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.
200 idioms
virtuous circle
Neutral · CEFR C1
a beneficial loop in which each success makes the next success more likely
wet behind the ears
Informal · CEFR C1
young and inexperienced
when it rains it pours
Informal · CEFR C1
when problems come, they come all at once
white elephant
Neutral · CEFR C1
an expensive, burdensome asset that is hard to maintain and brings no benefit
white knight
Neutral · CEFR C1
a friendly company or investor that rescues a target from a hostile takeover
winner takes all
Neutral · CEFR C1
a market dynamic in which the leading competitor captures nearly all the value
writ large
Formal · CEFR C1
displayed unmistakably in a broader or more general form
yak shaving
Informal · CEFR C1
a seemingly pointless chain of tasks that must each be completed before the original task can be done