2 word phrases starting with b

Important Idioms and Phrases which Start with the Letter ‘B’

Back out

Meaning: Go back on one’s word.

Example: She told me that she would help me in my dire need, but she soon backed out.

Back up

Meaning: Give support to, help.

Example: (i) Don’t worry, I shall always back you up whenever you need my help.
(ii) She always backed up her parents in bad circumstances.

Bad Blood

Meaning: Enmity.

Example: (i) Don’t bring bad blood in the two sisters by creating rifts between them.
(ii) Earlier they were fast friends, but now there has been bad blood between them.

Bad form

Meaning: Bad manners.

Example: (i) It is bad form not to eat with etiquettes on the dining table.
(ii) It is bad form to abuse innocent people.
(iii) It is bad form to laugh loudly.
(iv) It is bad form not to wash your hands after meals.

Bag and baggage

Meaning: With all one’s belongings.

Example: (i) The characterless girl had to leave the boy’s house with bag and baggage when the boy’s parents arrived.
(ii) The wife told her husband to leave the house with bag and baggage.

Bank on

Meaning: Depend on.

Example: The parents bank on their children in their old age, but some selfish children don’t help them.

Bargain for

Meaning: Talkfor the purpose ofreaching an agreement about buying and selling.

Example: (i) She bargained with the shopkeeper for the supply of the garments.
(ii) The clothes were sold at a fixed price, thus the shopkeeper refused to bargain for them.

Bark is worse than his bite

Meaning: The person may give harsh threats, but his actions are mild.

Example: Don’t worry if that old man speaks harshly with you. His bark is worse than his bite.

Be at a loss

Meaning: Be unable to decide.

Example: His engineering and computer certificate exam are falling on the same date. He is at a loss to know what to do.

Be becoming

Meaning: Suitable, look good on.

Example: (i) It’s no becoming of a well-mannered person like you to talk rudely with a girl.
(ii) That watch is very becoming on Sheena.

Be down in the mouth

Meaning: Feel sad or discouraged.

Example: She was down in the mouth, when her husband and son deserted her in sickness.

Be even with

Meaning: Settle scores with.

Example: Don’t be even with people who have misbehaved with you in bad circumstances. Correct them or ignore them.

Be for

Meaning: Be in favour of.

Example: I am for leaders who have compassion for poor.

Be in

Meaning: Come, arrive.

Example: The plane would be in within twenty minutes.

Be in order

Meaning: Be in a good condition.

Example: Initially, everything was in a mess in my study room, but now everything is in order.

Be off

Meaning: Leave

Example: It’s enough! I have tolerated your abuse from a long time. Now be off from here.

Be out

Meaning: (i) Exposed.

Example: One may hide his evil deeds, but he shall be out one day.

(ii) Be out of house or office.
Her husband is out and he shall be back by 6 p.m.

(iii) Be published.
The evening newspaper shall not be out today.

Be out of order

Meaning: To be in an unworkable condition.

Example: (i) He couldn’t drive the car today as it was out of order.
(ii) Her mobile is out of order, thus, she is unable to call up her friends.

Be over

Meaning: Finished, ended.

Example: Now, that the party is over, we should leave the banquet hall.

(ii) Come.
Wait for 15 minutes. I shall be over within that time.

(iii) Flying.
The eagle went over the skies.

Be up

Meaning: Be out of bed.

Example: (i) He is not up before 8.a.m. in the morning, as he sleeps late at night.
(ii) It is good to be up by 6 a.m. in the morning (of time).

Be-all and end-all

Meaning: The final result.

Example: No one should proud over wealth. Death is the be-all and end-all of all human beings.

Be that as it may

Meaning: Nevertheless, any way.

Example: Be that as it may, I am marching ahead with my plans just the same.

Be up to

Meaning: To be engaged in.

Example: “Son, what are you upto. I am calling you up from the last one hour and you are not giving any reply.

Bear a charmed life

Meaning: Be externally fortunate in escaping from disasters and accidents.

Example: My grandfather was a brave police man. He fought with many dacoits, but escaped from death. He bears a charmed life.

Bear a hand

Meaning: To lend a helping hand.

Example: The father told his son to bear a hand in his business.

