ICSE Sample Language Usage: Idiomatic Expressions

Idiomatic expressions lend an undeniable punch to your writing and so 
you should consciously try to incorporate them in your compositions. 
You may learn a couple of them on a daily basis and use them in 
essays, letters or in your Paper II literature answers and you will 
soon build the skill to use them in the right context. 

Examples – 

1. Through thick and thin (under all conditions):- A true friend is
one who stands by another through thick and thin.

 2. To a fault (he is over-indulgent) His talents are largely stained
for he is indulgent to certain vices to a fault.

3. Bid fair (seems likely):- She bids fair to overtake her peers in
academic excellence.

4. Lives by his wits (earns his bread and butter by deceit or fraud):-
Having never been trained in any particular trade or avocation, he has
to live by his wits.

5. Burnt his fingers (got himself into trouble):- He burnt his fingers
by risking his savings in the share market.

6. To hold a candle to (can not be compared with):- Mother Teresa was
fit to hold a candle to the saints who had served the Roman Catholic
Church before her.

7. At issue (in dispute):- The administrator decided to closely look
into the points at issue to resolve the discontent among his staff.

8. Sitting on the fence (procrastinating over an issue):- It is no use
sitting on the fence when one has to take an important decision.

9. Turn errors to account (to profit from errors):- A man who learns
from his mistakes is one who turns his errors to account.

10. Hand and glove (very closely associated):- Most politicians are
hand and glove with corrupt people.