List of 500 Idioms and Phrases (pdf/xls) | C2 Proficient (CPE)
Article navigation: (CPE) A-D Idioms & Phrases (CPE) E-H Idioms & Phrases (CPE) I-L Idioms & Phrases (CPE) M-P Idioms & Phrases (CPE) R-Z Idioms & Phrases CPE Useful Idioms & Phrases: Download PDF CPE Useful Idioms & Phrases: Download XLS
Fixed expressions and idioms are a huge part of the Cambridge exams, coming into play far more frequently than in lower levels. For the CPE it is essential that your students know various fixed expressions and idioms.
A fixed expression
is a combination of words that express an idea. It has taken on more meaning than the individual words while still maintaining a lexical connection. It is frequently used in certain circumstances to express a specific idea.
An idiom
is saying or expression that contains a figurative meaning that is different from the phrase’s literal meaning. For example, if you say you’re feeling “under the weather,” you don’t literally mean that you’re standing underneath the rain
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(CPE) A-D Idioms & Phrases
A
| a bear with a sore head | irritated/bad mood |
| a bit of a dark horse | person with hidden abilities |
| a bitter pill to swallow | a difficult fact to accept |
| a different kettle of fish | a totally different sitation from the one just mentioned |
| a dog’s life | a difficult, hard life |
| a fish out of water | sb who feels uncomfortable |
| a long shot | a wild guess/ a risk |
| a memory like a sieve | a poor memory |
| a night owl | person who enjoys staying up late |
| a pain in the neck | annoying person/thing |
| a piece of cake | sth very easy to do |
| a red rag to a bull | action, comment, etc. liable to provoke sb |
| a red-letter day | a very important day |
| a sitting duck | an easy target |
| a storm in a teacup | a lot of fuss about sth that is not important |
| a wild-goose chase | a hopeless search |
| above board | honest |
| Achilles heel | weakest point of sb’s character |
| against all odds | despite the difficulties |
| agree to disagree | stop arguing because there is no chance of agreement |
| all along | from the beginning until now |
| all but | nearly, almost |
| all in | exhausted |
| all in all | when everything is considered |
| all the same | yet, however |
| all told | altogether; in total |
| an old wives’ tale | false belief |
| an unknown quantity | person or thing that one has no experience of |
| as a last resort | when all else has failed |
| as the crow flies | in a direct line/ by a direct route |
| at close quarters | from a short distance |
| at large | free, not caught |
| at the cutting edge | at the forefront of |
B
| bark up the wrong tree | have a false idea about sth |
| be ahead of one’s time | have modern ideas |
| be all at sea | be in a state of confusion |
| be all fingers and thumbs | be awkward, clumsy |
| be all very well | appear satisfactory but in fact not be |
| be as busy as a bee | very busy |
| be as thick as a brick | be stupid |
| be beside oneself with anger | to be extremely angry |
| be born yesterday | be easily deceived/ naive |
| be broke | have no/very little money |
| be caught red-handed | be caught while committing a crime |
| be dying for sth | really want sth |
| be fit for | be good enough for |
| be for the high jump | about to be punished |
| be full of beans | be very lively |
| be green | be inexperienced |
| be in a quandary | be confused; undecided |
| be in sb’s black books | out of favour |
| be in sb’s shoes | be in sb’s position |
| be in the dark about sth | be unaware of sth |
| be in the doghouse | be out of favour, in trouble |
| be in the know | be well-informed |
| be in the same boat | be in the same (usually bad) situation |
| be in two minds about sth | not be able to decide what to do |
| be on the cards | be likely to happen |
| be on the defensive | protect oneself because one feels insecure or threatened |
| be on the up and up | improve steadily |
| be out of practice | lacking practice |
| be over the moon | be elated |
| be second to none | be the best |
| be sound asleep | sleep deeply |
| be the apple of sb’s eye | be very precious to sb; be sb’s favourite |
| be the perfect image of sb | look exactly like sb |
| be the splitting image of sb | look exactly like sb |
| be thrown off balance | be surprised |
| be tickled pink | be really pleased |
| be up and about | have recovered from an illness |
| be up in arms | be very angry |
| be worn out | be very tired |
| be/get soaked to the skin | be/get very wet |
| be/have a close shave | barely avoid an accident/ a bad situation |
| bear fruit | be successful |
| beat about/around the bush | avoid saying what one means directly |
| beat sb black and blue | hit sb repeatedly until bruised |
| before one can say Jack Robinson | extremely quickly |
