Idioms

Your phone dies, but you’re calm—you already backed up your photos to the cloud. Or your friend says something bold in a meeting, and you say, “I’ll back you up!” The phrasal verb back up has several common meanings, but they all involve support, safety, or moving in reverse. It’s used every day in tech,…

Have you ever seen someone slowly move back from a barking dog? They back away from it. This common idiom means to move backwards from something, often because of fear or caution. It can also mean to withdraw from a promise, idea, or difficult situation. Learning back away from will help you talk about retreating…

You had a tough week: Monday was super busy, but Friday was slow. In the end, your workload **averaged out**. Or maybe your test scores are 90, 70, and 80—your teacher says they’ll **average out** to a B. The phrasal verb average out is used when high and low amounts, results, or experiences balance each…

Have you ever been in a situation where you had no control? Your plans were at the mercy of the weather or another person’s decision. This common idiom means to be in a position where someone or something has complete power over you. Learning at the mercy of will help you describe feelings of powerlessness…

Have you ever finished a project just before the deadline? You finished it at the last minute. This common idiom describes doing something just before the final possible moment, often causing stress. Learning at the last minute will help you talk about rushed actions and tight deadlines. What Does “At the Last Minute” Mean? “At…

Your coworker gets praised for a project—but you did most of the work. People say he succeeded **at the expense of** your effort. Or maybe a company cuts costs by paying workers less—it profits **at the expense of** its employees. The phrase at the expense of is used when one person or thing benefits, but…

Have you ever done something because a manager or a client asked you to? You did it at the behest of that person. This formal idiom means something is done because of a strong request, command, or order from someone. Learning at the behest of will help you understand formal writing and official situations. What…

Your doctor says, “If you keep skipping sleep, you’re **at risk of** getting sick.” Or a teacher warns, “Students who don’t study are **at risk of** failing.” The phrase at risk of is used to describe someone or something that could face harm, loss, or a negative result. It’s common in health, education, news, and…

How does a teacher sometimes choose a student to answer a question? They might pick a name at random. This common idiom means to do something without a specific plan, order, or reason. Learning at random will help you describe actions that are unplanned or chosen by chance. What Does “At Random” Mean? “At random”…

Think of a famous athlete winning an Olympic gold medal. They are at their peak. This common idiom describes the highest point of achievement, power, or quality. Learning at its peak will help you talk about the best moments in a career, a season, or any activity. What Does “At Its Peak” Mean? “At its…

Have you ever seen something that looked simple, but was actually complex? Your initial impression was at first glance. This common idiom describes an opinion or judgment formed from a quick look, before you have examined something carefully. Learning at first glance will help you talk about first impressions and how they can change. What…

Have you ever wondered how many people are shopping at a mall right now, or how many planes are in the sky? When you want to talk about what’s happening at a random or specific moment, you use “at any given time.” This phrase helps you describe situations or numbers that exist during any particular…