EXTENSIVE AND UP-TO-DATE LIST OF AMERICAN IDIOMS AND SLANG

We check this list reqularly so that you get the most up-to-date and modern (American) English idioms that are used every day! Most of the idioms include examples.

About time:
Nearly time, high time. Example: "It's about time you bought a new car!"

(To) ace (v.): (a test, exam, etc.) To pass a test, exam, etc. really easily. Example: "Robert aced his physics exam."

(To) act high and mighty:
To act proudly and arrogantly. Example: "He has been acting all high and mighty ever since he chased away that burglar."

Actions speak louder than words:
Proverb meaning that's it's better to do something about a problem than to talk about it.

(To) act one's age:
To behave in a more mature way. Example: "Bill, stop throwing rocks! Act your age!"

(To) add fuel to the fire:
To make a bad problem even worse. Example: "He added fuel to the fire by bringing up old grudges while they were arguing."

(To) add insult to injury:
To make a bad situation even worse. Example: "To add insult to injury, they made him work overtime on the day he was fired."

A dime a dozen: Very common; Said of something that is so easy to find that it don't have much value. Example: "Girls like her are a dime a dozen." (There are lots of girls like her.)

Against the clock:
To attempt to do something "against the clock" is to attempt to do something as fast as possible, usually in order to make a deadline. Example: "They were working against the clock to finish the project."

All (adv.): Used to mean "very" in phrases such as "He was all nervous." (He was very nervous.), "He was all happy." (He was very happy.), or "so" in phrases such as "Don't get all emotional."

All ears: When someone says "I'm all ears", they are telling you that they are listening to you, that they are giving you their undivided attention.

All-nighter (n.): A period of work or study that lasts all night. Most often used with the verb "pull", ie. "to pull an all-nighter". Example: "We pulled an all-nighter in order to finish the project."

All-out (adj./adv.):
Full-scale; complete. Example: "They said it was only a few skirmishes, but it turned out to be an all-out war."

All set:
Ready (to go). Example: "All set?"

All thumbs:
Awkward. Clumsy.

All in a day's work:
Typical; normal; par for the course. Example: "Talking to famous celebrities is all in a day's work for some Hollywood reporters."

(From) all walks of life:
(From) all social, economic, and ethnic groups. Example: "People from all walks of life voted for him, but he still lost the presidential election."

Ammo (n.): Short form for "ammunition". Example: "I ran out of ammo."

Angle (n.): A devious plan; a scheme. Often used with the verb "to work". Example: "He claims to be on the level, but I'm sure he's working some angle."

Armed to the teeth:
Heavily armed. Example: "The rebels were armed to the teeth."

Around-the-clock (adj/adv.): 24/7, all day and night, non-stop; Example: "The house was being watched around the clock."

As if!: On its own, this phrase is used to suggest/emphasize that something is not likely/ not going happen. Example: "He thinks I'll go out with him. As if!"

At all hours (of the night):
Very late at night; throughout the night. Example: "Her boyfriend would call her at all hours of the night."

At each other's throats:
Fighting or arguing hard. Example: "They were at each other's throats, arguing non stop."

At this stage:
At this point. Example: "At this stage, it's difficult to say who will win the election."

Awesome (adj.): Great; Fantastic; Super: Example: "That was an awesome movie."


Bachelor pad:
An apartment where a single man or woman (sometimes referred to as a "bachelorette pad") lives alone.

Back in the day:
Many years ago; a long time ago. Example: "Back in the day, we used to pay much more for laptops."

(To be) back on one's feet:
(To) recover (from an illness). Example: "You'll be back on your feet in no time."

Back to the drawing board:
A phrase that is said when you have to start some process from the beginning (usually after having failed in the previous attempt). Example: "Well, that didn't work... Looks like it's back to the drawing board."

Backhanded compliment:
An insult disguised as a compliment. Example of a backhanded compliment: "Hey, don't feel bad! You're not as fat as you used to be!"

(To) badmouth/bad-mouth:
To verbally criticize; to knock; to talk badly of. Example: "She's such a negative person. All she does is badmouth people all day."

Baggage (n.):
Short for "emotional baggage", which is a collection of painful memories, experiences, mistrust, etc. carried around as a result of negative past experiences/relationships. Example: "I wouldn't get involved with her. She's got a lot of baggage."

Behind bars:
In jail. Example: "The robbers were caught and are now behind bars."

(a) ball-park/ballpark figure:
A rough estimate. Example: "Can you give me a ball-park figure of what this project will cost?"

(To get/jump on the) bandwagon:
To begin to like something/start doing something because it's popular, "hip", or everyone else is doing it. Example: "Everyone's jumping on the tablet bandwagon."

(To) bank on something:
To count or rely on something.

(To) bark up the wrong tree:
To ask the wrong person; to make the wrong choice. Example: "The gangster told the cops they were barking up the wrong tree in thinking he was responsible for the robbery."

Bash (n.):
Party.

(A) basket-case:
A very nervous person; someone at the verge of being neurotic. Example: "All the stress from the divorce turned John into a basket case."

(To) be a fan of someone/ something:
To like, idolize, admire someone/ or something. Example: "I'm not a big fan of heavy metal music."

(To) be in one's element:
To be completely comfortable doing something; to do something that comes very naturally to someone. Example: "When it comes to speaking in public, the senator is in his element."

(To) be the case:
To be a reality. To be the way things are. Example: "I wish I had a million dollars, but that's not the case."

(To) be up to no good:
To be planning something bad, mischievous, etc. Example: "I could tell from the look in his eyes that he was up to no good."

Beat (adj.):
Tired. Example: "Man, I'm beat. I'm going to bed."

(To) beat around the bush:
To avoid getting to the point. Example: "Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think."

(To) beg to differ:
A polite way of saying "to disagree", most often heard in the phrase "I beg to differ!"

(To be) behind (someone):
To be in the past. To no longer be the case. Example: "I used to smoke, drink, and take drugs, but all that is behind me now."

(To get) behind (someone/something):
To support (someone/something). Example: "I'm behind you on this."

Believe it or not:
Used at the beginning of a sentence to state that something is true whether one chooses to believe it or not. Example: "Believe it or not, I still care for her."

Bent out of shape:
Upset/agitated. Example: "Don't get all bent out of shape over that."

(To give someone a) big hand:
To applaud (for someone) energetically. To give (someone) a big round of applause. Example: "Let's give our performers a big hand!"

(To have a) big mouth:
To not be able to keep a secret. Example: "Don't tell her anything. She's got a really big mouth."

Big-shot (noun/adjective):
An important person. Example: "All the big-shots at headquarters never listen to what we have to say."; "A big-shot reporter."

(A) Bimbo:
A foolish or empty man or woman. Example: "John only talks about his car and his clothes. He's a real bimbo."

(The) birds and the bees:
Sex; human reproduction. Example: "It's about time I talked to my son about the birds and the bees."

(A) bite to eat:
A snack, some food. Example: "Let's go grab a bite to eat before we go to the game."

(To) bite the hand that feeds you:
To do harm to someone who helps you.

(To) bite one's tongue:
To struggle not to say something that you want to say. Example: "I wanted to tell her the truth, but I had to bite my tongue because I had promised Bill that I wouldn't say anything."

Black sheep (of the family):
The worst or least accepted member of a family. Example: "Peter is the black sheep of his family."

(A) blast:
A great time; a fun time. Example: "We had a blast last night."

(To) blow:
To lose is a wasteful way/ to waste. Example: "Sarah blew all her money on gambling."

(To) blow (someone) away:
To really impress (someone). Example: "We were all blown away by her performance."

(To) blow someone's cover:
To reveal someone's secret, or true identity. Example: "The spy was very careful not to blow her cover."

(To) blow (something) out of proportion:
To make (something) seem much more important than it actually is. Example: "Of course his reaction was extreme! He always blows things out of proportion."

(To) blow (someone) out:
In sports, - to win by a large margin, by a lot of points. To be blown out means to lose by a large margin. Example: "Q: How did your team do? A: They were blown out."

B.O.:
Short for "body odor" - the foul smell from one's armpits, especially when one doesn't shower/wash. Example: "The woman sitting beside me had really bad B.O."

(To) bolt (for):
To run (towards). Example: "As soon as I turned around, he bolted for the door."

Booze:
Alcohol.

(to) boss (someone) around: To be bossy towards (someone); to constantly tell (someone) what to do. Example: "It's annoying how she bosses everyone around."

Break (n.):: Stroke of luck. Example: "We got a big break in the case today!"

(To) break even:
To neither win nor lose. Example: "Michael thought he would lose $200, but he ended up breaking even."

(To) break it up:
To end a fight. Example: "All right, break it up, you two!"

(To) break new ground:
To do something that hasn't been done before; to innovate. Example: "Dr. Davis was breaking new ground in cancer research."

(To) break someone's heart:
To cause someone (strong) emotional pain. Example: "Fiona broke James' heart when she refused to marry him."

(To) break the news to someone/ to break "it" to someone:
To tell someone some important news, usually bad news. Example: "I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your son has been selling stolen baseball cards."

Broke (adj.):
Having no money. Example: "He should really get a job. He's always broke!"

Bum (n.):
Mendicant; Homeless person.

Bummed (adj.):
Disappointed; Dejected. Example: "He was really bummed about having lost the game."

'Burbs (n.pl):
Short for "suburbs"; Example: "Tina lives in the 'burbs with her folks."

(To really) burn someone up:
To really upset someone. Example: "It really burns me up when he talks to me in that tone of voice."

Burnt out:
Exhausted from doing something too much and too intensely (especially used when speaking about work, etc.) Example: "He was completely burnt out after working for three weeks straight."

(To) burst into tears:
To start crying suddenly. Example: "She burst into tears when she heard the news."

(To) bust:
To nail; To catch; Example: "He got busted for driving drunk."


