Common English Expressions

sell someone out

To betray one for a personal benefit. A noun or pronoun can be used between "sell" and "out." Jacob sold out the others to the police so that he would avoid jail time.

I feel you

I understand and empathize with you. Eg. "________. That was really unfair."

take something off your hands

I'll handle it for you If you don't want that box of chocolates, I'd be happy to ______ __ ______ _____ _______!

No sweat!

(Don't worry!) this is not difficult for me: "Will you be able to fix the light?" "Yeah, no sweat." I can deal with it easily: 'Have you got space for me in your car?' 'Yeah, no sweat.'

I had a blast!

(I had a great time) an exciting or enjoyable experience or event, often a party: - You should have come with us last night - we had a real blast!

No biggie!

(Something) not inconvenient or difficult at all; not at all troublesome. John: "Thanks so much for watching the kids for me last night. There was an emergency at work." Dave: "No biggie, man. I'm happy to help out."It's no biggie if you want me to drive you to the airport tomorrow.

bite off more than (one) can chew

1. Lit. to take a larger mouthful of food than one can chew easily or comfortably. I bit off more than I could chew, and nearly choked. 2. Fig. to take (on) more than one can deal with; to be overconfident. Ann is exhausted again. She's always biting off more than she can chew.

be down with (something)

1. To be in agreement with, in support of, have interest in, or thoroughly enjoy some subject, activity, or thing. I am so down with math, it's my favorite subject in school!Yeah, I'm down with seeing a movie later this evening. 2. To be ill or have caught some disease. (More often expressed as "come down with something.")Marigold had to go home early today. I think she's down with the flu.

miss the boat

1. To lose the chance or opportunity to do something. If you don't call the recruiter back right away, you're going to miss the boat. 2. To make a mistake, often due to misunderstanding something. Boy, he really missed the boat with that tone-deaf statement.

flaky

1. mod. unreliable. I'm getting so flaky. Must be old age. 2. mod. habituated to the use of cocaine. (Drugs.) He looks a little flaky. Look at his eyes and nose. 3. and flako (ˈfleko) mod. alcohol intoxicated. Paul was flaky and couldn't drive. Man is he flako!

That's a rip-off!

A bad deal; a fraudulent business or transaction. I can't believe I spent so much on this blender, and it's already broken. What a rip-off!I heard on the news that the charity is a rip-off, so don't send them any money.

shady deal

A dubious, suspicious, or potentially immoral or unlawful arrangement, agreement, contract, or transaction. The mayor's been making shady deals like that for years. This was just the first time he was caught. You can find all sorts of shady deals online for cheap pharmaceuticals.

shady character

A dubious, suspicious, or potentially immoral or unlawful person. The security guard caught a shady character hanging around the back entrance to the warehouse. I've always thought he was a bit of a shady character, so I was a bit nervous when Janet said she was going to work for him.

who cares

A phrase used to dismiss something as insignificant. Oh, who cares, it's not a big deal anyway. A: "Frankie has two phones." B: "So? Who cares?"

Epic fail!

An especially big or embarrassing blunder. I can't believe I called the CEO by the wrong name! What an epic fail. I tried to bake a cake for my sister's birthday, but I accidentally used salt instead of sugar. Epic fail.

by the skin of (one's) teeth

Barely. Often used to describe something that almost didn't happen. Oh man, my car wouldn't start this morning—I just made it here by the skin of my teeth!

(Do) you get me?

Do you understand what I am saying?

What's up?

Hello (What are you doing/thinking? or Are you ok? What's the matter) = depend on tone

Same (here)!

I agree with you

your guess is as good as mine

I don't know either, I have no idea. Typically said in response to a question. "What's her problem?" "I have no idea. Your guess is as good as mine."

cut (someone) some slack (idiom)

INFORMAL If you cut someone some slack, you are less critical of their behaviour or performance than usual because you know they are in a difficult situation. When you're new at a job, colleagues and bosses cut you some slack. They forgive minor mistakes because you're new. Note: This expression is variable. Instead of some, people sometimes use words such as a little or a lot of. She's still upset about her dad. Cut her a little slack.

in no time (at all)

In a very little amount of time. That test was so easy, I was done in no time. The repair is a cinch. I should be finished in no time at all.

the ball is in (one's) court

One has the responsibility for further action, especially after someone else previously held responsibility. The phrase originated in tennis. Well, they invited you, so the ball is in your court now. Do you want to go out with them or not?

