering breaking stories.

164. A red-letter day

• Meaning: An auspicious day.

• Sentence Usage 1: Graduation day was a red-letter day in her life, marking the culmination of years of hard work.

• Sentence Usage 2: The team celebrated the project's successful completion as a red-letter day for the company.

165. A red rag to a bull

• Meaning: Very irritating.

• Sentence Usage 1: Criticizing his favorite sports team was like waving a red rag to a bull.

• Sentence Usage 2: Bringing up the sensitive topic proved to be a red rag to a bull during the family dinner.

166. A right-hand man

• Meaning: Most efficient assistant/helper.

• Sentence Usage 1: The CEO relied on his right-hand man to handle critical decisions in his absence.

• Sentence Usage 2: The project manager's right-hand man played a crucial role in coordinating tasks and ensuring success.

167. A rogue's gallery

• Meaning: A collection of photographs of criminals.

• Sentence Usage 1: The detective examined the rogue's gallery to identify potential suspects in the case.

• Sentence Usage 2: The police maintained a rogue's gallery for quick reference during investigations.

168. A rolling stone

• Meaning: In working condition.

• Sentence Usage 1: The vintage car, despite its age, was still a rolling stone and could be driven smoothly.

• Sentence Usage 2: The old machinery, although not the latest, proved to be a rolling stone and continued to function well.

169. A rope of sand

• Meaning: A bond or promise which is easily broken.

• Sentence Usage 1: Their agreement turned out to be a rope of sand, as neither party adhered to the terms.

• Sentence Usage 2: The diplomatic treaty proved to be a rope of sand when disputes arose between the nations.

170. A rough guess

• Meaning: An approximate calculation.

• Sentence Usage 1: Without precise data, we can only make a rough guess of the project's completion time.

• Sentence Usage 2: His estimate was just a rough guess, as he didn't have all the details of the financial report.

171. A royal road

• Meaning: Easy way.

• Sentence Usage 1: There is no royal road to success; one must work hard and persevere.

• Sentence Usage 2: Despite challenges, there is no royal road to achieving personal goals; dedication is necessary.

• Meaning: Easy way.

• Sentence Usage 1: There is no royal road to success; one must work hard and persevere.

• Sentence Usage 2: Despite challenges, there is no royal road to achieving personal goals; dedication is necessary.

172. A rule of the thumb

• Meaning: A practical rule which has been proved useful through experience.

• Sentence Usage 1: In carpentry, using the rule of the thumb helps in making quick measurements.

• Sentence Usage 2: The seasoned chef often relies on the rule of the thumb for ingredient proportions in recipes.

173. A rum fellow

• Meaning: An odd or unusual person.

• Sentence Usage 1: The town had its share of rum fellows who kept to themselves.

• Sentence Usage 2: Everyone found him to be a bit of a rum fellow due to his eccentric behavior.

174. A sandwich course

• Meaning: Training with a period of practical experience.

• Sentence Usage 1: The university offers a sandwich course that combines classroom learning with hands-on industry experience.

• Sentence Usage 2: She decided to enroll in a sandwich course to gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

175. A sane policy

• Meaning: A sensible, well-reasoned policy.

• Sentence Usage 1: Implementing a sane policy ensures the fair and effective functioning of the organization.

• Sentence Usage 2: The government's decision to prioritize public health was seen as a sane policy during the crisis.