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
laugh all the way to the bank
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to enjoy a large, easy profit, especially from something others consider unfair or undeserving
laughing stock
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a person or thing that others openly mock or ridicule
lay down the law
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to state rules firmly and make clear that they are not open to negotiation
leave no stone unturned
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to try every possible way to achieve or find something
leave someone in the lurch
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to withdraw support when another person is stranded in serious difficulty
let sleeping dogs lie
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To avoid raising an old issue that could cause trouble.
let the dust settle
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To wait until a confusing or troubled situation becomes calm before acting.
level playing field
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a fair situation in which no one has an unfair advantage
lift a finger
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to make even the smallest effort to help, most often used in a negative statement
light at the end of the tunnel
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A sign that a difficult period may soon improve or end.
live a lie
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to hide your true identity, beliefs, or feelings by living dishonestly
live paycheck to paycheck
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to spend all of each salary before the next one arrives, with no savings
look before you leap
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to consider the risks before acting
look the other way
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to pretend not to notice misconduct or another troubling situation
look the part
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have the appearance or clothing expected for a particular role
lose face
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lose other people's respect through public embarrassment or humiliation
make a go of
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to turn an undertaking into a lasting success
make a meal of
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to devote far too much effort to a task and make it seem needlessly complicated
make a splash
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to attract considerable public attention by doing something impressive or notable
make hay while the sun shines
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to take advantage of favourable conditions while they last
make history
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to do something important or unprecedented that will be remembered
make light of
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to treat a serious matter as unimportant, often by joking about it
make light work of
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to handle a demanding task quickly and effortlessly
make or break
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to be the single decisive factor between success and failure
make short work of
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to finish a task or overcome an opponent with surprising speed and ease
make waves
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to cause disruption or draw attention by challenging established expectations
marriage of convenience
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an often temporary alliance entered for practical advantage, without emotional attachment or genuine common purpose
mean business
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to show serious determination to accomplish a goal
meet someone halfway
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to compromise with someone
moment of truth
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the decisive point when reality or the final outcome becomes clear
money talks
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financial power can strongly influence what people decide or do
move heaven and earth
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to spare no effort, even extraordinary effort, in pursuing a goal
move the needle
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to have a significant, measurable effect on a key metric or outcome
moving target
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a goal or requirement that keeps changing while you try to hit it
muddy the waters
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to introduce confusion that obscures facts or makes a situation harder to judge
neck and neck
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very close in a competition, neither side clearly ahead
neck of the woods
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someone's local area or part of the country
neither here nor there
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irrelevant to the matter being discussed
nest egg
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a sum of money saved for retirement or the future
new lease of life
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renewed energy, health, or usefulness
nip it in the bud
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to stop a problem at an early stage
no holds barred
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With no limits or restrictions on how a contest, argument, or conflict is conducted.
no man's land
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an uncontrolled, disputed, or undefined area where occupying or intervening is unwise
no smoke without fire
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rumors or accusations usually contain at least some truth
no strings attached
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given freely, with nothing expected in return and no concealed restrictions
no two ways about it
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the situation is certain, with no reasonable alternative or different interpretation
odds and ends
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a collection of small, miscellaneous items, especially things left over
off the beaten track
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in or toward a place that is remote, unusual, or rarely visited
off the mark
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incorrect, inaccurate, or below the expected standard
on a shoestring
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With very little money or an extremely limited budget.
on one's hands
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as one's responsibility or problem to deal with
on that note
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used to move on or end after what was just said
on the face of it
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judging only by appearances, without deeper examination
on the fly
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while something is happening, without prior preparation
on the mend
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recovering or improving after illness or damage
on thin ice
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in a risky position where one mistake could cause trouble
once and for all
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finally and permanently, so the matter will not need to be handled again
once bitten, twice shy
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a bad experience makes you cautious about repeating it
one of those things
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an odd or unfortunate situation accepted as unavoidable and not worth further explanation
open the floodgates
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To remove a restraint and allow something to increase rapidly, often beyond control.
out of one's hands
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no longer one's responsibility or under one's control
out of order
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not working properly
out of the running
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no longer being considered for a prize, position, or competition
out of the woods
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past the worst of a danger or difficulty
out of thin air
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to seem to materialize suddenly without any apparent origin
out on a limb
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in a vulnerable position after taking an unusual or unsupported risk
over the counter
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obtainable without a prescription or other formal authorization
par for the course
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Normal and unsurprising for a particular situation, even if it is inconvenient or disappointing.
pass the buck
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avoid accountability by shifting responsibility or blame to another person
pick holes
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to scrutinize something in order to expose its flaws
pick up the pieces
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to rebuild one's life or restore order after a damaging event
pick up the tab
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to cover a bill yourself, often for a group after a meal or other outing
pie in the sky
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an attractive ambition with almost no realistic prospect of being achieved
pivot
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to change a company's direction or business model in response to what the market reveals
plain sailing
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an activity or process that continues easily and without difficulties
play for time
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to delay deliberately in order to prepare or avoid an immediate outcome
play second fiddle
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to be in a less important role than someone else
play with fire
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to take a serious risk that is likely to bring harmful consequences
playbook
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a set of proven methods, tactics, and moves for a given situation
pull your weight
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To do your fair share of the work in a group.
push the envelope
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to go beyond the limits of what is known or accepted
put a damper on
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to make an event or mood less enjoyable and exciting
put down roots
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to make a permanent home in one place and build a stable life there
put the cart before the horse
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to do things in the wrong order
put words in someone's mouth
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to claim falsely that someone expressed an opinion or made a statement
put your best foot forward
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to make a good first impression by showing your best side
race against time
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a desperate hurry to finish before a deadline
raise the bar
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To set a higher standard of quality or achievement.
read between the lines
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To understand a hidden or implied meaning that is not stated directly.
red tape
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excessive bureaucracy and official rules
reinvent the wheel
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to waste time recreating something that already exists and works well
ring true
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to seem true or believable
rise to the occasion
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to respond successfully when a difficult situation demands unusual effort or skill
rock bottom
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the lowest possible point in a difficult situation
rough edges
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small flaws that remain without seriously reducing the overall quality
rub shoulders
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to mix or spend time with people in a social or professional setting