Against the clock (8)
In a great hurry to finish before a deadline
(समय की कमी में तेजी से काम करना)
Sentence: We were working against the clock to finish the project.
Aid and abet
To help and encourage someone to do something wrong, especially to commit a crime
(अपराध में मदद करना)
Sentence: He was arrested for aiding and abetting the criminals.
Air (or wash) dirty linen in public (2)
To talk about personal or private matters in front of others
(निजी विवाद सार्वजनिक करना)
Sentence: They should not air their dirty linen in public.
Alarums and excursions
Chaotic activity and confusion
(अव्यवस्था और उथल-पुथल)
Sentence: The office was full of alarums and excursions during the crisis.
Alive and kicking (4)
Active, healthy, and full of energy
(स्वस्थ और चुस्त)
Sentence: Even at 80, he is alive and kicking.
All agog
Very eager and excited
(बेहद उत्सुक और उत्साहित)
Sentence: The children were all agog to see the magician.
All and sundry (5)
Everyone, without exception
(हर कोई बिना किसी भेदभाव के)
Sentence: The invitation was open to all and sundry.
All at sea (15)
Confused and uncertain
(असमंजस में)
Sentence: I was all at sea when I first joined the job.
All bark and no bite
Threatening but not willing to act
(जो गरजते हैं वो बरसते नहीं; ख़ाली धमकी)
Sentence: Don’t worry about him—he’s all bark and no bite.
All eyes and ears (3)
Fully attentive; alert to everything
(पूरी तरह सतर्क)
Sentence: The students were all eyes and ears during the lecture.
All fingers and thumbs (all thumbs) (3)
Clumsy or awkward with one’s hands
(अनाड़ी; हाथ के काम में अकुशल)
Sentence: I’m all fingers and thumbs when it comes to fixing gadgets.
All hands on deck (2)
A situation requiring everyone’s help
(सबकी मदद की ज़रूरत)
Sentence: It’s all hands on deck to finish the project on time.
All hat and no cattle
Full of boastful talk but lacking action or substance
(दिखावा ज़्यादा, काम कम)
Sentence: He talks big, but he’s all hat and no cattle.
All in a day’s work
Part of one’s normal routine
(रोज़मर्रा का काम; सामान्य काम)
Sentence: Handling complaints is all in a day’s work for a manager.
All in all
Considering everything; on the whole
(कुल मिलाकर; सब कुछ देखते हुए)
Sentence: All in all, it was a successful event.
All moonshine (4)
Complete nonsense; false or unrealistic ideas
(वास्तविकता से दूर; झूठी या काल्पनिक बातें)
Sentence: His excuses are all moonshine.
All of a sudden
Suddenly; unexpectedly
(अचानक; बिना किसी चेतावनी के)
Sentence: All of a sudden, it started raining heavily.
All over hell’s half acre
Everywhere; scattered over a wide area
(इधर-उधर फैला हुआ)
Sentence: His books were all over hell’s half acre.
All wet (2)
Completely wrong or mistaken
(पूरी तरह ग़लत; ग़लतफ़हमी में)
Sentence: Your assumption is all wet.
Alma mater
The school, college, or university one attended
(वह संस्था जहाँ से शिक्षा प्राप्त की)
Sentence: He visited his alma mater after many years.
Alphabet soup (2)
An excessive or confusing use of abbreviations or acronyms
(संक्षिप्त रूपों की भरमार)
Sentence: The report was full of alphabet soup.
All’s fair in love and war
In certain extreme situations, any behaviour is acceptable
(प्यार और जंग (मुश्किल परिस्थिति) में सब जायज है)
Sentence: He used every trick to win her heart—after all, all’s fair in love and war.
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride
Always close to success but never achieving it
(हमेशा क़रीब पहुँचकर भी सफलता न मिलना)
Sentence: She keeps coming second in every competition—always a bridesmaid, never a bride.
