Idioms

to pause and reconsider a situation (step back), or develop an idea or action beyond its current point (step further)

unfavorable reporting or reputation in the media or among people

a subject that causes disagreement or argument between people

A clumsy person who causes damage or upset in a delicate situation.

a person who strongly resembles a parent in character or behavior

So common as to be of little value.

A controversial or awkward issue that no one wants to deal with.

used to say that you know something while keeping your informant's identity secret

an extremely serious or urgent matter

a guess or attempt with very little chance of success

The same unpleasant treatment that you have given to others.

A completely different situation from before.

affecting everyone or everything equally

To make a bad situation or an argument worse.

make an already bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm

to stay better prepared than others by anticipating future needs

a situation suddenly became extremely noisy, chaotic, or violent

a task treated as routine because it belongs to someone's normal duties

requiring complete success or acceptance, with no partial alternative

everything is ready for an activity to begin

full of promises or discussion without doing the things promised

extremely fashionable or popular at a particular time

similar to; roughly in the style or manner of

there are no meaningful restrictions on behavior or choices

equipped with a very large number of weapons and ready for conflict

By a fortunate coincidence, often introducing an unexpectedly helpful event.

unable to express yourself because an emotional or confusing moment leaves you speechless

so seriously ill or injured that death seems close

a thought or worry that you are vaguely aware of but not focusing on

immediately and with no hesitation when an opportunity or prompt appears

to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed

to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed

a difficult situation in which someone must divide time, attention, or importance between competing needs

a hasty, temporary solution that patches a symptom without addressing the root cause

To pursue a mistaken or misguided line of thought or action.

to prepare yourself and your resources for an approaching difficult situation

to produce a successful or useful result

To avoid talking about the main point directly.

in prison

in private, away from public observation

happening privately or secretly, not in public view

extra, attractive but non-essential features added to a product

worse than the normal or expected standard

To try extremely hard to help or please someone.

facing two equally bad options, neither of which can be avoided

an important person in a small or limited environment

to take on more work than you can handle

to answer someone with sudden and often unjustified anger

To force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult that you have been avoiding.

to fail or come to an end; to die

a mixed group of small, unrelated items or leftover pieces

to pioneer an approach that opens the way for later people

graphic violence and gore shown in a film, book, or similar work

to expose what someone has kept secret, such as their identity or scheme

to astonish someone with something highly surprising or impressive

a major setback that seriously weakens a person, organization, or effort

to be summarized as or reduced to the most essential point

raised from birth in a particular place or environment, with traits shaped by it

to stop concealing one's true position or intentions and make them known

to reach the point where revenue equals costs — no profit, no loss

to do something that has never been done before; to pioneer

to openly depart from the shared position of one's own group

to get past the main obstacle so that the remaining work becomes easier

To cost so much that it uses up all your money.

to do something new and different that sets a new standard

to monitor someone so closely that they feel pressured or uncomfortable

to reduce or remove the difference between two things or groups

To earn the money that supports a household.

To destroy a relationship in a way that makes future cooperation impossible.

the speed at which a company spends its cash reserves, usually measured per month

to work so hard and long that you exhaust yourself

To stay up very late working or studying.

normal activities continuing despite a disruption or unusual circumstances

to flatter someone in order to gain a favour

to create a delay that provides extra time to prepare or decide

generally; on the whole

strictly following the rules or official procedures

By the narrowest possible margin; only just barely.

to speak plainly and directly, even bluntly

to stop doing something, especially after deciding it is not working

a strategy that uses both incentives and penalties to steer behavior

a product or business that generates steady, reliable profit with little further investment

to look at or examine something quickly

to think about something that happened in the past

to begin burning

to catch someone in the very act of doing something wrong

to feel intensely ready to begin after being forced to wait

to pass from one owner to another

the main achievement or feature for which a person, place, or thing is known

to remove distractions or unfinished tasks so you are ready for action

to advance step by step through the ranks of a company

to confess the truth about something previously hidden or denied

whatever difficulties or obstacles arise

to start to have an effect or become relevant

to reach adulthood or become fully developed and established

to reach a critical point that demands action or resolution