A nervous wreck
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All Types idiom phrasal-verb proverb
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Expression Cards All Expressions
idiom

A nervous wreck

Meaning
Someone who is very worried or upset.
Example
He’s a nervous wreck before every exam.
phrasal-verb

bottle in

Meaning
to keep emotions inside instead of expressing them
Example
He tends to bottle in his sadness rather than share it.
phrasal-verb

let yourself breathe

Meaning
to allow yourself time to relax and calm down
Example
You should let yourself breathe when things get overwhelming.
idiom

on the mend

Meaning
recovering from an illness or injury
Example
I was sick last week, but I’m on the mend now.
idiom

on the sly

Meaning
secretly; in a sneaky way
Example
He met her on the sly without telling anyone.
phrasal-verb

reach higher goals

Meaning
to achieve more ambitious objectives or aims
Example
The company’s vision encourages employees to reach higher goals.
phrasal-verb

give into

Meaning
to yield to temptation or pressure
Example
She finally gave into the temptation to eat chocolate.
idiom

take it to the bank

Meaning
to be certain that something is true or will happen
Example
You can take it to the bank that he’ll deliver on his promise.
phrasal-verb

adapt under pressure

Meaning
to adjust effectively when facing stressful situations
Example
Professionals must learn to adapt under pressure.
phrasal-verb

decide on

Meaning
to choose something after thinking carefully
Example
We finally decided on the blue design.
phrasal-verb

phase out debts

Meaning
to gradually reduce or eliminate debts
Example
The government plans to phase out debts over the next decade.
phrasal-verb

push on

Meaning
to continue despite difficulties or fatigue
Example
Even when she felt exhausted, she decided to push on with her goals.
idiom

say hello

Meaning
to greet someone
Example
Please say hello to your parents for me.
phrasal-verb

aim for excellence

Meaning
to try to achieve the best possible results
Example
Always aim for excellence instead of settling for average results.
idiom

steal someone’s thunder

Meaning
to take credit for someone else’s idea or success
Example
She stole my thunder by announcing the news first.
idiom

hold forth

Meaning
to speak at length about a topic
Example
He loved to hold forth on travel stories.
idiom

keep your nose to the grindstone

Meaning
to work hard and continuously
Example
If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you’ll achieve your goals.
idiom

Tell the truth

Meaning
To say what is true instead of lying.
Example
Please tell the truth, even if it hurts.
idiom

to put one's finger on

Meaning
to identify or recognize something with precision
Example
The journalist was able to put her finger on the exact cause of the political unrest.
phrasal-verb

ground yourself before speaking

Meaning
to center your emotions so you can communicate steadily
Example
I ground myself before speaking in tense meetings by noting three positives.
idiom

chase your dreams

Meaning
to actively try to achieve your ambitions
Example
You should always chase your dreams no matter how hard it seems.
phrasal-verb

set against

Meaning
to compare one thing with another; to make someone oppose something
Example
Her parents are set against her studying abroad.
idiom

keep your emotions in check

Meaning
to control your emotions
Example
It's important to keep your emotions in check during a meeting.
idiom

Jump in at the deep end

Meaning
to take on a difficult task without preparation
Example
I had to jump in at the deep end when I started my new job.
idiom

in a tight spot

Meaning
to be in a difficult or tricky situation
Example
He found himself in a tight spot when both friends asked for help.
phrasal-verb

hit on

Meaning
to show romantic or sexual interest in someone
Example
He tried to hit on her at the party, but she ignored him.
idiom

go places

Meaning
to be likely to become successful in the future
Example
Everyone says he’s going to go places with his skills.
phrasal-verb

settle over

Meaning
to relax and let go of tension or emotional stress
Example
After a long day, I like to sit quietly and settle over my thoughts.
idiom

adapt or perish

Meaning
to survive, one must adjust to the new conditions
Example
In the business world, it's all about adapt or perish.
phrasal-verb

