Idioms & Expressions
Explore English idioms and fixed expressions by level and topic, and learn their meaning with an example sentence.
329 expressions found
Something that is very easy to do.
Used to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
To stop working on something for the rest of the day.
Feeling slightly ill.
Very rarely.
To do or say something to make people feel more relaxed in a social situation.
To not give up despite a difficult situation.
To stay positive in a difficult situation.
To go to bed.
To go to bed.
To spend time relaxing or socializing with someone.
To recover from a disappointment or a difficult experience.
To accept a situation as it is instead of trying to change it.
Used to say that a situation has been going well up to now.
Time seems to pass very quickly.
It is better for someone to arrive or do something late than not at all.
Something that is not to one's taste or liking.
In a few words; briefly.
Used to summarize a story briefly, leaving out the details.
Happening suddenly and unexpectedly.
To reveal secret information.
To reveal a secret carelessly or by accident.
To avoid talking about something directly.
Said when a person being talked about suddenly appears.
To agree with someone.
To deliberately ignore or be unfriendly toward someone.
To tell someone everything about a situation, especially personal feelings.
To avoid becoming too friendly or close with someone.
Directly from the person who has firsthand knowledge.
To summarize something briefly.
To understand a hidden meaning that is not directly stated.
To say what you mean directly, without wasting time.
Used to say that you have no idea about something.
To stop yourself from saying something you want to say.
Used to tell someone not to interfere in matters that don't concern them.
To trust what someone says even though you're not completely sure it's true.
To argue against an idea just to test it, not because you actually disagree.
What a person actually does matters more than what they say they'll do.
Both people involved in a situation share responsibility for it.
In agreement, understanding a situation the same way.
Feeling extremely happy.
Extremely happy.
To suddenly become too nervous to do something you had planned.
To suddenly become very angry.
To stay calm in a stressful situation.
To release stress or anger, often through physical activity.
To calm down and behave normally after being upset.
To annoy someone very much.
To become difficult to control.
In the same difficult situation as someone else.
To be very careful about what you say or do so as not to upset someone.
To change your opinion or decision about something.
To stop being friends with someone after an argument.
To have a friendly relationship with someone.
To spoil someone's plans or happiness.
To do or say something that disturbs a stable situation.
An obvious problem that everyone notices but no one wants to talk about.
The last in a series of unpleasant events that makes a situation unbearable.
To make a bad situation even worse.
Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.
To make more effort than is expected.
To deal with a difficult situation in a direct and confident way.
To try every possible way to achieve something.
To take on a task that is too difficult to manage.
To give up trying to do something.
Having to start something again from the beginning.
To start planning something again because the previous attempt failed.
To miss an opportunity because you acted too slowly.
Undecided about something.
To destroy relationships in a way that makes it impossible to go back.
To waste time being upset about something that has already happened and can't be changed.
To deal with a problem only when it actually happens, not before.
To not fully believe something and treat it with some doubt.
To organize yourself and start behaving in a more effective way.
To understand a difficult idea or situation.
To learn how to do a job or task properly.
To learn how to do something after practicing it.
To accept the unpleasant results of your actions.
To survive a difficult period.
It's your turn to take action or make a decision.
To do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often lowering quality.
In debt; losing money.
Making a profit; not in debt.
To cost a lot of money.
To have many tasks or responsibilities to deal with.
To stay focused on what is important.
To firmly refuse to allow something or insist on something.
To use personal connections or influence to get an advantage.
No longer responsible for something or in trouble.
Fixed and unable to be changed.
A situation that progresses easily without problems.
To postpone an invitation or offer to a later time.
To fail in a spectacular or dramatic way.
Whatever happens; regardless of circumstances.
To pursue a mistaken course of action, based on wrong assumptions.
To join others in doing something that has become popular or fashionable.
Very common and of little value or special significance.
To try desperately to find a solution when the situation is nearly hopeless.
A hopeless or pointless search for something.
