by the skin of your teeth
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idiom

by the skin of your teeth

Meaning
to just barely manage to do something
Example
He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.
idiom

Handed down

Meaning
To give or leave something to someone younger or from a previous generation
Example
This antique watch was handed down to me from my grandfather.
phrasal-verb

break in on

Meaning
to interrupt a conversation or online discussion
Example
Sorry to break in on your chat, but I have an update.
phrasal-verb

crash into

Meaning
to hit something, especially another vehicle, violently
Example
The bus crashed into a truck in the early morning fog.
idiom

A watched pot never boils

Meaning
Time feels longer when you are waiting for something.
Example
Don't keep looking at the clock; a watched pot never boils.
phrasal-verb

hold out hope

Meaning
to continue to believe that something good will happen
Example
We still hold out hope that she’ll recover soon.
idiom

fall on one's sword

Meaning
to take responsibility for a failure, often at great personal cost
Example
He decided to fall on his sword and resign after the scandal.
idiom

tell tales

Meaning
to gossip or reveal secrets, often to get someone in trouble
Example
Stop telling tales about your coworkers.
phrasal-verb

use less of

Meaning
to decrease the amount of something you use
Example
Try to use less of water while washing dishes.
idiom

the best of both worlds

Meaning
a situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time
Example
She works in the city and lives in the country, so she gets the best of both worlds.
idiom

catch the train

Meaning
to be on time for a train or event
Example
Hurry up or you’ll not catch the train!
idiom

a debt of gratitude

Meaning
a feeling of being grateful to someone who has helped you
Example
We owe a debt of gratitude to our mentors.
phrasal-verb

speak glowingly about

Meaning
to talk with great enthusiasm and praise
Example
The boss spoke glowingly about your performance.
idiom

Ride it out

Meaning
Endure a difficult situation until it improves.
Example
We just need to ride it out until things get better.
phrasal-verb

bring in revenue

Meaning
to generate income or money for a company or government
Example
The new industrial zone is expected to bring in revenue for the region.
idiom

money burns a hole in your pocket

Meaning
to be eager to spend money quickly
Example
He just got paid, and already money burns a hole in his pocket.
phrasal-verb

ring out

Meaning
to make a loud sound, especially of bells or alarms
Example
Church bells rang out across the city.
idiom

burn your boats

Meaning
to commit yourself to a course of action without a way back
Example
He burned his boats when he quit his job to start a business.
idiom

market forces

Meaning
the economic factors affecting the supply and demand of goods and services in a market
Example
The price increase is driven by market forces, as demand for the product rises.
phrasal-verb

grow into self-belief

Meaning
to gradually develop confidence in yourself
Example
Over time, he grew into self-belief and stopped comparing himself to others.
idiom

have the gift of the gab

Meaning
to be good at talking or persuading people
Example
He’s a great salesman because he has the gift of the gab.
idiom

open to abuse

Meaning
liable to be misused or exploited
Example
Facial recognition technology is open to abuse if not regulated.
phrasal-verb

sink money into

Meaning
to invest a large amount of money in something that may not be profitable
Example
They sank money into a risky cryptocurrency venture.
idiom

Rite of passage

Meaning
A ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone's life
Example
Graduation is a rite of passage for many students.
phrasal-verb

turn out to be

Meaning
to prove to be something in the end
Example
The rumor turned out to be false.
phrasal-verb

move beyond anger

Meaning
to let go of resentment and focus on reconciliation
Example
She learned to move beyond anger and rebuild trust.
phrasal-verb

speak down to

Meaning
to talk to someone as if they are less intelligent
Example
Don’t speak down to your colleagues; treat them equally.
idiom

take shape

Meaning
to begin to develop or become clear
Example
Our business plan is finally taking shape.
phrasal-verb

open oneself to

Meaning
to allow oneself to experience or understand new ideas or cultures
Example
Living abroad helped him open himself to diverse ways of life.
phrasal-verb

push boundaries

Meaning
to go beyond limits or expectations
Example
Innovators constantly push boundaries to discover new possibilities.
phrasal-verb

lift each other up

Meaning
to encourage or support colleagues emotionally or professionally
Example
A positive workplace culture helps employees lift each other up.
idiom

artificial genius

Meaning
an exceptionally smart system created by humans
Example
Chatbots have become the face of artificial genius.
phrasal-verb

chase after

Meaning
to try hard to achieve something you want
Example
Many people chase after success without enjoying the process.
idiom

brainstorm ideas

Meaning
to think of new and creative ideas
Example
The class gathered to brainstorm ideas for the science project.
idiom

the lesser of two evils

Meaning
the less harmful of two bad options
Example
Voters often choose the lesser of two evils during elections.
phrasal-verb

blow off

Meaning
to release stress or anger by doing something
Example
He went jogging to blow off some steam after the argument.
idiom

