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
last resort
Neutral · CEFR B2
the final option, used only when all others have failed
laugh all the way to the bank
Neutral · CEFR B2
to enjoy a large, easy profit, especially from something others consider unfair or undeserving
laughing stock
Neutral · CEFR B2
a person or thing that others openly mock or ridicule
lay a finger on
Informal · CEFR B2
to touch or interfere with a person, usually in a warning against causing harm
lay down the law
Neutral · CEFR B2
to state rules firmly and make clear that they are not open to negotiation
leave no stone unturned
Neutral · CEFR B2
to try every possible way to achieve or find something
leave someone in the lurch
Neutral · CEFR B2
to withdraw support when another person is stranded in serious difficulty
let sleeping dogs lie
Neutral · CEFR B2
To avoid raising an old issue that could cause trouble.
let the dust settle
Neutral · CEFR B2
To wait until a confusing or troubled situation becomes calm before acting.
let your hair down
Informal · CEFR B2
To relax completely and enjoy yourself without worrying about behaving formally.
level playing field
Neutral · CEFR B2
a fair situation in which no one has an unfair advantage
lift a finger
Neutral · CEFR B2
to make even the smallest effort to help, most often used in a negative statement
light at the end of the tunnel
Neutral · CEFR B2
A sign that a difficult period may soon improve or end.
live a lie
Neutral · CEFR B2
to hide your true identity, beliefs, or feelings by living dishonestly
live paycheck to paycheck
Neutral · CEFR B2
to spend all of each salary before the next one arrives, with no savings
look before you leap
Neutral · CEFR B2
to consider the risks before acting
look the other way
Neutral · CEFR B2
to pretend not to notice misconduct or another troubling situation
look the part
Neutral · CEFR B2
have the appearance or clothing expected for a particular role
lose face
Neutral · CEFR B2
lose other people's respect through public embarrassment or humiliation
low-hanging fruit
Informal · CEFR B2
the easiest, quickest wins available
make a go of
Neutral · CEFR B2
to turn an undertaking into a lasting success
make a killing
Informal · CEFR B2
to earn a very large amount of money quickly
make a meal of
Neutral · CEFR B2
to devote far too much effort to a task and make it seem needlessly complicated
make a splash
Neutral · CEFR B2
to attract considerable public attention by doing something impressive or notable
make hay while the sun shines
Neutral · CEFR B2
to take advantage of favourable conditions while they last
make history
Neutral · CEFR B2
to do something important or unprecedented that will be remembered
make light of
Neutral · CEFR B2
to treat a serious matter as unimportant, often by joking about it
make light work of
Neutral · CEFR B2
to handle a demanding task quickly and effortlessly
make or break
Neutral · CEFR B2
to be the single decisive factor between success and failure
make short work of
Neutral · CEFR B2
to finish a task or overcome an opponent with surprising speed and ease
make the grade
Informal · CEFR B2
to reach the standard required for success or acceptance
make waves
Neutral · CEFR B2
to cause disruption or draw attention by challenging established expectations
marriage of convenience
Neutral · CEFR B2
an often temporary alliance entered for practical advantage, without emotional attachment or genuine common purpose
mean business
Neutral · CEFR B2
to show serious determination to accomplish a goal
meet someone halfway
Neutral · CEFR B2
to compromise with someone
moment of truth
Neutral · CEFR B2
the decisive point when reality or the final outcome becomes clear
money talks
Neutral · CEFR B2
financial power can strongly influence what people decide or do
move heaven and earth
Neutral · CEFR B2
to spare no effort, even extraordinary effort, in pursuing a goal
move the goalposts
Informal · CEFR B2
to unfairly change the rules or aims after something has started
move the needle
Neutral · CEFR B2
to have a significant, measurable effect on a key metric or outcome
moving target
Neutral · CEFR B2
a goal or requirement that keeps changing while you try to hit it
muddy the waters
Neutral · CEFR B2
to introduce confusion that obscures facts or makes a situation harder to judge
neck and neck
Neutral · CEFR B2
very close in a competition, neither side clearly ahead
neck of the woods
Neutral · CEFR B2
someone's local area or part of the country
neither here nor there
Neutral · CEFR B2
irrelevant to the matter being discussed
nest egg
Neutral · CEFR B2
a sum of money saved for retirement or the future
new lease of life
Neutral · CEFR B2
renewed energy, health, or usefulness
nip it in the bud
Neutral · CEFR B2
to stop a problem at an early stage
no holds barred
Neutral · CEFR B2
With no limits or restrictions on how a contest, argument, or conflict is conducted.