To act in a bold, risky way without worrying about the consequences.
To deliberately ignore something wrong.
A lot of anger or worry about something unimportant.
To treat a small problem as if it were much more serious.
Someone or something with no protection against attack or danger.
Only just; by a very narrow margin.
To take attention or credit away from someone else's achievement.
To risk everything on a single plan or option.
Used to say that something will never happen.
You shouldn't judge someone or something based only on appearance.
Something that has both positive and negative effects at the same time.
To describe exactly what is causing a problem or situation.
To think creatively, in a way that is different from usual approaches.
Over a long period of time in the future.
Over a short period of time in the near future.
Ultimately; when everything is considered.
Starting from the very beginning, with nothing prepared in advance.
To start a process or activity.
To watch or monitor something carefully.
To consider something when making a decision.
To remember and consider something.
To be an extremely important part of something.
To have a noticeable positive effect.
To affect something in a good way.
To affect something in a harmful way.
To help more people become informed about an issue.
To do something in order to achieve a result.
To decide on a final judgment after considering something.
To form a judgment based on evidence or reasoning.
To accept a difficult situation.
To fail to appreciate something because it is always available.
To be closely connected or to happen together.
To create the conditions that make something possible in the future.
To create the basic conditions necessary for future development.
Something that is certain to happen eventually.
Many different types of something.
Used to specify the particular aspect being discussed.
Concerning; in relation to.
As well as; besides.
Used to show a difference between two things.
Used to introduce the outcome of something previously mentioned.
Used to introduce an effect that follows from something previously mentioned.
Because of.
Because of.
Without being affected or influenced by something.
Despite; without being prevented by something.
Although it is true that.
Used to summarize a general impression, considering everything.
Mostly, in most cases.
Partly, but not completely.
Partly, but not completely, true.
In some ways, though not in every way.
Concerning this particular point.
Concerning this particular aspect.
Used to introduce a personal opinion or point of view.
Used to introduce a personal opinion.
Used to introduce what the speaker personally believes.
Used to emphasize a personal opinion.
Used to introduce how the speaker personally views a situation.
Used to introduce a claim the speaker intends to support.
Used to introduce a tentative personal impression or opinion.
Used to state something with strong confidence.
Used to highlight a point the listener/reader should pay attention to.
Used to remind the listener/reader of a key point.
Used before stating something considered obvious.
Used before stating something considered obvious or expected.
Used to introduce a broad statement that is usually, but not always, true.
Used to indicate that something is being said in a precise, technical sense.
Used to introduce a general statement, without going into detail.
Considering everything, generally.
After thinking about every relevant factor.
After thinking carefully about all relevant factors.
Used to restate something more simply or clearly.
Used to explain or clarify a previous statement.
Used to introduce a specific example.
Used to introduce a specific example.
Used to introduce examples of something already mentioned.
Used to specify exactly what is meant.
Used to single out one specific example or point.
Most importantly.
Most importantly, before anything else.
Used to introduce a final point that is still important.
At the very beginning; originally.
As a first step or in the initial stage.
Occasionally.
Occasionally.
Occasionally.
Gradually, as each day passes.
Gradually, one stage at a time.
Gradually, in small amounts.
At some point in the future, eventually.
Soon, rather than after a long delay.
During the period between two events.
Over an extended period in the future.
An issue that is becoming increasingly worrying.
An important problem.
An important element that influences a result.
Something that partly causes a result.
A large or important quantity of something.
A large number of something.
A fairly large amount of something.
An important share or part of a whole.
Almost all of something.
The very large majority of a group.
A smaller part of a group.
Only a small, visible part of a much larger problem.
An amount that is far too small to make a real difference.
The overall situation, rather than just one small part of it.
A situation that is not clearly defined and is open to interpretation.
A moment when a significant change begins to happen.
An event that makes people realize a serious problem needs attention.
A series of events in which each one causes the next.
A repeating negative situation in which each problem causes another.
