English Expressions, Idioms & Phrasal Verbs | Meanings, Examples & Usage
strategies or tactics for achieving success in difficult situations
"The general studied the art of war to prepare for the upcoming battle."
a situation in which power is distributed among nations to prevent dominance by one
"The UN aims to maintain the balance of power among major nations."
it is your turn to make a decision or take action
"I've made my offer, now the ball is in your court."
a process has started and is making progress
"Now that the ball is rolling, we need to keep working."
to believe someone even if you are not sure they are telling the truth
"I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and believe his story."
better things are coming in the future
"Don’t worry about the past; the best is yet to come."
a situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time
"She works in the city and lives in the country, so she gets the best of both worlds."
The most valuable things take time and effort to achieve.
"Remember, the best things in life are worth waiting for."
a sudden and powerful beginning; often used metaphorically
"The startup launched with a big bang in the tech world."
an important or influential person
"He's the big cheese in the company."
the overall view or perspective of a situation
"It’s important to look at the big picture before making decisions."
a person who is a disgrace to their family or group
"He’s the black sheep of the family."
someone inexperienced leading others who also lack experience
"The new trainees teaching each other is like the blind leading the blind."
referring to the increasing use of AI systems in various industries; the automation of tasks traditionally performed by humans
"It feels like the bots are taking over every sector of business these days."
a situation in which something has suddenly failed or collapsed
"The market for tech stocks has crashed; the bottom has fallen out."
the most important fact or result
"The bottom line is that we need to increase our profits."
I am the one responsible; I will take responsibility.
"The buck stops here, and I will handle the mistake personally."
a peaceful time before trouble begins
"The classroom was silent, like the calm before the storm."
the secret is revealed
"Now that the cat’s out of the bag, everyone knows the truth."
the process customers go through from awareness to purchase
"We need to analyze where people drop off in the conversion funnel."
the best among a group of people or things
"Only the cream of the crop get into that university."
the most advanced or innovative part of something
"This new design is at the cutting edge of architecture."
Things often seem worst just before they improve.
"Things are rough right now, but remember, the darkest hour is just before the dawn."
a new beginning filled with hope
"Her graduation marked the dawn of a new day in her life."
Small details are often the most important or problematic.
"The overall concept was great, but the devil is in the details."
exactly what is needed or wanted
"After a long day, a cup of coffee was just what the doctor ordered."
a group of people who work extremely well together
"With these members, we’ve built the dream team."
the person or thing that motivates or leads progress
"She was the driving force behind the project."
people who start early are more likely to succeed
"The early bird catches the worm, so start your day early."
an obvious problem that no one wants to discuss
"Nobody wants to address the elephant in the room."
the point where progress stops; the end of something
"For us, this is the end of the road."
the last or most difficult challenge or area of exploration
"For many scientists, space remains the final frontier."
the press or news media, considered as an influential societal force
"Many believe the fourth estate plays a vital role in democracy."
seeing the positive side of something
"Try to see the glass as half full instead of half empty."
when the situation becomes very difficult or challenging
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
other situations always seem better than your own
"The grass is always greener on the other side, but be grateful."
The idea that actions should be judged based on how much they contribute to the overall well-being of society, rather than individual interests.
"In times of crisis, leaders must always think about the greater good before making decisions."
jealousy personified or described as a destructive force
"Don't let the green-eyed monster ruin your friendship."
the absolute and complete truth
"To tell you the honest truth, I didn’t enjoy the trip."
a personal or emotional element that technology lacks
"Even with AI, customers still appreciate the human touch in service."
the connection of everyday objects to the internet to send and receive data
"Smart homes are part of the internet of things (IoT), where devices are interconnected."
a place or situation where one is disconnected from practical concerns or the real world
"Academics are often accused of living in the ivory tower."
a decision has not yet been made
"The jury is still out on whether the new policy will work."
the final problem that makes a situation unbearable
"His rude comment was the last straw for her."
an economic theory that states that the price of a good or service is determined by the availability of the product (supply) and the demand for it
"The law of supply and demand dictates that prices will rise if demand outstrips supply."
the less harmful of two bad options
"Voters often choose the lesser of two evils during elections."
following the exact wording of the law
"He follows the letter of the law, not its spirit."
a person who is lively, entertaining, and the center of attention at social gatherings
"Everyone loves Tom because he’s always the life of the party."
A sign of hope after a long period of difficulty.
"After months of hard work, we finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel."
someone suddenly understands something
"The light dawned on her that she had made a mistake."