Exercise – 23

🔹 Kick the bucket
🔸 Meaning: To die / pass away
✅ Grandma kicked the bucket at the age of 90.
✅ We were all sad when our teacher kicked the bucket.

🔹 Get cold feet
🔸 Meaning: To get scared at the last moment / back out
✅ He got cold feet just before the wedding.
✅ He got cold feet before sitting for the exam.

🔹 Jump the gun
🔸 Meaning: To act too soon / start without preparation
✅ He jumped the gun by starting without full information.
✅ They jumped the gun and started campaigning early.

🔹 Blow one’s own trumpet
🔸 Meaning: To praise oneself / boast
✅ He always blows his own trumpet.
✅ He blows his own trumpet even for a small task.

🔹 Hit below the belt
🔸 Meaning: To act unfairly / attack unethically
✅ He hit below the belt by bringing up personal matters.
✅ Criticism was fine, but hitting below the belt was not.

🔹 Pour oil on troubled waters
🔸 Meaning: To calm a conflict / reconcile
✅ Mom poured oil on troubled waters between the two brothers.
✅ He tried to pour oil on troubled waters with kindness.

🔹 Under the table
🔸 Meaning: Secretly / illegally (like bribery)
✅ He paid under the table to get the work done quickly.
✅ Giving or taking money under the table is illegal.

🔹 Cost an arm and a leg
🔸 Meaning: To be very expensive / pay a heavy price
✅ That phone costs an arm and a leg!
✅ Going on vacation is great, but it’ll cost an arm and a leg.

🔹 Walk on air
🔸 Meaning: To be extremely happy / feel elated
✅ He was walking on air after getting the job.
✅ She was walking on air after seeing her results.

🔹 Throw in the towel
🔸 Meaning: To give up / quit trying
✅ I’ve thrown in the towel after trying so much.
✅ If you throw in the towel halfway, how will you reach your goal?