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All Types idiom phrasal-verb proverb
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idiom

Zoom in on

Meaning
To focus closely on something
Example
Let’s zoom in on the key issues first.
idiom

play one's cards close to one's chest

Meaning
to keep one's plans or ideas secret
Example
He always plays his cards close to his chest in business.
phrasal-verb

come together on

Meaning
to unite in agreement on a common issue
Example
World leaders came together on climate change goals.
idiom

kind words cost nothing

Meaning
being kind doesn’t take effort or money
Example
Remember, kind words cost nothing.
phrasal-verb

find peace with

Meaning
to accept something painful and stop being upset about it
Example
In time, she found peace with her past mistakes.
idiom

a glimmer of hope

Meaning
a small sign of improvement or success in a difficult situation
Example
Even in the hardest times, he never gave up because there was always a glimmer of hope.
phrasal-verb

hold back from

Meaning
to resist forgetting or losing traditional values
Example
The villagers held back from abandoning their rituals.
phrasal-verb

get a grip on

Meaning
to gain control of one’s emotions
Example
You need to get a grip on your emotions before reacting.
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.
phrasal-verb

take part in discussions

Meaning
to actively join in conversations or debates
Example
Students should take part in discussions to develop communication skills.
idiom

patience is a virtue

Meaning
being patient is a good quality
Example
Remember, patience is a virtue, so take your time.
idiom

a big mouth

Meaning
a person who talks too much or reveals secrets
Example
Don’t tell Jake, he’s a big mouth!
phrasal-verb

bounce ahead with optimism

Meaning
to continue progressing with a positive attitude after difficulties
Example
After every failure, she chooses to bounce ahead with optimism.
phrasal-verb

head back

Meaning
to return to a place
Example
It’s getting late, we should head back to the hotel.
phrasal-verb

get rid of

Meaning
to remove or eliminate something unwanted
Example
I need to get rid of these old clothes.
idiom

in the black

Meaning
making a profit; financially stable
Example
Our company is finally in the black after two years.
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

follow through on plans

Meaning
to complete actions that were promised or scheduled
Example
She follows through on plans even when the workload spikes.
phrasal-verb

stand together for

Meaning
to unite in support of a common cause
Example
Nations stand together for climate action.
phrasal-verb

deal across

Meaning
to trade or exchange across parties
Example
The companies dealt across several industries.
idiom

burst with happiness

Meaning
to be full of great joy or excitement
Example
The parents burst with happiness when they saw their newborn baby.
idiom

face your fears

Meaning
to confront something that scares you
Example
You need to face your fears if you want to grow as a person.
phrasal-verb

open out

Meaning
to become more confident, relaxed, and expressive emotionally
Example
He started to open out after making new friends at work.
idiom

trailblazer

Meaning
a person who is the first to do something innovative
Example
Elon Musk is often seen as a trailblazer in the tech industry.
phrasal-verb

wait your turn

Meaning
to be patient and not interrupt others
Example
Children should learn to wait their turn while playing.
idiom

school of thought

Meaning
a particular way of thinking or set of ideas
Example
There’s a school of thought that believes learning by doing is best.
phrasal-verb

make over

Meaning
to change the appearance or style of something; to transfer ownership
Example
They completely made over the kitchen last month.
idiom

a smoke-filled room

Meaning
a place where powerful people make secret political decisions
Example
The policy was decided in a smoke-filled room, not in public.
phrasal-verb

pull back on

Meaning
to reduce or stop doing something, especially spending or investment; to withdraw effort or commitment
Example
During the economic crisis, many companies pull back on new projects to save money.
phrasal-verb

break down walls

Meaning
to remove divisions or barriers between people
Example
The new leadership aims to break down walls between departments.
phrasal-verb

depend on

Meaning
to rely on someone or something for help or support
Example
You can always depend on me when you need advice.
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

sleep like a baby

Meaning
to sleep very peacefully and comfortably
Example
After a warm bath, she slept like a baby.
idiom

get ahead

Meaning
to be successful in life or career
Example
She worked hard to get ahead in her company.
B1 idiom

fish out of water

Someone who feels uncomfortable or out of place
Meaning
Someone who feels uncomfortable or out of place
Example
At the formal party, the casual dresser felt like a fish out of water.
At the formal party, the casual dresser felt like a fish out of water.
phrasal-verb

be curious about

Meaning
to have a desire to know or learn about something
Example
Children are naturally curious about how things work.
phrasal-verb

speak out for justice

Meaning
to publicly support fairness or equality
Example
The ambassador spoke out for justice in his UN speech.
idiom

