| 1. Sit on the fence | (not to commit oneself) W the party split Ramesh was accused of sitting oil the fence. |
| 2. Smell a rat | (to be suspicious) I smelt a rat in the bargain that my uncle made with my father. |
| 3. Shed crocodile tears | (to show false sorrow) The mother shed crocodile tears on the death of her step daughter. |
| 4. Split hair | (to indulge in over refined arguments) We should not try to split hair with our elders. |
| 5. Stand in good stead | (to be helpful in need) During the time of distress the advice of elders always stands in good stead. |
| 6. Show white feather | (to show cowardice) Brave people never show white feather in the face of difficulties. |
| 7. See eye to eye | (to agree) Neema could never see eye to eye with her elder brother. |
| 8. Set store by | (to value) I have always set store by my father’s opinion. |
| 9. Snap one’s fingers at | (to show contempt) The industry owner feels that he may snap his fingers at the demands of his w but he is greatly mistaken. |
| 10. Speak volumes for | (to have abundant proof) The amount of sacrifice made by Reena’s friend speaks volumes for her true love for her friend. |
| 11. Steal a march | (to get ahead secretly) Rohan stole a march on my brother in business and is very rich today. |
| 12. Steer clear of | (to avoid) Everyone, if possible, should steer clear of selfish people. |
| 13. Swan song | (last creation) ‘Lament’ was the swan song of Shelley. |
| 14. Snake in the grass | (a secret enemy) The country is always betrayed by the snakes in the grass. |
| 15. Sword of Damocles | (facing imminent danger) A sword of Damocles is always hanging over the head of a soldier in the event of war. |
| 16. Sail under false colours | (a hypocrite) We should not believe our leaders because they sail under false colours. |
| 17. Spartan life | (life of ascetic) Swami Vivekanand led a spartan life for promoting health of mind and body. |
| 18. Save one’s face | (to avoid disgrace) He is making lame excuses to save his face because he could not qualify the examination. |
| 19. A scarlet woman | (a woman wit/i loose morals) Being a scarlet woman she is looked down upon by her neighbours. |
| 20. Set people by ears | (to incite people) The communal speeches set people by ears. |
| 21. To set Thames on fire | (to achieve something impossible) Qualifying Civil Services examination for you is like setting Thames on fire. |
| 22. Sweat of the brow | (hard labour) The honest persons live by sweat of the brow. |
| 23. Steal someone’s thunder | (make a better impression) The young actor performed so well that he stole his rival’s thunder. |
| 24. Straight from the shoulders | (candidly) My lawyer told me straight from the shoulders that my case was weak. |
| 25. Shop lifter | (one who steals from the shop) A shop lifter dften visits a shop as a customer. |
| 26. Spick and span | (in order) Her house looked spick and span because everything was in its place. |
| 27. Shot in the arm | (encouraging) A victory in Kargil war proved a shot in the arm of our Defence Forces. |
| 28. Something up one’s sleeve | (a secret plan) She is quite a mischievous lady. There is always something up her sleeve. |
| 29. Send about one’s business | (to dismiss) His employees sent him about his business when he behaved insolently. |
| 30. Stand one’s ground | (remain firm) He did not yield to pressure and stood his ground till the end. |
| 31. Small fry | (insignificant person) Who cares for him, he is a small fry in the office. |
| 32. Seamy side of life | (immoral side of society) The picture depicts realism and presents the seamy side of life in modern India. |
| 33. Sow wild oats | (irresponsible pleasure seeking) After sowing his wild oats Ram has decided to stick to the straight and narrow path in future. |
| 34. Spill the beans | (to give information) Continuous interrogation finally made the man spill the beans and the disaster was averted. |
| 35. A stalking horse | (pretence) The trade union’s seemingly rightful demand is only a stalking horse to black mail the management. |