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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| fit as a fiddle | fit az uh FID-l | very healthy | My grandfather is 80 and still fit as a fiddle. |
| fit the bill | fit thuh BILL | be exactly right for a purpose | This small car fits the bill for city driving. |
| fly off the handle | fly awf thuh HAN-dl | become suddenly very angry | Don’t fly off the handle over one mistake. |
| for crying out loud | for KRY-ing out LOWD | express frustration | For crying out loud, turn off the alarm. |
| fresh out of | fresh out uhv | have none left | We’re fresh out of milk. |
| get a kick out of | get uh KIK out uhv | find something funny or enjoyable | She gets a kick out of old cartoons. |
| get a move on | get uh MOOV on | hurry up | We need to get a move on. |
| get cold feet | get kold FEET | become nervous and back out of something | He got cold feet before the wedding. |
| get down to business | get down too BIZ-nis | start the main work | Let’s get down to business. |
| get out of hand | get out uhv HAND | become difficult to control | The conversation got out of hand. |
| get the ball rolling | get thuh bawl ROHL-ing | start an activity or process | I’ll send the email to get the ball rolling. |
| get the hang of it | get thuh HANG uhv it | learn how to do something | It took me a week to get the hang of it. |
| get the message | get thuh MEH-sij | understand the hint or meaning | She wasn’t interested, but he didn’t get the message. |
| get your act together | get yor akt too-GETH-er | start behaving responsibly | You need to get your act together. |
| give someone the cold shoulder | giv SUN-wun thuh kold SHOHL-der | ignore someone on purpose | She gave him the cold shoulder after the argument. |
| go back to the drawing board | /ɡoʊ bæk tuː ðə ˈdrɔːɪŋ bɔːrd/ | to start over because a plan failed | The prototype didn't work, so we have to go back to the drawing board. |
| go bananas | goh buh-NA-nəz | become very excited or crazy | The crowd went bananas. |
| go downhill | goh down-HIL | get worse | The relationship went downhill after the move. |
| go for broke | goh for brohk | risk everything to try to win or succeed | We went for broke on the final round. |
| go haywire | goh HAY-wyr | stop working normally; become chaotic | The system went haywire. |
| go out on a limb | goh out on uh LIM | take a risk by saying or doing something | I’ll go out on a limb and say she’s right. |
| go overboard | goh OH-ver-bord | do too much | Don’t go overboard with the decorations. |
| go the extra mile | goh thuh EK-struh MYL | do more than expected | The hotel went the extra mile for our family. |
| go with the flow | goh with thuh FLOH | adapt to what happens | I don’t have a strict plan; I’ll just go with the flow. |
| good things come to those who wait | /ɡʊd θɪŋz kʌm tuː ðoʊz huː weɪt/ | patience is rewarded | I waited months for the promotion, but good things come to those who wait. |
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