Don't rush things

Meaning
Take your time and don't hurry.
Example
You don't need to finish everything today, don't rush things.
idiom

in a huff

Meaning
angry or offended, usually for a short time
Example
She left the meeting in a huff after being criticized.
idiom

help someone out

Meaning
to assist someone in a difficult situation
Example
Whenever I am in trouble, she always helps me out.
idiom

on the dot

Meaning
exactly on time; punctual
Example
The meeting started on the dot at 10 a.m.
phrasal-verb

ring off

Meaning
to end a phone call
Example
He suddenly rang off without saying goodbye.
phrasal-verb

keep alive

Meaning
to make sure cultural traditions continue to exist
Example
Artists work hard to keep alive the spirit of folk art.
phrasal-verb

close the loop today

Meaning
to finish outstanding follow-ups before the day ends
Example
Let's close the loop today so clients get answers before evening.
phrasal-verb

turn around the business

Meaning
to make a failing business successful again
Example
The new CEO helped turn around the company’s declining sales.
idiom

Down the rabbit hole

Meaning
Entering into a strange, complicated, or bizarre situation.
Example
I went down the rabbit hole researching ancient myths.
idiom

a well-oiled machine

Meaning
a group that works efficiently and smoothly together
Example
Our team worked like a well-oiled machine during the event.
idiom

go belly up

Meaning
to fail completely; to go bankrupt
Example
Many small businesses went belly up during the pandemic.
idiom

at the end of the day

Meaning
when everything is considered; ultimately
Example
At the end of the day, teamwork solved the problem.
idiom

even out

Meaning
to make something level or balanced
Example
Stir the batter to even out the lumps.
idiom

climb to the top

Meaning
to achieve the highest position in a company or field
Example
He’s determined to climb to the top of his profession.
phrasal-verb

keep the market afloat

Meaning
to prevent the market from collapsing or declining
Example
The stimulus package helped keep the market afloat during the crisis.
idiom

work of art

Meaning
something very beautiful or skillfully made
Example
Her handmade dress is truly a work of art.
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

A truth universally acknowledged

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

get over it

Meaning
to recover emotionally from something upsetting or painful
Example
It took her months to get over the heartbreak.
phrasal-verb

break up with

Meaning
to end a romantic relationship with someone
Example
He broke up with his girlfriend after three years of dating.
phrasal-verb

work for

Meaning
to be employed by someone or an organization
Example
I work for a multinational company in Dhaka.
idiom

anchors aweigh

Meaning
Ready to depart or begin a journey.
Example
With our bags packed, it’s anchors aweigh for the road trip!
idiom

a crash course

Meaning
a short and intensive course of study
Example
I had to take a crash course in programming before starting the job.
phrasal-verb

live up to promises

Meaning
to act according to what one has promised or expected
Example
Great leaders always live up to their promises.
phrasal-verb

smooth out

Meaning
to make emotions or problems less rough or intense
Example
Time will smooth out the pain you’re feeling now.
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

go ballistic

Meaning
to become extremely angry or excited
Example
Dad went ballistic when he found out I dented his car.
phrasal-verb

carry forward your progress

Meaning
to continue developing based on what you have already achieved
Example
Always try to carry forward your progress to the next level.
phrasal-verb

testify against

Meaning
to give evidence in court against someone
Example
The witness agreed to testify against the accused.
phrasal-verb

point up

Meaning
to emphasize something; to make something more noticeable
Example
This example points up the importance of communication.
phrasal-verb

set up a meeting

Meaning
to arrange a meeting or appointment
Example
Can you set up a meeting with the marketing team tomorrow?
idiom

weakest link

Meaning
the most vulnerable part of a system or group
Example
Human error is often the weakest link in cybersecurity.
phrasal-verb

reach out to partners

Meaning
to contact or make connections with others for cooperation
Example
The NGO is reaching out to partners to expand its global projects.
phrasal-verb

lead with

Meaning
to begin with a polite or positive statement before criticism
Example
It’s always better to lead with appreciation before giving feedback.
idiom

in the limelight

Meaning
to be the focus of public attention
Example
After winning the award, he was in the limelight for months.
phrasal-verb

turn up the music

Meaning
to increase the volume of music
Example
They turned up the music when everyone started dancing.
phrasal-verb

back down from

Meaning
to withdraw from a position or opinion due to pressure
Example
He never backs down from what he believes in.
idiom

talk the talk

Meaning
to speak confidently about something
Example
He can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?
phrasal-verb

drop down

Meaning
to fall or descend to a lower level
Example
The temperature will drop down to five degrees tonight.
idiom

free as a bird

Meaning
completely free; without restrictions
Example
After leaving his job, he felt free as a bird.
phrasal-verb

cry over

Meaning
to feel sad or complain about something that has already happened
Example
There's no point crying over spilled milk.
phrasal-verb

bring up to date

Meaning
to give someone the latest information about something
Example
Can you bring me up to date on the latest news?
phrasal-verb

sync up with

Meaning
to coordinate or match with something or someone
Example
The app will automatically sync up with your online account.
phrasal-verb

finish up

Meaning
to complete or end something
Example
Let’s finish up this report before the meeting starts.
idiom

viral content

Meaning
Content that spreads rapidly across the internet, usually through social media.
Example
The video went viral after being shared on Facebook.
phrasal-verb

hold in

Meaning
to control your emotions or not express them
Example
She tried to hold in her laughter during the meeting.
idiom

lead by example

Meaning
to show others how to behave by doing it yourself
Example
A true leader always leads by example.
phrasal-verb

drop away

Meaning
to decrease gradually; to fade or disappear
Example
Attendance at the club meetings has dropped away recently.
idiom

enter stage left

Meaning
to appear or arrive dramatically in a situation
Example
Just when things got complicated, enter stage left—our new competitor!
idiom

