10 Advanced English Expressions

10 Advanced English Expressions

By Sergio Viula

Want to sound more natural and fluent in English? These common expressions will help you speak like a native! Whether you’re chatting with friends, telling a story, or participating in a meeting, idioms like cut to the chase or bite the bullet make your English more colorful and authentic.

In this post, you’ll learn 10 useful expressions, their meanings, and examples of how to use them in real-life situations. At the end, test yourself with a short quiz and see how many you can remember!

1. Cut to the chase

Meaning: Get to the point without wasting time.

Example: “We don’t have much time, so cut to the chase.”

2. Bite the bullet

Meaning: To endure something difficult or unpleasant.

Example: “I hate going to the dentist, but I’ll have to bite the bullet.”

3. Break the ice

Meaning: To initiate conversation in a social setting to reduce tension.

Example: “He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.”

4. Hit the sack

Meaning: To go to bed.

Example: “I’m exhausted; I’m going to hit the sack.”

5. Throw in the towel

Meaning: To give up or admit defeat.

Example: “After months of trying to fix the car, he finally threw in the towel.”

6. Kill two birds with one stone

Meaning: Achieve two things with a single action.

Example: “By meeting here, we can kill two birds with one stone — talk business and catch up socially.”

7. On the ball

Meaning: Being alert and quick to understand or respond.

Example: “She’s really on the ball; she finished the project ahead of time.”

8. Let the cat out of the bag

Meaning: Reveal a secret unintentionally.

Example: “He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.”

9. Burn the midnight oil

Meaning: Work late into the night.

Example: “I have an exam tomorrow, so I’m burning the midnight oil.”

10. Under the weather

Meaning: Feeling ill or sick.

Example: “I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.”

Why Use These Expressions

• Great for professional or semi-formal conversations.
• Adds color and nuance to your English.
• Often used in storytelling, business, or casual talks among fluent speakers.

Advanced English Expressions Quiz

Test your knowledge by choosing the correct meaning or usage of the expressions below.

1. Cut to the chase means:

   To start a race.
   To literally cut something.
   To get to the point quickly.

2. Bite the bullet means:

   To avoid a problem.
   To endure something difficult.
   To chew gum quickly.

3. Break the ice is used to mean:

   To start a conversation and ease tension.
   To stop an event abruptly.
   To shatter frozen water.

4. Throw in the towel means:

   To clean something thoroughly.
   To decorate with towels.
   To give up or admit defeat.

5. Kill two birds with one stone suggests:

   Hunting birds with rocks.
   Achieving two goals with one action.
   Avoiding responsibility.

6. On the ball means:

   Playing sports.
   Being alert and quick to respond.
   Being careless.

7. Let the cat out of the bag means:

   Buy a cat.
   Reveal a secret unintentionally.
   Free a trapped animal.

8. Burn the midnight oil means:

   Set fire to something.
   Stay awake during the day.
   Work late into the night.

9. Under the weather means:

   Being outside in bad weather.
   Feeling ill or sick.
   Feeling happy.