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.
589 idioms
cry over spilled milk
Informal · CEFR B2
To waste time being upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
curiosity killed the cat
Neutral · CEFR B2
asking too many questions can lead to trouble
cut both ways
Neutral · CEFR B2
to produce both helpful and harmful effects or implications
cut corners
Neutral · CEFR B2
To do something cheaply or quickly by skipping important steps, often lowering quality.
cut the mustard
Neutral · CEFR B2
to perform well enough for a particular need or expectation
cut to the chase
Informal · CEFR B2
To get to the important point without wasting time.
cutting edge
Neutral · CEFR B2
the most advanced stage of development; state-of-the-art
dead and buried
Neutral · CEFR B2
completely abandoned, with no realistic chance that a plan or idea will return
dead to the world
Neutral · CEFR B2
sleeping so deeply that you are completely unaware of your surroundings
dear to one's heart
Neutral · CEFR B2
very important to someone and loved deeply
deep dive
Neutral · CEFR B2
a thorough, detailed examination of a topic, problem, or dataset
deep pockets
Informal · CEFR B2
having a great deal of money to spend
deliver the goods
Informal · CEFR B2
to do what is expected or promised; to produce good results
dig deep
Neutral · CEFR B2
draw on all one's effort or inner resources to overcome a challenge
dig one's heels in
Informal · CEFR B2
to refuse stubbornly to change your mind or do what others want
don't count your chickens before they hatch
Neutral · CEFR B2
used to warn someone not to assume success before it actually happens
don't put all your eggs in one basket
Neutral · CEFR B2
Don't risk everything on a single plan or possibility.
donkey work
Neutral · CEFR B2
the tiring, repetitive, and often unappreciated work that supports a larger task
double down
Neutral · CEFR B2
to increase your commitment to a position or strategy, especially after mixed results
down and out
Neutral · CEFR B2
in severe hardship, especially without money, resources, or prospects
down in the dumps
Neutral · CEFR B2
feeling sad, discouraged, or low in spirits
down the drain
Informal · CEFR B2
wasted or lost irretrievably
down the line
Informal · CEFR B2
at a later point in time; in the future
drag one's feet
Informal · CEFR B2
to do something slowly or delay because you don't want to do it
draw a blank
Neutral · CEFR B2
to be unable to recall or produce the needed answer or information
draw the short straw
Neutral · CEFR B2
to be selected, often by chance, for an unwanted task or outcome
driving force
Neutral · CEFR B2
the person or thing that makes something happen or develop
egg on your face
Informal · CEFR B2
to be embarrassed after being publicly wrong
every man for himself
Neutral · CEFR B2
a chaotic or uncooperative situation in which each person acts purely for personal benefit
face the music
Neutral · CEFR B2
To accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.
fail fast
Neutral · CEFR B2
to test ideas quickly and abandon the failing ones early, learning as cheaply as possible
fair game
Neutral · CEFR B2
a person or thing considered an acceptable target for pursuit or criticism
fall by the wayside
Neutral · CEFR B2
be abandoned, neglected, or fail before completion
fall into place
Informal · CEFR B2
to become clear or to work out well after a period of confusion
fall on deaf ears
Neutral · CEFR B2
to be ignored without producing any response or acknowledgment
fall short
Neutral · CEFR B2
to fail to reach an expected standard, amount, or goal
famous last words
Neutral · CEFR B2
a confident prediction or claim that events soon prove completely wrong
far and away
Neutral · CEFR B2
By a very large margin, especially when one option or person clearly surpasses the rest.
fast and furious
Neutral · CEFR B2
Happening with exceptional speed, energy, and intensity.
feather in your cap
Neutral · CEFR B2
an achievement to be proud of
feature creep
Neutral · CEFR B2
the uncontrolled growth of new features until a product becomes bloated and hard to use
feel the pinch
Neutral · CEFR B2
experience financial pressure because money has become scarce
few and far between
Neutral · CEFR B2
rare and separated by long intervals or distances
fight fire with fire
Neutral · CEFR B2
to counter an opponent using the same methods they use
fight tooth and nail
Neutral · CEFR B2
To struggle with fierce determination, using every available effort to succeed.
