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.
408 idioms
(take) a step back/further
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to pause and reconsider a situation (step back), or develop an idea or action beyond its current point (step further)
a bad press
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unfavorable reporting or reputation in the media or among people
a bone of contention
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a subject that causes disagreement or argument between people
a bull in a china shop
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A clumsy person who causes damage or upset in a delicate situation.
a shot in the dark
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a guess or attempt with very little chance of success
across the board
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affecting everyone or everything equally
add fuel to the fire
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To make a bad situation or an argument worse.
add insult to injury
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make an already bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm
ahead of the game
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to stay better prepared than others by anticipating future needs
all in a day's work
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a task treated as routine because it belongs to someone's normal duties
along the lines of
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similar to; roughly in the style or manner of
armed to the teeth
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equipped with a very large number of weapons and ready for conflict
as luck would have it
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By a fortunate coincidence, often introducing an unexpectedly helpful event.
at a loss for words
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unable to express yourself because an emotional or confusing moment leaves you speechless
at death's door
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so seriously ill or injured that death seems close
at the back of one's mind
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a thought or worry that you are vaguely aware of but not focusing on
at the drop of a hat
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immediately and with no hesitation when an opportunity or prompt appears
back to square one
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to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed
back to the drawing board
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to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed
balancing act
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a difficult situation in which someone must divide time, attention, or importance between competing needs
batten down the hatches
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to prepare yourself and your resources for an approaching difficult situation
bear fruit
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to produce a successful or useful result
behind bars
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in prison
behind closed doors
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in private, away from public observation
behind the scenes
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happening privately or secretly, not in public view
below par
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worse than the normal or expected standard
big fish in a small pond
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an important person in a small or limited environment
birds of a feather flock together
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people with similar interests or character tend to spend time together
bite the bullet
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To force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult that you have been avoiding.
bits and bobs
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a mixed group of small, unrelated items or leftover pieces
blaze a trail
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to pioneer an approach that opens the way for later people
blow someone's cover
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to expose what someone has kept secret, such as their identity or scheme
body blow
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a major setback that seriously weakens a person, organization, or effort
born and bred
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raised from birth in a particular place or environment, with traits shaped by it
break cover
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to stop concealing one's true position or intentions and make them known
break even
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to reach the point where revenue equals costs — no profit, no loss
break new ground
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to do something that has never been done before; to pioneer
break ranks
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to openly depart from the shared position of one's own group
break the back of
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to get past the main obstacle so that the remaining work becomes easier
break the mould
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to do something new and different that sets a new standard
breathe down someone's neck
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to monitor someone so closely that they feel pressured or uncomfortable
bridge the gap
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to reduce or remove the difference between two things or groups
burn bridges
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To destroy a relationship in a way that makes future cooperation impossible.
burn rate
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the speed at which a company spends its cash reserves, usually measured per month
burn the candle at both ends
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to work so hard and long that you exhaust yourself
burn the midnight oil
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To stay up very late working or studying.
buy time
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to create a delay that provides extra time to prepare or decide
by and large
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generally; on the whole
by the book
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strictly following the rules or official procedures
carrot and stick
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a strategy that uses both incentives and penalties to steer behavior
cash cow
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a product or business that generates steady, reliable profit with little further investment
cast an eye over
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to look at or examine something quickly
cast one's mind back
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to think about something that happened in the past
catch fire
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to begin burning
catch someone red-handed
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to catch someone in the very act of doing something wrong
champ at the bit
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to feel intensely ready to begin after being forced to wait
change hands
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to pass from one owner to another
claim to fame
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the main achievement or feature for which a person, place, or thing is known
clear the decks
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to remove distractions or unfinished tasks so you are ready for action
climb the corporate ladder
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to advance step by step through the ranks of a company
come into play
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to start to have an effect or become relevant
come of age
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to reach adulthood or become fully developed and established
come to a head
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to reach a critical point that demands action or resolution
come to light
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to become known or be discovered, especially something hidden
come to terms with
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to gradually accept and emotionally deal with a difficult reality
come to think of it
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used when reconsideration brings a fresh realization or memory
cover all bases
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to consider and prepare for every important part, possibility, or problem so nothing is missed
cross that bridge when you come to it
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To deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not before.
curiosity killed the cat
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asking too many questions can lead to trouble
cut both ways
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to produce both helpful and harmful effects or implications
cut corners
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To do something cheaply or quickly by skipping important steps, often lowering quality.
cut the mustard
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to perform well enough for a particular need or expectation
cutting edge
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the most advanced stage of development; state-of-the-art
dead and buried
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completely abandoned, with no realistic chance that a plan or idea will return
dead to the world
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sleeping so deeply that you are completely unaware of your surroundings
dear to one's heart
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very important to someone and loved deeply
deep dive
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a thorough, detailed examination of a topic, problem, or dataset
dig deep
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draw on all one's effort or inner resources to overcome a challenge
don't count your chickens before they hatch
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used to warn someone not to assume success before it actually happens
don't put all your eggs in one basket
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Don't risk everything on a single plan or possibility.
donkey work
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the tiring, repetitive, and often unappreciated work that supports a larger task
double down
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to increase your commitment to a position or strategy, especially after mixed results
down and out
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in severe hardship, especially without money, resources, or prospects
down in the dumps
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feeling sad, discouraged, or low in spirits
draw a blank
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to be unable to recall or produce the needed answer or information
draw the short straw
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to be selected, often by chance, for an unwanted task or outcome
driving force
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the person or thing that makes something happen or develop
every man for himself
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a chaotic or uncooperative situation in which each person acts purely for personal benefit
face the music
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To accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.
fail fast
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to test ideas quickly and abandon the failing ones early, learning as cheaply as possible
fair game
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a person or thing considered an acceptable target for pursuit or criticism
fall by the wayside
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be abandoned, neglected, or fail before completion
fall on deaf ears
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to be ignored without producing any response or acknowledgment
fall short
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to fail to reach an expected standard, amount, or goal
famous last words
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a confident prediction or claim that events soon prove completely wrong
far and away
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By a very large margin, especially when one option or person clearly surpasses the rest.