Bear a resemblance to

Meaning: Look like.

Example: She bears a strong resemblance to her cousin sister.

Bear down (up) on

Meaning: (i) Weight heavily on.

Example: The rising prices of the commodities are bearing down upon poor people.

Meaning: (ii) Punish severely.

Example: The policemen bore down on the dacoits.

Bear in mind

Meaning: To remember.

Example: Always bear in mind to respect your parents, who have given birth to you.

Bear the brunt of

Meaning: Bear the main burden of a responsibility.

Example: As a principal, she has to bear the brunt of the entire school.

Bear the palm

Meaning: To be the winner.

Example: She bore the palm in dancing competition this year.

Bear out

Meaning: Support.

Example: Don’t bear out the criminals. They are a threat to the society.

To beard a lion in his den

Meaning: To attack a dangerous person in his own quarters.

Example: The police was searching that dreadful criminal from a long time. Finally they located the place where he was hiding and beard a lion in his den.

Beat a retreat

Meaning: Go away.

Example: The man tried to scare away the mischievous child to make him beat a retreat.

Beat around the bush

Meaning: Go around a subject instead of coming directly to a point.

Example: (i) The thief tried to hide his theft by beating around the bush.
(ii) The teacher told the student to stop beating around the bush.

Beat up

Meaning: (i) Beat severely and thoroughly.

Example: The wealthy man was beaten up mercilessly by the criminals.

(ii) Mix thoroughly by repeated whipping.

The cook beat up the cream to make it frothy for the preparation of cake.

Bed of Roses

Meaning: A comfortable state.

Example: Life becomes a bed of roses for those who remain close to God.

Before long

Meaning: Before a long time has passed.

Example: Your mother might be ill today, but she shall recover from her illness before long.

Begins schedule

Meaning: After the planned or expected time.

Example: He was punctual at other times, but on that day he arrived behind schedule.

Behind the scenes

Meaning: Secretly

Example: Many politicians take huge bribes behind the scenes.

Believe in

Meaning: Consider to be of worth or to have faith or trust in.

Example: (i) Never believe in the sweet-words of Shyam. He pretends to be good, but is a very shrewd person, in fact.
(ii) I believe in the supremacy of God.

Below one’s usual standard

Meaning: Not as good as normal.

Example: This project done by you is not very impressive. It’s below your usual standard.

Bend down

Meaning: Bend over.

Example: Please straighten up your back. Don’t bend down, else you would have a hunchback.

Lean over backwards

Meaning: Make every possible effort.

Example: The doctors had lent over backwards to cure his disease, but inspite of that he could not survive.

Beneath notice

Meaning: Not worth of attention.

Example: He is such a virtuous person that all his flaws are beneath notice.

Benefit from

Meaning: Receive benefit from.

Example: The students are benefited from the teachings of the teacher.

Bent on

Meaning: With one’s mind set on.

Example: This man is bent on killing his wife. We must call up the police to save her.

Beside oneself

Meaning: To lose sarinity of mind and to behave in an abnormal manner.

Example: Some people tortured the poor man to such a great extent, that he became beside himself.

Better half

Meaning: A man’s wife.

Example: I went to Deepak’s house and found that the house was beautifully decorated by his better half.

Better off

Meaning: In superior circumstances.

Example: Initially, we had to face great tribulations in life, but now we are better off.

Between two fires

Meaning: Subject for a double attack.

Example: Tina was chided for her negligence by her mother as well as father. She was between two fires.

Betwixt and between

Meaning: In a middle position. Neither one thing or the other.

Example: Her father tells her to control her mother’s temper and her mother tells her to make her father peaceful. She is betwixt and between.

Beware of

Meaning: Be careful of.

Example: Beware of stray dogs.
Beware of electric wires.
Beware of pick pockets.

Beyond doubt

Meaning: It is certain.

Example: It is beyond doubt that she is no more in the world.

Beyond all question

Meaning: Surely.

Example: That she is a woman of great character is beyond all question.

Bid one’s time

Meaning: Wait patiently.

Example: I am not very rich now. I am bidding my time, when I shall become very rich and would be able to serve the poor.

Bird’s eye view

Meaning: A general view of something.

