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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 of, including its inflections. Clear word filter

a piece of cake

CEFR A2

Something that is very easy to do.

Informal

a fish out of water

CEFR B1

Someone who feels uncomfortable because they are in an unfamiliar situation.

Neutral

at the end of the day

CEFR B1

ultimately; when everything is considered

Informal

can of worms

CEFR B1

a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched

Informal

end of story

CEFR B1

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

Informal

get out of hand

CEFR B1

To become impossible to control.

Neutral

in the hands of

CEFR B1

under the control or responsibility of someone

Neutral

in the nick of time

CEFR B1

at the latest moment when success is still possible

Neutral

leap of faith

CEFR B1

an act of trusting or committing without evidence or guarantees

Neutral

let the cat out of the bag

CEFR B1

To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.

Informal

on top of the world

CEFR B1

Feeling exceptionally happy and satisfied, especially after a success.

Neutral

out of the question

CEFR B1

completely impossible or not permitted

Neutral

the best of both worlds

CEFR B1

A situation in which you enjoy the advantages of two different things at the same time.

Neutral

the name of the game

CEFR B1

the central, most important aspect of a situation

Informal

word of mouth

CEFR B1

recommendations spread informally from person to person

Neutral

a bone of contention

CEFR B2

a subject that causes disagreement or argument between people

Neutral

a matter of life and death

CEFR B2

an extremely serious or urgent matter

Neutral

a taste of your own medicine

CEFR B2

The same unpleasant treatment that you have given to others.

Informal

ahead of the game

CEFR B2

to stay better prepared than others by anticipating future needs

Neutral

along the lines of

CEFR B2

similar to; roughly in the style or manner of

Neutral

at the back of one's mind

CEFR B2

a thought or worry that you are vaguely aware of but not focusing on

Neutral

at the drop of a hat

CEFR B2

immediately and with no hesitation when an opportunity or prompt appears

Neutral

break the back of

CEFR B2

to get past the main obstacle so that the remaining work becomes easier

Neutral

by the skin of your teeth

CEFR B2

By the narrowest possible margin; only just barely.

Informal

come of age

CEFR B2

to reach adulthood or become fully developed and established

Neutral

come to think of it

CEFR B2

used when reconsideration brings a fresh realization or memory

Neutral

flavor of the month

CEFR B2

a person, framework, or thing that is fashionable for a very short time

Informal

for the hell of it

CEFR B2

for amusement or impulse rather than for any serious purpose

Informal

full of beans

CEFR B2

bursting with cheerful energy and enthusiasm

Informal

get the better of

CEFR B2

to defeat someone or gain control over a person or feeling

Neutral

get wind of

CEFR B2

learn about something private or secret, usually through an indirect channel

Neutral

give someone a piece of your mind

CEFR B2

To tell someone angrily what you really think of them.

Informal

go down the road of

CEFR B2

to start following a particular course of action

Neutral

have a life of its own

CEFR B2

to develop or grow in a way that is no longer controlled by anyone

Informal

in (the) light of

CEFR B2

considering or because of (new information or circumstances)

Formal

jack of all trades

CEFR B2

a versatile person with many useful skills but no necessary specialization

Neutral

kiss of death

CEFR B2

something that seems helpful but instead causes eventual failure or ruin

Neutral

light at the end of the tunnel

CEFR B2

A sign that a difficult period may soon improve or end.

Neutral

make a go of

CEFR B2

to turn an undertaking into a lasting success

Neutral

make a meal of

CEFR B2

to devote far too much effort to a task and make it seem needlessly complicated

Neutral

make light of

CEFR B2

to treat a serious matter as unimportant, often by joking about it

Neutral

make light work of

CEFR B2

to handle a demanding task quickly and effortlessly

Neutral

make short work of

CEFR B2

to finish a task or overcome an opponent with surprising speed and ease

Neutral

marriage of convenience

CEFR B2

an often temporary alliance entered for practical advantage, without emotional attachment or genuine common purpose

Neutral

moment of truth

CEFR B2

the decisive point when reality or the final outcome becomes clear

Neutral

neck of the woods

CEFR B2

someone's local area or part of the country

Neutral

new lease of life

CEFR B2

renewed energy, health, or usefulness

Neutral

off the top of one's head

CEFR B2

from memory, without checking or thinking carefully

Informal

on the face of it

CEFR B2

judging only by appearances, without deeper examination

Neutral

one of those things

CEFR B2

an odd or unfortunate situation accepted as unavoidable and not worth further explanation

