29 English idioms
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| 29 English idioms |
1. A blessing in disguise
Hindi Equivalent: छिपा हुआ वरदान (Chhipa hua vardan)
Pronunciation: Chhipa hooa vardaan
Meaning: Something that seems bad but turns out to be good.
English Example: "Losing that job was a blessing in disguise; I found a better one."
Hindi Example: "उस नौकरी का छूटना छिपा हुआ वरदान था; मुझे बेहतर मिली।" (Us naukri ka chhootna chhipa hua vardan tha; mujhe behtar mili.)
Alternative: "Silver lining" / बुराई में भलाई (Burai mein bhalai, pronounced: Boorai mein bhalai)
2. Add fuel to the fire
Hindi Equivalent: आग में घी डालना (Aag mein ghee dalna)
Pronunciation: Aag mein ghee daalna
Meaning: To make a bad situation worse.
English Example: "His comments added fuel to the fire during the argument."
Hindi Example: "उसके कमेंट्स ने बहस के दौरान आग में घी डाल दिया।" (Uske comments ne bahas ke dauran aag mein ghee daal diya.)
Alternative: "Stir the pot" / हालात बिगाड़ना (Haalat bigadna, pronounced: Haalat bigaadna)
3. Back to square one
Hindi Equivalent: शुरू से शुरू करना (Shuru se shuru karna)
Pronunciation: Shooroo say shooroo karna
Meaning: To start over after a failure.
English Example: "The plan failed, so we’re back to square one."
Hindi Example: "योजना फेल हो गई, तो हमें शुरू से शुरू करना पड़ा।" (Yojana fail ho gayi, to humein shuru se shuru karna pada.)
Alternative: "Start from scratch" / फिर से शुरुआत (Phir se shuruaat, pronounced: Phir say shoorooaat)
4. Bark is worse than his bite
Hindi Equivalent: शोर से ज्यादा नुकसान नहीं (Shor se zyada nuksaan nahi)
Pronunciation: Shor say zyada nooksaan nahee
Meaning: Someone seems threatening but isn’t harmful.
English Example: "Don’t worry about him; his bark is worse than his bite."
Hindi Example: "उससे डरने की जरूरत नहीं; शोर से ज्यादा नुकसान नहीं करता।" (Usse darne ki zarurat nahi; shor se zyada nuksaan nahi karta.)
Alternative: "All talk, no action" / खाली शोर (Khaali shor, pronounced: Khaalee shor)
5. Bend over backwards
Hindi Equivalent: जान लगा देना (Jaan laga dena)
Pronunciation: Jaan laga dayna
Meaning: To make a great effort to help someone.
English Example: "She bent over backwards to make the guests comfortable."
Hindi Example: "उसने मेहमानों को आराम देने के लिए जान लगा दी।" (Usne mehmano ko aaram dene ke liye jaan laga di.)
Alternative: "Go the extra mile" / पूरा जोर लगाना (Poora zor lagana, pronounced: Poora zor lagaana)
6. Bite off more than you can chew
Hindi Equivalent: अपनी औकात से ज्यादा लेना (Apni aukaat se zyada lena)
Pronunciation: Apnee aukaat say zyada layna
Meaning: To take on more than you can handle.
English Example: "He bit off more than he could chew with that project."
Hindi Example: "उसने उस प्रोजेक्ट में अपनी औकात से ज्यादा ले लिया।" (Usne us project mein apni aukaat se zyada le liya.)
Alternative: "Overreach" / हद से ज्यादा करना (Had se zyada karna, pronounced: Had say zyada karna)
7. Cross that bridge when we come to it
Hindi Equivalent: उस समय देखा जाएगा (Us samay dekha jayega)
Pronunciation: Us samay daykha jaayayga
Meaning: Deal with a problem when it arises, not before.
English Example: "We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it; no need to worry now."
Hindi Example: "उस समय देखा जाएगा; अभी चिंता करने की जरूरत नहीं।" (Us samay dekha jayega; abhi chinta karne ki zarurat nahi.)
