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Showing 397–414 of 448 lessons
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Off the top of my head
The phrase 'off the top of my head' describes an answer produced immediately from memory without looking at notes, checking a phone, or spending time to calculate.
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My hands are tied
The idiom someone's hands are tied means that an individual or group cannot act, approve a request, or offer help because official rules, higher authorities, or legal restrictions prevent them from doing so.
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A mixed blessing
A mixed blessing is an event, change, or situation that has both positive and negative consequences.
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Might as well
'Might as well' introduces an action that is worth doing because any alternative offers no clear benefit, saves no extra time, or costs more effort.
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A mean streak
A mean streak refers to an unkind or cruel tendency that forms one part of an individual's character. It does not mean the person is hostile every minute, but rather that deliberate unkindness surfaces repeatedly under certain conditions.
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Video · 9 min A matter of time
If an event is described as a matter of time, the speaker regards that event as inevitable. The uncertainty relates solely to when the event will take place, rather than whether it will take place at all.
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Lose your head
To lose your head means to lose emotional control and stop thinking or acting calmly due to intense panic, anger, or excitement.
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Last-ditch effort
An effort is an attempt to achieve something or prevent a bad result. A last-ditch effort is a final, urgent attempt made when earlier options have failed and very few choices remain. The phrase describes the desperate situation and the attempt itself, not the final result. Even when success seems unlikely, a last-ditch effort can succeed.
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Keep an eye out
To keep an eye out for someone or something means to remain alert and watchful so you notice them the moment they arrive or appear.
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Keep a low profile
'Keep a low profile' means to deliberately avoid attracting attention, publicity, or public notice. It describes someone's chosen behavior in a situation rather than their physical appearance or online account.
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Jump the gun
To jump the gun means to do something too soon, before the proper moment or before essential information and permission are available.
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It goes without saying
It goes without saying means that a fact, principle, or condition is so universally understood or self-evident that no detailed explanation is required.
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Video · 10 min In your element
To be in your element means to feel happy, relaxed, and confident because you are doing an activity that suits your personal interests, skills, or personality.
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In the running
'In the running' means having an active possibility of being selected, hired, or awarded a victory. It shows that someone is being considered alongside other contenders before a decision is finalized.
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In the loop
In the loop means informed about and included in continuing communication regarding a situation. Out of the loop means lacking that recent knowledge or being omitted from relevant discussions.
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In one go
'In one go' means completing an entire task or action in a single continuous attempt or period of effort, rather than dividing it into separate steps, trips, or sessions. In this phrase, 'go' functions as a noun meaning an attempt or round of activity.
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Hit and miss
Hit-and-miss describes a person, process, or object that is occasionally successful or satisfactory and occasionally disappointing. It emphasizes unpredictability rather than total failure.
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Head start
A head start is an initial advantage gained by beginning an activity before others or preparing prior to an event.
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