B1 idiom

all ears

Listening very attentively

Meaning

Listening very attentively

Example

When the teacher started explaining the concept, the students were all ears.

phrasal-verb

stick it out

Meaning

to continue doing something difficult until the end

Example

Even though the job was hard, he decided to **stick it out**.

idiom

tag along

Meaning

to join someone’s online activity or conversation uninvited

Example

He just **tagged along** in our group chat without asking.

idiom

break away

Meaning

to separate from a group or routine

Example

She plans to **break away** from the commute by working remotely twice a week.

idiom

make it happen

Meaning

take action to achieve something

Example

Stop dreaming and **make it happen**.

idiom

to bask in the glory

Meaning

to enjoy the admiration and praise from others after achieving something great

Example

He **basked in the glory** of his victory for weeks after the championship.

idiom

High stakes

Meaning

Involving serious risk or significant consequences.

Example

Negotiating with investors is a **high-stakes** game.

idiom

Wait for the dust to settle

Meaning

Wait until a situation becomes clear or calm.

Example

Let’s **wait for the dust to settle** before making a decision.

idiom

pull strings

Meaning

to use influence or connections to get what you want

Example

She **pulled strings** to get him the job.

idiom

make a name for yourself

Meaning

to become well-known or successful in a particular field

Example

She **made a name for herself** in the world of fashion design.

phrasal-verb

boil up

Meaning

to start feeling very angry

Example

Anger began to **boil up** inside him during the argument.

phrasal-verb

hang around with

Meaning

to spend time relaxing or socializing with someone

Example

I usually **hang around with** my old school friends at reunions.

idiom

a breath of fresh air

Meaning

something new and refreshing

Example

Her positive attitude is **a breath of fresh air** in the office.

phrasal-verb

cut back emissions

Meaning

to reduce the amount of pollution produced

Example

Our office **cuts back emissions** by switching to public transport incentives.

idiom

come straight to the point

Meaning

to be direct and honest without wasting time

Example

Please **come straight to the point** and tell me what happened.

idiom

burst of inspiration

Meaning

a sudden feeling of creativity or motivation

Example

He wrote the poem in a **burst of inspiration**.

idiom

blind date

Meaning

a romantic meeting between two people who have never met before

Example

She met her boyfriend on a **blind date**.

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.

phrasal-verb

log in to

Meaning

to enter your username and password to access an account

Example

I can’t **log in to** my Instagram account right now.

idiom

have cold feet

Meaning

to suddenly become nervous before doing something important

Example

He was ready to get married but **got cold feet** at the last minute.

phrasal-verb

stand back

Meaning

to move away from something; to distance yourself from involvement

Example

Please **stand back** from the edge of the platform.

phrasal-verb

keep faith with

Meaning

to stay loyal to someone or something

Example

Grassroots leaders **keep faith with** their communities.

idiom

penny stock

Meaning

a very low-priced, high-risk stock

Example

He made a fortune trading **penny stocks**.

idiom

rant and rave

Meaning

to shout and complain loudly

Example

He was **ranting and raving** about the bad service.

idiom

in the hot seat

Meaning

to be in a difficult or uncomfortable position, often with public scrutiny

Example

After the controversy, the mayor was **in the hot seat** for several days.

phrasal-verb

give up on

Meaning

to stop believing in someone or something

Example

Don’t **give up on** your dreams, no matter how hard it gets.

phrasal-verb

get lost

Meaning

to lose one's way

Example

We **got lost** in the small streets of Venice.

idiom

phase out

Meaning

to gradually stop using or providing something

Example

The company plans to **phase out** plastic packaging by next year.

phrasal-verb

set up a subsidiary

Meaning

to establish a smaller company controlled by a larger one

Example

They decided to **set up a subsidiary** in Singapore to handle regional operations.

phrasal-verb

recover confidence

Meaning

to regain belief in oneself after failure

Example

It took months for him to **recover confidence** after the rejection.

idiom

laid-back

Meaning

calm, relaxed, and not easily upset

Example

He’s a very **laid-back** person who rarely gets angry.

