B2 idiom

wrap your head around it

to understand or accept something

Meaning

to understand or accept something

Example

It's hard to wrap your head around it, but that's just how the system works.

phrasal-verb

adapt under pressure

Meaning

to adjust effectively when facing stressful situations

Example

Professionals must learn to **adapt under pressure**.

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**.

idiom

cut through the red tape

Meaning

to remove bureaucratic obstacles or delays

Example

The new policy helps **cut through the red tape** and speed up approvals.

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

hard as nails

Meaning

very tough and determined

Example

She’s **hard as nails** when it comes to achieving her goals.

phrasal-verb

botch up

Meaning

to do a job badly or carelessly

Example

He completely **botched up** the report.

phrasal-verb

get over with

Meaning

to finish something unpleasant

Example

Let’s **get this injection over with** quickly.

phrasal-verb

plan ahead for

Meaning

to prepare for something in advance

Example

We must **plan ahead for** deadlines to avoid last-minute stress.

phrasal-verb

advocate for

Meaning

to publicly support a cause or person

Example

Students **advocate for** safer campuses at the town hall.

phrasal-verb

look beyond

Meaning

to think about the future or consider wider possibilities

Example

Good leaders **look beyond** short-term results to long-term growth.

idiom

bite your tongue

Meaning

to stop yourself from saying something you want to say

Example

I had to **bite my tongue** when my boss took credit for my work.

phrasal-verb

turn ideas into reality

Meaning

to make your plans or dreams come true

Example

Great leaders know how to **turn ideas into reality**.

phrasal-verb

slow down

Meaning

to do things more calmly or at a relaxed pace

Example

You should **slow down** and take time to rest when you feel stressed.

idiom

have a lightbulb moment

Meaning

a sudden realization or idea

Example

When I saw the problem from a different angle, I had a **lightbulb moment**.

idiom

bootstrapping

Meaning

building a business without external funding

Example

He started his company through **bootstrapping**, using only his savings.

idiom

rope in

Meaning

to persuade someone to join an activity

Example

They **roped me in** to help with the charity event.

idiom

Sail through something

Meaning

To do something easily or successfully.

Example

She **sailed through** her exams with top marks.

idiom

hold down

Meaning

to keep something at a low level

Example

It’s tough to **hold down** rent costs in this city.

idiom

social butterfly

Meaning

someone who loves meeting and talking to people

Example

Emma is a **social butterfly**; she knows everyone at the event.

phrasal-verb

reach out for dialogue

Meaning

to try to start communication or discussion with others

Example

Countries need to **reach out for dialogue** to solve conflicts peacefully.

idiom

ease around

Meaning

to move carefully to avoid disturbance

Example

Please **ease around** the cords near the podium.

phrasal-verb

point around

Meaning

to show multiple directions or places

Example

The guide **pointed around** the historical landmarks.

phrasal-verb

hand over responsibility

Meaning

to give control or authority to another person

Example

The CEO **handed over responsibility** to the next generation of leaders.

phrasal-verb

stand against

Meaning

to oppose or resist something strongly

Example

He decided to **stand against** the unfair law.

idiom

grab a bite

Meaning

to eat something quickly

Example

Let’s **grab a bite** before the meeting.

phrasal-verb

leak out

Meaning

to become known accidentally; to escape from secrecy

Example

Sensitive information **leaked out** before the official announcement.

phrasal-verb

stand up against injustice

Meaning

to resist unfair treatment or oppression

Example

Citizens gathered to **stand up against injustice** in their country.

phrasal-verb

push forward

Meaning

to continue working hard despite obstacles; to persist toward goals

Example

Even after rejection, the team decided to **push forward** with their plan.

idiom

work your fingers to the bone

Meaning

to work extremely hard

Example

She **worked her fingers to the bone** to support her family.

idiom

A peaceful mind is a happy mind

Meaning

Mental calmness leads to happiness and contentment.

