B2 English idioms
All 20 B2 idioms in the catalogue, with meaning, translation and examples. Ordered by how often they're used, not alphabetically.
The everyday ones. They show up in any informal conversation and in most TV. Missing these is immediately noticeable.
- out of the blueunexpectedly, without warning
- by the wayincidentally, in addition
- on the other handfrom another perspective; in contrast
- make up your minddecide
- a piece of cakevery easy
- in a nutshellbriefly, summarised
- get the hang of (something)learn how to do something with practice
- spill the beansreveal a secret
- under the weatherfeeling slightly ill
- miss the boatmiss an opportunity
- hit the nail on the headsay exactly the right thing
- cost an arm and a legbe very expensive
- once in a blue moonvery rarely
- break the icedo or say something to relieve initial awkwardness
- let the cat out of the bagaccidentally reveal a secret
- kill two birds with one stoneachieve two things with one action
- the ball is in your courtit's your turn to act or decide
- off the top of my headwithout thinking carefully or checking
- back to square oneback to the starting point after a failed attempt
- to make a long story shortto summarise quickly