Alternative: "Deal with it later" / वक्त आने पर सोचेंगे (Waqt aane par sochenge, pronounced: Waqt aanay par sochayngay)
8. Cut corners
Hindi Equivalent: कामचोरी करना (Kaamchori karna)
Pronunciation: Kaamchoree karna
Meaning: To do something cheaply or hastily, often poorly.
English Example: "They cut corners on the construction, and now it’s falling apart."
Hindi Example: "उन्होंने निर्माण में कामचोरी की, और अब ये टूट रहा है।" (Unhone nirmaan mein kaamchori ki, aur ab ye toot raha hai.)
Alternative: "Skimp" / आधाअधूरा करना (Aadhaadhoora karna, pronounced: Aadhaadhoora karna)
9. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Hindi Equivalent: सारी उम्मीद एक जगह मत लगाओ (Saari ummeed ek jagah mat lagao)
Pronunciation: Saaree oommeed ek jagah mat lagao
Meaning: Don’t risk everything on one plan.
English Example: "Invest wisely; don’t put all your eggs in one basket."
Hindi Example: "सोचसमझकर निवेश करो; सारी उम्मीद एक जगह मत लगाओ।" (Sochsamajhkar nivesh karo; saari ummeed ek jagah mat lagao.)
Alternative: "Diversify" / जोखिम बाँटना (Jokhim baantna, pronounced: Jokhim baantna)
10. Get a taste of your own medicine
Hindi Equivalent: जैसा करोगे वैसा भरोगे (Jaisa karoge waisa bharoge)
Pronunciation: Jaisa karogay waisa bharogay
Meaning: To experience what you’ve done to others.
English Example: "He got a taste of his own medicine when they ignored him."
Hindi Example: "उसने जैसा किया, वैसा ही भरा जब उसे नजरअंदाज किया गया।" (Usne jaisa kiya, waisa hi bhara jab use nazarandaaz kiya gaya.)
Alternative: "Tit for tat" / करमा का फल (Karma ka phal, pronounced: Karma ka phal)
11. Give the benefit of the doubt
Hindi Equivalent: शक का लाभ देना (Shak ka laabh dena)
Pronunciation: Shak ka laabh dayna
Meaning: To assume someone is innocent or right until proven otherwise.
English Example: "I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt this time."
Hindi Example: "मैं इस बार उसे शक का लाभ दूँगा।" (Main is baar use shak ka laabh doonga.)
Alternative: "Trust for now" / भरोसा रखना (Bharosa rakhna, pronounced: Bharosa rakhna)
12. Go down in flames
Hindi Equivalent: बुरी तरह नाकाम होना (Buri tarah nakaam hona)
Pronunciation: Booree tarah nakaam hona
Meaning: To fail spectacularly.
English Example: "Their plan went down in flames after the mistake."
Hindi Example: "गलती के बाद उनकी योजना बुरी तरह नाकाम हो गई।" (Galti ke baad unki yojana buri tarah nakaam ho gayi.)
Alternative: "Crash and burn" / पूरी तरह असफल होना (Poori tarah asafal hona, pronounced: Pooree tarah asafal hona)
13. Hold your horses
Hindi Equivalent: थोड़ा रुक जाओ (Thoda ruk jao)
Pronunciation: Thoda rook jao
Meaning: To wait or slow down.
English Example: "Hold your horses; let’s think this through."
Hindi Example: "थोड़ा रुक जाओ; इसे सोच लें।" (Thoda ruk jao; ise soch lein.)
Alternative: "Calm down" / जल्दी मत करो (Jaldi mat karo, pronounced: Jaldee mat karo)
14. In the heat of the moment
Hindi Equivalent: जोश में आकर (Josh mein aakar)
Pronunciation: Josh mein aakar
Meaning: Doing something impulsively due to strong emotion.
English Example: "She said it in the heat of the moment and later apologized."
Hindi Example: "उसने जोश में आकर कहा और बाद में माफी माँगी।" (Usne josh mein aakar kaha aur baad mein maafi maangi.)
Alternative: "Spur of the moment" / गुस्से में बोलना (Gusse mein bolna, pronounced: Goosay mein bolna)
15. Keep your chin up
Hindi Equivalent: हिम्मत मत हारो (Himmat mat haaro)
Pronunciation: Himmat mat haaro
Meaning: Stay positive despite difficulties.
