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.
200 idioms
800-pound gorilla
Informal · CEFR C1
the biggest, most powerful player in a market, which dominates everything around it
Bob's your uncle
Informal · CEFR C1
used after simple instructions to signal that the task is finished or the result achieved
Pandora's box
Neutral · CEFR C1
an action or situation that unleashes many unexpected and hard-to-control problems
a bitter pill to swallow
Neutral · CEFR C1
an unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted
a dark horse
Neutral · CEFR C1
A person who surprises everyone by showing unexpected talent or success.
a leopard can't change its spots
Neutral · CEFR C1
A person's basic character cannot fundamentally change.
a penny for your thoughts
Informal · CEFR C1
A friendly way of asking what someone is quietly thinking about.
a stitch in time saves nine
Neutral · CEFR C1
Fixing a small problem early prevents a much bigger one later.
a storm in a teacup
Neutral · CEFR C1
A great deal of fuss made about a trivial matter.
a tough nut to crack
Neutral · CEFR C1
a hard problem to solve or a hard person to convince
a wolf in sheep's clothing
Neutral · CEFR C1
A dangerous person who pretends to be harmless or friendly.
above board
Neutral · CEFR C1
honest, legal, and transparent
above one's station
Formal · CEFR C1
behaving as if you belong to a higher social class or rank than you do
ace in the hole
Neutral · CEFR C1
a secret advantage kept hidden until it is needed
ace up your sleeve
Neutral · CEFR C1
a hidden advantage kept in reserve
against the grain
Neutral · CEFR C1
in a way that conflicts with what is usual or with someone's natural character
arms race
Neutral · CEFR C1
a competitive spiral in which rivals keep escalating their investment to stay ahead
at a pinch
Neutral · CEFR C1
if it becomes absolutely necessary, though the option is barely adequate
at loggerheads
Neutral · CEFR C1
in strong disagreement or conflict with someone
at sixes and sevens
Informal · CEFR C1
in a confused, disorganized state
bar none
Neutral · CEFR C1
without exception, especially when declaring something the best in its category
beat/get the hell out of something
Informal · CEFR C1
to leave a place very quickly (get); or to defeat or hit something severely (beat)
beg the question
Neutral · CEFR C1
to make one naturally want to ask a particular question; (formally) to assume the very point being argued
beyond the pale
Formal · CEFR C1
Completely unacceptable by ordinary moral or social standards.
bikeshedding
Informal · CEFR C1
spending a disproportionate amount of time on trivial details while ignoring the important parts of a problem
bleeding edge
Informal · CEFR C1
the very newest and most experimental technology, so new it may be unstable or unreliable
blind leading the blind
Neutral · CEFR C1
people with no experience guiding others who have no experience
blue ocean
Neutral · CEFR C1
an uncontested market space with no direct competitors
bog standard
Informal · CEFR C1
completely ordinary, with no special features (British, informal)
boil the ocean
Neutral · CEFR C1
to attempt something impossibly large or ambitious, especially by trying to solve every problem at once
bootstrapping
Neutral · CEFR C1
building a company without outside investment, funding it from personal resources and revenue
born with a silver spoon in your mouth
Neutral · CEFR C1
born into a wealthy family
bread and circuses
Formal · CEFR C1
basic comforts and entertainment offered to distract the public from serious problems
bridge round
Neutral · CEFR C1
short-term financing that keeps a company afloat until a larger funding round closes
bright young thing
Neutral · CEFR C1
a clever, lively, attractive young person with strong social appeal
by hook or by crook
Neutral · CEFR C1
by whatever method is necessary, whether fair or unfair
by the same token
Formal · CEFR C1
for the same or a closely related reason
by the seat of your pants
Informal · CEFR C1
to do something by instinct and improvisation rather than by plan
call someone's bluff
Neutral · CEFR C1
to challenge someone to prove that their threat or claim is real
call the cavalry
Informal · CEFR C1
to ask for extra help or reinforcements in a difficult situation
canary in the coal mine
Neutral · CEFR C1
an early warning sign, or a small test group, that reveals a danger or failure before it affects everyone
cap in hand
Neutral · CEFR C1
in a humble or pleading manner when asking someone for help or a favor
carry the can
Neutral · CEFR C1
To take the blame or responsibility for a problem, especially when others avoid doing so.
catch-22
Neutral · CEFR C1
a no-win situation in which every possible solution is blocked by the very rules of the problem
cheek by jowl
Neutral · CEFR C1
Very close together physically or closely associated.
chicken-and-egg problem
Neutral · CEFR C1
a situation in which two things each depend on the other, so neither can get started
cock a snook
Informal · CEFR C1
to make a mocking gesture that expresses disrespect or defiance
cold comfort
Formal · CEFR C1
Consolation that offers little real relief in a painful or difficult situation.
