- ‘Hit the books‘
Meaning: To study intensively or with great effort.
Example: The final exams are approaching, so I need to hit the books and prepare well.
2. ‘Learn the ropes’
Meaning: To become familiar with the basics or essentials of a new job or activity.
Example: After joining the new company, it took me a few weeks to learn the ropes and understand how things work here.
3. ‘Pass with flying colors‘
Meaning: To succeed or excel in something with outstanding achievement.
Example: She worked hard and passed the exam with flying colors, receiving the highest score in her class.
4. ‘A teachable moment‘
Meaning: An opportunity to learn a valuable lesson or gain insight from a particular situation or event.
Example: The teacher used the student’s mistake as a teachable moment to explain the correct approach to problem-solving.
5. ‘A lesson in futility’
Meaning: An activity or effort that is pointless and won’t lead to any significant result.
Example: Trying to convince him to change his mind is a lesson in futility; he never listens to anyone’s advice.
6. ‘A crash course’
Meaning: An intensive and brief educational program or training to learn something quickly.
Example: Before our trip, we took a crash course in the local language to help us communicate with the locals.
7. ‘A quick study’
Meaning: Someone who learns and understands new things rapidly.
Example: Jane is a quick study; she grasped the concept of the project within minutes of the explanation.
8. ‘A hard nut to crack’
Meaning: A challenging problem or person that is difficult to understand or deal with.
Example: Solving this complex equation is a hard nut to crack; it requires advanced mathematical skills.
9. ‘A piece of cake’
Meaning: Something very easy to do or achieve.
Example: After studying diligently, the test turned out to be a piece of cake for him.
10. ‘Ace in the hole’
Meaning: A hidden advantage or resource that can be used to ensure success.
Example: The team’s secret play turned out to be their ace in the hole, leading them to victory in the final minutes of the game.
11. ‘Bury the hatchet’
Meaning: To settle a conflict or disagreement and make peace with someone.
Example: After years of rivalry, the two politicians decided to bury the hatchet and work together for the betterment of their constituents.
12. ‘Cast in stone ‘
Meaning: Something that is fixed, permanent, or cannot be changed.
Example: The plans for the event are not cast in stone; we can still make some adjustments if needed.
13. ‘Blow the whistle’
Meaning: To expose or report wrongdoing or illegal activities.
Example: The courageous employee decided to blow the whistle on the company’s unethical practices.
14. ‘Brain drain’
Meaning: The emigration of highly skilled or talented individuals from one country or organization to another.
Example: Many promising scientists are leaving the country, causing a significant brain drain from our research institutions.
15. ‘Brainstorm ideas’
Meaning: To generate creative and innovative ideas through group discussion or individual thinking. Example: Let’s get together and brainstorm ideas for the new marketing campaign.
16. ‘Break the ice’
Meaning: To initiate or start a conversation or interaction to alleviate tension or awkwardness.
Example: At the networking event, I tried to break the ice by complimenting the other attendees’ work.
17. ‘Burn the midnight oil’
Meaning: To work or study late into the night.
Example: During exam season, students often burn the midnight oil to revise their course material.
18. ‘Cross the t’s and dot the i’s’
Meaning: To be thorough and meticulous in attending to all the details of a task or project.
Example: Before submitting the report, make sure you cross the t’s and dot the i’s to avoid any errors.
19. ‘Do the math’
Meaning: To analyze and calculate the details or consequences of a situation.
Example: If you do the math, you’ll realize that this investment can yield significant returns.
20. ‘Drop the ball’
Meaning: To make a mistake or fail to do something that was expected or required.
Example: The team dropped the ball and missed the deadline for the project delivery.
21. ‘Fish out of water’
Meaning: To feel uncomfortable or out of place in a particular situation or environment.
Example: As an introvert, attending big social gatherings makes him feel like a fish out of water.
22. ‘Food for thought’
Meaning: Something that provokes reflection or consideration of an idea or concept.
Example: The speaker raised some interesting points during the conference, providing us with plenty of food for thought.
23. ‘Get the hang of it’
Meaning: To understand or master a skill or task after some practice or experience.
Example: After a few attempts, she finally got the hang of driving a manual transmission car.
24. ‘Go back to the drawing board’
Meaning: To start over or reevaluate a plan or project after it has failed or been unsuccessful.
Example: The initial design didn’t meet the requirements, so we had to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new approach.
25. ‘Jump through hoops’
Meaning: To go through a series of difficult or challenging tasks or obstacles to achieve a goal.
Example: The company requires candidates to jump through hoops during the hiring process, including multiple interviews and tests.
