American English Idiomatic Expressions in 52 Weeks
An Easy Way to Understand English Expressions and Improve Speaking


Free American English Online Idiom Lessons


Arranging English idioms into easy-to-understand categories is an effective learning tool to assist the English language learner in acquiring an understanding of these distinctive American expressions.

A classification system places the large number of American idioms into logical and functional groups that is both manageable and productive for the English language learner. American English Idiomatic Expressions in 52 Weeks is an innovative book providing an easy to understand strategy for learning the collection of 3200 different English idioms commonly used in English speaking.

American English Idiomatic Expressions in 52 Weeks uses a helpful, week-by-week methodology in which to learn American idioms.

Achievement Idioms: The act or process of accomplishing or completing something

All Idiom Categories
above and beyond the call of duty ahead of the curve at the top of his/her game
beat someone to the punch behind the curve bend over backwards to do something
bite off more than one can chew bounce back break fresh ground
break the bank bring it off bring something on
brush up on something buckle down build a better mousetrap
by hook or by crook carrot and stick carry (something) out
carry it off carry on carry the ball
carry the day carry the torch carry your weight
catch (someone) red-handed catch up with (something) catch-as-catch-can
chalk up charge of something claim to fame
come a long way come across come along
come hell or high water come into one's own come to pass
come up with cook up cough up
cut the mustard dash off dig a little deeper
dish out do one’s best do one’s bit (part)
do something rash do the honors do the trick
do with do without do wonders
dodge a bullet double up dress up
drive a hard bargain drum up duck soup
early bird catches the worm easy does it eke out
elbow grease face down feather in one’s cap
fish or cut bait fly by the seat of one’s pants for all one is worth
force one’s hand gain ground get after someone
get ahead get blood from a stone get on with it
get the better of (someone) get through get to first base
give 110% give it your best shot go all-out
go far go for broke go great guns
go in for go out of one’s way go overboard
go places go the extra mile go-getter
a going concern grasp at straws gun for something
had better hang on to have a hand in
have something on the ball heavy duty hitch one’s wagon to a star
hold off hold up in a rut
in arms in case in the groove
irons in the fire jump through a hoop keep one’s word
keep the ball rolling kill two birds with one stone knock oneself out
leave no stone unturned let it rip let loose
let up lock up make a dent in
make a go of make a hit make a name for oneself
make for make good make hay while the sun shines
make it up to someone make one’s own way make short work of something
make the best of make the grade make the most of
make up move heaven and earth on the ball
on top of out of this world pick up
play into someone’s hands play one’s cards right plow into
plow into prey on (upon) pull (something) off
pull a Nancy Drew pull one’s socks up pull one’s weight
pull out of a hat put (something) over on someone put on
put out put up a good fight put up with
raise a hand ride herd on ride out
run for your money run the gauntlet save the day
scare up scrape up see out
see to (something) set the world on fire sink one’s teeth into
sink or swim snowball's chance in hell sock it to someone
spread oneself too thin stick it out stick with
take a crack at take by storm take care of
take on stand off take part in
take the plunge take to take turns
take up take up arms throw in
tooth and nail tough row to hoe track down
trial and error trick of the trade trump card
try (something) out try out for tug of war
turn out turn over under one’s own steam
up to the job up to the chin tug-of-war
up against whale of a game whip up
window of opportunity work in world is one’s oyster