Call (n.): 1) Prediction: Example: "That was a good call on the weather. It rained just like you said that It would.". 2) Decision: Example: "Where do you want to eat. Person 2: It's your call."

(To) call it a day:
To end work and go home. Example: "Let's call it a day. It's getting late."

Call the shots: To make decisions, to be in charge. Example: "I call the shots around here!"

(To) carry a tune:
To be able to sing on key (accurately). Example: "She has an awful voice! She can't carry a tune."

Cash (n.): Money. Example: "You got any cash on you?"

(To) cash in on something:
To profit from something. Example: "The actor wanted to cash in on his popularity by opening a restaurant."

(A) catch:
When talking about wives, husbands, girlfriends, etc., people sometimes say "He's quite a catch" or "She's quite a catch", which means that the person in question is (or would be) a great partner (usually because of his/her personality, money, or looks).

(To) catch someone's eye:
To get someone's attention through eye contact.

Catch some rays (v.): To sunbathe; To go suntanning.

Check out (v.): 1) To see ("Let's check out that new movie!") 2) To take a look at ("Check out this cool website!", "Check out that girl!")

Cheesy (adj.): Cheap, tacky. Examples: "A cheesy pick-up line", "A cheesy song".

Chick (n.): Young woman, girl, etc. (This term is considered derogatory (offensive) by some, so if you're not sure, don't use it.)

Chill out (v.): To relax. Example: "Chill out! Why are you getting so worked up over this?"

Class-act (n.): A distinctive person; someone with a lot of class.

(A) clean bill of health:
A report from the doctor that one's health is good; good results from a doctor's medical examination. Example: "I went in for my yearly physical and got a clean bill of health from Dr. Jones."

(To) clear the table:
To remove all dishes, cutlery, etc. from a table after a meal. Example: "You clear the table and I'll do the dishes."

(A) close call:
Most often used in the past tense, this can be said of something that almost caused a very dangerous or bad situation. Example: "That was a close call! The train almost hit the motorbike."

Coast-to-coast (adj/adv):
From the Atlantic to the Pacific coast in the United States. Example: "Our car made the coast-to-coast trip in 70 hours".

(To) come away empty handed:
To return without anything. To expect to receive something but to end up receiving nothing. Example: "The union workers came away empty handed from the negotiations."

(To) come to an end:
To finish; to stop. Example: "When the road came to an end, we turned left."

(To) come out of the closet:
To reveal that one is gay. Example: "The Republican senator shocked his constituents last June by coming out of the closet."

Come to think of it:
I just remembered. Example: "Hey, come to think of it, I do have a sleeping bag you can borrow."

(To) come up short:
To not quite achieve one's goal. Example: "The students tried to raise $1,000 for the school play, but they came up short."

Come what may
Whatever happens. No matter what happens.

Cool (adj.): nice, great, impressive. Example: "a cool dress", "a cool guy", "a cool bar."

Cool down (v.) : Relax, calm down after an argument, etc. Example: "Give him a couple of days to cool down before you call him."

Cop (n.): Police officer. Example: "My brother is a cop."

Copycat (noun or adjective)
Used to refer to someone who imitates/mimics another person, usually used with a negative connotation.

Couch potato : Someone who spends most of his/her time sitting on the couch, watching TV.

(To) cover a lot of ground:
To go through a lot of information. Example: "We've covered a lot of ground in my English class in the past two months."

(To) cover for someone:
To make excuses for someone or to conceal someone's errors. Example: "He asked me to cover to him while he ran out to talk to his girlfriend."

(At the) crack of dawn:
Right at dawn (when the sun comes up). Example: "Whe hit the road at the crack of dawn."

Crack open (v.): In this phrase, the "crack" is only used to emphasize the process of opening. Example: "Crack open a bottle of champagne! It's time to celebrate!" (Open a bottle of champagne! It's time to celebrate!)

Crank up (v.): To crank something up means to increase it's volume (significantly) Example: "Crank it up, man! I love that song!"

(To) crash:
To sleep. To go to bed. Example: "Do you think I can crash here tonight?"

(To) cramp someone's style:
To limit someone in some way. To limit someone from expressing themselves fully. Example: "Get lost. You're cramping my style!"

Creep (n.): An unpleasantly weird/strange person. Example: "I don't like Tom. He's a bit of a creep."

Creepy (adj.): Unpleasantly weird; something that makes you feel uneasy. Example: "That's a creepy song."

Cringe (adj.): Embarrassing. A short form of "cringe-worthy". Example: "My mom's speech was cringe."

Crummy (adj.): Bad. *somewhat outdated*

(To) cry one's eyes out:
To cry hard. Example: "When her grandfather died, she cried her eyes out for three days straight."

Cushy (adj.): Comfortably easy. Example: "A cushy job."

(To) cut class:
To not go to class. To skip going to class. Example: "Jacob was a very bad student. He was always cutting class to go smoke with his buddies."

Cut (a deal) (v.): To negotiate a deal; To compromise; to make a deal. Example: "Let's cut a deal. I'll let you use the car if you help around the house."

(A) cut above (something):
Superior/ better (than something). Example: "The commercial claimed that this car company was a cut above the rest."

(To not) cut it: To not be enough; to be insufficient. Example: "In this case, saying 'sorry' just doesn't cut it." (Saying 'sorry' is not enough.)

(To) cut loose:
To act without restraint, without holding back. Example: "I just want to cut loose this weekend."


Dead: Empty; quiet (said of bars, clubs, restaurants, etc.) Example: "It's really dead in here tonight." (It's empty in here tonight./there are very few people here tonight.)

Dead: Extremely, totally, very. Example: "I'm dead tired." (I'm extremely tired.); "You're dead wrong." (You're totally wrong.)

(A) dead ringer (noun):
A look-alike. Example: "He's a dead ringer for Leonardo Dicaprio." ( = He looks exactly like Leonardo Dicaprio.)

Decent (adj.): Pretty good.

(A) diamond in the rough:
A person (or thing) with good qualities and/or good potential, which cannot be seen right away. Example: "They picked him because they think he's a diamond in the rough and that he'll be a great player in a couple of years."

(To) die of boredom:
To be very bored. Example: "I often think I'm going to die of boredom in his class."

Dig (v.): To like. *this word is somewhat outdated*

Dirt cheap:
Very cheap (inexpensive). Example: "The hotel we stayed in was dirt cheap, but our room was very nice."

Dirty: Overtly/openly sexual; obscene. Example: "Those lyrics are really dirty."

Dis (v.): Short for "to disrespect"; To talk about someone in a disrespectful manner.

Ditch (v.): to leave, get rid of (usually said of something that is "slowing you down" or is "unnecessary"). Example: "The thieves ditched the car and got on a bus."; "He ditched her at the altar."

Do an about face (v.): To radically change one's opinion/position. Example: "He said he would support the bill, so everyone was surprised when he did an about face and voted against it."

Don't hold your breath:
Don't wait for it to happen because it probably won't. Example: "You think David will break up with Tina? Don't hold your breath!"

Don't let it get you down:
Don't let it upset you; don't allow it to make you feel bad.

(To) do the dishes:
To wash the dishes. Example: "Could you do the dishes tonight?"

Dough (n.): Money.

Dork (n.): Strange person; someone without "social graces"; weirdo.

Down (v.): To eat/drink quickly. Example: "We downed a couple of beers and left for the club."

(A) downer:
An event that causes one to be sad. Example: "Your girlfriend broke up with you? What a downer!"

Down the drain:
Wasted. Lost forever. Example: "I tried to get this business going for five years, but I went bankrupt. That's five years down the drain."

Doze off (v.): To fall asleep. Example: "I dozed off during the movie."

(A) drag:
Boring; a disappointment. Example: "The party was a real drag."

Drama queen: Someone who gets overly emotional/sentimental about things. Someone who thrives on the dramatic. Example: "Betty is such a drama queen!"

(To) drive a hard bargain:
To be firm when bargaining about something. Example: "You drive a hard bargain, but alright, I'll pay you $10 for the lamp."

(To) drive someone crazy:
To make someone very agitated, upset, or emotional (most often in a bad way). Example: "That loud music is driving me crazy! Turn it down!"

(To) drop it:
To stop talking about something. Example: "I told you to drop it! I don't want to talk about it."

(To) drown one's sorrows:
To get/ become drunk. Example: "Drowning your sorrows won't solve anything."

(To) drop the ball:
To make a mistake. (WARNING: This idiom is overused in the business world). Example: "P1: So it was John's fault? P2: Yes, John really dropped the ball on this one."

(A) dream come true:
A great thing; a dream or wish that has become reality. Example: "Living in California is like a dream come true."

(To) dump someone: (very informal)
To end a relationship with someone; to break up with someone. To stop seeing someone (romantically). Example: "She dumped me."


(To give someone) an earful:
(To give someone) a strong verbal scolding. Example: "Katie's father really gave her an earful when she came home at 4 AM."

Easy! (command):
Not so fast! Calm down! Example: "Easy! Don't eat so fast!"

Ease off (v.) (also "ease up"): To start doing something less intensely. Example: "Don't criticize him so much. Ease off a little bit!"

Easy come, easy go:
PROVERB. Said to explain the loss of something that was very easily obtained in the first place.

Easy-going:
Tolerant; laid-back; relaxed. Example: "Bill is one the most easy-going guys that I know. He never gets upset about anything."

(To) eat one's heart out:
To be envious or jealous (used mostly as a command). Example: "Eat your heart out Frank, I'm going to Paris!"

(To) eat one's words:
To admit that what one said was wrong. Example: "You think I won't be able to find work in one week? I'm going to make you eat your words."

(To) eat up:
1) To enjoy thoroughly. Example: "He eats up the publicity."; 2) To use up. Example: "Playing video games will eat up your cell phone battery."; 3) To believe (without questioning). Example: "She's so gullible. She'll eat up anything you tell her.

Eating: Bothering. Example: "What's eating him?" (What's bothering him?)

Elbow room:
Enough space (room) to feel comfortable.