26. ‘Keep your nose to the grindstone’
Meaning: To work diligently and persistently on a task or project.
Example: If you want to succeed in your career, you need to keep your nose to the grindstone and continuously improve your skills.
27. ‘Kick the bucket’
Meaning: A euphemism for dying or passing away.
Example: When he kicked the bucket, his family held a small memorial to celebrate his life.
28. ‘Know the ropes’
Meaning: To be familiar with the procedures or methods of doing something.
Example: After a few weeks on the job, she knew the ropes and could handle her responsibilities efficiently.
29. ‘Learn by heart’
Meaning: To memorize something completely.
Example: The students had to learn the poem by heart for the recitation competition.
30. ‘Let the cat out of the bag’
Meaning: To reveal secret or confidential information unintentionally.
Example: John accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party we were planning for Mary.
31. ‘Miss the boat’
Meaning: To miss an opportunity or chance to do something.
Example: I missed the boat on getting tickets for the concert; they sold out within minutes.
32. ‘No room to swing a cat’
Meaning: In a very confined or cramped space.
Example: The tiny apartment was so small that there was no room to swing a cat.
33. ‘Open a can of worms’
Meaning: To create a difficult or complicated situation that causes more trouble than originally expected.
Example: Discussing politics with his family opened a can of worms, leading to heated arguments.
34. ‘Play hooky’
Meaning: To skip school or work without permission or a legitimate reason.
Example: Instead of attending classes, he decided to play hooky and spend the day at the beach.
35. ‘Put on your thinking cap’
Meaning: To engage your mind and think creatively to solve a problem.
Example: We need to put on our thinking caps to come up with a solution to this complex issue.
36. ‘Read between the lines’
Meaning: To understand the hidden or implied meaning behind what is being said or written.
Example: The politician’s speech seemed innocent, but if you read between the lines, it contained subtle criticism of his opponents.
37. ‘Raining cats and dogs’
Meaning: Heavy rainfall; a phrase used to describe very heavy rain.
Example: We had to postpone the picnic because it was raining cats and dogs all day.
38. ‘Read the riot act’
Meaning: To issue a stern warning or reprimand to someone who is misbehaving or causing trouble.
Example: The teacher read the riot act to the disruptive students, warning them of severe consequences if their behavior didn’t improve.
39. ‘Ring a bell’
Meaning: To sound familiar or remind someone of something.
Example: The name of the author rings a bell, but I can’t recall the title of the book.
40. ‘Ruffle some feathers’
Meaning: To disturb or upset someone, causing them to react emotionally.
Example: His straightforward comments ruffled some feathers among the audience, but he stood by his opinion.
41. ‘Rule of thumb’
Meaning: A general principle or guideline that is practical and easy to apply.
Example: As a rule of thumb, I always check online reviews before making a purchase.
42. ‘Shoot the breeze’
Meaning: To engage in casual and relaxed conversation.
Example: After work, we like to shoot the breeze at the local cafe, discussing our day.
43. ‘Sit on the fence’
Meaning: To be indecisive or neutral in a situation instead of taking a clear stance.
Example: In the debate, he preferred to sit on the fence rather than pick a side.
44. ‘Skeleton in the closet’
Meaning: A hidden or embarrassing secret from the past.
Example: Before running for office, the candidate wanted to ensure there were no skeletons in the closet that could be used against him.
45. ‘Spill the beans’
Meaning: To reveal a piece of secret or confidential information.
Example: My sister couldn’t keep it to herself and spilled the beans about the surprise party.
46. ‘Straight-A student’
Meaning: A student who consistently receives the highest grades in all their classes.
Example: Emily is a straight-A student; she has a perfect academic record.
47. ‘Take with a grain of salt’
Meaning: To be skeptical or not completely believe something.
Example: The story sounded exaggerated, so I took it with a grain of salt until I could verify the details.
48. ‘The ball is in your court’
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
Example: The negotiations have reached a critical point, and now the ball is in their court to respond to our offer.
49. ‘The elephant in the room’
Meaning: An obvious problem or issue that is being ignored or avoided in a conversation or situation.
Example: Their financial troubles were the elephant in the room during the family gathering, but nobody mentioned it.
50. ‘Throw in the towel’
Meaning: To give up or surrender; to admit defeat.
Example: After struggling for hours, he finally threw in the towel and admitted that he couldn’t solve the puzzle.
51. ‘Turn over a new leaf’
Meaning: To make a fresh start or change one’s behavior for the better.
Example: After getting out of rehab, he decided to turn over a new leaf and focus on living a healthier lifestyle.
52. ‘Under the weather’
Meaning: Feeling sick or unwell.
