Phrases & Expressions 18

idiom C2 formal • synonyms: dominate, influence, control, prevail • hold sway over something/someone; still hold sway; charisma/ideology holds sway • freq in AmE: 5/10

to have power, influence, or control over people, decisions, or situations — often used in political, cultural, or emotional contexts to describe dominant authority or persuasive impact

idiom C1 (also leave someone standing) • synonyms: exclude, marginalize, overlook • leave someone on the sidelines; be/feel left on the sidelines; keep someone on the sidelines of X • freq in AmE: 6/10

to exclude someone from active participation, decision-making, or influence; to keep someone uninvolved, overlooked, or marginalized — often unintentionally or due to systemic factors

idiom C1 • synonyms: stop, cease, freeze, grind to a halt • come to a sudden/complete halt; bring something to a halt; negotiations came to a halt • freq in AmE: 6/10

to stop moving or progressing; to cease activity or operation

idiom C1 • synonyms: drive, motivate, fuel, define • what makes someone tick; understand what makes someone tick; curiosity about what makes people tick • freq in AmE: 5/10

to be the underlying reason for someone’s behavior, motivation, or personality; to explain what drives a person

idiom B2 • synonyms: ecstatic, euphoric, overjoyed, thrilled • be on cloud nine; feel on cloud nine; put someone on cloud nine • freq in AmE: 8/10

extremely happy; in a state of bliss or euphoria

idiom B2 • synonyms: qualify, succeed, meet the standard, pass • make the grade in something; fail to make the grade; only few made the grade • freq in AmE: 6/10

to meet the required standard; to succeed or qualify, especially in a competitive or demanding context

idiom B2 • synonyms: qualify as, succeed in role, prove oneself • make the grade as a leader/artist/student; fail to make the grade as something; finally made the grade as something • freq in AmE: 5/10

to meet the necessary standards or expectations to be accepted or recognized in a specific role, profession, or identity

idiom C2 informal • synonyms: commit, dare, go for it • take the plunge and do/doing something; take the plunge and start/buy/move/confess; take the plunge into new life/relationship/adventure • freq in AmE: 6/10

to decide to do something significant or risky, especially after hesitating or considering it for a long time; often used when someone commits to a major change, investment, or emotional step

idiom C2 informal • synonyms: qualify, be selected, succeed • make the cut for/in/as something; fail/barely/finally make the cut; make the cut for team/job/shortlist • freq in AmE: 6/10

to succeed in being selected or accepted, especially when there is competition or a strict standard; often used in contexts like auditions, sports, job recruitment, or elite programs

idiom C1 informal (also hit the market/shops) • synonyms: launch, go on sale, be released • product/book/game hits the shelves; hit the shelves on/in/before something; hit the shelves and sell out • freq in AmE: 6/10

to be released and made available for purchase in stores; often used for products, books, albums, or new merchandise entering the market

idiom [C2 ] • synonyms: powerhouse, unstoppable person, dynamo • be/act like a force of nature; described as a force of nature; emotional/creative force of nature • freq in AmE: 7/10

a person with an intense, unstoppable energy or presence; someone who acts with passion, drive, and impact, often defying norms or limitations

idiom C2 formal • synonyms: violate, clash with, disobey • run afoul of law/regulations/policy/authority • freq in AmE: 6/10

to get into trouble by disobeying or conflicting with rules, laws, expectations, or authority; to violate or clash with something, often unintentionally

idiom C1 • synonyms: take charge, rise to the occasion, own it • step up to the plate and lead/help/act; finally/reluctantly/proudly step up to the plate • freq in AmE: 7/10

to take responsibility for a task or challenge, especially when others hesitate; to act decisively and accept a leadership or problem-solving role — often under pressure

idiom C1 • synonyms: hold back, stay out, remain passive • stay on the sidelines during/in/while; choose to/still/forever stay on the sidelines • freq in AmE: 6/10

to remain uninvolved or passive in a situation, especially when action or participation is expected or needed; often implies hesitation, avoidance, or lack of commitment

idiom C1 • synonyms: ignore, tolerate, pretend not to notice • turn a blind eye to abuse/rules/misconduct; deliberately/consistently/quietly turn a blind eye • freq in AmE: 7/10

to deliberately ignore something wrong, inappropriate, or problematic; to pretend not to notice or know about something in order to avoid dealing with it

phrase C1 • synonyms: disorder, chaos, confusion • be/fall/remain in disarray; political/emotional/organizational disarray • freq in AmE: 6/10

