Enough and to spare “Never mind if you forgot your lunch-box,” Ravi told Bob. “You can eat with me. I have enough and to spare.” Apparently, Ravi’s mother had packed a lot of sandwiches. Enough and to spare means ample —...
Eat out of a person’s hand The Kumars are worried. Their son is completely besotted by Priya, whom they consider most unsuitable. “She has him eating out of her hand,” grumbled Mr Kumar in disgust. He meant that the young man...
Easy as pie If you’re fond of pie it’s not difficult to eat it. In fact, it’s easy. So when we say that something is as easy as pie, we mean it’s simple — not hard at all. “What’s so tough...
Elbow room Mr Kumar’s office is so cramped that it hardly has any elbow room in it. This means that it does not have any space in which to move. Moreover, Mr Kumar feels that if he was given more elbow...
Play it by ear This means to act without preparation according to the demands of the situation. I’ve had no time to prepare for the meeting. I’ll have to go and play it by ear. Poor Vicky’s efforts to learn the...
End of one’s tether Mrs Kumar had house guests, an ailing baby, and no domestic help. “I’m at the end of my tether,” she confided to her mother over the telephone. What she meant was that she had reached the limit...
Ends of the earth “I will follow you to the ends of the earth” is a common refrain of people in love. It’s difficult to do that literally, but figuratively it means follow till the end, however difficult it be. He...
Eat one’s heart out Everyone feels sorry for Mrs Prasad. Her son is no good and gives her a lot of trouble. She worries about him all the time and is eating her heart out for him. To eat one’s heart...
A matter of life and death A matter of life and death is an issue that is crucial to survival. Give this top priority—it is a matter of life and death. ...
Music to one’s ears This refers to some information that pleases one very much. She never liked her boss; so when she got the news about his resignation, it was music to her ears....