Random Phrase Generator

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.

Phrases and idioms 503

Sayings

no pain, no gain

Meaning
You have to work hard or put up with some discomfort to make progress.

Example
My legs ache after training, but no pain, no gain.
Sayings

haste makes waste

Meaning
Doing things too quickly leads to mistakes.

Example
I rushed my homework and got half of it wrong; haste makes waste.
Sayings

a picture is worth a thousand words

Meaning
An image can explain something better than a long description.

Example
Just show them the map, because a picture is worth a thousand words.
Sayings

the grass is always greener on the other side

Meaning
Other people's situations often seem better than yours, even when they aren't.

Example
He wants his friend's job, but the grass is always greener on the other side.
Sayings

out of sight, out of mind

Meaning
People easily forget about things they can't see.

Example
I put the cookies in the top cupboard: out of sight, out of mind.
Sayings

absence makes the heart grow fonder

Meaning
Being apart from someone can make you love or miss them more.

Example
They live in different cities now, and absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Sayings

easy come, easy go

Meaning
Things that are gained easily are often lost just as easily.

Example
I found five dollars and lost it the same day; easy come, easy go.
Sayings

great minds think alike

Meaning
Said, often as a joke, when two people have the same idea.

Example
You brought the same snack as me? Great minds think alike.
Sayings

it takes two to tango

Meaning
Both people in a situation share responsibility for it.

Example
Don't blame only your sister for the argument; it takes two to tango.
Sayings

slow and steady wins the race

Meaning
Working at a steady pace often beats rushing.

Example
I read one chapter a night, and slow and steady wins the race.
Sayings

don't bite the hand that feeds you

Meaning
Don't be unkind to someone who helps or supports you.

Example
Complaining about the coach who drives you to every match is biting the hand that feeds you.
Sayings

a watched pot never boils

Meaning
Waiting and watching for something makes time seem to pass more slowly.

Example
Stop checking the mailbox every minute; a watched pot never boils.
Sayings

if at first you don't succeed, try, try again

Meaning
Keep trying even when you fail at first.

Example
The block tower fell over again, but if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Sayings

beggars can't be choosers

Meaning
When you are asking for help, you can't be fussy about what you get.

Example
I wanted a window seat on the free ride, but beggars can't be choosers.
Sayings

many hands make light work

Meaning
A job is easier when lots of people help.

Example
Everyone grabbed a broom, and many hands made light work of the mess.
Sayings

laughter is the best medicine

Meaning
Laughing helps you feel better.

Example
We told silly jokes all evening, because laughter is the best medicine.
Sayings

a friend in need is a friend indeed

Meaning
A true friend is someone who helps you when you need it.

Example
She drove across town to help me move; a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Sayings

still waters run deep

Meaning
A quiet person may have deep thoughts or strong feelings.

Example
Jonah rarely speaks in class, but still waters run deep.
Sayings

strike while the iron is hot

Meaning
Act quickly while you have a good chance.

Example
The shop is hiring now, so strike while the iron is hot.
Sayings

you reap what you sow

Meaning
Your actions, good or bad, bring results that match them.

Example
He was kind to everyone, and they all helped him later; you reap what you sow.
Sayings

the squeaky wheel gets the grease

Meaning
The people who complain the loudest are the ones who get attention.

Example
She kept asking for a new desk until she got one; the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Sayings

two wrongs don't make a right

Meaning
Doing something bad back to someone doesn't fix the first bad thing.

Example
He took your pencil, but taking his won't help; two wrongs don't make a right.
Sayings

a stitch in time saves nine

Meaning
Fixing a small problem now stops it from becoming a bigger one later.

Example
Patch that tiny hole in the tent today, because a stitch in time saves nine.
Sayings

necessity is the mother of invention

Meaning
People come up with clever ideas when they really need them.

Example
With no bowl in sight, we used a hat; necessity is the mother of invention.
Sayings

all that glitters is not gold

Meaning
Something that looks good on the outside may not be valuable.

Example
The shiny phone case broke in a week; all that glitters is not gold.
Sayings

don't cross the bridge until you come to it

Meaning
Don't worry about a problem before it actually happens.

Example
We don't know if it will rain on Saturday, so don't cross the bridge until you come to it.
Sayings

home is where the heart is

Meaning
Home is the place where the people you love are.

Example
We've moved four times, but home is where the heart is.
Sayings

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Meaning
Children are often similar to their parents.

Example
Her mother is a painter too; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Sayings

barking dogs seldom bite

Meaning
People who make loud threats rarely act on them.

Example
He shouts a lot when he loses at cards, but barking dogs seldom bite.
Sayings

misery loves company

Meaning
Unhappy people often want others to share their unhappiness.

Example
He wanted me to skip the party too, because misery loves company.

What the random phrase generator does

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.

How to use it

Pick a category with the chips if you want to narrow the bank down.
Choose how many to show. One phrase at a time, or several together.
Press Next (or the Space bar) for a new phrase.
Read the meaning and the example under each phrase.
Copy it with the copy button, or switch to list view to browse lots of phrases at once.

Ways to use random phrases

Learning English idioms

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.

Writing natural dialogue

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.

Classroom idiom lessons

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.

Guess-the-meaning game

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.

Act it out

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.

Story titles and prompts

Many sayings make perfect story titles. Pick one and write a short story that ends with the phrase as the last line.

Tips for better results

Learn the example, not just the meaning. Seeing a phrase in a sentence shows you when and how people really use it.
Use it within a day. Try a new idiom in conversation or in a message soon after you learn it.
Draw it. Sketching the literal meaning of an idiom is a memorable way to learn the real one.
Keep it casual. Most idioms are informal, so save them for stories, chats and speeches rather than formal essays.
Pair with sentences. The random sentence generator gives you whole sentences to practice with, from simple to silly.

Questions

What is an idiom?

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.

What is the difference between a phrase, an idiom and a saying?

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.

Are these common phrases people really use?

Yes. The bank focuses on common phrases and idioms you are likely to hear in everyday English, each explained in plain words.

Why are idioms hard to learn?

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.

Can I use this to learn English idioms?

Yes. Every phrase comes with its meaning and an example sentence, which makes it a handy daily study tool for English learners.

Who wrote the meanings and examples?

We did. All meanings and example sentences are original and written for this site.

Can I see a list of idioms?

Yes. Switch to list view to browse many phrases at once, or choose how many to show on the page.

Is the random phrase generator free?

Yes, free with no sign-up. The site sets no cookies and doesn't track you.

Last updated October 2, 2026