cold turkey
Informal · CEFR C1
to stop a habit or addiction completely and suddenly
come in from the cold
Formal · CEFR C1
to regain safety or acceptance after living in secrecy, isolation, or exclusion
come unstuck
Neutral · CEFR C1
to fail or encounter a problem that causes a plan or effort to break down
corner the market
Neutral · CEFR C1
to gain such control of a market that competitors cannot operate in it
creative destruction
Neutral · CEFR C1
the process by which new innovations destroy and replace outdated firms and industries
crocodile tears
Neutral · CEFR C1
an outward show of sadness that is false or insincere
cut a dash
Neutral · CEFR C1
to attract admiring attention with a stylish appearance or confident manner
cut and dried
Neutral · CEFR C1
fully settled and clear, with little room for debate or alteration
cut and thrust
Neutral · CEFR C1
the vigorous back-and-forth of intense argument or competition
cut your teeth on
Informal · CEFR C1
to gain your first experience of something, usually early in your career
default alive
Neutral · CEFR C1
describing a startup whose normal growth will make it profitable without needing more funding
devil's advocate
Neutral · CEFR C1
someone who argues against an idea just to test it or explore other views
do someone's head in
Informal · CEFR C1
to cause intense mental strain, frustration, or irritation
dogfooding
Informal · CEFR C1
using your own product internally, before customers do, to test and improve it
dot the i's and cross the t's
Informal · CEFR C1
to be extremely careful about every detail, especially paperwork
double-edged sword
Neutral · CEFR C1
something that has both great benefits and serious risks
down at heel
Neutral · CEFR C1
shabby, worn, or neglected in appearance, often because of poverty
down round
Neutral · CEFR C1
a funding round in which a company raises money at a lower valuation than the previous round
dry powder
Informal · CEFR C1
cash reserves kept ready to invest when opportunities appear
due diligence
Neutral · CEFR C1
the careful investigation of a company's business, finances, and legal position before investing
echo chamber
Neutral · CEFR C1
an environment where one set of opinions is endlessly repeated and reinforced while dissenting views are never heard
economical with the truth
Formal · CEFR C1
deliberately omitting important facts in order to give a misleading impression
edge case
Neutral · CEFR C1
an unusual or extreme scenario that lies outside the normal inputs, often where software fails
err on the side of
Formal · CEFR C1
choose the safer course when uncertainty makes either option imperfect
eternal triangle
Neutral · CEFR C1
a persistent love rivalry among three people whose attachments conflict
fall foul of
Formal · CEFR C1
to get into trouble with someone or break a rule or law
fall from grace
Neutral · CEFR C1
to lose respect, status, or favor because of a failure or wrongdoing
filter bubble
Neutral · CEFR C1
the intellectual isolation created by algorithms that feed you only content you already agree with
first among equals
Formal · CEFR C1
a member of a formally equal group who holds the leading or most prominent role
first-mover advantage
Neutral · CEFR C1
the edge a company gains by entering a market before competitors
fly in the face of
Formal · CEFR C1
to oppose or be the opposite of what is expected, accepted, or sensible
flywheel
Neutral · CEFR C1
a self-reinforcing growth engine in which each success feeds the next
get down to the nitty gritty
Informal · CEFR C1
to deal with the most important or practical details of something
get your ducks in a row
Informal · CEFR C1
to organize things carefully before acting
go belly up
Informal · CEFR C1
to fail completely, especially of a business
go down in flames
Informal · CEFR C1
To fail suddenly and completely.
go pear-shaped
Informal · CEFR C1
to go wrong, to fail in an awkward way
go the whole hog
Neutral · CEFR C1
To commit fully to doing something, without holding anything back.
go to the wall
Neutral · CEFR C1
collapse or fail completely, particularly as a business or financial venture
gold-plating
Informal · CEFR C1
adding unnecessary features, polish, or complexity to a product beyond what was asked for
golden goose
Neutral · CEFR C1
a reliable source of money that must be protected, not exploited to death
golden handcuffs
Informal · CEFR C1
financial incentives designed to keep a valuable employee from leaving
golden parachute
Neutral · CEFR C1
a generous severance package guaranteed to an executive who loses their job, typically after a takeover
golden path
Neutral · CEFR C1
the default, well-supported, happy-path way of using a system, opposed to exotic configurations
grass roots movement
Neutral · CEFR C1
a movement started and driven by ordinary people rather than leaders or organizations
growth hacking
Informal · CEFR C1
using creative, low-cost, data-driven experiments to grow a user base rapidly
have a chip on your shoulder
Informal · CEFR C1
to carry lasting resentment and be easily offended because you feel you were treated unfairly
have too many irons in the fire
Neutral · CEFR C1
To be involved in too many activities at once.