Idioms

Have you ever submitted a homework assignment, gone to bed early, or seen a criminal surrender to the police? In English, all these situations use the phrase turn in. This practical phrasal verb has three main meanings—and context tells you which one is intended. What Does “Turn In” Mean? “Turn in” has three common uses:…

Have you ever started walking somewhere, then realized you forgot something and had to return? Or driven the wrong way and needed to reverse direction? In English, we have a simple phrase for these situations. Today, you will learn the phrasal verb turn back. What Does “Turn Back” Mean? “Turn back” means to return the…

Have you ever baked a cake from scratch for the first time? Signed up for a painting class? Or attempted to fix a leaky faucet with a YouTube tutorial? In English, you can say you decided to try your hand at it. This warm and encouraging idiom means to give a new activity or skill…

Have you ever been sick for days, then suddenly started feeling better? Or struggled with a problem for weeks before finding a solution? In English, we have a perfect phrase for when things finally improve. Today, you will learn the idiom turn a corner. What Does “Turn a Corner” Mean? “Turn a corner” means to…

Have you ever paid for a friend’s coffee “just because”? Or taken your parents out for dinner to say thank you? In English, you can say you treated them to coffee or dinner. This warm and generous phrase means to give someone something enjoyable—like a meal, show, or gift—as a kind gesture or celebration. What…

Have you ever had a hard week and bought yourself something nice? Or finished a big project and celebrated with a special meal? In English, we have a perfect phrase for these self-rewards. Today, you will learn the phrase treat yourself. What Does “Treat Yourself” Mean? “Treat yourself” means to do something special or buy…

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to be very careful with your words? Or discussed a topic that could easily upset someone? In English, we have a perfect phrase for these delicate moments. Today, you will learn the idiom tread carefully. What Does “Tread Carefully” Mean? “Tread carefully” means to act…

Have you ever spent hours searching for a lost phone, tried to find an old friend on social media, or hunted for a rare book in secondhand shops? In English, you can say you tracked it down. This practical phrasal verb means to locate someone or something after a careful, persistent, or difficult search. What…

Have you ever gone shopping for clothes and tested how they fit? Or put on shoes in a store to see if they’re comfortable? In English, we have a simple phrase for this common activity. Today, you will learn the phrasal verb try on. What Does “Try On” Mean? “Try on” means to put on…

Have you ever looked at the night sky and seen stars—but knew there were millions more you couldn’t see? Or heard someone say, “The scratch isn’t visible to the naked eye”? In English, this scientific-sounding phrase is actually used in everyday life to describe what can or cannot be seen without binoculars, microscopes, or other…

Have you ever looked at something complex and not understood what you were seeing? Or has an expert shown you details you completely missed? In English, we have a perfect phrase for this common experience. Today, you will learn the phrase to the untrained eye. What Does “To the Untrained Eye” Mean? “To the untrained…

Have you ever needed very clear instructions for a difficult task? Or asked someone to explain something step by step? In English, we have a perfect phrase for making things completely clear. Today, you will learn the idiom spell out. What Does “Spell Out” Mean? “Spell out” means to explain something in a very clear…