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Fixed expressions

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 containing and, including its inflections. Clear word filter

cost an arm and a leg

CEFR B1

To be extremely expensive.

Informal

out and about

CEFR B1

away from home and actively going to places or doing ordinary activities

Informal

pick and choose

CEFR B1

to select only the things you most want, being very selective

Informal

rain cats and dogs

CEFR B1

to rain very heavily

Informal

all talk and no action

CEFR B2

full of promises or discussion without doing the things promised

Informal

bells and whistles

CEFR B2

extra, attractive but non-essential features added to a product

Informal

between a rock and a hard place

CEFR B2

facing two equally bad options, neither of which can be avoided

Informal

blood and guts

CEFR B2

graphic violence and gore shown in a film, book, or similar work

Informal

go in one ear and out the other

CEFR B2

to be heard but immediately forgotten or ignored

Informal

have your cake and eat it too

CEFR B2

to want two incompatible things at once

Informal

jump up and down

CEFR B2

to react with strong excitement or anger about something

Informal

kicking and screaming

CEFR B2

strongly unwilling and protesting while being forced to do something

Informal

quick and dirty

CEFR B2

done rapidly and roughly, with little care for quality or polish

Informal

six of one and half a dozen of the other

CEFR B2

two alternatives have no meaningful difference

Informal

someone's bread and butter

CEFR B2

the main source of someone's income or basic work

Informal

this that and the other

CEFR B2

various unspecified things

Informal

throw it at the wall and see what sticks

CEFR B2

to try many ideas quickly, keeping only the ones that work

Informal

wake up and smell the coffee

CEFR B2

recognize an unpleasant reality that you have been ignoring

Informal

weird and wonderful

CEFR B2

strange and unusual but in an interesting or impressive way

Informal

Bob's your uncle

CEFR C1

used after simple instructions to signal that the task is finished or the result achieved

Informal

Matching variant: and Bob's your uncle

at sixes and sevens

CEFR C1

in a confused, disorganized state

Informal

dot the i's and cross the t's

CEFR C1

to be extremely careful about every detail, especially paperwork

Informal

move fast and break things

CEFR C1

a philosophy of shipping quickly and accepting breakage in order to learn faster

Informal

put that in your pipe and smoke it

CEFR C1

used defiantly to tell someone to accept an unwelcome fact or decision

Informal

run it up the flagpole and see who salutes

CEFR C1

present an idea tentatively to find out who supports it

Informal

smoke and mirrors

CEFR C1

a deceptive or illusory presentation that hides what is really going on

Informal

swings and roundabouts

CEFR C1

a situation where advantages and disadvantages balance out (British)

Informal

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