a house divided against itself cannot stand
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idiom

a house divided against itself cannot stand

Meaning
a group or organization that is divided in opinion or direction cannot succeed
Example
In a team, a house divided against itself cannot stand; everyone needs to agree on the same goal.
phrasal-verb

account for

Meaning
to explain the reason for something; to represent a portion of something
Example
These factors account for most of the differences in results.
idiom

across the board

Meaning
affecting everyone or everything equally
Example
The new tariffs apply across the board to all imported goods.
idiom

a meeting of minds

Meaning
a situation where people agree or have a shared understanding
Example
The agreement was the result of a real meeting of minds.
idiom

alien concept

Meaning
something unfamiliar or strange
Example
Honesty seems like an alien concept to him.
idiom

a dream come true

Meaning
something that happens which you always wished for
Example
Getting that scholarship was a dream come true for her.
idiom

a couch potato

Meaning
a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching TV
Example
He’s become a couch potato since he lost his job.
idiom

a masterpiece in the making

Meaning
something that has great potential to become exceptional
Example
Her new sculpture is a masterpiece in the making.
idiom

a splash of color

Meaning
a small amount of bright color added for effect
Example
Add a splash of color to make the room lively.
idiom

a rolling stone gathers no moss

Meaning
a person who keeps moving and exploring avoids boredom or stagnation
Example
A rolling stone gathers no moss, and he’s always on the move.
idiom

a no-brainer

Meaning
something that is very easy to understand or decide
Example
The solution to the problem was a no-brainer.
idiom

at your breaking point

Meaning
to be very close to losing control due to stress
Example
After months of overwork, she was at her breaking point.
idiom

a Eureka moment

Meaning
a moment of sudden discovery or realization
Example
He had a Eureka moment when he solved the equation.
idiom

a stepping stone

Meaning
an event or experience that helps one to progress
Example
This internship was a stepping stone to my career.
idiom

a bolt from the blue

Meaning
a sudden and unexpected event or news
Example
His resignation came like a bolt from the blue.
idiom

afraid of your own shadow

Meaning
to be easily frightened
Example
He’s so timid; he’s afraid of his own shadow.
idiom

a stroke of luck

Meaning
something good that happens by chance
Example
It was a stroke of luck that I found my lost wallet.
idiom

a quantum leap

Meaning
a big and sudden improvement
Example
This discovery is a quantum leap in medical research.
idiom

agree to disagree

Meaning
to accept that you have different opinions and stop arguing
Example
We’ll just agree to disagree on this topic.
idiom

An old friend is better than two new ones

Meaning
Long-time friends are more valuable than new ones.
Example
I trust John more than anyone else—an old friend is better than two new ones.
phrasal-verb

ask around about

Meaning
to ask several people for information about something
Example
He’s been asking around about the new manager.
phrasal-verb

average out at

Meaning
to have a particular average amount or rate over a period of time
Example
Inflation averaged out at around 4% over the year.
idiom

a law unto oneself

Meaning
someone who acts independently and ignores rules
Example
He’s a law unto himself, never following company policies.
idiom

around the clock

Meaning
all day and all night; continuously
Example
Doctors worked around the clock to save the patients.
idiom

At the end of one’s rope

Meaning
To be so tired or frustrated that you can’t deal with anything more.
Example
After working nonstop for weeks, I was at the end of my rope.
idiom

A bright future awaits

Meaning
good things are coming ahead
Example
Despite the challenges, a bright future awaits you.
idiom

A Jekyll and Hyde

Meaning
A person with two very different sides to their personality.
Example
He’s like a Jekyll and Hyde—nice one moment and cruel the next.
idiom

a storybook ending

Meaning
a perfect or happy ending, like in a fairy tale
Example
Their wedding was a true storybook ending.
idiom

