This beginner list collects high-frequency English words you’re likely to meet in lessons, apps, and everyday situations — not obscure dictionary filler.
Ready to collect a few idioms that make English sound extra lively? Keep going and scroll to the bottom of the article for your free printable english vocabulary list list PDF and free downloadable printable english list flashcards.
Lists are useful, but real English happens in phrases. Our free English lessons teach speakable chunks with audio — jump into Lesson 1 — First Greetings when you want conversation practice.
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| Expression | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| under the weather | UN-der thuh WETH-er | sick or not feeling well | I’m feeling under the weather today. |
| up and running | up and RUN-ing | working or operating properly | The new system is up and running. |
| up in the air | up in thuh AIR | uncertain; not decided yet | The travel plans are still up in the air. |
| upper hand | UP-er HAND | advantage or control | The home team has the upper hand. |
| walk on eggshells | wawk on EG-shellz | be very careful not to upset someone | I feel like I’m walking on eggshells. |
| warm up to | worm up too | begin to like or accept something | I’m warming up to the idea. |
| water under the bridge | WAW-ter UN-der thuh brij | something in the past that is no longer important | That argument is water under the bridge now. |
| wear many hats | wair MEN-ee hats | have many roles or responsibilities | At a startup, people wear many hats. |
| wear your heart on your sleeve | wair yor hart on yor SLEEV | show your feelings openly | He wears his heart on his sleeve. |
| weather the storm | WETH-er thuh storm | survive a difficult time | The company weathered the storm. |
| weigh the pros and cons | way thuh prohz and konz | compare good points and bad points | We need to weigh the pros and cons. |
| what goes around comes around | what gohz uh-ROUND kumz uh-ROUND | people eventually get what they deserve | He was unkind, and what goes around comes around. |
| when in doubt | when in dowt | if you are unsure | When in doubt, ask for help. |
| when pigs fly | when pigz fly | something that will never happen | He’ll clean his room when pigs fly. |
| where there’s a will, there’s a way | wair thairz uh wil thairz uh WAY | if someone is determined, they can find a solution | We can do this. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. |
| white lie | wyte LY | a small lie told to avoid hurting someone | It was just a white lie. |
| wishy-washy | WISH-ee-WAH-shee | not clear; weak; unable to decide | His answer was too wishy-washy. |
| within arm’s reach | wih-THIN armz REECH | very close | Keep your passport within arm’s reach. |
| work out | werk out | exercise; or succeed; or solve a problem | We need to work out the details. |
| you can't judge a book by its cover | /juː kænt dʒʌdʒ ə bʊk baɪ ɪts ˈkʌvər/ | don't judge someone or something based on appearance alone | He looks scruffy, but you can't judge a book by its cover. |
| you can’t judge a book by its cover | yoo kant juhj uh book by its KUV-er | you should not judge by appearance only | You can’t judge a book by its cover. |
| you’re pulling my leg | yor POO-ling my LEG | you are joking with me | You’re pulling my leg, right? |
| your guess is as good as mine | yor gess iz az good az myn | I do not know either | Where is he? Your guess is as good as mine. |
| zero in on | ZEER-oh in on | focus closely on something | Let’s zero in on the main issue. |
| zip your lip | zip yor LIP | be quiet | Zip your lip and listen. |
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