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
(take) a step back/further
Neutral · CEFR B2
to pause and reconsider a situation (step back), or develop an idea or action beyond its current point (step further)
a bad press
Neutral · CEFR B2
unfavorable reporting or reputation in the media or among people
a bone of contention
Neutral · CEFR B2
a subject that causes disagreement or argument between people
a bull in a china shop
Neutral · CEFR B2
A clumsy person who causes damage or upset in a delicate situation.
a dime a dozen
Informal · CEFR B2
So common as to be of little value.
a hot potato
Informal · CEFR B2
A controversial or awkward issue that no one wants to deal with.
a shot in the dark
Neutral · CEFR B2
a guess or attempt with very little chance of success
a taste of your own medicine
Informal · CEFR B2
The same unpleasant treatment that you have given to others.
a whole new ball game
Informal · CEFR B2
A completely different situation from before.
across the board
Neutral · CEFR B2
affecting everyone or everything equally
add fuel to the fire
Neutral · CEFR B2
To make a bad situation or an argument worse.
add insult to injury
Neutral · CEFR B2
make an already bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm
ahead of the game
Neutral · CEFR B2
to stay better prepared than others by anticipating future needs
all in a day's work
Neutral · CEFR B2
a task treated as routine because it belongs to someone's normal duties
all the rage
Informal · CEFR B2
extremely fashionable or popular at a particular time
along the lines of
Neutral · CEFR B2
similar to; roughly in the style or manner of
armed to the teeth
Neutral · CEFR B2
equipped with a very large number of weapons and ready for conflict
as luck would have it
Neutral · CEFR B2
By a fortunate coincidence, often introducing an unexpectedly helpful event.
at a loss for words
Neutral · CEFR B2
unable to express yourself because an emotional or confusing moment leaves you speechless
at death's door
Neutral · CEFR B2
so seriously ill or injured that death seems close
at the back of one's mind
Neutral · CEFR B2
a thought or worry that you are vaguely aware of but not focusing on
at the drop of a hat
Neutral · CEFR B2
immediately and with no hesitation when an opportunity or prompt appears
back to square one
Neutral · CEFR B2
to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed
back to the drawing board
Neutral · CEFR B2
to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed
balancing act
Neutral · CEFR B2
a difficult situation in which someone must divide time, attention, or importance between competing needs
band-aid fix
Informal · CEFR B2
a hasty, temporary solution that patches a symptom without addressing the root cause
barking up the wrong tree
Informal · CEFR B2
To pursue a mistaken or misguided line of thought or action.
batten down the hatches
Neutral · CEFR B2
to prepare yourself and your resources for an approaching difficult situation
bear fruit
Neutral · CEFR B2
to produce a successful or useful result
beat around the bush
Informal · CEFR B2
To avoid talking about the main point directly.
behind bars
Neutral · CEFR B2
in prison
behind closed doors
Neutral · CEFR B2
in private, away from public observation
behind the scenes
Neutral · CEFR B2
happening privately or secretly, not in public view
bells and whistles
Informal · CEFR B2
extra, attractive but non-essential features added to a product
below par
Neutral · CEFR B2
worse than the normal or expected standard
bend over backwards
Informal · CEFR B2
To try extremely hard to help or please someone.
between a rock and a hard place
Informal · CEFR B2
facing two equally bad options, neither of which can be avoided
big fish in a small pond
Neutral · CEFR B2
an important person in a small or limited environment
birds of a feather flock together
Neutral · CEFR B2
people with similar interests or character tend to spend time together
bite off more than you can chew
Informal · CEFR B2
to take on more work than you can handle
bite someone's head off
Informal · CEFR B2
to answer someone with sudden and often unjustified anger
bite the bullet
Neutral · CEFR B2
To force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult that you have been avoiding.