Example: While flying in the aeroplane, I had a bird’s eye view of the lush green forests, high mountains and deep blue seas.

Birds of a feather flock together

Meaning: People of the same kind like each other’s company.

Example: Laila is a nasty girl, but she loves the company of another shrewd woman called Tina. Tina too likes Laila’s company. Birds of a feather flock together.

Bite off

Meaning: Remove by.

Example: The hungry man bit of the bread and took it with pickle.

Black and blue

Meaning: Covered with wounds.

Example: “Don’t fight with each other,’’ said mother, “Else you would both be black and blue.”

Black out

Meaning: Become unconscious.

Example: The high tension wire fell on the woman and she blacked out.

Blame for

Meaning: To consider responsible for

Example: Don’t blame your daughter-in-law for the birth of the girl child. It’s all as per the will of the God.

Blessing in disguise

Meaning: A misfortune that later on proves to be a blessing.

Example: They condemned the birth of the girl child, but it proved to be a blessing in disguise, when they won 20 lacs in a contest within a week after her birth.

Blow away

Meaning: Moved away by the wind.

Example: Everything was blown away by the hurricane and the wealtheist of the lot were on the streets.

Blow hot and cold

Meaning: To be favourable and unfavourable by turns.

Example: The mother chided the child on wrongs and praised him when he did good to others. She blew hot and cold on him.

Blow off

Meaning: Give expression to anger or excitement.

Example: The woman blew off when the eveteasers troubled her and didn’t allow her to travel peacefully.

Blow one’s trumpet

Meaning: Boast of one’s own achievements.

Example: Kaleem is a proud man. He keeps on blowing his own trumpet all time.

Blow over (storm, clouds etc.)

Meaning: Pass away.

Example: The tempest blew over the entire village, but fortunately no one was hurt.

Blue blood

Meaning: Aristocratic origin.

Example: She has blue blood in her, but yet she is a down to earth person.

Boil over

Meaning: Spill over after boiling.

Example: Take care of the potatoes on the gas, else it would boil over.

Bolt from the blue

Meaning: Unexpected blow or calamity.

Example: The news that her best friend has died in an accident came as a bolt from the blue.

Bone of contention

Meaning: The cause of conflict.

Example: The man has died, but his property is the bone of contention between his four sons.

Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth

Meaning: Born into a rich family.

Example: Jawaharlal Nehru was bom with a silver spoon in his mouth.

To boot

Meaning: In addition to.

Example: Just give Rs. 100 for the meals add Rs. 10 to boot. That would be sufficient for today, as the hotel manager does not need more than that.

Bread and butter

Meaning: The necessities of life, i.e. food and clothing.

Example: We have to work hard for bread and butter.

Break down

Meaning: Destroy.

Example: The landlord ordered the labourers to break down the old house and construct a new one.

Break ground

Meaning: Commence operations or to take the first step in any undertaking.

Example: The new auditor was given a cash prize of Rs. 5000 for breaking ground in auditing.

Break in

Meaning: Interruption in conversation.

Example: “Don’t break in, when two people are talking,” said mother. “These are bad manners.”

Break into

Meaning: Enter by force.

Example: The police broke into the thief s house to ask about his whereabouts.

Break new ground

Meaning: Do something new or different.

Example: Shelly broke the ground by opening up a luxurious resort in a remote village.

Break one’s promise

Meaning: Fail to fulfd a promise or obligation.

Example: He said that he would look after his parents well, when he would get a job, but he broke his promise.

Break out

Meaning: Escape.

Example: The little boy broke out of the house, when his elder brother chided him. He was brought back by his mother.

Break the ice

Meaning: Make a beginning.

Example: Anil broke the ice in the group discussion and won applaud for his strong arguments against intake of intoxicating drinks.

Break the record

Meaning: Do better than the best score.

Example: Everybody thought that Ripudaman is a dull boy but he displayed superb performance by breaking many state-level records in athletics.

Break through

Meaning: (i) Force the way through.

Example: The kidnappers broke through in the crowd and kidnapped the child.

Meaning: (ii) Overcome.

Example: Don’t worry. You shall break through the tribulations of life with positive attitude.

Break with

Meaning: (i) To culminate relations with.

Example: Don’t break with your wife. Try to correct her instead.

