English Slang https://www.english-slang.com/eng/ English-slang.com - free online English idioms dictionary. Learn and study English idioms and slang with explanations and examples. Join us on telegram: https://t.me/enjoy_learning_english_en en-us Fri, 06 Mar 2026 19:39:29 +0300 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 19:39:29 +0300 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/ root@sky-net-eye.com (noreply) root@sky-net-eye.com (noreply) English Slang https://www.english-slang.com/images/logo_en.png https://www.english-slang.com/eng/ American vs British https://www.english-slang.com/eng/online-lessons/british-vs-american- https://www.english-slang.com/eng/online-lessons/british-vs-american- English Slang #English #englishlessons
Lessons on American and British English differences.

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]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:30:01 +0300 at all costs https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_a/261-at-all-costs https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_a/261-at-all-costs English Slang #English #adverb #Idioms #esl
at all costs  {adv. phr.}
At any expense of time, effort, or money. Regardless of the results.
Mr. Jackson intended to save his son's eyesight at all costs.
Carl is determined to succeed in his new job at all costs.
Categories: adverb time

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:30:01 +0300 Listen to English - learn English! https://www.english-slang.com/eng/esl/listen-to-english https://www.english-slang.com/eng/esl/listen-to-english English Slang #English

The podcast website for people learning English


The podcasts on this site will help you to improve your English vocabulary and #pronunciation and your listening skills. They are quite short (5 or 6 minutes) and delivered in clearly spoken English. Many of them are linked to #grammar and vocabulary notes, or to exercises or #quizes.

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:30:01 +0300 now that https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_n/5486-now-that https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_n/5486-now-that English Slang #English #conjunction #Idioms #esl
now that  {conj.}
Since; because; now.
Now that dinner is ready, wash your hands.
You came early, but now that you're here, take off your coat.
Syn.: INASMUCH AS.
Categories: conjunction

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:30:01 +0300 Timothy Jones https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/j/aphorism-4131 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/j/aphorism-4131 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish.

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:30:01 +0300 Florio, 1591 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/f/aphorism-3269 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/f/aphorism-3269 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
He that drinks wine drinks blood, and he that drinks water drinks phlegm.

]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:30:02 +0300 glad hand https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/2990-glad-hand https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/2990-glad-hand English Slang #English #informal #noun #Idioms #esl
glad hand  {n.},  {informal}
A friendly handshake; a warm greeting.
Father went to the front door to give Uncle Fred the glad hand when he arrived.
The politician went down the street on election day giving everyone the glad hand.
Categories: hand informal noun

]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:30:02 +0300 Link Rot https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/business-slang/Link-Rot https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/business-slang/Link-Rot English Slang #English #slang
Link Rot
The process by which web page's links become obsolete as the sites they're connected to change or die.
Categories: slang

]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:30:02 +0300 quarterback sneak https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_q/6480-quarterback-sneak https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_q/6480-quarterback-sneak English Slang #English #noun #Idioms #esl
quarterback sneak  {n.}
A football play in which the quarterback takes the ball from the center and dives straight ahead in an attempt to gain a very short distance.
Johnson took the ball over on a quarterback sneak for a touchdown.
Categories: noun
*** Students & teachers ***: see all available reading & drilling sets, run flashcards, use them during your lessons!

]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:30:02 +0300 reap the benefit of https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/more_expressions/reap-the-benefit-of https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/more_expressions/reap-the-benefit-of English Slang #English
to reap the benefit of sth.  {v. phr.}
— to gain advantages of sth.
Investors struggle to reap the benefits of liquidity offered by European non-listed property funds.

]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:30:02 +0300 Russell Peters - "!xobile Click Name" https://www.english-slang.com/eng/fun/click-name https://www.english-slang.com/eng/fun/click-name English Slang #English #fun

What's so #funny about a click in a name? Watch this!
Categories: Tray
]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:30:02 +0300 Chainsaw Consultant https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/business-slang/Chainsaw-Consultant https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/business-slang/Chainsaw-Consultant English Slang #English #slang
Chainsaw Consultant
An outside expert brought in to reduce the employee head count, leaving the top brass with clean hands.
Categories: slang

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]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:30:02 +0000 CYA https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/internet-slang/80-CYA https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/internet-slang/80-CYA English Slang #English #slang
CYA
"See you"; used as a goodbye (see "cu").
Categories: slang
]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:30:02 +0000 Yogi Berra https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/b/aphorism-4495 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/b/aphorism-4495 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
(1925--)
U.S. baseball player
If people don't want to come out to the ballpark, how are you going to stop them?