Enough is enough:
That is enough and there should be no more; usually said when one has had enough of a certain situation.

(To) enter one's mind:
To cross one's mind; to start thinking about something. Example: "You want me to become a doctor? The thought never even entered my mind."

Every so often:
Once in while; occasionally. Example: "I think about her every so often."

Every other:
Every second. Alternate. Example: "In Los Angeles, every other person is an actor."

Expecting:
Pregnant. Example: "She is expecting."

Eye-opener (n.): Something that makes you realize something. Example: "That video was a real eye-opener. I had no idea things were that bad."


(To) face the music:
To accept the (unpleasant) consequences of what you have done. Example: "After years of bad decision making, the CEO finally had to face the music."

Fair and square: Completely fairly. Example: "He won fair and square."

Fair-weather friend
A person who is only your friend when things are going well for you.

(To) fall flat (on one's face):
To fail. To be unsuccessful. Example: "The initiative fell flat on its face."

Fall for (v.): Believe (in a gullible way). Example: "I'm not going to fall for that old trick."

(To) fall into place:
To become organized; to fit together. Example: "Once I started meditating, everything in my life began to fall into place."

Fall short (v.): To not be enough. Example: "His efforts fell short."

(A) falling out:
A disagreement/break in a friendship. Example: "We had a falling out over what she said."

(A) far cry:
Very different (often in a worse way). Example: "This wine is nice, but it's a far cry from the wine we had yesterday."

(To) feel like a new person:
To feel refreshed, rejuvenated.

(To) feel out of place:
To feel like you don't belong. Example: "We went to Mary's party last night. We didn't really know anyone, so we felt a little out of place."

(A) fifth wheel:
Useless, out of place, unnecessary. Example: "There were only couples there. I felt like a fifth wheel."

(To) fill someone's shoes:
To replace someone. To do something someone else used to do. Example: "Cathy has been working here for 20 years. It's going to be hard to find someone to fill her shoes."

(A) fine line:
Not much difference. Example: "Sometimes there's a fine line between love and infatuation."

First and foremost:
First and most importantly. Example: "First and foremost, you have to treat every customer with respect."

First thing:
Before anything else. Example: "Call me first thing tomorrow morning."

(To) fish for a compliment:
To try very hard to get a compliment from someone. Example: "Stop fishing for a compliment. It's really annoying."

Fishy (adj.): Suspicious. Example: "There's something fishy about the way he's behaving."

(To) fix someone (some food - like cocoa, oatmeal, etc.):
To prepare (some food) for someone. Example: "I'll fix you a cup of cocoa."

Flat broke:
Very poor. Having absolutely no money. Example: "I'm flat broke, but I don't care."

Flip out (v.): To get very upset (to the point of starting to scream, etc.); Freak out.

Flip side: Opposite/other side. Examples: "the flip side of the coin", "the flip side of this argument."

Folks (n.pl.): Parents. Example: "My folks live in Atlanta."

(To) follow one's heart:
To act according to your feelings/ emotions. Example: "I couldn't decide what to do, so I just followed my heart."

Food for thought:
Something to think about.

For what it's worth: This is basically like saying "I don't know whether or not this of any value, but..." Example: "For what it's worth, I never wanted things to end up like this."

(A) fork in the road:
A point when a road splits in two directions. Example: "They came to a fork in the road, and had to decide whether to go left or right."

Freak (n.): Strange person. (*fairly negative/derogatory these days*)

Freebie (n.): Something you get for free, that you don't have to pay for.

Freak out (b.): To get very upset (to the point of starting to scream, etc.) Example: "When he found out that she had sold the furniture, he freaked out."

Free-and-easy:
Casual. Not very serious. Example: "Sarah was looking for a free-and-easy relationship."

(A) fresh pair of eyes:
A new reader, someone who hasn't seen something before. Example: "Hey can you come check out this report? We need a fresh pair of eyes."

(A) full plate:
A busy schedule. Example: "P1: Mark can you help me with this project? P2: Not really, I've got a full plate right now."

Fun and games:
Playing around. Time spent doing worthless things. Example: "OK, Neil, the fun and games are over. It's time to get down to work."


Gaydar (n.): The ability to tell whether or not someone is gay. Example: "My gaydar was a little off. I was sure he was straight."

Gawk (v.): To stare (stupidly). Example: "Those men were gawking at us."

Geek (n.): A (slightly) strange person who is obsessed with things such as music, electronics, video games, etc.

Get (v.): To understand. Examples: "I don't get it.", "I don't get him."

(To) get a move on:
To go or do something quickly, to get going, etc. Example: "Hey if we want to make the 8:00 PM show we should get a move on."

(To) get carried away:
To exaggerate/ go too far/ to become emotional. Example: "I got carried away. I bought 10 shirts!"; "She got carried away when she started talking about the war."

(To) get caught up:
To become involved, especially emotionally. Example: "I just got caught up in his plan and couldn't think straight."

(To) get cold feet:
To become timid or frightened. Example: "I usually get cold feet when I have to speak in public."

(To) get down to business:
To start working seriously. Example: "Enough playing around. Let's get down to business."

Get a kick out of (something): To enjoy (something) Example: "Why does he get such a kick out of watching her suffer?"

(To) get one's fill (or fix) of something:
To have enough of something. To have a lot of something. Example: "She's had her fill of his lying ways."

(To) get one's foot in the door:
To get started in a process; to attain a favorable position which will help one work toward a goal. Example: "I'm trying to find a better job, but I can't get my foot in the door."

To get one's mind off (something): To stop thinking about (something). Example: "The night out really helped me get my mind off my problems for a while."

(To) get on someone's nerves:
To annoy someone; to bother or irritate someone. Example: "I know that he's harmless, but he still gets on my nerves for some reason."

(To) get rid of (something/someone):
To eliminate. To throw away. To hide. Examples: "This detergent gets rid of dirt better than any other one that I've used."; "Get rid of the cigarette! Your mother's coming!"

(To) get something off one's chest:
To say something that has been on your mind; to say something that has been bothering you. Example: "Did you tell her about Hawaii? Yes, and I felt much better once I got that off my chest."

(To) get something straight:
To clarify something. To understand something clearly. Example: "Let me get this straight. Your mother's cousin stole money from your father's cousin's daughter?"

(To) get that all the time:
To hear something constantly. Example: "P1: Hey, you really look like Brad Pitt! P2: Yeah, I get that all the time."

(To) get the blues:
To become sad or depressed.

Get to the point: To be direct. Example: "Stop beating around the bush and get to the point!"

Gig: Concert (when talking about musicians/bands); An acting engagement (when talking about actors).

Give me a break: This phrase can be used to 1) express disbelief at something you think is untrue ("You went out with Miss America? Give me a break!"), or 2) to express disbelief that something is ridiculous (but true), expensive, etc. ("$2000 per month for this apartment?? Give me a break!")

(To) give someone a call:
To call someone (on the telephone). Example: "I'll give you call tomorrow morning."

(To) give someone the benefit of the doubt:
To believe in someone despite information that makes them seem guilty of something. Example: "Hey, don't believe the rumors. Give him the benefit of the doubt."

(To) give someone a piece of one's mind:
To bawl someone out. To let someone know how one really feels. Example: "After that driver took my parking spot, I really gave him a piece of my mind."

Glitzy (adj.): Fancy, expensive. Example: "A glitzy hotel"

Glued to one's seat: To be "glued to one's seat" means to be so interested in something that one is unwilling/unable to move from where one is sitting.

(To be) a go: To happen. Most often heard in expressions such as "It's a go." (It's going to happen), "I thought it was a go" (I thought it was going to happen), etc.

(A) go-getter:
*somewhat outdated* An aggressive employee; a hard worker. Example: "Jim is a real go-getter."

(To) go Dutch:
To pay for oneself when going out in a group.

(To) go overboard:
To do too much; to exaggerate. Example: "They really went overboard with the party preparations."

(To) go up in flames:
To burn; to be consumed in flames. Example: "The house went up in flames and the firefighters had a hard time putting out the fire."

(To) go over something with a fine toothed comb:
To go over something very carefully, especially checking for errors. Example: "Here's the report. Make sure to go over it with a fine toothed comb."

(To) go to someone's head:
To make someone overly conceited or proud. Example: "That award that he won really went to his head."

Go with (v.): To choose. To decide on. Example: "I'm gonna go with the blue shirt." (I've decided on the blue shirt.)

Go with the flow (v.): To accept things (the way they are). Example: "I'm just gonna go with flow and see what happens."

(A) golden opportunity:
A good chance to succeed, a good investment. Example: "I didn't have enough money to buy that restaurant. I missed a golden opportunity."

Gonna: Short for "going to". Example: "I'm gonna call you tomorrow."

Gotta: Short for "have got to" or "have to". Example: "I gotta go."

Grass (n.): Marijuana; Pot.

Gross (adj.): Disgusting. Example: "That's gross!"

Grub (n.): Slightly rude term for "food".

Gut: Belly. Example: "I lost my gut when I stopped drinking beer."

Guts: Courage. Example: "You don't have the guts to do that."


(I've/he's/you've, etc...) had it: Said when you've had enough of a situation, when you're endured all that you could. Example: "I've had it with their daily parties. I haven't been able to sleep well for weeks!"

Half-baked (adj.):
Foolish. Example: "He came up with a half-baked plan to win back his girlfriend."

Hand-me-down (adj.):
Usually said of clothing that has been passed on from one person to another. Example: "A hand-me-down dress"

Hands down:
Easily; by far. Example: "She is hands down the most beautiful girl in class."

Hang in there!: This basically means "don't give up!"

Hang on:
To wait (for a short time); to hold on. Example: "Hang on. Let me just finish this email and I'll be right with you."

(To) hang on someone's every word:
To listen very carefully to someone. Example: "Grandpa was telling a story and the kids were hanging on his every word."

