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Phrases with Meaning: Phrases and idioms constitute the most important aspects of any language, be it Hindi or English. Responsible for accentuating the beauty of written and spoken English, we have brought before you a compilation of 50 difficult phrases with meaning. Memorising these phrases with their prospective meanings will not only help in enhancing your English communication skills but will also help you ace the English language section of competitive exams like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. So, without further ado, let the phrase begin!
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Do Check Out 500+ Useful Idioms with Examples, Sentences, & Meaning
Phrases with Meaning and Example in English
Phrases are often a common tool in everyday conversations and can enhance communication by adding colour, depth, and nuance. Therefore, check these frequent phrases with meaning to understand and utilize them in your own talks.
1.To bank on someone/something
Meaning: To guess that something is probable.
Example: I am banking on them to save the match.
2. Bring to the table
Meaning: Providing someone with expertise or benefits.
Example: Owing to her experience in the Finance sector, Sudha can bring a lot to the table for our company.
3. To be out of your mind
Meaning: To be upset about something or the inability to concentrate on anything.
Example: Rathin has been acting weird lately. I think he is out of his mind!
4. Drives me up the wall
Meaning: To be extremely annoyed.
Example: It drives me up the wall when I see people littering on the ground.
Also Read: Top 10 Idioms for Angry You Should Know!
5. Hit the ceiling
Meaning: To explode with anger.
Example: Dad will definitely hit the ceiling when he goes through my report card.
6. Zero in on
Meaning: To focus or aim precisely on something.
Example: With exams nearing, I need to zero in on my studies so as to improve my grades.
7. Calling the shots
Meaning: To have control over progress or to give directions to others.
Example: Though Jennifer is the head of the Content Marketing team, Adam is the one who generally calls the shots.
Also Read: 7 Best Idioms for Hard Work with Meaning and Example
8. Got my mojo working
Meaning: When someone’s luck is working to a great extent
Example: Even though my science examination went terribly, still I got my mojo working and topped my class with flying colours.
9. Speak of the Devil
Meaning: When someone appears just when you have mentioned them.
Example: Did you know that Shashank scored really well on the ACT exam? Oh, speak of the devil, here he comes!
10. To think outside the box
Meaning: Think in a creative and original way.
Example: We stood second at the inter-college debate competition. Had we thought something out of the box, we would have bagged the first place.
11. To get the ball rolling
Meaning: To start something
Example: Now that we have all the team members on board, let’s get the ball rolling on this project!
Also Read: 7 Best Idioms for Achieving Goals You Should Know
12. Hit the sack
Meaning: Go to bed/sleep
Example: I have been working hard all day long. It is now time for me to hit the sack.
13. A chink in the armour
Meaning: Having a problem/flaw that is responsible for delaying success.
Example: The injury of one of our star players in the Basketball match became a chink in the armour of losing the match.
14. To be on Cloud Nine
Meaning: To be in a great state of happiness due to an accomplishment.
Example: Neha just received her admission letter from Harvard University. She’s on cloud nine!
15. Drop someone a line
Meaning: To contact someone through an email, letter or a phone call.
Example: Remember to drop me a line as soon as you reach France so that I know you are safe!
Apart from phrases with meaning, idioms also play a distinctive role in various English language tests. Go through our blog on idioms for IELTS and learn more!
More Useful Phrases with Meaning for Everyday Usage
16. Off the cuff
Meaning: Something that is impulsive or spontaneous.
Example: During the chemistry lecture, the professor started asking questions off the cuff but I answered all correctly.
17. Boon companion
Meaning: The closest friend whose company one enjoys.
Example: Lara and Danny named their firstborn child after Danny’s boon companion, Steve Adams.
18. Economical with the truth
Meaning: conveying untrue events and facts
Example: The panel of judges punished an eyewitness for economizing with the truth.
19. Twenty-four/seven
Meaning: Something that continues throughout the day.
Example: The news channels work twenty-four/seven to provide us with information on the latest happenings worldwide.
Also Read: 100 Common Proverbs with Meaning and Examples
20. On pins and needles
Meaning: Anxious/Nervous/ in a state of suspense.
Example: I was on pins and needles the whole day when the result of the civil service exam had to be announced.
21. Find the pony
Meaning: To find something good even when the situation is bad.
Example: Even during the financial crisis, Amanda managed to find a pony in this mess.
22. Badger to Death
Meaning: To poke, nag and pester relentlessly.
Example: My younger sister asks me a thousand questions a day. However, if I do not answer all her questions, she can badger me to death.
23. Out of the jaws of death
Meaning: To be saved from a fatal situation.
Example: Anil was lucky enough to be out of the jaws of death after his bike met an accident.
Also Read: Idioms for Sadness: 7 Best Phrases that You Should Know!