| beg the question | makes people want to ask a particular question |
| behind bars | in prison |
| behind the scenes | in secret |
| below the belt | cruel and unfair |
| bide one’s time | wait for a good opportunity |
| big cheese | person with important job/position |
| big-headed | conceited; boastful |
| bite off more than sb can chew | try to do sth which is too difficult |
| black and blue all over | covered with bruises |
| black tie | formal clothing |
| blaze a trail | discover sth new |
| blessing in disguise | sth which appears bad at first but then turns out favourably |
| blow a fuse | become very angry |
| blue-eyed boy | a favoured person |
| bolt from the blue | suddenly |
| brainwave | sudden clear idea/thought |
| break even | show neither loss nor profit |
| break the ice | ease the tensione when one first meets people |
| bring sth home to sb | make sb understand how important or serious sth is |
| bring to one’s knees | destroy, humble |
| browned off | fed up; bored |
| bury one’s head in the sand | avoid or ignore reality/responsibility |
| butter sb up | flatter sb |
| by and large | generally speaking |
| by definition | having a quality simply because of what it is |
| by force of habit | used to doing sth without thinking |
| by trial and error | learning from one’s mistakes |
C
| call it quits | give up/stop |
| call sb names | insult sb |
| cast aspersions | criticise |
| catch sb red-handed | be caught while committing a crime |
| chair a meeting | preside over a meeting |
| chip off the old block | sb who is very like one of his parents |
| chop and change | keep changing (your mind) |
| claim to fame | thing which makes sb unusual |
| clear the air | remove suspicion/bad feeling |
| come clean | admit the truth |
| come out of one’s shell | gain personal confidence |
| come to a head | reach a critical point |
| come to a standstill | not progress/stop |
| come to terms with | accept a difficult situation |
| come to the fore | become important or popular |
| come to the point | reach the main point in a discussion |
| cook one’s goose | end one’s plans abruptly |
| cost a bomb | very expensive |
| cost an arm and a leg | be very expensive |
| cramp one’s style | restrict one’s behaviour in some way |
| crocodile tears | false tears |
| cross one’s mind | think of sth |
| cry over spilt milk | grieve over sth that can’t be put right |
| cut corners | be less thorough |
| cut sb dead | ignore sb |
| cut sb to the quick | deeply hurt sb’s feelings |
| cut to the bone | reduced to the minimum |
D
| deal a blow to | damage one’s hopes |
| different as chalk and cheese | totally different |
| does it show? | is it obvious? |
| dog eat dog | ruthless competition, rivalry |
| dog-eared | (of books) with the corners bent and turned down through use |
| don’t give up your day job | continue to do sth you know rather than trying sth new |
| don’t hold your breath | don’t wait for sb/sth anxiously |
| donkey work | boring, monotonous work |
| donkey’s years | a long time |
| down in the dumps | depressed/miserable |
| down the drain | wasted; lost |
| drive a hard bargain | be a tough businessman |
| drive sb up the wall | make sb angry/annoy sb |
| drop a brick | say sth tactlessly |
| drop sb a line | send sb a letter |
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(CPE) E-H Idioms & Phrases
E
| ease off | reduce in degree, speed or intensity |
| eat one’s heart out | feel jealous/ sad about sth |
| every nook and cranny | everywhere |
F
| face the music | be criticised or punished for sth you have done |
| fair and square | within the rules |
| fall head over heels | fall in love quickly |
| fall into place | become clear |
| feel down in the mouth | feel discouraged/depressed |
| feel in one’s bones | feeling sth instinctively |
| feel one’s ears burning | have a feeling that sb is talking about you |
| few and far between | scarce/rare |
| fight like cat and dog | disagree violently |
| fine kettle of fish | confused state of affairs |
| flat broke | penniless |
| flog a dead horse | waste time doing sth useless |
| fly off the handle | quickly become very angry |
| fly on the wall | see/hear sth in a situation which does not involve you |
| for all | in spite of |
| for all I care | I don’t care |
| for all I know | as far as I know |
| for donkey’s years | for a very long time |
| for the time being | temporarily |
| frosty welcome | unfriendly reception |
G
| gatecrasher | sb attending a party without an invitation |
| get a bit hot under the collar | get angry, upset or embarassed |
| get a move on | hurry up |
| get a problem off one’s chest | tell sb else about your problem |
| get cold feet | lose courage to do sth |
| get cold feet | be nervous or frightened because sth might fail |
| get nowhere fast | make no progress |
| get off on the wrong foot | argue or disagree at the beginning of a relationship |
