a bridge too far
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idiom

a bridge too far

Meaning
an attempt or goal that is too ambitious or impossible to achieve
Example
The proposal to negotiate with all the countries at once was a bridge too far.
phrasal-verb

watch over

Meaning
to protect or guard someone carefully
Example
Grandparents lovingly watch over their grandchildren.
phrasal-verb

benefit from

Meaning
to gain an advantage or profit through something
Example
Many developing nations benefit from global trade agreements.
phrasal-verb

mix with

Meaning
to socialize and talk with different people
Example
At the party, he tried to mix with everyone.
phrasal-verb

deal back

Meaning
to return a favor or repay someone
Example
She promised to deal back the help someday.
phrasal-verb

embrace change

Meaning
to accept and welcome emotional or life changes positively
Example
To grow emotionally, you must embrace change with courage.
idiom

Rewriting history

Meaning
To change the way past events are interpreted or remembered.
Example
Some politicians try rewriting history to suit their narrative.
phrasal-verb

blend together

Meaning
to combine or mix different elements harmoniously
Example
The festival helps different cultures blend together beautifully.
phrasal-verb

adapt oneself to

Meaning
to adjust or change to fit into a new culture or environment
Example
He quickly adapted himself to the local traditions.
phrasal-verb

come in

Meaning
to enter a room or building
Example
Please come in and have a seat.
phrasal-verb

show up

Meaning
to appear or arrive at an event
Example
Even though it was raining, most guests showed up on time.
phrasal-verb

bond with

Meaning
to develop a close emotional connection with someone
Example
Parents should spend time to bond with their children.
idiom

better safe than sorry

Meaning
It’s wiser to be cautious than to take risks and regret later.
Example
I always double-check the locks — better safe than sorry.
phrasal-verb

waver between

Meaning
to go back and forth between two opinions or choices
Example
She wavered between hope and fear before making her decision.
phrasal-verb

level emotions

Meaning
to stabilize one's emotional state; to avoid highs and lows
Example
He practices meditation daily to level emotions.
idiom

Clean hands

Meaning
To be innocent or free from guilt.
Example
He claims to have clean hands in the scandal.
idiom

empty nest

Meaning
a home where the children have grown up and left
Example
After her kids moved out, she felt the empty nest syndrome.
idiom

What’s done is done

Meaning
There is no point in worrying about past mistakes.
Example
We can’t change the past, so what’s done is done.
phrasal-verb

pig out

Meaning
to eat too much food in one sitting
Example
We pigged out on pizza last night.
phrasal-verb

cheer on

Meaning
to encourage someone to keep going; to show support
Example
My friends always cheer on me when I feel down.
phrasal-verb

build upon research

Meaning
to use previous studies as a base for innovation
Example
Scientists often build upon research to create groundbreaking solutions.
phrasal-verb

draw confidence from

Meaning
to gain self-assurance by relying on something
Example
I draw confidence from the small wins we track each week.
idiom

light bulb moment

Meaning
a sudden realization or new idea
Example
She had a light bulb moment while brainstorming for the campaign.
phrasal-verb

shore up against

Meaning
to strengthen or support something to prevent failure during crisis
Example
The government took steps to shore up against the collapsing economy.
idiom

in the mood

Meaning
feeling like doing something or having a particular attitude
Example
I'm in the mood for some chocolate cake today.
idiom

Keep an open mind

Meaning
To be willing to consider new ideas or opinions.
Example
Try to keep an open mind when learning about different cultures.
phrasal-verb

do up

Meaning
to fasten something such as buttons or laces; to decorate or renovate
Example
Can you help me do up the back of my dress?
idiom

play the field

Meaning
to date or have romantic relationships with many people without commitment
Example
He’s still playing the field and not looking for a serious relationship.
phrasal-verb

bring before

Meaning
to present someone or something for judgment or discussion
Example
The case was brought before the court yesterday.
phrasal-verb

stumble upon

Meaning
to find something by accident
Example
We stumbled upon a hidden waterfall in the forest.
phrasal-verb