24. One-stop-shop
Meaning: A single establishment where all the products and services are offered.
Example: Do you want to study abroad? Are you in need of admission-related guidance? Then contact Leverage Edu, a one-stop-shop solution for pursuing higher education abroad!
25. Sleep like a log
Meaning: Sound sleep.
Example: After working hard the whole week, I slept like a log on Sunday.
26. Pardon my French
Meaning: Seek an apology for using rude or offensive language.
Example: He is a bloody fool! Oops, pardon my French.
27. Kettle of fish
Meaning: A difficult or awkward situation.
Example: Sitting on the first bench of a classroom is like a kettle of fish for some students.
Also Read: Top 10 Idioms for Difficult Tasks You Should Know!
28. Kicking one’s heels
Meaning: Wasting one’s time while waiting for something/someone.
Example: Sitting on the bench of a park, Antonio was kicking his heels while waiting for his friends to arrive.
29. Might and main
Meaning: Doing something by putting in all the effort.
Example: Mike was stuck in a building all night long. He shouted might and main from the window but no one came to his rescue.
30. Elvis has left the building
Meaning: A punchline often used to disband the crowd after the culmination of an event.
Example: The concert is over and Elvis has left the building. You can go home now.
Also, if you are looking forward to enhancing your English vocabulary, then read our blog on 50 difficult words with meanings! This along with scores of phrases with meaning will help you score well in any English language exam!
15 Common Idioms and Phrases in English
31. Donkey’s years
Meaning: Something which has been happening for quite a long time.
Example: Anny has been a vegan for donkey’s years.
32. Draw a blank
Meaning: An unsuccessful/failed attempt.
Example: We have been looking for Ivan’s dog the whole day but we have drawn a blank.
33. Keep/hold someone’s feet to the fire
Meaning: Pressurizing someone to approve and undertake something.
Example: The press has been holding the actress’s feet to the fire to take her pictures for their national daily.
34. Living hand to mouth
Meaning: Having only enough money to buy food and shelter; extremely poor.
Example: Sneha was forced to live hand to mouth before she got a job at a leading MNC.
Also Read: Useful Idioms for IELTS Exams That Will Boost Your Score
35. Keep a stiff upper lip
Meaning: Show bravery or courage in adversity and pain.
Example: After the death of his best friend, George has been keeping a stiff upper lip.
What is this?
Halftone Dots. But, what was the need for this here?
To draw your attention [make someone notice something] to the fact that there are only a few more phases with meaning left to go through!
36. Take the bit between your teeth
Meaning: Facing a hard task resolutely with a determined attitude.
Example: Smith was having a hard time coping with his engineering studies. However, he took a bit between his teeth once he started understanding the concepts.
37. The crack of doom
Meaning: Doomsday; the judgement day (according to the Christian religion).
Example: Harry and Jones have been friends since the age of 2. Their friendship will continue until the crack of doom.
38. Twelve good men and true
Meaning: A jury.
Example: Ben was convicted by the court. We have to gather strong pieces of evidence to prove his innocence in front of the twelve good men and true.
Also Read: 5 Idioms for Leadership to Help You Lead
39. Turn up trumps
Meaning: To succeed even when success seemed unlikely.
Example: When we thought our new project was going to fall apart, Richa turned up the trumps by hiring a manager.
40. Upset the apple cart
Meaning: To spoil someone’s plan; cause trouble.
Example: I have been making all the arrangements for a nice family vacation, but the weather upset the apple cart.
41. Four corners of the earth
Meaning: From all the directions.
Example: People from all four corners of the earth came to Dubai to attend the famous Dubai Shopping Festival.
42. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Meaning: The times when foolish people do not hesitate to tackle a dangerous or difficult situation that even the wisest ones choose to avoid.
Example: Even though he does not belong to the Finance department, Mike rushes like a fool where angels fear to tread when the company is facing a financial crunch.
Also Read: 110+ Antonym Words You Should Explore!
43. Fifteen minutes of fame
Meaning: Rising to fame for a brief period of time.
Example: The fifteen minutes of fame Jean did not want.
44. It takes two fools to argue
Meaning: A wise man never argues with a fool as he sees no sense in it.
Example: It takes two fools to argue with my two-year-old niece over her favourite toy.
45. Kicking myself
Meaning: Regretting something you should not have done.
Example: I could just kick myself for not attending the family function.
More Phrases with Meaning for Advanced Vocabulary
46. Play Ducks and Drakes
Meaning: To idly misuse or squander one’s wealth; reckless behaviour.
Example: Noah was fired from his job for playing ducks and drakes with the funds he was allotted for a project by his company.
47. Down to the wire
Meaning: Waiting for something/ to do something until the very last minute.
