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.

Idioms Informal Neutral Formal

314 idioms

CEFR A2 (6)

a piece of cake Informal · CEFR A2

Something that is very easy to do.

bad news Informal · CEFR A2

an unpleasant piece of information; (informal) a person or thing likely to cause trouble

hang on a minute Informal · CEFR A2

used to ask someone to wait, or to express surprise or objection

have a sweet tooth Informal · CEFR A2

To have a strong liking for sugary food.

keep your fingers crossed Informal · CEFR A2

To hope strongly that something good will happen.

so far so good Informal · CEFR A2

used to say that things have gone well up to now

CEFR B1 (80)

a rip-off Informal · CEFR B1

Something that is far too expensive for what it is.

ants in your pants Informal · CEFR B1

To be unable to keep still because you are restless or excited.

at the end of the day Informal · CEFR B1

ultimately; when everything is considered

back against the wall Informal · CEFR B1

in a desperate situation with few options left

ballpark figure Informal · CEFR B1

a rough estimate, not an exact number

bang for your buck Informal · CEFR B1

the value or impact you get for the money or effort spent

blow off steam Informal · CEFR B1

to release pent-up energy or emotion through some activity

brain power Informal · CEFR B1

intelligence or mental ability used to think and solve problems

break a leg Informal · CEFR B1

A way of wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance.

call it a day Informal · CEFR B1

To decide to stop working on something for now.

can of worms Informal · CEFR B1

a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched

circle back Informal · CEFR B1

to return to a topic or person later, after other things have happened

cost an arm and a leg Informal · CEFR B1

To be extremely expensive.

cut loose Informal · CEFR B1

to abandon restraint and behave freely or wildly

do the job Informal · CEFR B1

to be good enough to achieve the desired result

do the trick Informal · CEFR B1

to achieve the desired result or solve a problem

drive someone up the wall Informal · CEFR B1

to make someone feel extremely annoyed or frustrated

end of story Informal · CEFR B1

used to say that there is nothing more to add or discuss

every which way Informal · CEFR B1

in every direction, often in a scattered or disorderly way

everything but the kitchen sink Informal · CEFR B1

an excessive collection of things; nearly everything imaginable, included without restraint

from scratch Informal · CEFR B1

from the very beginning, without using anything prepared earlier

get a move on Informal · CEFR B1

get something off your chest Informal · CEFR B1

To finally say something that has been worrying you, so you feel relieved.

get the ball rolling Informal · CEFR B1

To start an activity or process.

See all 80

CEFR B2 (178)

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

See all 178

CEFR C1 (50)

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

a penny for your thoughts Informal · CEFR C1

A friendly way of asking what someone is quietly thinking about.

at sixes and sevens Informal · CEFR C1

in a confused, disorganized state

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)

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

bog standard Informal · CEFR C1

completely ordinary, with no special features (British, informal)

by the seat of your pants Informal · CEFR C1

to do something by instinct and improvisation rather than by plan

call the cavalry Informal · CEFR C1

to ask for extra help or reinforcements in a difficult situation

cock a snook Informal · CEFR C1

to make a mocking gesture that expresses disrespect or defiance

cold turkey Informal · CEFR C1

to stop a habit or addiction completely and suddenly

cut your teeth on Informal · CEFR C1

to gain your first experience of something, usually early in your career

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

dry powder Informal · CEFR C1

cash reserves kept ready to invest when opportunities appear

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

gold-plating Informal · CEFR C1

adding unnecessary features, polish, or complexity to a product beyond what was asked for

golden handcuffs Informal · CEFR C1

financial incentives designed to keep a valuable employee from leaving

See all 50