English Expressions
Learn these common English expressions to improve your English speaking and writing
The latest
Click on an expression to learn how to use it and write example sentences
Check it out
A selection of popular Expressions from our archives
All Expressions
Browse our full library of Expressions
A
- A breeze
- A crack at
- A flop
- A matter of time
- A slew of
- A step forward
- A tiny sliver
- Abide by
- Above and beyond
- Accident waiting to happen
- Act on
- Add up
- Against your will
- Akin to
- All in
- All of a sudden
- All the rage
- All walks of life
- An edge
- Angle for
- Apples-to-apples
- Arms race
- As far as I know
- At any given time
- At first glance
- At its peak
- At once
- At random
- At risk of
- At the behest of
- At the expense of
- At the last minute
- At the mercy of
- Average out
B
- Back away from
- Back up
- Back up (accumulation)
- Backed by
- Balancing act
- Band together
- Bear a burden
- Bear resemblance
- Bear the blame
- Bend to
- Better off
- Bid farewell
- Big deal
- Big picture
- Bite the bullet
- Blend in
- Blow over
- Blown off course
- Boil over
- Bow to pressure
- Brace yourself
- Bragging rights
- Brand new
- Bread and butter
- Break down
- Break out
- Break out
- Breathe new life into
- Bring back
- Brush off
- Buck the trend
- Buckle down
- Build up
- Building blocks
- Bulk up
- Bundle up, comb through
- Burn off
- Burn through
- Bursting at the seams
- Buy in bulk
- Buy into
- Buy up
- Buyer beware
- By and large
- By the day
C
- Call attention to
- Call for
- Call off
- Call out
- Can’t help but
- Capitalize on
- Carry out
- Carve out
- Cash in on
- Catch on
- Catch on
- Catch up
- Catch up with
- Catch-all
- Cater to
- Caught up in
- Change of heart
- Change your ways
- Check in
- Check the boxes
- Clamor for
- Clear out
- Close call
- Close call
- Closely-knit
- Cloud your judgment
- Come across
- Come around
- Come as a surprise
- Come away
- Come down with
- Come full circle
- Come home with
- Come in
- Come into contact
- Come into focus
- Come out
- Come through
- Come through
- Come to a head
- Come to fruition
- Come to grips
- Come to grips
- Come to light
- Come to mind
- Come to pass
- Come to the rescue
- Come together
- Come true
- Come under fire
- Come up
- Come up with
- Comic relief
- Cook up
- Cool off
- Counter-culture
- Cover up
- Crack down, Caught up
- Cracks in the system
- Creep closer
- Creep out
- Cross a line
- Crux
- Curry favor with
- Cut a deal
- Cut back on
- Cut corners
- Cut down on
- Cut off
- Cut short
- Cut through
- Cutting edge
F
- Fade away
- Fall apart
- Fall behind
- Fall for
- Fall from grace
- Fall into
- Fall on
- Fall on hard times
- Fall out of fashion
- Fall short
- Familiar with
- Feature not a bug
- Fed up
- Fend for yourself
- Fend off
- Fight back
- Fight off
- Figure in
- Figure out
- Figure that
- Fill a vacuum
- Fill out
- Fill up
- Filter out
- Find your way
- Fine-tune
- Fire up
- Fit the bill
- Flare up
- Flat-flooted
- Flip a switch
- Float an idea
- Focus on
- Follow suit
- Follow suit
- For a living
- For better or for worse
- For good
- For good measure
- For the most part
- For the time being
- Founded in
- From scratch
G
- Gain traction
- Game the system
- Gather steam
- Gathering steam
- Geared toward
- Get around
- Get away with
- Get cold feet
- Get down to business
- Get going
- Get in on the action
- Get into gear
- Get off on the right foot
- Get off the ground
- Get off to a good start
- Get out of
- Get out of hand
- Get rid of
- Get wind of
- Get your fix
- Get your hopes up
- Give away
- Give in
- Give rise to
- Give voice to
- Give way
- Go about your business
- Go after
- Go back on
- Go by
- Go down a rabbit hole
- Go missing
- Go off
- Go on to
- Go over well, Die down
- Go to great lengths
- Go well with
- Go without
- Good Samaritan
- Grapple with
- Grind to a halt
- Grow closer
- Grow up
- Guard against
H
- Hailed as hero
- Hand in hand
- Hand out
- Hand-in-hand
- Hard pressed
- Hash out
- Have a hard time
- Have a history of
- Have a knack for
- Have something going
- Have the luxury
- Have your finger on the pulse
- Head for
- Headed in
- Hear me out
- Heat up
- Herd mentality
- Hit home
- Hit or miss
- Hitch a ride, On behalf
- Hold a grudge, Come about
- Hold firm
- Hold off
- Hold out hope
- Hold up
- Hold up
- Hold up
- Holding pattern
- Hook up
- Hop on
I
- I’ll take you up on that
- Identify with
- If all else fails
- Imagine that
- In a bind
- In a pinch
- In charge of
- In command
- In droves
- In keeping with
- In order
- In place
- In progress
- In reality
- In sight
- In tatters
- In the best possible light
- In the dark
- In the eyes of
- In the face of
- In the face of
- In the sweet spot
- In the wake of
- In the works
- In touch
- In use
- In your prime
- In-depth
- Inch closer
- Inflection point
- Inspired by
- Intangibles
- Intent on
O
- Off the coast
- Off the cuff
- On a roll
- On a tear
- On a technicality
- On board