Hassle (n.): A problem; Something that is inconvenient, problematic for you. Example: "I had to go back to that office three times to get things done... What a hassle!"

Hassle (v.): To bother; To nag. Example: "Stop hassling him about that!"

(To) hate someone's guts:
To hate someone very much.

Hate (someone/something) with a passion: To hate (someone/something) very much.

(To) have a big mouth:
To be a gossiper. To be a person who can't keep a secret. Example: "Don't tell my cousin any secrets. She has a big mouth."

(To) have a lot going for (someone):
To have a lot of good things in one's life; to have many things working to one's benefit. Example: "She has a lot going for her: she's smart, she's attractive, and she has a good job."

(To) have a sweet tooth:
To love to eat candy or other sweets.

(To) have an edge:
To have an advantage. Example: "When it comes to speed, he has an edge over the other players."

(To) have mixed feelings (about something):
To be unsure or uncertain about something. Example: "Some of the partners had mixed feelings about the merger."

(To) have one's hands full:
To be busy, occupied with some kind of activity, work, etc. Example: "I have my hands full with my three children."

(To) have one's heart set on something:
To really want (and/or expect) something to happen. Example: "Julie has her heart set on going to London this summer."

Have the hots for (someone): To be physically attracted to (someone); Example: "She's got the hots for her new co-worker."

Hick (n.): A redneck; a backwards, ignorant person with a very limited intelligence.

High (adj.): Intoxicated on drugs. Example: "He looked and behaved like he was high."

(A) hit:
A popular song or film. A success. Example: "Every song they put out becomes a hit."

(To) hit the spot:
To satisfy a need exactly. To be exactly right (often said about food or drinks). Example: "That was a delicious meal. It hit the spot."

(To) hit bottom:
To reach the lowest point. Example: "Two years after he started to abuse alcohol, he hit bottom."

(To) hit the road:
To leave, start on a trip, etc. Example: "It's already 9:00 AM. We have to hit the road!"

(To) hit a snag:
To run into a problem. Example: "The project hit a snag when testing failed to produce favorable results."

Hit on (someone) (v.) : To try to seduce (someone); To put the moves on (someone). Example: "Bob was hitting on me last night."

Hit the sack (v.) : To go to bed. Example: "I'm going to hit the sack. I'm really beat."

Hold on!
Wait. Example: "Hold on, I'll be with you in just a moment."

(To be) homesick
To miss one's home, country, city, etc. Example: "Francesca is really homesick. She really wants to go back to Italy."

Hoodie: A hooded sweatshirt. Example: "My mom bought me a black hoodie at the GAP."

Hooker (n.): Prostitute.

Hoopla (n.): see "Hype" below.

Hot (adj.): Physically attractive.

Hottie (n.): Very attractive man or woman. Example: "Lisa is such a hottie."

How on earth...? How in the world...?
When asking a question, "How on earth..." and "How in the world..." emphasize the fact that something incredible or very hard to believe happened. Example: "How on earth did you get that job? (it was very hard to get)"; "How on earth did you fix that car!? (it was impossible to fix)".

(To be) hung up on (v.): (to be) obsessed/ overly interested in something. Example: "He's really hung up on his looks." (He's really obsessed with the way he looks.)

Hype (n.): Extreme promotion and the commotion that follows; Hoopla. Example: "That CD doesn't live up to the hype." (That CD isn't as good as they're promoting it to be/ as good as everything says it is).

Hyped (adj.): Really excited. Example: "We're all hyped about the concert next weekend."


Icky (adj.): Gross, disgusting.

If worse (or worst) comes to worst:
If things get really bad. Example: "If worse comes to worst, we can always fire him."

Iffy (adj.): Uncertain. Example: "That's a little iffy at this point."

Ill-at-ease (adj.):
Uncomfortable. Example: "She seemed to be ill-at-ease talking to the doctor about her problems".

In a bad way:
Not well; in bad shape. Example: "He was in a bad way, partly because of all the alcohol that he drank daily."

In bad taste:
Rude. Vulgar. Obscene. Example: "John's jokes are always in bad taste."

In a bind: In a predicament; in a difficult situation. Example: "I'm in a bit of a bind. Do you think you can help me out?"

In broad daylight:
Publicly visible in the daytime. Example: "This city is very dangerous. You can get robbed in broad daylight."

In good shape/ condition:
Physically and functionally sound and sturdy. "Shape" is generally used more for people. Example: "The car is in good condition. Bill is in good shape."

In mint condition:
In perfect condition (not used for people). Example: "This baseball card is in mint condition."

In no mood to do something:
To not feel like doing something; to not want to do something. Example: "I'm in no mood to cook dinner tonight."

In no time: Very soon. Example: "Don't worry. We'll be there in no time."

In a row: One after another; Straight. Example: "Our team has won five games in a row."

In season:
Currently available for selling (often said of fresh fruit and vegetables). Example: "Tomatoes are very cheap now because they're in season."

In stock:
Available for purchase, as in goods in a store. Example: "P1: Do you have any more of these books in stock? P2: No, I'm sorry we don't."

In the air:
Everywhere. All around. Example: "Love is in the air, everywhere you look around."

In the cards: Likely (to happen). Example: "A promotion is not in the cards for him." (He most likely will not be promoted).

In the doghouse: In trouble. To be in the doghouse = To be in trouble.

In the long run:
Over a long period of time; ultimately. Example: "He smokes a lot now, and I'm afraid that in the long run it will cost him his health."

In the same boat:
In the same situation (usually negative). Example: "I know exactly how you feel because I'm in the same boat."

In the works: Currently being worked on, developed. Example: "Our new website is in the works."

In and out:
Coming in and going out often. Example: "She's been in and out all day."

(To be) in with (someone):
(To be) friends or friendly with (someone). Example: "At high school, he was in with the wrong crowd. That's why he always got in trouble."

In advance:
Ahead of time. Example: "In the future, could you let me know about these things in advance?"


Jack-of-all-trades:
A person who knows how to do a lot of different things.

Jack up (v.): To increase (prices, etc.) by a high margin. Example: "The street vendors jack up their prices on holidays."

Jam (n.): Predicament, problem. Example: "I'm in a bit of a jam here. Do you think you can help me?"

Jam-packed:
Very crowded. Example: "The stadium was jam-packed on Saturday."

Jiffy: In a jiffy = Very quickly = In no time

Jinx (v.): To bring bad luck or failure by saying something. Example: "Stop saying that! You're gonna jinx me."

John (n.) : Bathroom, toilet, can.

(To) jump all over someone/ jump down someone's throat:
To criticize or blame someone. Example: "As soon as I told her I was going out with my friends, she jumped all over me."

(To) jump the gun:
To get something started too soon; to start too soon. Example: "We have to do a lot more work before we launch this product. We don't want to jump the gun."

(To) jump at:
To quickly accept. Example: "The journalist jumped at the chance to interview Ryan Gosling."

Jump ship (v.): To leave one's job suddenly, usually to go work somewhere else.

Junkie (n.): Addict.

Just about:
Almost. Example: "I'm just about finished."

Just plain (adj.): Clearly; simply. Example: "He's just plain stupid."

Just now:
Just a minute ago. Example: "He called me just now to tell me he was going to quit his job."

Just what the doctor ordered:
Exactly what is needed. Example: "This vacation is just what the doctor ordered."


Keel over (v.): A rude way of saying "to die".

(To be) keen on: To like; To be fond of; Example: "I'm not really keen on this idea."

(To) keep a low profile:
To lay low; to not attract attention to oneself by talking loudly, dressing in flashy clothes, causing trouble, etc. Example: "The bank robbers knew that they had to keep a low profile until they crossed the border."

(To) keep an eye on (someone/something):
To watch/pay attention to (someone/something). Example: "I have to go to the store. Can you please keep an eye on the baby for 10 minutes?"

(To) keep a straight face:
To force oneself not to laugh, even though one wants to. Example: "He was saying the stupidest things, and I was finding it hard to keep a straight face."

(To) keep one's cool:
To remain calm. Example: "It's not easy to keep one's cool in stressful situations."

(To) keep one's word:
To uphold one's promise. Example: "He's a very honorable person who always keeps his word."

(To) keep someone posted:
To keep someone informed. Example: "I'm not sure what the plan is for this evening, but I'll keep you posted."

(To) keep someone up:
To not allow someone to sleep. Example: "The neighbors' party kept me up all night."

(To) keep something to oneself:
To not let others know about something; to not reveal something. Example: "Hey, don't tell anyone about your time in prison. Keep it to yourself."

(To) keep track of (something):
To maintain a record of (something). Example: "I don't know where all my money goes. It's hard to keep track of my expenses."

(A) kept man/woman:
Someone who is in a relationship where the other person pays for everything. Example: "Stephen is a kept man. His girlfriend always pays for everything."

(To) kick back:
To relax. Example: "My brother and I are going to kick back and have a couple of beers."

(To) kick oneself:
To regret. Example: "I'm kicking myself for not having bought that car when I had the chance."

(To) kill time:
To waste time. Example: "I'm just killing time until my brother arrives."

Killer (adj.): Great; amazing. Example: "A killer new application", "A killer new product"

Klutz (n.): A clumsy person. Example: "My brother is such a klutz. He's always bumping into things and knocking them over."

Knock (v.): To talk negatively/badly of; to criticize, badmouth. Example: "Don't knock it until you try it/ until you've tried it."

Knock it off!:
Stop it!

Knock on wood:
A phrase said to cancel out (imaginary) bad luck. *Touch wood* is also used in some parts of the English-speaking world.

Knock (someone) up: To get (someone) pregnant; Knocked up = pregnant.

(To) know something inside-out:
To know something completely and thoroughly. Example: "Let me show you around. I know this neighborhood inside-out."

Know-it-all (noun):
A person who acts like they know everything (slightly derogatory). Example: "P1: Robert is so conceited! P2: Yeah, he's a real know-it-all."


