Idioms

Do you need to phone a friend? You can call them up. This common idiom is mostly used for making a telephone call. But it can also mean to bring something to your mind, or to order someone for military duty. Learning call up will help you talk about communication and memories. What Does “Call…

Do you walk into a dark room and flip the light switch? You turn on the light. This common idiom is used for activating machines and electronic devices. It has other surprising meanings too, like a sudden attack or creating interest. Learning turn on will help you in many daily situations. What Does “Turn On”…

You’re done watching TV, so you grab the remote and press the button. You’ve just “turned off” the TV! Or maybe your phone rings during a movie, and someone says, “Turn it off!” The phrasal verb turn off is one of the most common—and practical—expressions in English. You’ll use it daily for devices, lights, water,…

When your boss says, “I need this report right away,” what should you do? You should start immediately! The idiom right away means to do something without any delay. It is a very common and useful phrase for urgent situations. Learning this will help you respond quickly and understand important requests. What Does “Right Away”…

Did you ever lift a box from the floor? Or collect a friend in your car? You were using the idiom pick up. This common phrase has many useful meanings in daily life. Learning pick up will help you talk about lifting things, learning skills, collecting people, and situations improving. What Does “Pick Up” Mean?…

You’ve probably heard someone say, “You’ll have to face your fears sooner or later.” Or maybe you’ve thought, “I know I’ll forget my password—sooner or later.” The phrase sooner or later is used when something is certain to happen, even if we don’t know exactly when. It’s a natural, everyday expression that adds rhythm and…

Your alarm clock rings in the morning. What do you do? You need to get up! This common idiom is used for waking and leaving your bed. It can also mean to stand up from a sitting position. Learning this phrase will help you talk about your daily routine and activities. What Does “Get Up”…

Have you ever tried a new food and didn’t like it immediately? Your initial feeling is what we describe with at first. This common idiom talks about the beginning of a situation, especially when your opinion or the situation changes later. Learning this phrase will help you share stories about first impressions. What Does “At…

Are you going to a party or a wedding? You probably need to dress up. This common idiom means to wear formal or fancy clothes. It can also mean to wear a costume for fun. Learning this phrase will help you talk about special events and celebrations. What Does “Dress Up” Mean? “Dress up” has…

Have you ever waited a long time for something? When it finally happens, you can say, “At last!” This common idiom expresses a feeling of relief and happiness after a long wait. Learning at last will help you share your feelings when something you wanted finally occurs. What Does “At Last” Mean? “At last” means…

Does your friend always arrive late? You might say, “He’s late, as usual.” This common phrase helps us talk about things that happen regularly. The idiom as usual describes a situation that is typical or expected based on past experience. Learning this phrase will help you describe habits and routines easily. What Does “As Usual”…

You get a text from your friend: “Did you find out what time the movie starts?” Or maybe you’re waiting for exam results and say, “I’ll find out tomorrow.” The phrasal verb find out is used whenever you discover or learn new information—on purpose or by accident. It’s one of the most common phrases in…