Essential English Idioms and Vocabulary for Advanced Fluency
English with a size of 5.13 KBCommon English Idioms and Phrases
This list provides essential English idioms and phrases, including their meanings, synonyms, and antonyms to help improve your vocabulary.
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Synonyms | Antonyms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Be on a high | To feel extremely happy or excited | be elated, feel euphoric, be overjoyed | feel down, be depressed, be miserable |
| Tie the knot | To get married | get married, wed, exchange vows | split up, divorce, break up |
| Bubbly little lady | A lively, cheerful, talkative woman | vivacious, outgoing, spirited | dull, gloomy, introverted |
| Have money to burn | To have more money than needed and spend it freely | be wealthy, be affluent, be loaded | be broke, be poor, be penniless |
| Make something very plain | To explain something clearly and directly | clarify, explain, spell out | confuse, obscure, complicate |
| Rub along well | To get on or coexist together reasonably well | get along, cooperate, be compatible | clash, argue, fall out |
| Baffling | Hard to understand or explain | puzzling, confusing, perplexing | clear, obvious, simple |
| Pull the trick | To succeed in doing something clever or deceptive | succeed, manage, pull it off | fail, blunder, fumble |
| Anguished look | An expression showing deep pain or distress | pained, tormented, sorrowful | cheerful, calm, content |
| Displays of obvious jealousy | Visible signs of envy or possessiveness | envy, resentment, covetousness | trust, contentment, indifference |
| Deep sighs | Long breaths showing sadness, relief, or weariness | exhalations, breaths, gasps | silence, calm breathing |
| A growing pressure | Increasing demand or expectation to act | mounting tension, compulsion, urge | relief, freedom, ease |
| Blurt something out | To say something suddenly without thinking | spill, reveal, disclose | conceal, suppress, withhold |
Advanced Phrasal Verbs and Expressions
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Synonyms | Antonyms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle up emotions | To hide or control feelings instead of expressing them | repress, restrain, hold in | release, express, vent |
| Choke back tears | To try hard not to cry or show feelings | hold back, suppress, restrain | let out, release, display |
| Fend off criticism | To defend yourself against something | ward off, repel, resist | accept, surrender to, yield |
| Keep up appearances | To behave in a way that hides your real situation | pretend, maintain image, disguise | reveal truth, be honest, let go |
| Shoot down an argument | To strongly reject or disprove something | refute, rebut, dismiss | accept, endorse, support |
| Sweep aside criticism | To ignore or dismiss something as unimportant | disregard, brush off, ignore | acknowledge, consider, address |
| Tease out a problem | To carefully discover or understand something hidden | uncover, extract, unravel | conceal, hide, ignore |
| Tone down criticism | To make something less severe or extreme | soften, moderate, reduce | intensify, amplify, heighten |
| Whip up rage | To deliberately cause strong feelings or excitement | stir up, provoke, inflame | calm, soothe, pacify |
Vocabulary for Emotional States and Descriptions
| Word | Meaning | Synonyms | Antonyms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bliss | Perfect happiness and peace | joy, delight, paradise | misery, sorrow, despair |
| Euphoria | A feeling of intense excitement and happiness | exhilaration, elation, ecstasy | depression, gloom, sadness |
| Transient | Lasting only a short time | temporary, brief, fleeting | permanent, stable, lasting |
| Luminous | Producing or reflecting bright light | glowing, radiant, shining | dim, dull, dark |
| Robust | Strong, healthy, and sturdy | strong, vigorous, solid | weak, fragile, delicate |