Real English doesn’t move one word at a time — it flows in ready-made chunks that native speakers grab without thinking. This collection of around 1,200 phrases and expressions covers the everyday combos you’ll hear in casual chats, work emails, and weekend plans. No dusty textbook lists, just the real stuff that helps you sound more natural from day one.
Each entry in the interactive table gives you a clear meaning, a realistic example sentence, and easy-to-read US IPA so you can nail the pronunciation. There’s a play button right next to every phrase — tap it to hear the audio, because your ears need training too. When you’re ready to study offline, a free PDF download button sits below the table.
Words are handy, but phrases are what you actually say out loud. Our free chunk‑based English lessons help you speak in whole expressions — start with Lesson 1 — First Greetings and see how quickly conversations click.
- English Vocabulary hub
- Learn English guide
- Most Common Phrasal Verbs
- Cambridge Dictionary — phrasal verbs & phrases
English Phrases Quiz
Think you’ve already got a handle on common phrases? Try the quick quiz below to see how many you really know.
Common English Phrases and Expressions
| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| get lost | Go away; leave me alone (rude). | Get lost, I'm busy. |
| get out of here | Expression of disbelief or telling someone to leave. | You won the lottery? Get out of here! |
| get well soon. | Wish for recovery from illness. | She sent a card that said, "Get well soon." |
| give me a break | Show disbelief or ask for leniency. | Give me a break, I just started learning. |
| Give me a call. | Ask someone to telephone you. | Give me a call when you get home. |
| Give me the pen. | Command to hand over a pen. | I need to write this down, give me the pen. |
| go ahead | Proceed; do it; permission to start. | Go ahead, take the last piece. |
| go for it | Encourage someone to do something they are considering. | If you want to apply for that job, just go for it! |
| Go straight ahead. | Continue moving forward without turning. | Go straight ahead until you see the bank. |
| Good afternoon. | Greeting used in the afternoon. | Good afternoon, how can I help you? |
| good call | Said when someone makes a good decision or suggestion. | You decided to leave early to avoid traffic? Good call. |
| Good evening sir. | Polite evening greeting to a man. | Good evening sir, your table is ready. |
| Good idea. | Expressing approval of a suggestion. | Good idea! Let's go to the beach. |
| good job | Praise for doing something well. | Good job on finishing the project ahead of time! |
| good luck! | Wish for success. | Before the exam, his friend said, "Good luck!" |
| Good Luck. | Wish someone success. | You have an interview tomorrow? Good luck. |
| Good morning. | Greeting used in the morning. | Good morning, did you sleep well? |
| good to know | Acknowledging that new information is useful. | The store closes at 9 PM? Good to know. |
| Great. | Expression of enthusiasm or approval. | You finished the project? Great! |
| hang in there | Encourage someone to be patient or persevere. | I know you're stressed, but hang in there. |
| hang on | Ask someone to wait a moment. | Hang on, I'll be with you in a second. |
| happy birthday! | Good wishes on one's birth date. | She smiled and said, "Happy birthday!" as she handed the gift. |
| Happy Birthday. | Wish someone a happy birthday. | Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day. |
| happy new year! | Greeting for the new year. | At midnight, everyone shouted "Happy New Year!" |
| Has your brother been to [place]? | Asks if someone's brother has visited a place. | Has your brother been to Paris? |
