Phrases & Expressions 20

idiom C1 • synonyms: break down, unravel, collapse • come undone emotionally/mentally; plans/systems come undone; people come undone under pressure • freq in AmE: 6/10

to lose emotional or mental control; to break down psychologically; to fail or collapse (e.g. a plan, system, or strategy)

idiom C1 US informal (or collocation with jones verb C1 US informal) • synonyms: crave, be dying for, long for • be jonesing for food/vacation/coffee/air; be jonesing for attention/a thrill/a fix • freq in AmE: 5/10

to strongly crave or desire something, often in a way that feels urgent, obsessive, or addictive; commonly used in casual speech

idiom C1 • synonyms: rumors are flying, speculation is mounting, buzz is growing • rumors are swirling about a breakup/resignation/scandal; swirling rumors online/in the media • freq in AmE: 6/10

used to describe a situation where many rumors are circulating rapidly and chaotically, often creating tension, speculation, or uncertainty; evokes imagery of movement and turbulence

idiom C2 • synonyms: face barrage, endure scrutiny • run the gauntlet of media/critics/bureaucracy; bravely/publicly run the gauntlet; forced to run the gauntlet • freq in AmE: 4/10

to endure a series of challenges, criticisms, dangers, or attacks — often from multiple sources or in rapid succession

idiom C2 with silver bullet noun [C ] C1 • synonyms: no quick fix, no easy answer, no magic solution, no cure-all, no panacea • there’s no silver bullet for solving/dealing with something • freq in AmE: 8/10

used to say that there is no simple or perfect solution to a complicated problem

idiom C2 with silver bullet noun [C ] C1 • synonyms: no quick fix, no easy answer, no cure-all, no magic solution • there’s no silver bullet that could solve/deal/fix something • freq in AmE: 8/10

used to say that there is no simple or perfect solution that could solve a complex or ongoing problem

idiom C2 with silver bullet noun [C ] C1 • synonyms: no perfect fix, no easy remedy, no magic solution • there was no silver bullet that could have prevented/changed/saved something • freq in AmE: 8/10

used to say that in the past there was no simple or perfect solution that could have prevented or changed a complex situation

idiom C1 informal • synonym: knock down, scatter forcefully • send someone/something sprawling; a tackle/punch/impact sends someone sprawling • send papers/debris/items sprawling • freq in AmE: 5/10

to cause someone or something to fall down suddenly and spread out in an uncontrolled way, or to cause something to spread out widely in a disorganized manner

idiom C2 US (UK pale in comparison with something or pale by comparison with something) • synonyms: be overshadowed, seem minor, fade next to • pale in comparison to achievements/trauma/original • freq in AmE: 7/10

to be not nearly as good as something or someone else

idiom C1 US informal (UK can’t hold your drink) • synonyms: be a lightweight, have a low alcohol tolerance, get drunk easily • can’t/couldn’t hold your/his/her liquor; try to hold one’s liquor • freq in AmE: 9/10

to be unable to drink much alcohol without becoming drunk or sick; to have a low tolerance for alcohol

phrase with thread [C ] C1 • synonyms: recurring theme, unifying idea, connecting motif • a common thread runs through story/work/experience/theme • freq in AmE: 9/10 (⇒ most common, neutral form; perfect for essays or analysis)

used to describe a shared idea, theme, or quality that appears repeatedly in different parts of something

phrase with thread [C ] C1 (with relative clause) • synonyms: uniting idea, shared element, core theme • a common thread that runs through stories/history/work/life • freq in AmE: 8/10 (⇒ descriptive and clear; often used when defining shared elements)

used to specify a shared element or theme that connects multiple ideas, works, or experiences

phrase with thread [C ] C1 (participle clause) • synonyms: connecting theme, recurring motif • a common thread running through stories/themes/history/reports • freq in AmE: 8/10 (⇒ elegant and formal; often found in essays or literary writing)

a recurring or consistent idea or quality present throughout a set of related things

phrase C2 with thread [C ] C1 (figurative, with simile) • synonyms: run through, tie together • run like a common thread through history/life/work/values • freq in AmE: 7/10 (⇒ poetic and expressive; adds metaphorical depth or emotional tone)

to appear or recur consistently throughout something, linking its different parts metaphorically like a thread through fabric

idiom informal/rude • synonyms: reject, dismiss, tell someone off • tell someone to shove it; shove it angrily/defiantly; shove your rules/apology/job • freq in AmE: 5/10 (spoken, emotional, rebellious)

used to angrily reject something — typically an offer, suggestion, demand, or authority. It expresses defiance, contempt, or refusal, often with a vulgar undertone

idiom • C1 (also raise the ante) • synonyms: raise the stakes/escalate/intensify • up the ante in negotiations/conflict/marketing; with money/effort/innovation; decide to/strategically/dramatically up the ante • freq in AmE: 6/10

to increase the level of risk, intensity, or commitment in a situation — often by raising expectations, investing more, or taking bolder action

phrase • B1–C2 • synonyms: move, transplant, repurpose • cut and paste text/code/content • freq in AmE: 9/10