English Example: "Keep your chin up; things will get better."
Hindi Example: "हिम्मत मत हारो; हालात बेहतर होंगे।" (Himmat mat haaro; haalat behtar honge.)
Alternative: "Stay strong" / हौसला रखो (Hausla rakho, pronounced: Hausla rakho)
16. Let sleeping dogs lie
Hindi Equivalent: पुरानी बात को मत छेड़ो (Purani baat ko mat chhedo)
Pronunciation: Pooraanee baat ko mat chhaydo
Meaning: Avoid bringing up old issues that might cause trouble.
English Example: "Let sleeping dogs lie; don’t mention the argument again."
Hindi Example: "पुरानी बात को मत छेड़ो; फिर से बहस मत शुरू करो।" (Purani baat ko mat chhedo; phir se bahas mat shuru karo.)
Alternative: "Leave it alone" / चुप रहना बेहतर है (Chup rehna behtar hai, pronounced: Choop rayhna behtar hai)
17. Make a long story short
Hindi Equivalent: संक्षेप में कहें तो (Sankshep mein kahen to)
Pronunciation: Sanksheyp mein kahayn to
Meaning: To summarize something briefly.
English Example: "To make a long story short, we won the game."
Hindi Example: "संक्षेप में कहें तो, हमने खेल जीत लिया।" (Sankshep mein kahen to, humne khel jeet liya.)
Alternative: "In a nutshell" / छोटे में कहना (Chhote mein kehna, pronounced: Chhotay mein kehna)
18. No stone unturned
Hindi Equivalent: कोई कसर न छोड़ना (Koi kasar na chhodna)
Pronunciation: Koi kasar na chhodna
Meaning: To try every possible way to achieve something.
English Example: "She left no stone unturned to find her lost keys."
Hindi Example: "उसने अपनी खोई चाबियाँ ढूंढने के लिए कोई कसर न छोड़ी।" (Usne apni khoi chabiyan dhoondhne ke liye koi kasar na chhodi.)
Alternative: "Do everything possible" / हर कोशिश करना (Har koshish karna, pronounced: Har koshish karna)
19. Out of the blue
Hindi Equivalent: अचानक से (Achaanak se)
Pronunciation: Achaanak say
Meaning: Something happening unexpectedly.
English Example: "He called me out of the blue after years."
Hindi Example: "उसने सालों बाद अचानक से मुझे फोन किया।" (Usne saalon baad achaanak se mujhe phone kiya.)
Alternative: "Suddenly" / बिना बताए (Bina bataye, pronounced: Bina bataayay)
20. Play it by ear
Hindi Equivalent: हालात के हिसाब से चलना (Haalat ke hisaab se chalna)
Pronunciation: Haalat kay hisaab say chalna
Meaning: To decide what to do as the situation unfolds.
English Example: "We don’t have a plan; let’s play it by ear."
Hindi Example: "हमारे पास योजना नहीं है; हालात के हिसाब से चलेंगे।" (Hamare paas yojana nahi hai; haalat ke hisaab se chalenge.)
Alternative: "Wing it" / जैसा चले वैसा करें (Jaisa chale waisa karen, pronounced: Jaisa chalay waisa karayn)
21. Put the cart before the horse
Hindi Equivalent: उल्टा काम करना (Ulta kaam karna)
Pronunciation: Oolta kaam karna
Meaning: To do things in the wrong order.
English Example: "Planning the party before inviting people is putting the cart before the horse."
Hindi Example: "लोगों को बुलाने से पहले पार्टी प्लान करना उल्टा काम करना है।" (Logon ko bulane se pehle party plan karna ulta kaam karna hai.)
Alternative: "Backwards" / गलत ढंग से करना (Galat dhang se karna, pronounced: Galat dhang say karna)
22. Rome wasn’t built in a day
Hindi Equivalent: धीरेधीरे सब होता है (Dheeredheere sab hota hai)
Pronunciation: Dheeraydheeray sab hota hai
Meaning: Big things take time to accomplish.
English Example: "Be patient; Rome wasn’t built in a day."
Hindi Example: "धैर्य रखो; धीरेधीरे सब होता है।" (Dhairy rakho; dheeredheere sab hota hai.)