A repeating negative situation where problems continuously reinforce each other.
A course of action likely to lead to a worse, harder-to-stop situation.
Something that has both advantages and disadvantages.
A situation in which everyone involved benefits.
A situation in which every option leads to a negative outcome.
The basic, underlying cause of a problem.
At the central or most important part of something.
Leading or most advanced in a particular field.
Despite being confronted with a difficulty or challenge.
Considering new information or circumstances.
As a reaction to something.
With the purpose or goal of.
With the intention or goal of achieving something.
For the purpose or benefit of.
In order to achieve a particular goal.
While trying to achieve or obtain something.
While trying to find something.
Concerning; in relation to.
Concerning; connected with.
Following or in agreement with a rule or standard.
In agreement with or matching something.
Opposite to or different from something.
In a way that is different from what was expected.
Used to express the opposite of a previous statement.
When compared to something else.
When compared to something else.
When compared to something else.
When looking at something in relation to something else.
In a similar manner or style.
In a similar way or direction.
In a similar manner or style.
Used to add emphasis by mentioning two related points together.
Used to present a choice between two options.
Used to indicate that two things are both untrue or excluded.
Used to say that something is true in either case.
The degree to which something is true or happens.
Used to say that the degree of something changes depending on circumstances.
Varying according to a particular factor.
Without being affected by whether something is true or not.
On the condition that.
On the condition that.
If a particular situation happens.
If a particular situation happens.
Never, regardless of the situation.
Not at all; certainly not.
Partly, to a limited extent.
Partly, for one of several reasons.
Caused in part by.
Caused mainly by.
Mainly for the reason that.
Mostly for the reason that.
To be the explanation or cause of something.
To cause something to happen.
To be caused by something.
To originate or be caused by something.
To cause something to happen or exist.
To cause something to happen.
To result in something.
To be one of the causes of something.
To be regarded as caused by something.
To be connected with or related to something.
To be connected with or related to something.
To cause important effects that extend well beyond the immediate situation.
To strongly influence or change something.
To have a harmful influence on something.
To have a positive influence on something.
To use an opportunity as effectively as possible.
To have just enough money to cover basic living expenses.
To find a satisfactory middle point between two extremes.
To keep a stable, even relationship between two things.
To make good use of an opportunity.
To deal successfully with a difficult situation.
To take action to handle a problem or situation.
To make a determined effort to solve a problem.
To give attention to and try to deal with a problem.
To successfully deal with a difficulty.
To be confronted with a difficult situation.
To represent a danger to something.
To represent a possible danger to something.
To satisfy a need or requirement.
To satisfy a necessary condition.
To satisfy something that is required.
To provide enough of something to meet what is required.
To establish an example that will influence future decisions.
To decide which things are most important to deal with first.
To accept that one is accountable for something.
To suffer the main negative effects of something.
To take on a difficult responsibility.
To enjoy the good results of one's efforts.
To remain valid, useful, or popular over a long period.
The most important point or conclusion.
A situation in which one event causes a series of other effects.
A secondary effect that follows as a result of a first event.
Used to say that something has both good and bad consequences.
To make progress toward achieving something.
To pause and consider a situation from a broader perspective.
Used to introduce the first of two contrasting points.
Used to introduce a point that contrasts with one just made.
Used to show a difference when comparing two things.
Used to introduce a statement that goes against what most people think.
As a result; therefore.
For that reason; as a result.
As a result of this; in this way.
For this reason; as a consequence.
A major factor that causes something to happen or grow.
A significant difficulty that prevents progress.
A significant disadvantage of something.
A possible way of solving a problem.
A realistic and workable way of solving a problem.
A solution intended to solve a problem permanently, not just temporarily.
A solution that only addresses a problem temporarily.
The basic reason for a problem, which may not be immediately obvious.
Something that causes worry.
A topic that people disagree about and discuss.
Something that depends on a person's individual point of view.
Used to introduce the most important conclusion after considering everything.
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