to remove content from one place and insert it elsewhere; also used metaphorically to describe something assembled from preexisting parts, often mechanically or unimaginatively

phrase • B1–C2 • synonyms: duplicate, replicate, insert • copy and paste text/code/link/image • freq in AmE: 9/10

to duplicate content from one place and insert it elsewhere; also used figuratively to describe something unoriginal, formulaic, or replicated without thought

phrase • C1 • synonyms: move, rearrange, shift • drag and drop files/images/widgets; drag into folder/editor • freq in AmE: 8/10

to move an item (e.g. file, icon, block of text) by clicking and holding it, then releasing it in a new location; also used metaphorically to describe intuitive, simplified interaction or assembly

idiom • C1 (also off-track) (also off the track) • synonyms: derailed, sidetracked, misaligned • get/go/fall off track; be off track; off-track progress/thinking/planning; bring back on track • freq in AmE: 6/10

not following the intended path, plan, or expected progress; deviating from a goal, topic, or schedule

idiom • C1 (UK also off the beaten track) • synonyms: unconventional, obscure, out-of-the-way • go/travel off the beaten path; off-the-beaten-path place/idea; venture off the beaten path • freq in AmE: 5/10

located in a place that is not commonly visited or known; away from mainstream routes, trends, or expectations — often implying uniqueness, authenticity, or solitude

idiom C1 dramatic (also wipe something off the face of the earth/globe) • wipe city/culture/history off the map; fear/attempt to be wiped off the map; wipe dreams/identity off the map; wiped off by war/disaster/conquest • freq in AmE: 5/10

to destroy something so thoroughly that it ceases to exist or be recognized; often used in geopolitical, military, or metaphorical contexts

idiom C1 formal–dramatic • synonyms: demolish, obliterate, tear down • raze city/building/system to the ground; raze identity/tradition/history; razed by war/fire/revolution; vow/plan to raze something to the ground • freq in AmE: 4/10

to completely destroy a building, place, or structure until nothing remains; often used in war, urban redevelopment, or metaphorical contexts of total dismantling

idiom C1 intense–defiant • synonyms: destroy, raze, obliterate • burn house/system/memory to the ground; burn identity/tradition/self; burn by fire/rage/grief; vow/need to burn something to the ground • freq in AmE: 6/10

to destroy something completely by fire; metaphorically, to dismantle or reject something so thoroughly that nothing remains — often with emotional intensity or rebellious intent

collocation with at odds (with someone/something) idiom C1 solemn–philosophical • synonyms: unnatural, ecologically harmful, disconnected • live/act/build at odds with nature • freq in AmE: 3/10

in conflict or disharmony with the natural world, its rhythms, laws, or essence; often used to critique human behavior, technology, or ideology that disrupts ecological or existential balance

idiom C1

in disagreement

phrase C1 • synonyms: aligned, eco-friendly, attuned • live/build/farm in harmony with nature; soul/system/design in harmony; strive/return to harmony; freq in AmE: 5/10

living, acting, or existing in a way that respects, aligns with, or flows naturally with the rhythms, laws, and balance of the natural world; often used in ecological, spiritual, or philosophical contexts

idiom C1 • synonyms: seize the moment, act while you can, strike while the iron is hot • make hay while the sun shines; take advantage of good conditions; act before the opportunity fades; proactive mindset • freq in AmE: 6/10

to take advantage of favorable conditions while they last; to act promptly when the opportunity arises

idiom C1 • synonyms: keep your word, fulfill your promise, honor the deal • uphold your end of the bargain/deal/agreement; fail to uphold your end; uphold one’s part; mutual obligation; trust-based exchange • freq in AmE: 6/10

to fulfill your obligations or responsibilities in an agreement; to do what you promised or are expected to do

idiom C1 informal • synonyms: thrilled, delighted, flattered, overjoyed • be tickled to death by praise/surprise/visit; feel tickled to death; tickled to death reaction; emotionally tickled to death • freq in AmE: 5/10

to be extremely pleased, amused, or delighted; to feel great joy or flattery, often in response to praise, attention, or a pleasant surprise

idiom C1 formal/economic/business • synonyms: be excluded by cost, be unaffordable, be outpriced • priced out of the housing/job/art market; priced out of competition; priced out by inflation/rent/bidding; priced out of urban life • freq in AmE: 5/10

to be unable to afford participation in a market due to rising prices; to be excluded from buying or competing because costs have become too high

phrase C1 • synonyms: disproportionate, mismatched, out of proportion • be out of scale with surroundings/context/reaction; emotionally out of scale; out-of-scale elements/design/response • freq in AmE: 4/10

to be disproportionate in size or relation to surrounding elements; to not match the expected or harmonious scale of a system, image, or context

idiom C1 economic/social/metaphorical • synonyms: as a result of, following, driven by, built on • on the back of success/sales/tragedy/trend; growth on the back of X; reaction on the back of Y; momentum on the back of Z • freq in AmE: 5/10

as a result of or following something; supported or driven by a prior event, trend, or achievement — often implying momentum, causality, or dependency

idiom [C1 ] • synonyms: be overwhelmed, be bombarded • under siege from critics/media/stress; feel/look/remain under siege; fortress/mind/reputation under siege; contrast: withstand/lift the siege • freq in AmE: 6/10