Alternative: "Good things take time" / समय लगता है (Samay lagta hai, pronounced: Samay lagta hai)
23. Shoot yourself in the foot
Hindi Equivalent: अपने पैर पर कुल्हाड़ी मारना (Apne pair par kulhadi marna)
Pronunciation: Apnay pair par kulhaadee maarna
Meaning: To harm yourself through your own actions.
English Example: "He shot himself in the foot by quitting so suddenly."
Hindi Example: "उसने अचानक इस्तीफा देकर अपने पैर पर कुल्हाड़ी मार ली।" (Usne achaanak istifa dekar apne pair par kulhadi maar li.)
Alternative: "Sabotage yourself" / खुद का नुकसान करना (Khud ka nuksaan karna, pronounced: Khood ka nooksaan karna)
24. Take it with a grain of salt
Hindi Equivalent: पूरी तरह भरोसा मत करो (Poori tarah bharosa mat karo)
Pronunciation: Pooree tarah bharosa mat karo
Meaning: Don’t fully believe something.
English Example: "Take his advice with a grain of salt; he’s not an expert."
Hindi Example: "उसकी सलाह पर पूरी तरह भरोसा मत करो; वह विशेषज्ञ नहीं है।" (Uski salah par poori tarah bharosa mat karo; vah visheshagya nahi hai.)
Alternative: "Be skeptical" / आधा सच मानना (Aadha sach manna, pronounced: Aadha sach manna)
25. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Hindi Equivalent: जैसा बाप वैसा बेटा (Jaisa baap waisa beta)
Pronunciation: Jaisa baap waisa bayta
Meaning: Children resemble their parents in behavior or traits.
English Example: "He’s stubborn like his dad; the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree."
Hindi Example: "वह अपने पिता की तरह जिद्दी है; जैसा बाप वैसा बेटा।" (Vah apne pita ki tarah ziddi hai; jaisa baap waisa beta.)
Alternative: "Like father, like son" / खून का असर (Khoon ka asar, pronounced: Khoon ka asar)
26. Throw in the towel
Hindi Equivalent: हार मान लेना (Haar maan lena)
Pronunciation: Haar maan layna
Meaning: To give up.
English Example: "After hours of trying, he threw in the towel."
Hindi Example: "घंटों कोशिश के बाद उसने हार मान ली।" (Ghanton koshish ke baad usne haar maan li.)
Alternative: "Give up" / हथियार डाल देना (Hathiyar daal dena, pronounced: Hatheeyaar daal dayna)
27. Turn a blind eye
Hindi Equivalent: अनदेखा करना (Andekha karna)
Pronunciation: Andaykha karna
Meaning: To ignore something deliberately.
English Example: "She turned a blind eye to his mistakes."
Hindi Example: "उसने उसकी गलतियों को अनदेखा कर दिया।" (Usne uski galtiyon ko andekha kar diya.)
Alternative: "Look the other way" / नजरअंदाज करना (Nazarandaaz karna, pronounced: Nazarandaaz karna)
28. Up in the air
Hindi Equivalent: अधर में लटका हुआ (Adhar mein latka hua)
Pronunciation: Adhar mein latka hooa
Meaning: Uncertain or unresolved.
English Example: "Our plans are still up in the air."
Hindi Example: "हमारी योजनाएँ अभी अधर में लटकी हुई हैं।" (Hamari yojanayein abhi adhar mein latki hui hain.)
Alternative: "Undecided" / तय नहीं हुआ (Tay nahi hua, pronounced: Tay nahee hooa)
29. Wear your heart on your sleeve
Hindi Equivalent: दिल की बात ज़ाहिर करना (Dil ki baat zahir karna)
Pronunciation: Dil kee baat zaahir karna
Meaning: To openly show your emotions.
English Example: "He wears his heart on his sleeve and cries easily."
Hindi Example: "वह दिल की बात ज़ाहिर करता है और आसानी से रो पड़ता है।" (Vah dil ki baat zahir karta hai aur aasani se ro padta hai.)
Alternative: "Be open" / भावनाएँ दिखाना (Bhawnaayein dikhana, pronounced: Bhaavnaayein dikhaana)
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