300 English Idioms Flashcards for Work and Daily Life

You do not really know an idiom until you know where it fits.

카드 300장

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앞면	뒷면
on the same page — what does it mean?	having the same understanding about a situation or the next steps Common informal business English. Said by coworkers and managers. Positive when alignment is needed.
against the clock — what does it mean?	working with very little time before a deadline Common and neutral. Used by anyone to stress time pressure. It does not praise or blame by itself.
pull your weight — what does it mean?	do your fair share of the work Common informal workplace English. Used by managers and teammates. Approving when met, critical when not.
back to the drawing board — what does it mean?	You must start planning again because the first idea or attempt failed. Informal, common in team talk. Negative, but often said in a practical, problem-solving way.
at each other's throats — what does it mean?	arguing fiercely or ready to fight Informal and vivid. Said about tense relationships. Critical or worried.
out of the blue — what does it mean?	suddenly and unexpectedly, with no warning Common and neutral. Used in speech and writing by all kinds of speakers. It carries no praise or criticism.
blow a fuse — what does it mean?	suddenly become very angry Informal and common. Said in everyday speech, sometimes humorously. It usually criticizes the loss of control.
on tenterhooks — what does it mean?	anxiously waiting to learn what will happen Common and neutral. Used in speech and writing for tense waiting. It carries no clear approval or criticism.
in the clear — what does it mean?	free from danger, suspicion, or trouble now Informal to neutral. Often used about risk, blame, or rules. It usually carries a relieved tone.
lose face — what does it mean?	suffer public embarrassment and a loss of respect Common and somewhat formal. Often used about pride, status, or group image. It is negative.
at one's wits' end — what does it mean?	so worried or troubled that you no longer know what to do Common and neutral. Said by anyone. Sympathetic rather than critical.
eat humble pie — what does it mean?	admit you were wrong in a way that feels humiliating Informal and slightly old-fashioned. Often said with mild criticism or satisfaction.
be keen as mustard — what does it mean?	be very eager and enthusiastic Informal, chiefly British. Cheerful and approving.
the writing is on the wall — what does it mean?	There are clear signs that something bad is going to happen. Common and neutral. Used by reporters and everyday speakers. Negative but matter-of-fact, not usually blaming anyone.
at the drop of a hat — what does it mean?	immediately and without needing much thought or warning Informal. Said in everyday speech. It can praise readiness or criticize acting too quickly.
drag your feet — what does it mean?	delay doing something because you are unwilling or not fully committed Informal and critical. Often said by managers, teammates, or frustrated observers.
every now and then — what does it mean?	occasionally, but not regularly Informal and very common. Neutral in tone.
cost an arm and a leg — what does it mean?	be extremely expensive Informal and common. Usually critical of a high price.
a race against time — what does it mean?	an urgent effort to finish before a deadline or before something bad happens Common and fairly dramatic. Used in speech and writing about deadlines, emergencies, or pressure. Neutral in tone.
a pretty penny — what does it mean?	a large amount of money Common and informal to neutral. Often said with mild surprise, admiration, or complaint.
on a shoestring — what does it mean?	with very little money or a very small budget Common and informal to neutral. Often admiring of resourcefulness under financial limits.
in a nutshell — what does it mean?	in a very brief form that states only the main point Common and neutral. Used by anyone summarizing. Mildly approving because it values clarity and brevity.
beg to differ — what does it mean?	to disagree, often in a polite or restrained way Fairly formal or dry. Used to soften disagreement. Polite on the surface but firm underneath.
make a mountain out of a molehill — what does it mean?	to treat a small problem as if it were very serious Informal and mildly critical. Used when someone seems to be overreacting.
hold your tongue — what does it mean?	to stay silent instead of speaking Old-fashioned but still clear. Often a direct order or self-advice. Can sound sharp or disapproving.
the long and short of it — what does it mean?	the essential facts or final point after leaving out details Neutral and common. Said by someone summing up a story or problem. Neither approving nor critical.
agree to disagree — what does it mean?	accept that neither side will change its view and stop arguing about it Neutral. Said by people ending a dispute politely. It can sound mature or slightly dismissive.
stretch the truth — what does it mean?	make something sound more favorable or dramatic than it really is without fully inventing it Neutral to critical. Used about speakers who exaggerate facts. Mildly disapproving.
keep it under your hat — what does it mean?	keep something secret and do not tell other people Informal and friendly. Said when sharing confidential news. Usually neutral.
a meeting of minds — what does it mean?	a point where people reach real agreement or mutual understanding Slightly formal. Common in negotiation, business, or legal contexts. Usually approving or neutral.

이 덱 소개

Literal words do not help much when someone says you need to get on the same page, keeps a comment off the record, or feels between a rock and a hard place. The real mistake is often not the meaning but the situation: an idiom can be understood and still sound wrong in a meeting, a negotiation, or a tense conversation with a friend. This deck gives you 300 English idioms as whole units, each on its own card. The cards are split into work-and-business (55), people-and-relationships (50), emotion-and-reaction (45), difficulty-and-risk (50), time-and-money (45), and speech-and-opinion (55). On the back you get Meaning, Nuance, and Example, so you learn the sense, the register, and a natural sentence together. Once the cards are on a spaced-repetition schedule, the idioms you can answer stop coming back for a while and the ones you cannot keep returning until they stick. The deck chooses coverage over long explanations: you get the phrase, when it fits, and how it sounds in use, not origin stories or grammar lectures.

자주 묻는 질문

Does this deck focus only on office idioms?: No. work-and-business has 55 cards, but the deck also covers people-and-relationships (50), emotion-and-reaction (45), difficulty-and-risk (50), time-and-money (45), and speech-and-opinion (55).
What does the Nuance field actually tell me?: It shows the register and social fit of the idiom. For example, 'on the same page' is common informal business English, while 'off the record' marks a boundary around sensitive remarks.
Why doesn't this deck include origin notes or long grammar explanations?: Because the point here is fast recognition and usable recall. Each card keeps the focus on meaning, situation, and a natural sentence, so study time goes into choosing the phrase well.
Can I import the whole deck on the free plan?: Yes. Importing a saved deck runs no new AI generation and does not use your AI allowance, so the free plan imports all 300 cards. You can study, edit and delete them afterwards.
Will importing it twice create duplicates?: No. Cards you already have are skipped and only cards added in a revision come through. Including re-imports after deleting it, one official deck can be imported three times per account.
Can I use it on the web and in the mobile app?: Yes. The deck is added to your account rather than to a device, so the same cards and the same progress are there on the web, on iOS and on Android.
Can I edit the cards after importing?: Yes. Imported cards are yours: you can edit both sides, delete cards you do not need, change tags, and move cards to another deck.

No official exam questions are reproduced. Every card was written for this deck.Editorial reference date 2026-08-30.