]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:30:02 +0000 method in (to) one's madness https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_m/5186-method-in--to--ones-madness https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_m/5186-method-in--to--ones-madness English Slang #English #noun #Idioms #esl
method in (to) one's madness  {n. phr.}
A plan or organization of ideas hard to perceive at first, but that becomes noticeable after longer and closer examination.
We thought he was crazy to threaten to resign from the university but, when he was offered a tenured full professorship, we realized that there had been method in his madness.
Categories: crazy noun

]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:30:01 +0000 stick in one's craw https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7616-stick-in-ones-craw https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7616-stick-in-ones-craw English Slang #English #verb #Idioms #esl
stick in one's craw or stuck in one's crop  {v. phr.}
To make you angry; bother you; annoy you.
His parents' praise of his brother stuck in Jerry's craw.
Sue's failure to get a better grade than Ann stuck in her crop.
Categories: bother verb

]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:30:01 +0000 hogching https://www.english-slang.com/eng/-set-/hogching https://www.english-slang.com/eng/-set-/hogching English Slang #English #flashcards
Reading / Flashcard learning set.

Learn / refresh your knowledge against the set, then examine yourself by running flashcard test!

Begin test by definitions or by descriptions.

Set contains the following items:

  • air one's dirty linen/laundry
  • all mouth and no trousers
  • argy-bargy
  • bloke
  • blow off
  • bollocking
  • brown-tongue

]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:30:02 +0000 Michel de Montaigne https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/m/aphorism-4356 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/m/aphorism-4356 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
(1533—1592), French essayist
An unattempted woman cannot boast of her chastity.

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]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:30:02 +0000 make the most of https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_m/5085-make-the-most-of https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_m/5085-make-the-most-of English Slang #English #verb #Idioms #esl
make the most of  {v. phr.}
To do the most you can with; get the most from; use to the greatest advantage.
She planned the weekend in town to make the most of it.
George studied hard. He wanted to make the most of his chance to learn.
The teacher went out of the room for five minutes and some bad boys made the most of it.
Bill liked Mary; he would do anything for her, and Mary made the most of it.
Compare: MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
Categories: verb

]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:30:01 +0000 sunbelt https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7753-sunbelt https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7753-sunbelt English Slang #English #informal #noun #Idioms #esl
sunbelt  {n.},  {informal}
A portion of the southern United States where the winter is very mild in comparison to other states.
The Simpsons left Chicago for the sunbelt because of Jeff's rheumatism.
Categories: informal noun

]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:30:01 +0000 have a thing for https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/more_expressions/have-a-thing-for https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/more_expressions/have-a-thing-for English Slang #English
have a thing for or have a thing about  {v. phr.}
To have a strong inexplicable feeling about sth. or somebody.

I have a thing about sweets, for example. If there are no sweets in front of me, I'm not suffering. But if you bring me some, and put it on my desk and I don't eat them, I'll suffer.
Americans definitely have a thing about trains — they try to avoid them.
Lucian has always had always had a thing for lions and when he had the chance to buy one for a pet, from an animal market, he didn’t hesitate.
Categories: feelings

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]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:30:02 +0000 Thomas Carlyle https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/c/aphorism-4274 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/c/aphorism-4274 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
(1795—1881), Scottish historian
If Jesus Christ were to come today, people would not crucify him. They would ask him to dinner, hear what he had to say, and make fun of it.

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]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:30:02 +0000 jazz up https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_j/4263-jazz-up https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_j/4263-jazz-up English Slang #English #slang #verb #Idioms #esl
jazz up  {v.},  {slang}
To brighten up; add more noise, movement, or color; make more lively or exciting.
The party was very dull until Pete jazzed it up with his drums.
Categories: slang verb

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]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:30:01 +0000 out of the hole https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_o/5917-out-of-the-hole https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_o/5917-out-of-the-hole English Slang #English #informal #adjective #adverb #Idioms #esl
out of the hole  {adv.} or  {adj. phr.},  {informal}
1a. With a score better than zero in a game; especially a card game, to a score above zero.
It took us a long time to get out of the hole in the card game.
1b. Even with an opponent after being behind; out of trouble in a sport or game.
The team played very hard, but could not get out of the hole.
2. Out of debt; ahead financially.
It was a small business, but it was wisely managed, and it kept out of the hole.
The first year was bad, but after that Fred got out of the hole.
Contrast: IN THE HOLE. ]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:30:01 +0000 Henry David Thoreau https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/t/aphorism-3035 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/t/aphorism-3035 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
(1817—1862)
U.S. philosopher
City life: millions of people being lonesome together.