bite the dust
Informal · CEFR B2
to fail or come to an end; to die
bits and bobs
Neutral · CEFR B2
a mixed group of small, unrelated items or leftover pieces
blaze a trail
Neutral · CEFR B2
to pioneer an approach that opens the way for later people
blood and guts
Informal · CEFR B2
graphic violence and gore shown in a film, book, or similar work
blow someone's cover
Neutral · CEFR B2
to expose what someone has kept secret, such as their identity or scheme
blow someone's mind
Informal · CEFR B2
to astonish someone with something highly surprising or impressive
body blow
Neutral · CEFR B2
a major setback that seriously weakens a person, organization, or effort
boil down to
Informal · CEFR B2
to be summarized as or reduced to the most essential point
born and bred
Neutral · CEFR B2
raised from birth in a particular place or environment, with traits shaped by it
break cover
Neutral · CEFR B2
to stop concealing one's true position or intentions and make them known
break even
Neutral · CEFR B2
to reach the point where revenue equals costs — no profit, no loss
break new ground
Neutral · CEFR B2
to do something that has never been done before; to pioneer
break ranks
Neutral · CEFR B2
to openly depart from the shared position of one's own group
break the back of
Neutral · CEFR B2
to get past the main obstacle so that the remaining work becomes easier
break the bank
Informal · CEFR B2
To cost so much that it uses up all your money.
break the mould
Neutral · CEFR B2
to do something new and different that sets a new standard
breathe down someone's neck
Neutral · CEFR B2
to monitor someone so closely that they feel pressured or uncomfortable
bridge the gap
Neutral · CEFR B2
to reduce or remove the difference between two things or groups
bring home the bacon
Informal · CEFR B2
To earn the money that supports a household.
burn bridges
Neutral · CEFR B2
To destroy a relationship in a way that makes future cooperation impossible.
burn rate
Neutral · CEFR B2
the speed at which a company spends its cash reserves, usually measured per month
burn the candle at both ends
Neutral · CEFR B2
to work so hard and long that you exhaust yourself
burn the midnight oil
Neutral · CEFR B2
To stay up very late working or studying.
butter someone up
Informal · CEFR B2
to flatter someone in order to gain a favour
buy time
Neutral · CEFR B2
to create a delay that provides extra time to prepare or decide
by and large
Neutral · CEFR B2
generally; on the whole
by the book
Neutral · CEFR B2
strictly following the rules or official procedures
by the skin of your teeth
Informal · CEFR B2
By the narrowest possible margin; only just barely.
call a spade a spade
Informal · CEFR B2
to speak plainly and directly, even bluntly
call it quits
Informal · CEFR B2
to stop doing something, especially after deciding it is not working
carrot and stick
Neutral · CEFR B2
a strategy that uses both incentives and penalties to steer behavior
cash cow
Neutral · CEFR B2
a product or business that generates steady, reliable profit with little further investment
cast an eye over
Neutral · CEFR B2
to look at or examine something quickly
cast one's mind back
Neutral · CEFR B2
to think about something that happened in the past
catch fire
Neutral · CEFR B2
to begin burning
catch someone red-handed
Neutral · CEFR B2
to catch someone in the very act of doing something wrong
champ at the bit
Neutral · CEFR B2
to feel intensely ready to begin after being forced to wait
change hands
Neutral · CEFR B2
to pass from one owner to another
claim to fame
Neutral · CEFR B2
the main achievement or feature for which a person, place, or thing is known
clear the decks
Neutral · CEFR B2
to remove distractions or unfinished tasks so you are ready for action
climb the corporate ladder
Neutral · CEFR B2
to advance step by step through the ranks of a company
come clean
Informal · CEFR B2
to confess the truth about something previously hidden or denied
come into play
Neutral · CEFR B2
to start to have an effect or become relevant
come of age
Neutral · CEFR B2
to reach adulthood or become fully developed and established
come to a head
Neutral · CEFR B2
to reach a critical point that demands action or resolution
come to light
Neutral · CEFR B2
to become known or be discovered, especially something hidden
come to terms with
Neutral · CEFR B2
to gradually accept and emotionally deal with a difficult reality
come to think of it
Neutral · CEFR B2
used when reconsideration brings a fresh realization or memory
cool as a cucumber
Informal · CEFR B2
very calm and composed, especially under pressure
cost the earth
Informal · CEFR B2
to be extraordinarily expensive
cover all bases
Neutral · CEFR B2
to consider and prepare for every important part, possibility, or problem so nothing is missed
cramp someone's style
Informal · CEFR B2
to limit someone's freedom to behave or express themselves in their usual way
cross that bridge when you come to it
Neutral · CEFR B2
To deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not before.
crunch time
Informal · CEFR B2
the final, high-pressure period before a deadline