(ii) Give up.

Example: You must break with the habit of taking drugs, else you would ruin your life.

Breathe one’s last

Meaning: Die.

Example: Her maternal uncle breathed his last before she reached his house.

Bring about

Meaning: Cause to happen.

Example: The shrewd girl brought about quarrel in her cousin’s house.

Bring back

Meaning: Return.

Example: He took away her cellphone for personal use but didn’t bring back to her.

Bring down

Meaning: Carry down.

Example: “Son, please bring down the ball,” said Mother. “Your cousins want to play it.”

(ii) Cause to fall or come down.
The jealous woman brought the beautiful girl down with one shot.

Bring forth

Meaning: (i) Produce.
Ignorance bring forth misfortune.

(ii) Give rise to.
His bad temperament brought forth conflicts in the family.

Bring forward

Meaning: (i) To give a proposal.

Example: The industrialist told the General Manager to bring forward a proposal for the development of the company.

(ii) Advance in time

Example: Her marriage was scheduled for 30th of March, but was brought forward to the 11th of the same month.

Bring home

Meaning: Make livid and clear, leave a deep impact on.

Example: The lecture on corruption by the public motivator brought home to the people the wrong doings of the corrupt politicians.

Bring off

Meaning: Rescue.

Example: The aeroplane crashed on the ground near a village. All the survivers were brought off by the villagers.

Bring on

Meaning: Cause.

Example: Anger brings on destruction.

Bring out

Meaning: (i) Come out together with.

Example: Her maternal aunt brought her out to enjoy a ride in the metro.

(ii) Utter.

Example: It was strange to see that a two year old child could bring out the verses from holy book so beautifully.

Bring round

Meaning: (i) Bring to visit.

Example: You are most welcome in the party. Don’t forget to bring round your family too.

(ii) To pursue the person to change his opinion.

Example: Your son is not doing the right thing by ill-treating his wife. You must bring him round to mould his way of thinking.

(iii) Direct to one’s favourite subject.

Example: Please don’t talk about vulgarity anymore. Bring your conversation round to literature.

Bring to book

Meaning: Bring to justice.

Example: The culprits must be brought to book by the police.

Bring to light

Meaning: Reveal.

Example: Academicians brought to light the flaws in the educational system.

Bring together

Meaning: Unite, reunite.

Example: The little child brought her divorced parents together with loving words of wisdom.

Bring up

Meaning: (i) Raise.

Example: Their father brought them up with abundant love and care, but the selfish children betrayed his trust.

(ii) Serve (food) up.

Example: The servant brought up the sweet-dish for the guest.

Broadly speaking

Meaning: To speak in a general way.

Example: Broadly speaking, the climate of Manali is quite similar to Dabos. Both of the places are free from pollution.

Brook no nonsense

Meaning: To tolerate no nonsense.

Example: She chided the child and said that she would brook no nonsense in future.

Brush aside

Meaning: Refused to pay attention to.

Example: He thought that everyone would accept his domination, but he was brushed aside by his subordinates.

Brush away

Meaning: To remove with a brush.

Example: She brushed away the dirt on the windows.

Brush up

Meaning: To clean with a brush.

Example: The servant brushed up the carpets.

Buckle down

Meaning: To fix down with a buckle.

Example: Mr. Gary buckled down the shoe and left for his office.

Build into

Meaning: Fix in a permanent way.

Example: The beautiful foil painting was build into the glass.

Build up

Meaning: (i) To construct.

Example: They built up the huge building within a few months.

(ii) Establish.

Example: We must build up good relations with all the friendly countries.

(iii) Acquire.

Example: A person must build up strong character with the constant practice of self-control.

A bull in a china shop

Meaning: Somebody who does not fit into the surroundings.

Example: The shrewd man was spoiling the entire environment of the holy temple. He was the bull in the china shop.

Burn down

Meaning: To set alight and destroy.

Example: The angry mob burned down the buses.

Burn off

Meaning: To eliminate by burning.

Example: The little girl burned off her rough copies.

Burn the candle at both ends

Meaning: To toil hard.

Example: A person who bums the candle at both ends is certain to rise high in life, as hard work does bring success.

Burn the midnight oil

Meaning: To work or study till late hours in night.