fill someone's shoes
Neutral · CEFR B2
to replace someone in a role and meet the demands they handled
fit the bill
Informal · CEFR B2
to have exactly the qualities needed for a particular purpose
flash in the pan
Informal · CEFR B2
something that shows brilliant early promise but fails quickly and leaves nothing behind
flavor of the month
Informal · CEFR B2
a person, framework, or thing that is fashionable for a very short time
fly off the handle
Informal · CEFR B2
to lose one's temper suddenly and uncontrollably
follow in someone's footsteps
Neutral · CEFR B2
to copy another person's actions or pursue a similar path, especially in work or achievement
follow suit
Neutral · CEFR B2
to do the same thing that another person or group has just done
foot in the door
Neutral · CEFR B2
an initial opportunity that may lead to bigger things
foot the bill
Neutral · CEFR B2
To pay for something, especially something expensive.
for good measure
Neutral · CEFR B2
as an extra addition beyond what is strictly necessary
for the hell of it
Informal · CEFR B2
for amusement or impulse rather than for any serious purpose
forbidden fruit
Neutral · CEFR B2
something made more tempting by being off-limits or socially taboo
force someone's hand
Neutral · CEFR B2
To pressure someone into acting, often sooner than they had planned.
free rein
Neutral · CEFR B2
complete freedom to make choices or act without interference
friends in high places
Neutral · CEFR B2
powerful or influential acquaintances who can provide help or favorable treatment
from pillar to post
Neutral · CEFR B2
moved repeatedly between people or places without making useful progress
from rags to riches
Neutral · CEFR B2
from extreme poverty to great wealth
from the word go
Neutral · CEFR B2
from the very beginning of an activity or process
full circle
Neutral · CEFR B2
back to the original position or state after a series of changes
full of beans
Informal · CEFR B2
bursting with cheerful energy and enthusiasm
full tilt
Informal · CEFR B2
At the greatest possible speed or level of effort.
fun and games
Neutral · CEFR B2
Enjoyable, lighthearted activity, often mentioned in contrast with a situation's serious or difficult side.
game changer
Neutral · CEFR B2
a new development that fundamentally alters a situation or market
get a grip
Informal · CEFR B2
regain composure and think calmly after becoming upset
get a handle on
Informal · CEFR B2
to gain understanding or control of a situation
get carried away
Informal · CEFR B2
to become so excited or involved that you lose control
get cold feet
Informal · CEFR B2
To suddenly become too nervous to do something you had planned.
get cracking
Informal · CEFR B2
to start doing something quickly and energetically
get off the ground
Neutral · CEFR B2
to begin operating successfully after the planning stage
get on like a house on fire
Informal · CEFR B2
To get along extremely well and quickly become close.
get one's act together
Informal · CEFR B2
to become organized and start performing effectively
get one's head (a)round
Informal · CEFR B2
to manage to understand something difficult or surprising
get one's message across
Neutral · CEFR B2
to make people understand what you mean or want to say
get one's thoughts together
Informal · CEFR B2
to calm down and organize your thinking before acting or speaking
get someone on board
Informal · CEFR B2
to persuade someone to join or support a plan or project
get something straight
Informal · CEFR B2
to make sure something is clearly understood or correct
get the better of
Neutral · CEFR B2
to defeat someone or gain control over a person or feeling
get the nod
Neutral · CEFR B2
to receive a favorable selection or approval decision
get the show on the road
Informal · CEFR B2
to begin a project or activity that has been delayed
get to grips with
Neutral · CEFR B2
to begin to understand and deal with a difficult problem or task
get under someone's skin
Informal · CEFR B2
To irritate or annoy someone deeply.
get wind of
Neutral · CEFR B2
learn about something private or secret, usually through an indirect channel
give and take
Neutral · CEFR B2
mutual compromise in which each side makes concessions
give someone a piece of your mind
Informal · CEFR B2
To tell someone angrily what you really think of them.
give someone a shout
Informal · CEFR B2
to contact or tell someone, especially when you need them
give someone the cold shoulder
Informal · CEFR B2
To deliberately ignore or be unfriendly toward someone.
give someone the creeps
Neutral · CEFR B2
To make someone feel distinctly uneasy, frightened, or repelled.
give someone the eye
Informal · CEFR B2
to signal romantic or sexual attraction through deliberate glances
give someone the slip
Neutral · CEFR B2
to escape or evade someone who is following or pursuing you
give something a miss
Informal · CEFR B2
to choose not to do, attend, or take part in something
give the game away
Informal · CEFR B2
to accidentally reveal a secret or plan