to hit the nail on the head
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idiom

to hit the nail on the head

Meaning
to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem
Example
When she pointed out the lack of communication, she really hit the nail on the head.
phrasal-verb

find with

Meaning
to discover something by examining or associating with someone
Example
They found with her a bag full of letters.
phrasal-verb

adapt out of necessity

Meaning
to change behavior or plans because circumstances require it
Example
During the crisis, businesses had to adapt out of necessity.
phrasal-verb

get on board

Meaning
to enter or climb onto a vehicle like a bus, train, or plane
Example
We quickly got on board before the train left the station.
idiom

lost in the moment

Meaning
to be completely absorbed in what you’re doing
Example
She was lost in the moment while painting her favorite landscape.
phrasal-verb

turn left

Meaning
to change direction to the left
Example
At the next intersection, turn left onto Main Street.
phrasal-verb

quote from

Meaning
to repeat words from a person or source in speech or writing
Example
The news anchor quoted from the Prime Minister’s statement.
phrasal-verb

shine a light on

Meaning
to reveal information so people notice it
Example
Podcasts shine a light on local heroes balancing community work and study.
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

get wound up

Meaning
to become very tense or angry
Example
He gets wound up easily when people interrupt him.
idiom

to see eye to eye

Meaning
to agree with someone
Example
We finally saw eye to eye on the decision.
idiom

join at the hip

Meaning
to be very close and spend a lot of time together
Example
Since childhood, they’ve been joined at the hip.
idiom

place trust in

Meaning
to rely on someone or something
Example
I place my trust in you to handle this task.
phrasal-verb

bring down barriers

Meaning
to remove obstacles between people or groups
Example
Education can bring down barriers between communities.
idiom

a tough call

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

a flash in the pan

Meaning
something that seems promising at first but fails to deliver
Example
The peace talks were just a flash in the pan.
phrasal-verb

go through with

Meaning
to continue and complete something despite fear or emotion
Example
She was nervous, but she went through with her speech.
idiom

own up to

Meaning
to admit or confess to something you did wrong
Example
She finally owned up to breaking the vase.
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.
phrasal-verb

calm yourself down

Meaning
to relax and stop feeling angry or nervous
Example
Take a deep breath to calm yourself down before reacting.
idiom

on one’s last legs

Meaning
to be near the end of one’s strength or life
Example
After the long hike, we were all on our last legs.
phrasal-verb

mop up

Meaning
to clean liquid or dirt from a surface using a mop or cloth
Example
Use a towel to mop up the water you spilled.
phrasal-verb

wipe off

Meaning
to remove something from a surface by rubbing
Example
Please wipe off the dust from the table.
phrasal-verb

opt against

Meaning
to decide not to choose a particular option
Example
After considering the risks, the company opted against the merger.
phrasal-verb

call back

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

hang about

Meaning
to wait or spend time somewhere without doing much
Example
We hung about outside the hall until the doors opened.
idiom

table the issue

Meaning
to postpone discussion of a topic for later
Example
They decided to table the issue until next week.
idiom

the light dawned on someone

Meaning
someone suddenly understands something
Example
The light dawned on her that she had made a mistake.
phrasal-verb

break into markets

Meaning
to start to sell goods or services in a new market
Example
Many startups aim to break into markets in Africa to support sustainable growth.
idiom

share the love

Meaning
to show support or appreciation by liking or sharing someone’s post
Example
Share the love by liking and commenting on this post!
idiom

rally the troops

Meaning
to motivate or encourage a group to take action
Example
The manager rallied the troops before the big presentation.
phrasal-verb

go down

Meaning
to decrease; to be remembered or recorded
Example
This event will go down in history.
phrasal-verb

step through

Meaning
to pass through something carefully or one stage at a time
Example
Let’s step through the process so everyone understands it clearly.
idiom

the dawn of a new day

Meaning
a new beginning filled with hope
Example
Her graduation marked the dawn of a new day in her life.
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

At your own risk

Meaning
You are responsible for any possible danger or loss.
Example
You can enter the cave, but it’s at your own risk.
phrasal-verb

set out new goals

Meaning
to define or start pursuing new objectives
Example
The innovation team set out new goals for sustainable business models.
idiom

data breach

Meaning
unauthorized access to confidential information
Example
The company suffered a major data breach last year.
phrasal-verb

burn down

Meaning
to be destroyed by fire
Example
The forest burned down after the wildfire.
phrasal-verb

express thanks to

Meaning
to say thank you to someone
Example
He expressed his thanks to the organizers of the conference.
idiom

buckle under pressure

Meaning
to give in or fail due to too much stress or pressure
Example
Some employees buckle under pressure, while others thrive.
phrasal-verb

shift focus toward growth

Meaning
to redirect attention and efforts toward improvement
Example
The manager encouraged everyone to shift focus toward growth after the changes.
idiom

on the witness stand

Meaning
to be giving testimony in court
Example
The victim was nervous while on the witness stand.
phrasal-verb

crack down on corruption

Meaning
to take strong measures to stop corruption
Example
The new government promised to crack down on corruption.
idiom