idiom

buy a lemon

Meaning

to buy something that is defective or worthless

Example

He **bought a lemon** when he got that used car.

phrasal-verb

care for

Meaning

to look after someone who is sick or in need

Example

He **cares for** his elderly parents every day.

idiom

crash and burn

Meaning

to fail completely or suddenly

Example

The new software update **crashed and burned** after launch.

phrasal-verb

pack up for travel

Meaning

to gather and prepare belongings before a trip

Example

We **pack up for travel** the night before an early flight.

idiom

use up

Meaning

to consume something completely

Example

We’ve **used up** all the printer paper already.

phrasal-verb

calm down after

Meaning

to relax or become less angry after being upset

Example

It took him a while to **calm down after** the argument.

idiom

go steady

Meaning

to date someone regularly and exclusively

Example

They've been **going steady** for over two years now.

idiom

right up one’s alley

Meaning

something that suits one’s interests or abilities perfectly

Example

That cooking workshop is **right up your alley**, you should join!

idiom

Big fish in a small pond

Meaning

An important person in a small organization or area.

Example

He prefers being a **big fish in a small pond** rather than competing globally.

phrasal-verb

carry up

Meaning

to take something from a lower place to a higher place

Example

Please **carry up** these bags to the attic.

phrasal-verb

come clean about

Meaning

to tell the truth about something you’ve been hiding

Example

She finally **came clean about** her past.

idiom

caught between a rock and a hard place

Meaning

in a difficult situation where any choice you make will have negative consequences

Example

I'm **caught between a rock and a hard place** - both options are terrible.

phrasal-verb

build up patience

Meaning

to gradually increase emotional endurance

Example

Meditation helps you **build up patience** in stressful times.

idiom

on the dot

Meaning

exactly on time; punctual

Example

The meeting started **on the dot** at 10 a.m.

idiom

Curiosity killed the cat

Meaning

Being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.

Example

Don't ask too many questions about his past — **curiosity killed the cat**.

idiom

at peace with oneself

Meaning

feeling calm and accepting of oneself

Example

She felt **at peace with herself** after making the decision.

phrasal-verb

line out

Meaning

to sketch or outline the main points of something

Example

We **lined out** the science project steps on the whiteboard.

idiom

have a good head on one's shoulders

Meaning

to be sensible and intelligent

Example

She’s only 20, but she **has a good head on her shoulders**.

idiom

spin the truth

Meaning

to present a situation in a way that benefits a particular perspective

Example

The politician tried to **spin the truth** about the scandal to protect his reputation.

phrasal-verb

wrap the day up

Meaning

to finish tasks and close out the workday

Example

I **wrap the day up** by reviewing tomorrow's top three priorities.

idiom

carve your own path

Meaning

to create your own way of achieving success or independence

Example

She decided to **carve her own path** instead of joining her family business.

idiom

off script

Meaning

to deviate from a prepared plan or speech

Example

During the meeting, he went **off script** and made some bold statements.

idiom

have your hands full

Meaning

to be very busy with work or responsibilities

Example

She can’t take on another task right now—she already **has her hands full**.

phrasal-verb

lift oneself up

Meaning

to regain strength or confidence after being low or discouraged

Example

She managed to **lift herself up** after facing several disappointments.

idiom

carry the burden

Meaning

to take on responsibility or a difficult task

Example

She had to **carry the burden** of the entire project alone.

phrasal-verb

stand up against

Meaning

to resist or oppose injustice; to defend principles

Example

People **stand up against** censorship to protect freedom of speech.

idiom

drop the ball

Meaning

to make a mistake or fail to do something important

Example

I really **dropped the ball** by forgetting to send that important email.

idiom

left speechless

Meaning

so surprised that you cannot speak

Example

I was **left speechless** by her generosity.

idiom

draw a line in the sand

Meaning

to set a firm boundary or make a limit clear

Example

The prime minister **drew a line in the sand** regarding national security.

idiom

stress out

Meaning

to become very anxious or nervous due to pressure

Example

She tends to **stress out** before exams.

idiom

The unexamined life is not worth living

Meaning

A life lived without introspection or self-reflection is not truly fulfilling or meaningful.

