BITS and pieces of language acquire an idiomatic identity over a period of time. An idiom may be a catchphrase or a quotation to start with but soon acquires distinct idiomatic characteristics. However, idioms need to be handled with care. They are prone to become cliches and lose their initial vivid impact through overuse over a period of time. Examples include ‘food for thought’, ‘in the pink of health’, ‘to the manner born’ ‘as good as gold’ ‘to leave no stone unturned, ‘a kindred spirit’, etc. Idioms have colourful personalities, open to exotic influences. Loan — words from local languages give a distinct local flavour and tone as in the different varieties of English — Australian English, Canadian English or Indian English. The French bete-noire, carte blanche fait accompli, the Latin aqua pura, terra firma, ad infinitum and the Italian al fresco, dolce vita and con amore illustrate well the capacity of the English language to go fishing in foreign waters to catch potentially idiomatic fish.

This week cast your line to land some more idioms. Choose the appropriate idiom to complete the following sentences:

1. The boy’s father said, ‘You can’t do as you like when you go into the army. You’ll have to _____ there.’

A. keep your guard up

B. run the race

C. stay in the ring.

D. watch the wicket

E. toe the line.

2. My aunt has been going to Nainital for her holidays for the last 30 years. I tell her she is just a ______ but it makes no difference.

A. stay-on-the track

B. link-in. the-swamp

C. sit-on-. the fence

D. stick-in-the mud

E. lie-in-the ditch.

3. Mohan recovered completely from his traumatic wartime experiences but his wife felt it was better not to talk about the war at all and let ____

A. coiled serpents alone

B. contented cats purr

C. talking parrots sleep

D. sleeping dogs lie

E. sitting hens lit

4. The accused was clearly guilty of the crime and the arguments that his lawyer put forward in his defence just did not ______

A. hold water

B. warm air

C. kindle fire

D. raise

E. reflect light

5. Some people do not like to work in large organisations because they feel that they are merely _____

A. spanners in the works

B. wheels within wheels

C. links in a chain

D. cogs in a machine

E. spokes in a wheel

6. The newly elected prime minister said in his speech that if all the people put their ________ they would get the country out of its difficulties.

A. backs to the wall

B. tongues in their cheeks

C. shoulders to the wheel

D. fingers in the pie

E. feet on the ground

II. Match the idioms in column A with their meanings in column B

Column A

1. Here, there and everywhere

2. more or less

3. few and far between

4. on and off

5. neither here nor there

6. now and again

Column B

a) from time to time

b) at irregular intervals

c) not important, irrelevant

d) in many different places

e) almost, approximately

f) infrequent, with long periods of waiting involved.

I: 1-E, 2-D, 3-D, 4-A, 5-D, 6-C

II: 1-d, 2-e, 3-f, 4-a, 5-c, 6-b