Everyday English Idioms
Everyday English Idioms
2. In the limelight
(to be the center of attention or public focus)
~~Winning the championship put the team in the limelight for weeks.
~~The new product was in the limelight due to its innovative features.
~~The celebrity couple tries to avoid being in the limelight to maintain their
privacy.
3. Gutter press
((sensationalist and often unethical journalism that focuses on scandal and
gossip)
~~Some people enjoy reading the gutter press for its juicy celebrity gossip.
~~The tabloid newspaper is often criticized for its reliance on gutter press to
boost sales.
~~Responsible journalism aims to inform the public without resorting to
gutter press tactics.
4. It takes two to tango
(both parties involved are responsible for a situation or argument)
~~Blaming only one side in a conflict is unfair; it usually takes two to tango.
~~In a healthy relationship, it takes two to tango and work through
challenges together.
~~The dispute was not one-sided; it takes two to tango, and both parties
needed to compromise.
5. Labor of love
(work done for the sake of enjoyment or passion rather than for financial
gain)
~~Building the model ship was a labor of love for the retired sailor.
~~Despite the long hours, writing the novel was a labor of love for the
author.
~~The community garden was created as a labor of love to beautify the
neighborhood.
2. In the wake of
(in the aftermath or as a result of something)
~~The company changed its policies in the wake of customer complaints.
~~Schools were closed in the wake of the flu outbreak to prevent further
spreading.
~~In the wake of the storm, many houses were damaged and power lines
were down.
3. Ground swell
(a widespread and growing public opinion or support for a particular idea or
cause)
~~The ground swell against corruption led to massive protests in the capital.
~~There was a ground swell of support for the environmental protection
initiative.
~~The ground swell of excitement among fans led to record-breaking ticket
sales.
5. Rags to riches
(a journey from poverty or obscurity to wealth and success)
~~The actor's career went from rags to riches after landing a leading role in
a blockbuster.
~~The immigrant's hard work and determination resulted in a remarkable
rags-to-riches story.
~~Lisa went from living in a small apartment to a luxurious mansion, a true
rags-to-riches transformation.
6. Cave in
(to collapse or fall inward, often used metaphorically for giving in or yielding
under pressure)
~~The dam caved in, causing flooding in the surrounding area.
~~Ben’s resolve to quit smoking eventually caved in when faced with stress.
~~Under the weight of criticism, the company caved in and issued an
apology.
7. Hush, hush
(kept secret or confidential; something done quietly without attracting
attention)
~~The celebrity's wedding was kept hush, hush to avoid media frenzy.
~~The surprise party was meant to be hush, hush until the last moment.
~~The new product launch was hush, hush, generating anticipation among
customers.
2. Out of keeping
(inconsistent or not in harmony with surroundings or expectations)
~~Joe’s behavior was out of keeping with the traditions of the family.
~~The loud music in the library was completely out of keeping with the quiet
environment.
~~The comedian's dark jokes were out of keeping with the family-friendly
tone of the show.
3. Nest egg
(a sum of money saved or invested for the future)
~~Lisa inherited a nest egg from her grandparents, which she wisely
invested.
~~I put aside a portion of my salary as a nest egg for my children's
education.
~~Having a nest egg provides a sense of financial security during uncertain
times.
6. Flesh out
(to add details or expand on a basic idea or concept)
~~The architect took time to flesh out the blueprint with precise
measurements.
~~The author needed to flesh out the characters in the novel to make them
more interesting.
~~The scientist needed to flesh out the theory with additional experiments
and observations.
7. Oh my, so cute!
(an exclamation expressing delight or admiration, especially for something
adorable)
~~A baby's laughter often makes people say, "Oh my, so cute!"
~~When Emma saw the puppy, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my, so
cute!"
~~The little kitten playing with a ball of yarn elicited an "Oh my, so cute!"
from everyone.
2. In a flash
(happening very quickly or suddenly)
~~The news of the promotion spread in a flash, and everyone congratulated
me.
