throw in the towel
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idiom

throw in the towel

Meaning
to give up or quit
Example
After many failures, he threw in the towel.
idiom

malware

Meaning
software designed to damage or disrupt computers or networks
Example
The antivirus software successfully removed the malware from the system.
phrasal-verb

draft blueprints for

Meaning
to create a detailed outline for something new
Example
Architects draft blueprints for civic centers with community input.
idiom

bright future ahead

Meaning
having positive prospects or possibilities
Example
With your hard work, you have a bright future ahead.
idiom

save the day

Meaning
to prevent failure or disaster by taking timely action
Example
His quick thinking saved the day.
idiom

keep your word

Meaning
to honor a promise or commitment
Example
You must always keep your word if you want to gain trust.
idiom

rule of law

Meaning
the principle that everyone is subject to the law
Example
Democracy depends on the rule of law.
idiom

thank you kindly

Meaning
a polite way to say thank you warmly
Example
Thank you kindly for your time and patience.
phrasal-verb

build emotional strength

Meaning
to develop the ability to handle emotional challenges better
Example
Through meditation, you can build emotional strength and resilience.
phrasal-verb

pin down

Meaning
to identify or determine something exactly
Example
We finally pinned down the project’s main objectives.
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.
phrasal-verb

keep ahead of

Meaning
to stay in front or make progress faster than others
Example
We need to keep ahead of the schedule to avoid stress later.
phrasal-verb

step down from

Meaning
to resign or leave a position of authority or responsibility
Example
The CEO stepped down from his role after the financial collapse.
idiom

over it

Meaning
no longer interested or affected by something
Example
I'm totally over it now.
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

make amends for

Meaning
to do something to show you are sorry for hurting someone
Example
She tried to make amends for her mistake.
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

power through with

Meaning
to continue strongly by relying on a tool or support
Example
He powers through with upbeat playlists on long runs.
idiom

keep track of

Meaning
to monitor or record information consistently
Example
Use the shared sheet to keep track of expenses.
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.
idiom

state of the art

Meaning
the most modern and advanced
Example
They built a state-of-the-art research facility.
idiom

ahead of its time

Meaning
to be unusually advanced or innovative for its era
Example
That invention was ahead of its time.
phrasal-verb

let emotions show

Meaning
to express one’s true feelings openly
Example
He rarely lets his emotions show, even when he’s upset.
phrasal-verb

get together

Meaning
to meet with family or friends socially
Example
Our whole family gets together every New Year’s Eve.
phrasal-verb

look out for each other

Meaning
to take care of and support one another
Example
In a strong team, members always look out for each other.
phrasal-verb

cut down on debts

Meaning
to reduce the amount of debt owed
Example
The company must cut down on debts to improve its financial stability.
idiom

to make the grade

Meaning
to meet the required standard
Example
He didn’t make the grade in the final exam.
idiom

trickle-down economics

Meaning
an economic theory that suggests that policies benefiting the wealthy will eventually benefit everyone by creating jobs and growth
Example
Critics argue that trickle-down economics has failed to provide substantial benefits for the poor.
idiom

quote chapter and verse

Meaning
to cite something exactly or in great detail
Example
She can quote chapter and verse from Shakespeare.
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

put your trust in

Meaning
to have confidence in someone or something
Example
We should put our trust in good leaders.
phrasal-verb

come off as

Meaning
to seem to be a particular type of person
Example
He can come off as rude, but he’s actually very kind.
idiom

have a crush on

Meaning
to be attracted to someone
Example
I had a crush on my classmate in college.
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

peace of mind

Meaning
a feeling of being calm and free from worry
Example
Insurance gives you peace of mind in uncertain times.
phrasal-verb

warm up emotionally

Meaning
to start feeling comfortable enough to share your emotions
Example
It took a while for him to warm up emotionally after the breakup.
phrasal-verb

read aloud

Meaning
to read something so that other people can hear it
Example
She read aloud the story to the whole class.
phrasal-verb

carry yourself

Meaning
to behave in a confident and graceful way
Example
He knows how to carry himself with confidence in any situation.
phrasal-verb

drop someone off

Meaning
to take someone by vehicle to a place and leave them there
Example
The driver dropped me off at the airport.
phrasal-verb

carry over data

Meaning
to transfer unused data or balance from one period to another
Example
Most mobile plans now let you carry over data to the next month.
idiom

butter wouldn’t melt in their mouth

Meaning
someone who looks innocent but might not be
Example
She looks so sweet—butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
phrasal-verb

draw courage from experience

Meaning
to gain strength and confidence through past experiences
Example
She learned to draw courage from experience instead of fearing failure.
phrasal-verb

