Over 1,000 of the most common fixed expressions and idioms in the English language

This list has been compiled of the most fixed expressions and idioms in the English language--with 1,157 items. The reason that we have posted this list is to get our current and potential students to start thinking like a linguist, so that they can have an easier time translating things, and more productive study time when they sit down to complete their assignments. This list has been compiled for the sake of students who are enrolled through Level 3 of a Broad Sky Alternative Language Academy program. Though this list in no way should be thought of as a complete list of idioms and fixed expressions, it should however be thought of as a reference tool for a student trying to classify his/her native language, and as an aid to help said student break down said language into the most basic parts of usage. What we mean by basic parts of usage is essentially, all the different situations that a speaker of any language will generally find him/herself in when speaking whatever language on a daily basis. Though this list has been written in English, it needs to be clarified that it has been compiled as a template for all languages. Though for some English (in this list, American) idioms, there may not be an exact equivalent item that can be translated perfectly, there is almost always something that is close enough. To our readers: When you sit down to take a look at this list, you ought to do so carefully, and consider how we as speakers of American English both think, as well as talk, about the every day situations that happen around us. You will notice that for most of these phrases, 1. there are multiple ways of saying the same thing, and 2. it is a constant puzzle to match the phrase with the right preposition. Not sure what a preposition is? Well, to give a quick clarification, a preposition can be looked at as 1. a word that connects two nouns, as well as 2. a word that indicates the position of a particular noun in relation to another noun. While you yourself are probably already a master of "just knowing" when to use a particular preposition, you will find that when you sit down and think about many of the fixed expressions that appear on this list, the particular preposition used in the expression is often arbitrary, or just random. Yet you will notice that the phrase by itself is just a very common phrase that you already had memorized. Yet, when you are forced to look at an expression such as "on foot", you will perhaps puzzle over why it is considered an acceptable part of speech, but it is not grammatical. Shouldn't it be "on feet" as opposed to "on foot"? The reality is that such expressions are "just that way", and there is no real way to translate them literally. They are called "fixed expressions" for a reason. So, without further ado, we ask you to use this list to start thinking about how you will translate your everyday life from English, into whatever other language you are learning. We guarantee that if you even learn as much as a third of the fixed expressions on this list by the time you are in Level 3, you will be well on your way to having a great and deep understanding of your respective foreign language of study. Embrace, cherish, and add on to this list! during the day at night in the meantime in the next few…+NOUN for the time being

a remote chance It’s not likely that… to quit a job… to remember to+INF to forget to+INF for the most part many years ago It’s been a long time since… In my opinion… Under/given the circumstances… I’m taken aback that… To get the bill At full speed To take one’s time + gerund To take responsibility for… To get/be accustomed/used to… For the sake of… In order to… To hurry up and… To speed up To slow down To have money saved up To be bored out of one’s mind Out in the open In secret To be sure/certain of… Wide open Shut tight The fact that… To say the least Watch out (for)! To be in trouble (with sbdy.) Sorry to bother/trouble you, but… Would you mind if…? To go wrong Go away! Let’s get going To be short/missing a… Something is missing (from) In the middle of the night To be mistaken about… Let’s check it out To make sure that… To be taken by surprise To strongly disagree To decide between (2 choices)

To make up one’s mind (about) To have plans (for) It isn’t worth it! It’s not worth the trouble (of/to+gerund) To take part in smthg. To have trouble+gerund On the way to… To have time for smthg. For free To my amazement… To keep in mind that… To relate to/with sbdy. To keep smthg.+adj. To have a hunch that… I can’t help (doing it) To keep sthg up to date To have feelings for To keep sbdy. Informed (of smthg.) To keep under control To keep track of… For just a+time word To show up for… To show up early/late To have a knack for… To be partial to… To do away with… For example To go over smtg (fig) To manage to… To take note of… To take notice of… To make up for smthg. To put stock in… To save up (for) At the time, I… (that was)back when… Back then,… For the record,… For as long as I can remember,… To lose sleep over… Oh, come on! I’m just kidding! For what it’s worth,… To be right/wrong about Tit for tat/an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth To have a strong need for…

To be nervous about… To be jealous of… To be in doubt of… If I were you, I… If I were in your shoes, I… It bothers me that… To no end To get involved with… To meddle in sbdy’s business/affairs Something else Somewhere else Someone else Something more To be a good deal ($) A good deal of...(part.) To be a good idea To be disgusted with/by… To be interested in… Enough+noun Enough of+(part.) Adj+enough To worry about smthg. To be concerned with… To take smthg into consideration To withhold information To reach an understanding (of) To reach/come to an agreement To come to the conclusion that… To strike a compromise To make friends with… To stand for… To stand up against… Once in a while To start to+gerund To stop quit+gerund To be good for+gerund To be qualified to... To go well with… To snack on smthg. To get ready for… With all one’s might To be afraid of… Out of+emotion To lose track of… To have a taste for… Lack of…+NOUN