in a state of disorder, confusion, or chaos; used to describe systems, groups, appearances, or situations that lack structure, control, or coherence

phrase C1 • synonyms: fight, combat, battle • wage war on/against poverty/enemies/dissent; decide to/continue to/secretly wage war • freq in AmE: 6/10

to initiate and carry out a sustained campaign of conflict, aggression, or resistance — typically military, but also metaphorical (e.g. against poverty, crime, or injustice)

idiom C2 • synonyms: tribute, homage, reference • in a nod to tradition/history/someone; subtle/stylistic/affectionate nod to • freq in AmE: 5/10

as a gesture of recognition, tribute, or subtle reference to something; used when an action, design, or statement acknowledges or honors a person, idea, tradition, or influence — often indirectly or symbolically

phrase C2 • antonym of: wage war • wage peace through dialogue/art/activism; actively/deliberately/collectively wage peace • freq in AmE: 4/10

to actively promote, pursue, or fight for peace — often through organized efforts, advocacy, or resistance to violence; a deliberate inversion of “wage war,” emphasizing constructive, nonviolent action

idiom C2 • synonyms: contradict, defy, oppose • fly in the face of logic/tradition/authority; clearly/boldly/openly fly in the face of something • freq in AmE: 5/10

to openly oppose, contradict, or challenge something — especially norms, expectations, logic, or authority; implies bold defiance or disregard for what is considered acceptable or reasonable

phrase • C1 • media/marketing/sociology • synonyms: pervasive advertising, omnipresent ads • ubiquitous advertising on screens/social media; be bombarded with ads; advertising saturation • freq in AmE: 6/10

a phrase describing advertising that is present everywhere — across multiple platforms, locations, and moments in daily life; often implies saturation or inescapability

phrase • C1 • informal/media • synonyms: ad blitz, marketing surge, promo overload • holiday ad frenzy; bombarded by ads; ad frenzy on social media/events • freq in AmE: 5/10

a state of intense, often chaotic or aggressive advertising activity; a surge of promotional content aimed at capturing attention, especially during peak commercial periods

phrase • C1 • betting/promotional • synonyms: enhanced odds, boosted payout rates • offer boosted odds on match/event; bet with boosted odds; promotional boosted odds • freq in AmE: 4/10

a promotional term used in betting and gambling to describe artificially increased chances of winning or enhanced payout rates, often offered to attract more participants

phrase • C1 • formal/professional • synonyms: reduce risks, minimize threats, manage hazards • mitigate the risks of failure/injury; risk mitigation strategies/measures; proactively mitigate risks • freq in AmE: 6/10

to reduce the severity, likelihood, or impact of potential dangers, threats, or negative outcomes; often used in strategic, technical, or professional contexts

phrase • C1 • legal/political • synonyms: proposed law, bill under review, legislative draft • pending legislation on climate/tax/AI; debate/amend/pass pending legislation; implications of pending bills • freq in AmE: 5/10

laws or legal proposals that have been introduced but not yet passed, enacted, or rejected; they are currently under review, debate, or awaiting approval in a legislative body

idiom • C1 • informal/social/systemic • synonyms: be overlooked, be neglected, slip through gaps • fall through the cracks in system/process; prevent things from falling through cracks; let someone fall through cracks • freq in AmE: 6/10

to be overlooked, neglected, or forgotten, especially within a system, process, or organization; often refers to people or issues that fail to receive proper attention or support

idiom C1 informal • synonyms: be blunt, be frank, speak plainly • make no bones about criticism/intention/admission • freq in AmE: 7/10

to speak openly and directly about something, especially something unpleasant or controversial; to show no hesitation or ambiguity

idiom C1 informal (also tear something to shreds) • synonyms: tear apart, demolish, savage • rip report/idea/speech to shreds; be ripped to shreds by critics/media • freq in AmE: 6/10

to criticize something very harshly; to completely destroy or dismantle something (physically, emotionally, or intellectually)

idiom C1 informal US • synonyms: chatter, gab, shoot the breeze • yak it up with friends/coworkers; yakking it up all night • freq in AmE: 5/10

to talk continuously and often noisily or informally, especially in a lively or trivial way; to chatter or gossip with enthusiasm; often used in informal, spoken, or colloquial American English

idiom C2 formal/literary • synonyms: regard with suspicion, disapprove, cast doubt • look askance at gesture/decision/person; be looked at askance • freq in AmE: 4/10

to regard someone or something with suspicion, disapproval, or doubt; to cast a skeptical or judgmental glance