| get on one’s nerves | irritate/annoy sb |
| get out of bed on the wrong side | be in a bad mood |
| get out of hand | become out of control |
| get rid of sth | give sth unwanted away |
| get the hang of it | get in the habit of doing sth |
| get the sack | be dismissed from one’s job |
| get the wrong end of the stick | misunderstand completely what has been said |
| get wind of | receive information about sth indirectly |
| get your own back | take/get revenge |
| give and take | compromise |
| give chapter and verse | give every exact detail |
| give sb the cold shoulder | ignore sb |
| give sb the slip | escape from sb |
| give the green light to sth | give permission to proceed with sth |
| give vent to | express sth freely |
| give way to | give in/yield |
| go back on one’s word | not fulfil a promise |
| go by the board | be rejected |
| go for a song | be sold very cheaply |
| go to any lengths | do anything necessary to get sth you want |
| go to one’s head | make conceited |
| go to the dogs | worsen |
| go without saying | be a foregone conclusion |
| golden opportunity | the best chance to gain sth |
| grease sb’s palm | bribe sb |
| green belt | the area on the outskirts of a town adjoining the country |
| green with envy | very jealous |
| grey matter | brains; intelligence |
| grow out of sth | become too big for sth |
H
| hand in glove with sb | be in very close contact with sb |
| have a bee in one’s bonnet | have an obsession about sth |
| have a frog in one’s throat | inability to speak due to nervousness |
| have a job to do sth | find sth difficult to do |
| have a sharp tongue | tend to say unkind or hurtful things |
| have a yellow streak | be a coward |
| have an early night | go to bed early |
| have an eye for | be a good judge of sth |
| have an eye for | be good at judging the worth of sth |
| have at one’s fingertips | have easily available |
| have butterflies in one’s stomach | be very nervous about sth |
| have kittens | be nervous/anxious about sth |
| have many irons in the fire | have lots of plans in progress at the same time |
| have no fixed abode | be homeless |
| have no option but | must; have no choice |
| have one’s heart in one’s mouth | be extremely anxious about sth |
| have sb’s hands full | be very busy with sth |
| have the cheek | dare to do sth |
| have the gift of the gab | be able to talk well |
| have time on one’s hands | have free time |
| have words with sb | have an argument |
| hear it through the grapevine | find out information indirectly |
| hit the nail on the head | say exactly the right thing |
| hit the roof | get very angry |
| hit the sack | go to bed |
| hold one’s horses | wait; be patient |
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(CPE) I-L Idioms & Phrases
I
| ill at ease | embarassed; uncomfortable |
| in a flash | very quickly |
| in a nutshell | briefly; in few words |
| in a rut | be stuck in a monotonous routine |
| in a tick | shortly, soon |
| in abeyance | halted temporarily |
| in arrears | have not paid the money they owe |
| in black and white | in writing |
| in broad daylight | in full view of the public |
| in clover | living a luxurious and comfortable life |
| in deep water | in trouble/difficulty |
| in full flow | talking at length |
| in public | in the presence of other people |
| in the abstract | in a general way |
| in the act of | while performing the act |
| in the air | uncertain |
| in the balance | uncertain |
| in the black | not owing anybody any money |
| in the flesh | in person |
| in the long run | after a long period of time |
| in the nick of time | just in time |
| in the offing | likely to happen |
| in the red | owe money to a bank |
| it stands to reason | it is logical |
| it’s all Greek to me | sth new or foreign; not easily understood |
J
| jack of all trades | sb who is able to do a variety of jobs |
K
| keep a straight face | manage to look serious under difficult circumstances |
| keep an eye on sth | guard/protect sth |
| keep in check | control |
| keep one’s chin up | not be discouraged |
| keep one’s fingers crossed | hope that sth will turn out well |
| keep one’s wits about one | be alert and able to deal with difficulties |
| keep oneself to oneself | live quietly, privately |
| keep sth quiet | keep sth secret |
| keep sth under one’s hat | keep sth secret |
| keep up with the Joneses | compete with others in status/material goods |
| kick the bucket | die |
| kill time | pass time while waiting for sb/sth |
| kill two birds with one stone | achieve two things with one action |
| know the ropes | know all the details of sth |
L
| lay bare | make public |
| lay the table | set the table for a meal |
| lend an ear | listen to sb in a careful and sympathetic way |
| lend sb a hand | give help to sb |
| let sleeping dogs lie | avoid mentioning a subject which could cause trouble |
