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.
178 idioms
let your hair down
Informal · CEFR B2
To relax completely and enjoy yourself without worrying about behaving formally.
low-hanging fruit
Informal · CEFR B2
the easiest, quickest wins available
make a killing
Informal · CEFR B2
to earn a very large amount of money quickly
make the grade
Informal · CEFR B2
to reach the standard required for success or acceptance
move the goalposts
Informal · CEFR B2
to unfairly change the rules or aims after something has started
off the cuff
Informal · CEFR B2
said without preparation
off the hook
Informal · CEFR B2
freed from blame, responsibility, or an unpleasant obligation
off the top of one's head
Informal · CEFR B2
from memory, without checking or thinking carefully
on a roll
Informal · CEFR B2
experiencing a series of successes
on the back burner
Informal · CEFR B2
given low priority and left for later
on the house
Informal · CEFR B2
provided free by the establishment
on the side
Informal · CEFR B2
in addition to one's main job or activity, often secretly
out of line
Informal · CEFR B2
behaving or speaking beyond acceptable limits
out of the blue
Informal · CEFR B2
suddenly and unexpectedly
over my dead body
Informal · CEFR B2
a forceful refusal meaning that something will never be allowed
over the hill
Informal · CEFR B2
no longer young or at one's best
over the top
Informal · CEFR B2
excessive or exaggerated
paint the town red
Informal · CEFR B2
to go out and celebrate noisily
pay through the nose
Informal · CEFR B2
To pay a far higher price for something than it is really worth.
pipe dream
Informal · CEFR B2
an unrealistic hope or plan that will almost certainly never happen
pissed off
Informal · CEFR B2
very angry or irritated about something
play ball
Informal · CEFR B2
to cooperate or agree to do what someone wants
play it by ear
Informal · CEFR B2
To deal with a situation as it develops rather than following a fixed plan.
play the field
Informal · CEFR B2
to date several people without committing to one partner
pop the question
Informal · CEFR B2
To propose marriage to someone.
pot calling the kettle black
Informal · CEFR B2
criticizing someone for a fault you share
preach to the choir
Informal · CEFR B2
to try to convince people who already agree with you
pressure cooker
Informal · CEFR B2
an intensely stressful environment or situation
pull a face
Informal · CEFR B2
to make an unusual facial expression that shows dislike, surprise, or amusement
pull a fast one
Informal · CEFR B2
to deceive someone with a quick, sneaky, or unexpected trick
pull an all-nighter
Informal · CEFR B2
to stay up and work through the entire night
pull strings
Informal · CEFR B2
to use personal influence or secret connections to make something happen
pull the wool over someone's eyes
Informal · CEFR B2
to deceive someone
pull yourself together
Informal · CEFR B2
To regain control of your emotions and calm down.
put your finger on
Informal · CEFR B2
to identify exactly what is wrong or what something is
put your foot down
Informal · CEFR B2
to assert your authority firmly
put your money where your mouth is
Informal · CEFR B2
to back up your words with action, especially money
quick and dirty
Informal · CEFR B2
done rapidly and roughly, with little care for quality or polish
quote somebody on something
Informal · CEFR B2
to repeat what someone said, attributing the words to them
rack your brains
Informal · CEFR B2
To think very hard in an effort to remember or solve something.
rain on someone's parade
Informal · CEFR B2
To spoil someone's plans or happiness.
raise hell
Informal · CEFR B2
to create a loud disturbance or behave in a wildly disruptive way
rock the boat
Informal · CEFR B2
to disturb a stable situation by causing trouble or challenging accepted arrangements
run out of steam
Informal · CEFR B2
to lose the energy, enthusiasm, or momentum needed to continue
save the day
Informal · CEFR B2
to prevent failure or disaster through a timely action
saved by the bell
Informal · CEFR B2
rescued from an awkward situation at the last moment
shift gears
Informal · CEFR B2
to change your approach, activity, or pace
shoot the breeze
Informal · CEFR B2
to chat informally about unimportant things
shotgun approach
Informal · CEFR B2
a broad, unfocused strategy that tries many things at once, hoping one will work
shut up shop
Informal · CEFR B2
to stop working for the day or to close a business permanently
sit on one's hands
Informal · CEFR B2
to do nothing when action is needed
smell a rat
Informal · CEFR B2
To suspect that something is wrong or that someone is being dishonest.
someone's bread and butter
Informal · CEFR B2
the main source of someone's income or basic work
speak of the devil
Informal · CEFR B2
Said when a person you were just talking about suddenly appears.
split hairs
Informal · CEFR B2
to argue about tiny, unimportant differences
stick to your guns
Informal · CEFR B2
to refuse to change your position under pressure
stick your neck out
Informal · CEFR B2
To take a risk by saying or doing something that others might criticize.
straight from the horse's mouth
Informal · CEFR B2
from the most reliable, first-hand source
take a rain check
Informal · CEFR B2
to politely decline an invitation with the promise to accept later
take the piss
Informal · CEFR B2
to mock someone, often through teasing or sarcasm
take the plunge
Informal · CEFR B2
to make a bold commitment after a period of hesitation
the gift of the gab
Informal · CEFR B2
the ability to speak persuasively and fluently
the penny drops
Informal · CEFR B2
suddenly understanding something
this that and the other
Informal · CEFR B2
various unspecified things
through the grapevine
Informal · CEFR B2
via informal gossip or rumor, not official channels
throw in the towel
Informal · CEFR B2
To give up or admit defeat.
throw it at the wall and see what sticks
Informal · CEFR B2
to try many ideas quickly, keeping only the ones that work
throw somebody in at the deep end
Informal · CEFR B2
to make someone start a difficult task with little preparation or help
tick the boxes
Informal · CEFR B2
to meet all the required conditions or do things just to satisfy rules
tie the knot
Informal · CEFR B2
to get married
tit for tat
Informal · CEFR B2
an equivalent retaliation, an eye for an eye
up for grabs
Informal · CEFR B2
available for anyone to claim, take, or win
walk all over
Informal · CEFR B2
to dominate or treat someone disrespectfully as though they have no power
walk on eggshells
Informal · CEFR B2
to act very carefully to avoid upsetting someone
watch this space
Informal · CEFR B2
used to say that more news or developments will come soon
water off a duck's back
Informal · CEFR B2
criticism that has no effect on someone
weird and wonderful
Informal · CEFR B2
strange and unusual but in an interesting or impressive way
whack-a-mole
Informal · CEFR B2
a repetitive, endless cycle in which fixing one problem immediately causes or reveals another
whoop it up
Informal · CEFR B2
to enjoy oneself at a noisy, exuberant celebration
win hands down
Informal · CEFR B2
to win easily, without effort
win win
Informal · CEFR B2
a situation that is good or advantageous for everyone involved
wrap your head around something
Informal · CEFR B2
To fully understand something complicated.