On a shoestring
With very little money; on a very small budget
(बहुत कम पैसों में) | Ex: They started their business on a shoestring.
On a wing and a prayer
With only a slight chance of success; hoping for luck
(बहुत कम संभावना के साथ) | Ex: He passed the exam on a wing and a prayer.
On account of (2)
Because of; due to
(की वजह से) | Ex: The match was canceled on account of heavy rain.
On and off (or off and on) (6)
Intermittently; sometimes happening and sometimes not
(कभी-कभार; अनियमित रूप से) | Ex: It rained on and off throughout the day.
On cloud nine (16)
Extremely happy; in a state of bliss
(बेहद ख़ुश) | Ex: She was on cloud nine after hearing the good news.
On edge (2)
Nervous, anxious, or unable to relax
(बेचैन या तनावग्रस्त) | Ex: He felt on edge before the interview.
On good terms
Having a friendly relationship with someone
(अच्छे संबंध होना) | Ex: She is on good terms with all her colleagues.
On high alert
In a state of maximum readiness for danger or an emergency
(पूरी तरह सतर्क) | Ex: The army was on high alert after the warning.
On merit
Judged according to quality or worth rather than other factors
(योग्यता के आधार पर) | Ex: The selection was made purely on merit.
On one’s guard
Being watchful and careful to avoid danger or problems
(सावधान रहना) | Ex: Stay on your guard while walking alone at night.
On one’s high horse (2)
Acting as if one is better or more important than others
(घमंड में होना) | Ex: Stop being on your high horse and listen to others.
On one’s last legs (3)
Very tired, weak, or about to fail or die
(ख़त्म होने की कगार पर; बहुत ख़राब स्थिति में) | Ex: The old car is on its last legs.
On pins and needles (2)
Very nervous or anxious about something that is going to happen
(बेचैनी और घबराहट में होना) | Ex: She was on pins and needles waiting for her exam results.
On purpose (2)
Intentionally; not by accident or mistake
(जानबूझकर; सोच-समझकर किया गया) | Ex: He broke the window on purpose.
On shank’s mare (or pony) (2)
Walking; traveling by foot
(पैदल चलना) | Ex: Since there was no transport, we went on shank’s mare.
On someone’s radar
Being noticed, monitored, or under consideration
(नज़र में होना) | Ex: The young player is now on the coach’s radar.
On tenterhooks (8)
Very anxious or excited while waiting for something to happen
(बेचैनी से इंतज़ार में) | Ex: Everyone was on tenterhooks before the final result.
On the air
Being broadcast on radio or television
(प्रसारित होना) | Ex: The program will be on the air at 8 PM.
On the attack
Acting aggressively against an opponent
(आक्रामक रवैया) | Ex: The team went on the attack in the second half.
On the back foot
In a difficult situation where one is forced to react rather than act
(बचाव की मुद्रा में; कमज़ोर स्थिति में होना) | Ex: After the criticism, the company was on the back foot.
On the ball (7)
Very alert and quick to understand and react to things
(चौकन्ना होना) | Ex: She is always on the ball during meetings.
On the breadline (2)
Very poor; having barely enough money to live
(अत्यंत ग़रीब) | Ex: After losing his job, he was living on the breadline.
On the brink (or verge) of (4)
Very close to something, especially something important or dangerous
(कगार पर; बिल्कुल क़रीब) | Ex: The company was on the brink of bankruptcy.
On the contrary
Used to show that the opposite of what was said is true
(इसके विपरीत) | Ex: He isn’t lazy; on the contrary, he works very hard.
On the cuff
On credit; without paying immediately
(उधार पर) | Ex: He bought groceries on the cuff and promised to pay later.
On the face of it
Judging by how something first appears; apparently
(पहली नज़र में; ऊपरी तौर पर देखने पर) | Ex: On the face of it, the plan seems perfect.
On the horizon
Likely to happen soon; approaching
(जल्द ही होने वाला; निकट भविष्य में) | Ex: New opportunities are on the horizon.
On the horns of a dilemma (2)
Having to choose between two equally unpleasant options
(दो कठिन विकल्पों के बीच फँस जाना) | Ex: She was on the horns of a dilemma about choosing between two jobs.
On the job
While doing one’s work; at work
(काम करते समय) | Ex: He learned most of his skills on the job.
On the level
Honest and truthful; legitimate
(ईमानदार) | Ex: You can trust him; he is completely on the level.
On the rocks
In difficulty; likely to fail
(टूटने की कगार पर होना) | Ex: Their marriage is on the rocks.
On the same page (4)
Having the same understanding or opinion about something
(एक मत होना; सहमत होना) | Ex: Let’s make sure we are all on the same page before starting the project.
On the same wavelength
Thinking in a similar way; having a good understanding of each other
(एक जैसी सोच) | Ex: They are on the same wavelength and work very well together.
On the spur of the moment (2)
Done suddenly without planning; impulsively
(बिना सोचे-समझे) | Ex: He decided to go on a trip on the spur of the moment.
On the square
Honest and fair; trustworthy
(ईमानदारी से काम करना) | Ex: She runs her business on the square.
On the straight and narrow
Following a morally correct way of life
(सही रास्ते पर) | Ex: After his release, he stayed on the straight and narrow.
On the stroke of (time)
Exactly at the specified time
(बिल्कुल निर्धारित समय पर) | Ex: The train left on the stroke of 6 o’clock.
On the tip of one’s tongue
Almost able to remember or say something but not quite
(ज़ुबान पर होना; याद आते-आते न आना) | Ex: His name is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t recall it.
On the wane (3)
Becoming less strong, important, or popular; declining
(घटता हुआ, पतन की ओर) | Ex: His influence is on the wane.
On the warpath
Very angry and ready to argue or fight
(गुस्से में होना) | Ex: The boss was on the warpath after the mistake.
On the wrong side of sixty
Older than sixty
(साठ के पार होना) | Ex: He is on the wrong side of sixty but still very active.
On thin ice (15)
In a risky or dangerous situation
(ख़तरे में होना) | Ex: You’re on thin ice if you keep ignoring the rules.
On top of the world
Feeling extremely happy; elated
(बेहद ख़ुश और सफ़ल) | Ex: She felt on top of the world after winning the award.
Once and for all (5)
Completely and finally; in a way that will not change
(हमेशा-हमेशा के लिए; अंतिम रूप से) | Ex: Let’s settle this issue once and for all.
Once bitten, twice shy (4)
A bad experience makes one cautious about the same situation
(अपनी गलती से सीख लेना) | Ex: After losing money in stocks, he became very careful—once bitten, twice shy.
Once in a blue moon (21)
Very rarely; almost never
(कभी-कभार) | Ex: He visits his hometown once in a blue moon.
One step at a time
Progressing slowly and carefully; taking things gradually
(धीरे-धीरे और संभलकर चलना) | Ex: Recovering from illness requires taking things one step at a time.
One’s bark is worse than one’s bite
Someone seems threatening but is actually harmless
(डांट ज्यादा, नुकसान कम) | Ex: Don’t be afraid of the boss; his bark is worse than his bite.
One’s cup of tea (4)
Something that one enjoys or does well
(पसंदीदा काम) | Ex: Playing chess is my cup of tea.