Mastering English Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Posted on Jun 10, 2025 in English

Show Business & Performance Expressions

• ACT OUT: To perform a role or a scene.
• MOVE ON: To continue to a different activity or place.
• PLAY ALONG WITH: To agree with someone’s opinion, often insincerely.
• STAND OUT: To be very noticeable or prominent.
• ACT UP: To behave badly or malfunction.
• POP UP: To appear suddenly or unexpectedly.
• BE IN THE LIMELIGHT: To receive a lot of public attention.
• BREAK OUT: (Of something dangerous or unpleasant) To start suddenly.
• PULL IN: To attract interest or customers.
• BEHIND THE SCENES: Secretly; not in public view.
• BREAK UP: To end a relationship; to divide something into different pieces.
• PULL OFF: To succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected.
• BREAK A LEG: To wish someone good luck (especially before a performance).
• CATCH ON: To become fashionable or popular.
• SET UP: To establish or arrange something.
• GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD: To begin an activity that has been planned.
• CATCH (SOMEONE) OUT: To put someone in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
• SHUT DOWN: To stop operating or close permanently.
• GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD: To start something again from the beginning.
• COME ABOUT: To happen; to come into being.
• SIT THROUGH: To stay until the end of an event, even if it is long or boring.
• HIT THE BIG TIME: To achieve great fame and success.
• ON THE EDGE OF ONE’S SEAT: Very excited and giving all your attention to something, e.g., a performance.
• RUN THE SHOW: To be in charge; to control people or an activity.
• SING ONE’S HEART OUT: To sing or perform with great passion and enthusiasm.
• SIT BACK: To relax.
• STAR-STUDDED EVENT: An event featuring many famous or well-known people.
• THE SHOW MUST GO ON: An event must continue despite problems or difficulties.
• SET THE SCENE: To describe the situation in which something is going to happen.

Health & Well-being Expressions

• AS FIT AS A FIDDLE: Very healthy and full of energy.
• AS PALE AS A GHOST: To be extremely pale, often due to sickness, pain, or fear.
• AS SICK AS A DOG: Very ill, especially with nausea or stomach issues.
• AT DEATH’S DOOR: Very ill, on the verge of dying.
• BACK ON ONE’S FEET: Healthy again after recovering from an illness or injury.
• BE THE PICTURE OF HEALTH: To look extremely healthy.
• GO UNDER THE KNIFE: To have a medical operation.
• IT’S A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW: A difficult or unpleasant situation to accept.
• IN PAIN: Experiencing physical pain.
• ON ONE’S LAST LEGS: Very tired; near death.
• ON THE MEND: Recovering from an illness or injury.
• OUT OF SHAPE: Not in good physical condition.
• PULL THROUGH: To recover from an illness or injury.
• TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORSE: To become worse.
• TURN ONE’S STOMACH: To make someone feel sick or disgusted.
• UNDER THE WEATHER: Feeling slightly sick or unwell.

General Adverbial & Situational Expressions

• BY NO MEANS: Certainly not; in no way.
• BY ALL ACCOUNTS: According to what is generally said or believed.
• IN DETAIL: Thoroughly; with all particulars.
• IN HIGH DEMAND: Wanted or needed by many people.
• IN THE MOOD: Feeling a desire or inclination for something or to do something.
• ON EDGE: Nervous and anxious; not relaxed.
• ON SECOND THOUGHTS: To change one’s opinion about something or start doubting it.
• ON THE CONTRARY: The opposite of what has been stated is true.
• ON TIME: Punctual; at the scheduled time.
• OUT OF CONTROL: Not under control; wild.
• OUT OF THE ORDINARY: Unusual; not normal.
• OUT OF THE QUESTION: Completely impossible.
• TO ONE’S ADVANTAGE: To one’s benefit or advantage.
• TO THE LIMIT: As much as possible; to the maximum extent.
• UNDER CONTROL: Managed or regulated.