idiom B2 informal/expressive • synonyms: show surprise, react with disbelief, signal disapproval • raise eyebrows at news/behavior/decision; cause/trigger raised eyebrows • freq in AmE: 6/10

to show surprise, disbelief, or mild disapproval, often through a facial expression; can also imply that something is unexpected, questionable, or socially bold

idiom B2 formal/narrative • synonyms: begin, commence, start off • get underway after delay/preparation; ceremony/project/journey/event gets underway; be fully underway • freq in AmE: 6/10

to begin or start happening, especially after preparation or delay; often used for events, projects, journeys, or formal proceedings

noun phrase (informal) • synonyms: strange tale, bizarre story, tall tale, odd narrative • (spin/tell/hear a weird yarn); weird yarn about X • freq in AmE: 2/10

an unusual, bizarre, or fantastical story — often informal, imaginative, and possibly exaggerated; typically evokes surprise, disbelief, or curiosity

idiom C1 informal (also spin (someone) a story/tale)• synonyms: tell a tale, fabricate, narrate, embellish • (spin/tell/hear a yarn); spinning yarns about X • freq in AmE: 3/10

to tell a long, imaginative, or exaggerated story — often informal, entertaining, and possibly fictional; implies creativity, embellishment, or playful deceit

phrase C2 informal • synonyms: completely crazy, utterly mad, visibly unhinged • (go/become/act starkly nuts); starkly nuts idea/behavior/look • freq in AmE: 1/10

completely, unmistakably, or shockingly crazy — often used informally to describe someone’s behavior, ideas, or emotional state as wildly irrational, eccentric, or unhinged; “starkly” intensifies the absurdity or extremity of “nuts”

idiom (informal) C1 • synonyms: corny joke, punny quip, groaner • (tell/crack/love a dad joke); classic dad joke moment; painfully wholesome humor • freq in AmE: 8/10

a deliberately awkward, predictable, or pun-based joke — often told with innocent enthusiasm and met with groans rather than laughter; typically associated with fathers trying to be funny in a wholesome, cringey way

idiom (informal) C1 • synonyms: cheesy joke, lame joke, dad joke, groaner • (tell/laugh at/crack a corny joke); painfully corny humor; corny punchline • freq in AmE: 7/10

a joke that is overly sentimental, predictable, or embarrassingly unoriginal — often met with groans rather than laughter; typically simple, pun-based, or reliant on clichés

expression C1 • forge strong/deep/lasting emotional bonds; forge bonds through trust/shared experience; emotional bonding process • freq in AmE: 6/10

to deliberately and actively build deep emotional connections with others, often through shared experiences, trust, empathy, and time

phrasal expression B2 • synonyms: pick up on, get, realize • patterns: catch on to the hints/clues/signals; finally/slowly/quickly catch on to something • collocations: catch on to the hints/joke/plan/tone • freq in AmE: 6/10

to begin to understand subtle suggestions, clues, or indirect signals — often after some delay or with growing awareness

verbal expression C2 • synonyms: decline, deteriorate, slip away • patterns: fade into dementia; slowly/gradually fade into dementia; someone fades into dementia over time • collocations: fade into dementia/confusion/oblivion • freq in AmE: 4/10

to gradually lose cognitive abilities and memory due to dementia; often evokes a slow, painful decline into confusion, disorientation, and emotional distance

idiom [passive ] C2 formal/literary • synonyms: gifted with, blessed with, possess naturally • be endowed with talent/resources/qualities; richly endowed • freq in AmE: 6/10

to naturally possess a particular quality, ability, or asset — often something positive, admirable, or beneficial

idiom • synonyms: withdraw from hustle, reject career grind, escape pressure • opt out of the rat race for simplicity/freedom; choose to live outside the rat race; rat race vs meaningful life • freq in AmE: 5/10

to choose to leave or disengage from a competitive, high-pressure lifestyle — especially one focused on career advancement, material success, or societal expectations

idiom • synonyms: be ignored, go unheard, be dismissed • warnings/advice fall on deaf ears; plea falls on deaf ears; emotional or political frustration; ignored by authority or loved ones • freq in AmE: 6/10

to be ignored or disregarded, especially when someone fails to respond to advice, warnings, or pleas; often implies frustration or futility in communication

idiom C2 formal (also lay something bare) • synonyms: reveal, expose, uncover, bring to light, disclose • lay bare the truth/facts/problems/emotions; be laid bare by something • freq in AmE: 7/10

to make something known that was previously hidden or secret; to reveal the truth about a problem, emotion, or situation