no man's land
Neutral · CEFR B2
an uncontrolled, disputed, or undefined area where occupying or intervening is unwise
no smoke without fire
Neutral · CEFR B2
rumors or accusations usually contain at least some truth
no strings attached
Neutral · CEFR B2
given freely, with nothing expected in return and no concealed restrictions
no two ways about it
Neutral · CEFR B2
the situation is certain, with no reasonable alternative or different interpretation
odds and ends
Neutral · CEFR B2
a collection of small, miscellaneous items, especially things left over
off the beaten track
Neutral · CEFR B2
in or toward a place that is remote, unusual, or rarely visited
off the cuff
Informal · CEFR B2
said without preparation
off the hook
Informal · CEFR B2
freed from blame, responsibility, or an unpleasant obligation
off the mark
Neutral · CEFR B2
incorrect, inaccurate, or below the expected standard
off the top of one's head
Informal · CEFR B2
from memory, without checking or thinking carefully
on a roll
Informal · CEFR B2
experiencing a series of successes
on a shoestring
Neutral · CEFR B2
With very little money or an extremely limited budget.
on one's hands
Neutral · CEFR B2
as one's responsibility or problem to deal with
on that note
Neutral · CEFR B2
used to move on or end after what was just said
on the back burner
Informal · CEFR B2
given low priority and left for later
on the face of it
Neutral · CEFR B2
judging only by appearances, without deeper examination
on the fly
Neutral · CEFR B2
while something is happening, without prior preparation
on the house
Informal · CEFR B2
provided free by the establishment
on the mend
Neutral · CEFR B2
recovering or improving after illness or damage
on the side
Informal · CEFR B2
in addition to one's main job or activity, often secretly
on thin ice
Neutral · CEFR B2
in a risky position where one mistake could cause trouble
once and for all
Neutral · CEFR B2
finally and permanently, so the matter will not need to be handled again
once bitten, twice shy
Neutral · CEFR B2
a bad experience makes you cautious about repeating it
one of those things
Neutral · CEFR B2
an odd or unfortunate situation accepted as unavoidable and not worth further explanation
open the floodgates
Neutral · CEFR B2
To remove a restraint and allow something to increase rapidly, often beyond control.
out of line
Informal · CEFR B2
behaving or speaking beyond acceptable limits
out of one's hands
Neutral · CEFR B2
no longer one's responsibility or under one's control
out of order
Neutral · CEFR B2
not working properly
out of the blue
Informal · CEFR B2
suddenly and unexpectedly
out of the running
Neutral · CEFR B2
no longer being considered for a prize, position, or competition
out of the woods
Neutral · CEFR B2
past the worst of a danger or difficulty
out of thin air
Neutral · CEFR B2
to seem to materialize suddenly without any apparent origin
out on a limb
Neutral · CEFR B2
in a vulnerable position after taking an unusual or unsupported risk
over my dead body
Informal · CEFR B2
a forceful refusal meaning that something will never be allowed
over the counter
Neutral · CEFR B2
obtainable without a prescription or other formal authorization
over the hill
Informal · CEFR B2
no longer young or at one's best
over the top
Informal · CEFR B2
excessive or exaggerated
paint the town red
Informal · CEFR B2
to go out and celebrate noisily
par for the course
Neutral · CEFR B2
Normal and unsurprising for a particular situation, even if it is inconvenient or disappointing.
pass the buck
Neutral · CEFR B2
avoid accountability by shifting responsibility or blame to another person
pay through the nose
Informal · CEFR B2
To pay a far higher price for something than it is really worth.
pick holes
Neutral · CEFR B2
to scrutinize something in order to expose its flaws
pick up the pieces
Neutral · CEFR B2
to rebuild one's life or restore order after a damaging event
pick up the tab
Neutral · CEFR B2
to cover a bill yourself, often for a group after a meal or other outing
pie in the sky
Neutral · CEFR B2
an attractive ambition with almost no realistic prospect of being achieved
pipe dream
Informal · CEFR B2
an unrealistic hope or plan that will almost certainly never happen
pissed off
Informal · CEFR B2
very angry or irritated about something