talk down

Meaning
to speak in a way that shows you think someone is less intelligent
Example
Don’t talk down to your colleagues; it’s disrespectful.
phrasal-verb

agree with

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

speak from

Meaning
to express an opinion based on personal experience
Example
She speaks from experience when she warns about that company.
idiom

put the pieces together

Meaning
to understand or solve something by combining information
Example
After examining the data, the engineer put the pieces together.
phrasal-verb

win out

Meaning
to finally succeed after difficulties or opposition
Example
Despite strong resistance, the reformers won out in the end.
phrasal-verb

come up to

Meaning
to reach a particular standard or expectation
Example
Her performance didn't come up to our expectations.
idiom

keep your head up

Meaning
to remain confident and strong during hardships
Example
Keep your head up, better days are coming.
phrasal-verb

adapt over time

Meaning
to gradually adjust to changes or new circumstances
Example
Teams often adapt over time as they face different challenges.
phrasal-verb

spread over

Meaning
to distribute across a certain time or area
Example
The costs will be spread over the next three months.
idiom

a peace of mind

Meaning
a state of mental and emotional calmness
Example
After the long vacation, she finally got a peace of mind.
idiom

Wishful thinking

Meaning
Believing something because you want it to be true, not because it is realistic.
Example
Believing you'll win the lottery is just wishful thinking.
idiom

Build bridges, not walls

Meaning
Make connections and friendships rather than creating barriers
Example
Instead of fighting, let's build bridges, not walls.
idiom

give someone a piece of one’s mind

Meaning
to tell someone angrily what you think
Example
She gave him a piece of her mind for being rude.
idiom

Cultural melting pot

Meaning
A place where different cultures blend together
Example
New York is often described as a cultural melting pot.
idiom

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Meaning
Strong people keep working hard even in difficulties.
Example
When the going gets tough, the tough get going — never lose hope.
phrasal-verb

test out

Meaning
to try or examine something to see if it works properly
Example
Developers are testing out the beta version of the app.
idiom

A truth universally acknowledged

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

get around to

Meaning
to finally do something after delaying it
Example
I finally got around to cleaning my desk.
idiom

play a part

Meaning
to have a role or influence in something
Example
She played a part in making the project successful.
idiom

time's up

Meaning
the time for something or someone has ended
Example
You have to finish the test now. Time's up!
idiom

get to the bottom of it

Meaning
to find the real reason or cause of something
Example
Let’s get to the bottom of it before making any decision.
idiom

teach an old dog new tricks

Meaning
to try to teach someone something that is difficult for them to learn due to their age or experience
Example
It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but I'll try.
phrasal-verb

agree upon

Meaning
to reach a shared understanding or decision on something
Example
Both nations agreed upon a trade policy that benefits their people.
idiom

driven by passion

Meaning
to be motivated by strong enthusiasm or love for something
Example
He is driven by passion to help others succeed.
phrasal-verb

work off

Meaning
to get rid of something by working or exercising
Example
He goes jogging every morning to work off stress.
phrasal-verb

let down walls

Meaning
to stop being emotionally guarded
Example
It took time for her to let down walls and trust again.
idiom

turn a blind eye

Meaning
to deliberately ignore something wrong or unpleasant
Example
The manager turned a blind eye to employees leaving early on Fridays.
phrasal-verb

hunt for

Meaning
to look carefully for something, especially a good deal
Example
She loves to hunt for discounts during sales.
idiom

lose one’s cool

Meaning
to suddenly become angry
Example
Try not to lose your cool during the argument.
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.
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.
phrasal-verb

turn around from

Meaning
to change from a failing situation to a successful one
Example
The company managed to turn around from a major loss last year.
idiom

grin and bear it

Meaning
to accept a difficult situation patiently
Example
You just have to grin and bear it until the work is done.
idiom

make the same mistake twice

Meaning
to repeat a mistake despite knowing it’s wrong
Example
She promised never to make the same mistake twice.
phrasal-verb

go in for

Meaning
to support or approve of something
Example
He doesn’t really go in for small talk.
phrasal-verb

step up efforts

Meaning
to increase the level of effort or activity
Example
The ministry has stepped up efforts to create more jobs.
phrasal-verb

adapt within new environments

Meaning
to adjust yourself to new cultural surroundings or customs
Example
It takes time to adapt within new environments, but it’s worth it.
idiom

steer someone in the right direction

Meaning
to guide someone towards the correct path or decision
Example
The senior manager helped steer me in the right direction when I was unsure about the project.
phrasal-verb