Tendency for/towards/to To sort out… Behind sbdy’s back Without warning For fun To look up to sbdy. To look down on sbdy. To frown upon smthg. To turn on To turn off To get away with smthg. In all honesty,… To tell the truth To tell a lie To brag about… To talk trash about sbdy. To help out with smthg. To give comfort to To mistake smg/sby for Concrete details To be uncomfortable with smthg. To hint at smthg. To be annoyed by smg. To save the best for last First of all… In the future In the past Right now The past few+time word To change one’s mind To switch+NOUN+with sbdy. To advise against smthg. To give good/bad advice A detailed explanation I bet that… The kind of thing that… As an example of… An (un)biased opinion about… A beautiful view (of) To turn/hand in... Current events It all happened so suddenly… To bring about… To catch up with… To ask for help To make a sound

To be located in/at/etc A change of+NOUN To find out about… To leave for+NOUN In memory of… Before long To get ripped off (by) To go for a ride To go for a walk Why don’t we… To get ahead (fig) To get ahead of one’s self (fig) To be running ahead/behind (at) I used to…+INF To fall apart To fall off In denial To get a second chance One more time/once more To beg for It goes without saying that… To hold one’s breath Out of breath You’re gonna make it Rest assured that… To get hold of smg. To do one’s duty In pain To lead astray To have a head/stomach ache Spare change Pocket money To take a break/rest Time to kill To look like+NOUN In mint condition In good/bad condition In power To rise to power To get a raise ($) The sun comes up/goes down To have/get a flat tire To break up with sbdy. To take off (clothing) To put on Down on one’s luck

To wake up To fall asleep To have no idea about To talk sbdy out of smg. It makes (no) sense To say goodbye The right/wrong way It’s for the best that… Some day To be enough/not enough Here’s to…(toast) To leave behind You had better To pack one’s bags To take forever (at) It seems like… To take notes To come for a visit To take pictures To make music First things first… To run into smthg. To give in (to) To have a hangover Under one’s breath To smell like+NOUN To scream/yell at sbdy. Every minute/moment Every day/week/month Once/twice per+TIME Right before one’s eyes To act as if… To be happy/pleased with/about… Otherwise,… Off-road To get/turn off (of) To be related to… To have a good memory A sense of… Hard/easy to find In jail/in prison To make progress (with) To work on To find one’s way To get lost No more/anymore

To slip and fall (on) On the weekend To have/take a sick day No time for… In/out of touch with… To lose control of… Out of reach Within reach To spend the+TIME(+doing smg.) To be in luck A table for# To take it easy To feel wronged To come/stop by (at) To pass through (smwr.) A friend of mine/his/etc One of my… A little A lot In pieces On the mend To return the favor To do a favor for Within range Out of the area Small town Big city To run up (a bill/tab) To get over+NOUN Few and far between To look into smg. (fig) To feel sorry for… To pretend to+INF To let go of smg. (lit/fig) To feel sorry for… To have fun+gerund To have a good/bad time Good night! To wish someone well To set free Let go! Call me+adj. (e.g. crazy) Scared to death To go crazy To have a problem with… To take turns (at)or(+gerund)

The rest of… To go for a hike All night long To try to+INF To be confused about There’s a chance that… This is between (you and me)/(him and her) How come… To make a fuss over… To know about To know how to… By any means necessary In debt/indebted to A pile of… To make good money All over/around town Out of town To take smg. Seriously At face value By law According to… To put up with smg. To deal with To make clear In bed At the table To trust in sbdy. Topic of conversation To have faith in… To take effect To sign up for… In connection with To come across as… To get a point across To be ignorant of… In the aftermath of… For no reason To crash into… To get into an accident In an emergency To have/get the feeling that… To have the courage to… A wide variety of… To go on a date (with) To be married engaged to It’s common sense

To keep a secret To be in conflict with… Compared to/with… To stop for… On the side of the road To feel threatened (by) To score a goal (sports) To apply for a job Really? Out for lunch/dinner To fall in love with… In alphabetical order To fail at+gerund It sounds good/bad A turn for the worse To make a difference(in) To finish+gerund To succeed at… To be kicked out of… To be good/bad at… To be based on… To refrain from… In the way of… To be ashamed of… To be embarrassed by… In/out of fashion/style To take over+NOUN In that case,… In the event that… A long way to go To sing to sbdy. To think about Not quite as+adj.+as… In silence In compliance with… To take care of… To be impressed with/by To take advantage of… On a diet To be homesick Frozen/fresh food On ice On tap To hope for… To give credit to… To disobey orders