That is the bomb!

That is great! That new restaurant is the bomb! Her boyfriend is the bomb. The novel is selling like a bomb.

That was epic!

That was awesome, great, unforgettable

hear (something) through the grapevine

To hear or learn of something through an informal means of communication, especially gossip. I heard through the grapevine that Stacy and Mark are getting a divorce. A: "How do you know the company is going bust?" B: "I heard it through the grapevine."

step up one's game

To improve in some way, usually so that one can perform as well as others. Man, I really need to step up my game if I'm going to play basketball with all these young guys. Phil lost another case? He really needs to step up his game if he wants to stay at this firm.

sit on the fence

To not make a decision or take a side when presented with two or more options or possibilities. You can't sit on the fence any longer—you need to choose who of these two we need to fire. The government has been sitting on the fence about legalizing marijuana for the past several years.

get (one's) head around (something)

To understand something that is challenging or confusing. It took a while, but I've finally gotten my head around this chapter in my calculus textbook. Wait, you two are dating now? It's going to take a little while for me to get my head around that!

How come?

Why? Why is it that (something is the case)? A: "I'm sorry, but I'm not letting you go to the party tonight." B: "Aw, Mom! How come?" How come Bobby gets ice cream but I don't?

Hell no!

absolutely not!

You know it

absolutely! that's true! A: "Are you coming to the concert on Saturday?" B: "Oh, you know it!"

it takes two to tango

actions or communications need more than one person said when you want to emphasize that both people involved in a difficult situation must accept the blame, or that an activity needs two people who are willing to take part for it to happen: She may want to argue, but it takes two to tango, and I won't stoop to her level.

cry wolf

call for help when you don't need it to keep asking for help when you do not need it, with the result that people think you do not need help when you really need it: If you cry wolf too often, people will stop believing you.

pull yourself together

calm down and act normally to become calm and behave normally again after being angry or upset: Just pull yourself together. There's no point crying about it.

at odds

chances; probability; disagreement My desire to go to the pumpkin patch is ______ _______ with my wish to stay home and avoid traffic.

bend over backwards

cliché To exert a lot of effort towards some end. This phrase is often used to express frustration when one's efforts go unrecognized. I have been bending over backwards to make sure that you have a wonderful visit, and you don't even care! The entire staff always has to bend over backward whenever the CEO comes to visit our office.

by and large

for the most part We've had some setbacks, but ______ ___ _______, the company is seeing impressive growth this year.

at her/his wit's end

frustrated and doesn't know what to do Several weeks ago, Minerva created the perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But she no longer remembered just exactly how she had crafted it; she was ______ ___ _____ _____trying to figure it out.

action speaks louder than words

it is better to actually do sth rather than just talk about it what you do is more important than what you say Team USA is not expected to win, but they believe actions speak louder than words.

bail

leave early/abruptly It was so boring, so I bailed early.

Add fuel to the fire

make a problem worse

at a loss of words

not knowing what to say At his surprise party, Griffin was __ __ ______ ___ _______

out of reach

not possible Since I haven't gone to cooking school yet, my dream of becoming a world-famous chef is currently _________.

a piece of cake

really easy

cut to the chase

slang To reach the most important points quickly. This phrase is often used as an imperative. Come on, cut to the chase already—what exactly are you trying to ask me? I'm a very busy woman, so I need an assistant who can cut to the chase.

a drop in the ocean/bucket

small or insignificant part of sth big a very small amount compared to the amount needed: My letter of protest was just a drop in the ocean.

by all means

surely, of course, certainly You only have two items to buy, so ______ ___ ______s, please go ahead of me in line!

pull the wool over someone's eyes

to deceive someone Did you really think you could _______ ____ _____ ______ my _____? I know you're the one who's been using all my shampoo!

over the hill

too old Now that Elsa was turning 20, she complained that she was getting old, but her friends insisted that she wasn't _________ ___ _____