Example: Marry had to bum the midnight oil to clear the IAS exams with flying colours.

Burn up

Meaning: Burn quickly and brightly.

Example: The building set on the fire and it burnt up.

Burning question

Meaning: A matter that is being hotly discussed every where.

Example: Corruption is a burning question, but no practical steps are taken to eliminate it.

Burst in

Meaning: Interrupt.

Example: “Kindly don’t burst in, when two people are talking to each other,” requested Neelu.

Burst into

Meaning: Suddenly break into.

Example: The ill-mannered boy burst into the room.

Bury the hatchet

Meaning: Forget past quarrels.

Example: The mother told her sons to bury the hatchet and live with peace and harmony.

(Have) Business sense

Meaning: Have a head for business.

Example: His father has good business sense, that is why he is running in crores.

Bust up

Meaning: Quarrel, separate, break up, destroy.

Example: Many people bust up on money matters.

Button up

Meaning: (i) A garment that has buttons for fastening.

Example: His overcoat buttons up.

(ii) Close or fix by doing up the buttons.
Example: She buttoned up her dress and got ready to attend the function.

(iii) Be quiet.
Example: He is talking too much. He must button up.

By all accounts

Meaning: According to what the people say.

Example: By all accounts Manasi is a decent girl.

By all means

Meaning: Using every possible way.

Example: The teacher told the students to clear their exams by all means.

By and large

Meaning: In general.

Example: By and large, people who take fresh air of the morning, live longer than people who don’t.

By contrast

Meaning: As an example of something very different or opposite.

Example: His son is responsible and hardworking. By contrast his daughter is lazy and irresponsible.

By dint of

Meaning: By means of.

Example: Gandhiji achieved greatness by dint of honesty and willpower.

By far

Meaning: Very much.

Example: She is by far the best singer of the institute.

By leaps and bounds

Meaning: At a fast speed or at the rapid pace.

Example: Mr. Jagmohan’s business is growing by leaps and bounds.

By hand

Meaning: Done or delivered by a person, not the machine.

Example: Mrs. Siidha knitted elegant cardigan by hand.
The postman delivered the parcel by hand.

By heart

Meaning: To memorise.

Example: You must learn the lessons by heart, if you want to pass the exams with flying colours.

By mistake

Meaning: Something wrong done as a result of forget-fulness.

Example: He left his wife on the airport by mistake.

By no means

Meaning: Not at all.

Example: He is by no means my cousin brother, as he is not related to me by blood.

By reason of

Meaning: Because of.

Example: She was not able to attend her friend’s marriage party by reason of her exams.

By the name

Meaning: Having the name.

Example: He writes books by the name of Dinkar.

By the strong hand

Meaning: By force.

Example: The police took the culprit to the police station by their strong hand.

By the way

Meaning: Incidentally.

Example: By the way have you seen my pet-dog?

By virtue of

Meaning: As a result of.

Example: By virtue of his superb performance in marketing of consumer products, he was lauded as one of the best marketing executive of the company.

By way of

Meaning: By going through.

Example: We reached Ooty by way of Coimbatore.

English Phrases, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday English. They come up all the time in both written and spoken English. Because Phrases don’t always make sense literally, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning Phrases is fun, especially when you compare English Phrases to the Phrases in your own language.

Here’s a list of “Phrases Beginning With B” in English:

• Back To Square One

  Meaning: To go back to the beginning; back to the drawing board.

• Back To The Drawing Board

  Meaning: Starting over again on because of a previously failed attempt. Similar to phrases like “back to square one.”

• Barking Up The Wrong Tree

  Meaning: To make a wrong assumption about something.

• Beating a Dead Horse

  Meaning: To bring up an issue that has already been resolved.

• Beating Around The Bush

  Meaning: Someone who is beating around the bush is someone who avoids the main point.

• Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

  Meaning: What is nice looking to one person might be ugly to another; people’s opinions can differ on what is beautiful.

• Benefit Of The Doubt

  Meaning: To believe someone, even though you might have some doubts.

• Better Safe Than Sorry

  Meaning: It’s better to choose the safer option than a riskier one that you may later regret.

• Between a Rock And a Hard Place

  Meaning: Being faced with two difficult choices, where neither are satisfactory.

