🇺🇸 English · C1
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms in English · C1
60 English words and phrases for phrasal verbs & idioms, at C1 level. Each entry shows the word, how to read it, what it means, and a full example sentence with translation.
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hit the nail on the headhit the nail on the head
Your analysis hit the nail on the head.
Your analysis hit the nail on the head.
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once in a blue moononce in a blue moon
We only meet once in a blue moon now.
We only meet once in a blue moon now.
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bite the bulletbite the bullet
I bit the bullet and paid for repairs.
I bit the bullet and paid for repairs.
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get the hang ofget the hang of
You'll get the hang of it soon.
You'll get the hang of it soon.
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the ball is in your courtthe ball is in your court
I've made my offer — the ball is in your court.
I've made my offer — the ball is in your court.
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get away withget away with
He won't get away with cheating.
He won't get away with cheating.
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boil down toboil down to
It all boils down to trust.
It all boils down to trust.
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iron outiron out
We ironed out the last details.
We ironed out the last details.
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fall throughfall through
The deal fell through at the last minute.
The deal fell through at the last minute.
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burn the midnight oilburn the midnight oil
She burned the midnight oil to finish her thesis.
She burned the midnight oil to finish her thesis.
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let sleeping dogs lielet sleeping dogs lie
Maybe we should just let sleeping dogs lie.
Maybe we should just let sleeping dogs lie.
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every cloud has a silver liningevery cloud has a silver lining
I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining — I found a better one.
I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining — I found a better one.
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don't put all your eggs in one basketdon't put all your eggs in one basket
Invest in different stocks — don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Invest in different stocks — don't put all your eggs in one basket.
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the grass is always greener on the other sidethe grass is always greener on the other side
He keeps changing jobs — the grass always looks greener to him.
He keeps changing jobs — the grass always looks greener to him.
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barking up the wrong treebarking up the wrong tree
If you think I took your umbrella, you're barking up the wrong tree.
If you think I took your umbrella, you're barking up the wrong tree.
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cut cornerscut corners
The contractor cut corners, and the roof leaked within a year.
The contractor cut corners, and the roof leaked within a year.
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go the extra milego the extra mile
Our staff always go the extra mile for customers.
Our staff always go the extra mile for customers.
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read between the linesread between the lines
She didn't say it directly, but you could read between the lines.
She didn't say it directly, but you could read between the lines.
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take it with a grain of salttake it with a grain of salt
That gossip is probably exaggerated, so take it with a grain of salt.
That gossip is probably exaggerated, so take it with a grain of salt.
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curiosity killed the catcuriosity killed the cat
Don't ask too many questions — curiosity killed the cat.
Don't ask too many questions — curiosity killed the cat.
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better late than neverbetter late than never
He apologized after ten years, but better late than never.
He apologized after ten years, but better late than never.
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practice makes perfectpractice makes perfect
Keep practicing the piano — practice makes perfect.
Keep practicing the piano — practice makes perfect.
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out of sight, out of mindout of sight, out of mind
We stopped calling, and it became out of sight, out of mind.
We stopped calling, and it became out of sight, out of mind.
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actions speak louder than wordsactions speak louder than words
Stop promising and start doing — actions speak louder than words.
Stop promising and start doing — actions speak louder than words.
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add insult to injuryadd insult to injury
I lost my wallet, and to add insult to injury, it started raining.
I lost my wallet, and to add insult to injury, it started raining.
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come rain or shinecome rain or shine
He jogs every morning, come rain or shine.
He jogs every morning, come rain or shine.
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cut to the chasecut to the chase
Let's cut to the chase — do you accept the offer or not?
Let's cut to the chase — do you accept the offer or not?
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give someone the cold shouldergive someone the cold shoulder
She's been giving me the cold shoulder since our argument.
She's been giving me the cold shoulder since our argument.
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a picture is worth a thousand wordsa picture is worth a thousand words
Just look at the photo — a picture is worth a thousand words.
Just look at the photo — a picture is worth a thousand words.
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two heads are better than onetwo heads are better than one
Let's brainstorm together — two heads are better than one.
Let's brainstorm together — two heads are better than one.
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Let's not beat around the bush.Let's not beat around the bush.
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You can't judge a book by its cover.You can't judge a book by its cover.
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When in Rome, do as the Romans do.When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
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He finally threw in the towel.He finally threw in the towel.
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We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
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Don't count your chickens before they hatch.Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
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The early bird catches the worm.The early bird catches the worm.
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The proof is in the pudding.The proof is in the pudding.
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You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
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Fixing a small problem now saves a lot of trouble later.Fixing a small problem now saves a lot of trouble later.
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Absence makes the heart grow fonder.Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
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All that glitters is not gold.All that glitters is not gold.
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Great things take time to build.Great things take time to build.
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Practice what you preach.Practice what you preach.
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What goes around comes around.What goes around comes around.
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Honesty is the best policy.Honesty is the best policy.
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You reap what you sow.You reap what you sow.
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There's more than one way to skin a cat.There's more than one way to skin a cat.
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The pen is mightier than the sword.The pen is mightier than the sword.
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Slow and steady wins the race.Slow and steady wins the race.
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A watched pot never boils.A watched pot never boils.
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Where there's a will, there's a way.Where there's a will, there's a way.
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Necessity is the mother of invention.Necessity is the mother of invention.
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Old habits die hard.Old habits die hard.
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Money doesn't grow on trees.Money doesn't grow on trees.
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You can't have it both ways.You can't have it both ways.
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It's always darkest before the dawn.It's always darkest before the dawn.
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A good sense of humor gets you through hard times.A good sense of humor gets you through hard times.
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Don't burn your bridges.Don't burn your bridges.
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Two wrongs don't make a right.Two wrongs don't make a right.
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