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.
199 idioms
leap of faith
Neutral · CEFR B1
an act of trusting or committing without evidence or guarantees
learn the ropes
Neutral · CEFR B1
To learn how to do a job or task properly.
lend a hand
Informal · CEFR B1
to give someone practical help
lend an ear
Neutral · CEFR B1
to listen to someone attentively and with sympathy
let the cat out of the bag
Informal · CEFR B1
To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.
live and let live
Neutral · CEFR B1
to accept other people's choices without trying to control them
live it up
Informal · CEFR B1
to celebrate or indulge freely, usually by spending more than usual
make ends meet
Neutral · CEFR B1
To earn just enough money to cover your basic expenses.
make someone's day
Neutral · CEFR B1
to make someone very happy
make up one's mind
Neutral · CEFR B1
to reach a decision, especially for oneself rather than following others
mend fences
Neutral · CEFR B1
to rebuild friendly relations after a dispute
miss the boat
Informal · CEFR B1
To lose a chance to do something by being too slow or late.
money doesn't grow on trees
Informal · CEFR B1
Used to remind someone that money is limited and hard to earn.
name names
Neutral · CEFR B1
to identify specific people, especially those linked to wrongdoing or secrecy
no free lunch
Neutral · CEFR B1
everything has a cost; you cannot get something for nothing
not a pretty sight
Neutral · CEFR B1
someone or something that looks upsetting, embarrassing, or unpleasant
not on your life
Informal · CEFR B1
used to refuse a suggestion in the strongest possible terms
not rocket science
Informal · CEFR B1
not difficult to understand or do
now or never
Neutral · CEFR B1
A moment when immediate action is necessary because the opportunity will not return.
on cloud nine
Informal · CEFR B1
Extremely happy and delighted.
on the fence
Neutral · CEFR B1
to be undecided or avoid choosing between two options or sides
on the one hand
Neutral · CEFR B1
used to introduce the first of two contrasting points or sides of an argument
on the other hand
Neutral · CEFR B1
used to introduce a contrasting point of view or alternative
on the right track
Informal · CEFR B1
thinking or acting in a way that is likely to lead to success
on the same page
Neutral · CEFR B1
In agreement or sharing the same understanding.
on the same wavelength
Neutral · CEFR B1
thinking and understanding in the same way; in agreement
on the spot
Informal · CEFR B1
immediately and at the place where something happens
on top of the world
Neutral · CEFR B1
Feeling exceptionally happy and satisfied, especially after a success.
once in a blue moon
Neutral · CEFR B1
Very rarely, almost never.
once in a while
Neutral · CEFR B1
occasionally, but not often
one and the same
Neutral · CEFR B1
exactly the same person or thing, despite appearing to have two identities
out and about
Informal · CEFR B1
away from home and actively going to places or doing ordinary activities
out of sight, out of mind
Neutral · CEFR B1
things not seen are soon forgotten
out of the question
Neutral · CEFR B1
completely impossible or not permitted
over the moon
Informal · CEFR B1
extremely happy or delighted
overall picture
Neutral · CEFR B1
the complete view of a situation, including all the main parts
pat on the back
Informal · CEFR B1
praise or recognition for something done well
pave the way
Neutral · CEFR B1
to make it easier for something else to happen or develop
pick and choose
Informal · CEFR B1
to select only the things you most want, being very selective
pick someone's brain
Neutral · CEFR B1
to seek ideas or guidance from someone with useful expertise
piping hot
Neutral · CEFR B1
Extremely hot, especially when describing freshly cooked food.
practice makes perfect
Neutral · CEFR B1
repeated practice leads to mastery
pros and cons
Neutral · CEFR B1
the advantages and disadvantages of something
pull someone's leg
Informal · CEFR B1
To tease or joke with someone by telling them something untrue in fun.
