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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 out, including its inflections. Clear word filter

a fish out of water

CEFR B1

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

Neutral

get out of hand

CEFR B1

To become impossible to control.

Neutral

let the cat out of the bag

CEFR B1

To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.

Informal

out and about

CEFR B1

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

Informal

out of the question

CEFR B1

completely impossible or not permitted

Neutral

put out fires

CEFR B1

to deal with urgent problems instead of doing planned work

Informal

down and out

CEFR B2

in severe hardship, especially without money, resources, or prospects

Neutral

go in one ear and out the other

CEFR B2

to be heard but immediately forgotten or ignored

Informal

iron out the kinks

CEFR B2

to fix the last small problems in a plan, process, or product

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

out on a limb

CEFR B2

in a vulnerable position after taking an unusual or unsupported risk

Neutral

run out of steam

CEFR B2

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

Informal

shape up or ship out

CEFR B2

improve your behavior or performance or else leave

Informal

stick your neck out

CEFR B2

To take a risk by saying or doing something that others might criticize.

Informal

take a leaf out of someone's book

CEFR B2

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

Neutral

take the wind out of someone's sails

CEFR B2

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

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

it will all come out in the wash

CEFR C1

the problems or confusion will eventually be resolved

Informal

let it all hang out

CEFR C1

behave freely without hiding your feelings or worrying about restraint

Informal

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

pull out all the stops

CEFR C1

to make the maximum possible effort, holding nothing back

Informal

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