100 Useful English Expressions for Advanced English Learners
It goes without saying Something so obvious that it doesn’t need to be mentioned It goes without saying that hard work is necessary for success.
Needless to say Similar to “It goes without saying,” used to introduce something obvious Needless to say, studying is crucial for passing exams.
To put it bluntly To state something directly and honestly, often without sugarcoating To put it bluntly, your performance needs improvement.
To be perfectly honest Used to preface a candid or sincere statement To be perfectly honest, I didn’t enjoy the movie.
As a matter of fact Used to emphasize that something is true or correct As a matter of fact, I do know the answer.
By and large Generally speaking; taking everything into account By and large, the project was a success.
In a nutshell To summarize something in a concise manner In a nutshell, the book is about love and friendship.
To cut a long story short To get to the point without unnecessary details To cut a long story short, we missed the train.
The ball is in your court. The next decision or action is up to you I’ve given you all the information; now the ball is in your court.
Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t avoid the main topic; be direct Please don’t beat around the bush; just tell me what you think.
It’s neither here nor there Something is not relevant or doesn’t matter Whether we eat at home or a restaurant, it’s neither here nor there for me.
Let’s play it by ear To decide or act spontaneously, without a fixed plan We don’t have a schedule, so let’s play it by ear.
The devil is in the details The important or difficult parts are hidden in the specifics Writing a contract is easy, but the devil is in the details.
Actions speak louder than words What people do is more important than what they say She promised to help, but her actions speak louder than words.
The proof is in the pudding The results or evidence will show if something is good or effective We’ll see if our strategy works; the proof is in the pudding.
Don’t cry over spilled milk Don’t dwell on past mistakes or mishaps Yes, we made a mistake, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket Don’t risk everything on a single opportunity It’s wise to diversify your investments; don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
It’s a double-edged sword Something has both positive and negative consequences Technology is a double-edged sword; it connects us but can also isolate us.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too You can’t enjoy two conflicting things at the same time You want a day off and a raise? You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
It’s a slippery slope An action or decision can lead to increasingly negative consequences Allowing exceptions in this rule could be a slippery slope.
I concur I agree with your statement A: I think we should proceed with the project. B: I concur.
I beg to differ I respectfully disagree with your statement A: I believe this plan will work. B: I beg to differ; it has too many risks.
I’m of the same mind I share the same opinion or viewpoint A: I think we should invest in technology. B: I’m of the same mind.
That’s a valid point You’ve made a reasonable and logical argument A: We should prioritize customer feedback. B: That’s a valid point.
I see where you’re coming from I understand your perspective or viewpoint A: I believe we need more training. B: I see where you’re coming from, but I disagree.
I’m inclined to agree I’m leaning toward agreement, but not entirely sure A: The data supports this decision. B: I’m inclined to agree, pending further analysis.
I can’t argue with that I can’t find fault or disagreement with your statement A: This solution is cost-effective. B: I can’t argue with that; it’s a good choice.
I’m not entirely convinced I have doubts or reservations about your statement A: This proposal is the best option. B: I’m not entirely convinced; we need more data.
I have reservations about that I have concerns or doubts about your suggestion A: We should hire the candidate. B: I have reservations about that; their experience is limited.
I’m skeptical I doubt the truth or feasibility of your statement A: This product will revolutionize the market. B: I’m skeptical; it faces strong competition.
Have you considered? Have you thought about? A: We need a backup plan. B: Have you considered what we’d do in case of failure?
It might be worth considering It could be beneficial to think about A: We should expand to international markets. B: It might be worth considering, given our growth.
Why don’t you give it a try? You should attempt or test it A: I think I can solve this problem. B: Why don’t you give it a try and see?
I would strongly advise I recommend with a high level of urgency A: Don’t skip the safety measures. B: I would strongly advise against it; it’s risky.
I’d recommend that you I suggest that you should A: You should consult an expert. B: I’d recommend that you seek professional advice.
You might want to You should consider A: You should prepare for the presentation. B: You might want to start by organizing your notes.
I suggest we I propose that we A: We should start the project now. B: I suggest we begin immediately.
How about? What do you think of? A: We could meet at 3 PM. B: How about we schedule the meeting for 3 PM?
I propose that I suggest that We should implement a new strategy I propose that we adopt a new strategy.
What if we? How about if we? A: We could try a different approach. B: What if we attempt a different approach?
If push comes to shove If it becomes necessary or if things get difficult We may need to take drastic action. If push comes to shove, we’ll have to lay off some employees.
In a perfect world In an ideal situation In a perfect world, everyone would have access to education.
If all else fails If nothing else succeeds or works We can try other methods, but if all else fails, we’ll have to start over.
Let’s entertain the idea that Let’s consider the possibility that We could improve our marketing. Let’s entertain the idea that social media might help.
Imagine if Think about the hypothetical situation Imagine if we won the lottery. What would you do?
Supposing that Assuming that Supposing that we get the funding, when can we start the project?
In theory In an ideal situation or hypothetically In theory, this method should work, but we need to test it.
It’s not beyond the realm of possibility It’s not impossible; it could happen Starting your own business is challenging, but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.
It’s a long shot, but It’s unlikely to succeed, but we’ll try Winning the lottery is a long shot, but someone has to win eventually.
Absolutely! An enthusiastic agreement A: Should we go to the concert tonight? B: Absolutely!