• Birds Of a Feather Flock Together

  Meaning: People tend to associate with others who share similar interests or values.

• Break The Ice

  Meaning: This phrase means to break down a social stiffness.

• Bull In a China Shop

  Meaning: Someone who breaks things due to clumsiness.

• Burst Your Bubble

  Meaning: Giving someone news or information that will disappoint them.

• Ball Is In Your Court

  Meaning: If someone says the “ball is in your court,” it means that the time has come for you to make a decision or take an action.

• Bare Necessities

  Meaning: Only what is essential; no more than what is necessary.

• Better Late Than Never

  Meaning: It is better to do something, even if it’s late, then to never do it at all.

• Bite The Bullet

  Meaning: Finally committing to a tough decision.

• Blast From The Past

  Meaning: Seeing something that strongly reminds you of the past.

• Blow Your Mind

  Meaning: To be amazed or impressed.

• Bring Home The Bacon

  Meaning: Acquiring money from work.

• Burn a Hole In My Pocket

  Meaning: Eager to spend money.

• Bury The Hatchet

  Meaning: If you bury the hatchet with someone, you let go of problems that you’ve had in the past with them; to forgive and forget.

• Bury Your Head In The Sand

  Meaning: Ignoring a problem, not wanting to acknowledge it.

• By The Skin Of Your Teeth

  Meaning: Just barely; narrowly.

Here are several commonly used phrases and sayings starting with the letter B. You can find out what each phrase means underneath. Tap or click an expression to learn further details.

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Phrases List – “B”

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Note: More common “B” phrases are below. While they do not have their own page, you can still learn what they mean.

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Backseat Driver
Someone who tells another person exactly what to do in certain situations, instead of letting that person do it themselves.

Ball Is In Your Court
If someone says the “ball is in your court,” it means that the time has come for you to make a decision or take an action.

Bare Necessities
Only what is essential; no more than what is necessary.

Better Late Than Never
This saying means that it is better to do something late than to never do it at all.

Bite The Bullet
Finally committing to a tough decision.

Blast From The Past
Seeing something that strongly reminds you of the past.

Blow Your Mind
To be amazed or impressed.

Bring Home The Bacon
Acquiring money from working at a job.

Burn a Hole In My Pocket
Eager to spend money.

Bury The Hatchet
If you bury the hatchet with someone, you let go of problems that you’ve had in the past with them; to forgive and forget.

Bury Your Head In The Sand
Ignoring a problem, not wanting to acknowledge it.

By The Skin Of Your Teeth
Just barely; narrowly.

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Today in this post we are sharing the Important Idioms and Phrases which starts with letter ‘B’ in our series of ‘Important Idioms and Phrases‘. These idioms and phrase are very important from the perspective of the exams, so go through this post thoroughly and understand the meaning, Hindi meaning as well as usage in the sentences of the following important idioms and phrases to score well in English Section of the exams.

1. Back Seat Drivers

• Meaning – People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving unwanted advice from the backseat of a vehicle to the driver/any person who gives unwanted advice instead of helping or understanding
• Meaning (Hindi) – कोई भी व्यक्ति जो मदद या समझने के बजाय अवांछित सलाह देता है
• Example – Nobody likes a backseat driver constantly nagging them when they want to work peacefully.

2. Back to Square one

• Meaning – Having to start all over again/start working on a plan from the beginning because your previous attempt failed completely
• Meaning (Hindi) – जहाँ के तहाँ
• Example –  We’ll have to go back to square one if the government pulls our funding on this project.

3. Bring home the bacon

• Meaning – To earn money, particularly for one’s family; to be successful, especially financially successful.
• Meaning (Hindi) – सफलता हासिल करन ा, कमाना
• Example – Women nowadays not only take care of the household but also bring home the bacon.

4. Back Room Boys

• Meaning – People who do important work but have no contact with the public/Someone who advises a public figure or maintains a professional role that does not garner public attention.
• Meaning (Hindi) – अप्रसिद्ध महत्वपूर्ण व्यक्ति
• Example – Backroom boys don’t always receive the credit they deserve for theirs.

