Phrases commonly used in daily conversation.
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Push the envelope → To go beyond the usual limits
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She always pushes the envelope in design.
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Let’s push the envelope and try something bold.
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Call the shots → To be in charge
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He’s the one who calls the shots around here.
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You don’t get to call the shots this time.
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In over your head → Too involved in something difficult
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I think I’m in over my head with this job.
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She got in over her head with the project.
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On the fence → Unable to decide
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I’m still on the fence about the offer.
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He’s on the fence about quitting.
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Drop a bombshell → To reveal shocking news
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She dropped a bombshell at the meeting.
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The article dropped a bombshell on the industry.
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Cut to the chase → Skip the details and go to the point
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Let’s cut to the chase—what do you want?
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He always cuts to the chase in meetings.
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Take a rain check → Postpone something
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Can I take a rain check on dinner?
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I’ll take a rain check—I’m too tired today.
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The ball is in your court → It’s your responsibility now
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I’ve done my part; the ball is in your court.
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The ball’s in your court—what’s your decision?
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Throw someone under the bus → To betray someone for personal gain
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He threw me under the bus in front of the boss.
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Don’t throw her under the bus like that.
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Keep someone at arm's length → To avoid getting too close
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He always keeps people at arm’s length.
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She kept him at arm’s length for a reason.
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Take a toll on → To have a negative effect
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Stress has taken a toll on her health.
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The war took a toll on the economy.
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Bend over backwards → To try very hard
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They bent over backwards to please the client.
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She’ll bend over backwards for her family.
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Turn the tables → To reverse the situation
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She turned the tables with a clever move.
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The underdog turned the tables and won.
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Sit on the sidelines → To avoid getting involved
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Don’t sit on the sidelines—take part!
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He just sat on the sidelines during the debate.
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Raise the bar → To increase standards
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That speech really raised the bar.
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She always raises the bar for everyone.
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Throw in your two cents → To offer an opinion
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Can I throw in my two cents?
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He always throws in his two cents.
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Put your foot down → To insist firmly
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She finally put her foot down about the rules.
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I had to put my foot down and say no.
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Off the record → Not to be made public
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Off the record, he’s resigning.
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She told me off the record what happened.
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Jump through hoops → To go through many difficulties
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We had to jump through hoops to get approval.
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Don’t make me jump through hoops.
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Come full circle → To return to the beginning
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Life has come full circle for him.
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Her career came full circle after years away.
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Call it quits → To stop or end something
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They finally called it quits.
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I think we should call it quits and rest.
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Give someone the cold shoulder → To ignore someone
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He gave me the cold shoulder.
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Don’t give her the cold shoulder—talk to her.
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Beat around the bush → To avoid the main point
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Stop beating around the bush and tell me.
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He beat around the bush for 10 minutes.
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Burst someone’s bubble → To disappoint someone
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I hate to burst your bubble, but that’s not true.
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She burst his bubble with the truth.
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Walk on eggshells → To be very careful
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We walked on eggshells around the boss.
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I’m tired of walking on eggshells at home.
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Clam up → To suddenly stop talking
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He clams up when asked about his past.
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She just clammed up in the interview.
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Go down in flames → To fail completely
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His plan went down in flames.
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The project went down in flames after budget cuts.
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Keep your head above water → To survive or manage
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I’m just trying to keep my head above water.
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They barely kept their heads above water.
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Skate on thin ice → To take risks
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You’re skating on thin ice with that attitude.
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He’s always on thin ice at work.
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Take it with a grain of salt → To doubt something
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Take his advice with a grain of salt.
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I took that story with a grain of salt.
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Know the ropes → To understand how things work
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She really knows the ropes now.
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I’ll show you the ropes—it’s easy.
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Go back to the drawing board → Start over again
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It didn’t work—back to the drawing board.
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We went back to the drawing board after testing.
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Think outside the box → Be creative
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We need to think outside the box here.
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She always thinks outside the box.
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At the drop of a hat → Immediately
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He’d leave at the drop of a hat.
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She’s ready to travel at the drop of a hat.
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Play devil’s advocate → To argue a different point for discussion
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Let me play devil’s advocate for a second.
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He loves playing devil’s advocate.
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Give someone the benefit of the doubt → To trust without proof
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I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
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She always gives people the benefit of the doubt.
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Bite off more than you can chew → To take on too much
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He’s bitten off more than he can chew.
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I may have bitten off more than I can chew.
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Add insult to injury → To make a bad situation worse
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He added insult to injury by laughing.
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Losing the money added insult to injury.
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Break even → To have no profit or loss
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We barely broke even this month.
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The event broke even in the end.
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By the book → Following the rules
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He does everything by the book.
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The report was done by the book.
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Go down to the wire → To be decided at the last minute
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The game went down to the wire.
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It’ll go down to the wire again.
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Under your belt → Experience gained
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She has five projects under her belt.
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I need more experience under my belt.
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In the driver’s seat → In control
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He’s in the driver’s seat now.
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You’ll be in the driver’s seat soon.
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Out of the woods → Past the worst part
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He’s not out of the woods yet.
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We’re finally out of the woods.
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Throw caution to the wind → To take a risk
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I threw caution to the wind and applied.
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She threw caution to the wind and spoke up.
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Get the short end of the stick → To be treated unfairly
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He got the short end of the stick.
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I always get the short end of the stick.
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Light at the end of the tunnel → A sign of hope
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I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
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There’s light at the end of the tunnel now.
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Go off on a tangent → To go off-topic
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He went off on a tangent again.
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Try not to go off on tangents in meetings.
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Put your money where your mouth is → Show action, not just talk
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If you believe it, put your money where your mouth is.
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He finally put his money where his mouth is.
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Know something inside out → To know something very well
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She knows the software inside out.
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I know this topic inside out.
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