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.
408 idioms
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
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
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
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 off the ground
Neutral · CEFR B2
to begin operating successfully after the planning stage
get one's message across
Neutral · CEFR B2
to make people understand what you mean or want to say
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 to grips with
Neutral · CEFR B2
to begin to understand and deal with a difficult problem or task
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 the creeps
Neutral · CEFR B2
To make someone feel distinctly uneasy, frightened, or repelled.
give someone the slip
Neutral · CEFR B2
to escape or evade someone who is following or pursuing you
glass ceiling
Neutral · CEFR B2
an invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising to senior roles
go down that route
Neutral · CEFR B2
to choose a particular method or course of action
go down the road of
Neutral · CEFR B2
to start following a particular course of action
go for broke
Neutral · CEFR B2
to stake everything on one final effort to win or succeed
go from strength to strength
Neutral · CEFR B2
to keep improving and becoming more successful over time
go hand in hand with
Neutral · CEFR B2
to be closely connected or to happen together
go overboard
Neutral · CEFR B2
to do more than is reasonable, appropriate, or necessary
go public
Neutral · CEFR B2
to reveal information openly or make it available to the general public
go round in circles
Neutral · CEFR B2
To repeat the same discussion or actions without reaching a solution or making progress.
go through the motions
Neutral · CEFR B2
to perform the required actions without real interest, effort, or belief
go to seed
Neutral · CEFR B2
to become neglected, untidy, or generally worse in condition
go to the dogs
Neutral · CEFR B2
to deteriorate severely from an earlier, better condition
go up in smoke
Neutral · CEFR B2
be completely ruined or fail, leaving nothing of the original plan
go without saying
Neutral · CEFR B2
to be so obvious that it does not need to be stated
gold rush
Neutral · CEFR B2
a sudden mass rush to profit from a new opportunity
gold standard
Neutral · CEFR B2
the best or most reliable example of its kind
golden age
Neutral · CEFR B2
a period when something was at its most successful or admired
grasp at straws
Neutral · CEFR B2
to try desperate, unlikely measures when things are going badly
grey area
Neutral · CEFR B2
a situation that is unclear or not covered by clear rules
grin and bear it
Neutral · CEFR B2
to put up with something unpleasant while suppressing complaints and maintaining a smile
half the battle
Neutral · CEFR B2
the most important part of achieving something
hand in glove
Neutral · CEFR B2
working together in an extremely close and cooperative way
hang by a thread
Neutral · CEFR B2
to remain so precarious that collapse or failure could happen at any moment
have an eye for
Neutral · CEFR B2
be naturally skilled at noticing or judging a particular quality
have the last laugh
Neutral · CEFR B2
To succeed in the end after others have mocked, doubted, or opposed you.
have the upper hand
Neutral · CEFR B2
to have an advantage or more control than someone else
head for the hills
Neutral · CEFR B2
to flee quickly from a threatening or difficult situation
high and mighty
Neutral · CEFR B2
behaving in an arrogant, self-important way toward other people
hit home
Neutral · CEFR B2
make someone fully understand or feel the importance of something
hockey stick
Neutral · CEFR B2
a pattern of slow or flat growth followed by a sudden, dramatic rise
hold court
Neutral · CEFR B2
dominate the attention and conversation of a social gathering
hold the line
Neutral · CEFR B2
to maintain a position, decision, or principle despite pressure
hold the purse strings
Neutral · CEFR B2
to control a budget and decide how money may be spent
hope against hope
Neutral · CEFR B2
To continue wishing for a good result even when it seems almost impossible.
horses for courses
Neutral · CEFR B2
different people or choices suit different tasks and circumstances
hot under the collar
Neutral · CEFR B2
noticeably irritated or angry
in its own right
Neutral · CEFR B2
by its own qualities, independently of anything else
in one's sights
Neutral · CEFR B2
chosen as a target or goal that you intend to achieve or pursue
in spades
Neutral · CEFR B2
in exceptional abundance or to a remarkably high degree
in store
Neutral · CEFR B2
about to happen or waiting to be experienced in the future
in the fast lane
Neutral · CEFR B2
living or working at an intense pace often associated with excitement and risk
in the pipeline
Neutral · CEFR B2
being planned or developed and expected to happen soon
in the red
Neutral · CEFR B2
Owing money or operating at a financial loss.
in the same breath
Neutral · CEFR B2
said almost at the same time or as part of the same statement
into thin air
Neutral · CEFR B2
Away so completely and suddenly that no trace or explanation remains.
iron out the kinks
Neutral · CEFR B2
to fix the last small problems in a plan, process, or product
it takes two to tango
Neutral · CEFR B2
both parties are responsible for a situation
jack of all trades
Neutral · CEFR B2
a versatile person with many useful skills but no necessary specialization
jump on the bandwagon
Neutral · CEFR B2
To join a popular trend or activity because many others are doing it.
jump to conclusions
Neutral · CEFR B2
to form an opinion too quickly, before considering enough evidence
keep a lid on
Neutral · CEFR B2
To keep information secret and prevent it from spreading.
keep a straight face
Neutral · CEFR B2
To remain serious and avoid smiling or laughing in an amusing or awkward moment.
keep something at arm's length
Neutral · CEFR B2
To avoid becoming too close or too involved with someone or something.
keep the lights on
Neutral · CEFR B2
to do just enough work to keep a business running, without growth or improvement
keep the peace
Neutral · CEFR B2
to prevent conflict and maintain calm between people or groups
keep the wolf from the door
Neutral · CEFR B2
to earn or manage just enough to avoid poverty, hunger, or serious hardship
keep up appearances
Neutral · CEFR B2
To preserve an outward impression that everything is normal or successful despite underlying trouble.
keep up with the Joneses
Neutral · CEFR B2
to try to match the lifestyle of the people around you
kiss and tell
Neutral · CEFR B2
to reveal private or intimate information that was shared in confidence
kiss of death
Neutral · CEFR B2
something that seems helpful but instead causes eventual failure or ruin
know the score
Neutral · CEFR B2
To understand the true situation, including its rules, risks, or likely consequences.
land on your feet
Neutral · CEFR B2
to recover safely from a difficult situation
larger than life
Neutral · CEFR B2
unusually impressive, vivid, or forceful in personality or appearance
last resort
Neutral · CEFR B2
the final option, used only when all others have failed