~~The cake disappeared from the kitchen in a flash; it must have been
delicious.
~~The thief stole the purse and disappeared in a flash before anyone could
react.
3. Pipe dream
(an unrealistic or impractical hope or fantasy)
~~Thinking that world peace can be achieved overnight is a naïve pipe
dream.
~~Building a house on the moon is a complete pipe dream – it's just not
feasible.
~~Winning the lottery and never working again is often considered a mere
pipe dream.
6. Fall out
(to have a disagreement or argument with someone, resulting in a damaged
relationship)
~~After the argument, Kate and her friend fell out and haven't spoken in
weeks.
~~Family members often fall out over trivial matters that escalate into major
conflicts.
~~It's important to address issues calmly to avoid falling out with your
friends or loved ones.
7. What drama!
(expression used to convey surprise or disbelief at an exaggerated or
unexpected situation)
~~Emma missed the bus by a minute and started crying. Seriously, what
drama!
~~Joe spilled a drop of coffee on his shirt and acted like it was a disaster.
What drama!"
~~I can't believe Lisa is making such a fuss over a small scratch on her
phone. What drama!
6. Quail at
(to feel afraid, apprehensive, or recoil from something)
~~The novice hiker quailed at the sight of the steep mountain trail.
~~Ivy quailed at the thought of speaking in front of a large audience.
~~Many pet dogs quail at the realization that they are going to the vet.
1. Settle a score
(to resolve a dispute or seek revenge for a past offense)
~~The two teams met on the field to settle the score from last year's
championship game.
~~After years of rivalry, John finally settled the score with his old nemesis in
a friendly chess match.
~~The two friends playfully competed in video games to settle scores from
their childhood arguments.
3. Sugarcoat
(to make something appear less harsh or unpleasant than it really is)
~~The doctor had to sugarcoat the diagnosis to ease the patient's anxiety.
~~The politician tried to sugarcoat his controversial statements during the
interview.
~~Instead of sugarcoating the feedback, the teacher provided honest and
constructive criticism.
6. Linger over
(to take more time than necessary or to spend extra time on something)
~~Ivy likes to linger over a good book, savoring each chapter.
~~The couple chose to linger over the beautiful sunset at the beach.
~~We decided to linger over dinner and enjoy each other's company.
7. No sweat!
(is an informal expression meaning "no problem" or "it's easy")
~~When asked for a favor, Jake replied, "Sure, no sweat!"
~~Jeff confidently accepted the challenge, saying, "I can do it, no sweat!"
~~Despite the challenging task, the skilled technician fixed the issue with a
confident "no sweat!"
3. Death wish
(a desire for or tendency toward self-destructive or risky behavior)
~~Jack’s reckless driving made it seem like he had a death wish.
~~Jumping off a cliff without a parachute is like having a death wish.
~~Ignoring your health and eating unhealthy foods is like having a slow
death wish.
3. Sweet tooth
(a strong liking or craving for sweet foods)
~~Amy has a sweet tooth and loves chocolate.
~~The bakery is popular among those with a sweet tooth.
~~Ben’s sweet tooth led him to try every dessert on the menu.
6. Pine away
(to gradually weaken or waste away due to sadness, longing, or unrequited
love)
~~The old man pined away after his wife died.
~~The abandoned dog seemed to pine away in the shelter.
~~Mia pined away for her hometown after moving to the city.
7. For real?!
(is an expression of surprise or disbelief, seeking confirmation)
~~Zoe won the lottery? For real?! That's amazing!
~~You got a promotion? For real?! Congratulations!
~~Sam met the president? For real?! That's unbelievable!
3. Double bluff
(A deceptive maneuver intended to mislead or confuse someone by
pretending to be pretending.)
~~The poker player executed a double bluff, pretending to have a weak
hand.
~~Sam thought I was lying, but it was a double bluff; I was telling the truth
all along.
~~The detective used a double bluff to catch the thief, pretending to have
evidence that he didn't.
