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.
178 idioms
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 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.
all the rage
Informal · CEFR B2
extremely fashionable or popular at a particular time
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.
beat around the bush
Informal · CEFR B2
To avoid talking about the main point directly.
bells and whistles
Informal · CEFR B2
extra, attractive but non-essential features added to a product
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
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 dust
Informal · CEFR B2
to fail or come to an end; to die
blood and guts
Informal · CEFR B2
graphic violence and gore shown in a film, book, or similar work
blow someone's mind
Informal · CEFR B2
to astonish someone with something highly surprising or impressive
boil down to
Informal · CEFR B2
to be summarized as or reduced to the most essential point
break the bank
Informal · CEFR B2
To cost so much that it uses up all your money.
bring home the bacon
Informal · CEFR B2
To earn the money that supports a household.
butter someone up
Informal · CEFR B2
to flatter someone in order to gain a favour
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
come clean
Informal · CEFR B2
to confess the truth about something previously hidden or denied
cool as a cucumber
Informal · CEFR B2
very calm and composed, especially under pressure
cost the earth
Informal · CEFR B2
to be extraordinarily expensive
cramp someone's style
Informal · CEFR B2
to limit someone's freedom to behave or express themselves in their usual way
crunch time
Informal · CEFR B2
the final, high-pressure period before a deadline
cry over spilled milk
Informal · CEFR B2
To waste time being upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
cut to the chase
Informal · CEFR B2
To get to the important point without wasting time.
deep pockets
Informal · CEFR B2
having a great deal of money to spend
deliver the goods
Informal · CEFR B2
to do what is expected or promised; to produce good results
dig one's heels in
Informal · CEFR B2
to refuse stubbornly to change your mind or do what others want
down the drain
Informal · CEFR B2
wasted or lost irretrievably
down the line
Informal · CEFR B2
at a later point in time; in the future
drag one's feet
Informal · CEFR B2
to do something slowly or delay because you don't want to do it
egg on your face
Informal · CEFR B2
to be embarrassed after being publicly wrong
fall into place
Informal · CEFR B2
to become clear or to work out well after a period of confusion
fit the bill
Informal · CEFR B2
to have exactly the qualities needed for a particular purpose
flash in the pan
Informal · CEFR B2
something that shows brilliant early promise but fails quickly and leaves nothing behind
flavor of the month
Informal · CEFR B2
a person, framework, or thing that is fashionable for a very short time
fly off the handle
Informal · CEFR B2
to lose one's temper suddenly and uncontrollably
for the hell of it
Informal · CEFR B2
for amusement or impulse rather than for any serious purpose
full of beans
Informal · CEFR B2
bursting with cheerful energy and enthusiasm
full tilt
Informal · CEFR B2
At the greatest possible speed or level of effort.
get a grip
Informal · CEFR B2
regain composure and think calmly after becoming upset
get a handle on
Informal · CEFR B2
to gain understanding or control of a situation
get carried away
Informal · CEFR B2
to become so excited or involved that you lose control
get cold feet
Informal · CEFR B2
To suddenly become too nervous to do something you had planned.
get cracking
Informal · CEFR B2
to start doing something quickly and energetically
get on like a house on fire
Informal · CEFR B2
To get along extremely well and quickly become close.
get one's act together
Informal · CEFR B2
to become organized and start performing effectively
get one's head (a)round
Informal · CEFR B2
to manage to understand something difficult or surprising
get one's thoughts together
Informal · CEFR B2
to calm down and organize your thinking before acting or speaking
get someone on board
Informal · CEFR B2
to persuade someone to join or support a plan or project
get something straight
Informal · CEFR B2
to make sure something is clearly understood or correct
get the show on the road
Informal · CEFR B2
to begin a project or activity that has been delayed
get under someone's skin
Informal · CEFR B2
To irritate or annoy someone deeply.
give someone a piece of your mind
Informal · CEFR B2
To tell someone angrily what you really think of them.
give someone a shout
Informal · CEFR B2
to contact or tell someone, especially when you need them
give someone the cold shoulder
Informal · CEFR B2
To deliberately ignore or be unfriendly toward someone.
give someone the eye
Informal · CEFR B2
to signal romantic or sexual attraction through deliberate glances
give something a miss
Informal · CEFR B2
to choose not to do, attend, or take part in something
give the game away
Informal · CEFR B2
to accidentally reveal a secret or plan
go Dutch
Informal · CEFR B2
to share the cost of a meal or outing equally
go all in
Informal · CEFR B2
to commit fully to something, risking everything you have
go down a rabbit hole
Informal · CEFR B2
to get lost in a long, winding, often pointless digression while researching or building something
go in one ear and out the other
Informal · CEFR B2
to be heard but immediately forgotten or ignored
go through the roof
Informal · CEFR B2
to rise very quickly to a very high level; or to become extremely angry
hand on heart
Informal · CEFR B2
used to stress that you are being completely honest
hate someone's guts
Informal · CEFR B2
to feel an extremely strong hatred for someone
have a crack at
Informal · CEFR B2
to make an attempt at doing something
have a life of its own
Informal · CEFR B2
to develop or grow in a way that is no longer controlled by anyone
have a stab at
Informal · CEFR B2
to make an attempt at doing something, often something you're unsure about
have bigger fish to fry
Informal · CEFR B2
To have more important matters to deal with.
have several balls in the air
Informal · CEFR B2
to be managing multiple projects or commitments at once
have up one's sleeve
Informal · CEFR B2
to have a secret plan or advantage kept ready for later use
have your cake and eat it too
Informal · CEFR B2
to want two incompatible things at once
hit the bottle
Informal · CEFR B2
to begin drinking alcohol heavily, often in response to personal distress
hot spots
Informal · CEFR B2
places of intense activity, danger, or popularity
in a nutshell
Informal · CEFR B2
expressed in a very brief and simple way
in a pickle
Informal · CEFR B2
in a difficult or embarrassing situation
in a rut
Informal · CEFR B2
stuck in a boring, unchanging routine
in the doghouse
Informal · CEFR B2
in disgrace, out of favour with someone
in the driving seat
Informal · CEFR B2
in control of a situation
in the same ballpark
Informal · CEFR B2
roughly similar in amount, size, or quality
it's early days
Informal · CEFR B2
it is too soon to know how something will turn out
jump the gun
Informal · CEFR B2
To do something too soon, before the right time.
jump up and down
Informal · CEFR B2
to react with strong excitement or anger about something
keep tabs on
Informal · CEFR B2
to monitor someone or something carefully over time
kick the bucket
Informal · CEFR B2
to die
kick the habit
Informal · CEFR B2
to stop a persistent behavior, especially an addictive one
kick up a fuss
Informal · CEFR B2
to react with a noisy, angry complaint, often over a minor issue
kicking and screaming
Informal · CEFR B2
strongly unwilling and protesting while being forced to do something
land grab
Informal · CEFR B2
a fierce rush to capture as much market share or territory as possible, often before the market matures
lay a finger on
Informal · CEFR B2
to touch or interfere with a person, usually in a warning against causing harm