(A) lady-killer:
A handsome man; a man who charms women. Example: "He thinks of himself as quite the lady-killer. Unfortunately for him, women don't see him that way."

Laid-back (adj.): Relaxed, easy-going. Example: "I like Tom. He's really laid-back."

Last but not least:
Last in order but not last in importance. Example: "Last but not least, I'd like to thank my parents."

Last ditch (adj.):
Final (*has a slight connotation of "desperate"*). Example: "They made a last-ditch effort to win the game, but came up short."

(To) lay a finger on someone:
To touch someone even very slightly. Example: "If you so much as lay a finger on him, you will be in trouble."

(To) lay low:
SEE "KEEP A LOW PROFILE"

(To) leave a bad taste in someone's mouth:
To leave a negative impression on someone. Example: "The experience left a bad taste in my mouth."

(To) leave someone high and dry:
*somewhat antiquated* To leave someone helpless.

Lame (adj.): Inadequate; Bad. Example: "That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard."

Last-ditch (adj.): Final, desperate. (Often used with the words "effort", "attempt", etc.) Example: "He made a last-ditch effort to catch up to the front-runner."

Later: Short for "See you later."

Laugh (one's) head off: To laugh very hard. Example: "I laughed my head off throughout the whole movie."

Leave a bad taste in (someone's) mouth: Leave (someone) with bad feelings. Example: "That whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth."

(To) leave someone alone:
To stop bothering someone. Example: "Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to anyone."

Leave someone hanging: To not help someone when they ask for help, when they're in trouble. Example: "Don't leave me hanging... I'm counting on you!"

Legit (adj.): Short for "legitimate".

Lemme: Short for "let me".

Letdown (n.): Disappointment. Example: "I was sure that my team would win, but they lost. What a letdown!"

(To) let off steam:
To release energy or anger. Example: "P1: Victor went drinking, and got into a fight. P2: That's OK, he's just letting off a little steam."

Let (someone) have it : To attack someone (physically or verbally) with force. "Let them have it" is often shortened as "To let 'em have it" Example: "After the boys broke Mr. Smith's window, he came out and really let 'em have it."

(To) let someone off the hook:
To release someone from responsibility. Example: "Natalie said she didn't want to wash the dishes, but her mom didn't let her off the hook."

(To) let something slide:
To neglect something. To ignore something. Example: "I'm going to let it slide this time, but next time be more careful!"

(A) lift:
A ride. Example: "She gave me a lift to the airport."

Lighten up (v.): To relax; to not take things too seriously. Example: "You gotta learn to lighten up a bit!"

Little by little:
Slowly, gradually. Example: "Little by little she started to like living in New York City."

(A) little off:
Not quite even, normal. Example: "There was something a little off about the way she was behaving."

(To) lock horns:
To argue; to have a dispute; to disagree. Example: "Peter and his counterpart in France locked horns about how to implement the new regulations."

(To) look the other way:
To ignore something on purpose. Example: "In some countries, customs officials can be paid to look the other way."

(A) long shot:
Something that has a slim (small) chance of happening. Example: "They might win, but it's a long shot."

(To) lose (someone):
This is often used when someone is chasing someone OR being chased by someone. If you're being chased by someone and you manage to get away you can say "I lost him!" (I evaded him.) The person chasing you can say the same thing "I lost him." (He got away.)

(To) lose one's temper:
To become angry. Example: "He has a short fuse and loses his temper quite often."

(To) lose one's train of thought:
To forget what one was thinking/ talking about. Example: "What was I saying? I lost my train of thought."

Loser (n.): A person who fails at everything s/he tries/does in life. *not a very nice thing to say to someone!

Lost in thought:
Busy thinking. Example: "I called out to her three times, but she was lost in thought."

Lousy (adj.): Terrible. Example: "She's a lousy singer!"

Lowball, low-ball (v.): To (deliberately) underestimate or make an offer for something that is significantly below its fair value. Example: "They tried to lowball me, but I knew how much they paid the guy before me."

(To) lower one's voice:
To talk more softly. Example: "Lower your voice, my parents are asleep."

(A) lucky break:
Good luck, good fortune. Example: "I was supposed to speak at the meeting today, but I found out it was cancelled. What a lucky break!"


Mag (n.): Short form for "magazine".

(To) make a beeline for (somewhere):
To head directly to (somewhere). Example: "Whenever he comes into the cafeteria, he makes a beeline for the grilled vegetables."

Make a big deal about (something) (v.): To make (something) seem very important. Example: "I don't understand why he's making such a big deal about this."

(To) make a bundle:
To make a lot of money (one time). Example: "I made a bundle when I sold my Microsoft stock last month."

Make a go of (something) (v.): To succeed in/with (something).

Make a killing: To make a lot of money. Example: "My uncle made a killing selling Chilean wine in Asia."

(To) make a long story short:
To bring a story to an end; To sum things up.

(To) make a pass (at someone):
To make romantic advances; to hit on (someone). Example: "Karl was fired because he made a pass at his co-worker Fiona."

(To) make believe:
To pretend. Example: "When your friends come, let's make believe ( = pretend) we don't know each other."

Make-believe (adj.): Imaginary; Not-real. Example: "A make-believe world".

(To) make ends meet:
To have enough money to pay one's basic expenses; to barely get by. Example: "This city is so expensive that it's hard to make ends meet sometimes."

(To) make good money:
To make a lot of money (regularly). Example: "Shawn doesn't like his job, but he makes good money."

(To) make light of something:
To treat something as if it were trivial or unimportant. Example: "Don't make light of the situation. It's more serious than you think."

(To) make life miserable for someone:
To cause someone lots of problems. Example: "Patricia's boss is making life miserable for her."

(To) make up one's mind:
To make a decision. Example: "I've made up my mind. I'm moving to Costa Rica."

(To) make oneself at home:
To feel as comfortable as one would being at home. Example: "During your visit, just make yourself at home."

(To) make someone's head spin:
To make someone dizzy or disoriented. Example: "All that alcohol made my head spin."

(To) make something from scratch:
To make something by starting with the basic ingredients. Example: "P1: Did you bake that cake? P2: No, I made it from scratch."

Man: A colloquial way guys (especially male friends) address each other; Buddy. Example: "Man, I have to tell you what happened to me last night!", "Listen, man, I don't know what you're talking about."

Maxed out (adj.): Having reached its limit (often used to speak about credit cards). Example: "My credit card has been maxed out for the past year."

(To) meet someone halfway:
To compromise with someone. Example: "They settled the argument by deciding to meet each other halfway."

Mellow out (v.): To relax.

(To) mention something in passing:
To mention something casually. Example: "She mentioned something in passing about going to check out the new Wes Anderson movie tonight."

Make waves (v.): To cause a commotion, cause trouble. Example: "Jim's a very docile person. He's not one to make waves."

(The) middle of nowhere:
A very isolated place. Example: "Our car broke down in the middle of nowhere. The nearest town was 100 miles away!"

Milk (something): To exploit (something). Example: "She was milking her 15 minutes of fame for all it was worth."

(To) mind one's own business:
Not to interfere/ get involved in the business of others. Example: "Sometimes, it's best to mind your own business."

Money talks:
Having money helps one get things done.

(There's) more than meets the eye:
(Something is) more complicated/more interesting than it seems. Example: "There's more than meets the eye when it comes to Maria. = Maria is more interesting (or complicated, depending on the context) than she appears."

(To) move up in the world:
To increase one's standing socially, etc.; to become successful. Example: "I'm not interested in moving up in the world at the expense of other people."

Munchies (n.pl): Chips and other types of junk food. Example: "I picked up some munchies on my way from work."

(A) must:
A necessity. Example: "In Los Angeles, having a car is a must."


Nail (someone) (v.): To catch (someone) *usually doing something illegal/wrong*, etc.); To bust (someone). Example: "They nailed him for shoplifting."

Nail-biter (n.) : An exciting game where the outcome is uncertain until the very end. Example: That game was a real nail biter."

Neck and neck:
Very close (almost even), as in a race. Example: "The two candidates were running neck and neck a month before the election."

Neck of the woods:
*somewhat antiquated* Area. Part of a country. Example: "What's happening in your neck of the woods?"

(To) need a hand:
To need help. Example: "Do you need a hand? (Would you like some help?)"

Neither here nor there:
Not relevant. Example: "All of a sudden he started talking about his car, a topic which was neither here nor there."

Nerd (n.): Similar to "geek", but it has a little more of a derogatory ( = negative) quality to it. Someone who is socially inept, preferring academic pursuits to social ones.

Nest egg:
Saved money. Example: "He has saved up quite a nest egg. Pretty soon he'll be able to retire."

Never mind:
Don't worry about it. Example: "Did you pick up my photos? Never mind, I'll do it myself tomorrow."

(To) nip something in the bud:
To end something at an early stage.

No-brainer(n.): Very easy question; a question/situation/dilemma which has an obvious/easy solution. Example: "Well, if you ask me, it's a no-brainer. You should call her and apologize."

No laughing matter:
A very serious matter. Example: "Hey, why are you smiling? This is no laughing matter!"

No picnic:
Not easy. Very difficult and problematic. Example: "Let me tell you, driving in that snowstorm was no picnic."

No rush:
You don't have to hurry. Example: "P1: Do you want this done by this evening? P2: No, there's no rush. You can finish it tomorrow."

No skin off my nose:
I don't care because it doesn't affect me.

No sweat:
No problem.

No way: 1) Phrase used to say that something is definitely not going to happen. Example: "P1: Are you going to see her again? P2: No way!"; 2) Phrase of awe/disbelief. Example: "She gave you her phone number? No way!"

No wonder:
It's not surprising. Example: "He only slept for two hours last night? No wonder he's so tired."

(To) not be born yesterday:
To be experienced, knowledgeable. Example: "Of course I know that trick! I wasn't born yesterday."

(To) not have a prayer: To not have/stand a chance. Example: "Your team? They don't have a prayer or winning."