AI-powered

Meaning
referring to systems or applications that use artificial intelligence to function
Example
The company launched an AI-powered assistant to help customers find products more easily.
idiom

at the back of one's mind

Meaning
something that one is not actively thinking about but is still aware of
Example
The fear of failure was always at the back of his mind.
idiom

at the cutting edge

Meaning
at the most advanced position in a field
Example
The lab is at the cutting edge of medical research.
idiom

a fork in the road

Meaning
a point where a decision must be made; a choice between two or more options
Example
When you come to a fork in the road, you have to choose which way to go.
phrasal-verb

allow time for

Meaning
to make sure you have enough time to do something in the future
Example
Always allow time for unexpected delays.
idiom

a big mouth

Meaning
a person who talks too much or reveals secrets
Example
Don’t tell Jake, he’s a big mouth!
idiom

against the odds

Meaning
to succeed despite many difficulties or challenges
Example
They won the game against all odds, proving their hard work paid off.
idiom

a bitter pill to swallow

Meaning
an unpleasant fact or situation to accept
Example
Losing the championship was a bitter pill to swallow for the team.
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

a universe of possibilities

Meaning
endless opportunities or options
Example
Technology has opened a universe of possibilities.
idiom

A truth universally acknowledged

Meaning
A widely accepted truth or belief.
Example
A truth universally acknowledged is that honesty is important.
phrasal-verb

agree with

Meaning
to have the same opinion as someone else
Example
I completely agree with you on this matter.
phrasal-verb

accept yourself as

Meaning
to recognize and be at peace with who you are
Example
You grow emotionally when you accept yourself as you truly are.
idiom

a good Samaritan

Meaning
a person who helps others in need
Example
A good Samaritan helped the injured man on the road.
idiom

a walking encyclopedia

Meaning
a person who knows a lot about many subjects
Example
Ask him anything about history—he’s a walking encyclopedia.
idiom

a trip down memory lane

Meaning
to remember pleasant events from the past
Example
Looking through old photos was a trip down memory lane.
idiom

anchors aweigh

Meaning
Ready to depart or begin a journey.
Example
With our bags packed, it’s anchors aweigh for the road trip!
idiom

age before beauty

Meaning
used humorously to let an older person go first
Example
He opened the door and said, 'Age before beauty,' letting his grandmother enter first.
idiom

A nest egg

Meaning
A sum of money saved for the future or retirement.
Example
He built up a nest egg for his children's education.
idiom

a piece of the puzzle

Meaning
a small part of a larger situation or problem
Example
Finding the right team is just a piece of the puzzle in creating a successful business.
idiom

a wolf in sheep's clothing

Meaning
someone who appears harmless but is actually dangerous
Example
He was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
idiom

act out

Meaning
to perform or express emotions through actions
Example
Children often act out their frustrations.
idiom

Ask the right questions

Meaning
To inquire wisely to gain understanding.
Example
Good researchers always ask the right questions.
phrasal-verb

align across

Meaning
to bring strategies or actions in agreement across regions or teams
Example
Global managers align across departments to ensure consistent performance.
idiom

a brush with fame

Meaning
a brief encounter or experience with a famous person
Example
During the exhibition, I had a brush with fame when I met a renowned painter.
idiom

a catnap

Meaning
a short, light sleep
Example
I took a catnap after lunch.
idiom

a bug in the system

Meaning
a problem or error in a program or system
Example
There seems to be a bug in the system causing slow performance.
phrasal-verb

aim at

Meaning
to have a particular goal or purpose
Example
This research aims at improving online education quality.
idiom

A Scrooge

Meaning
A very stingy or miserly person.
Example
Don’t be a Scrooge—it’s Christmas!
idiom

a whole new ball game

Meaning
a completely new or different situation; something that changes the way things are done.
Example
Starting a business from scratch is a whole new ball game.
idiom

a loose cannon

Meaning
A person who behaves unpredictably and may cause problems.
Example
Be careful with him — he’s a loose cannon.
idiom

a run on the bank

Meaning
a situation where many people withdraw their money from a bank due to fear of collapse
Example
Rumors of insolvency caused a run on the bank.
idiom

a problem shared is a problem halved

Meaning
discussing a problem makes it easier to solve
Example
Don't hesitate to ask for help. A problem shared is a problem halved.
idiom

ask around

Meaning
to inquire with several people
Example
I’ll ask around to see who can cover the shift.
idiom

a fine line

Meaning
a very small difference between two things
Example
There’s a fine line between genius and madness in art.
phrasal-verb

apologize to

Meaning
to say sorry to someone for something you did
Example
He apologized to his teacher for being rude.
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.
idiom