Example: I won’t be able to attend the party tonight; I’m feeling a bit under the weather.
53. ‘Walk on eggshells’
Meaning: To be extremely cautious or sensitive when dealing with a person or situation to avoid causing offense or upset.
Example: Ever since their argument, they’ve been walking on eggshells around each other, trying not to trigger another fight.
54. ‘Weigh your options’
Meaning: To carefully consider different choices or possibilities before making a decision.
Example: Before accepting the job offer, she took some time to weigh her options and evaluate the pros and cons.
55. ‘Whole new ballgame’
Meaning: A completely different situation or set of circumstances, often more challenging or complex than before.
Example: After the company’s expansion, managing the team became a whole new ballgame for the supervisor.
56. ‘Word of mouth’
Meaning: Information or recommendations passed from one person to another through casual conversation.
Example: The restaurant’s popularity grew through positive word of mouth from satisfied customers.
57. ‘Wrap your head around something’
Meaning: To comprehend or understand something difficult or complex.
Example: It took me a while to wrap my head around the advanced mathematical concept.
58. ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’
Meaning: It is difficult to teach someone new skills or habits, especially if they are set in their ways.
Example: My grandfather refuses to learn how to use a computer; you know what they say, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
59. ‘Your guess is as good as mine’
Meaning: I have no more information or knowledge about a situation than you do.
Example: I’m not sure when the package will arrive; your guess is as good as mine.
60. ‘Learn the hard way’
Meaning: To learn something through personal experience, often by making mistakes or facing challenges.
Example: She learned the hard way that procrastination leads to last-minute stress and poor performance.
61. ‘Teach an old dog new tricks’
Meaning: To successfully teach someone new skills or habits, regardless of their age or previous experience.
Example: Although he’s been painting for years, he’s willing to learn new techniques, proving that you can teach an old dog new tricks.
62. ‘The early bird catches the worm’
Meaning: Being proactive and taking action early can lead to advantages or success.
Example: She always arrives at the office early, believing that the early bird catches the worm and gets more done during the day.
63. ‘A penny for your thoughts’
Meaning: A polite way of asking someone what they are thinking or feeling.
Example: You seem deep in thought; a penny for your thoughts?
64. ‘All bark and no bite’
Meaning: To appear threatening or aggressive but lack the ability or willingness to follow through with actions.
Example: The dog barks loudly, but it’s all bark and no bite; it’s actually quite friendly.
65. ‘Beat around the bush’
Meaning: To avoid getting to the main point or discussing something directly.
Example: Instead of beating around the bush, just tell me what you really think.
66. ‘Bite the bullet’
Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and determination.
Example: It’s time to bite the bullet and tell your boss about the mistake you made.
67. ‘Break a leg’
Meaning: A way of wishing someone good luck, often used in the context of performances or events.
Example: Before going on stage, the actors wished each other to break a leg for their opening night.
68. ‘By the book’
Meaning: To follow the rules or procedures exactly as they are written or prescribed.
Example: As a strict supervisor, she always ensures that her team members work by the book to maintain compliance with company policies.
69. ‘Cross that bridge when you come to it’
Meaning: To deal with a problem or issue when it arises, rather than worrying about it in advance.
Example: Don’t worry about the exam next week; cross that bridge when you come to it.
70. ‘Curiosity killed the cat’
Meaning: Being too inquisitive or nosy can lead to trouble.
Example: He couldn’t resist investigating the mysterious noise, but curiosity killed the cat when he accidentally knocked over a vase.
71. ‘Don’t count your chickens before they hatch’
Meaning: Don’t assume or expect something to happen until it is certain.
Example: He was already planning how to spend the prize money, but his friend reminded him not to count his chickens before they hatch.
72. ‘Don’t cry over spilled milk’
Meaning: Don’t be upset over past mistakes or accidents that cannot be undone.
Example: The project didn’t go as planned, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk; let’s focus on finding a solution.
73. ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’
Meaning: Even in difficult situations, there is usually something positive or beneficial to be found.
Example: She lost her job, but every cloud has a silver lining, as she now has the opportunity to explore new career paths.
74. ‘Hit the nail on the head’
Meaning: To express something accurately or identify the exact point or cause of a situation.
Example: The consultant hit the nail on the head by identifying the main issue affecting the company’s profitability.
75. ‘In the same boat’
Meaning: In the same difficult or challenging situation as someone else.
Example: We’re all struggling with this project’s tight deadline; we’re in the same boat and need to work together to finish it.
76. ‘It takes two to tango’
Meaning: Both parties involved in a situation or conflict are equally responsible for the outcome.
Example: The argument was not solely his fault; it takes two to tango, and they both contributed to the disagreement.