]]> Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:30:03 +0000 Idioms to Learn Today https://www.english-slang.com/eng/-set-/Learn_on_22-1-2013 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/-set-/Learn_on_22-1-2013 English Slang #English #flashcards
Learn/refresh your knowledge against this set!
Then check yourself by running flip-cards by definitions or by descriptions.
*** Students & teachers ***: see all available reading & drilling sets, run flashcards, use them during your lessons!

]]> Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:30:03 +0000 Plug-and-Play https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/business-slang/Plug-and-Play https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/business-slang/Plug-and-Play English Slang #English #slang
Plug-and-Play
A new hire who doesn't require training.
"That new guy is totally plug-and-play."
Categories: slang

]]> Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:30:03 +0000 paint oneself into a corner https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_p/5982-paint-oneself-into-a-corner https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_p/5982-paint-oneself-into-a-corner English Slang #English #verb #Idioms #esl
paint oneself into a corner  {v. phr.}
To get oneself into a bad situation that is difficult or impossible to get out of.
By promising to both lower taxes and raise the defense budget, the president has painted himself into a corner.
Categories: verb

]]> Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:30:02 +0000 stash bag https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7571-stash-bag https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7571-stash-bag English Slang #English #slang #informal #noun #Idioms #esl
stash bag or stuff bag  {n.},  {slang},  {informal}
1. A small bag containing marijuana cigarettes or the ingredients for making them.
The police are holding John because they found a stash bag full of the stuff on him.
2. Any small bag resembling a stash bag used for small personal items such as lipstick, driver's license, etc.
Do you have any room for my keys in your stash bag?
Categories: informal noun slang

]]> Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:30:02 +0000 Bill Stone, Yachting, 1979 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/s/aphorism-3986 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/s/aphorism-3986 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
Each of Nature's organisms, when frightened or confused, reacts in a characteristic way: deer flee, blowfish swell up, and government emits pieces of paper.

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]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:30:01 +0000 in consequence https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_i/3945-in-consequence https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_i/3945-in-consequence English Slang #English #adverb #Idioms #esl
in consequence  {adv. phr.}
As a result; therefore; so.
Jennie got up late, and in consequence she missed the bus.
You studied hard, and in consequence you passed the test.
Categories: adverb

]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:30:01 +0000 pay court to https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_p/6060-pay-court-to https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_p/6060-pay-court-to English Slang #English #verb #Idioms #esl
pay court to  {v. phr.}
To woo; to shower with attention.
He had been paying court to her for three long years before he worked up the courage to ask her to marry him.
Categories: verb

]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:30:01 +0000 Do you Speak English? - funny commercial https://www.english-slang.com/eng/fun/do-you-speak-english https://www.english-slang.com/eng/fun/do-you-speak-english English Slang #English #fun

They say this is the way you would hear in France :)

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]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 Idioms to Learn Today https://www.english-slang.com/eng/-set-/Learn_on_20-2-2013 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/-set-/Learn_on_20-2-2013 English Slang #English #flashcards
Learn/refresh your knowledge against this set!
Then check yourself by running flashcard test by definitions or by descriptions.

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 Nancy Spain https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/s/aphorism-3629 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/s/aphorism-3629 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
Only a fool would make the bed every day.
]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 Salmon Day https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/business-slang/Salmon-Day https://www.english-slang.com/eng/e-slang/business-slang/Salmon-Day English Slang #English #slang
Salmon Day
The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed in the end.
"God, today was a total salmon day!"
Categories: slang

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 bred in the bone https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_b/856-bred-in-the-bone https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_b/856-bred-in-the-bone English Slang #English #adjective #Idioms #esl
bred in the bone  {adj. phr.}
Belonging to your nature or character, especially from early teaching or long habit; natural from belief or habit; believing deeply.
The Willett children's cleanness is bred in the none.
Often used, with hyphens before the noun.
Joe is a bred-in-the-bone horseman; he has been riding since he was six.
Contrast: SKIN-DEEP.
Categories: adjective