Example

She believes that **a peaceful mind is a happy mind**.

phrasal-verb

zip up

Meaning

to close something with a zipper

Example

Don’t forget to **zip up** your jacket, it’s cold outside.

phrasal-verb

hold back criticism

Meaning

to avoid saying negative things unnecessarily

Example

In polite conversation, it’s wise to **hold back criticism**.

idiom

get off on the right foot

Meaning

to start a relationship or activity in a positive way

Example

We **got off on the right foot** during our first meeting.

idiom

a dead-end job

Meaning

a job with no opportunity for advancement or improvement

Example

He quit his **dead-end job** to start his own business.

idiom

make someone green

Meaning

to make someone jealous

Example

Her success **made her colleagues green**.

idiom

give someone a hand

Meaning

to help someone with a task

Example

Could you **give me a hand** with dinner?

phrasal-verb

zone yourself out

Meaning

to deliberately disconnect from stressful surroundings

Example

Sometimes you just need to **zone yourself out** and take a break.

idiom

Put your best foot forward

Meaning

to try as hard as you can

Example

She **put her best foot forward** in the interview.

idiom

hit the roof

Meaning

to become very angry

Example

Dad will **hit the roof** when he sees the broken window.

idiom

on the front line

Meaning

directly involved in the most active or dangerous part of something

Example

Doctors were **on the front line** during the pandemic.

idiom

on shaky ground

Meaning

in an uncertain or unstable situation

Example

His business is **on shaky ground** after the market crash.

phrasal-verb

emerge from

Meaning

to come out of or develop from something

Example

New opportunities often **emerge from** major technological shifts.

phrasal-verb

speak up against

Meaning

to voice opposition to something openly

Example

Many young people **speak up against** injustice in their communities.

phrasal-verb

tune up to

Meaning

to adjust or prepare equipment or oneself to perform better online

Example

Before the virtual meeting, make sure to **tune up to** avoid technical issues.

idiom

the last straw

Meaning

the final problem that makes a situation unbearable

Example

His rude comment was **the last straw** for her.

phrasal-verb

cut off pollution

Meaning

to stop or reduce pollution sources

Example

Factories must **cut off pollution** to meet environmental standards.

phrasal-verb

dig around for

Meaning

to search through different places to find something

Example

I **dig around for** spare change when the vending machine only takes coins.

idiom

head up

Meaning

to lead a team or project

Example

Priya will **head up** the new outreach campaign.

phrasal-verb

soothe out

Meaning

to reduce emotional tension; to make feelings smoother or calmer

Example

Meditation helps to **soothe out** the stress in my mind.

phrasal-verb

listen to feedback

Meaning

to pay attention to and consider others’ opinions or advice

Example

A wise leader always **listens to feedback** before making changes.

idiom

in the same league

Meaning

comparable in quality or ability

Example

Those two companies aren’t **in the same league**.

idiom

give over to

Meaning

to devote time or space to something

Example

They **gave the evening over to** brainstorming.

idiom

Put one's nose to the grindstone

Meaning

To focus on hard work and continuous effort.

Example

She really had to **put her nose to the grindstone** to get the promotion.

phrasal-verb

knock off

Meaning

to stop working at the end of the day

Example

Let’s **knock off** early today and grab dinner together.

idiom

a quantum leap

Meaning

a big and sudden improvement

Example

This discovery is **a quantum leap** in medical research.

idiom

in layman's terms

Meaning

to explain something in simple, non-technical language

Example

Can you explain the theory **in layman's terms**?

idiom

shocked to the core

Meaning

deeply shocked or disturbed

Example

Everyone was **shocked to the core** by the tragedy.

idiom

grateful as can be

Meaning

extremely thankful

Example

I’m **grateful as can be** for your guidance.

idiom

carbon neutral

Meaning

achieving a net-zero carbon footprint, where the amount of carbon dioxide released is equal to the amount removed from the atmosphere

