Idioms and expressions
Native-like fluency requires understanding common idioms.
Business idioms
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ball is in your court | it's your decision/turn | "I've made my offer; the ball is in your court." |
| back to square one | start over | "The client rejected it; we're back to square one." |
| behind the scenes | not publicly visible | "A lot happens behind the scenes." |
| the bottom line | the essential point | "The bottom line is we need more revenue." |
| get the ball rolling | start something | "Let's get the ball rolling on this project." |
| in the loop | informed | "Keep me in the loop." |
| move the needle | make noticeable progress | "This will really move the needle." |
| on the same page | in agreement | "Let's make sure we're on the same page." |
| think outside the box | think creatively | "We need to think outside the box." |
| touch base | make brief contact | "Let's touch base next week." |
Everyday idioms
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| break the ice | start a conversation |
| costs an arm and a leg | very expensive |
| hit the nail on the head | exactly right |
| piece of cake | very easy |
| under the weather | feeling sick |
| bite off more than you can chew | take on too much |
| kill two birds with one stone | accomplish two things at once |
| let the cat out of the bag | reveal a secret |
| once in a blue moon | very rarely |
| when pigs fly | never |
Phrasal verbs
| Phrasal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| break down | stop functioning / analyze |
| carry out | perform/execute |
| come across | find by chance / seem |
| figure out | understand/solve |
| look into | investigate |
| put up with | tolerate |
| run into | meet by chance |
| set up | establish/arrange |
| take off | become successful / remove |
| work out | exercise / solve / succeed |
Filler phrases
Native speakers use these to sound natural:
| Phrase | Use |
|---|---|
| "You know..." | Adding emphasis |
| "I mean..." | Clarifying |
| "To be honest..." | Being direct |
| "The thing is..." | Explaining |
| "At the end of the day..." | Summarizing |
| "Having said that..." | Contrasting |
Expressions of agreement/disagreement
| Agreeing | Disagreeing |
|---|---|
| Absolutely. | I see your point, but... |
| Exactly. | I'm not so sure about that. |
| That's a great point. | I see it differently. |
| I couldn't agree more. | With respect, I disagree. |