English Expressions, Idioms & Phrasal Verbs | Meanings, Examples & Usage
to simplify a process to make it more efficient
"The company aims to streamline into a faster workflow this quarter."
to make a process more efficient and effective by simplifying or eliminating unnecessary steps
"We need to streamline the process of content creation to save time."
having practical intelligence and experience, not just book knowledge
"He may not have a degree, but he’s very street smart."
greater power comes from a larger group
"We can win this battle if we stick together, there's strength in numbers."
to make partnerships or coalitions with other nations stronger
"The president vowed to strengthen alliances with global partners."
to make someone very nervous or worried
"Deadlines can really stress out even the calmest employees."
feeling very worried or tense because of problems
"I'm completely stressed out about my exams."
to extend your body or limbs to relax or prepare for exercise
"Don’t forget to stretch out before starting your workout."
to exaggerate or make something seem more important than it is
"He sometimes stretches the truth to impress people."
to find a satisfactory compromise between two things
"It’s hard to strike a balance between career and family."
to reach an agreement or deal
"After some discussion, they struck a bargain that suited both parties."
to cause someone to feel sympathy or emotion
"Her story struck a chord with the audience."
to reach an agreement or arrangement, especially in business
"After long discussions, the companies finally struck a deal."
to have unexpected good fortune
"We struck it lucky and found the last two tickets."
to suddenly make a lot of money
"They struck it rich after investing in that startup."
to start a conversation or friendship
"He easily strikes up conversations with strangers."
to take advantage of an opportunity immediately
"The market conditions are perfect, so we need to strike while the iron is hot."
to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something
"She always strives for excellence in her work."
to put in great effort to achieve objectives
"They constantly strive toward their goals with persistence."
a brilliant and creative idea or action
"That marketing campaign was a stroke of genius."
a password that is difficult for others to guess, typically combining letters, numbers, and symbols
"For better security, always use a strong password with at least eight characters."
to make an error while speaking or reading
"He stumbled over several words in the script."
to find something by accident
"We stumbled upon a hidden waterfall in the forest."
to replace someone temporarily in a role
"Can you sub in for me at the networking event tonight?"
success comes from hard work, not by chance
"Remember, success is earned, not given, so work hard every day."
success is almost attainable
"With just a little more effort, success is within reach."
to make something seem more pleasant or acceptable than it is
"Don’t try to sugarcoat the truth; we need to be honest about the situation."
to summarize or express something briefly
"Let me sum up the key points before we finish."
to briefly express or summarize main thoughts
"At the end of the class, the teacher asked students to sum up ideas from the discussion."
to recap key lessons for a person or group
"I summarize takeaways for the team in a two-minute voice note."
The relationship between how much of something is available and how much people want it.
"The price of oil depends largely on supply and demand."
to browse or explore websites on the internet
"I usually surf the net before going to bed."
development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
"The company is committed to sustainable development by investing in green technologies."
to replace part of a meal with a healthier option
"We swap in healthier sides like roasted veggies instead of fries."
to exchange information or tips about something
"Let's swap notes on the new app after we try it out."
to promise solemnly, often in a formal way
"He swore an oath to serve his country faithfully."
to make a very serious promise that something is true
"I swear on my life, I didn’t do it!"
to make an enormous effort
"He sweat blood to get that promotion."
to make someone fall in love with you suddenly
"His charm and confidence really swept her off her feet."
to ignore or hide a problem or mistake
"Don't just sweep the issue under the rug. We need to address it."
to hide or ignore problems instead of solving them
"You can’t just sweep problems under the rug forever."
to clean the floor by brushing dirt together
"She grabbed the broom to sweep up the dirt on the floor."
to flatter or charm someone into doing something
"He sweet talked his way into getting a discount."
a love for sweet foods
"She has a sweet tooth and can’t resist desserts."
to make an offer more attractive
"They decided to sweeten the deal by offering free shipping."
to be suddenly and strongly attracted to someone
"She was swept off her feet by his charm."
a vote that is not yet decided and could go either way
"The swing vote will determine the outcome of the election."
to alternate between different tasks or modes of work and rest
"I try to switch between intense work and short breaks to stay efficient."
to reduce mental or emotional activity to relax
"I try to switch down my brain before going to bed."
to stop thinking about work; to relax mentally
"It’s important to switch off from work once you get home."