6. Sneak up
(To approach quietly or unnoticed, often to surprise or catch someone off
guard.
~~The ninja was able to sneak up on the enemy without making a sound.
~~I like to sneak up on my sister and startle her when she least expects it.
~~The cat tried to sneak up on the bird but was spotted at the last moment.
1. Save face
(to avoid embarrassment or humiliation, especially in a social or public
situation)
~~Tom accidentally spilled his drink but tried to save face by laughing it off.
~~John forgot his lines in the play, but Mary quickly improvised to save his
face.
~~Emily made a mistake during the presentation but managed to save face
with a clever joke.
2. In someone’s face
(confronting or challenging someone directly and often aggressively)
~~I hate it when people get in my face and try to intimidate me.
~~Zoe confronted the gossiping coworker in her face about spreading
rumors.
~~Jane was tired of the teasing and finally got in the bully's face to put an
end to it.
3. Double down
(to become more committed to a decision or course of action, even if it's
risky)
~~Sophie decided to double down on her studies after failing the first exam.
~~Amy knew it was risky, but she decided to double down and invest all her
savings.
~~Instead of giving up, Jake decided to double down on his fitness goals
and work out even harder.
7. Good grief!
(an expression of surprise, exasperation, or disbelief)
~~When grandpa heard the outrageous news, he exclaimed, "Good grief!"
~~Good grief! The traffic is so bad; we'll never make it to the airport on time.
~~Upon seeing the messy room, mom sighed and said, "Good grief! Clean
this up!"
1. Go ballistic
(to become extremely angry or agitated)
~~When Jane found out her car was stolen, she went ballistic.
~~My brother went ballistic when I accidentally broke his phone.
~~The coach went ballistic when the team lost the game due to a silly
mistake.
2. In and of itself
(by itself; without considering anything else)
~~The painting, in and of itself, is a masterpiece regardless of the artist's
reputation.
~~Freedom, in and of itself, is not enough; it must be accompanied by
responsibility.
~~Studying late at night is not harmful in and of itself, but lack of sleep can
affect your health.
3. Hand to mouth
(living in poverty, having just enough to sustain oneself)
~~After losing his job, Ben was living hand to mouth for several months.
~~With the economic downturn, even middle-class families were living hand
to mouth.
~~During the drought, many farmers lived hand to mouth, barely able to
feed their families.
5. Hand in glove
(working closely together; in close association or partnership)
~~The siblings work hand in glove to manage their family business.
~~The detectives and the forensic team work hand in glove to solve
complex cases.
~~The chef and the sous-chef work hand in glove to create exquisite
culinary masterpieces.
6. Leave out
(to exclude or omit something or someone)
~~John felt hurt when they left him out of the invitation list.
~~Please don't leave out any ingredients when you're making the cake.
~~The teacher reminded the students not to leave out any information when
writing their essays.
7. Joke’s on you!
(is used to inform someone that they are the one who will suffer the
consequences of their actions)
~~You thought you were pranking me, but the joke's on you—I knew all
along!
~~Sophie thought she had outsmarted her brother, but he revealed the
truth, saying, "joke's on you!"
~~Jane tried to embarrass her colleague with a practical joke, but it
backfired, and he said, “joke’s on you!”
2. In two minds
(unsure or undecided about something; to be torn between two choices or
opinions)
~~I'm in two minds about whether to accept the job offer or not.
~~Sophie is in two minds about which university to attend next year.
~~We are in two minds about whether to go out for dinner or stay in and
cook.
3. Big cheese
(an important or influential person; someone who holds a position of
authority or power)
~~As the head chef, Pierre is the big cheese in the kitchen.
~~In Hollywood, the big cheese is often the producer who can greenlight
projects.
~~Tom thinks he is the big cheese just because he is the captain of the
football team.
6. Pitch in
(to contribute or help with a task, project, or effort)
~~I'll cook dinner if you pitch in and set the table.
~~Everyone needs to pitch in and clean up the mess after the party.