| let the cat out of the bag | reveal a secret |
| like a bull in a china shop | behave ina clumsy/ awkward way |
| like the back of one’s hand | be very familiar with sth |
| like water off a duck’s back | having no effect |
| live out of a suitcase | travel often/not have a permanent home |
| look at sth though rose-coloured spectacles | see sth from an unrealistically positive point of view |
| look down one’s nose at sb | feel/act superior to sb |
| lose heart | become discouraged |
| lose one’s head | lose self-control |
| lose one’s nerve | lose courage |
| lost cause | hopeless situation or case |
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(CPE) M-P Idioms & Phrases
M
| make a clean breast of | confess |
| make a dog’s dinner | make a mess of sth |
| make a flying visit | make a quick trip |
| make a fool of oneself | make oneself look stupid |
| make a killing | have a sudden, great success |
| make a living | earn money |
| make a mountain out of a molehill | cause a fuss about a trivial matter |
| make a name for oneself | become famous/respected for sth |
| make allowances for | take special circumstances into consideration |
| make amends for | try to compensate for a past action |
| make common cause with sb | act together to achieve aim |
| make hay while the sun shines | take advantage of favourable circumstances |
| make head nor tail of | understand sth |
| make light of | treat sth as unimportant |
| make money hand over fist | make a lot of money quickly and easily |
| make one’s blood boil | cause sb to become very angry |
| make one’s getaway | escape |
| make quite a scene | become angry in a dramatic way |
| make sb’s day | make sb very happy |
| make waves | cause trouble |
| meet behind closed doors | meet secretly |
| moon around | look miserable |
| more to sb than meets the eye | sb is more important or interesting than is first seen |
| mutton dressed as a lamb | dress in a style younger than or inappropriate to your age |
N
| no room to swing a cat | no room at all |
| no wonder | not surprising |
| not all it’s cracked up to be | not as good as people say it is |
| not be one’s cup of tea | not suit one’s taste |
| not count one’s chickens before they’re hatched | not assume sth before it happens |
| not have it both ways | refuse to make a decision between two pleasant things |
| not have the foggiest idea | not know sth at all |
| not hold water | not seem reasonable or in accordance with the facts |
| not lose any sleep over sth | not worry about sth |
| null and void | invalid; not legally binding |
O
| of all people | used to express annoyance/surprise |
| of its own accord | automatically |
| of no consequence | of no value |
| off colour | look/be slightly unwell |
| off the cuff | without preparation |
| off the point | irrelevant |
| off the record | unofficial(ly) |
| on a shoe string | on a very small budget |
| on account of | because of |
| on edge | tense/nervous/ anxious |
| on no account | under/in no circumstances |
| on second thoughts | having changed one’s mind |
| on the air | broadcasting |
| on the alert | watchful and prepared |
| on the ball | alert |
| on the blink | stop working properly (of electrical equipment) |
| on the dole | receiving unemployment benefit/social security |
| on the dot | punctual, exact on time |
| on the face of it | judging by how sth appears |
| on the level | honest/sincere |
| on the quiet | secretly |
| on the spur of the moment | without thinking about sth |
| on this/that account | for this/that reason |
| once and for all | for the last time |
| once in a blue moon | very rarely |
| one’s flesh and blood | family member |
| open to debate | not decided/settled |
| out and about | outdoors; travelling from one place to another |
| out in the open | (of secrets) revealed, known |
| out of bounds | prohibited, forbidden (place) |
| out of print | (of books) not available anymore |
| out of the blue | suddenly and unexpectedly |
| out of the frying pan into the fire | from a situation to a worse/similar one |
| out of the question | impossible |
| out of turn | not in the correct order/time |
| out-and-out | complete, total |
P
| paint the town red | have a great time |
| part and parcel of | basic part of |
| part company with | end association |
| pay sb’s way | contribute your shares of a bill |
| pick someone’s brains | ask sb to help with a problem |
| pitch black | very dark |
| play cat and mouse with sb | keep sb in a state of uncertain expectation treating them alternatively cruelly and kindly |
| play it by ear | act in a situation by responding to events rather than according to plan |
| play one’s cards right | act cleverly |
| play truant | stay away from school without permission |
| plenty more fish in the sea | many more opportunities in life for love |
