How many idioms can you find in this story?

[snowdrop_14]

Cycle of Evil


There was once a king who was so cruel and unjust that his subjects yearned for his death or dethronement.
However, one day he surprised them all by announcing that he had decided to turn over a new leaf.
“No more cruelty, no more injustice,” he promised, and he was as good as his word. He became known as the ‘Gentle Monarch’.
Months after his transformation one of his ministers plucked up enough courage to ask him what had brought about his change of heart, and the king answered:
“As I was galloping through my forests I caught sight of a fox being chased by a hound. The fox escaped into his hole but not before the hound had bitten into its leg and lamed it for life. Later I rode into a village and saw the same hound there. It was barking at a man. Even as I watched, the man picked up a huge stone and flung it at the dog, breaking its leg. The man had not gone far when he was kicked by a horse. His knee was shattered and he fell to the ground, disabled for life. The horse began to run but it fell into a hole and broke its leg. Reflecting on all that had happened, I thought: ‘Evil begets evil. If I continue in my evil ways, I will surely be overtaken by evil’. So I decided to change”.
The minister went away convinced that the time was ripe to overthrow the king and seize the throne. Immersed in thought, he did not see the steps in front of him and fell, breaking his neck.

Please help me to find all the idioms are being used in this story and their meaning.



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[Handsome Bear]

I counted 5 idioms:

Turn over a new leaf
To change the behavior, usually an improvement in behavior: He is turning a new leaf and doesn't xi'xon much in the class anymore. (He's changing his behavior).

Be as good as one's word
To keep a promise: She said she would sing to the baby, and she was as good as her word. (She sang).

A change of heart
An act of changing mind or changing the feeling. If someone has a change of heart, they change their mind or change the way they feel about something: She had a change of heart when he decided to talk to her. (She doesn't feel the way she did anymore. She changed her feeling about him when he finally decided to talk to her).

Catch sight of someone or something
To briefly see someone or something: I caught sight of a pretty nurse at ICU, and I thought of you. (I briefly saw a pretty nurse at the intensive care unit ...).

The time is ripe
It is the right time. The conditions are good: The time is ripe for him to tell her how he feels. (It's the right time for him to tell her).

Note: "Be as good as one's word" is slightly different from "true to one's word". "Be as good as one's word" means "to keep a promise". "True to one's word" means "as promissed": True to her word, she showed up on time. she was as good as her word. (As promissed, she showed up on time. She kept her promise).

[gdpt-]

If you don't mind, Handsome, I'd like to add onto your list of idioms
plucked up enough courage (Pluck up one's courage):

to make oneself have courage; Handsome Bear plucked up his courage and went over to ask for gdpt's number.

List of other "possible" idioms:
- evil begets evil
- kicked by a horse
- disabled for life

I say "possible" because it's capable of being one. I'm not 100%.

Although I have to say, "lamed it for life" sounds very much like an idiom.

I know you'd want some popcorn, Snow.

[snowdrop_14]

thanks to Handsomebear and co Gdpt for pointed out these idioms and gave explaination to each of them. I have learned lots from you two.
i think the phrase "evil begets evil" is also an idiom somewhat has the same meaning with "what goes around comes around".
Therefore If i'm not wrong, there are seven idioms in this story:
1. Turn over a new leaf (To change the behavior)
2. Be as good as one's word (To keep a promise)
3. Change of heart (An act of changing mind or feeling)
4. Catch sight of someone or something (To briefly see someone or something)
5. The time is ripe (It is the right time)
6. Plucked up enough courage (to make oneself have courage)
7. Evil begets Evil. is it?


popcorn ?