change
Idioms (40)
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full circle
CEFR B2back to the original position or state after a series of changes
Neutral -
move the goalposts
CEFR B2to unfairly change the rules or aims after something has started
Informal -
set something in stone
CEFR B2to make something fixed and impossible to change
Neutral -
turn something on its head
CEFR B2to completely change something or make it the opposite of what it was
Neutral -
dig one's heels in
CEFR B2to refuse stubbornly to change your mind or do what others want
Informal -
shift gears
CEFR B2to change your approach, activity, or pace
Informal -
a whole new ball game
CEFR B2A completely different situation from before.
Informal -
paradigm shift
CEFR C1a fundamental change in the assumptions, models, or approach of a field
Neutral -
pivot
CEFR B2to change a company's direction or business model in response to what the market reveals
Neutral -
creative destruction
CEFR C1the process by which new innovations destroy and replace outdated firms and industries
Neutral -
break the mould
CEFR B2to do something new and different that sets a new standard
Neutral -
turn over a new leaf
CEFR B2to start behaving better or differently
Neutral -
change hands
CEFR B2to pass from one owner to another
Neutral -
come of age
CEFR B2to reach adulthood or become fully developed and established
Neutral -
turn the tables
CEFR B2to reverse a situation so that the former weaker side gains the advantage
Neutral -
rock the boat
CEFR B2to disturb a stable situation by causing trouble or challenging accepted arrangements
Informal -
put paid to
CEFR C1to bring something, especially a plan or hope, to a definite end
Neutral -
go from strength to strength
CEFR B2to keep improving and becoming more successful over time
Neutral -
in the offing
CEFR C1expected to happen or become available soon
Neutral -
go downhill
CEFR B1to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance
Neutral -
sign of the times
CEFR B2an event or development that reveals what a particular era is like
Neutral -
work wonders
CEFR B2have an unusually strong and beneficial effect
Neutral -
on the mend
CEFR B2recovering or improving after illness or damage
Neutral -
make waves
CEFR B2to cause disruption or draw attention by challenging established expectations
Neutral -
kick the habit
CEFR B2to stop a persistent behavior, especially an addictive one
Informal -
open the floodgates
CEFR B2To remove a restraint and allow something to increase rapidly, often beyond control.
Neutral -
go with the flow
CEFR B1To adjust calmly to circumstances or prevailing behavior instead of resisting them.
Neutral -
light at the end of the tunnel
CEFR B2A sign that a difficult period may soon improve or end.
Neutral -
blaze a trail
CEFR B2to pioneer an approach that opens the way for later people
Neutral -
dead and buried
CEFR B2completely abandoned, with no realistic chance that a plan or idea will return
Neutral -
teething troubles
CEFR C1small, temporary problems that arise while a new system or activity is getting started
Neutral -
put down roots
CEFR B2to make a permanent home in one place and build a stable life there
Neutral -
out of thin air
CEFR B2to seem to materialize suddenly without any apparent origin
Neutral -
go to the dogs
CEFR B2to deteriorate severely from an earlier, better condition
Neutral -
the die is cast
CEFR C1an irreversible decision has fixed the course of what happens next
Formal -
go to seed
CEFR B2to become neglected, untidy, or generally worse in condition
Neutral -
every which way
CEFR B1in every direction, often in a scattered or disorderly way
Informal -
out of kilter
CEFR C1misaligned, unsettled, or operating abnormally
Neutral -
put a damper on
CEFR B2to make an event or mood less enjoyable and exciting
Neutral -
wipe the slate clean
CEFR B2to forgive or forget past problems so a fresh start is possible
Neutral