A Sherlock Holmes

Meaning
A person who is extremely good at solving mysteries or finding out information.
Example
He’s such a Sherlock Holmes when it comes to finding lost things.
idiom

don't sweat the small stuff

Meaning
don’t worry about minor or unimportant things
Example
It’s just a little mistake, don’t sweat the small stuff.
phrasal-verb

stay on

Meaning
to remain connected or continue working
Example
Can you stay on the call until we finish the report?
idiom

fire up

Meaning
to excite or motivate someone
Example
The coach’s speech really fired up the players.
phrasal-verb

bring across

Meaning
to communicate an idea effectively
Example
He used visuals to bring across his main idea clearly.
idiom

cash cow

Meaning
a product or service that consistently generates a lot of money
Example
Their mobile app has become a cash cow for the company.
phrasal-verb

bloom into

Meaning
to develop into something beautiful or full of life
Example
She bloomed into a confident young woman.
idiom

have a splitting headache

Meaning
to have a very bad headache
Example
I can’t focus right now; I have a splitting headache.
phrasal-verb

pitch ideas in

Meaning
to contribute ideas or suggestions in teamwork
Example
Everyone was encouraged to pitch ideas in during the meeting.
idiom

breaking the deadlock

Meaning
to end a situation where no progress is being made
Example
The negotiation team succeeded in breaking the deadlock.
phrasal-verb

hang on to

Meaning
to keep something; not to lose hope or belief
Example
You must hang on to your vision even in hard times.
idiom

win hands down

Meaning
to win easily or convincingly
Example
Our team won hands down in the final match.
idiom

back to the drawing board

Meaning
to start over again after a failure
Example
Our proposal was rejected, so it's back to the drawing board.
phrasal-verb

build inner strength

Meaning
to develop mental and emotional toughness
Example
Meditation helps you build inner strength and calmness.
idiom

tune out

Meaning
to stop paying attention to what’s happening around you
Example
He often tunes out when people start complaining.
idiom

upload your thoughts

Meaning
to express or share one’s ideas online
Example
People love to upload their thoughts on social media.
phrasal-verb

cut down on tariffs

Meaning
to reduce import or export taxes
Example
The WTO encourages members to cut down on tariffs to enhance global trade.
idiom

take it upon oneself

Meaning
to decide to do something without being asked or required
Example
She decided to take it upon herself to organize the event.
idiom

level playing field

Meaning
a fair situation where everyone has equal chances
Example
The new rules create a level playing field for all teams.
idiom

freshen up

Meaning
to wash or tidy oneself to feel renewed
Example
Guests can freshen up in the lounge before dinner.
phrasal-verb

filter out tension

Meaning
to remove or block stressful emotions or thoughts
Example
Yoga helps you filter out tension from your body and mind.
phrasal-verb

keep faith in yourself

Meaning
to continue believing in your own abilities
Example
No matter how tough it gets, keep faith in yourself.
phrasal-verb

set up dialogue

Meaning
to establish formal or informal communication between nations
Example
The leaders agreed to set up dialogue to discuss trade issues.
idiom

party pooper

Meaning
someone who spoils the fun of others
Example
Don’t be a party pooper, join the fun!
phrasal-verb

lean into healing

Meaning
to actively engage in the process of emotional recovery
Example
It's okay to cry—lean into healing and allow yourself to grow.
idiom

behind the times

Meaning
old-fashioned or not keeping up with modern ideas
Example
My uncle still uses a typewriter—he’s behind the times.
idiom

go on a spending spree

Meaning
to spend a lot of money in a short period of time
Example
She went on a spending spree after getting her bonus.
idiom

cut back on

Meaning
to reduce the amount of something
Example
We’re trying to cut back on eating out during the week.
idiom

Push yourself

Meaning
Try to do better or go beyond your limits.
Example
You won’t improve unless you push yourself.
phrasal-verb

hold it together

Meaning
to stay calm and not show your emotions when under stress
Example
Even under pressure, she managed to hold it together.
idiom

run circles around someone

Meaning
to be much better than someone at something
Example
She can run circles around anyone in the debate team.
phrasal-verb

cut out luxury items

Meaning
to stop buying unnecessary expensive things
Example
They decided to cut out luxury items to save for a new house.
idiom

open heart

Meaning
to be honest and kind in feelings and actions
Example
He welcomed everyone with an open heart.
phrasal-verb

cut off by

Meaning
to be blocked or separated by something
Example
The road was cut off by the landslide.
idiom

wave the white flag

Meaning
to surrender or give up
Example
After a long debate, he finally waved the white flag.
idiom

pulling strings

Meaning
using influence to get something done
Example
He got the engineering contract by pulling strings.
idiom