Example

Socrates' belief that **the unexamined life is not worth living** continues to inspire those seeking a deeper understanding of existence.

phrasal-verb

tie up

Meaning

to complete final details of an arrangement

Example

We just need to **tie up** a few loose ends before the event.

phrasal-verb

reach toward

Meaning

to try to connect emotionally with someone’s pain or experience

Example

He tried to **reach toward** her feelings without judgment.

idiom

bloom where you’re planted

Meaning

make the best of your current situation

Example

Even in tough times, she **blooms where she’s planted**.

phrasal-verb

push aside

Meaning

to ignore negative feelings and focus on moving forward

Example

She tried to **push aside** her fears and keep going.

idiom

take a hike

Meaning

to go for a walk or leave; to go away

Example

Let’s **take a hike** in the mountains this weekend.

idiom

long story short

Meaning

to summarize something briefly

Example

**Long story short**, we missed the train.

idiom

A negative outlook

Meaning

A pessimistic attitude or perspective

Example

He always has **a negative outlook** on life.

idiom

turn the page

Meaning

to move on to something new after finishing or overcoming something

Example

After the breakup, she decided to **turn the page** and start fresh.

phrasal-verb

comfort with

Meaning

to make someone feel better by offering kind words or actions

Example

He **comforted her with** gentle words when she was crying.

phrasal-verb

carry out negotiations

Meaning

to conduct formal discussions to reach an agreement

Example

Our team will **carry out negotiations** with foreign investors next week.

idiom

Bailout package

Meaning

Financial support given to prevent a company or economy from collapsing.

Example

The government announced a **bailout package** for struggling airlines.

phrasal-verb

finish off

Meaning

to complete the last part of something

Example

We just need to **finish off** the presentation slides before submitting the report.

phrasal-verb

step up investment

Meaning

to increase the amount of money put into projects or businesses

Example

Foreign companies are expected to **step up investment** in renewable energy.

phrasal-verb

hop on

Meaning

to get on a vehicle quickly or easily

Example

You can **hop on** the next bus if you miss this one.

idiom

keep the ball rolling

Meaning

to keep an activity or process going

Example

Let’s **keep the ball rolling** on this project.

idiom

Never give up

Meaning

Always continue trying despite difficulties.

Example

No matter how hard it is, **never give up**.

idiom

talk at cross purposes

Meaning

to misunderstand each other when talking about different things

Example

I think we’re **talking at cross purposes**—I meant next week, not this one.

phrasal-verb

look within yourself

Meaning

to examine your thoughts and feelings to find answers or motivation

Example

You need to **look within yourself** to find true happiness.

phrasal-verb

settle down

Meaning

to get married or begin a stable relationship

Example

He’s ready to **settle down** and start a family.

idiom

Shoulder to shoulder

Meaning

Working together closely and equally.

Example

The soldiers stood **shoulder to shoulder** in battle.

phrasal-verb

lean on friends

Meaning

to depend on friends for emotional support

Example

When life gets tough, don’t be afraid to **lean on friends**.

phrasal-verb

set out for

Meaning

to begin a journey or an endeavor with a goal in mind

Example

She **set out for** success with a clear vision and determination.

phrasal-verb

hit it off with

Meaning

to immediately have a good relationship with someone

Example

We **hit it off with** each other from the very first meeting.

idiom

hit the dance floor

Meaning

to start dancing, especially at a party

Example

Let’s **hit the dance floor** and show our moves!

idiom

do the right thing

Meaning

to act in a morally or socially responsible way

Example

Even when it’s hard, always **do the right thing**.

idiom

The Midas touch

Meaning

The ability to make money or succeed in everything one does.

Example

She seems to have **the Midas touch**—every project she starts becomes a success.

idiom

mark up

Meaning

to increase the price of something

Example

Vendors plan to **mark up** prices during the festival.

idiom

conversion rate

Meaning

The percentage of visitors to a website who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up.