A bundle of nerves

Meaning
To be extremely anxious or tense.
Example
Before the presentation, she was a bundle of nerves.
phrasal-verb

agree on

Meaning
to reach a shared decision or understanding
Example
We finally agreed on the marketing strategy after a long discussion.
phrasal-verb

align policies with

Meaning
to make policies consistent with those of another country or organization
Example
Member states aligned policies with international trade standards.
idiom

a quick study

Meaning
someone who learns new things very fast
Example
She’s a quick study and mastered the topic in a day.
idiom

all in the same boat

Meaning
in the same situation or facing the same challenges
Example
We're all in the same boat, so let's work together to solve this problem.
idiom

a heart-to-heart

Meaning
a sincere and open conversation
Example
We had a heart-to-heart about our future plans.
idiom

a ray of hope

Meaning
a small sign of possible success or improvement
Example
The new treatment gave patients a ray of hope.
phrasal-verb

acknowledge with

Meaning
to show recognition or appreciation through something
Example
They acknowledged with a small gift for all his hard work.
idiom

As far as I can tell

Meaning
As I understand; based on what I know
Example
As far as I can tell, everything is fine.
idiom

algorithmic trading

Meaning
the use of algorithms to automate trading in financial markets
Example
Banks are increasingly using algorithmic trading to optimize their investments.
idiom

a barrel of laughs

Meaning
someone or something very funny or entertaining
Example
The new comedy show is a barrel of laughs.
idiom

air gap

Meaning
a physical separation between secure and insecure systems
Example
Critical networks are kept air-gapped to prevent unauthorized access.
idiom

a storm in a teacup

Meaning
a small problem that is exaggerated
Example
Their argument was just a storm in a teacup.
idiom

A blueprint for success

Meaning
A detailed plan or strategy for achieving success.
Example
Hard work and consistency are a blueprint for success.
idiom

a man with a mission

Meaning
a person with strong purpose and determination to achieve something
Example
He’s a man with a mission to change the way we think about education.
idiom

at the helm

Meaning
in a position of leadership or control
Example
With her at the helm, the company has grown rapidly.
idiom

android-like

Meaning
acting emotionless or mechanical like a robot
Example
He works in an android-like manner, without any emotion.
idiom

A golden opportunity

Meaning
a very good chance to do something
Example
Getting this scholarship is a golden opportunity for you.
idiom

a mind is a terrible thing to waste

Meaning
it is a waste not to use your mental abilities
Example
You should keep learning, a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
idiom

a trusted ally

Meaning
a person or group that is trusted and reliable
Example
She has always been a trusted ally in our business ventures.
idiom

Ask a million questions

Meaning
To be extremely curious and ask many questions.
Example
Kids often ask a million questions about everything.
idiom

act of kindness

Meaning
a single good deed or gesture to help others
Example
That was such a beautiful act of kindness.
phrasal-verb

argue over

Meaning
to have a disagreement or fight about something
Example
They often argue over project deadlines in the office.
idiom

a kingmaker

Meaning
someone who has influence in the selection or appointment of a leader
Example
The senator has become a kingmaker in the current presidential race.
idiom

a rip-off

Meaning
something that is too expensive or not worth its price
Example
That restaurant is a rip-off; the food is not worth the money.
idiom