As usual To allow sbdy. To To put/place emphasis on… For dinner/for breakfast The cause for A strange turn of events To make known that… To work as a team To insist on+gerund Plenty of… At midnight At noon To be close/nearby To offer a solution To travel the world To check for… That’s what I thought To be cut off (from) To be prejudiced toward In favor of… More or less Too much+NOUN With care I guess/suppose that… Up to…#amount(time, $, etc) It’s up to you When it comes to,… To show weakness/strength To give credit to… To take credit for… To be aware of… To drive sbdy crazy Under stress It doesn’t matter that… To take offense (at) To have the courage to… To come to the rescue of sbdy. On purpose To do the right/wrong thing To make a decision To see what happens To talk at great length about To raise/lower taxes/prices/etc. To pay attention to… For the benefit of… In the short/long term

In harm’s way As a matter of fact In demand A shortage of… To take the blame for… To suffer the consequences for… To be attracted to… The whole story/picture To be drawn toward/to To give someone the benefit of the doubt To be of assistance (to) With the exception of… To take place To take sides (with) For profit To give smg a try You don’t get it… To go blind To turn a blind eye to… To the best of my knowledge,… To a certain degree/extent To go bankrupt Without a doubt To believe in smg. To focus on smg. To be crazy about smg. To handle smthg well/badly (emotional) In a bind To put into question To get dressed To put on To take off Paralyzed with fear For the good of… For the greater good It will do you some good (to) To be in a rage To get worked up (about) To confused smthg with smthg else To trip over smthg. In/out of line (with) Sense of decency Right to privacy Under attack To take inventory (of) To make a list (of)

To be charged with To be (found) guilty (of) To put in jail/prison To be in charge (of) To take charge (of) To sentence sbdy to… Life in prison The death penalty To be acquitted (of) To face facts To be ignorant of... The reality (of the situation) is… What about…? Who is to blame (for)? At fault (for) At risk (of) To look out over… To dream of/about… To sympathize with… To take a liking to… To have a (firm) grasp of… Never again To take it easy To take it slow Once again,… For lack of better words,… To play along with… To show one’s true colors… …,at best,… (to put) on the air (radio) to settle a/the matter once and for all to decline an invitation to accept an invitation to refuse to+gerund to live up to smthg. To make smg better/worse To leave smg alone Drop it! (lit&fig) The damage is done To be in/out of luck Fame and fortune To have high/low expectations (for) Regarding X matter,… to put a dent in smthg. to barely/hardly be able to do smthg.

To nearly/almost do something To carry smthg out To put into action In effect To draw attention to… To admit defeat To save/lose face To keep in touch with sbdy. To be out of touch with reality Qualities in+NOUN (To use an) approach to… To fill in the blank(s) To fill up the tank To run on empty Because of+NOUN To have an eye/ear for smthg. To take a shot at smthg. Without regard for… Difference of opinion Conflict of interests To be attentive to details For sale For rent In/out of use To feel inferior to… At the moment,… Living situation At war with What to…+INF In/out of focus In need of… The ability to… To move on (from) It’s a matter of+NOUN In/out of shape To stay in shape To be accepted to/at To resist temptation Sometimes I wonder,… To live in fear of… There’s no reason that… To assert authority To have authority over… It’s not a big deal if… Full-time job Part-time job

To interview for a job To be represented by To be a symbol of… To compare smthg with To agree on an issue To go on a trip To see the best in… To give in to (pressure) Under pressure For the rest of the+TIME To go abroad A change of plans In the military In a good/bad mood To work for+NOUN To get inspiration from… To make a recording (of) To end up+gerund To wish/hope for… To push for smthg. To face adversity Hearing loss To make smg official Proportionate to… To escape unharmed To get away from… Over my dead body! To have good standing (in) To get a loan (from) By the time… To keep a secret To test one’s luck To be available for On guard for… At least At the spur of the moment On the spot Disregard for… Take-out food To work through a problem Up for grabs On a (adj.) basis Only on the condition that… To put effort into smthg. a+NOUN+like that Not only,…but also…