stay off

Meaning
to avoid eating or drinking something unhealthy
Example
The doctor told me to stay off junk food for a month.
phrasal-verb

play out

Meaning
to happen or develop in a particular way
Example
We watched how the story played out until the final twist.
idiom

clear your head

Meaning
to stop thinking about something for a while and relax
Example
After a stressful week, I like to take a walk to clear my head.
idiom

bite the bullet

Meaning
to decide to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been putting off or hesitating about
Example
I decided to bite the bullet and finish my homework.
idiom

blow one’s own trumpet

Meaning
to praise oneself; to boast about one's achievements
Example
He loves to blow his own trumpet whenever he achieves something.
phrasal-verb

hold fast to

Meaning
to remain firmly committed to a belief or value
Example
She holds fast to transparency even under pressure.
phrasal-verb

find back

Meaning
to regain something lost; to recover
Example
After a long search, she finally found back her missing cat.
phrasal-verb

drive growth

Meaning
to cause an increase or improvement in business or economy
Example
Government investments in infrastructure can drive growth across multiple sectors.
idiom

like a dog with two tails

Meaning
extremely happy and excited
Example
He was like a dog with two tails after getting the promotion.
idiom

phishing expedition

Meaning
an attempt to obtain sensitive information by deceit
Example
The suspicious email was part of a phishing expedition.
phrasal-verb

tip over

Meaning
to fall onto one side accidentally
Example
The truck tipped over while taking a sharp turn.
phrasal-verb

knock off

Meaning
to stop working at the end of the day
Example
Let’s knock off early today and grab dinner together.
idiom

to bring someone to justice

Meaning
to capture and punish someone for a crime
Example
The police vowed to bring the killers to justice.
idiom

catch lightning in a bottle

Meaning
to achieve something amazing and rare through creativity or luck
Example
Their new design caught lightning in a bottle.
phrasal-verb

look to

Meaning
to expect help or advice from someone
Example
The team looked to their leader for guidance.
phrasal-verb

give back to

Meaning
to contribute to a community or cause that has supported you
Example
He believes everyone should give back to society in some way.
phrasal-verb

fall into routine

Meaning
to become accustomed to a regular way of working
Example
After a few weeks, the new hires fell into routine easily.
phrasal-verb

set out plans

Meaning
to explain or describe plans in detail
Example
The finance minister set out plans to boost national growth.
phrasal-verb

turn plans into action

Meaning
to implement or execute planned initiatives
Example
It's time for nations to turn plans into action for climate resilience.
idiom

To have a clear conscience

Meaning
To feel that one has done the right thing.
Example
After returning the lost wallet, he went to bed with a clear conscience.
phrasal-verb

dip down

Meaning
to fall slightly before rising again
Example
Stock prices dipped down briefly before rebounding.
phrasal-verb

stand down

Meaning
to withdraw from an argument or position to avoid conflict
Example
He decided to stand down instead of continuing the argument.
idiom

blossom into something

Meaning
to develop or become successful over time
Example
She blossomed into a confident and skilled leader.
idiom

to have hope in one's heart

Meaning
to remain hopeful and optimistic about the future
Example
Despite all the challenges, he always has hope in his heart.
phrasal-verb

check back on

Meaning
to review or look again at online updates or messages
Example
You should check back on the thread later for new replies.
phrasal-verb

shape up

Meaning
to improve physical condition; to get fit
Example
He’s been going to the gym regularly to shape up before summer.
phrasal-verb

hold up

Meaning
to cause delay or slow down progress
Example
The server issue held up the entire team's work for hours.
phrasal-verb

calm oneself down

Meaning
to relax and regain emotional control after being upset or angry
Example
He took a deep breath to calm himself down before speaking.
idiom

on the beat

Meaning
a police officer's regular patrol route
Example
The officer was on the beat when he spotted the suspect.
idiom

a drama queen

Meaning
someone who exaggerates or overreacts to situations
Example
Stop acting like a drama queen; it’s not that serious.
phrasal-verb

