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Idioms & expressions

Add new idioms and expressions to your vocabulary. Learn how to use them in real-life situations.

FYI Meaning And Its Use in Formal And Informal Contexts

FYI Meaning And Its Use in Formal And Informal Contexts

FYI is an abbreviation of “for your information.” This phrase informs the addressee that the message that follows is simply to provide information and requires no action on their part.

Beth Taylor
Beth Taylor
English
What Does “Vice Versa” Mean, and How to Use It?

What Does “Vice Versa” Mean, and How to Use It?

“Vice versa” is one of the most common English phrases used in formal and informal language.

Milena Lazova
Milena Lazova
English
The Difference Between “Bear With Me” and “Bare With Me”

The Difference Between “Bear With Me” and “Bare With Me”

The only correct way to write the phrase from the title is “bear with me.”

Valentina Dordevic
Valentina Dordevic
English
The meaning of “waiting with bated breath”

The meaning of “waiting with bated breath”

Practically the only context in which bated breath appears these days is following “with”—someone is waiting for something with bated breath, as referenced in the examples below.

Cecilia Gigliotti
Cecilia Gigliotti
English
Where Does “Hold My Beer” Come From And What’s the Meaning Of It?

Where Does “Hold My Beer” Come From And What’s the Meaning Of It?

Until the phrase “Hold my beer” became a meme on the internet, it was a characteristic expression in English jokes or used as a statement for silly ideas.

Andre Kern
Andre Kern
English
What Does “Going to Hell in a Handbasket” Mean?

What Does “Going to Hell in a Handbasket” Mean?

You may not hear the expression “going to hell in a handbasket” every day, but it does exist in the English language, and natives use it when appropriate.

Milena Lazova
Milena Lazova
English
How to understand and use the phrase “come-to-Jesus moment”

How to understand and use the phrase “come-to-Jesus moment”

The term is rooted in American English, given its roots in American Christian religious traditions. Each of the two variations has to do with the other but has a distinct meaning unto itself. Let’s take a closer look.

Cecilia Gigliotti
Cecilia Gigliotti
English
“A Third Wheel” or “Fifth Wheel”—Is There a Difference?

“A Third Wheel” or “Fifth Wheel”—Is There a Difference?

To learn how to use these common idioms, here are the definitions of each, along with some examples and a few words about the origin.

Milena Lazova
Milena Lazova
English