This random phrase generator shows you a common English idiom or saying, what it means and how to use it. Press Next for another one, or switch to a list and browse.
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
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70 phrases match your filters · Press Space for the next one
the early bird catches the worm
actions speak louder than words
don't judge a book by its cover
practice makes perfect
honesty is the best policy
where there's a will, there's a way
two heads are better than one
look before you leap
Rome wasn't built in a day
when in Rome, do as the Romans do
birds of a feather flock together
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
don't count your chickens before they hatch
you can't teach an old dog new tricks
you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink
don't look a gift horse in the mouth
let sleeping dogs lie
curiosity killed the cat
the straw that broke the camel's back
too many cooks spoil the broth
the proof of the pudding is in the eating
don't put all your eggs in one basket
an apple a day keeps the doctor away
variety is the spice of life
when life gives you lemons, make lemonade
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
better safe than sorry
no pain, no gain
haste makes waste
a picture is worth a thousand words
English is full of phrases that don't mean what their words say. Spill the beans has nothing to do with cooking, and nobody actually breaks the ice at a party. Each card shows a phrase from our own bank, a plain explanation of what it means, and an example sentence that shows it in use.
We wrote every meaning and example ourselves, in simple words, so the explanation is easier to follow than the phrase.
Idioms are one of the hardest parts of English, because you can't work them out from the words. Learn one a day: read the meaning, say the example out loud, then make up your own sentence.
Real people talk in idioms. Dropping the right saying into a character's speech makes dialogue sound natural – just don't let every line lean on one.
Ask students to draw the literal meaning of a phrase – an actual cat being let out of an actual bag – and then explain what it really means. The drawings are always a hit.
Read a phrase aloud and let everyone guess what it means before you read the answer. It works for family game night, a language class or a long car ride.
Common phrases make great charades: act out the literal meaning and let the others guess the saying. Our charades generator has plenty more to act.
Many sayings make perfect story titles. Pick one and write a short story that ends with the phrase as the last line.
An idiom is a phrase whose meaning is different from the meaning of its words. Break the ice means to help people relax and start talking, not to smash anything.
A phrase is any small group of words. An idiom is a phrase with a figurative meaning, and a saying is a short, well-known piece of advice or wisdom, like better late than never.
Yes. The bank focuses on common phrases and idioms you are likely to hear in everyday English, each explained in plain words.
Because their meaning is not the sum of their words. You have to learn each one as a whole, which is why seeing the meaning and an example together helps.
Yes. Every phrase comes with its meaning and an example sentence, which makes it a handy daily study tool for English learners.
We did. All meanings and example sentences are original and written for this site.
Yes. Switch to list view to browse many phrases at once, or choose how many to show on the page.
Yes, free with no sign-up. The site sets no cookies and doesn't track you.
Last updated October 2, 2026