Idioms

Have you ever clapped along to a song and stayed perfectly in rhythm? Or shown up to every meeting exactly on schedule? In English, both actions can be described with the phrase keep time! This versatile expression has two main meanings: (1) to maintain a steady musical rhythm, and (2) to be punctual or arrive…

Have you ever tried a new dish and said, “This tastes of garlic!”? Or talked about getting “a taste of success” after a small win? In English, the phrase taste of has two main uses: (1) to describe the flavor of food or drink, and (2) to describe a small but real experience of something—like…

The phrase “to take off” appears in many situations in English. Planes do it, careers can do it, and you do it with your shoes. This idiom has several common meanings that are useful in daily conversation. What Does “To Take Off” Mean? “To take off” has three main meanings. It can mean when an…

Sometimes you try something difficult and succeed against the odds. In English, we say you managed to pull off something impressive. This idiom is perfect for talking about successful achievements in work, school, and daily life. What Does “To Pull Off” Mean? “To pull off” means to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected. Think…

Have you ever been on a phone call when someone says, “Hold on—I’ll be right back”? Or felt like giving up during a tough week, but a friend said, “Just hold on—it’ll get better”? In English, hold on is a versatile phrase you’ll hear daily. It can mean “wait a moment,” “stay strong,” or even…

When a woman has a baby, we use a special phrase in English. We say she will give birth to the child. This idiom is also used for new ideas and projects. It’s an important phrase for both personal and creative conversations. What Does “To Give Birth To” Mean? “To give birth to” means to…

Have you ever seen the barista at your favorite coffee shop every morning—but never spoken to them? Or noticed a neighbor who walks their dog at the same time each day? In English, you might say you know them by sight. This practical phrase means you recognize someone (or something) visually, but you don’t know…

Sometimes we try very hard to achieve something, but our efforts don’t bring the desired result. In English, we describe these unsuccessful attempts as being done in vain. This idiom helps express frustration or disappointment about wasted effort. What Does “In Vain” Mean? “In vain” means without success or without achieving the desired result. Think…

Sometimes you watch something happen without getting involved. You might observe a game, a discussion, or an event from the outside. In English, we say you look on as a spectator. This idiom is useful for describing passive observation in daily life. What Does “To Look On” Mean? “To look on” means to watch something…

Sometimes people act like they are better than others. They might think certain jobs, hobbies, or people are not good enough. In English, we say these people look down on others. This idiom helps describe feelings of superiority in social situations. What Does “To Look Down On” Mean? “To look down on” means to think…

Sometimes you don’t have exactly what you need. You have to manage with what is available. In English, we say you need to make do with what you have. This idiom is very useful for talking about resourcefulness in daily life. What Does “To Make Do” Mean? “To make do” means to manage or cope…

Life gets busy, and we sometimes fall behind on news, work, or time with friends. In English, we use the phrase catch up to describe getting back to the same level or reconnecting with people. This idiom is very common in social and work situations. What Does “Catch Up” Mean? “Catch up” has a few…