Essential English Idioms and Vocabulary List

Common English Idioms

• The ball is in someone's court: It is their responsibility to take the next step in a situation.
• Keep your head above water: To manage to survive, especially during financial difficulties.
• Move the goalposts: To change the rules while someone is trying to complete a task to make it more difficult.
• Learn/know the ropes: To learn or know how to perform a job or activity.
• Be ahead of the game: To be more informed about recent developments than your competitors.
• Win hands down: To win or beat someone very easily.
• Par for the course: What should be expected based on past experience.
• On the ball: To be quick to understand and react to things.
• Jump the gun: To do something too soon, often without careful thought.
• Roll with the punches: To be able to deal with a series of difficult situations.
• Be in over your head: To be in a difficult situation that you cannot manage.
• Get something over with: To finish an unpleasant but necessary task to avoid future worry.
• Bend over backwards: To try very hard to be helpful or do something good.

Additional Phrases and Vocabulary

• Head over heels: Completely in love.
• Over and over: Something that happens repeatedly.
• Fall out: To argue with someone and stop being friendly.
• Have something on your mind: To be thinking about something that is worrying you.
• Be meant for each other: To be perfectly suited as romantic partners.
• Leave someone/something for: To exclude someone or something.
• Cheer (someone) up: To start feeling happier or to make someone else feel happier.
• Row: A noisy argument or fight.
• Butterflies in your stomach: A feeling of being very nervous or frightened.
• Forgive: To stop being angry or blaming someone for their actions.
• Deserve: To earn or be worthy of something based on behavior or qualities.
• Hang up: To end a phone conversation.
• Mumble: To speak quietly and unclearly.
• Point (something/someone) out: To draw attention to someone or something.
• Rush: To go or do something quickly.
• Sweat: The salty liquid released through your skin.
• Swallow: To move food, drink, or pills from your mouth into your stomach.