Idioms

Have you ever done something so embarrassing that you worried people would never forget it? In English, we say you’re trying to “live it down.” The idiom live down is helpful for talking about moving past shame, mistakes, or awkward moments. It’s common in everyday chats, especially with friends or in storytelling. What Does “Live…

Imagine your friend asks you to meet at 3 p.m., but they never show up. You waited for an hour! In English, we say your friend “stood you up.” This common idiom—stand up—is useful for talking about broken plans in a natural way. Knowing it helps you understand everyday conversations and express disappointment without sounding…

Your friend says, “We need to sit down and talk.” You might already be sitting! In English, “sit down” is more than a physical action. This common idiom is used to start serious conversations. Learning this phrase will help you understand when a talk is important. What Does “Sit Down” Mean? When used as an…

Have you ever had a day when you did one thing from morning until night? Maybe you worked on a big project or played with your children. You can say you did it all day long. This common phrase emphasizes that an action continued for the entire day. What Does “All Day Long” Mean? It…

Do you ever enjoy doing things alone? Maybe you like to read a book, go for a walk, or solve a problem without help. When you do this, you do it by oneself. This phrase is very useful for talking about independence and doing things alone. What Does “By Oneself” Mean? It means to do…

Have you ever done something you really meant to do? It wasn’t an accident. You did it on purpose. This common phrase is the opposite of “by accident.” It helps you explain that an action was intentional and deliberate. What Does “On Purpose” Mean? It means to do something intentionally or deliberately. Think of it…

Do you have friends or coworkers you like? You probably have a good relationship with them. This means you get along with them. This common phrase is essential for talking about your relationships. It helps you describe how well you connect with other people. What Does “Get Along With” Mean? It means to have a…

Have you ever helped someone and felt good about it? Or seen a small action create a big change? When this happens, you make a difference. This common idiom is very positive and powerful. It helps you talk about creating a good impact on people or situations. What Does “Make a Difference” Mean? It means…

Do you enjoy joining activities with other people? Maybe a sports game, a school project, or a community event? When you do this, you take part in something. This common phrase is perfect for talking about participation. It is more formal than “join in” and very useful in many situations. What Does “Take Part In”…

Do you want to make your “no” stronger? Or ask if something is even a little bit true? You can use the phrase at all. This small phrase is very powerful in English. It helps you emphasize negative statements and questions. What Does “At All” Mean? It means “in any way” or “even a little.”…

Have you ever read a word you didn’t know? You probably opened a dictionary to find its meaning. You had to look up the word. This phrasal verb is very common and useful. It helps you talk about finding information or when a situation improves. What Does “Look Up” Mean? It has two main meanings….

Have you ever been in a restaurant? The server comes to your table to help you. They wait on you. This phrasal verb is very common, but it is different from “wait for.” Learning to use wait on correctly will make your English sound more natural. What Does “Wait On” Mean? It means to serve…