“Grease the wheels”
To make a process easier or faster.
General
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Search this index of English idioms. Each idiom has its own page with meaning, examples, and related expressions.
“Grease the wheels”
To make a process easier or faster.
“Read between the lines”
To understand the hidden meaning of something.
“Jump the gun”
To do something too early before the right time.
“Have the upper hand”
To have an advantage or control.
“Fall on deaf ears”
To be ignored or not listened to.
“Look the other way”
To ignore something wrong intentionally.
Idiom of the Day
“Miss the boat”
To miss an opportunity.
A highlighted idiom from our collection. Browse the full index above for more.
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Idioms are fixed expressions where the meaning is different from the literal words.
They make speech sound natural and help you understand native-level communication.
Study idioms in context, repeat example sentences aloud, and review them regularly.
Start with high-frequency idioms from daily conversation and workplace English.
“From the ground up”
From the beginning or basic level.
“Fat chance”
Very little or no chance.
“Meet someone halfway”
To compromise with someone.
“Burn the candle at both ends”
To work too hard and not rest enough.
“Weather the storm”
To survive a difficult period.
“The ballpark figure”
An approximate number or estimate.
“Go pear-shaped”
To go wrong or fail.
“In the driver’s seat”
In control of a situation.
“Blind as a bat”
Unable to see well.
“The elephant in the room”
An obvious problem that people avoid talking about.
“At all costs”
No matter what happens or how difficult it is.
“The final straw”
The last problem that makes a situation unacceptable.
“First things first”
The most important things should be done first.
“Off the hook”
Free from responsibility, blame, or trouble.
“Change hands”
To pass from one owner to another.
“Cut no ice”
To have no effect or influence.
“A race against time”
A situation where one must act quickly before time runs out.
“Get in on the act”
To join an activity that others are doing successfully.