Example: The cricket match between India and New Zealand went down the wire.
48. Between a rock and a hard place
Meaning: Choosing between two equally untenable alternatives.
Example: I want to quit my job but cannot do so due to my financial condition. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.
49. Haul someone over the coals
Meaning: To reprimand or scold someone for a mistake or an error.
Example: The accountant didn’t file the returns on time so his senior hauled him over the coals for his mistake.
Also Read: Idioms for Education
50. Chalk and Cheese
Meaning: Two people or things that are completely different from each other.
Example: While Jake is an easy-going person, his brother Oliver is short-tempered. Both of them are like chalk and cheese!
51. Bread and butter
Meaning: Earnings of a person; indicate when a person earns for a living.
Example: You must earn bread and butter for your family.
52. Draw a longbow
Meaning: To exaggerate, to lie.
Example: Stella is drawing a longbow. Do not believe her.
53. Easier said than done
Meaning: Not as easy to do as it seems harder than you think.
Example: It’s one thing that is easier said than done.
Also Read: Idioms for Weather: 7 Phrases to Express the Weather
54. Feeling under the weather
Meaning: To feel ill, sick, having a hangover.
Example: I have my final exam tomorrow, but I’m feeling under the weather. I think I have a fever.
55. Forty winks
Meaning: Sleep a while mainly during the day; take a nap.
Example: My sister always likes to catch forty winks after lunch.
56. Go cold turkey
Meaning: To suddenly stop or quit some bad or addictive behaviour.
Example: He had been trying to quit drinking for a year but couldn’t, so he decided to go cold turkey.
57. Hold one’s peace
Meaning: Be silent.
Example: Just hold your peace if you don’t have anything smart to say.
58. Lose your marbles
Meaning: To go crazy, insane.
Example: I’ve been so bad lately that I thought I was losing my marbles.
FAQs
A phrase is a collection of related words that functions as a sentence without a subject or verb. For example, Cold as ice, filled with ice, jumped up and down.
A phrase is a group of two or more words that together form a grammatical construction; phrases typically do not contain a finite verb and are therefore neither clauses or sentences in their whole:
Remember, a phrase is a group of words that does not link a subject to a verb, or vice versa.
Phrases help learners use language more naturally and effectively. They combine words into meaningful expressions, improving fluency and comprehension. For instance, phrases like “hit the books” (study hard) or “under the weather” (feeling unwell) convey ideas concisely. Learning phrases not only expands vocabulary but also enhances speaking, writing, and reading skills, making communication more engaging.
Phrases make conversations sound more natural and expressive. Instead of using plain words, phrases convey emotions and context effectively. For instance, saying “a blessing in disguise” instead of “a hidden benefit” is more relatable. Using such expressions demonstrates fluency and builds better connections with listeners or readers.
Yes, using phrases makes writing richer and more engaging. They add depth, creativity, and emotional resonance to the content. For example, saying “burning the midnight oil” instead of “working late” adds vividness. Phrases help writers avoid repetition and convey ideas with precision.
Competitive exams often test vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills. Knowing phrases can improve essay writing, comprehension passages, and verbal ability. For example, using phrases like “a piece of cake” or “on cloud nine” in essays shows command over the language, earning higher scores.
Yes, phrases are essential in professional settings to convey ideas concisely and effectively. For instance, using phrases like “think outside the box” (be creative) or “the ball is in your court” (responsibility lies with you) demonstrates clear communication. They enhance email writing, presentations, and team discussions.
Absolutely. Learning phrases in a new language helps understand cultural nuances and common expressions. It provides practical tools for everyday conversations, like asking for directions or expressing emotions. For instance, knowing phrases like “let’s call it a day” in English helps learners sound more fluent.
Phrases often appear in idiomatic expressions during conversations, movies, or lectures. Recognizing these phrases, such as “time flies” or “hit the ground running,” aids in understanding context and meaning. This enhances overall listening comprehension and prepares learners for real-world communication.
Phrases enrich storytelling by adding vivid imagery and emotional depth. For example, saying “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” creates a stronger visual than simply describing someone deceitful. This captivates the audience and makes stories more memorable and impactful.
Phrases inspire creativity by offering unique ways to express ideas. For instance, instead of saying “very happy,” writers can use “on cloud nine.” This elevates writing quality and encourages imaginative thinking, essential for storytelling, poetry, or descriptive essays.
These phrases with meaning play a pivotal role when it comes to scoring well in exams like PTE, IELTS, etc. To build a strong foundation in such topics and open the gateway to your dream university, join Leverage Edu‘s IELTS coaching in Delhi/Gurgaon/Bangalore or in other locations, gain advanced knowledge in various topics including phrases with meaning and take steps towards your dream career!
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