- On hand
- On hand
- On par with
- On the backs of
- On the eve of
- On the line
- On the outskirts
- On the same page
- On the surface
- On the way
- On track
- On your plate
- Once in a while
- One for the ages
- One of a kind
- Open the door
- Open to
- Open up
- Out and about
- Out of reach
- Out of the woods
- Out of touch
- Out of your way
- Over the top
- Over the years
- Overplay your hand
- Overrun with
- Overstay your welcome
P
- Paint a picture
- Pale in comparison
- Partial to
- Pass along
- Pass away
- Pass down
- Pass off as
- Pass out
- Pass the torch
- Pass through
- Pass up
- Pay back
- Pay off
- Pay respects
- Pay up
- Peace of mind
- Pent up
- Phase in, Phase out
- Pick out
- Pick up
- Piece together
- Pile on
- Pin down
- Pit someone against another
- Plan ahead
- Play a part
- Play a role in
- Play into (someone’s) hands
- Play off
- Play out
- Plenty of
- Point out
- Point to
- Pop culture
- Pop up
- Pore over
- Pour out
- Preside over
- Press up against
- Prone to
- Pull back on
- Pull off
- Pull off
- Pull over
- Push the boundaries
- Push the envelope
- Push the limit
- Put a brave face on
- Put ahead of
- Put off
- Put on
- Put to use
- Put to use
- Put your money where your mouth is
R
- Raise awareness
- Raise eyebrows
- Raise the stakes
- Ramp up
- Rave about
- Reap the rewards
- Recipe for disaster
- Red flag
- Rely on
- Resort to
- Reverse course
- Ride out
- Rig together
- Rise to the occasion
- Risk it
- Rocky start
- Roll around
- Roll back
- Roll out
- Roll out
- Root cause
- Root cause
- Root for
- Root out
- Rule out
- Run for cover
- Run into
- Run on
- Run out
- Run the gamut
- Run through
S
- Safe haven
- Safety net
- Scale back
- Scratch the surface
- Scratch your head
- Seal someone’s fate
- Seek to
- Sentimental value
- Serve time
- Serve up
- Protected: Set in
- Set in
- Set in motion
- Set off
- Set off
- Set sail
- Set the stage
- Set your sights on
- Settle down
- Settle in
- Shake up
- Shape up
- Shell out
- Shine a spotlight
- Shore up, spill into, throw weight behind
- Short
- Short on
- Short run / long run
- Shoulder the burden
- Show off
- Show promise
- Show up
- Show your true colors
- Shut down, Bucket list
- Shy away from
- Side with
- Sift through
- Sigh of relief
- Silver lining
- Silver lining
- Sit well
- Sit well
- Skirt the issue
- Slim down
- Slip up
- Slippery slope
- Slow down
- Slow to a crawl
- Sober, Quirky
- Solid ground
- Sooner or later
- Sour on
- Space out
- Speak up
- Spend time
- Spoiled for choice
- Spread out
- Spread out
- Spring into action
- Spring up
- Square off
- Squeezed out
- Stack up
- Stacked against / stacked in favor
- Stand out
- Stand to
- Stand up to scrutiny
- Star in
- Stay afloat
- Stay in your lane
- Stay on top of
- Stay out of it
- Stay put
- Stay up
- Staying power
- Step aside
- Step back from
- Stepping stone
- Stick around
- Stick to
- Stick with
- Stick with
- Stick with (someone)
- Still around
- Stock up
- Stop short of
- Stop short, a stretch
- Straighten out
- Stranded, Fundraiser
- Stretched thin
- Strike a balance
- Strike a chord
- Strike a deal
- Stuck with
- Suffer from
- Suffer through
- Sum up
- Sweep away
- Sweep through
- Swept up in
- Swing it
T
- Tailor made
- Take a hit
- Take advantage of
- Take care of
- Take cover
- Take credit for
- Take effect
- Take exception to
- Take for granted
- take for granted
- Take it easy
- Take it upon yourself
- Take its toll
- Take liberties
- Take off
- Take out
- Take over
- Take place
- Take something in stride
- Take something lying down
- Take the edge off
- Take the plunge
- Take up
- Take up space
- Talk someone’s ear off
- Tap into
- Team up
- Test someone’s patience
- The last straw
- The twist
- Thin out
- Think straight
- Think twice
- Third time’s the charm
- Thorn in your side
- Throw yourself into
- Tight-lipped
- Time will tell
- To be able to tell
- To be in a bind
- To bite the dust
- To cause a stir
- To come in handy
- To get back on your feet
- To get yourself into
- To go bad
- To have your work cut out for you
- To make up for
- To put it mildly
- To put something in perspective
- To put stock in
- To spare
- To spell out
- To the naked eye
- To the untrained eye
- To try on
- Track down
- Tread carefully
- Treat (someone) to
- Treat yourself
- Try out
- Try your hand at
- Turn a corner
- Turn around
- Turn back
- Turn down
- Turn in
- Turn off
- Turn out
- Turn over
- Turn something on its head
- Turn the tables
- Turn to
- Turning point
W
- Walk by
- Wander around
- Wash up
- Wear and tear
- Wear thin
- Weather the storm
- Weed out
- Weighed down
- Weight on your shoulders
- Welcome with open arms
- When the dust settles
- Whip up
- Win out
- Win over
- Wind at your back
- Wind through
- Wiped out
- With a straight face
- Without a trace
- Work around the clock
- Work on
- Work something out
- Work through
- Worthwhile
- Wrap up
- Wreak havoc
- Wrest control
- Write (something) off
- Write off