On its own merit Out with the old, in with the new To be compensated for To spend the night (at) To stay with sbdy. To be such a... To make smg a priority To give a speech (about) To have an impact (on) To render sbdy. speechless A shining example of... To meet in the middle (fig.) Set in one’s ways To right a wrong To get even with sbdy. One thing left to do Out of+NOUN (lack) To refresh one’s memory To turn up/down the volume A wide variety of… You don’t belong here! To bring back to life At a high/low point On one’s own For personal gain To come to the surface For life For good (final) Banned+NOUN To starve to death Dying of thirst To take an exam To pass a/the test To stay in school Per hour Per day By the week By the month To vanish without a trace To be prone to… Too ADJ+for one’s own good To see the point in… The point of smthg. A firm believer in… To set a good example To set smthg in stone

A change of heart To get a foot one’s foot in the door (fig.) To feel dizzy To feel drowsy At sea On land To get sea-sick Up in the air To have second thoughts about smthg. To breathe a sigh of relief (about) To gasp for air To take the lead (in) To lead sbdy on To not know any better Right now Just a minute ago …as hard as one can… to enjoy+GERUND On vacation To be busy doing smg. It’s up to you… To drive over/under the speed limit To get pulled over by the police To get arrested (by) To not have a penny to one’s name To stay awake To stay up late To get up early On time To hold the door (for) In anticipation of… What do you make of this? One of life’s lessons One step at a time All at once Little by little At a glance At first glance To make excuses (for) To show respect (for) In the mail To put to the side On the side To have good/bad manners To mind one’s own business (about) A preconceived notion (about)

…before it’s too late… to see/recognize a pattern/trend to be in chaos to bring order to… to trouble sbdy. for smg. To agree to do smthg. To go back on one’s word (about) To turn someone in (THE LAW) Law and order To keep the peace To become obvious that… To wish smg. on sbdy. To have legal troubles To be held responsible (for) To be a big fan (of) To convince sbdy of… In the streets Out in the cold In the sun In the shade In the snow What is going on? In traffic/in a traffic jam To get a ride to…(work) Who knows? To get on/off (pub trans) To take time off (work) Leave of absence On call To tie one’s shoes All the way to… The whole time... To be missing An attempt at+gerund Figure of speech To take pride in… To be proud of… To manage to do smthg. A good night’s sleep A night of drinking To be up all night A hard day’s work To find out for one’s self (about) To find out that… To be far along (with) A bundle of…

To sympathize with To go shopping (for) To go hunting (for) To go fishing (for) to need a break (from) I can’t tell if/whether… To be obsessed with… The idea/notion that… To show one’s appreciation (for) To be skilled at/in… To be trained for/at… To be thankful for… To be obedient to (authority) To be confused about… To be out of breath To condemn sbdy for… To say harsh words to… To bite the bullet and… A snide remark To increase productivity An unlikely scenario To have free time To surrender to smthg. In memory of… To be getting late To be getting cold To warm up To cool down/off To be freezing To have hard feelings about smthg. To breed contempt To have contempt for… All things considered To be better off+gerund To commit a crime To swear an oath (to) To keep/break a promise A means to do smthg. To come up with the money (for) to feel like doing smthg. A misguided effort (to) To keep a clean house To be brutally honest To hurt sbdy’s feelings Apology accepted! To drag one’s feet (fig)

Out and about Never mind! To complain about smg. At odds with sbdy. To beat the odds On the coast To go through customs To make drama (about) A healthy environment To protect the environment To calm down (about) To consider every possibility To calm one’s nerves To be satisfied with… To conduct an interview To take smg for granted To be amused by smthg. …to no end… Back and forth To no end To let smthg happen To get over smthg. To stand in the way of progress Work in progress In the process of… In the middle of… To remind sbdy of smthg. A particular place and time To come to the aid/assistance of To come to the rescue To refresh one’s memory A lack of common sense Due to… To make a good/bad impression on sbdy. Compared to/in comparison with… To have an advantage over sbdy. A first impression of… To have power over… In public To get in the way (of) To take shots (alcohol) To be certain of smthg. To admit fault To have a fight (with) To hold smthg against sbdy. To treat sbdy/smg like…

To be different from… Thanks to… Because of… To take a nap… On top of… to wait in line (for) over and over (again) It’s a tie! To have the right of way On the fence (fig) In search/pursuit of… In the past In the present day and age To prove a point To prove one’s worth It’s a case of… The right amount It is beyond all understanding why… Full of… Just in time for… To pick sbdy up (from) To hand in (home)work To hand smthg out To do chores To shoot at sbdy/smthg. To be in a hurry To yell/scream at sbdy. Out loud To let out a noise (sigh/laugh/scream/etc) To knock on a door To keep smthg/sbdy in mind A waste of time To know how to+INF To spy on sbdy. To shed light on smthg. (fig.) How often…? To demand restitution In court On trial To lower one’s standards A sip of… A bite of… To repair damage A giant+NOUN To be critical of… To go to bed