~~It's a community garden, so everyone is expected to pitch in and help
maintain it.
7. Sucks to be you!
(is used to express indifference or lack of sympathy for someone's
misfortune)
~~You missed the last train home again? Well, sucks to be you!
~~When Kate complained about her long work hours, her colleague simply
replied, "Sucks to be you!"
~~After hearing about Joe's car breaking down, Jerry shrugged and said,
"Well, sucks to be you, I guess."
6. Chuck out
(to discard or throw away)
~Don't forget to chuck out the expired food from the fridge.
~I decided to chuck out all the broken toys cluttering the playroom.
~After the party, we had to chuck out all the empty bottles and cans.
~It's time to chuck out these old magazines; they're just collecting dust.
7. Sure thing!
(is an enthusiastic affirmation indicating agreement or willingness to
do something)
~"Can you help me with this?" "Sure thing!"
~"Do you mind if I sit here?" "Sure thing, feel free."
~"Could you pass me the salt?" "Sure thing, here you go."
~"Would you like some more coffee?" "Sure thing, thanks!"
2. Out of sight
(not visible; beyond the range of vision)
~The car sped around the corner and was soon out of sight.
~After climbing the mountain, the valley below was out of sight.
~The moon disappeared behind the clouds and was out of sight.
~When diving underwater, colorful fish can quickly swim out of sight.
3. Turning point
(a significant moment or event that marks a decisive change in a
situation)
~The discovery of penicillin was a turning point in the history of medicine.
~Graduating from college was a turning point in Mark's life; he found a job
he loved.
~The invention of the internet was a turning point in the way people
communicate.
~Losing his job was a turning point for Sam; he decided to pursue his
passion for painting.
4. Might is right
(the belief or principle that power and strength determine what is just
or morally correct)
~In the wild, animals often operate under the principle that might is right.
~The dictator ruled with an iron fist, believing in the motto ‘might is right.’
~The bully in school often bullied others because he believed in might is
right.
~Throughout history, many rulers have followed the principle that might is
right.
6. Put across
(to communicate or express something in a clear and effective
manner)
~Jane struggled to put across her ideas during the debate.
~It's essential to put across your thoughts clearly during a job interview.
~The teacher used diagrams to put across the complex scientific concept.
~The artist used colors and brush strokes to put across the emotions in the
painting.
7. Touche!
(is used to acknowledge a clever or effective response or action)
~After Tom made a witty remark, his friend responded with "Touche!"
~"You made a good point about environmental conservation." "Touche!"
~"Your joke about my cooking skills was funny, I'll give you that. Touche!"
~When Sue countered Joe's chess move with a clever strategy, he said,
"Touche! Well played."
1. Stick your neck out
(to take a risk or put oneself in a vulnerable position)
~Don't stick your neck out too far or you might regret it.
~Jack always sticks his neck out for his friends, no matter what.
~I'm not going to stick my neck out for someone who won't appreciate it.
~Sue stuck her neck out by investing all her savings in the new business.
2. On the mend
(recovering from an illness or setback; getting better)
~Sam’s broken leg is healing well, and he's on the mend.
~The economy is on the mend after the recent recession.
~The team's morale is on the mend after their recent defeat.
~After a week of rest, Beth is finally on the mend from the flu.
6. Stick around
(to stay in a particular place or situation)
~Stick around after class if you have any questions.
~Stick around after the party; we're going to watch a movie.
~Don't leave yet; I want you to stick around and meet my friend.
~The doctor told the patient to stick around for the results, but he left early.
7. Go to hell!
(an expression of anger, frustration, or dismissal towards someone)
~I've had enough of your excuses. Go to hell!
~When John insulted Mary, she told him to go to hell.
~Eve was so angry that she screamed at her boss to go to hell.
~After the argument, Lucy shouted, "Go to hell!" and slammed the door.
Please keep practicing the idioms we learned today until the next time,
when we pick up seven more idioms and master them.