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 of, including its inflections. Clear word filter
a piece of cake
CEFR A2Something that is very easy to do.
a fish out of water
CEFR B1Someone who feels uncomfortable because they are in an unfamiliar situation.
at the end of the day
CEFR B1ultimately; when everything is considered
can of worms
CEFR B1a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched
end of story
CEFR B1used to say that there is nothing more to add or discuss
get out of hand
CEFR B1To become impossible to control.
in the hands of
CEFR B1under the control or responsibility of someone
in the nick of time
CEFR B1at the latest moment when success is still possible
leap of faith
CEFR B1an act of trusting or committing without evidence or guarantees
let the cat out of the bag
CEFR B1To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.
on top of the world
CEFR B1Feeling exceptionally happy and satisfied, especially after a success.
out of the question
CEFR B1completely impossible or not permitted
the best of both worlds
CEFR B1A situation in which you enjoy the advantages of two different things at the same time.
the name of the game
CEFR B1the central, most important aspect of a situation
word of mouth
CEFR B1recommendations spread informally from person to person
a bone of contention
CEFR B2a subject that causes disagreement or argument between people
a matter of life and death
CEFR B2an extremely serious or urgent matter
a taste of your own medicine
CEFR B2The same unpleasant treatment that you have given to others.
ahead of the game
CEFR B2to stay better prepared than others by anticipating future needs
along the lines of
CEFR B2similar to; roughly in the style or manner of
at the back of one's mind
CEFR B2a thought or worry that you are vaguely aware of but not focusing on
at the drop of a hat
CEFR B2immediately and with no hesitation when an opportunity or prompt appears
break the back of
CEFR B2to get past the main obstacle so that the remaining work becomes easier
by the skin of your teeth
CEFR B2By the narrowest possible margin; only just barely.
come of age
CEFR B2to reach adulthood or become fully developed and established
come to think of it
CEFR B2used when reconsideration brings a fresh realization or memory
flavor of the month
CEFR B2a person, framework, or thing that is fashionable for a very short time
for the hell of it
CEFR B2for amusement or impulse rather than for any serious purpose
full of beans
CEFR B2bursting with cheerful energy and enthusiasm
get the better of
CEFR B2to defeat someone or gain control over a person or feeling
get wind of
CEFR B2learn about something private or secret, usually through an indirect channel
give someone a piece of your mind
CEFR B2To tell someone angrily what you really think of them.
go down the road of
CEFR B2to start following a particular course of action
have a life of its own
CEFR B2to develop or grow in a way that is no longer controlled by anyone
in (the) light of
CEFR B2considering or because of (new information or circumstances)
jack of all trades
CEFR B2a versatile person with many useful skills but no necessary specialization
kiss of death
CEFR B2something that seems helpful but instead causes eventual failure or ruin
light at the end of the tunnel
CEFR B2A sign that a difficult period may soon improve or end.
make a go of
CEFR B2to turn an undertaking into a lasting success
make a meal of
CEFR B2to devote far too much effort to a task and make it seem needlessly complicated
make light of
CEFR B2to treat a serious matter as unimportant, often by joking about it
make light work of
CEFR B2to handle a demanding task quickly and effortlessly
make short work of
CEFR B2to finish a task or overcome an opponent with surprising speed and ease
marriage of convenience
CEFR B2an often temporary alliance entered for practical advantage, without emotional attachment or genuine common purpose
moment of truth
CEFR B2the decisive point when reality or the final outcome becomes clear
neck of the woods
CEFR B2someone's local area or part of the country
new lease of life
CEFR B2renewed energy, health, or usefulness
off the top of one's head
CEFR B2from memory, without checking or thinking carefully
on the face of it
CEFR B2judging only by appearances, without deeper examination
one of those things
CEFR B2an odd or unfortunate situation accepted as unavoidable and not worth further explanation
out of line
CEFR B2behaving or speaking beyond acceptable limits
out of one's hands
CEFR B2no longer one's responsibility or under one's control
out of order
CEFR B2not working properly
out of the blue
CEFR B2suddenly and unexpectedly
out of the running
CEFR B2no longer being considered for a prize, position, or competition
out of the woods
CEFR B2past the worst of a danger or difficulty
out of thin air
CEFR B2to seem to materialize suddenly without any apparent origin
rule of thumb
CEFR B2a rough, practical guideline based on experience rather than exact measurement
run out of steam
CEFR B2to lose the energy, enthusiasm, or momentum needed to continue
seal of approval
CEFR B2a recognized sign that an authority accepts, supports, or endorses something
see the light of day
CEFR B2be created, published, or finally made available for people to see
set something in stone
CEFR B2to make something fixed and impossible to change
Matching variant: set in tablets of stone
sign of the times
CEFR B2an event or development that reveals what a particular era is like
sing the praises of
CEFR B2to praise a person or thing enthusiastically when speaking to others
six of one and half a dozen of the other
CEFR B2two alternatives have no meaningful difference
slip of the tongue
CEFR B2an unintended word or phrase spoken by mistake
speak of the devil
CEFR B2Said when a person you were just talking about suddenly appears.
stand the test of time
CEFR B2to remain effective, admired, or valuable over a long period
state of the art
CEFR B2using the most advanced and modern techniques or technology
take a dim view of
CEFR B2To judge something negatively or regard it with doubt or disapproval.
take a leaf out of someone's book
CEFR B2to follow someone's good example by copying what they do
take it with a grain of salt
CEFR B2To treat something as not fully reliable or true.
take the wind out of someone's sails
CEFR B2to suddenly weaken a person's confidence, excitement, or determination
the apple of one's eye
CEFR B2a person or thing that someone loves and treasures above all others
the balance of power
CEFR B2the way power or influence is distributed among competing groups, countries, or people
the cream of the crop
CEFR B2The very best people or things in a group.
the gift of the gab
CEFR B2the ability to speak persuasively and fluently
the long and the short of it
CEFR B2the essential point, stripped of detail
the other side of the coin
CEFR B2a different or opposite aspect of a situation
the tip of the iceberg
CEFR B2a small visible part of a much larger hidden problem or situation
think the world of
CEFR B2admire or care for someone or something very deeply
to the tune of
CEFR B2amounting to a stated, usually substantial, quantity or sum
walk of life
CEFR B2a person's occupation, social position, or general way of living
beat/get the hell out of something
CEFR C1to leave a place very quickly (get); or to defeat or hit something severely (beat)
by the seat of your pants
CEFR C1to do something by instinct and improvisation rather than by plan
err on the side of
CEFR C1choose the safer course when uncertainty makes either option imperfect
fall foul of
CEFR C1to get into trouble with someone or break a rule or law
fly in the face of
CEFR C1to oppose or be the opposite of what is expected, accepted, or sensible
kiss of life
CEFR C1mouth-to-mouth resuscitation given to revive someone who is not breathing
out of kilter
CEFR C1misaligned, unsettled, or operating abnormally
out of the frying pan into the fire
CEFR C1To escape one bad situation only to land in a worse one.
put someone in mind of
CEFR C1to remind someone of a particular person, place, or experience
run-of-the-mill
CEFR C1ordinary, average, unremarkable
sleight of hand
CEFR C1clever and subtle trickery used to mislead people
sow seeds of thought
CEFR C1to introduce ideas that may grow and develop in people's minds later
time is of the essence
CEFR C1acting quickly is essential to the success of the matter