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…

When someone seems upset, worried, or something appears wrong, we want to show we care. In English, we often ask what might be the matter. This kind and common idiom helps you express concern in daily conversations. What Does “Be the Matter” Mean? “Be the matter” is used to ask about a problem or something…

Life requires us to tolerate annoyances, host visitors, and display things around our homes. In English, we use the phrase put up for all these situations. This common idiom has several practical meanings for daily life. What Does “Put Up” Mean? “Put up” has three main meanings. It can mean to tolerate or endure something…

Many activities in life happen repeatedly, every single day without change. In English, we describe this constant repetition as day in and day out. This idiom perfectly captures the feeling of daily routines and consistent effort. What Does “Day In and Day Out” Mean? “Day in and day out” means something happens continuously, every day…