Example

Our **conversion rate** has significantly improved after the redesign of the website.

idiom

throw in the towel

Meaning

to give up or quit

Example

After many failures, he **threw in the towel**.

idiom

zoom out

Meaning

to look at a situation from a broader perspective

Example

Let’s **zoom out** and review the yearly goals.

idiom

pull the plug

Meaning

to stop something; to end support for a project or activity

Example

The company decided to **pull the plug** on the outdated app.

idiom

shoulder the burden

Meaning

to take responsibility for something difficult or unpleasant

Example

She had to **shoulder the burden** of caring for her family.

idiom

give someone a dose of their own medicine

Meaning

to treat someone the same bad way they treated others

Example

He was rude to everyone, so I **gave him a dose of his own medicine**.

idiom

drive someone up the wall

Meaning

to make someone very annoyed or angry

Example

Her constant complaints **drive me up the wall**.

idiom

swept off your feet

Meaning

to be suddenly and strongly attracted to someone

Example

She was **swept off her feet** by his charm.

phrasal-verb

freak out with joy

Meaning

to react very excitedly and happily

Example

They **freaked out with joy** when they won the contest.

phrasal-verb

bring up ideas

Meaning

to introduce or suggest new ideas for discussion

Example

He encouraged everyone to **bring up ideas** during the workshop.

idiom

go by the book

Meaning

to follow rules or procedures strictly

Example

The officer always **goes by the book** during inspections.

phrasal-verb

map out a growth plan

Meaning

to design steps that will help you develop professionally

Example

I **map out a growth plan** each quarter with my mentor.

idiom

a snake in the grass

Meaning

a secret enemy

Example

Be careful; there’s **a snake in the grass**.

idiom

machine minds

Meaning

refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of learning or thinking

Example

The rise of **machine minds** is reshaping industries worldwide.

phrasal-verb

reach out for

Meaning

to try to achieve or obtain something with effort

Example

You should always **reach out for** your dreams with confidence.

phrasal-verb

stand tall with courage

Meaning

to stay brave and optimistic in difficult situations

Example

He always **stands tall with courage** when facing failures.

phrasal-verb

draw away

Meaning

to move ahead or away from someone or something

Example

The car **drew away** from the traffic lights quickly.

idiom

reach for the stars

Meaning

to aim for something very ambitious or difficult to achieve

Example

She always tells her students to **reach for the stars** and never give up.

idiom

Make a clean break

Meaning

To completely separate from something or someone, often for a fresh start.

Example

He decided to **make a clean break** from his old habits.

phrasal-verb

plant out

Meaning

to put young plants into the ground to grow

Example

The students **planted out** hundreds of trees on Earth Day.

phrasal-verb

speak out against

Meaning

to publicly express opposition to something

Example

Many citizens **spoke out against** the unfair law.

idiom

break a promise

Meaning

to fail to do what one promised

Example

She **broke her promise** and didn’t call him.

phrasal-verb

bring stability to

Meaning

to make a situation or system more stable

Example

The reforms helped to **bring stability to** the banking sector.

idiom

without a care in the world

Meaning

free from worries or problems

Example

The kids were playing **without a care in the world**.

idiom

drill down

Meaning

to examine something in greater detail

Example

We need to **drill down** into the survey responses.

phrasal-verb

catch up on

Meaning

to do something that one has missed or delayed doing before a deadline

Example

I stayed late to **catch up on** my unfinished reports.

idiom

cold call

Meaning

to contact a potential customer without prior introduction

Example

He spent all morning making **cold calls** to new clients.

phrasal-verb

stand together

Meaning

to unite and act as one in support of a cause

Example

Communities must **stand together** to fight social injustice.

phrasal-verb

pay someone out

Meaning

to compensate someone for loss or damage

Example

The insurer **paid her out** after the accident.

phrasal-verb

look up to

Meaning

to admire or respect someone

Example

I really **look up to** my father for his honesty and kindness.

phrasal-verb

lean in to

Meaning

to embrace or face emotional challenges with courage

Example

Instead of avoiding conflict, she decided to **lean in to** the discussion.

idiom

let your imagination run wild

Meaning

to allow yourself to think freely and creatively

Example

When writing stories, I always **let my imagination run wild**.