Not in the least:
Not at all. Example: "P1: Were you surprised that he failed the FCE? P2: Not in the least."

Not likely:
Probably will not happen. Example: "P1: You think George will learn a lesson from this? P2: Not likely."

(To) not like the looks of (someone/something): To not like the way something looks because you think it might lead to something negative. Examples: "I don't like the looks of those clouds." (because they might bring rain), "I don't like the looks of those kids." (because they look like they might cause trouble).

Not much of:
Pretty bad. Example: "I'm not much of a dancer."

(To) not put (something) past (someone): To believe that someone is capable of doing something. Example: "Would he tell the police? I wouldn't put it past him!" (Yes, I believe that he is capable of doing this.)

Now and then:
Occasionally. Now and again.


Odd man out:
An unusual or atypical person (or thing). Example: "In a high school where everyone was tough, I was the odd man out."

Off-and-on : Not continuous(ly); Periodically. Example: "To sleep off and on", "To see someone off and on".

Off-color:
Rude; vulgar. Example: "I'm not a big fan of the off-color jokes he loves to tell."

Off-duty:
Not working at one's job. Example: "The policeman couldn't help me because he was off-duty."

Off the air:
No longer on TV (or the radio). Example: "They took that show off the air in November because nobody watched it."

Off the hook:
No longer having to do something, no longer blamed or under suspicion. Example: "Ok, you're off the hook. Your brother says he'll clean the bathroom."

Off the record:
Unofficially. Example: "Off the record, they were very displeased with the way the CEO was conducting himself."

Off the wagon: To be "off the wagon" means to start drinking (alcoholic beverages) again after having stopped for a while.

Off the top of one's head:
Spontaneously; without thinking too much. Example: "P1: How many cafes are there in this town? P2: Off the top of my head, I can think of about 6."

On-again, off-again (adj.): Used to describe something that is not stable, permanent. Example: "They had an on-again, off-again relationship for years."

On cloud nine: Extremely and visibly happy Example: "She was on cloud nine when she heard the news."

On edge: Nervous; Anxious. Example: "To be on edge."

On one's mind:
Occupying someone's thoughts; being thought about. Example: "You were always on my mind."

(To do something) on one's own accord:
Willingly, without anyone forcing one to do something. Example: "P1: Did you make him apologize? P2: No, he did it on his own accord."

On second thought:
Having given something more thought. Example: "On second thought, maybe you should sell your house and move into an apartment."

On the go:
Busy. Moving around busily. Example: "Jim is always on the go. He can never find time to talk to me."

On the house:
Something that is given away free by a merchant. Example: "P1: How much for the apple? P2: Nothing, it's on the house!"

On the level: Honest. Example: "I'm pretty sure he's on the level."

On the loose:
(Most often used speaking about criminals) Free; not captured; Example: "The bank robbers are still on the loose."

(To be) on the same wavelength: To understand each other; to see eye to eye.

On the tip of one's tongue:
Something that is almost said/remembered. Example: "I've got his name on the tip of my tongue."

On the wagon:
Not drinking alcohol. Example: "P2: Hey let's go out for a couple of beers tonight. P2: I can't, I'm on the wagon."

(To be/get) onboard: To agree to, or be part of something (usually a plan, strategy, etc.); Example: "I'm glad that all the partners are onboard."

Once in a while:
Occasionally. Example: "Once in a while I'll pick up my old guitar and play a couple of tunes."

One: Similar to "very". Example: That's one large pizza! = That's a really large pizza; He's one smart man. = He's a very smart man.

Other side of the tracks
*somewhat archaic* The poorer part of a town.

Out cold:
Unconscious. Example: "The boxer was out cold."

Out of one's mind = Not normal, not "all-there" Example: "You want to go for a walk at 2:00 AM? Are you out of your mind?"

Out of sorts:
Not quite oneself; In a bad/strange mood. Example: "Tom has been out of sorts recently."

(To) outdo (v.): To do or perform better than someone else. Example: "He bought his mom a car, but his brother outdid him by buying her a house."

Over: "Over" is often used to emphasize location. Example: "I live over on Orange Street." (I live on Orange Street).

(To) overstep (v.): To be out of line. To say/do something that's inappropriate to a situation. Example: "I'm sorry; I overstepped. I shouldn't have said those things to your parents."


Pack heat; to be packing: To carry a gun.

(A) pain in the butt:
A problematic person/thing; a chronic complainer. Examples: "I hate doing my taxes. It's such a pain in the butt."; "Stop being such a pain in the butt. All you do is complain!"

(To) pass the buck:
To blame someone else. Example: "It's much easier to pass the buck than to take responsibility for something."

(To) pass the time:
To do something to keep busy. Example: "What do you do to pass the time around here?"

(A) pat on the back:
A sign of approval; "To give someone a pat on the back" means to show them that you approve of something that they did.

(To) pay an arm and a leg/ pay a fortune:
To pay a lot of money. Example: "I hate to have to pay an arm and a leg for a pair of tennis shoes."

(A) peeping Tom
Someone who looks through people's windows. Example: "Larry was a peeping Tom. The neighbors caught him looking into Sarah's window one night."

Peppy (adj.): Energetic, lively. Example: "A peppy song"

Pick back up: To start again. Example: "Let's pick back up where we left off."

(To) pick up the tab:
To pay a bill. Example: "John, you picked up the tab last time. Let me pay this time."

(A) piece of cake:
Very easy. Example: "P1: Hey how did you do on the test? P2: I aced it. It was a piece of cake for me."

(To give someone) a piece of one's mind:
To scold, reprimand someone (for something they did). Example: "After I found out how badly Peter had treated his girlfriend, I gave him a piece of my mind."

(To) pitch in:
To help with something (especially financially). Example: "Let's all pitch in and buy him a nice present."

Plastered (adj.):
Very drunk. Example: "I got plastered last night."

Plead the fifth (v.):
To be able to answer a question, but to choose not to. Example: "P1: Did you see my husband at the bar? P2: I'm gonna plead the fifth on that one. I'd rather not get involved."

(To) play second fiddle to someone:
To be second in importance to someone. Example: "Sam didn't join the team because they already had a star and Sam didn't wanted to play second fiddle to anyone."

(To) play something by ear:
To improvise. To see how things go and make a decision later. Example: "P1: What do you want to do tonight? P2: I don't know, let's just play it by ear."

(To) play it safe:
To act or be safe. To do something safely. Example: "Sarah isn't much of a risk taker. She likes to play it safe."

(To) play the field:
*somewhat outdated* To date many different people instead of going steady. Example: "After Mary broke up with Jim, she started playing the field."

(A) poker face:
A face with no expression. Also common is "to be poker-faced."

Preachy (adj):
An adjective that describes someone (or something) that tries to preach how one should live, etc. Example: "A preachy movie"

Pressed for time:
In a hurry. Example: "I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm a little pressed for time."

(To) promise someone the moon:
To promise someone lots of extravagant things (unrealistically). Example: "He promised her the moon, but couldn't deliver on any of his promises."

Psyched (adj.): Excited. Example: "I'm so psyched about the concert tomorrow!"

Psycho (n.): Crazy, mentally-unbalanced person. Example: "You should stay away from him. He's a bit of a psycho."

(To) puke:
To vomit. To throw up.

(To) pull someone's leg:
To kid, play a joke on someone. Example: "When he told me he was joining the military, was he just pulling my leg?"

(To) pull a fast one:
To cheat or to deceive. Example: "Con men are experts at pulling a fast one on unsuspecting passers by."

Pure gold:
* somewhat outdated* If something is "pure gold" it is "the best", "fantastic", "amazing".

(To) push one's luck:
To expect continued good fortune. Example: "Don't push your luck. I was nice to you before, but if you keep making me angry, you'll regret it."

Put someone through (a lot)(v.): To make someone suffer (a lot) Example: "After all he's put her through, I can't believe she still loves him!"

Put the moves on (someone)(v.): To hit on (someone), to try to seduce (someone). Example: "Was he putting the moves on you?"

(To) put up a good fight:
To try very hard. Example: "Well, although my team lost, they put up a good fight, so I'm not upset."


Quarter (n.): An American/Canadian 25 cent coin.

Quick and dirty:
Fast and simple; not very sophisticated. Example: "We just need a quick and dirty solution to this."

(To make a) quick buck: To make some money very quickly. Example: "Everyone's just trying to make a quick buck."

Quick on the uptake:
Quick to understand; intelligent. Example: "Many of the people in town thought that Thomas wasn't too quick on the uptake, but he was actually a very bright boy."

Quick study (noun):
Someone who is able to memorize or learn something quickly and easily. Example: "I was worried she wouldn't be able to get up to speed quickly enough, but she proved to be a quick study."

(As) quiet as a mouse:
Very quiet.

Quite a few:
Many. Example: "There were quite a few people at the concert yesterday."

Quite a bit:
A lot. Example: "There is quite a bit to do still."

Quite the (something): A very good (something). Example: "She's quite the dancer!"

Quitter (n.): Someone who quits, gives up easily.


(To) rack one's brain:
To try very hard to think of something. Example: "I racked my brain, but I couldn't remember his name."

Rain or shine:
No matter what the weather is like. Example: "The game will be played tomorrow, rain or shine."

(To) raise (some) eyebrows:
To shock. Example: "The art show raised some eyebrows due to its explicit content."

Rake in: To make a lot of money; Example: "He's really raking it in these days."

(To) read between the lines:
To try to understand what is meant by something that is not written/said clearly. Example: "I need to have things spelled out for me. I'm terrible at reading between the lines."

Red eye (n.): An overnight flight; Example: "I caught the red eye to Denver."

(A) redneck:
Generally refers to someone who has either bigoted or narrow-minded opinions. Often used in the context of people who live in small towns or in the country. Example: "Just because he's from rural Kentucky doesn't mean he's a redneck."

(A) regular guy:
A normal, average man (said in a fairly positive way). Example: "John? I don't know, I guess he's just a regular guy."