back away

Meaning
to move backward from something frightening
Example
They backed away from the angry dog.
phrasal-verb

lean emotionally on

Meaning
to depend on someone for emotional support
Example
During tough times, she leaned emotionally on her best friend.
phrasal-verb

turn to

Meaning
to approach someone for advice or help
Example
When I need feedback, I usually turn to my supervisor.
idiom

code like a machine

Meaning
to work extremely fast and efficiently on programming
Example
She can code like a machine when a deadline is near.
idiom

have a sense of self-worth

Meaning
to believe that you are valuable and deserve respect
Example
It's important to have a sense of self-worth to succeed in life.
idiom

wear the crown

Meaning
to be in a position of leadership or power
Example
It's not easy to wear the crown and handle all responsibilities.
idiom

With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Meaning
A person’s actions or behavior make them worse than an enemy.
Example
He betrayed me again, with friends like that, who needs enemies?
phrasal-verb

back up ideas

Meaning
to support or defend someone’s ideas or opinions
Example
During the discussion, teammates backed up each other's ideas confidently.
idiom

on your own shoulders

Meaning
to be responsible for something yourself
Example
The success of this event rests on your own shoulders.
phrasal-verb

peer into

Meaning
to look closely or carefully at something difficult to see
Example
She peered into the darkness, trying to see who was there.
phrasal-verb

call for unity

Meaning
to publicly ask people to come together for a common cause
Example
The leader called for unity among the divided political groups.
phrasal-verb

snap out of fear

Meaning
to quickly recover from a fearful or panicked state
Example
He managed to snap out of fear and take control of the situation.
idiom

Keep an even keel

Meaning
To stay calm and steady, especially during difficulties.
Example
Despite the pressure, she kept an even keel throughout the project.
phrasal-verb

run behind schedule

Meaning
to be late or delayed in finishing something
Example
The construction team is running behind schedule because of heavy rain.
phrasal-verb

embrace good vibes

Meaning
to accept and enjoy positive energy and feelings around you
Example
Let’s embrace good vibes and enjoy the moment.
idiom

strike a balance

Meaning
to find a satisfactory compromise between two things
Example
It’s hard to strike a balance between career and family.
idiom

a cold fish

Meaning
someone who is unemotional or not friendly
Example
He seemed a cold fish when I first met him.
idiom

catch up

Meaning
to meet and talk after a long time; to reach the same level as someone
Example
Let’s catch up over coffee this weekend.
idiom

digital brainchild

Meaning
a product or idea created using digital or AI technology
Example
ChatGPT is the digital brainchild of OpenAI.
idiom

zone in on

Meaning
to focus attention closely on something specific
Example
We need to zone in on the main customer problem.
phrasal-verb

deal through

Meaning
to conduct business or communication via an intermediary
Example
We deal through a trusted agent for all contracts.
phrasal-verb

buddy up with

Meaning
to become partners or friends with someone
Example
New hires buddy up with mentors during orientation week.
idiom

a helping hand

Meaning
someone who helps or assists others
Example
She offered a helping hand to the new student in class.
phrasal-verb

pay someone back

Meaning
to take revenge; to return money owed
Example
I’ll pay you back for what you did to me.
phrasal-verb

bring home

Meaning
to win or achieve something valuable or important
Example
The team worked hard and finally brought home the championship trophy.
idiom

key in on

Meaning
to give focused attention to something specific
Example
The coach asked the team to key in on their defensive mistakes.
idiom

bend the truth

Meaning
to slightly change the truth to make something sound better
Example
He tends to bend the truth when telling stories.
phrasal-verb

delve in

Meaning
to explore or investigate deeply
Example
The scientist decided to delve in to the mysteries of the deep sea.
idiom

Behind the curve

Meaning
To be less advanced or slow compared to competitors.
Example
Our company is behind the curve in adopting AI technologies.
idiom