5. Bad Blood

• Meaning – feelings of hate between people because of arguments in the past
• Meaning (Hindi) – आपसी दुश्मनी
• Example – There has been bad blood between the two families for years.

6. Badger someone into doing something

• Meaning – to put pressure on somebody by repeatedly asking them questions or asking them to do something/to persistently nag or pester someone until you obtain what you want
• Meaning (Hindi) – दबाव डालना 
• Example – Children keep badgering me to take them to the magic show.

7. Bait and Switch

• Meaning –  a deceptive commercial practice of advertising a low-priced item to attract customers, then telling them that the product is out of stock and persuading them to buy a more expensive article.
• Meaning (Hindi)- ग्राहकों को आकर्षित करने के लिए एक कम कीमत वाला आइटम विज्ञापित करने का एक भ्रामक व्यावसायिक अभ्यास, फिर उन्हें यह बताते हुए कि उत्पाद स्टॉक से बाहर है और उन्हें अधिक महंगा उत्पाद  खरीदने के लिए राजी करना 
• Example – This store is famous for its bait and switch tactics.

8. Bang for the buck

• Meaning –  Value for the money spent
• Meaning (Hindi) – लगाये गये धन की पूरी कीमत वसूलना 
• Example – We were able to get a big bang for our buck when we advertised on the Internet.

9. Banker’s hours

• Meaning – Short work hours/a work day that is shorter than that of most businesses, typically between 10 am and 3 pm on Monday through Friday, the hourswhen banks used to be open
• Meaning (Hindi) – कम कार्य के घंटे
• Example –  My sister’s husband owns his own company and is able to work banker’s hours with his large staff.

10. Bark up the wrong tree

• Meaning – To attempt or pursue a futile course of action, often by making some kind of suggestion or request/to make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to follow the wrong course
• Meaning (Hindi) – गलतफ़हमी में होना
• Example –  If you think you will solve the problem by following those steps, you are barking up the wrong tree.

11. Be all ears

• Meaning – To be ready and eager to hear what one has to say.
• Meaning (Hindi) – ध्यान लगाकर सुनना
• Example – She had expected him to be all ears when she told him about her wedding plans.

12. Brush something/someone Aside

• Meaning – dismiss someone or something curtly and confidently
• Meaning (Hindi) – उपेक्षा करना
  
• Example –  I am so down with math, it’s my favourite subject in school.

13. Be off one’s head

• Meaning – To be mad
• Meaning (Hindi) – पागल होना
• Example – He must be off his head to think that he will win the elections.

14. Be on to someone/something

• Meaning – To have the knowledge, be suspicious, or be aware of someone’s actions, behavior, or intention.
• Meaning (Hindi) – अवगत रहना 
• Example – My supervisor in onto the new saleswoman who is taking money from her sales register.

15. Bear down on someone/something

• Meaning – To put forth one’s maximum effort toward something
• Meaning (Hindi) – अधिकतम प्रयास करना 
• Example –  If you want to get a passing grade this semester, you’ll really need to bear down on your studies.

16. Bear the brunt (of something)

• Meaning – To suffer the worst part of an unpleasant or problematic situation.
• Meaning (Hindi) – एक अप्रिय या समस्याग्रस्त स्थिति के सबसे बुरे हिस्से से पीड़ित होना 
• Example– When our system crashed, the call centre employees bore the brunt of our customers’ anger.

17. Bear the palm

• Meaning – To win. Palm leaves were formerly used as symbols of victory.
• Meaning (Hindi) – जीतना
• Example –  I heard that you might bear the palm at the science fair! Congratulations—it would be a well-deserved victory.

18. Beat about the bush

• Meaning –  Irrelevant talking
• Meaning (Hindi) – इधर उधर की बातें करना
  
• Example – Stop beating about the bush and tell us only the truth.

19. Before Long

• Meaning – soon
• Meaning (Hindi) –   जल्द ही 
• Example – If we keep spending so much, before long we’ll be without any money.

20. Beyond the shadow of a doubt

• Meaning – If you know or believe something beyond a shadow of a doubt, you are certain that it is true
• Meaning (Hindi) – संदेह से परे
• Example – He is a responsible person beyond a shadow of a doubt.