Lead the charge

Meaning
to be at the forefront of an action or movement
Example
He was the one to lead the charge in the new project.
idiom

as strong as an ox

Meaning
very strong and powerful
Example
He’s as strong as an ox after years of training.
idiom

Make up one's mind

Meaning
To decide or come to a conclusion about something.
Example
After much deliberation, he finally made up his mind and chose the first option.
idiom

Crossing the Rubicon

Meaning
Taking an irreversible step with serious consequences.
Example
By going public with the information, he was crossing the Rubicon.
phrasal-verb

add in

Meaning
to include a small polite comment or detail
Example
If I may, I’d like to add in one more observation.
idiom

scene-stealer

Meaning
someone who attracts attention and stands out
Example
That child actor was a real scene-stealer.
phrasal-verb

build up to

Meaning
to prepare for something gradually
Example
You should build up to running long distances slowly.
idiom

turn over a new leaf

Meaning
to start behaving better after doing something wrong
Example
After the accident, he decided to turn over a new leaf.
phrasal-verb

own responsibility for

Meaning
to accept that you are accountable for something that happened
Example
He chose to own responsibility for the team’s delay.
phrasal-verb

sort things out with

Meaning
to resolve an issue directly with someone
Example
I need to sort things out with Jenna before the meeting.
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.
phrasal-verb

climb up to

Meaning
to achieve a higher position or level of success
Example
He worked hard to climb up to the top position in the company.
idiom

a drama queen

Meaning
someone who exaggerates or overreacts to situations
Example
Stop acting like a drama queen; it’s not that serious.
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

throw caution to the wind

Meaning
to do something risky without worrying
Example
I decided to throw caution to the wind and try it.
phrasal-verb

look out over

Meaning
to have a view of something from above or a distance
Example
Our room looks out over the beautiful lake.
idiom

code of ethics

Meaning
a set of moral principles guiding AI development or usage
Example
Developers must follow a strict code of ethics in AI research.
idiom

the show must go on

Meaning
to continue despite difficulties
Example
Even after the power went out, the actors knew the show must go on.
phrasal-verb

bounce ahead of

Meaning
to recover or progress faster than others after a downturn
Example
Some tech firms managed to bounce ahead of their competitors after the crisis.
phrasal-verb

mark out

Meaning
to distinguish or define a special cultural space or event
Example
They marked out an area in the village square for the cultural exhibition.
phrasal-verb

dream up

Meaning
to imagine or invent something new or creative
Example
They dreamed up a new way to achieve their business goals.
phrasal-verb

cut someone off

Meaning
to interrupt someone while they are speaking
Example
She kept cutting me off whenever I tried to explain.
phrasal-verb

move towards

Meaning
to make progress in the direction of something
Example
The company is moving towards a more sustainable model.
phrasal-verb

step in for

Meaning
to take someone’s place to handle a situation
Example
The manager had to step in for the team leader during the crisis.
phrasal-verb

hold space for

Meaning
to be emotionally present for someone without judgment
Example
Sometimes the best support is just to hold space for a friend in pain.
idiom

a brave face

Meaning
to pretend to be brave when you are actually scared or worried
Example
She put on a brave face despite feeling nervous inside.
idiom

come back to earth

Meaning
to return to reality after being excited or daydreaming
Example
After the vacation, it’s time to come back to earth.
phrasal-verb

back up with evidence

Meaning
to support a claim or statement using proof or facts
Example
You should always back up your accusations with evidence.
phrasal-verb

adjust within a team

Meaning
to modify behavior to work better with colleagues
Example
New members often need time to adjust within a team.
idiom

join up with

Meaning
to become part of a group or team
Example
She’ll join up with the outreach crew tomorrow.
phrasal-verb

embrace peace

Meaning
to accept tranquility and stop resisting calm feelings
Example
She learned to embrace peace instead of constant anxiety.
phrasal-verb

draw up a bill

Meaning
to prepare a draft of a proposed law
Example
Lawmakers drew up a bill to regulate campaign funding.
idiom

talk down to someone

Meaning
to speak to someone as if they are less intelligent
Example
He always talks down to his coworkers, which is rude.
idiom

under the stars

Meaning
in the open air, outside, especially at night
Example
We slept under the stars by the lake.
idiom

digital brainchild

Meaning
a product or idea created using digital or AI technology
Example
ChatGPT is the digital brainchild of OpenAI.