call forth

Meaning
to bring about a reaction or response
Example
Her speech called forth a lot of emotions from the audience.
idiom

sleep like a log

Meaning
to sleep very deeply and soundly
Example
After the long journey, I slept like a log all night.
idiom

peace talks

Meaning
negotiations aimed at ending a conflict
Example
The peace talks between the two countries lasted for weeks.
phrasal-verb

pull back on

Meaning
to reduce or stop doing something, especially spending or investment; to withdraw effort or commitment
Example
During the economic crisis, many companies pull back on new projects to save money.
idiom

cutting corners

Meaning
to do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often sacrificing quality
Example
They finished early by cutting corners, but the result was poor.
idiom

keep the peace

Meaning
to maintain order and avoid conflict
Example
The police were called to keep the peace during the protest.
idiom

online presence

Meaning
the existence and activity of a person or business on the internet
Example
A strong online presence is essential for digital marketing.
phrasal-verb

cut out of

Meaning
to remove something unwanted from a situation or process
Example
We need to cut carbon out of our energy systems.
phrasal-verb

fight for

Meaning
to struggle or take action to achieve something
Example
Many activists fight for freedom and equality.
phrasal-verb

refresh talking points

Meaning
to update the main ideas you plan to discuss
Example
Hosts refresh talking points before each community webinar.
idiom

back out

Meaning
to withdraw from an agreement or commitment
Example
They can’t back out after signing the contract.
phrasal-verb

click away

Meaning
to leave a dangerous or suspicious webpage quickly
Example
If you see something strange, just click away immediately.
idiom

stand by someone

Meaning
to remain loyal or supportive
Example
True friends stand by each other in hard times.
idiom

steal the show

Meaning
to be the most outstanding performer
Example
Her performance stole the show last night.
idiom

clue in

Meaning
to give someone the necessary information
Example
Can you clue me in on the schedule changes?
phrasal-verb

break through bias

Meaning
to overcome prejudices and unfair judgments
Example
Training programs help employees break through bias in hiring decisions.
idiom

to make matters worse

Meaning
to make a bad situation even more difficult or unpleasant
Example
I was already late, and to make matters worse, I couldn't find my keys.
idiom

in one ear and out the other

Meaning
to not pay attention to what is said
Example
Whatever I tell him goes in one ear and out the other.
idiom

get the jitters

Meaning
to feel extremely nervous or anxious
Example
I always get the jitters before a big meeting.
phrasal-verb

rise early

Meaning
to get up early in the morning regularly
Example
He tries to rise early to make the most of his day.
idiom

make strides

Meaning
to make noticeable progress
Example
The company has really made strides in product development.
idiom

set a good example

Meaning
to behave in a way that shows others how they should act
Example
Parents should set a good example for their children.
phrasal-verb

journal through sadness

Meaning
to write in a journal while processing sad feelings
Example
She journals through sadness to understand what the day is teaching her.
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 bundle of joy

Meaning
someone or something that brings great happiness
Example
Their new baby is a bundle of joy for the family.
phrasal-verb

sub in for

Meaning
to replace someone temporarily in a role
Example
Can you sub in for me at the networking event tonight?
idiom

burning ambition

Meaning
a very strong desire to achieve something
Example
He had a burning ambition to become a successful entrepreneur.
phrasal-verb

enter into

Meaning
to begin or participate in an agreement or discussion
Example
The two countries agreed to enter into a new trade deal.
phrasal-verb

shift toward

Meaning
to change focus, attitude, or direction toward something new
Example
There has been a global shift toward sustainable lifestyles.
phrasal-verb

play with

Meaning
to spend time enjoying a game or toy with someone
Example
We used to play with marbles and paper boats in the rain.
idiom

gray matter

Meaning
intelligence or brainpower
Example
It takes a lot of gray matter to solve such a complex problem.
phrasal-verb