77. ‘Kill two birds with one stone’
Meaning: To accomplish two objectives with a single action or effort.
Example: By buying groceries on the way home, she killed two birds with one stone, saving time and avoiding an extra trip.
78. ‘Let sleeping dogs lie’
Meaning: To avoid stirring up trouble or conflict by leaving a situation as it is.
Example: The issue has already caused enough tension, so let’s just let sleeping dogs lie and not bring it up again.
79. ‘Make a long story short’
Meaning: To summarize a story or explanation, omitting unnecessary details.
Example: He recounted the entire trip, but to make a long story short, they had an amazing time and visited many famous landmarks.
80. ‘On the same page’
Meaning: To have the same understanding or agreement about a particular matter.
Example: It’s essential that all team members are on the same page regarding the project’s goals and timeline.
81. ‘Out of the frying pan into the fire’
Meaning: To move from a bad or difficult situation to one that is even worse.
Example: After quitting his stressful job, he found himself out of the frying pan into the fire when he couldn’t find a new job for months.
82. ‘Practice what you preach’
Meaning: To follow the advice or beliefs that one promotes to others.
Example: The coach always emphasizes hard work and discipline; he practices what he preaches and trains just as hard as his athletes.
83. ‘Put all your eggs in one basket’
Meaning: To invest or rely entirely on a single opportunity, plan, or option.
Example: Investing all your savings in one risky venture is like putting all your eggs in one basket; diversify your investments instead.
84. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’
Meaning: Great achievements or accomplishments take time and effort.
Example: Building a successful business takes patience and hard work; remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
85. ‘Saved by the bell’
Meaning: Rescued or saved from a difficult or embarrassing situation, usually at the last moment.
Example: He was struggling to answer the tough question, but he was saved by the bell when the teacher ended the exam.
86. ‘Six of one, half a dozen of the other’
Meaning: Two alternatives that are essentially the same or have similar outcomes.
Example: Whether we take the highway or the back roads, it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other; the travel time will be about the same.
87. ‘Start from scratch’
Meaning: To begin something anew, without any previous progress or advantage.
Example: After the project’s failure, the team decided to start from scratch and develop a completely new strategy.
88. ‘The ball’s in your court’
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
Example: The hiring manager informed the candidate that the ball was in her court and she needed to submit the necessary documents.
89. ‘The devil is in the details’
Meaning: The most important or challenging parts of a task are hidden in the fine points or specifics.
Example: Designing the product seemed straightforward, but the devil was in the details, where various technical challenges arose.
90. ‘The proof is in the pudding’
Meaning: The real value or effectiveness of something can only be determined by trying or experiencing it.
Example: The new marketing campaign looked promising, but the proof is in the pudding, and we’ll see its impact on sales.
91. ‘The straw that broke the camel’s back’
Meaning: The final small burden or problem that causes an overloaded or stressed situation to collapse.
Example: After dealing with various challenges all day, the computer crashing was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and he lost his temper.
92. ‘Throw the baby out with the bathwater’
Meaning: To discard something good or valuable along with the bad while trying to fix a problem.
Example: The company shouldn’t eliminate the entire project because of one minor issue; they don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
93. ‘Two heads are better than one’
Meaning: Collaborative thinking and brainstorming are more effective than individual efforts.
Example: We need to solve this complex problem together; two heads are better than one.
94. ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’
Meaning: When visiting a foreign place, it is advisable to adopt the local customs and behavior.
Example: While traveling abroad, it’s best to follow the local customs and traditions; when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
95. ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’
Meaning: If someone is determined to achieve something, they will find a method to do so.
Example: Despite facing numerous obstacles, she never gave up, proving that where there’s a will, there’s a way.
96. ‘You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs’
Meaning: Achieving something significant often requires sacrifices or negative consequences.
Example: Starting a new business involves risk and uncertainty; you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.
97. ‘A leopard can’t change its spots’
Meaning: A person’s character or behavior is unlikely to change, especially if they have a history of certain traits.
Example: Despite promising to reform, he couldn’t stay out of trouble; it seems a leopard can’t change its spots.
98. ‘All in the same boat’
Meaning: Everyone is in a similar situation or facing the same difficulties.
Example: During the economic downturn, many businesses struggled to survive; we’re all in the same boat.
99. ‘Better late than never’
Meaning: It is preferable to do something late than not do it at all.
Example: Although she missed the deadline, she still submitted her assignment; better late than never, right?
100. ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket’
Meaning: To avoid risking everything on a single opportunity or investment.
Example: Instead of investing all your savings in one company’s stocks, diversify your investments; don’t put all your eggs in one basket.