At the drop of a hat

Meaning
Immediately; without hesitation.
Example
He’s ready to help at the drop of a hat.
phrasal-verb

zone yourself in

Meaning
to focus deeply on something to forget stress
Example
I zone myself in on painting to relax my mind.
idiom

Stay in the loop

Meaning
To be informed about something regularly.
Example
Make sure you stay in the loop about the latest updates.
idiom

a quantum leap

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

shoulder the blame

Meaning
to take responsibility for something bad.
Example
He decided to shoulder the blame for the error.
idiom

sitting on a gold mine

Meaning
to have something very valuable that is not yet realized
Example
That old property is worth millions — you're sitting on a gold mine.
idiom

get along with

Meaning
to have a good relationship with someone
Example
I really get along with my coworkers.
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

lean back on

Meaning
to rely on someone or something for support
Example
When work gets stressful, I lean back on my team for help.
phrasal-verb

fix up

Meaning
to arrange or plan something; to repair or prepare something
Example
She offered to fix up a lunch meeting for next week.
idiom

train the brain

Meaning
to improve one’s thinking or problem-solving ability through practice
Example
Developers constantly train their brains to create smarter algorithms.
idiom

take a detour

Meaning
to take an indirect route
Example
We had to take a detour because of road construction.
idiom

put the plan into action

Meaning
to start implementing a plan or idea
Example
After weeks of preparation, it's time to put the plan into action.
idiom

keep your dreams alive

Meaning
to continue believing in your goals even when it's hard
Example
No matter how tough life gets, keep your dreams alive.
phrasal-verb

pencil in

Meaning
to arrange something temporarily
Example
Can we pencil in the meeting for Friday morning?
phrasal-verb

build upon feedback

Meaning
to use team feedback to improve or develop something
Example
We should build upon feedback from our colleagues.
phrasal-verb

feel up to

Meaning
to feel capable of doing something
Example
He didn’t feel up to working overtime after such a long day.
idiom

break a leg

Meaning
to wish someone good luck in a performance
Example
Before the play started, everyone told her to break a leg.
idiom

Face the truth

Meaning
To accept the reality of a situation, even if it’s unpleasant.
Example
You have to face the truth about your finances.
idiom

give someone a hand

Meaning
to help someone with a task
Example
Could you give me a hand with dinner?
phrasal-verb

build confidence within

Meaning
to strengthen your belief in yourself from the inside
Example
Through practice and reflection, you can build confidence within.
idiom

sing someone’s praises

Meaning
to speak highly of someone
Example
Everyone sang her praises after the performance.
idiom

roll with

Meaning
to adapt to changes or challenges easily
Example
The team had to roll with several last-minute changes to the schedule.
idiom

bold as brass

Meaning
to be very confident and not shy at all
Example
She walked into the meeting bold as brass.
idiom

a ray of sunshine

Meaning
someone or something that brings happiness
Example
Her smile is a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day.
idiom

the story breaks

Meaning
when news becomes public or is first reported
Example
When the story broke, everyone was shocked.
phrasal-verb

turn to

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

flash back to

Meaning
to suddenly remember a past event
Example
The photo made her flash back to her first day at work.
idiom

Power behind the throne

Meaning
A person or group who has a hidden or indirect influence over the leadership
Example
The chief advisor is often considered the power behind the throne.
phrasal-verb

roll cargo out

Meaning
to move freight out for delivery
Example
Crews roll cargo out to the loading docks by dawn.
idiom

Put the pedal to the metal

Meaning
To push harder and make a greater effort.
Example
We need to put the pedal to the metal if we want to meet the deadline.
idiom

Cross the Rubicon

Meaning
To make an irreversible decision or take a step from which there is no turning back.
Example
By quitting his job, he crossed the Rubicon and committed to his startup dream.
phrasal-verb

grow stronger

Meaning
to become emotionally tougher after hardship
Example
Every challenge helps you grow stronger emotionally.
phrasal-verb

talk out of

Meaning
to persuade someone not to do something
Example
I tried to talk him out of quitting his job.
phrasal-verb

call back

Meaning
to return a phone call
Example
I’ll call back after I finish my meeting.
phrasal-verb

adapt within

Meaning
to adjust oneself while keeping personal identity
Example
Immigrants often adapt within new societies while keeping their traditions alive.
phrasal-verb

hand action items out

Meaning
to assign follow-up tasks to specific people
Example
Facilitators hand action items out before closing the meeting.
phrasal-verb

lighten your thoughts

Meaning
to make your mind feel less heavy or serious
Example
Journaling helps me lighten my thoughts when I feel burdened.
idiom

jump the gun

Meaning
to start something too soon
Example
They jumped the gun by announcing the news early.
phrasal-verb

come to

Meaning
to regain consciousness; to amount to a total
Example
He came to after fainting in the heat.
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

point toward

Meaning
to indicate or suggest a future possibility
Example
Recent studies point toward a rise in electric mobility.
idiom