stick to

Meaning
to continue following or supporting a particular position or argument
Example
She stuck to her point despite the criticism.
phrasal-verb

rise through emotions

Meaning
to grow stronger by learning from emotional experiences
Example
We can rise through emotions and become wiser each time.
idiom

grease the wheels

Meaning
to make a process run more smoothly by helping it along or making it easier
Example
Bribing officials is a common way to grease the wheels in international trade negotiations.
phrasal-verb

roll out reforms

Meaning
to officially launch or implement new changes or improvements
Example
The government plans to roll out reforms in the tax system next month.
idiom

play devil's advocate

Meaning
to argue against an idea to test how strong it is
Example
I don't necessarily disagree, but let me play devil's advocate for a moment.
phrasal-verb

reach out for mediation

Meaning
to seek help from a third party to resolve conflict
Example
Both sides reached out for mediation to end the war peacefully.
idiom

the real McCoy

Meaning
the genuine or original thing
Example
This painting is the real McCoy, not a copy.
phrasal-verb

gear yourself up

Meaning
to prepare mentally or physically for something challenging or important
Example
You need to gear yourself up for the big presentation tomorrow.
phrasal-verb

open up to someone

Meaning
to share personal feelings or problems with someone you trust
Example
He finally opened up to his friend about what he had been going through.
idiom

Burst with gratitude

Meaning
To feel extremely thankful.
Example
She was bursting with gratitude after receiving help.
idiom

meet and greet

Meaning
an event where people meet and introduce themselves
Example
The company organized a meet and greet for new employees.
idiom

Go bust

Meaning
To go bankrupt or out of business.
Example
Many small banks went bust during the financial crisis.
idiom

tighten your belt

Meaning
to spend less money; to economize
Example
We’ll have to tighten our belts until business improves.
phrasal-verb

power down

Meaning
to turn off or shut down a device completely
Example
You should power down your computer before cleaning it.
phrasal-verb

stand with

Meaning
to support or show solidarity with someone or a group
Example
Many countries stand with those affected by the global crisis.
phrasal-verb

dial back notifications

Meaning
to reduce the frequency of alerts or messages
Example
I had to dial back notifications because my phone kept buzzing all day.
phrasal-verb

hold back

Meaning
to stop yourself from expressing something
Example
He wanted to tell her everything but held back his words.
phrasal-verb

gear the crew up

Meaning
to prepare a team with the tools or mindset they need
Example
Heads gear the crew up with clear roles before the sprint begins.
idiom

have second thoughts

Meaning
to start having doubts about a decision you have made
Example
I'm having second thoughts about buying such an expensive car.
phrasal-verb

open up to others

Meaning
to share thoughts and feelings with people from other cultures
Example
When you open up to others, you start to understand their perspectives better.
phrasal-verb

look on the bright side of things

Meaning
to focus on the positive aspects of a situation
Example
Try to look on the bright side of things when things go wrong.
idiom

narrow down

Meaning
to reduce a list of options to a smaller number
Example
We’ve narrowed down the candidates to the final three.
phrasal-verb

work ahead

Meaning
to do work in advance before it is due
Example
I try to work ahead so deadlines don’t stress me out.
idiom

in a nutshell

Meaning
to summarize something briefly
Example
To put it in a nutshell, we need more funding.
idiom

drum up

Meaning
to increase interest or support for something
Example
The volunteers are visiting schools to drum up excitement for the festival.
idiom

juggle work and life

Meaning
to manage both work and personal life at the same time
Example
It's not easy to juggle work and life, but I try to do my best.
phrasal-verb

open up communication

Meaning
to start or improve honest and clear communication
Example
They tried to open up communication to solve their issues.
phrasal-verb

ask over

Meaning
to invite someone to your place, often to talk or apologize
Example
He asked her over to say sorry for what happened.
idiom

