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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| kill two birds with one stone | kil too burdz with wun STOHN | solve two problems with one action | I picked up groceries and mailed the letter to kill two birds with one stone. |
| knock it off | nok it awf | stop doing that | Knock it off. I’m trying to work. |
| know the ropes | noh thuh ROHPS | know how something works | She knows the ropes at the office now. |
| last but not least | last but not leest | said before the final item, showing it is still important | Last but not least, thank you all for coming. |
| lay it on thick | lay it on THIK | exaggerate praise or emotion | He was laying it on thick with the compliments. |
| learn the hard way | lern thuh hard WAY | learn by making a mistake | I learned the hard way to save backups. |
| let sleeping dogs lie | let SLEEP-ing dawgz LY | do not bring up old trouble | It’s better to let sleeping dogs lie. |
| let the cat out of the bag | let thuh kat out uhv thuh BAG | reveal a secret | Who let the cat out of the bag? |
| light at the end of the tunnel | lyt at thuh end uhv thuh TUN-əl | hope after a difficult period | There’s light at the end of the tunnel. |
| like a broken record | lyk uh BROH-kən REK-erd | repeat the same thing too much | You sound like a broken record. |
| like pulling teeth | lyk POO-ling teeth | very difficult or annoying | Getting him to answer was like pulling teeth. |
| live and learn | liv and lern | learn from a mistake | I forgot the tickets, but live and learn. |
| lock horns | lok HORNZ | argue or compete strongly | The two candidates locked horns in the debate. |
| log in | log in | enter a computer or online account | Please log in to continue. |
| long story short | long STOR-ee short | to give the short version | Long story short, we missed the flight. |
| look on the bright side | look on thuh bryt SYD | focus on the positive part | Look on the bright side. At least it didn’t rain. |
| loose cannon | loos KAN-ən | a person who is unpredictable | He’s a bit of a loose cannon. |
| make a long story short | mayk uh long STOR-ee short | give the short version | To make a long story short, he said yes. |
| make a scene | mayk uh seen | create a public disturbance | Please don’t make a scene. |
| make ends meet | mayk ENDZ meet | have enough money for basic needs | It’s hard to make ends meet these days. |
| make waves | mayk wayvz | cause trouble or attract attention by changing things | She made waves with her comments. |
| miss the boat | mis thuh BOHT | miss an opportunity | If you wait too long, you’ll miss the boat. |
| miss the mark | mis thuh mark | fail to achieve the goal | The speech missed the mark. |
| move the goalposts | moov thuh GOHL-posts | change the rules or expectations unfairly | They keep moving the goalposts. |
| my hands are tied | my handz ar TYD | I cannot help because of rules or limits | I’d like to help, but my hands are tied. |
Free English Vocabulary List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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