Idioms and Phrases 98

1. for good: for the welfare of the masses.

• God is for the good of all.

2. ready for battle: well prepared for fighting.

• Guha beat his drum and asked all his sailors and hunter to become ready for battle.

3. for tale: for disposing off.

• All these goods are ready for sale.

4. for mercy: for the sake of kindness.

• Portia made a fervent appeal to Shylock for mercy to be shown upon Antonio.

5. for a time: for a short time.

• Please stay with me for a time and you shall come to know the reality of the whole situation.

6. for aid: for the sake of help.

• The rich must come forward for the aid of the flood-affected people.

7. for fear: on account of fear.

• For fear of his disrepute he did not indulge in further borrowing from his friends and relatives.

8. for shame: because of shyness.

• The criminal had covered his face for shame when he was being carried from the court to the prison.

8. for sorrow: due to deep sorrow.

• His usual smile had gone for his continuous sorrow and sickness.

9. for certain: in reality.

• It was only for certain reasons that he was charged and arrested.

10. for protection: for safety.

• The thief hid himself into the bathroom for his own protection.

11. for one’s life: to save one’s life.

• In the last Indo-Pak War the Pakistani troops surrendered in mass in Bangla Desh only for their life.

12. lame for life: during the remaining part of one’s life time.

• After the loss of his eye-sight in his youth John Milton, the great English poet felt lame for life.

13. for ever: for always.

• Remember for ever that a good act should always be done in a selfless way.

14. left for dead: believed to be dead.

• The dacoits left the landlord of the village for dead after beating him hard but he recovered and returned to life soon.

15. for all the world: in exchange of the whole world.

• Bharata was not ready to accept the crown of kingship for all the world as he regarded it a sin as long as Rama was alive.

16. for the general good: for public welfare.

• Asoka did a lot of work for the general good because he was a kind-hearted emperor of the ancient period. 

17. for money: to earn money, or riches.

• In the present day world many crimes are committed daily for money and human life has become very cheap.

18. for fame: to earn reputation.

• There are many persons who discard money and work only for fame in their life. 

19. for bread: for earning one’s livelihood.

• All people are busy day and night in working hard for earning their bread and butter.

20. for this reason: on account of this cause.

• For this reason of continuous sickness, he has resigned from his heavy duties. 

21. for amusement: for getting recreation.

• Children make mischiefs purely for amusement.

22. for God’s sake: in the name of God.

• For God’s sake you must give up drinking wine which has broken your sound health.

23. a fight for life: a struggle for the safety of one’s life.

• All the members were making a fight for the life when suddenly the fire broke out into the house.

24. for better for worse: for facing both prosperity and adversity.

• A courageous man remains ready for better for worse in his life and tries to solve his problems.

25. tit for tat: pay in the same coin.

• The policy of tit for tat is never regarded a good and gentleman’s act.

26. but for your coming: without your arrival.

• The people could not enjoy the occasion of the function well and happily but for your coming.

27. word for word: completely same.

• The examinee was debarred for three years by the Examination Board for coming from the book word for word.

28. for all his wealth: in spite of his whole wealth.

• For all his wealth Shylock, the Jew in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” was so greedy of his gold that he lamented more for his jewels and diamonds than his own daughter, Jessica who had eloped with Lorenzo, a Christian.

29. away from home: in a foreign country.

• Our Prime Minister is away from home these days for a tour of ten days to the United States of America.

30. far from the fire: safe from danger.

• On account of our consolidated army position the country is far from the fire of future war.

31. a long way from: at a great distance.

• Though they have been making a quick journey, yet the destination is still a long way from this place.

32. safe from danger: completely under protection.

• On account of the best security arrangements the aerodrome is safe from danger.

33. free from care: having no anxiety.

• The persons who discharge their duties most honestly and laboriously often remain free from care.

34. rescued from: saved like from.

• The swimmer rescued the child from the mouth of death when he was about to be drowned into the deep water of the river.

35. from gratitude: out of one’s goodness.

• He made a hearty expression from his gratitude for the good and sympathetic treatment which he had received.

36. saved from a watery grave: saved from drowning.

• It was after much efforts that the child was saved from his watery grave.

37. are sprung from Adam: get inheritance from Adam.

• All men and women who are now living in the world are sprung from Adam.

38. from first to last: all from the beginning to the end.

• All the players of the team played well from first to last and succeeded to win the cricket match.

39. from door to door: at all houses.

• The beggar begged from door to door and collected a handsome amount of money.

40. from hand to mouth: earn bare subsistence.

• A large number of farmers and labourers in India live only from hand to mouth.

41. From youth to age: from young age to old age.

• Shakespeare remained busy in writing fine and great plays from young age to old age.

42. from heaven to earth: throughout the whole universe.

• The beauties of Nature exist from heaven to earth and please all the lovers of Nature at all hours. 

43. from bad to worse: in a far inferior condition.

• As a man goes on advancing from youth towards old age his physical organs go from bad to worse.

44. from the cradle to the grave: from early life till death.

• The natural and true love of mothers can be marked towards their children from the cradle to the grave.

45. from the fear of: afraid of.

• Many idle persons do not begin to do any work from the fear of failure because they lack true initiative.

46. for from satisfactory: unsatisfactory.

• The officer rebuked the typist by telling him clearly that he would be turned out because his work was far from satisfactory.