A thirst for knowledge

Meaning
A strong desire to learn new things.
Example
He has a thirst for knowledge and reads constantly.
idiom

adapt to the changing times

Meaning
to adjust to new conditions or circumstances
Example
In order to survive in this fast-paced world, you must adapt to the changing times.
idiom

a tough call

Meaning
a difficult decision to make
Example
Choosing between the two offers was a tough call.
phrasal-verb

aim toward excellence

Meaning
to focus effort on achieving the highest quality or standard
Example
Our company always aims toward excellence in every project.
idiom

a mind like a sieve

Meaning
to have a very bad memory
Example
He forgets everything; he has a mind like a sieve.
idiom

a breath of fresh air

Meaning
something new and refreshing
Example
Her positive attitude is a breath of fresh air in the office.
idiom

a paradigm shift

Meaning
a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions
Example
The invention of the internet marked a paradigm shift in communication and information sharing.
phrasal-verb

air issues out

Meaning
to talk openly about problems to resolve them
Example
Teams air issues out during retros so nothing lingers.
idiom

a foot in the door

Meaning
to have a small opportunity to start working in a company or industry
Example
An internship is a great way to get a foot in the door.
idiom

a drop in the ocean

Meaning
a very small amount compared to what is needed
Example
The money they raised was just a drop in the ocean compared to the total cost.
idiom

a level playing field

Meaning
a fair situation where everyone has equal chances
Example
We want to create a level playing field for all competitors.
idiom

A political animal

Meaning
A person who is very interested in politics and has a talent for it
Example
He’s known to be a real political animal.
phrasal-verb

ask for forgiveness

Meaning
to request someone to forgive you
Example
I will ask for forgiveness for what I did.
idiom

a pain in the neck

Meaning
someone or something that is very annoying
Example
That constant noise from the construction site is a pain in the neck.
idiom

a leopard can't change its spots

Meaning
someone cannot change their inherent nature or characteristics
Example
No matter how hard he tries, a leopard can't change its spots.
phrasal-verb

add in

Meaning
to include a small polite comment or detail
Example
If I may, I’d like to add in one more observation.
idiom

a slap on the wrist

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

act up to

Meaning
to behave according to what is expected or suitable
Example
She tries to act up to her reputation as a hardworking student.
idiom

A red herring

Meaning
A misleading clue or distraction intended to divert attention from the real issue.
Example
The new law was just a red herring to distract from the corruption scandal.
idiom

artificial intelligence

Meaning
The simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn.
Example
The company has invested heavily in artificial intelligence to enhance automation.
idiom

a figure of speech

Meaning
a phrase used in a non-literal way for effect or emphasis
Example
When he said he could eat a horse, it was just a figure of speech.
idiom

artificial instinct

Meaning
a machine’s ability to make decisions that seem natural or human-like
Example
The new model shows a kind of artificial instinct while driving.
idiom

a million-dollar smile

Meaning
a beautiful and charming smile
Example
She greeted everyone with a million-dollar smile.
phrasal-verb

advocate for

Meaning
to publicly support a cause or person
Example
Students advocate for safer campuses at the town hall.
phrasal-verb

adapt from experience

Meaning
to change behavior or methods based on what one has learned
Example
Good leaders adapt from experience to face new challenges.
idiom

as luck would have it

Meaning
by chance; fortunately or unfortunately
Example
As luck would have it, I met my old friend at the airport.
idiom

a run for one’s money

Meaning
to compete strongly with someone; to challenge effectively
Example
The new company is giving the old giants a run for their money.
idiom

A stitch in time saves nine

Meaning
Solving a small problem early prevents a bigger problem later.
Example
Fix that leak now — a stitch in time saves nine.
idiom

a man of integrity

Meaning
someone who is honest and morally upright
Example
He is known as a man of integrity in the business world.
idiom

at peace with oneself

Meaning
feeling calm and accepting of oneself
Example
She felt at peace with herself after making the decision.
idiom

A friend is a treasure

Meaning
A true friend is invaluable and precious.
Example
I've known her for years, and she's always been there for me; a friend is a treasure.