blow your mind

Meaning
to impress or amaze someone greatly
Example
The new AI technology will blow your mind.
idiom

make ends meet

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

zone out during

Meaning
to lose focus or stop paying attention
Example
I often zone out during long meetings when I'm exhausted.
phrasal-verb

run around

Meaning
to play or move actively, especially as a child
Example
We used to run around the fields all day long.
phrasal-verb

show up at

Meaning
to arrive or appear at an event or place
Example
Many guests didn't show up at the party until midnight.
idiom

corner the market

Meaning
to dominate a particular market
Example
They’ve managed to corner the market in organic products.
phrasal-verb

kick goals around

Meaning
to discuss possible objectives informally
Example
We kick goals around during lunch before locking the roadmap.
phrasal-verb

dip into

Meaning
to use part of your savings for something
Example
I had to dip into my savings to cover the repair costs.
idiom

Keep hope alive

Meaning
To continue believing in a positive outcome.
Example
Even in hard times, we must keep hope alive.
idiom

doubting Thomas

Meaning
a person who refuses to believe without proof
Example
He’s a doubting Thomas; he won’t believe it until he sees it himself.
idiom

new kid on the block

Meaning
someone new to a place or situation
Example
He’s the new kid on the block in the company.
phrasal-verb

roll up

Meaning
to fold or turn up sleeves or trousers
Example
He rolled up his sleeves before starting to wash.
idiom

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet

Meaning
Although waiting is hard, it results in good outcomes.
Example
It might be tough, but patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
idiom

the honest truth

Meaning
the absolute and complete truth
Example
To tell you the honest truth, I didn’t enjoy the trip.
idiom

stand trial

Meaning
to appear in court to answer criminal charges
Example
He will stand trial for fraud next month.
phrasal-verb

get feelings across

Meaning
to make someone understand your emotions clearly
Example
It's hard to get your feelings across in an email.
idiom

burn the candle at both ends

Meaning
to work too hard without enough rest
Example
If you burn the candle at both ends, you’ll get exhausted soon.
idiom

to tip the scales

Meaning
to influence the outcome of a situation
Example
One witness’s statement tipped the scales in favor of the defendant.
idiom

under the table

Meaning
done secretly or dishonestly, often involving money
Example
He was paid under the table to avoid taxes.
phrasal-verb

shoot up

Meaning
to rise suddenly and quickly
Example
Gold prices shot up after the geopolitical tensions increased.
phrasal-verb

build upon innovation

Meaning
to use existing innovations as a foundation for further progress
Example
Nations must build upon innovation to drive sustainable development.
phrasal-verb

build up confidence

Meaning
to increase self-belief among team members
Example
A leader’s words can build up confidence in the team.
phrasal-verb

turn back

Meaning
to go back in the direction you came from
Example
We had to turn back because of the heavy rain.
phrasal-verb

embrace diversity

Meaning
to accept and value cultural differences positively
Example
Companies that embrace diversity often perform better globally.
phrasal-verb

see through

Meaning
to realize the truth about someone or something
Example
She quickly saw through his lies.
phrasal-verb

delight in

Meaning
to take great pleasure in something
Example
She delights in making people laugh.
phrasal-verb

give on to

Meaning
to face or open onto a place
Example
Their balcony gives on to a beautiful garden.
phrasal-verb

reach out for balance

Meaning
to make an effort to create harmony in life
Example
He’s learning to reach out for balance between work and rest.
phrasal-verb

cut down emissions

Meaning
to reduce harmful gases released into the air
Example
Businesses are investing to cut down emissions from transport.
idiom

jump down someone's throat

Meaning
to react angrily and criticize someone suddenly
Example
She jumped down my throat when I suggested a different approach.
idiom

code the future

Meaning
to create innovations that shape future technology
Example
AI researchers are working hard to code the future.
idiom

get to the bottom of things

Meaning
to find out the real cause or truth behind something
Example
The detective worked hard to get to the bottom of things.
idiom

to my mind

Meaning
in my personal opinion or belief
Example
To my mind, this plan will work perfectly.
idiom

lay aside

Meaning
to put something away temporarily
Example
Please lay aside your phones during the briefing.
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

draw confidence from experience

Meaning
to gain self-assurance by learning from past events
Example
You can draw confidence from experience and handle new challenges better.
idiom

all in good time

Meaning
something will happen eventually; be patient
Example
All in good time, you’ll see the results soon.
idiom

turn things around

Meaning
to reverse a negative situation and make it positive
Example
With some effort, we can turn things around.
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

blaze a trail

Meaning
to be the first to do something innovative
Example
She blazed a trail in renewable energy research.
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

catch somebody out

Meaning
to show that someone has made a mistake or is lying
Example
The teacher tried to catch the student out during the test.
phrasal-verb

get away

Meaning
to go somewhere for a short vacation; to escape from daily routine
Example
We’re planning to get away for the weekend to relax.