Share a smile

Meaning
to smile and bring happiness to others
Example
It's easy to share a smile and brighten someone's day.
phrasal-verb

clear your mind

Meaning
to remove distracting thoughts and relax mentally
Example
Go for a walk to clear your mind after a long day.
idiom

bookworm

Meaning
a person who loves reading
Example
He’s such a bookworm; he spends all his free time in the library.
idiom

bend over backwards

Meaning
to make a great effort to help or please someone
Example
She bent over backwards to make the event successful.
idiom

make ends meet

Meaning
to earn enough money to live on
Example
He works two jobs to make ends meet.
phrasal-verb

take off in career

Meaning
to suddenly become successful in your job or business
Example
Her career really took off after she launched her own startup.
phrasal-verb

thrill at

Meaning
to feel excited and happy about something
Example
Fans thrilled at the sight of their favorite singer.
idiom

bad blood

Meaning
anger or resentment between family members
Example
There’s still bad blood between the cousins after the inheritance issue.
phrasal-verb

hold office

Meaning
to have an official position of authority or power
Example
He has held office as the foreign minister for more than five years.
idiom

hit a home run

Meaning
to achieve great success
Example
The new marketing campaign really hit a home run with its audience.
phrasal-verb

put down to

Meaning
to attribute something to a cause
Example
She put her success down to hard work and determination.
phrasal-verb

blow up with anger

Meaning
to suddenly become very angry
Example
He blew up with anger when he heard the news.
phrasal-verb

team up for

Meaning
to join others in doing something together for a common goal
Example
Countries team up for global vaccination programs.
idiom

strength in numbers

Meaning
greater power comes from a larger group
Example
We can win this battle if we stick together, there's strength in numbers.
idiom

wired differently

Meaning
to think or behave in a unique or unconventional way
Example
Great innovators are often wired differently.
phrasal-verb

show appreciation for

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

the spark of an idea

Meaning
the beginning of a new idea or thought
Example
That comment gave me the spark of an idea.
phrasal-verb

talk things over with

Meaning
to discuss a matter thoroughly with someone
Example
I need to talk things over with you before we make a decision.
idiom

hope for the best

Meaning
expect a positive outcome even in uncertainty
Example
We did everything we could, now let’s hope for the best.
idiom

Go Dutch

Meaning
To share the cost of something equally.
Example
Let’s go Dutch on the dinner tonight.
idiom

Two heads are better than one

Meaning
Working together gives better results.
Example
Two heads are better than one, let’s solve it together.
phrasal-verb

point out

Meaning
to draw attention to something; to mention something important
Example
He pointed out a few mistakes in the final report.
phrasal-verb

go off on

Meaning
to suddenly criticize or yell at someone angrily
Example
My boss went off on me for missing the deadline.
phrasal-verb

fall off

Meaning
to drop from a higher place; to decrease
Example
Sales have fallen off since last month.
phrasal-verb

think ahead to

Meaning
to consider what will happen in the future and make plans for it
Example
You should think ahead to where you want to be in five years.
phrasal-verb

adapt through

Meaning
to change behavior or habits because of exposure to new experiences
Example
She managed to adapt through constant interaction with locals.
phrasal-verb

testify against

Meaning
to give evidence in court against someone
Example
The witness agreed to testify against the accused.
phrasal-verb

dream ahead

Meaning
to imagine a positive future or goal
Example
You should always dream ahead and plan your next steps.
idiom

a close call

Meaning
A situation where a disaster or accident was narrowly avoided.
Example
That was a close call — the car almost hit us!
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.
phrasal-verb

bask in

Meaning
to enjoy something greatly, especially praise or attention
Example
She basked in the applause after her performance.
idiom

bloom where you are planted

Meaning
to make the best of the situation you are in
Example
Even in a small town, she managed to bloom where she was planted.
idiom

cloud computing

Meaning
the practice of using remote servers to store, manage, and process data over the internet
Example
Many businesses rely on cloud computing for data storage and security.