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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| curiosity killed the cat | /ˌkjʊriˈɑːsəti kɪld ðə kæt/ | being too curious can get you into trouble | Don't ask too many questions; curiosity killed the cat. |
| cut corners | kut KOR-nerz | do something badly or cheaply to save time or money | Don’t cut corners on safety. |
| cut to the chase | kut too thuh CHAYS | get to the main point quickly | Please cut to the chase and tell me the price. |
| dead giveaway | ded GIV-uh-way | an obvious sign | The stain was a dead giveaway. |
| devil’s advocate | DEV-uhlz AD-vuh-kət | someone who argues the opposite side to test an idea | I’ll play devil’s advocate for a minute. |
| dog days of summer | dawg dayz uhv SUM-er | the hottest, most uncomfortable part of summer | The dog days of summer are brutal here. |
| don't cry over spilled milk | /doʊnt kraɪ ˈoʊvər spɪld mɪlk/ | don't be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed | I know you made a mistake, but don't cry over spilled milk. |
| don’t count your chickens before they hatch | dohnt kownt yor CHIK-inz bih-FOR thay HACH | don’t assume success too early | Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. |
| down the drain | down thuh DRAYN | wasted; ruined | All that effort went down the drain. |
| down to earth | down too URTH | practical, friendly, not arrogant | She’s famous, but very down to earth. |
| down to the wire | down too thuh WYR | until the last possible moment | The decision went down to the wire. |
| drag your feet | drag yor FEET | do something slowly because you do not want to do it | Stop dragging your feet and submit the form. |
| drop a line | drop uh LYN | send a short message or contact someone briefly | Drop me a line when you arrive. |
| drop the ball | drop thuh BAWL | make a mistake; fail to do your job | We dropped the ball on the deadline. |
| easy does it | EE-zee DUHZ it | slow down; be careful | Easy does it with that heavy box. |
| elephant in the room | EL-uh-fənt in thuh ROOM | an obvious problem people avoid talking about | No one mentioned the layoffs, but that was the elephant in the room. |
| every cloud has a silver lining | EV-ree klowd haz uh SIL-ver LY-ning | good things can come from bad situations | Missing the train was frustrating, but every cloud has a silver lining. |
| every now and then | EV-ree now and then | sometimes | I call my cousin every now and then. |
| face the music | fays thuh MYOO-zik | accept the consequences of your actions | He lied, and now he has to face the music. |
| fair and square | FAIR and skwair | honestly and fairly | She won the race fair and square. |
| far cry from | far KRY frum | very different from | This tiny apartment is a far cry from my old house. |
| feel at home | feel at HOHM | feel comfortable and relaxed | I felt at home right away. |
| fiddle while Rome burns | FID-l while ROHM burnz | ignore a serious problem and do something useless | The company was fiddling while Rome burned. |
| fight tooth and nail | fyt tooth and NAYL | fight very hard | They fought tooth and nail to keep the business open. |
| find your feet | fynd yor FEET | become comfortable in a new situation | It takes time to find your feet in a new city. |
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