(To) rest one's case:
When people say "I rest my case", it usually means that they feel that they just proved that they are correct.

Ride (n.): Car. Example: "Nice ride!"

Ride shotgun (v.): To ride in the front passenger seat of a car. Example: "I wanna ride shotgun!"

Right off the bat:
Right away; immediately. Example: "I knew there was something wrong with him right off the bat."

(To) ring in the new year:
To celebrate the beginning of the New Year at midnight on December 31st. Example: "This year, we'll be ringing in the new year in Paris."

(To) ring a bell:
To remind someone of something. To vaguely recognize something. Examples: "P1: Have you every listened to Alex Chilton? P2: I'm not sure; the name rings a bell, though." ( = I think I've heard the name before.); "I'm sorry, that doesn't ring a bell." = I'm sorry I don't recognize/know that.

(A) rip-off or (To) rip-off:
A rip-off is something that costs more than it should. Example: "The popcorn prices at the movie theater are a rip-off."; To rip someone off means to steal from someone, or to cheat someone. Example: "The mechanic ripped me off."

(To) risk one's neck (to do something):
To risk (sometimes physical) harm to accomplish something. Example: "He's always been very mean to me. I don't plan to risk my neck to save his job."

Road rage (n.): The modern phenomenon of angry, aggressive driving, which sometimes leads to arguing, fighting, etc. between drivers.

(To) rob the cradle:
To go out with (or marry) someone who is much younger than you are. Example: "Victor's new wife is 25 years younger than him. Talk about robbing the cradle!"

Rock (v.): To be great. Example: "That rocks!" (That's really great!)

(To) rock the boat:
To disturb an otherwise stable situation. Example: "My grandmother wanted to express her disapproval, but she didn't because she didn't want to rock the boat."

Roll with it (v.): To go with the flow; To accept things as they come.

Rotten (adj):
Bad, nasty. Example: "I've done a lot of rotten things in the past."

(To) rub someone the wrong way:
To irritate someone. Example: "I'm not going out if your cousin is going. She really rubs me the wrong way."

(To) rub elbows with someone:
To associate with someone. Example: "When her singing career took off, Kathleen was able to rub elbows with the rich and famous."

Rule (v.): To be great/ the best. Example: "That band rules!"

(To) run a fever:
To have a fever. Example: "Jamie has been running a fever all day."

(To) run in the family:
To happen/ occur often in the family (through generations). Example: "P1: Frank is always so angry. P2: Yeah, his bad temper runs in the family."

Run (something) by (someone) (v.): To tell someone something, usually to get approval, etc. Example: "That's a good idea. I'll run it by my parents and see what they think."

(To give someone) the runaround/(To get) the runaround : To deceive someone, usually in the form of evasive excuses. Example: "I wanted to get some concrete answers, but they just gave me the runaround."


Safe and sound:
Safe. Unharmed. Example: "It was a rough trip but we got there safe and sound."

(To) save money for a rainy day:
To reserve something for some future need. Example: "I've saved a little money for a rainy day."

(To) save the day:
To produce good results when bad results are expected. Example: "Colin saved the day by remembering to bring water."

School (someone) (v.): To teach someone a lesson. To show someone how something is (really) done. Example: "We thought we were the best, but the other team really schooled us."

(A) score to settle:
To get even. To pay someone back for something negative that they did. Example: "Don't stop me. I have a score to settle with him."

(To) scratch the surface:
To begin finding out about something. Example: "We've only begun to scratch the surface in this field."

Screw up (v.): To make a mistake; to do something badly or wrong. Example: "I really screwed up my audition."

Second nature (to someone):
Easy and natural. Example: "Scoring goals is second nature to him."

(To) see eye to eye on something:
To have a similar opinion on something. Example: "Despite their public differences, the two candidates actually see eye to eye on most issues."

(To) see fit:
To deem/believe to be appropriate. Example: "You can do that any way you see fit."

(To) see the writing on the wall:
To see that something is going to happen.

(To) serve someone right:
To serve as appropriate punishment for someone. Example: "They put him in jail for 5 years? Serves him right!"

(To) set foot somewhere:
To go or enter somewhere. Example: "If I were you, I wouldn't set foot in that town."

(To) set one's sights on something:
To select something as one's goal. Example: "We would like to buy out one of our competitors. We've got our sights set on Sony."

Sharp (adj.): When talking about people = smart, intelligent; when talking about clothes = stylish, high-quality.

Shoot hoops (v.): To play basketball in a casual, informal way. Example: "Let's shoot some hoops on Friday."

(To be) short on cash: To not have too much money. Example: "I'm a little short on cash. Could you lend me some money until Tuesday?"

(A) shot in the arm:
A boost. Example: "The good financial news was a real shot in the arm for Steve's company."

Show, Show up (v.): To arrive. Example: "We waited for two hours, but they didn't show (up)."

(To) sit on one's hands
To do nothing. Example: "Everyone expected the board to take action, but they just sat on their hands."

(To) sit tight:
To wait (patiently). Example: "Sit tight, your mother will be here soon."

Skeleton(s) in the closet:
A shocking/ disturbing secret.

(The) slammer (n.): Jail. Example: "He was in the slammer."

(To) sleep on something:
To think about something overnight. Example: "I'm not sure if I want to buy this car. I think I should sleep on it."

Snail mail (n.): Regular physical mail (as opposed to email).

Something (n.): In phrases such as "Wasn't that something!", "something" actually means "something interesting" or "something special" or "something surprising", depending on the context.

Space-case/Space-cadet (n.): Very strange person who always seems to be in his/her own world. Example: "Peter is a bit of a space cadet. He's always zoning out when I talk to him."

Space out (v.): To lose oneself in thought, esp. when you should be paying attention to something else. To zone out. Example: "Sorry, I spaced out for a second. What were you saying?"

Split (v.): To leave. Example: "I have to split. See you tomorrow!"

Split-up (v.): To break up; to stop seeing each other (as boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, etc.) Example: "Tom and Maria split up last month."

Spook (v.): To scare.

Spread (n.): Collection. Example: "They had quite a spread of food at the party."

(To) stand up for something:
To fight for, support. Example: "The elected official promised to stand up for the poor."

Stash (n.): A hidden collection of something, often (but not always) used to refer to hidden drugs. Example: "Mark's parents found his stash (of pot) under his bed."

Stick to (something): To keep (doing something). To not stop (doing something) Example: "Cynthia wants to be an actress, but I think she should stick to singing."

(To) stir up trouble:
To cause trouble. Example: "Sometimes I think she gets great pleasure from stirring up trouble."

Straight (adj.): 1) Direct, clear, honest. Example: "He wouldn't give me a straight answer."; 2) Heterosexual. Example: "I'm pretty sure he's straight."

Straight up: Honestly/Honest.

Strike up a conversation: To start a conversation. Example: "He walked up to the first woman he saw and struck up a conversation with her."

Stuck up (adj.): Snobbish, conceited. Example: "I don't like her. She's so stuck up."

Stunner (n.): Attractive woman. Example: "Wow! What a stunner!"

Sucker:
A gullible person or someone who is easily impressed by something (eg. "a sucker for gadgets" = someone who is easily impressed by gadgets)

Sugar daddy/sugar mama(n.): A wealthy man or woman who either supports you financially (pays for you) or gives you gifts, in return for sex or companionship.

Suit yourself:
Have it your way; As you wish; Example: "I wouldn't walk around that neighborhood at night, but if you really want to, suit yourself."

(To) swallow something hook, line, and sinker:
To believe something (usually a lie) completely. Example: "Margaret told him a flat-out ( = complete and utter) lie and he swallowed it hook line and sinker."

Sweet (adj.): Very nice. Example: "That is a sweet car."

(To have a) sweet tooth: To love to eat candy, sweets, etc.

Swig (n.): A drink (out of a bottle). Example: "Gimme a swig!"

Swing (something) (v.): To arrange (something)/to get (something) done. Example: "It'll be hard, but we'll probably be able to swing a deal."


Tag along (v.): To go with/ accompany someone. Example: "I'm going to the mall. You wanna tag along?"

Take a joke: To have a sense of humor; Not to get offended at a joke directed towards you. Example: "Geez! I was only kidding. Can't you take a joke?"

Take a load off (v.): To relax. Example: "Come on in, sit down, take a load off."

(To) take it:
To endure trouble, criticism, or abuse. Example: "Say whatever you want about me. I can take it."

Take it easy!
Relax! (Also used in "to take it easy" = to relax, to spend a day relaxing, etc.)

Take it or leave it:
To accept it the way it is or to forget it. Example: "That's my final offer. Take it or leave it."

(To) take its toll:
To cause damage (or loss). Example: "The long hours he puts in at work have begun to take their toll on his health."

Take off (v.): To leave, to get going, to be on one's way. Example: "We have to take off. See you soon!"

(To) take something/ someone for granted:
To accept something/ someone (without gratitude) as a matter of course. Example: "We tend to take a lot of things for granted."

(To) take something lying down:
To endure something unpleasant without fighting back. Example: "I'm not going to take this type of treatment lying down!"

(To) take something with a grain of salt:
Not to take something that someone says too seriously. Example: "If I were you, I'd take everything that she tells you with a grain of salt."

(To) take someone under one's wing:
To protect (and teach) someone. Example: "Arthur took the new employee under his wing and taught him everything he knew."

(To) take the rap (for something):
To accept responsibility, admit that one is guilty of something. Example: "I thought that Bill was responsible for the mix-up, but his friend Tom took the rap."

That does it!:This phrase is used when one has had enough of something/someone, and decides to do something about it. Example: "That does it! I'm calling the police!"

That hit the spot: (When talking about food/drinks) That was really good; That's just what I needed.

Thick-skinned (adj.): Not easily offended; The opposite of "touchy". "He's thick skinned. He can take it."

(To) think straight:
To think clearly. Example: "I was so tired that I couldn't think straight."

