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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.

Idioms Informal Neutral Formal
589 idioms
pivot Neutral · CEFR B2
to change a company's direction or business model in response to what the market reveals
plain sailing Neutral · CEFR B2
an activity or process that continues easily and without difficulties
play ball Informal · CEFR B2
to cooperate or agree to do what someone wants
play for time Neutral · CEFR B2
to delay deliberately in order to prepare or avoid an immediate outcome
play it by ear Informal · CEFR B2
To deal with a situation as it develops rather than following a fixed plan.
play second fiddle Neutral · CEFR B2
to be in a less important role than someone else
play the field Informal · CEFR B2
to date several people without committing to one partner
play with fire Neutral · CEFR B2
to take a serious risk that is likely to bring harmful consequences
playbook Neutral · CEFR B2
a set of proven methods, tactics, and moves for a given situation
pop the question Informal · CEFR B2
To propose marriage to someone.
pot calling the kettle black Informal · CEFR B2
criticizing someone for a fault you share
preach to the choir Informal · CEFR B2
to try to convince people who already agree with you
pressure cooker Informal · CEFR B2
an intensely stressful environment or situation
pull a face Informal · CEFR B2
to make an unusual facial expression that shows dislike, surprise, or amusement
pull a fast one Informal · CEFR B2
to deceive someone with a quick, sneaky, or unexpected trick
pull an all-nighter Informal · CEFR B2
to stay up and work through the entire night
pull strings Informal · CEFR B2
to use personal influence or secret connections to make something happen
pull the wool over someone's eyes Informal · CEFR B2
to deceive someone
pull your weight Neutral · CEFR B2
To do your fair share of the work in a group.
pull yourself together Informal · CEFR B2
To regain control of your emotions and calm down.
push the envelope Neutral · CEFR B2
to go beyond the limits of what is known or accepted
put a damper on Neutral · CEFR B2
to make an event or mood less enjoyable and exciting
put down roots Neutral · CEFR B2
to make a permanent home in one place and build a stable life there
put the cart before the horse Neutral · CEFR B2
to do things in the wrong order
put words in someone's mouth Neutral · CEFR B2
to claim falsely that someone expressed an opinion or made a statement
put your best foot forward Neutral · CEFR B2
to make a good first impression by showing your best side
put your finger on Informal · CEFR B2
to identify exactly what is wrong or what something is
put your foot down Informal · CEFR B2
to assert your authority firmly
put your money where your mouth is Informal · CEFR B2
to back up your words with action, especially money
quick and dirty Informal · CEFR B2
done rapidly and roughly, with little care for quality or polish
quote somebody on something Informal · CEFR B2
to repeat what someone said, attributing the words to them
race against time Neutral · CEFR B2
a desperate hurry to finish before a deadline
rack your brains Informal · CEFR B2
To think very hard in an effort to remember or solve something.
rain on someone's parade Informal · CEFR B2
To spoil someone's plans or happiness.
raise hell Informal · CEFR B2
to create a loud disturbance or behave in a wildly disruptive way
raise the bar Neutral · CEFR B2
To set a higher standard of quality or achievement.
read between the lines Neutral · CEFR B2
To understand a hidden or implied meaning that is not stated directly.
red tape Neutral · CEFR B2
excessive bureaucracy and official rules
reinvent the wheel Neutral · CEFR B2
to waste time recreating something that already exists and works well
ring true Neutral · CEFR B2
to seem true or believable
rise to the occasion Neutral · CEFR B2
to respond successfully when a difficult situation demands unusual effort or skill
rock bottom Neutral · CEFR B2
the lowest possible point in a difficult situation
rock the boat Informal · CEFR B2
to disturb a stable situation by causing trouble or challenging accepted arrangements
rough edges Neutral · CEFR B2
small flaws that remain without seriously reducing the overall quality
rub shoulders Neutral · CEFR B2
to mix or spend time with people in a social or professional setting
rub someone the wrong way Neutral · CEFR B2
to irritate or offend a person, often without intending to
rule of thumb Neutral · CEFR B2
a rough, practical guideline based on experience rather than exact measurement
rule the roost Neutral · CEFR B2
To hold the most power in a household, organization, or other group and make the main decisions.
