English Expressions, Idioms & Phrasal Verbs | Meanings, Examples & Usage
exactly as instructed
"She followed her teacher’s advice to the letter."
to think creatively or unconventionally
"In solving AI problems, it is essential to think outside the box."
to announce one’s candidacy or intention to compete in something
"He decided to throw his hat into the ring and run for mayor."
to influence the outcome of a situation
"One witness’s statement tipped the scales in favor of the defendant."
To follow rules or policies strictly, often without questioning
"The senator was expected to toe the line and support the party’s stance."
to reverse the direction of events, especially to improve a difficult situation
"The new leadership has really turned the tide for the company’s performance."
to openly show one's emotions or feelings
"He really wears his heart on his sleeve, you can tell exactly how he feels."
to successfully overcome a difficult or challenging situation
"Despite the economic downturn, the company managed to weather the storm and stay profitable."
to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of something
"Before making a final decision, it's important to weigh the pros and cons."
to raise a glass to honor or celebrate someone or something
"Let's toast to our hard work and success!"
to obey rules or follow the official policy
"All members are expected to toe the line with party policy."
to follow the official policies or opinions of one’s political party
"Members of parliament are expected to toe the party line during the vote."
you can start fresh again tomorrow
"Don’t worry about your mistakes, tomorrow is another day."
to make something less forceful or direct
"You should tone down your comments to sound more polite."
to soften your language or behavior for a situation
"She tones down for audiences who prefer straightforward facts."
to make muscles stronger and more defined
"He goes jogging every morning to tone up his body."
a company or institution that is so important that it is unlikely to fail
"Many financial institutions were considered too big to fail during the 2008 financial crisis."
When too many people try to manage something, it can fail.
"If everyone keeps giving their opinion, remember that too many cooks spoil the broth."
the most important or powerful person
"He’s the top dog in the company."
to finish something by adding a final touch
"We always top off with fresh herbs before serving the soup."
of the highest quality; excellent
"Your presentation was absolutely top-notch."
to throw something away
"We had to toss out the expired snacks."
a risky or uncertain situation where the outcome is doubtful
"It was touch and go whether he would survive the surgery."
to make contact with someone to update or confirm details
"Let’s touch base later this week to discuss the marketing plan."
to connect with someone later in the day for updates
"We touch base after work to confirm travel details for tomorrow."
to briefly contact or talk with someone
"I’ll touch base with the marketing team this afternoon."
when an aircraft lands on the ground
"The plane touched down safely despite the storm."
to be very successful or lucky in something
"Every project he takes on seems to touch gold."
to briefly mention or discuss a subject
"She only touched on the topic during her speech."
to improve the appearance of something slightly, like makeup or paint
"She went to the mirror to touch up her makeup."
to make small edits or improvements to a photo
"You can touch up the photo using any editing app."
to mention a topic briefly and politely
"Let’s touch upon the topic of customer feedback before we end the meeting."
to say something positive and hope it continues to be good
"We haven’t lost a game yet, touch wood."
very strong and resilient
"She is tough as nails, nothing can break her spirit."
a strong and determined person
"She’s a tough cookie who never gives up easily."
to endure a difficult situation without giving up
"They had to tough it out during the financial crisis."
expression of sympathy for someone’s misfortune
"Didn’t get the job? Tough luck!"
to become stronger and more resilient, especially emotionally
"You need to toughen up if you want to handle criticism at work."
to consider an idea casually without serious intention
"He’s been toying with the idea of developing a creative AI tool."
to play with or experiment with creative ideas before finalizing them
"We’re still toying with concepts for the new campaign slogan."
to measure performance by comparing it to targets
"We track against goals every Monday so the team stays focused."
to find the exact location or status of an order
"She tracked down her delayed parcel using the tracking number."
to find the source of mistakes or problems
"Our developers worked late to track down errors in the system."
to argue or fight with someone
"The two rival companies have been trading blows over market share for years."
to swap for a simpler or cheaper alternative
"Some shoppers trade down for savings during slow months."
to balance one thing against another, often sacrificing one benefit for another
"Globalization often forces countries to trade off environmental concerns for economic growth."
to balance two opposing things or priorities
"Nations often trade off between protecting local industries and promoting free trade."
to exchange something for a better option
"We trade up for faster equipment when budgets allow."
to be the first to do something or lead the way
"She is a trailblazer in the tech industry."
a person who is the first to do something innovative
"Elon Musk is often seen as a trailblazer in the tech industry."