Example

By planting trees and reducing emissions, the company is aiming to become **carbon neutral**.

phrasal-verb

own the mistake quickly

Meaning

to admit an error right away

Example

I **own the mistake quickly** and explain the fix to my team.

idiom

play God

Meaning

to make decisions that have extreme control over life or morality

Example

Some people fear AI researchers are trying to **play God**.

phrasal-verb

open up new horizons

Meaning

to create new opportunities for learning or understanding different cultures

Example

Studying abroad can **open up new horizons** for personal and cultural growth.

phrasal-verb

point up

Meaning

to emphasize something; to make something more noticeable

Example

This example **points up** the importance of communication.

phrasal-verb

owe to

Meaning

to feel you should thank someone for something

Example

I **owe my success to** my parents’ support.

idiom

pull your weight

Meaning

to do your fair share of work

Example

Everyone needs to **pull their weight** if we want to finish this project on time.

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

make ends meet

Meaning

to earn enough money to live on

Example

He works two jobs to **make ends meet**.

idiom

Keep your head above water

Meaning

Manage to survive or cope with difficulties.

Example

It’s hard, but I’m trying to **keep my head above water**.

phrasal-verb

log out

Meaning

to exit from a website or app after finishing your work

Example

Don’t forget to **log out** when you’re done.

idiom

add fuel to the fire

Meaning

to make a bad situation worse

Example

Your comments **added fuel to the fire**.

phrasal-verb

brace yourself for

Meaning

to mentally prepare for something challenging or frightening

Example

Take a breath and **brace yourself for** the tough conversation.

idiom

No risk, no reward

Meaning

You can't expect to achieve something without taking risks.

Example

To get ahead in life, you have to understand that **no risk, no reward**.

phrasal-verb

cut back on costs

Meaning

to reduce spending or expenses

Example

We need to **cut back on costs** to improve our profit margins.

phrasal-verb

turn up at

Meaning

to arrive unexpectedly at a place

Example

He **turned up at** my office without any notice.

idiom

table the issue

Meaning

to postpone discussion of a topic for later

Example

They decided to **table the issue** until next week.

phrasal-verb

come forward

Meaning

to offer to help or take part in something

Example

Several team members **came forward** to volunteer for the new task.

phrasal-verb

soak up

Meaning

to absorb and enjoy an experience fully

Example

We sat by the sea to **soak up** the peaceful atmosphere.

idiom

Calm before the storm

Meaning

A peaceful time before trouble or chaos starts.

Example

The office is quiet now, but it’s just **the calm before the storm**.

phrasal-verb

blend with

Meaning

to mix harmoniously with something; to integrate smoothly

Example

Immigrants often try to **blend with** the local culture while keeping their traditions alive.

phrasal-verb

sync across

Meaning

to make sure data or actions are consistent across devices or platforms

Example

All files automatically **sync across** your devices.

phrasal-verb

break down for

Meaning

to explain something in simpler parts for someone

Example

Could you **break this down for** the new volunteers?

idiom

look forward to

Meaning

to feel excited about something that is going to happen

Example

I **look forward to** meeting you soon.

idiom

to make a blunder

Meaning

to make a very big or stupid mistake

Example

The company **made a blunder** by ignoring customer feedback.

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.

idiom

pull your socks up

Meaning

to make an effort to improve your performance

Example

You need to **pull your socks up** if you want that promotion.

phrasal-verb

break off talks

Meaning

to stop discussions or negotiations suddenly

Example

The two countries decided to **break off talks** after repeated disagreements.

phrasal-verb

reach forward to

Meaning

to extend emotional support to help someone move on

Example

He **reached forward to** his brother to help him recover.

phrasal-verb

build upon success

Meaning

to use existing success as a foundation for future growth

Example

The bank aims to **build upon success** from last year’s performance.

idiom

brush up on

Meaning

to improve one’s skill or knowledge

Example

She decided to **brush up on** her painting techniques.

phrasal-verb

drop out of

Meaning

to leave school or university before finishing a course

Example

He **dropped out of** college to start his own business.

idiom

lend a hand

Meaning

to help someone with something

Example

Can you **lend a hand** with these boxes?

idiom

Money talks

Meaning

Money has great influence and power.