set apart

Meaning
to make something or someone distinctive or unique
Example
Innovative design can set apart a brand from its competitors.
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

put your faith in the hands of

Meaning
to trust someone with something important
Example
She decided to put her faith in the hands of her lawyer for the case.
phrasal-verb

cut down on emissions

Meaning
to reduce the amount of something harmful, especially pollution
Example
Nations are taking measures to cut down on emissions from industries.
phrasal-verb

load up on veggies

Meaning
to eat a lot of vegetables
Example
I load up on veggies at lunch so dinner can stay light.
idiom

carve out a niche

Meaning
to establish a unique place or role for oneself
Example
She carved out a niche as a specialist in art restoration.
idiom

Too many cooks spoil the broth

Meaning
When too many people try to manage something, it can fail.
Example
If everyone keeps giving their opinion, remember that too many cooks spoil the broth.
idiom

give over to

Meaning
to devote time or space to something
Example
They gave the evening over to brainstorming.
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

follow suit

Meaning
to do the same thing as someone else, especially online
Example
After one influencer started the trend, many others followed suit.
idiom

make your mark

Meaning
to achieve distinction or recognition
Example
He worked hard to make his mark in the tech industry.
phrasal-verb

dig beneath

Meaning
to search for the real emotions or motivations hidden under the surface
Example
He tried to dig beneath his frustration to understand his true fears.
idiom

a man of vision

Meaning
a person who has foresight and imagination
Example
He is a man of vision who transformed the company.
idiom

out of bounds

Meaning
not allowed or beyond acceptable limits
Example
His rude comment was out of bounds.
phrasal-verb

point around

Meaning
to show multiple directions or places
Example
The guide pointed around the historical landmarks.
phrasal-verb

drive inclusive growth

Meaning
to promote economic growth that benefits all segments of society
Example
Governments are working to drive inclusive growth for all citizens.
phrasal-verb

search for

Meaning
to look for specific items or products online
Example
He searched for a discount on wireless headphones.
phrasal-verb

cry out for

Meaning
to need something urgently
Example
This area cries out for better healthcare facilities.
phrasal-verb

draw up a trade agreement

Meaning
to prepare the terms of a trade deal
Example
Officials met to draw up a trade agreement that benefits both nations.
idiom

hang out with

Meaning
to spend time with friends
Example
We usually hang out with our classmates after school.
idiom

neural spark

Meaning
a sudden moment of insight or creativity in AI innovation
Example
Her idea was a true neural spark that changed the whole project.
idiom

tell tales

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

open within

Meaning
to connect with your inner emotions and understand yourself better
Example
Yoga helps me to open within and feel peaceful.
phrasal-verb

set the tone for

Meaning
to create the general mood or attitude for a group or activity
Example
A leader’s behavior sets the tone for the entire organization.
idiom

behind enemy lines

Meaning
in a hostile or dangerous situation
Example
Journalists were working behind enemy lines to report the truth.
phrasal-verb

turn on

Meaning
to start a machine or device
Example
Can you turn on the Wi-Fi, please?
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.
phrasal-verb

open up to differences

Meaning
to accept and appreciate diversity
Example
Children should learn to open up to differences from an early age.
phrasal-verb

zone out with

Meaning
to relax or mentally drift while using something like music or a show
Example
I sometimes zone out with a podcast on the bus ride home.
phrasal-verb

link up with

Meaning
to connect or cooperate with another group or country
Example
Our company plans to link up with partners in Asia for expansion.
phrasal-verb

keep down

Meaning
to prevent from increasing or growing
Example
We need to keep down our expenses this month.
idiom

blow one’s top

Meaning
to suddenly become very angry
Example
He blew his top when he saw the mistake.
idiom

a clear conscience

Meaning
a state of being free from guilt or regret
Example
She could sleep soundly at night because she had a clear conscience.
phrasal-verb

heat up

Meaning
to make food warm or hot again
Example
I’ll heat up the leftovers from last night.
phrasal-verb

bring up prices

Meaning
to cause prices to increase; to make costs rise
Example
High demand for oil can bring up prices across many industries.
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

hesitate over

Meaning
to pause before doing or saying something because of uncertainty
Example
She hesitated over whether to tell him the truth.
phrasal-verb

get off

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

look around

Meaning
to explore or see what is nearby; to sightsee
Example
We spent the afternoon looking around the old city.
idiom

family ties

Meaning
Strong connections among family members.
Example
Family ties kept her close to her hometown.
phrasal-verb

click with

Meaning
to immediately feel a connection or understanding with someone
Example
We instantly clicked with each other at the party.