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
glass ceiling
Neutral · CEFR B2
an invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising to senior roles
go Dutch
Informal · CEFR B2
to share the cost of a meal or outing equally
go all in
Informal · CEFR B2
to commit fully to something, risking everything you have
go down a rabbit hole
Informal · CEFR B2
to get lost in a long, winding, often pointless digression while researching or building something
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 in one ear and out the other
Informal · CEFR B2
to be heard but immediately forgotten or ignored
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 through the roof
Informal · CEFR B2
to rise very quickly to a very high level; or to become extremely angry
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
hand on heart
Informal · CEFR B2
used to stress that you are being completely honest
hang by a thread
Neutral · CEFR B2
to remain so precarious that collapse or failure could happen at any moment
hate someone's guts
Informal · CEFR B2
to feel an extremely strong hatred for someone
have a crack at
Informal · CEFR B2
to make an attempt at doing something
have a life of its own
Informal · CEFR B2
to develop or grow in a way that is no longer controlled by anyone
have a stab at
Informal · CEFR B2
to make an attempt at doing something, often something you're unsure about
have an eye for
Neutral · CEFR B2
be naturally skilled at noticing or judging a particular quality
have bigger fish to fry
Informal · CEFR B2
To have more important matters to deal with.
have several balls in the air
Informal · CEFR B2
to be managing multiple projects or commitments at once
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
have up one's sleeve
Informal · CEFR B2
to have a secret plan or advantage kept ready for later use
have your cake and eat it too
Informal · CEFR B2
to want two incompatible things at once
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
hit the bottle
Informal · CEFR B2
to begin drinking alcohol heavily, often in response to personal distress
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 spots
Informal · CEFR B2
places of intense activity, danger, or popularity
hot under the collar
Neutral · CEFR B2
noticeably irritated or angry
in (the) light of
Formal · CEFR B2
considering or because of (new information or circumstances)
in a nutshell
Informal · CEFR B2
expressed in a very brief and simple way
in a pickle
Informal · CEFR B2
in a difficult or embarrassing situation
in a rut
Informal · CEFR B2
stuck in a boring, unchanging routine
in its own right
Neutral · CEFR B2
by its own qualities, independently of anything else
in no uncertain terms
Formal · CEFR B2
in a completely clear and direct way that leaves no room for doubt
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 doghouse
Informal · CEFR B2
in disgrace, out of favour with someone
in the driving seat
Informal · CEFR B2
in control of a situation
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 ballpark
Informal · CEFR B2
roughly similar in amount, size, or quality
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
it's early days
Informal · CEFR B2
it is too soon to know how something will turn out
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 the gun
Informal · CEFR B2
To do something too soon, before the right time.
jump to conclusions
Neutral · CEFR B2
to form an opinion too quickly, before considering enough evidence
jump up and down
Informal · CEFR B2
to react with strong excitement or anger about something
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 tabs on
Informal · CEFR B2
to monitor someone or something carefully over time
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
kick the bucket
Informal · CEFR B2
to die
kick the habit
Informal · CEFR B2
to stop a persistent behavior, especially an addictive one
kick up a fuss
Informal · CEFR B2
to react with a noisy, angry complaint, often over a minor issue
kicking and screaming
Informal · CEFR B2
strongly unwilling and protesting while being forced to do something
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 grab
Informal · CEFR B2
a fierce rush to capture as much market share or territory as possible, often before the market matures
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