Exercise – 19

🔹 When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled
🔸 Meaning: The weak suffer when the powerful fight
✅ When two countries’ leaders clash, the common people suffer.
✅ The common people suffered because when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled.

🔹 Empty vessels make the most noise
🔸 Meaning: Those who know little talk the most
✅ He always talks, but empty vessels make the most noise.
✅ Wise people stay quiet — empty vessels make the most noise.

🔹 Like water off a duck’s back
🔸 Meaning: Having no effect on someone
✅ No matter how much you explain, it’s like water off a duck’s back.
✅ Your scolding was like water off a duck’s back.

🔹 The pot calling the kettle black
🔸 Meaning: Criticizing others for faults you also have
✅ He always comes late and now he’s preaching punctuality — the pot is calling the kettle black.
✅ You do the same thing, yet blame others — that’s the pot calling the kettle black.

🔹 To show someone their place
🔸 Meaning: Humble someone who is arrogant
✅ He showed his arrogant boss his place.
✅ People who act too high need to be shown their place.

🔹 To rub salt in the wound
🔸 Meaning: Make someone’s misfortune worse
✅ He was already sad, and your sarcasm rubbed salt in the wound.
✅ He was hurt by rejection, and friends rubbed salt in the wound.

🔹 To tighten the belt
🔸 Meaning: Reduce spending / be frugal
✅ We have a tight budget this month — we must tighten our belts.
✅ Time to tighten the belt and stop wasting money.

🔹 To speak in riddles
🔸 Meaning: Speak indirectly / not plainly
✅ Whenever you ask him something, he speaks in riddles.
✅ Tell the truth — don’t speak in riddles.

🔹 To break one’s head over something
🔸 Meaning: Work very hard (often in vain)
✅ I’ve broken my head over this project but found no solution.
✅ Don’t break your head over such a small issue.

🔹 To drink like a fish
🔸 Meaning: Drink alcohol excessively
✅ He was drinking like a fish at the party.
✅ That’s his habit — he drinks like a fish once he starts.