| point the finger of suspicion | blame sb for sth |
| pop the question | make a proposal of marriage |
| pull a few strings | use influential contacts in order to obtain an advantage |
| pull one’s leg | tease or trick sb |
| pull one’s socks up | make a greater effort |
| put a damper on | ruin sth or make it less enjoyable |
| put down roots | settle down |
| put on a brave face | try to hide one’s disappointment |
| put one’s foot down | insist on sth |
| put one’s foot in it | make a tactless comment |
| put one’s heart and soul into sth | be devoted to sth |
| put sb’s name forward | nominate sb |
| put the cat among the pigeons | cause trouble/controversy |
| put two and two together | arrive at the truth by looking at facts |
| put words into one’s mouth | pretend that sb has said sth that they haven’t actually said |
(CPE) R-Z Idioms & Phrases
R
| rack sb’s brains | think very hard about sth |
| rain cats and dogs | rain heavily |
| red herring | sth which distracts you from sth important |
| red tape | unnecessary bureaucracy |
| ring a bell | remind sb of sth |
| rise to the challenge | act and be successful even though sth is new |
S
| see eye to eye with sb | agree with sb |
| see fit | think suitable or right |
| see red | suddenly become very angry |
| see the back of | be glad to see sb leave |
| set in one’s ways | fixed in one’s habits |
| shed light upon | give new/further information |
| short and sweet | brief but pleasant (usually ironic) |
| show one’s true colours | reveal one’s real character |
| sleep like a dog | be sound asleep |
| sleep on it | think about sth |
| slip one’s mind | forget about sth |
| slow on the uptake | slow to understand |
| smell a rat | suspect that sth is wrong |
| sour grapes | say unpleasant comments because of jealousy |
| speak volumes | be strong evidence of sb’s feelings or merits |
| spill the beans | reveal a secret/the facts |
| stand in sb’s way | prevent sb from doing sth |
| status symbol | property/possession that shows sb’s high social rank wealth etc. |
| stay clear of | avoid sb/sth |
| stew in one’s own juice | suffer the consequences of one’s own action |
| sth comes in handy | be very useful/practical |
| straight from the horse’s mouth | from the most direct source |
| strike a chord | make sb feel sympathy |
| strike gold | come across sth useful |
| sweet tooth | enjoy eating sweet things |
| swim like a fish | swim very well |
T
| take it easy | not work too hard/relax |
| take one’s time | not to hurry |
| take sb for granted | not appreciate sb |
| take sth into account | consider sth |
| take sth on the chin | bravely accept criticism |
| take sth to heart | take personally/be influenced by |
| take sth with a pinch of salt | not believe sth completely |
| take the bull by the horns | deal with sth boldly and directly |
| take things to pieces | dismantle things |
| take to one’s heels | run away |
| talk the hind legs off a donkey | talk for a long time, uninterrupted |
| the black sheep of the family | a disgraced family member |
| the ins and outs | the details of an activity |
| the last straw | the last and worst episode in a chain of bad experiences |
| the life and soul of sth | the most lively and amusing person present somewhere |
| the lion’s share | the biggest part/portion |
| the pot calling the kettle black | accusing sb of a fault one has oneself |
| the rat race | the competitive nature of modern urban life |
| the tip of the iceberg | small evident part of a much larger, concealed situation |
| the year dot | a long time ago |
| thick-skinned | insensitive |
| through thick and thin | whatever happens |
| throw a party | have/hold a party |
| to no effect | unsuccessful |
| tongue in cheek | not serious, ironic |
| tooth and nail | fiercely |
| touch and go | with uncertain result |
| turn a blind eye to sth | ignore |
| turn over a new leaf | make a new start |
| under the weather | depressed/unwell |
U
| until one is blue in the face | as hard/long as one possibly can |
| until the cows come home | for a long time |
| up and coming | likely to be successful |
| up in the air | existing, but not talked about |
| ups and downs | good things with bad ones |
W
| wash sb’s hands of sb | refuse to be involved with sb |
| wet behind the ears | inexperienced |
| wet blanket | dull person who spoils people’s happiness |
| whet sb’s appetite | make sb eager to have/experience more |
| white elephant | useless/unwanted possession |
| white-collar job | office/clerical work |
| with a view to doing sth | with the intention or hope of doing sth |
| with flying colours | with great success |
| without fail | do sth no matter what |
| work a miracle | make sth almost impossible happen |
| work to rule | adhere strictly to the rules as a form of protest |
CPE Useful Idioms & Phrases: Download PDF
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