Idioms

Have you ever prepared for a job interview by reviewing your Spanish? Or practiced piano before a family gathering because you hadn’t played in years? In English, you can say you’re brushing up on a skill or subject. This friendly, useful phrase means to review or improve something you already know—but haven’t used in a…

Have you ever heard a song so many times that you know every word? Or been told the same advice again and again—even when you’ve already listened? In English, you’d say it happened over and over! This simple, rhythmic phrase means something repeats many times, often more than necessary or expected. What Does “Over and…

Have you ever had a pair of shoes that got holes after months of walking? Or felt so tired after a long day that you couldn’t stay awake another minute? In English, both situations use the phrase wear out. This practical phrasal verb describes either (1) something becoming damaged from repeated use, or (2) someone…

Have you ever moved to a new city and, at first, the noise felt overwhelming—but after a few weeks, you didn’t even notice it anymore? In English, you can say, “I’m used to the noise now.” This helpful phrase describes something that once felt strange or difficult but now feels normal because you’ve experienced it…

Have you ever moved to a new city, started a night shift, or tried eating spicy food for the first time—and felt uncomfortable at first, but then gradually adjusted? In English, we say you got used to it! This essential phrasal verb describes the process of becoming familiar, comfortable, or accustomed to something new, different,…

People move between places, discussions involve exchanges of ideas, and many activities involve repeated movement in two directions. In English, we describe these situations as back and forth. This descriptive idiom appears in many daily conversations about movement and communication. What Does “Back and Forth” Mean? “Back and forth” means moving repeatedly between two points…

Have you ever double-checked that you locked the door before leaving? Or reminded a friend, “Make sure you bring your ID!”? In English, make sure is a practical and frequently used phrase that means to confirm, verify, or take action so something happens correctly or safely. It’s about preventing mistakes—before they happen. What Does “Make…

Some activities don’t happen regularly but occur occasionally in our lives. In English, we describe these infrequent actions as happening now and then. This gentle idiom helps talk about occasional events and irregular patterns in daily life. What Does “Now and Then” Mean? “Now and then” means occasionally or from time to time, but not…

We often need to remove clutter, eliminate problems, or dispose of unwanted items. In English, we say we need to get rid of these things. This practical idiom is essential for talking about cleaning, organizing, and problem-solving in daily life. What Does “Get Rid Of” Mean? “Get rid of” means to remove, eliminate, or dispose…

We often need to describe patterns where things alternate or happen on a skipping schedule. In English, we use the phrase every other to describe these alternating sequences. This practical idiom helps talk about schedules, patterns, and frequency in daily life. What Does “Every Other” Mean? “Every other” means each second one in a series,…

We constantly make choices about what matches well, who to accompany, and which options to select. In English, we use the phrase go with to describe these decisions about compatibility and selection. This practical idiom appears in many daily situations. What Does “Go With” Mean? “Go with” has several common meanings. It can mean to…

Alex: “What did you think of the new technical team?” Jamie: “They are excellent. Their attention to detail is truly first-rate.” Common Mistakes to Avoid Because this phrase is an adjective, it should be used before a noun (e.g., “a first-rate job”) or after the verb “to be” (e.g., “The job was first-rate”). Do not…