An ace in the hole (2)
A hidden advantage kept for the right moment
(आपात स्थिति के लिए छिपा हुआ दाँव)
Sentence: She kept a strong argument as an ace in the hole.
An ace up one’s sleeve (3)
A secret resource or advantage kept in reserve
(गुप्त योजना या चौंकाने वाला दाँव)
Sentence: He has an ace up his sleeve for the final round.
An Achilles’ heel (8)
A fatal weakness in someone or something otherwise strong
(सबसे कमज़ोर पहलू)
Sentence: Overconfidence is his Achilles’ heel.
An Aladdin’s cave
A place full of valuable or interesting things
(ख़ज़ाने से भरी जगह)
Sentence: The antique shop was like an Aladdin’s cave.
An albatross around one’s neck
A heavy burden or guilt that hinders one’s progress
(पीछा न छोड़ने वाली मुसीबत)
Sentence: That past mistake became an albatross around his neck.
An armchair critic
A person who criticizes without practical experience
(बिना अनुभव के आलोचना करने वाला)
Sentence: Don’t be an armchair critic—try doing it yourself.
An armchair expert
A person who gives advice without practical experience
(बिना अनुभव के सलाह देने वाला)
Sentence: He acts like an armchair expert on every topic.
An arrow in one’s quiver
An available resource, option, or strategy
(उपलब्ध विकल्प)
Sentence: This skill is another arrow in his quiver.
An article of faith
A firmly held belief or fundamental principle
(अटूट विश्वास)
Sentence: Honesty is an article of faith for her.
An eager beaver
An enthusiastic and hard-working person
(अति उत्साही व्यक्ति; बहुत मेहनती)
Sentence: She is an eager beaver who always finishes her work early.
An eagle eye (2)
Sharp, keen observation
(तेज़ नज़र)
Sentence: The teacher kept an eagle eye on the students.
An eye-opener
Something surprising that reveals the truth
(आँखें खोलने वाला अनुभव)
Sentence: The documentary was an eye-opener.
An eyesore
Something ugly or unpleasant to look at
(देखने में बुरी लगने वाली चीज़)
Sentence: The broken building is an eyesore.
An old head on young shoulders (3)
A young person who is wise and mature beyond their age
(उम्र से ज़्यादा समझदार)
Sentence: He has an old head on young shoulders.
An open book (5)
A person who is easy to know and understand; having no secrets
(पूरी तरह स्पष्ट व्यक्तित्व)
Sentence: She’s an open book, so you always know what she’s thinking.
An uphill battle
A task that is very difficult to achieve
(कठिन संघर्ष)
Sentence: Convincing him was an uphill battle.
An uphill task
A difficult or demanding task
(कठिन कार्य)
Sentence: Completing the project without resources is an uphill task.
Angle for
To try to get something in a clever, indirect way
(चतुराई से पाना)
Sentence: He is angling for a promotion.
Any port in a storm
A place of refuge or shelter during difficulty
(मुसीबत में सहारा)
Sentence: During tough times, any help is any port in a storm.
Appeal to Caesar
To appeal to the highest authority
(सर्वोच्च अधिकारी से अपील)
Sentence: If the manager refuses, we will appeal to Caesar.
Apple of discord (6)
Something that causes conflict or disagreement
(झगड़े का कारण)
Sentence: The property became the apple of discord among the siblings.
Apple of one’s eye (10)
A person who is greatly cherished and loved
(बेहद प्रिय व्यक्ति)
Sentence: His daughter is the apple of his eye.
Apples and oranges (5)
Two completely different things that cannot be compared
(दो बिल्कुल अलग चीज़ें; जिनकी तुलना न हो सके)
Sentence: Comparing these two plans is like comparing apples and oranges.
Apropos of nothing
Without any connection to what was being discussed
(बिना किसी संदर्भ के)
Sentence: He started talking about politics apropos of nothing.
Argus-eyed (3)
Extremely vigilant and watchful
(अत्यंत सतर्क)
Sentence: The guard remained Argus-eyed all night.