Phrases & Expressions 19

verb phrase [C1 ] • synonyms: corner someone, put someone on the spot, trap someone • put someone in a bind/problem/predicament; be in a bind; get out of a bind *• freq in AmE: 6/10

to place someone in a difficult or problematic situation, often involving conflicting choices, pressure, or lack of good options

verb phrase [C1 ] • synonyms: be independent, stand alone, be self-reliant • stand on your own feet; learn to stand on your own; finally/fully stand on your own *• freq in AmE: 6/10

to be independent and self-reliant, especially after a period of support or dependence; often used figuratively to describe personal growth, autonomy, or resilience

idiom C1 informal • synonyms: depend financially, sponge off, be supported by parents • live off mom and dad’s dollar/income/support; still/live/continue to live off mom and dad *• freq in AmE: 5/10

to rely financially on one’s parents for living expenses, often implying prolonged dependence, lack of autonomy, or avoidance of adult responsibilities

idiom • poetic/spiritual tone • freq in AmE: 4/10

to spend time in deep connection with the natural world, often in a reflective, peaceful, or spiritual way; to feel attuned to nature’s rhythms and presence

idiom • B2 • synonyms: ready, available, in reserve • have/keep something on tap; be on tap for someone/something • talent/support/ideas/resources on tap • freq in AmE: 6/10

available for immediate use or ready to be deployed when needed; often used to describe resources, services, or people that are prepared and accessible

idiom • C1 • synonyms: informed, caught up, in the loop • get/bring/be/keep someone up to speed (on/with something); quickly/fully up to speed; up to speed on trends/tech/updates • freq in AmE: 7/10

fully informed or up-to-date with the latest developments, knowledge, or requirements; also used to describe someone who has caught up or adapted to a new situation

collocation with idiom up to speed C1 (also bring/be/keep someone up to speed) • get/bring someone up to speed (on/with something); quickly/fully get someone up to speed; need to get someone up to speed before meeting/event • freq in AmE: 7/10

to inform someone of the latest developments or necessary background so they can understand or participate effectively; often used when someone joins a project, returns after absence, or enters a new situation

idiom C2 informal (also call the tune) • synonyms: be in charge, run the show, make the decisions • call the shots at work/home; like to call the shots; who’s calling the shots? • freq in AmE: 7/10

to be in control and make the important decisions; to have the power to determine what happens, especially in a group, organization, or situation

idiom C2 informal • synonyms: speak plainly, be blunt, tell it like it is • call a spade a spade about something; always call a spade a spade; admire someone for calling a spade a spade • freq in AmE: 6/10

to speak plainly and directly about something, even if it’s unpleasant or controversial; to name things as they are without euphemism or avoidance

idiom C2 with pace noun [U ] B2 • synonyms: keep up with, match, stay aligned with • keep pace with change/growth/trends/technology; struggle to keep pace; policies must keep pace • freq in AmE: 7/10

to move, develop, or progress at the same rate as something else; to stay up to date or competitive in response to change, growth, or innovation

idiom C2 • synonyms: move deeply, play on emotions, evoke sympathy • to tug at heartstrings sincerely or manipulatively • freq in AmE: 6/10

to evoke strong emotional reactions such as sympathy, tenderness, or sadness — either sincerely, as in deeply moving moments, or strategically, to influence or manipulate someone’s feelings for personal gain

idiom C1 • synonyms: spread, reverberate, cascade • policy/event ripples through the economy; ripple effects across sectors • freq in AmE: 5/10

to spread gradually or indirectly across different sectors or regions of the economy, often as a consequence of a specific event, policy, or shock

idiom C1 mainly UK • synonyms: struggle financially, tighten the belt, feel economic pressure • feel the pinch from inflation/loss of income • freq in AmE: 6/10

to experience financial strain or difficulty, especially due to reduced income, rising costs, or tighter budgets — often felt in everyday life

idiom • C2 formal • synonyms: contradict, conflict with, diverge from • at variance with facts/values/opinions • freq in AmE: 5/10

to be in disagreement, conflict, or contradiction with someone or something; to differ significantly in opinion, behavior, or outcome

idiom • C2 figurative • synonyms: lose objectivity, be clouded by prejudice, distort judgment • blinded by bias/emotion/politics; remain blinded by bias • freq in AmE: 5/10

to be unable to see or assess something objectively due to personal prejudice, assumptions, or emotional investment; to let bias distort perception or judgment

idiom • C1 figurative • synonyms: fall short, fail, misfire, be off-target • miss the mark emotionally/strategically; attempt/message misses the mark • freq in AmE: 6/10

to fail to achieve the intended result, goal, or effect; to be inaccurate, ineffective, or off-target in action, judgment, or communication

phrase • C2 formal-neutral (also for the foreseeable future) • synonyms: soon, within reach, predictably, in coming months/years • in the foreseeable future; unlikely/expected in the foreseeable future • freq in AmE: 7/10

within a time frame that can reasonably be predicted or anticipated; used to refer to events or conditions expected to continue or occur soon, though without a fixed date

idiom C1 informal • synonyms: be selected, get approval, be chosen • get the nod for a role/promotion/project; finally/surprisingly/quietly get the nod • freq in AmE: 5/10

to receive approval, selection, or endorsement for a role, opportunity, or recognition; often used when someone is chosen over others, especially in competitive or prestigious contexts