Neutral

out of line

CEFR B2

behaving or speaking beyond acceptable limits

Informal

out of one's hands

CEFR B2

no longer one's responsibility or under one's control

Neutral

out of order

CEFR B2

not working properly

Neutral

out of the blue

CEFR B2

suddenly and unexpectedly

Informal

out of the running

CEFR B2

no longer being considered for a prize, position, or competition

Neutral

out of the woods

CEFR B2

past the worst of a danger or difficulty

Neutral

out of thin air

CEFR B2

to seem to materialize suddenly without any apparent origin

Neutral

rule of thumb

CEFR B2

a rough, practical guideline based on experience rather than exact measurement

Neutral

run out of steam

CEFR B2

to lose the energy, enthusiasm, or momentum needed to continue

Informal

seal of approval

CEFR B2

a recognized sign that an authority accepts, supports, or endorses something

Neutral

see the light of day

CEFR B2

be created, published, or finally made available for people to see

Neutral

set something in stone

CEFR B2

to make something fixed and impossible to change

Neutral

Matching variant: set in tablets of stone

sign of the times

CEFR B2

an event or development that reveals what a particular era is like

Neutral

sing the praises of

CEFR B2

to praise a person or thing enthusiastically when speaking to others

Neutral

six of one and half a dozen of the other

CEFR B2

two alternatives have no meaningful difference

Informal

slip of the tongue

CEFR B2

an unintended word or phrase spoken by mistake

Neutral

speak of the devil

CEFR B2

Said when a person you were just talking about suddenly appears.

Informal

stand the test of time

CEFR B2

to remain effective, admired, or valuable over a long period

Neutral

state of the art

CEFR B2

using the most advanced and modern techniques or technology

Neutral

take a dim view of

CEFR B2

To judge something negatively or regard it with doubt or disapproval.

Neutral

take a leaf out of someone's book

CEFR B2

to follow someone's good example by copying what they do

Neutral

take it with a grain of salt

CEFR B2

To treat something as not fully reliable or true.

Neutral

take the wind out of someone's sails

CEFR B2

to suddenly weaken a person's confidence, excitement, or determination

Neutral

the apple of one's eye

CEFR B2

a person or thing that someone loves and treasures above all others

Neutral

the balance of power

CEFR B2

the way power or influence is distributed among competing groups, countries, or people

Neutral

the cream of the crop

CEFR B2

The very best people or things in a group.

Neutral

the gift of the gab

CEFR B2

the ability to speak persuasively and fluently

Informal

the long and the short of it

CEFR B2

the essential point, stripped of detail

Neutral

the other side of the coin

CEFR B2

a different or opposite aspect of a situation

Neutral

the tip of the iceberg

CEFR B2

a small visible part of a much larger hidden problem or situation

Neutral

think the world of

CEFR B2

admire or care for someone or something very deeply

Neutral

to the tune of

CEFR B2

amounting to a stated, usually substantial, quantity or sum

Neutral

walk of life

CEFR B2

a person's occupation, social position, or general way of living

Neutral

beat/get the hell out of something

CEFR C1

to leave a place very quickly (get); or to defeat or hit something severely (beat)

Informal

by the seat of your pants

CEFR C1

to do something by instinct and improvisation rather than by plan

Informal

err on the side of

CEFR C1

choose the safer course when uncertainty makes either option imperfect

Formal

fall foul of

CEFR C1

to get into trouble with someone or break a rule or law

Formal

fly in the face of

CEFR C1

to oppose or be the opposite of what is expected, accepted, or sensible

Formal

kiss of life

CEFR C1

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation given to revive someone who is not breathing

Neutral

out of kilter

CEFR C1

misaligned, unsettled, or operating abnormally

Neutral

out of the frying pan into the fire

CEFR C1

To escape one bad situation only to land in a worse one.

Neutral

put someone in mind of

CEFR C1

to remind someone of a particular person, place, or experience

Formal

run-of-the-mill

CEFR C1

ordinary, average, unremarkable

Neutral

sleight of hand

CEFR C1

clever and subtle trickery used to mislead people

Neutral

sow seeds of thought

CEFR C1

to introduce ideas that may grow and develop in people's minds later

Neutral

time is of the essence

CEFR C1

acting quickly is essential to the success of the matter

Formal

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