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.
128 idioms
Pandora's box
Neutral · CEFR C1
an action or situation that unleashes many unexpected and hard-to-control problems
a bitter pill to swallow
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an unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted
a dark horse
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A person who surprises everyone by showing unexpected talent or success.
a leopard can't change its spots
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A person's basic character cannot fundamentally change.
a stitch in time saves nine
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Fixing a small problem early prevents a much bigger one later.
a storm in a teacup
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A great deal of fuss made about a trivial matter.
a tough nut to crack
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a hard problem to solve or a hard person to convince
a wolf in sheep's clothing
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A dangerous person who pretends to be harmless or friendly.
above board
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honest, legal, and transparent
ace in the hole
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a secret advantage kept hidden until it is needed
ace up your sleeve
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a hidden advantage kept in reserve
against the grain
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in a way that conflicts with what is usual or with someone's natural character
arms race
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a competitive spiral in which rivals keep escalating their investment to stay ahead
at a pinch
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if it becomes absolutely necessary, though the option is barely adequate
at loggerheads
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in strong disagreement or conflict with someone
bar none
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without exception, especially when declaring something the best in its category
beg the question
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to make one naturally want to ask a particular question; (formally) to assume the very point being argued
blind leading the blind
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people with no experience guiding others who have no experience
blue ocean
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an uncontested market space with no direct competitors
boil the ocean
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to attempt something impossibly large or ambitious, especially by trying to solve every problem at once
bootstrapping
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building a company without outside investment, funding it from personal resources and revenue
born with a silver spoon in your mouth
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born into a wealthy family
bridge round
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short-term financing that keeps a company afloat until a larger funding round closes
bright young thing
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a clever, lively, attractive young person with strong social appeal
by hook or by crook
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by whatever method is necessary, whether fair or unfair
call someone's bluff
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to challenge someone to prove that their threat or claim is real
canary in the coal mine
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an early warning sign, or a small test group, that reveals a danger or failure before it affects everyone
cap in hand
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in a humble or pleading manner when asking someone for help or a favor
carry the can
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To take the blame or responsibility for a problem, especially when others avoid doing so.
catch-22
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a no-win situation in which every possible solution is blocked by the very rules of the problem
cheek by jowl
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Very close together physically or closely associated.
chicken-and-egg problem
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a situation in which two things each depend on the other, so neither can get started
come unstuck
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to fail or encounter a problem that causes a plan or effort to break down
corner the market
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to gain such control of a market that competitors cannot operate in it
creative destruction
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the process by which new innovations destroy and replace outdated firms and industries
crocodile tears
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an outward show of sadness that is false or insincere
cut a dash
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to attract admiring attention with a stylish appearance or confident manner
cut and dried
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fully settled and clear, with little room for debate or alteration
cut and thrust
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the vigorous back-and-forth of intense argument or competition
default alive
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describing a startup whose normal growth will make it profitable without needing more funding
devil's advocate
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someone who argues against an idea just to test it or explore other views
double-edged sword
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something that has both great benefits and serious risks
down at heel
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shabby, worn, or neglected in appearance, often because of poverty
down round
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a funding round in which a company raises money at a lower valuation than the previous round
due diligence
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the careful investigation of a company's business, finances, and legal position before investing
echo chamber
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an environment where one set of opinions is endlessly repeated and reinforced while dissenting views are never heard
edge case
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an unusual or extreme scenario that lies outside the normal inputs, often where software fails
eternal triangle
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a persistent love rivalry among three people whose attachments conflict
fall from grace
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to lose respect, status, or favor because of a failure or wrongdoing
filter bubble
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the intellectual isolation created by algorithms that feed you only content you already agree with
first-mover advantage
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the edge a company gains by entering a market before competitors
flywheel
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a self-reinforcing growth engine in which each success feeds the next
go the whole hog
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To commit fully to doing something, without holding anything back.
go to the wall
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collapse or fail completely, particularly as a business or financial venture
golden goose
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a reliable source of money that must be protected, not exploited to death
golden parachute
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a generous severance package guaranteed to an executive who loses their job, typically after a takeover
golden path
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the default, well-supported, happy-path way of using a system, opposed to exotic configurations
grass roots movement
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a movement started and driven by ordinary people rather than leaders or organizations
have too many irons in the fire
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To be involved in too many activities at once.
hold all the cards
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to be in a position of complete control in a negotiation
home and dry
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successfully completed or achieved, with the main risks safely past
in cold blood
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deliberately and without compassion, especially when committing violence or cruelty
in the offing
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expected to happen or become available soon
jockey for position
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to maneuver competitively in order to gain the most advantageous position
kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
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to destroy a reliable source of future profit through greed or short-term thinking
kiss of life
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mouth-to-mouth resuscitation given to revive someone who is not breathing
last man standing
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the only survivor of a fight, consolidation, or market shakeout
lay your cards on the table
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to be completely honest about your intentions or position
let bygones be bygones
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To forgive and forget past disagreements.
live in sin
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to cohabit romantically without having married
long in the tooth
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old or growing old, especially when age affects suitability for something
mission creep
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the gradual expansion of a project's goals beyond its original scope
moat
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a durable competitive advantage that protects a business from rivals
monkey's paw
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something that grants what you asked for while exacting a terrible, unforeseen price; a wish fulfilled in the worst possible way
moot point
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a question that is debatable or no longer relevant because it has been settled or made irrelevant
not to mince one's words
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to speak directly and honestly, even if it is unpleasant
on tenterhooks
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anxiously waiting in suspense because the outcome is uncertain
on the trot
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continually busy or active, with no real break
out of kilter
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misaligned, unsettled, or operating abnormally
out of the frying pan into the fire
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To escape one bad situation only to land in a worse one.
paradigm shift
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a fundamental change in the assumptions, models, or approach of a field
pass muster
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to be judged good enough after an examination or review
pay the piper
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to deal with the price or consequences created by your earlier choices
pay your dues
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to endure hard, unglamorous work early on as the price of later success
pecking order
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an informal ranking that determines status and authority within a group
penny wise, pound foolish
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being careful with small amounts of money while wasting large amounts
perfect storm
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a rare combination of bad circumstances that produces a disaster
perish the thought
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used as an emphatic rejection of an idea considered intolerable
play hardball
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to negotiate or compete aggressively, without compromise
poison pill
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a defensive tactic a company uses to make a hostile takeover unattractive
put one's head above the parapet
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to risk criticism by stating an opinion publicly
put paid to
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to bring something, especially a plan or hope, to a definite end
race to the bottom
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a competitive spiral that drives prices, quality, or standards lower and lower
rank and file
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the ordinary members of an organization rather than its leaders
red herring
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a misleading clue or distraction that draws attention away from the real issue
red ocean
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a crowded, hyper-competitive market where rivals fight over existing demand