English Idioms & Phrases

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a preposition or adverb particle that creates a new meaning — for example 'give up' (stop trying) or 'look after' (take care of). An idiom is a broader category: any fixed expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from the individual words — for example 'it's raining cats and dogs' or 'break a leg'. All phrasal verbs are idiomatic, but not all idioms are phrasal verbs.

There are tens of thousands of English idioms, but learners rarely need more than a few hundred to communicate naturally. Focus on the most frequent idioms in everyday speech and professional contexts. The 100–200 most common idioms will cover the vast majority of situations you encounter at B2–C1 level.

Most colloquial idioms ('kick the bucket', 'under the weather') are inappropriate in formal academic or business writing. However, certain idiomatic phrases are accepted in formal contexts — particularly in business writing ('in the long run', 'break new ground'). When in doubt, choose a literal equivalent for formal writing and save idioms for spoken English and informal communication.

The most effective approach is to learn idioms in context — in full sentences or short dialogues rather than isolated lists. Group related idioms by theme (emotions, time, money) so they are easier to remember. Exposure through authentic reading and listening helps you notice idioms naturally. Practising them in speaking or writing cements the meaning and usage.

Yes, there are differences, though the two varieties share a large common core of idioms. British English favours expressions like 'it's not my cup of tea' or 'Bob's your uncle', while American English uses idioms like 'hit it out of the park' or 'it's a ballpark figure'. Context usually makes meaning clear even when the idiom is unfamiliar.

Articles in this section explain idiom categories such as animal idioms, business idioms, food idioms, and idioms about time and money, along with general guides on how idioms work and how to use them naturally. Each article links to the matching entries in the full idioms reference and to practice exercises like Quiz and Flash Cards.

Idioms are figurative expressions that developed their meaning through cultural history, storytelling, and shared experience within a specific language community, not through the literal sum of their words. Translating an idiom word-for-word into another language usually produces a sentence that is confusing or meaningless, because the figurative association simply does not exist in the other language.

After learning an idiom's meaning, write two or three original sentences using it in situations relevant to your own life. Try to use one new idiom per day in conversation or a journal entry. LexFizz's Quiz and Flash Cards exercises let you test recall of idiom meanings, while Complete the Sentence pushes you to produce the idiom correctly in context.

Idiomatic language is not tested directly through definitions, but using idioms naturally and correctly can raise your score for Lexical Resource in IELTS Speaking and Writing, and for Cambridge Advanced (C1) and Proficiency (C2) exams. Overusing idioms or using them incorrectly can also count against you, so accuracy and appropriateness matter more than quantity.

Start with a small set of extremely common idioms used in everyday conversation, such as 'piece of cake', 'break the ice', and 'under the weather', rather than trying to learn many idioms at once. Learn each one together with an example sentence and the situation where it is typically used, so the idiom is anchored to a real context rather than an abstract definition.