idiom [U ] C1 informal (also gloom and doom) • synonyms: pessimism, despair, bleakness • doom-and-gloom tone/predictions/mindset; not all doom and gloom; escape/spread doom and gloom • freq in AmE: 5/10

a general feeling or expression of pessimism, despair, or hopelessness; often used to describe overly negative attitudes or bleak forecasts

idiom [informal ] C1 (also preach to the converted) • synonyms: redundant persuasion, echo chamber • preach to the choir/converted; already convinced audience; sympathetic crowd • freq in AmE: 6/10

to try to persuade or explain something to people who already agree with you; used when a message is redundant or unnecessary for the audience

idiom [discourse marker ] B2 • synonyms: proverb intro, rhetorical cue • as the saying goes...; quote/invoke/repeat a saying; familiar/timeless/old saying • freq in AmE: 6/10

used to introduce a well-known proverb, adage, or traditional expression; signals that the speaker is invoking shared cultural wisdom or a familiar truth

idiom [informal ] C1 • synonyms: spontaneous, improvised, unrehearsed • off-the-cuff remark/comment/speech; speak/respond/joke off the cuff; completely/surprisingly off the cuff • freq in AmE: 6/10

spoken or done without preparation; spontaneous, improvised, or unrehearsed—often referring to remarks, responses, or actions made on the spot

idiom • C1 • synonyms: lose your temper, go ballistic, explode with rage • blow your top over something; suddenly/completely blow your top • freq in AmE: 6/10

to suddenly lose your temper and become very angry, often in a loud or dramatic way

idiom • C2 • synonyms: unsuccessfully, in vain, fruitlessly • try/search/protest to no avail; efforts to no avail; struggle to no avail • freq in AmE: 6/10

without success; despite effort, the desired result was not achieved

idiom • C1 • synonyms: miscalculate, overreach, misjudge • overplay your hand in negotiations/politics; drastically/fatally overplay your hand • freq in AmE: 5/10

to act with excessive confidence in your position or leverage, ultimately weakening your chances of success or causing failure

idiom C2 (also along those lines) • synonyms: similar to, modeled on, resembling • something/idea/plan along the lines of; suggest/think along the lines of • freq in AmE: 6/10

similar in type, style, or concept to something else; following a comparable pattern or approach

idiom C2 • synonyms: ready for, prepared for, primed for, susceptible to, open to • be ripe for change/takeover/conflict/opportunity • freq in AmE: 8/10

ready or in the best condition for something to happen, especially something new, significant, or potentially negative

collocation with ripe for something idiom C2 • synonyms: ready for inquiry, rich with potential • topic/region/idea ripe for exploration; emotionally/intellectually ripe; ripe for academic/artistic analysis • freq in AmE: 4/10

ready or especially suitable for investigation, analysis, or creative inquiry; full of potential for discovery or development

idiom C2 • synonyms: take a risk, move forward, transition boldly • make/take a leap; leap of faith; leap into unknown/new phase; conceptual/emotional leap • freq in AmE: 6/10

to make a sudden or bold move forward, often involving risk, change, or growth; to transition decisively into a new phase, idea, or action

phrase C1 • synonyms: flourish socially, be outgoing, connect easily • thrive in social settings; social butterfly; energized by people; succeed in group contexts; extrovert tendencies • freq in AmE: 5/10

to feel comfortable, confident, and energized when interacting with others; to succeed or flourish in group environments, often showing strong social skills or charisma

idiom C1 • synonyms: stagnate, hold on, survive • tread water financially/professionally/emotionally; feel like you're treading water; tread water as survival/stasis/waiting • freq in AmE: 6/10

to stay afloat without making progress; metaphorically, to maintain one’s position or survive without advancing, often in a difficult or uncertain situation

idiom C1 • synonyms: follow an example, be inspired by, model after • take a cue from nature/others/history • freq in AmE: 6/10

to follow someone’s example, imitate a behavior, or be inspired by a model, signal, or precedent; to adjust one’s actions based on observed cues or guidance

idiom C1 (also catch someone's attention) • synonyms: catch attention, draw focus, command notice • grab attention instantly/visually/emotionally • freq in AmE: 7/10

to attract or capture someone’s notice, interest, or focus — often suddenly or forcefully; used in contexts of communication, design, marketing, and emotional impact

idiom B2 • synonyms: ignite interest, trigger curiosity, awaken enthusiasm • spark interest in a topic/idea/person • freq in AmE: 7/10

to trigger curiosity, attention, or engagement in someone — often suddenly or unexpectedly; to ignite a desire to learn more, explore, or get involved

idiom C2 • synonyms: killed publicly, murdered openly, executed brazenly • slain in plain sight of X; be slain in plain sight; horror/slaughter in plain sight; slain and ignored • freq in AmE: 5/10

killed openly and visibly, often in a public or exposed setting, with an implication of shock, brazenness, or societal failure to prevent the act

idiomatic phrase with shot noun [C usually singular ] C2 informal (also give something a try, give something a whirl or UK give something a go) • synonyms: try, attempt, give it a go • freq in AmE: 8/10

(ATTEMPT) to try something, especially for the first time or without being sure of success

idiom C2 informal • synonyms: do your best, go all in, give it everything • give something/your best shot • freq in AmE: 7/10

to try as hard as you can to succeed at something, even if the outcome is uncertain