1. To make one’s blood boil
Meaning – To make somebody furious
Usage – The fact that he embezzled money from the company for years just makes my blood boil.
2. Wear and tear
Meaning – Damage
Usage – These wires are strong and withstand normal wear and tear.
3. Add fuel to the fire
Meaning – To cause additional anger
Usage – The debate was going poorly for the senatorial candidate, and his strikingly uncouth comments simply added fuel to the fire.
4. Hand in glove
Meaning – In close collusion or association.
Usage – They were working hand in glove with our enemies.
5. Make a mountain of a molehill
Meaning – To give great importance to little things
Usage – This is a minor setback. Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill.
6. Speak one’s mind
Meaning – To be frank and honest
Usage – He is a tough politician who speaks his mind in a blunt way.
7. Maiden speech
Meaning – First speech
Usage – The newly elected PM in his maiden speech was talking about increasing India’s GDP.
8. At the eleventh hour
Meaning – At the very last moment
Usage – I was asked to return to the camp at the eleventh hour.
9. Cope with
Meaning – To endure something, usually something unpleasant or undesirable
Usage – We need to increase the budget this year—our teachers have coped with a lack of funds for long enough.
10. Go a long way
Meaning – To achieve much success
Usage – You'll go a long way if you learn to never quit.
11. Standstill
Meaning – Complete halt
Usage – A sudden reduction in funding brought our research to a standstill.
12. Cross swords
Meaning – Disagree
Usage – He and I crossed swords over our different approaches to the experiment.
13. Pore over
Meaning – Go through
Usage – I had to pore over the contract to find who is liable in such a situation.
14. Make both ends meet
Meaning – To earn just enough money to pay one's bills
Usage – After the large income tax hike, many people suddenly found it difficult to make both ends meet.
15. Rundown
Meaning – Criticize
Usage – There's no need to run down his work like that!
Verifying, please be patient.