Without a doubt! No doubt or uncertainty He’s the best player on the team, without a doubt.
Precisely! Accurate and exact A: Did you understand the instructions? B: Precisely!
Indeed! Confirmation or agreement It was a challenging hike, indeed.
Absolutely right! Completely correct Your analysis of the situation is absolutely right.
You hit the nail on the head! You are exactly correct Your explanation was perfect; you hit the nail on the head!
You’re absolutely spot on! You are completely accurate Your assessment of the problem is spot on.
I couldn’t agree more! I strongly agree with you The proposal makes sense, and I couldn’t agree more.
That’s exactly what I think! My thoughts exactly I believe we should invest in research, and that’s exactly what I think.
You’ve got a point there! You’ve made a valid argument A: I think we need more training. B: You’ve got a point there; it could improve our skills.
It’s a tough nut to crack A challenging problem to solve Solving this complex equation is a tough nut to crack.
It’s no walk in the park It’s not an easy or simple task Writing a novel is no walk in the park; it takes dedication.
It’s a steep learning curve A situation where one must learn quickly and adapt Learning to play a musical instrument has a steep learning curve.
It’s a formidable challenge A significant and difficult obstacle Launching a successful business is a formidable challenge.
It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack A difficult and nearly impossible task Locating the lost key in this clutter is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
It’s not for the faint of heart It requires courage and resilience Becoming a firefighter is not for the faint of heart.
It’s a real brain-teaser A problem or puzzle that requires deep thinking The Sudoku puzzle in the newspaper is a real brain-teaser.
It’s a labyrinth of complexity A situation with intricate and confusing elements Navigating through the legal system can be a labyrinth of complexity.
It’s a Herculean task An extremely challenging or laborious endeavor Cleaning the entire house in one day is a Herculean task.
It’s a tall order A demanding or difficult requirement Completing the project by tomorrow is a tall order.
I’m flabbergasted! I’m extremely surprised or shocked I’m flabbergasted by the unexpected results of the experiment.
Well, I’ll be darned! An expression of surprise or disbelief Well, I’ll be darned! I never thought I’d see you here.
I’m utterly astounded! I’m completely amazed or shocked I’m utterly astounded by the talent displayed in this performance.
I can’t believe my eyes/ears! I’m in disbelief about what I’m seeing/hearing I can’t believe my eyes! The view from this mountain is breathtaking.
That’s mind-blowing! Extremely impressive or astonishing The technological advancements in this field are mind-blowing.
It’s beyond belief! Unbelievably impressive or incredible The success of their business is beyond belief.
I’m gobsmacked! I’m so surprised that I’m speechless I’m gobsmacked by the unexpected turn of events.
I’m in awe! I’m filled with admiration or wonder I’m in awe of the beauty of this natural wonder.
I’m taken aback! I’m surprised or shocked by something unexpected I was taken aback by the sudden change in his attitude.
I’m speechless! I’m so amazed that I can’t find words to express it I’m speechless after witnessing that incredible performance.
It worked like a charm It was successful and effective The new software update worked like a charm; the bugs are fixed.
Everything fell into place Everything happened as planned or expected On our wedding day, everything fell into place perfectly.
It was a resounding success It was an overwhelming and impressive success The product launch was a resounding success; we sold out within hours.
We hit the jackpot We achieved a great success or outcome Our marketing strategy hit the jackpot; our sales have soared.
It was a stroke of genius It was an exceptionally clever or brilliant idea His decision to expand into international markets was a stroke of genius.
We nailed it! We executed something perfectly or achieved success Our team presentation went flawlessly; we nailed it!
It couldn’t have gone better The outcome was as good as it could have been Our anniversary celebration couldn’t have gone better; everyone had a great time.
It was a game-changer It significantly altered or improved the situation The invention of smartphones was a game-changer in communication.
We’re on cloud nine We are extremely happy or elated After winning the championship, we’re on cloud nine!
We knocked it out of the park! We succeeded impressively or exceeded expectations Our team’s performance at the competition was outstanding; we knocked it out of the park!
You’re absolutely on the money! You’re completely correct or accurate Your analysis of the market trends is spot on; you’re absolutely on the money!
It’s a daunting task It’s a task that appears challenging and intimidating Completing the project on such a tight schedule seems like a daunting task.
I’m absolutely blown away! I’m completely amazed and impressed The art exhibition was stunning; I’m absolutely blown away by the talent of these artists.
It exceeded our wildest expectations It went beyond what we had hoped for The response to our product launch exceeded our wildest expectations; sales skyrocketed.
What would happen if? What are the potential outcomes if? What would happen if we missed the deadline? Let’s plan for it.
We hit the bullseye We achieved the exact target or goal Our marketing campaign hit the bullseye; it resonated perfectly with our audience.
We’re on top of the world! We’re feeling extremely joyful and victorious After winning the championship, we’re on top of the world!
Break a leg Do a good job Good luck with your presentation. Break a leg!
Come rain and shine Something you have to do no matter what Come rain or shine, we will finish this assignment.
Better late than never It’s better if something is done, even if it’s late He gave in his assignment a bit late, but his teacher said:” It’s better late than never.”
Calm before the storm A quiet period before something intense happens It was calm before the storm. It was quiet in the office before it started getting very busy.