to be surrounded and attacked, either literally (as in military conflict) or metaphorically — by criticism, pressure, or overwhelming challenges

idiom C1 • synonyms: land effortlessly, windfall • opportunity/job/success falls into someone's lap • freq in AmE: 6/10

to receive something valuable, desirable, or advantageous unexpectedly and without effort — often by luck, coincidence, or someone else's action

idiom C2 • synonyms: honor, reflect accurately • do justice to sth/sb; photo/speech/review doesn’t do it justice • freq in AmE: 7/10

to represent, describe, or perform something in a way that shows its true quality, value, or beauty — often used when something is so impressive that it’s hard to capture fully

idiom • C1 • synonyms: become famous, gain recognition • rise to fame through talent/viral video; meteoric/sudden rise; rise to stardom as singer/influencer; rise followed by downfall/controversy • freq in AmE: 7/10

to become famous or well-known, especially after a period of effort, talent development, or public exposure

idiom • C2 • synonyms: challenge, confront, provoke • throw down the gauntlet to rival/government; over issue/policy; symbolic/public/bold challenge; take up/ignore the gauntlet • freq in AmE: 3/10

to issue a challenge, especially in a bold or confrontational way; to declare one's readiness to fight, compete, or dispute

idiom C2 • synonyms: separate the good from the bad, filter, discern • sort out the wheat from the chaff; sift through; distinguish quality from noise; identify what matters; filter out the irrelevant • freq in AmE: 3/10

to separate what is valuable or useful from what is worthless or irrelevant; to distinguish quality from mediocrity

idiom B2/C1 • synonyms: comply, conform, obey • fall in line with something • fall in line with rules/policies/authority; be forced to fall in line; eventually fall in line; pressure to/refuse to fall in line • freq in AmE: 5/10

to conform to rules, expectations, or authority; to begin behaving in a way that is expected or required, especially after resistance or hesitation

idiom B2 informal also bang for your buck) • synonyms: value for money, payoff • get a better/a bigger/the most bang for your buck; get/offer/maximize bang for the buck; emotional/creative bang for the buck • freq in AmE: 8/10

value or benefit received in proportion to the money, effort, or time spent; a good return on investment or resources

idiom B2 informal • synonyms: get more for your money, optimize value • get/choose/offer a better/a bigger/the most etc., bang for your buck; give you a better/a bigger/the most etc., bang for your buck • freq in AmE: 7/10

to obtain more value, benefit, or effectiveness for the same or lower cost; to make a smarter or more efficient choice compared to alternatives

idiom B2 informal • synonyms: get value for money, worthwhile investment • get/expect/ensure your money’s worth; emotional/physical/intellectual money’s worth; not getting your money’s worth • freq in AmE: 8/10

to receive good value for the money spent; to feel that a purchase or investment was worthwhile and justified by the benefit or satisfaction gained

idiom B2 informal • synonyms: totally worth it, money well spent • absolutely/truly worth every penny; worth every penny for a product/service/experience; emotional/aesthetic/practical worth every penny • freq in AmE: 7/10

completely justified by the cost; providing full satisfaction or value for the money spent, often with a sense of delight or conviction

idiom C1 • synonyms: hard truth, painful reality • a bitter pill to swallow after failure/rejection/loss; accept/endure/digest a bitter pill; emotionally/politically bitter pill; outcome/verdict/truth • freq in AmE: 7/10

a situation, decision, or truth that is difficult to accept emotionally or morally; something unpleasant that must be endured or accepted despite resistance or disappointment

idiom C1 • synonyms: grab the chance, act now, carpe diem • seize the moment/opportunity/chance; dare to seize the moment; seize it before it’s gone; inspirational: live fully/love deeply • freq in AmE: 7/10

to take immediate advantage of an opportunity or situation before it passes; to act decisively and embrace the present

idiom C1 • synonyms: grab the chance, act now, carpe diem • seize the moment/opportunity/chance; dare to seize the moment; seize it before it’s gone; inspirational: live fully/love deeply • freq in AmE: 7/10

to take immediate advantage of an opportunity or situation before it passes; to act decisively and embrace the present

idiom B2 • synonyms: take full advantage, make it count • make the most of your time/opportunity/situation; even if/while you can; emotionally: make the most of every moment/connection • freq in AmE: 8/10

to use a situation, opportunity, or resource as effectively and fully as possible — especially when circumstances are limited, imperfect, or fleeting

idiom C2 • synonyms: low-hanging fruit, easy target • ripe for the picking by investors/critics; market/idea ripe for the picking; opportunity ripe for exploitation • freq in AmE: 6/10

ready to be taken, used, or exploited — often implying vulnerability, opportunity, or lack of resistance; metaphorically drawn from fruit being ready to harvest

idiom (sentence-level) B2 • synonyms: finally, no worries, at least it happened • better late than never to arrive/reply/apologize; say/joke “better late than never”; emotional: reconnect/change late • freq in AmE: 8/10

used to express that doing something late is better than not doing it at all — often said with relief, humor, or gentle reproach