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:30:01 +0000 so-and-so https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7365-so-and-so-2- https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7365-so-and-so-2- English Slang #English #informal #noun #Idioms #esl
so-and-so (2)  {n.},  {informal}
A person of a special kind and usually of a very bad kind. — This word is used in place of a more unacceptable word or swear word.
I wish that old so-and-so who thinks digging is easy work was right here digging now.
He called me a dirty so-and-so and I hit him in the mouth.
- Sometimes used in a joking way.
Peter met his friend John and said, "Hello there, you old so-and-so."
Categories: informal noun

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:30:01 +0000 Philip Guedalla https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/g/aphorism-3582 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/g/aphorism-3582 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
(1889—1944), "Supers and Supermen."
History repeats itself. Historians repeat each other.

]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 get off cheap https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/2782-get-off-cheap https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/2782-get-off-cheap English Slang #English #verb #Idioms #esl
get off cheap  {v. phr.}
1. To receive a lesser punishment than one deserves.
Ted could have been sentenced to fifteen years in prison; he got off cheap by receiving a reduced sentence of five years.
2. To pay less than the normal price.
If you had your car repaired for only $75, you got off cheap.
Contrast: GET AWAY WITH.
Categories: verb

]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:30:01 +0000 know something inside out https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_k/4482-know-something-inside-out https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_k/4482-know-something-inside-out English Slang #English #verb #Idioms #esl

know something inside out  {v. phr.}
To be extremely well conversant with something; be an expert in; have thorough knowledge of.
Tom knows the stock market inside out.
Categories: verb

]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:30:01 +0000 Mae West https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/w/aphorism-3877 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/w/aphorism-3877 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
(1892—1980)
U.S. actress
Love conquers all except poverty and toothache.

]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 four corners https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_f/2586-four-corners https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_f/2586-four-corners English Slang #English #noun #Idioms #esl
four corners  {n.}
All parts of a place.
People came from the four corners of the world to see him.
He has been to the four corners of the country.
Compare: ALL OVER.
Categories: noun world

]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:30:01 +0000 the wiser https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_t/8119-the-wiser https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_t/8119-the-wiser English Slang #English #adjective #Idioms #esl
the wiser  {adj.}
Knowing about something which might be embarrassing of knowing. — Usually used with "nobody" or "no one".
Mary took the teacher's book home by mistake, but early the next morning she returned it with nobody the wiser.
Categories: adjective
*** Students & teachers ***: see all available reading & drilling sets, run flashcards, use them during your lessons!

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]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:30:01 +0000 Dave Barry https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/b/aphorism-2521 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/b/aphorism-2521 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
U.S. humorist
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness.

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]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 same https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/6840-same https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/6840-same English Slang #English #Idioms #esl
same
See:
AT THE SAME TIME,
ALL THE SAME or JUST THE SAME,
IN THE SAME BREATH,
LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE,
ONE AND THE SAME.

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]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 smoke https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7332-smoke https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7332-smoke English Slang #English #Idioms #esl
smoke
See:
CHAIN-SMOKE,
GO UP IN FLAMES or GO UP IN SMOKE,
PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT,
WATCH ONE'S DUST or WATCH ONE'S SMOKE.

]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 cut corners https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_c/1657-cut-corners https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_c/1657-cut-corners English Slang #English #verb #Idioms #esl
cut corners  {v. phr.}
1. To take a short way; not go to each corner.
He cut corners going home in a hurry.
2. To save cost or effort; manage in a thrifty way; be saving.
John's father asked him to cut corners all he could in college.
3. To do less than a very good job; do only what you must do on a job.
He had cut corners in building his house, and it didn't stand up well.
Categories: verb

]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 gross-out session https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/3227-gross-out-session https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/3227-gross-out-session English Slang #English #slang #noun #Idioms #esl
gross-out session  {n.},  {slang},  {avoidable}
A verbal contest between teen-agers in which the object of the game is to see who can be more disgusting or vulgar than anybody else.
When Jim got home he found his two teen-age sons engaged in a gross-out session; he bawled them out and cut their weekly allowance.
Categories: avoidable noun slang

]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000 H.L. Mencken https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/m/aphorism-4037 https://www.english-slang.com/eng/famous/m/aphorism-4037 English Slang #English #quoteoftheday #sayings
(1880—1956)
U.S. journalist
In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for. As for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.

]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:30:02 +0000