Phrasal Verbs: Run & Put

• RUN A BUSINESS: To manage a business.
• RUN A PROGRAMME: To operate (a program or machine).
• RUN AN ERRAND: To perform a small task or chore.
• RUN LATE: To be late or delayed; to be behind schedule.
• RUN LOW ON: To have a small amount remaining of something.
• RUN OUT OF STEAM: To be very tired or lose enthusiasm/interest.
• RUN OUT OF TIME: To have no time left.
• RUN SHORT OF MONEY: To not have enough money.
• RUN SMOOTHLY: To operate or progress without problems.
• RUN WILDLY: To behave in an uncontrolled or wild way.
• PUT A STOP TO: To stop an unpleasant activity.
• PUT AN EMPHASIS ON: To emphasize.
• PUT (SOMEONE) IN CHARGE: To make someone responsible for something.
• PUT ONE’S FOOT DOWN: To take a firm stand; to refuse to change one’s mind.
• PUT PRESSURE ON: To try to persuade or force someone to do something.
• PUT SOMETHING RIGHT: To correct something; to fix a mistake.
• PUT TO THE TEST: To test something to see if it works or is suitable.

Compound Adjectives & Phrasal Verbs

Common Compound Adjectives

• EYE-CATCHING: Striking; visually appealing (opposite: unattractive).
• FIRST-HAND: Direct; experienced personally (opposite: second-hand).
• HALF-HEARTED: Lacking enthusiasm or commitment (opposite: enthusiastic, determined).
• KIND-HEARTED: Caring and compassionate (opposite: unkind, self-centered).
• LONG-LASTING: Lasting for a long time (opposite: temporary).
• OPEN-MINDED: Tolerant and broad-minded (opposite: narrow-minded, intolerant).
• PART-TIME: Working fewer hours than full-time (opposite: full-time).
• SELF-CENTRED: Selfish and concerned only with oneself (opposite: kind-hearted).
• SHORT-TERM: Lasting for a short period (opposite: long-term).
• STRONG-WILLED: Determined and stubborn (opposite: yielding).
• TIME-SAVING: Designed to save time (opposite: time-wasting).
• WELL-BEHAVED: Polite and behaving correctly (opposite: badly-behaved, impolite).
• WELL-PAID: Receiving good pay (opposite: badly paid).

Essential Phrasal Verbs

• BACK (SOMEONE) UP: To support someone.
• BE INTO SOMETHING: To be very interested in or enthusiastic about something.
• BE UP TO: To be capable of or responsible for something; to be planning something.
• BRING UP: To raise (a child); to mention (a topic).
• CHEER UP: To encourage someone to feel happier.
• COUNT ON: To rely on or trust someone/something.
• GET AROUND TO: To find the time to do something.
• GET AT: To suggest or imply something, often in a subtle or indirect way.
• GET SOMETHING BACK: To regain possession of something.
• GET BY: To manage with difficulty; to survive.
• GO OVER: To review or examine something carefully.
• HAND IN: To submit or deliver something.
• HOLD BACK: To restrain or prevent someone from doing something.
• KEEP UP: To continue at the same rate or level.
• LEAVE OUT: To not include someone or something.
• LOOK BACK (ON): To remember past events or times.
• LOOK UP TO: To admire or respect someone.
• THINK SOMETHING OVER: To consider something carefully.

Expressions with “Matter”

• A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH: Extremely important or serious.
• A MATTER OF OPINION: Something that is subjective and open to different viewpoints, not a definitive fact.
• A MATTER OF TIME: Something that is certain to happen eventually, but the exact timing is unknown.
• AS A MATTER OF FACT: Used to add a surprising or additional piece of information to what has just been said.
• IT DOESN’T MATTER / NO MATTER: It is not important; it makes no difference.
• MIND OVER MATTER: The ability of the mind to control or overcome physical pain or difficulties.
• BE NO LAUGHING MATTER: To be serious and not something to joke about.
• THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER / THE FACT OF THE MATTER: Used to introduce a fact that supports or clarifies what you are saying.
• TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE: To make a situation even more unpleasant or difficult.
• WHAT’S THE MATTER?: What is the problem or issue?
• A MATTER OF RECORD: Something that is officially recorded or generally known to be true.
• A MATTER OF COURSE: As expected; as a normal or natural consequence.
• FOR THAT MATTER: Used to add a point to an argument, often implying that what has just been said is also true for the thing being mentioned.