Idioms

to rebuild one's life or restore order after a damaging event

to cover a bill yourself, often for a group after a meal or other outing

an attractive ambition with almost no realistic prospect of being achieved

to date several people without committing to one partner

To propose marriage to someone.

criticizing someone for a fault you share

to try to convince people who already agree with you

to deceive someone

to go beyond the limits of what is known or accepted

to do things in the wrong order

To set a higher standard of quality or achievement.

To understand a hidden or implied meaning that is not stated directly.

to waste time recreating something that already exists and works well

to respond successfully when a difficult situation demands unusual effort or skill

to disturb a stable situation by causing trouble or challenging accepted arrangements

to irritate or offend a person, often without intending to

To hold the most power in a household, organization, or other group and make the main decisions.

to prevent failure or disaster through a timely action

rescued from an awkward situation at the last moment

To examine or deal with only a small, superficial part of a larger subject.

be created, published, or finally made available for people to see

to describe the background so that something can be understood, or to create the conditions for it

to chat informally about unimportant things

damage your own interests through an unwise action

to dismiss someone or make it clear that they must leave

an event or development that reveals what a particular era is like

to praise a person or thing enthusiastically when speaking to others

two alternatives have no meaningful difference

a shameful secret in someone's past

an unintended word or phrase spoken by mistake

Said when a person you were just talking about suddenly appears.

to betray someone secretly

to remain effective, admired, or valuable over a long period

using the most advanced and modern techniques or technology

to receive the most attention and praise at an event by outshining everyone else

accept responsibility and take action when needed

from the most reliable, first-hand source

to act quickly while the opportunity exists

To win every available prize or category in a competition.

To deal with a difficult situation directly and bravely.

to do something without first asking permission, often as a helpful or polite initiative

to mock someone, often through teasing or sarcasm

to make a bold commitment after a period of hesitation

to suddenly weaken a person's confidence, excitement, or determination

used to accept an unfortunate result as something that happens in life

a person or thing that someone loves and treasures above all others

the way power or influence is distributed among competing groups, countries, or people

It is now your responsibility to make the next decision or move.

the overall situation and its most important facts, rather than its details

the most important fact or the final result of something

a quiet period immediately before trouble, intense activity, or chaos

it is safe to proceed without being seen or stopped

The very best people or things in a group.

the hidden difficulties of a plan are in its small details

an obvious and important problem that everyone notices but avoids discussing

the ability to speak persuasively and fluently

Other people's situations always seem better than your own.

The final small problem that makes a situation no longer tolerable.

The largest part of something that is divided.

the essential point, stripped of detail

an ordinary, average person

a different or opposite aspect of a situation

suddenly understanding something

new information makes a situation more complicated or mysterious

the final small addition that makes a situation unbearable

a small visible part of a much larger hidden problem or situation

To approach a problem in a fresh, creative, unconventional way.

admire or care for someone or something very deeply

various unspecified things

via informal gossip or rumor, not official channels

to act boldly or recklessly without considering the possible consequences

To give up or admit defeat.

to try many ideas quickly, keeping only the ones that work

to make someone start a difficult task with little preparation or help

to meet all the required conditions or do things just to satisfy rules

to get married

used to show that something is more extreme than your words suggest

amounting to a stated, usually substantial, quantity or sum

to reverse a situation so that the former weaker side gains the advantage

to deliberately make an already painful situation feel even worse

recognize an unpleasant reality that you have been ignoring

past events that no longer matter

survive a difficult period without suffering lasting damage

used informally to ask how much something costs

at a moment of crisis when pressure forces an important choice

to forgive or forget past problems so a fresh start is possible

the biggest, most powerful player in a market, which dominates everything around it

Matching variant: the elephant in the market

a secret advantage kept hidden until it is needed

in a way that conflicts with what is usual or with someone's natural character

to leave a place very quickly (get); or to defeat or hit something severely (beat)

to make one naturally want to ask a particular question; (formally) to assume the very point being argued

Completely unacceptable by ordinary moral or social standards.

spending a disproportionate amount of time on trivial details while ignoring the important parts of a problem

Matching variant: painting the bike shed

people with no experience guiding others who have no experience

to attempt something impossibly large or ambitious, especially by trying to solve every problem at once

for the same or a closely related reason