To get up in the morning The answer to (a question) To promise to+INF On display The meaning of smthg. To be mean to sbdy. To treat sbdy with kindness/cruelty To give an explanation (of) To owe sbdy a favor To lock one’s self out (of) For the love of To go in the direction of It’s your turn! To get rid of smthg. To deprive sbdy of smg. To beg for forgiveness To keep quiet To be upset about smg. To play in a band The/an opportunity to… To interact with… To inform sbdy about… To be allowed to+INF To be eager to+INF To eagerly await smthg. To do nothing but… To have good/bad social skills To be knowledgeable about… To be skilled at… To take sbdy hostage A day off work To sign up for smthg. To make fun of smthg. To run out of time Time is running out To be available for… To make comments about In/out of context To make up for lost time It’s nice to….for a change… A change of scenery To lose one’s train of thought The majority of… To make up for lost time To have good/bad intentions To culminate in+NOUN

To have (no) patience for To suffer from To kick/punch sbdy in the…(body part) To drop sbdy off at… In the wild Instead of+gerund To apologize for… For the duration of… To talk on the phone (with sbdy.) To be angry with sbdy. In good/bad taste To have good taste (in) To say smthg without thinking …without giving a thought to… To think smthg through To react to smthg/sbdy. On one’s knees On foot In good/bad health To go barefoot A sense of decency It is a sign that… To be opposed to… Back then,… In a nutshell,… To lay down one’s life (for) To be plagued by guilt To be a metaphor for… To climb trees To climb up a (specific) tree Land/sea/forest-dwelling animal To jump off a building/bridge To go to a meeting In a war zone The height of smg. The width of smg. The length of smg. X+measurement+high/ wide/long At the height of+NOUN (an empire/an age/etc) What color is…? As punishment To spend money on… To have the potential to/for… To wreak havoc on… To come up with/devise a plan

To lift weights To share smg with sbdy. At all/not at all To suffer the consequences (for) Of X heritage (e.g. Scottish) To be honest with one’s self To step outside for some fresh air To follow one’s instincts To devote one’s self to… To step aside To dampen sbdy’s spirits To make a/the prediction that… To spend one’s life doing smthg. On the verge of+gerund The thing is,… It depends on… To look forward to… At the thought of… To pride one’s self in/on… To lose consciousness To knock sbdy unconscious To lead a (ADJ) life To flip a coin (for) To roll the dice (for) To proceed with caution A stack/pile of… A deck of cards To play cards At will At random On command At a loss In a state of… In crisis To perform surgery To perform a play A work of art To go on a rampage To throw a party To throw a temper tantrum I welcome the opportunity to… To accept a/the challenge A set of… To play pool To play chess To play darts

To play X-ball To swim laps (in pool) A jack of all trades By profession To lend one’s support to To plan on+gerund To smell like… From now on,… To get straight to the point (of) To lose focus (of) The main idea (of) To recommend smg to sbdy. To keep on schedule To gain/lose weight To have a preference for I would rather…. To dress up as… To win a prize To get exercise To make a connection between To mix 2 things together Of special interest (to) To bring smg to a boil To have an air of+QUALITY A wad/clump of… Resulting in+EFFECT To set sail (on) The high seas To force sbdy to+INF To be suspected of+gerund To catch sbdy off guard (at/while) In hindsight Well-disciplined To have no discipline In slow motion To be kicked out of/expelled from… To get fired (from) To be open/closed-minded To be disappointed by… To take smthg at face value From what I can tell,… To be caught in a vicious circle To pollute the environment To contribute to smthg. What kind of…is X? In/out of tune

To sing off key To apply for a job A positive/negative environment To be considerate/act considerately toward… To care about smthg. The way of the world To play an instrument To strum on… To have talent (for) To be mindful of… To make a transition to… To invite sbdy to… To get a flat tire To have a spare/extra+NOUN To step on the accelerator/gas To step on the brakes To fall victim to… To watch a movie To look after (children) To mow the lawn/grass To set smg apart from smg else To stand in for sbdy. To find a replacement for… To have down-time To pass out while/in the middle of… To stay awake for smthg In advance (of) Over time,… To have unintended consequences In/with regards to smg. To reduce smg to smg. To turn smg into smg (else) To hold on to… To receive preferential treatment (for) That’s (not) my first choice Lend me your ear! It will only take a moment/minute/second In the scheme of things,… To scheme/plot to do smthg. To keep smg as a pet To prevent fires To put out a fire To keep/prevent smthg from happening (to) To happen to sbdy. The moral of the story is… To make/lose a bet

To declare war To go to church To go to war