run out of steam Informal · CEFR B2
to lose the energy, enthusiasm, or momentum needed to continue
run riot Neutral · CEFR B2
to behave in a wild, uncontrolled way that creates disorder
runway Neutral · CEFR B2
the amount of time a company can keep operating before its money runs out
save face Neutral · CEFR B2
to protect one's dignity or public reputation after embarrassment or failure
save the day Informal · CEFR B2
to prevent failure or disaster through a timely action
saved by the bell Informal · CEFR B2
rescued from an awkward situation at the last moment
scratch the surface Neutral · CEFR B2
To examine or deal with only a small, superficial part of a larger subject.
seal of approval Neutral · CEFR B2
a recognized sign that an authority accepts, supports, or endorses something
second nature Neutral · CEFR B2
a learned skill or habit that has become automatic and effortless
see the light of day Neutral · CEFR B2
be created, published, or finally made available for people to see
send someone packing Neutral · CEFR B2
to dismiss someone or force them to leave quickly and decisively
serve someone right Neutral · CEFR B2
used to say that someone deserves the unpleasant result they received
set eyes on Neutral · CEFR B2
to see or notice a person or thing, especially for the first time
set foot in Neutral · CEFR B2
to enter or visit a place, often used in negatives
set something in stone Neutral · CEFR B2
to make something fixed and impossible to change
set the scene Neutral · CEFR B2
to describe the background so that something can be understood, or to create the conditions for it
settle a score Neutral · CEFR B2
to retaliate for an old grievance or perceived wrong
shift gears Informal · CEFR B2
to change your approach, activity, or pace
shoot the breeze Informal · CEFR B2
to chat informally about unimportant things
shotgun approach Informal · CEFR B2
a broad, unfocused strategy that tries many things at once, hoping one will work
show someone the door Neutral · CEFR B2
to dismiss someone or make it clear that they must leave
shut up shop Informal · CEFR B2
to stop working for the day or to close a business permanently
sign of the times Neutral · CEFR B2
an event or development that reveals what a particular era is like
silver bullet Neutral · CEFR B2
a single, simple, magical solution that solves a hard problem completely
sing the praises of Neutral · CEFR B2
to praise a person or thing enthusiastically when speaking to others
sit on one's hands Informal · CEFR B2
to do nothing when action is needed
sitting pretty Neutral · CEFR B2
being in a comfortable and advantageous position, often financially
skeleton in the closet Neutral · CEFR B2
a shameful secret in someone's past
slip of the tongue Neutral · CEFR B2
an unintended word or phrase spoken by mistake
small print Neutral · CEFR B2
important detailed conditions that are easy to overlook in an agreement or advertisement
smell a rat Informal · CEFR B2
To suspect that something is wrong or that someone is being dishonest.
smoke test Neutral · CEFR B2
a quick, shallow test that checks whether a system's most basic functions work at all
someone's bread and butter Informal · CEFR B2
the main source of someone's income or basic work
speak of the devil Informal · CEFR B2
Said when a person you were just talking about suddenly appears.
speak volumes Neutral · CEFR B2
to reveal a great deal without words
spin a yarn Neutral · CEFR B2
to tell an entertaining story that may be lengthy, imaginative, or exaggerated
split hairs Informal · CEFR B2
to argue about tiny, unimportant differences
spring to mind Neutral · CEFR B2
to come into your thoughts suddenly and easily
stab someone in the back Neutral · CEFR B2
to betray someone secretly
stand the test of time Neutral · CEFR B2
to remain effective, admired, or valuable over a long period
stand to reason Neutral · CEFR B2
to be logical or obvious
stand up and be counted Neutral · CEFR B2
to declare one's position publicly when doing so calls for courage or principle
state of the art Neutral · CEFR B2
using the most advanced and modern techniques or technology
steal the show Neutral · CEFR B2
to receive the most attention and praise at an event by outshining everyone else
stepping stone Neutral · CEFR B2
something that helps you make progress toward a goal
stick to your guns Informal · CEFR B2
to refuse to change your position under pressure
stick your neck out Informal · CEFR B2
To take a risk by saying or doing something that others might criticize.
stop at nothing Neutral · CEFR B2
to pursue a goal without accepting any moral or practical limit

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