Idioms
English fixed expressions — phrases whose meaning isn't obvious from the individual words. Each entry shows the meaning, an example sentence, and its register.
999 idioms
CEFR A2 (11)
a piece of cake
Informal · CEFR A2
Something that is very easy to do.
bad news
Informal · CEFR A2
an unpleasant piece of information; (informal) a person or thing likely to cause trouble
better late than never
Neutral · CEFR A2
Doing something after a delay is better than not doing it at all.
break someone's heart
Neutral · CEFR A2
To make someone feel deep emotional pain, often by ending a relationship.
bright and early
Neutral · CEFR A2
at the very start of the morning
early bird
Neutral · CEFR A2
someone who prefers beginning the day before most other people
hang on a minute
Informal · CEFR A2
used to ask someone to wait, or to express surprise or objection
have a sweet tooth
Informal · CEFR A2
To have a strong liking for sugary food.
keep an eye on
Neutral · CEFR A2
to watch or look after someone or something carefully, often to make sure nothing goes wrong
keep your fingers crossed
Informal · CEFR A2
To hope strongly that something good will happen.
so far so good
Informal · CEFR A2
used to say that things have gone well up to now
CEFR B1 (199)
a blessing in disguise
Neutral · CEFR B1
Something that seems bad at first but turns out to have a good outcome.
a fair share
Neutral · CEFR B1
a reasonable portion or a substantial amount of something, especially work or difficulties
a fish out of water
Neutral · CEFR B1
Someone who feels uncomfortable because they are in an unfamiliar situation.
a rip-off
Informal · CEFR B1
Something that is far too expensive for what it is.
actions speak louder than words
Neutral · CEFR B1
What you do matters more than what you say.
alive and kicking
Neutral · CEFR B1
still healthy, active, or functioning despite age or difficulty
ants in your pants
Informal · CEFR B1
To be unable to keep still because you are restless or excited.
anyone's guess
Neutral · CEFR B1
something whose answer or outcome is completely uncertain
as a rule
Neutral · CEFR B1
usually or in most situations
at the end of the day
Informal · CEFR B1
ultimately; when everything is considered
back against the wall
Informal · CEFR B1
in a desperate situation with few options left
back to basics
Neutral · CEFR B1
returning to the simple, fundamental principles of an activity
ballpark figure
Informal · CEFR B1
a rough estimate, not an exact number
bang for your buck
Informal · CEFR B1
the value or impact you get for the money or effort spent
bear in mind
Neutral · CEFR B1
to remember and consider something when making a decision
blow off steam
Informal · CEFR B1
to release pent-up energy or emotion through some activity
brain power
Informal · CEFR B1
intelligence or mental ability used to think and solve problems
break a leg
Informal · CEFR B1
A way of wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance.
break the ice
Neutral · CEFR B1
To do or say something that eases tension and gets people talking comfortably in an unfamiliar social situation.
bury one's head in the sand
Neutral · CEFR B1
to ignore an unpleasant reality hoping it will go away
bury the hatchet
Neutral · CEFR B1
to reconcile with someone and bring a quarrel to an end
call it a day
Informal · CEFR B1
To decide to stop working on something for now.
can of worms
Informal · CEFR B1
a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched
catch someone's eye
Neutral · CEFR B1
to draw someone's notice or interest
CEFR B2 (589)
(take) a step back/further
Neutral · CEFR B2
to pause and reconsider a situation (step back), or develop an idea or action beyond its current point (step further)
a bad press
Neutral · CEFR B2
unfavorable reporting or reputation in the media or among people
a bone of contention
Neutral · CEFR B2
a subject that causes disagreement or argument between people
a bull in a china shop
Neutral · CEFR B2
A clumsy person who causes damage or upset in a delicate situation.
a dime a dozen
Informal · CEFR B2
So common as to be of little value.
a hot potato
Informal · CEFR B2
A controversial or awkward issue that no one wants to deal with.