Throw the book at someone: To impose the highest/most severe penalty on someone for a crime committed. Example: "After John got caught stealing again, the judge threw the book at him."

(To) throw someone for a loop:
To confuse or shock someone. Example: "His last comment really threw me for a loop. I had no idea what he meant!"

(To) tie the knot:
To get married. Example: "They tied the knot in Puerto Vallarta."

Tight (adj.): Close. "That's one tight game!"

(To) tighten one's belt
To spend less money. Example: "After Becky lost her job, we really had to tighten our belts for a while."

To save his/her life:
At all/ completely. Example: "She can't sing to save her life."

Told you so!:
Basically when someone says "told you so!", it's like saying "See, I was right!".

Tongue in cheek:
Joking. Example: "Quentin made a tongue-in-cheek remark to his dad."

(To) touch on (something):
To mention/talk about. Example: "During the meeting, we touched on the plans to rebuild the school."

Trash (v.): To destroy. "The band trashed the hotel room."

(To be) tripping on (something): to be high on something (usually drugs).

True to one's word:
Keeping one's promise. Example: "I wasn't sure he would pay me, but he turned out to be true to his word."

(To) try your luck
To attempt something; to try to see if you can do/win something. Example: "I'm going to try my luck at the slot machines."

(To) try someone's patience
To do something annoying that may cause someone to lose patience. Example: "It's not a good idea to try the boss' patience."

(To) turn a blind eye to something:
To ignore something and pretend you did not see it. Example: "The usher turned a blind eye to the boy who snuck into the theater."

Turn-off (n.): Something that makes you lose your interest. Example: "The fact that she smoked so much was a real turn-off."

(To) turn one's back on (something/someone):
To forget or ignore (something/someone) Example: "You should never turn your back on your friends."

(To) two-time someone:
To be in a relationship and to have another boyfriend/girlfriend without telling your first boyfriend/girlfriend. Example: "I dumped him when I found out he was two-timing me with Mary."

24/7 (Twenty four seven): Non-stop, around the clock. Example: "That place is open 24/7. It never closes."


Uncle Sam: The United States government; Example: "One fourth of my salary goes to Uncle Sam."

Under construction:
Being built or repaired. Example: "This road has been under construction for six months."

Under fire:
Being attacked. Example: "The soldiers came under fire when they approached the city."

Under the table:
Illegally. Example: "Many illegal immigrants try to find work under the table."

Under the weather:
Sick. Ill. Example: "I'm feeling a bit under the weather today."

Up and about:
Recovered from an illness. Example: "It's nice to see you up and about. You must be feeling a lot better."

Up for grabs: Available (for the taking); Example: "The jackpot is still up for grabs."

Up in the air:
Uncertain. Example: "His future at this company is up in the air."

Up one's sleeve (as in "to have something up one's sleeve"): To have a secret agenda, to be up to something, to be planning something. Example: "I don't trust him. I just know he has something up his sleeve."

Upbeat (adj.): Positive. Example: "Brendon's always really upbeat."

Upper crust: Upper class. The richest, most important people in a certain society.

Uptight:
Conservative, nervous, nit-picky. "It's hard for me to feel at ease around uptight people."

(To be/feel) up to (doing something):
Capable of, fit for. Example: "Do you feel up to playing a game of tennis?"

(To be) up to no good: To be planning something bad. Example: "Jimmy's parents could tell that he was up to no good."

Up to one's neck in something:
Very much involved in something; to have a lot of something. Example: "Please don't give me any more socks as presents. I'm up to my neck in socks."

Up to par:
Meeting normal standards. Example: "The wine was nice, but it wasn't up to par with the excellent wine they normally have."

(To) use every trick in the book:
To use every method possible. Example: "He used every trick in the book to get her to go out on a date with him."


(To) vanish into thin air:
To disappear without leaving a trace. Example: "Whatever happened to that actor? He seems to have vanished into thin air."

Variety is the spice of life:
Proverb meaning life is made more interesting by doing new or different things.

Veg out (v.): (Pronounced "vedge out") To sit/lay around doing nothing or relaxing. Example: "I'm gonna veg out by the pool for a while."

Vegas: short for "Las Vegas". Example: "We went to Vegas for the weekend."

Veggies (n.pl): Vegetables. Example: "Don't forget to eat your veggies!"

Very last:
The last. Example: "We were able to buy the very last tickets to the concert."

Very well:
OK. Agreed.

Vet (n.): Short for "veteran"; Also short for "veterinarian".

Vibe (n.): Feeling. "I'm getting a strange vibe from him." = "He's behaving strangely (towards me)."; "This place has a really cool vibe." = "This place has a very nice atmosphere."

Vicious circle:
Sequence of cause and effect with bad results. Example: "He had fallen into a vicious circle of drinking too much, losing his job, and then drinking even more."


Wait-and-see attitude:
A skeptical attitude. An attitude where someone will just wait and see what happens. Example: "The best thing to do is to adopt a wait-and-see attitude."

(To) wait tables:
To work as a waiter/ waitress in a restaurant. Example: "Becky waited tables while she was in college."

(To) wait on someone hand and foot:
To serve someone very well; to do anything someone asks you. Example: "I don't mind making you coffee, but don't expect me to wait on you hand and foot!"

Wanna: Conversational form of "want to". Example: "He doesn't wanna come."

(To) wash one's hands of someone/something:
To end one's association with someone or something. Example: "I washed my hands of Tom. I wanted nothing more to do with him."

Washed-up:
No longer important/ in good form. Example: "Why do you hang out with that washed-up actor?"

(To) waste one's breath:
To talk in vain. To waste one's time talking. Example: "Don't waste your breath. He never listens to what anyone tells him."

Wasted (adj.): Very drunk, high. Example: "We got so wasted last night."

Watch your back!: Be careful; Watch out. *this is often meant as a threat or warning*

Way to go!:
Good job! Congratulations! (*sometimes used sarcastically*)

Wear and tear:
Damage as a result of normal use. Example: "They put a lot of wear and tear on their truck during their long road trip."

(To) wear out one's welcome:
To stay too long (at an event, at someone's house, etc.) Example: "Let's only stay with them for 2 days. I don't want us to wear out our welcome."

Weirdo (n.): Strange person. *fairly negative*

Well-off:
Wealthy. Example: "Her parents are well-off."

Well-to-do (adj.): Wealthy; Rich. Example: "She comes from a well-to-do family."

Wet blanket:
A person who discourages others from having fun.

What makes someone tick:
What motivates someone. Example: "He's such a mysterious guy. I don't quite know what makes him tick."

What's with (someone):
What's wrong with (someone). Example: "What's with you? You've been acting strange all day!"

Wheels (n.pl.): Car.

(A) whole lot:
A lot, too many. Example: "There aren't a whole lot of good restaurants in this neighborhood." = There aren't too many good restaurants in this neighborhood.

(To be) wide awake:
To be completely awake. Example: "P1: Were you sleeping? P2: No, I was wide awake."

(A) wild goose chase:
A futile/hopeless pursuit. Example: "We thought he had given us a good lead, but it ended up being a wild goose chase."

Wimp (n.): Weak, cowardly person. Example: "Call me a wimp again and see what happens."

Wired (adj.): Hyper, (overly) alert. Example: "I'm all wired from the two espressos that I drank."

Wishy-washy (adj.): Lacking in strength or character; not concrete; Example: "He gave me some wishy-washy excuse."

(At one's) wits' end:
If you're "at your wits' end" it means that you've tried everything to fix or solve a problem, or to come up with a solution, and you're almost going crazy from not being able to do this.

(With) no strings attached:
Unconditionally. Example: "He said that he just wanted to help me, no strings attached."

(To) work out for the best:
To work out in the best possible way. Example: "It seems bad now, but things will work out for the best."

Work up the courage (to do something): To build up enough confidence (to do something). Example: "She finally worked up the courage to ask him out."

Wrap (something) up (v.): To finish (something); To bring something to a close. Example: "OK, let's wrap things up for today."


X marks the spot:
This is the exact spot.


Yack (v.): Somewhat rude version of "to talk." Example: "He was yackin' away, and I wasn't even listening."

Yawn: Something one says to show that one is bored. Example: "Oh, great, another romantic comedy. Yawn."

Yeah: Conversational form of "yes".

Year-round (adj./adv.)
Operating all year. Example: "This facility is open year round."

Yes-man:
A person who tries to be liked by agreeing with everything said, especially by a boss.

You bet!: 1) Of course. Example: "P1: Hey you wanna come to the beach with us? P2: You bet!"; 2) No problem. Example: "P1: Thanks for all your help! P2: You bet!"

You can say that again: (stress on "that")
That is true. Example: "P1: It sure is hot today! P2: You can say that again!"

You can't teach an old dog new tricks:
A proverb with two meanings: 1) old(er) people can't learn anything new and 2) old habits are hard to break.

You don't say:
Used to show surprise at something that is being said. Example: "You don't say! He was really struck by lightning?"

Your guess is as good as mine:
I don't know any better/ more than you know. Example: "P1: How old is Robert? P2: Your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea."

You're telling me!: Phrase meaning "I know exactly what you mean"; Similar to "Don't I know it!"; Example: "P1: My son's gone off to college and I miss him so much! P2: You're telling me! I've got two sons in college."

Yuppie (n.): Abbreviated form of "young urban professional"; said of young, career-oriented, financially successful people.


Zap (v.): To destroy, kill, or inflict pain with some kind of an electric current. Someone can be "zapped by an electrical current", "zapped by a laser gun", "zapped by lightning", etc.

Zs (pronounced "zeez"): Sleep.

Zip (or Zilch): Nothing.

Zip around (v.): To move around very quickly (from place to place).

Zit (n.): Pimple. Example: "Whatever you do, don't pop that zit."

Zone out (v.): To space out; to drift off mentally. Example: "I always zone out when my parents lecture me about stuff."

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