21. Bids fair

• Meaning – To appear likely.
• Meaning (Hindi) – संभावना दिखाई देना
• Example – Being so interested in medical, this girl bids fair to be a doctor one day.

22. Black and Blue

• Meaning – Bruised, either physically or emotionally/To beat mercilessly
• Meaning (Hindi) – चमड़ी उधेड़ना, शारीरिक रूप से या भावनात्मक रूप से  गहरी चोट पहुचाना
• Example –  The father beat him black and blue for his coming late to home.

23. Blood is thicker than water

• Meaning – The family bond is closer than anything else
• Meaning (Hindi) – पराया पराया होता है, अपना अपना होता है 
• Example – Some people in this world do great deeds for someone they barely know and prove this saying wrong that ‘Blood Is Thicker Than Water ‘

24. Blow up

• Meaning –  Suddenly became angry
• Meaning (Hindi) – अचानक क्रोधित हो जाना
• Example – The passenger who was waiting in the line blew up at the ticket agent.

25. Blue in the face

• Meaning – extremely angry, frustrated, annoyed, embarrassed or upset
• Meaning (Hindi) – बेहद क्रोधित
• Example – I was blue in the face after accidentally seeing the boys harassasing a new student.

26. Bought the farm

• Meaning – To die, particularly in an accident or military action.
• Meaning (Hindi) – अंत हो जाना 
• Example – He bought the farm on that last patrol with the terrorist.

27. Boil down to something

• Meaning – Be summarised
• Meaning (Hindi) – संक्षेप में 
• Example – The reason that we could not go on a holiday boiled down to the fact that we did not have enough money.

28. Bury the hatchet

• Meaning – Cease fighting, make peace
• Meaning (Hindi) –झगड़ा ख़त्म करना
• Example – Let us now bury the hatchet, and work for the advancement of the country.

29. By long odds

• Meaning – Most decidedly
• Meaning (Hindi) – निःसन्देह
• Example –  She is by long odds the greatest of living mathematicians.

30. By fair or foul means/By fits and starts/By hook and by crook

• Meaning – By all means/In any way
• Meaning (Hindi) – किसी भी विधि से, चाहे गलत या सही
• Example – The minister wants to win the seat by fair or foul means.

Word of the day: Break

1. Break a leg

• Meaning – A superstitious way to say ‘good luck’ without saying ‘good luck’, but rather the opposite
• Meaning (Hindi) – भाग्य तुम्हारे साथ हो
• Example – While going out on a tour, sam said to his friend ‘Break A Leg’ and little did he thought that it would turn out to be true, when his friend tripped and broke his leg.

2. Break Even

• Meaning – Of a financial enterprise, to neither gain profit nor incur debt; to earn and spend money in equal amounts.
• Meaning (Hindi) – हानिरहित व्यापार करना
• Example – Our company was able to break even after only six months of operation.

3. Break-in

• Meaning –  To force entry into something, often a building/To interrupt someone or something/Interrupt to speak
• Meaning (Hindi) – घुस पड़ना
• Example – Reporters break in quite frequently during PM’s press conference on educational reforms.

4. Break off/Break something up

• Meaning – Stop speaking/to stop or end suddenly or cause (something)
• Meaning (Hindi) –   बातचीत बंद कर देना,अचानक रोक देना
• Example –  India resumed talks with Pakistan after a long break off.

5. Break out

• Meaning – Escape
• Meaning (Hindi) –  भाग निकलना
  
• Example – The convicts plotted to break out of prison.

6. Break someone in

• Meaning – Help to adjust to a new situation/familiarize someone with a new job or situation.
• Meaning (Hindi) – एक नई स्थिति या एक नई नौकरी के साथ किसी को परिचित कराना
• Example –  I have to break in a new receptionist.

7. Break something down

• Meaning – Divide/separate something into a number of parts
• Meaning (Hindi) –  विभाजन
  
• Example – My teacher broke down the scientific theory so that the class could understand it easily.

8. Break the ice

• Meaning – do or say something to relieve tension or get the conversation going in a strained situation or when strangers meet.
• Meaning (Hindi) – चुप्पी तोड़ना, विवाद हल करना
• Example – Everybody was tense after the fight between the husband and wife then a common friend broke the ice by starting the dialogue between the two.

All the best for your exams