Etched in stone: Things, particularly rules, which cannot be changed under any circumstances.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day: Used to refer to people becoming lucky by chance.

Even keel: When something is on an even keel, it is balanced.

Every dog has its day: Everyone gets their moment of glory and success.

Every man for himself: When people try to take care of themselves in a difficult situation but they don’t help others.

Every man has his price: Everyone’s support can be bought at a certain price or if one is ready to pay them  enough.

Every trick in the book: In all possible ways, even dishonest ones.

Everything but the kitchen sink: It means everything is included, even if not all of it is useful.

Exception that proves the rule: An exception in some way confirms a rule.

Explore all avenues: To try all possible ways to get the desired result.

Eye candy: An attractive person.

Eyewash: Actions or remarks intended to conceal the facts of a situation.

Eye-opener: Surprising and unexpected event that brings out the truth about something or someone.

Face like thunder: To be very angry and upset.

Face only a mother could love: To be ugly.

Face the music: To accept and face the unpleasant consequence or result of something.

Face value: The appearance of something/someone, and when one takes something at face value, it means it is being accepted for what it appears to be rather than its inner characteristics.

Face your demons: To face and accept one’s fears or things that one has been trying hard to avoid.

Failure is the mother of success: It is only after a failure that we strive towards success.

Fair and square: To win this way is to win by following the rules properly and winning conclusively.

Fair weather friend: Friends who are only around in good times.

Fall by the wayside: To remain incomplete.

Fall from grace: To be disgraced or to lose favour with someone.

Fall on your sword: To resign and accept the consequences of some wrongdoing. In olden days when warriors lost in a battle, they preferred to kill themselves by their own swords rather than be captured by the enemy.

Familiarity breeds contempt: On getting to know someone or something too well, you also get to know their faults and start disliking them.

Far cry from: A thing that is very different from something, e.g. “The game he played today was a far cry from his best performance.”

— Ahzam Ahmed

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...