Example

He got the deal because **money talks**.

idiom

take it on the chin

Meaning

to accept a difficult situation without complaining

Example

He **took it on the chin** when his project failed.

idiom

play one's cards right

Meaning

to make the right decisions in order to achieve a good result

Example

If you **play your cards right**, you could get the promotion you want.

idiom

wrap someone around your finger

Meaning

to have complete control or influence over someone

Example

She has her boss **wrapped around her finger**.

idiom

a step in the right direction

Meaning

a small action that leads to progress towards a goal

Example

Completing the first phase of the project is definitely **a step in the right direction**.

idiom

bounce around

Meaning

to discuss or move between ideas casually

Example

Let’s **bounce around** concepts before we pick one.

phrasal-verb

talk out of

Meaning

to persuade someone not to do something

Example

I tried to **talk him out of** quitting his job.

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**.

phrasal-verb

settle into

Meaning

to become comfortable in a new place or routine

Example

After a few months, she finally **settled into** her new role as manager.

idiom

take ownership

Meaning

to take full responsibility for something

Example

Leaders should **take ownership** of both successes and failures.

phrasal-verb

reach out within

Meaning

to connect with people inside an organization for collaboration

Example

Leaders need to **reach out within** to build trust among teams.

idiom

jog someone's memory

Meaning

to make someone remember something

Example

That smell **jogged my memory** of our school canteen.

phrasal-verb

dream up projects

Meaning

to invent or imagine new creative projects

Example

They **dreamed up projects** that could change the company’s image.

phrasal-verb

settle within

Meaning

to find peace or calm inside yourself

Example

She practices mindfulness to **settle within** after a busy day.

idiom

fail fast, learn faster

Meaning

to quickly identify mistakes and use them as learning opportunities

Example

In startup culture, it’s encouraged to **fail fast, learn faster**.

phrasal-verb

drop a message

Meaning

to send someone a short message online

Example

Just **drop me a message** if you need any help.

phrasal-verb

pick apart

Meaning

to criticize something in detail

Example

The reviewer **picked apart** the movie for its weak plot.

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

take responsibility

Meaning

to be accountable for something you did or are in charge of.

Example

You need to **take responsibility** for your actions.

idiom

mix together

Meaning

to combine different things into one

Example

**Mix together** the spices before adding them to the stew.

phrasal-verb

push back against

Meaning

to resist pressure or negativity with determination

Example

He decided to **push back against** the unfair criticism.

idiom

Talk through your hat

Meaning

To speak nonsense or about something one knows little about.

Example

He was **talking through his hat** about quantum physics.

phrasal-verb

pull yourself back

Meaning

to stop overthinking or panicking and return to calmness

Example

Whenever your mind runs away, **pull yourself back** to the present.

phrasal-verb

bring in reforms

Meaning

to introduce changes to improve a system or policy

Example

The new government promised to **bring in reforms** to strengthen the economy.

idiom

scratch someone's back

Meaning

to do something for someone in exchange for a favor or help later

Example

We agreed to **scratch each other's backs** in this business deal.

idiom

show true colors

Meaning

to reveal one’s real character or intentions

Example

He **showed his true colors** when he took charge of the team.

phrasal-verb

move up in

Meaning

to advance or get promoted within an organization

Example

She worked hard to **move up in** her company.

phrasal-verb

let rip

Meaning

to express anger or frustration loudly

Example

He **let rip** at the meeting when no one listened to him.

phrasal-verb

lift people out of poverty

Meaning

to help people escape from poverty through economic growth or support

Example

The new policy is designed to **lift people out of poverty** sustainably.