Welcome to Online English Section with explanation in AffairsCloud.com. Here we are providing here some important idioms and phrases, which is BASED ON IBPS PO/CLERK/LIC AAO/RRB & SSC CGL EXAM and other competitive exams.
To eat in/To eat out : to eat at home/to eat in a restaurant
- I feel too tired to go out for dinner. Let’s eat in again tonight.
- When you eat out, what restaurant do you generally go to?
cut and dried: predictable, known beforehand; boring
- The results of the national election were rather cut and dried; the Republicans won easily.
- A job on a factory assembly line is certainly cut and dried.
to look after: to watch, to supervise, to protect (also: to take care of, to keep an eye on)
- Grandma will look after the baby while we go to the lecture.
- Who is going to take care of your house plants while you are away?
- I’d appreciate it if you’d keep an eye on my car while I’m in the store.
to feel like: to have the desire to, to want to consider
This idiom is usually followed by a gerund (the –ing form of a verb used as a noun).
- I don’t feel like studying tonight. Let’s go to a basketball game.
- I feel like taking a long walk. Would you like to go with me?
once and for all: finally, absolutely
- My daughter told her boyfriend once and for all that she wouldn’t date him anymore.
- Once and for all, john has quit smoking cigarettes.
to hear from: to receive news or information from
To hear from is used for receiving a letter, telephone call, etc., from a person or organization.
- I don’t hear from my brother very often since he moved to Chicago.
- Have you heard from the company about that new job?
to hear of: to know about, to be familiar with; to consider
The second definition is always used in the negative.
- When I asked for directions to Mill Street, the police officer said that she had never heard of it.
- Byron strongly disagreed with my request by saying, “I won’t hear of it!”
to make fun of: to laugh at, to joke about
- They are making fun of Carla’s new hair style. Don’t you think that it’s really strange?
- Don’t make fun of Jose’s English. He’s doing the best he can.
to come true: to become reality, to prove to be correct
- The weatherman’s forecast for today’s weather certainly came true.
- Everything that the economists predicted about the increased cost of living has come true.
as a matter of fact: really, actually (also: in fact)
- Hans thinks he knows English well but, as a matter of fact, he speaks very poorly.
- I didn’t say that. In fact, I said quite the opposite.
to have one’s way: to arrange matters the way one wants (especially when someone else doesn’t want to same way) (also: to get one’s way)
- My brother always wants to have his way, but this time our parents said that we could do what I wanted.
- If Sheila doesn’t get her way, she becomes very angry.
to look forward to: to expect or anticipate with pleasure
This idiom can be followed by a regular noun or a gerund.
- We’re greatly looking forward to our vacation in Mexico.
- Margaret never looks forward to going to work.