Be all ears

Meaning
To listen very attentively.
Example
I’m all ears, tell me what happened!
idiom

wild goose chase

Meaning
a useless or hopeless pursuit
Example
Looking for that document was a wild goose chase.
idiom

brain like a computer

Meaning
to have an extremely analytical and efficient mind
Example
She remembers every detail; she has a brain like a computer.
idiom

mother hen

Meaning
a person who is very protective or caring, especially within a family
Example
Aunt Mary is a real mother hen, always looking after everyone.
phrasal-verb

cope with

Meaning
to manage or deal effectively with something difficult
Example
She found it hard to cope with the sudden loss of her job.
phrasal-verb

snap under

Meaning
to lose control or become angry under stress
Example
She finally snapped under the constant criticism from her boss.
phrasal-verb

tune into others

Meaning
to be sensitive to what others are feeling or thinking
Example
Good communicators tune into others’ emotions easily.
phrasal-verb

scale back spending

Meaning
to reduce the level of spending
Example
Due to inflation, many households are scaling back spending.
idiom

learn by doing

Meaning
to gain knowledge through practical experience
Example
Students learn by doing during the science experiments.
phrasal-verb

carry forward into

Meaning
to move progress or funds into a future period
Example
We carry forward into next quarter any unused training budget.
idiom

swing vote

Meaning
a vote that is not yet decided and could go either way
Example
The swing vote will determine the outcome of the election.
phrasal-verb

turn ideas into reality

Meaning
to make your plans or dreams come true
Example
Great leaders know how to turn ideas into reality.
phrasal-verb

adjust within a team

Meaning
to modify behavior to work better with colleagues
Example
New members often need time to adjust within a team.
idiom

a slap on the wrist

Meaning
a very mild punishment
Example
He got a slap on the wrist for such a serious offense.
idiom

Open a can of worms

Meaning
To start something that creates many new problems.
Example
By questioning the policy, he opened a can of worms.
idiom

a well-oiled machine

Meaning
a group that works efficiently and smoothly together
Example
Our team worked like a well-oiled machine during the event.
idiom

cross your heart

Meaning
to make a sincere promise
Example
I’ll never tell anyone, cross my heart.
phrasal-verb

push for

Meaning
to try hard to get something done or accepted
Example
The opposition party pushed for a new anti-corruption bill.
phrasal-verb

reach back out

Meaning
to reply or contact someone again after a while
Example
He finally reached back out to his followers after a month.
idiom

a lightbulb moment

Meaning
a sudden realization or understanding
Example
When I saw the results, I had a lightbulb moment.
phrasal-verb

tremble with

Meaning
to shake because of fear or anxiety
Example
He trembled with fear when he saw the police car stop near him.
phrasal-verb

bring in money

Meaning
to generate income or revenue
Example
The new policy helped the government bring in money from foreign investors.
phrasal-verb

show appreciation for

Meaning
to demonstrate that you value something
Example
We should show appreciation for the team’s hard work.
phrasal-verb

raise awareness about

Meaning
to increase public understanding or concern about an issue
Example
The campaign aims to raise awareness about climate change.
phrasal-verb

get off

Meaning
to leave a bus, train, or plane
Example
We got off the train at the wrong station.
idiom

keep your options open

Meaning
to delay making a final decision so you have choices
Example
I’ll keep my options open until I hear back from all the universities.
idiom

book someone

Meaning
to officially charge someone with a crime
Example
The police booked him for theft.
phrasal-verb

hedge against

Meaning
to protect oneself against potential loss or risk
Example
Many investors hedge against market volatility by diversifying their portfolios.
phrasal-verb

bring around

Meaning
to persuade someone to accept your opinion
Example
I finally brought her around to my point of view.
phrasal-verb

invest in infrastructure

Meaning
to spend money on buildings, systems, or services for long-term development
Example
Developing nations are trying to invest in infrastructure to support economic growth.
phrasal-verb

switch off from

Meaning
to disconnect mentally from work or stress
Example
She switches off from emails after yoga class.
idiom

work around the clock

Meaning
to work continuously day and night
Example
They worked around the clock to finish the project.