a shot in the dark
Neutral · CEFR B2
a guess or attempt with very little chance of success
a taste of your own medicine
Informal · CEFR B2
The same unpleasant treatment that you have given to others.
a whole new ball game
Informal · CEFR B2
A completely different situation from before.
across the board
Neutral · CEFR B2
affecting everyone or everything equally
add fuel to the fire
Neutral · CEFR B2
To make a bad situation or an argument worse.
add insult to injury
Neutral · CEFR B2
make an already bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm
ahead of the game
Neutral · CEFR B2
to stay better prepared than others by anticipating future needs
all in a day's work
Neutral · CEFR B2
a task treated as routine because it belongs to someone's normal duties
all the rage
Informal · CEFR B2
extremely fashionable or popular at a particular time
along the lines of
Neutral · CEFR B2
similar to; roughly in the style or manner of
armed to the teeth
Neutral · CEFR B2
equipped with a very large number of weapons and ready for conflict
as luck would have it
Neutral · CEFR B2
By a fortunate coincidence, often introducing an unexpectedly helpful event.
at a loss for words
Neutral · CEFR B2
unable to express yourself because an emotional or confusing moment leaves you speechless
at death's door
Neutral · CEFR B2
so seriously ill or injured that death seems close
at the back of one's mind
Neutral · CEFR B2
a thought or worry that you are vaguely aware of but not focusing on
at the drop of a hat
Neutral · CEFR B2
immediately and with no hesitation when an opportunity or prompt appears
back to square one
Neutral · CEFR B2
to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed
back to the drawing board
Neutral · CEFR B2
to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed
CEFR C1 (200)
800-pound gorilla
Informal · CEFR C1
the biggest, most powerful player in a market, which dominates everything around it
Bob's your uncle
Informal · CEFR C1
used after simple instructions to signal that the task is finished or the result achieved
Pandora's box
Neutral · CEFR C1
an action or situation that unleashes many unexpected and hard-to-control problems
a bitter pill to swallow
Neutral · CEFR C1
an unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted
a dark horse
Neutral · CEFR C1
A person who surprises everyone by showing unexpected talent or success.
a leopard can't change its spots
Neutral · CEFR C1
A person's basic character cannot fundamentally change.
a penny for your thoughts
Informal · CEFR C1
A friendly way of asking what someone is quietly thinking about.
a stitch in time saves nine
Neutral · CEFR C1
Fixing a small problem early prevents a much bigger one later.
a storm in a teacup
Neutral · CEFR C1
A great deal of fuss made about a trivial matter.
a tough nut to crack
Neutral · CEFR C1
a hard problem to solve or a hard person to convince
a wolf in sheep's clothing
Neutral · CEFR C1
A dangerous person who pretends to be harmless or friendly.
above board
Neutral · CEFR C1
honest, legal, and transparent
above one's station
Formal · CEFR C1
behaving as if you belong to a higher social class or rank than you do
ace in the hole
Neutral · CEFR C1
a secret advantage kept hidden until it is needed
ace up your sleeve
Neutral · CEFR C1
a hidden advantage kept in reserve
against the grain
Neutral · CEFR C1
in a way that conflicts with what is usual or with someone's natural character
arms race
Neutral · CEFR C1
a competitive spiral in which rivals keep escalating their investment to stay ahead
at a pinch
Neutral · CEFR C1
if it becomes absolutely necessary, though the option is barely adequate
at loggerheads
Neutral · CEFR C1
in strong disagreement or conflict with someone
at sixes and sevens
Informal · CEFR C1
in a confused, disorganized state
bar none
Neutral · CEFR C1
without exception, especially when declaring something the best in its category
beat/get the hell out of something
Informal · CEFR C1
to leave a place very quickly (get); or to defeat or hit something severely (beat)
beg the question
Neutral · CEFR C1
to make one naturally want to ask a particular question; (formally) to assume the very point being argued
beyond the pale
Formal · CEFR C1
Completely unacceptable by ordinary moral or social standards.