android-like

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

Go exploring

Meaning
To travel or look around to discover new things.
Example
Let's go exploring around the city this weekend.
phrasal-verb

speak for yourself

Meaning
to politely clarify that your opinion differs from someone else's
Example
You may think it’s boring, but please speak for yourself.
idiom

mend a broken heart

Meaning
to heal from emotional pain after a breakup
Example
It takes time to mend a broken heart.
idiom

itching to do something

Meaning
to be eager or impatient to do something
Example
He’s itching to start his new project.
idiom

actions speak louder than words

Meaning
what people do is more important than what they say
Example
Actions speak louder than words, so prove it with effort.
idiom

ease up

Meaning
to become less intense or to relax
Example
The rain should ease up by the evening commute.
phrasal-verb

pull back up

Meaning
to improve or recover after falling or dropping
Example
The national currency has started to pull back up against the dollar.
phrasal-verb

build up stamina

Meaning
to increase strength or endurance gradually
Example
Running regularly helps to build up stamina.
idiom

meet halfway

Meaning
to compromise by agreeing to part of what each person wants
Example
We decided to meet halfway and agree on a fair price.
idiom

at your wits' end

Meaning
to be so worried or stressed that you don’t know what to do
Example
I’m at my wits’ end trying to finish all this work.
idiom

out of bandwidth

Meaning
too busy or overwhelmed to handle more tasks
Example
I’m out of bandwidth today, can we talk tomorrow?
idiom

go behind someone’s back

Meaning
to do something secretly or deceitfully against someone
Example
She went behind my back and told the manager everything.
idiom

think big

Meaning
to set ambitious and visionary goals
Example
Entrepreneurs must think big to make a real impact.
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

music to one’s ears

Meaning
something that makes someone feel very happy or pleased
Example
The news of his promotion was music to his ears.
phrasal-verb

tick off

Meaning
to mark completed items on a list
Example
I ticked off each task as I finished to track the progress before the deadline.
idiom

let off some steam

Meaning
to relieve stress or anger by expressing feelings or doing something physical
Example
After that argument, he needed to let off some steam by hitting the gym.
phrasal-verb

clear things up with

Meaning
to resolve confusion or disagreement with someone
Example
I need to clear things up with my manager about the schedule.
phrasal-verb

rise toward excellence

Meaning
to keep improving continuously toward a higher standard
Example
With dedication, anyone can rise toward excellence.
phrasal-verb

let in peace

Meaning
to allow yourself a quiet moment away from distractions
Example
Give yourself time to let in peace after a stressful day.
phrasal-verb

run on

Meaning
to be powered by a particular source of energy
Example
Electric cars run on renewable energy instead of gasoline.
phrasal-verb

portion out snacks

Meaning
to divide snacks into measured servings
Example
We portion out snacks on Sundays so weekday meals stay balanced.
idiom

go the extra mile

Meaning
to make a special effort to achieve something
Example
She always goes the extra mile to help her team succeed.
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

join up for

Meaning
to enroll or participate in a collective action
Example
Thousands join up for the beach cleanup drive.
idiom

run on empty

Meaning
to continue working even when you are tired or out of energy
Example
He’s been running on empty for weeks without a break.
idiom

keep up with the times

Meaning
to stay updated or adapt to modern trends
Example
In the fast-moving tech industry, companies must keep up with the times.
phrasal-verb

close development gaps

Meaning
to reduce inequalities between developed and developing regions
Example
Efforts are underway to close development gaps between nations.
phrasal-verb

sync expectations up

Meaning
to make sure everyone understands the same plan
Example
Let's sync expectations up before we send the proposal.
phrasal-verb

let down walls

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

come around to

Meaning
to change your opinion and agree with something eventually
Example
After some debate, the board came around to supporting the new idea.
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.
phrasal-verb

work into

Meaning
to include something into a plan or discussion
Example
I’ll try to work your idea into the proposal.
idiom

in a state of shock

Meaning
to be extremely surprised or upset
Example
She was in a state of shock after hearing the news.
idiom

Throw money at something

Meaning
To try to solve a problem by spending a lot of money instead of using a better solution.
Example
The government keeps throwing money at the education problem instead of reforming it.
phrasal-verb

ease inflation

Meaning
to make inflation less severe or reduce price pressure
Example
Rising interest rates can help ease inflation over time.
idiom

ease back

Meaning
to relax or slow down the pace of something
Example
After the deadline, we can ease back a little.
idiom

take a step back

Meaning
to pause and reassess a situation
Example
Sometimes you need to take a step back to see the bigger picture.
phrasal-verb

bottle emotions

Meaning
to keep emotions hidden instead of expressing them
Example
She tends to bottle emotions instead of talking about them.
phrasal-verb

come down with

Meaning
to become ill with a disease
Example
I think I'm coming down with a cold.