pull the plug
Informal · CEFR B1
to stop funding or supporting something, ending it abruptly
pull the trigger
Informal · CEFR B1
to finally make a decision and act on it
put out fires
Informal · CEFR B1
to deal with urgent problems instead of doing planned work
put something on the table
Neutral · CEFR B1
to offer something for consideration in a discussion or negotiation
put two and two together
Neutral · CEFR B1
to infer a conclusion by connecting the available clues
rain cats and dogs
Informal · CEFR B1
to rain very heavily
raise the roof
Informal · CEFR B1
to create an extremely loud commotion through celebration or protest
rat race
Informal · CEFR B1
the exhausting, competitive struggle to keep up at work and get ahead
read the room
Informal · CEFR B1
to sense the mood, expectations, and dynamics of the people present
red flag
Neutral · CEFR B1
a warning sign that something is wrong
ring a bell
Informal · CEFR B1
to sound familiar or remind you of something
round the clock
Neutral · CEFR B1
continuously, throughout all twenty-four hours of the day
run in the family
Neutral · CEFR B1
to be a trait shared by members of a family
save for a rainy day
Neutral · CEFR B1
to put money aside for future emergencies
see eye to eye
Neutral · CEFR B1
To agree completely with someone.
seed money
Neutral · CEFR B1
the initial capital used to start a business
sell like hot cakes
Neutral · CEFR B1
to be bought rapidly and in great numbers because many people want it
ship it
Informal · CEFR B1
to release the product or feature now, as an imperative; to ship
sick and tired
Neutral · CEFR B1
extremely annoyed with someone or something and unwilling to tolerate it any longer
sign on the dotted line
Neutral · CEFR B1
to commit yourself formally by signing an agreement
sit tight
Neutral · CEFR B1
wait where you are without acting until you receive further instructions
sleep on it
Neutral · CEFR B1
to delay a decision until the next day
slippery slope
Neutral · CEFR B1
a course of action that seems small or harmless but leads, step by step, to a serious or disastrous result
smooth sailing
Neutral · CEFR B1
easy, uninterrupted progress without problems
spill the beans
Informal · CEFR B1
To reveal a secret, often accidentally.
stay the course
Neutral · CEFR B1
to continue with a plan despite difficulties or doubt
stretch one's legs
Informal · CEFR B1
to go for a short walk after sitting for a long time
take it easy
Informal · CEFR B1
to relax and avoid strain
take it or leave it
Neutral · CEFR B1
accept an offer exactly as presented or reject it entirely
take someone's word for it
Neutral · CEFR B1
to believe what someone says without asking for evidence
tell it like it is
Neutral · CEFR B1
to describe a situation frankly, without softening or hiding the truth
test the waters
Neutral · CEFR B1
to try something cautiously before committing fully to it
that's another story
Informal · CEFR B1
used to say a topic is separate and won't be discussed now
the best of both worlds
Neutral · CEFR B1
A situation in which you enjoy the advantages of two different things at the same time.
the early bird catches the worm
Neutral · CEFR B1
Those who act promptly have the best chance of success.
the good life
Neutral · CEFR B1
a comfortable, enjoyable way of living, often with few worries
the high point
Neutral · CEFR B1
the best or most enjoyable part of an event or period
the icing on the cake
Neutral · CEFR B1
An extra good thing that makes a good situation even better.
the more the merrier
Informal · CEFR B1
more people make an event more enjoyable
the name of the game
Informal · CEFR B1
the central, most important aspect of a situation
the rest is history
Neutral · CEFR B1
later events are already familiar or easily assumed, so they need no further telling
the whole story
Neutral · CEFR B1
all the facts about a situation, including ones not yet known
the writing on the wall
Neutral · CEFR B1
clear and unmistakable signs that failure or disaster is coming
think twice
Neutral · CEFR B1
to reconsider an action carefully before doing it
tighten your belt
Neutral · CEFR B1
To spend less money because you have less than before.
time will tell
Neutral · CEFR B1
the result will become clear only in the future
touch base
Informal · CEFR B1
to make brief contact with someone, usually to update them or stay connected
trial and error
Neutral · CEFR B1
trying different methods until you find one that works
under lock and key
Neutral · CEFR B1
kept securely locked away so that access or escape is prevented
under the weather
Informal · CEFR B1
Feeling slightly ill or unwell.
up to no good
Informal · CEFR B1
engaged in behavior that is mischievous, dishonest, or otherwise wrong
up to speed
Neutral · CEFR B1
fully informed about a current situation or topic and ready to proceed