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.

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Food

compare apples and oranges

Meaning
To compare two things that are too different to compare fairly.
Example
Comparing a bike to a car is comparing apples and oranges.

503 phrases match your filters · Press Space for the next one

Phrases and idioms 503

  1. Feelings

    jump for joy

    Meaning
    To be extremely happy.
    Example
    The kids jumped for joy when they saw the snow.
  2. Feelings

    tickled pink

    Meaning
    Very pleased or delighted.
    Example
    My aunt was tickled pink by the handmade card.
  3. Feelings

    on edge

    Meaning
    Nervous and unable to relax.
    Example
    Waiting for the results kept everyone on edge.
  4. Feelings

    on pins and needles

    Meaning
    Nervous and anxious while waiting for something.
    Example
    We were on pins and needles until the vet came out with good news.
  5. Feelings

    a bundle of nerves

    Meaning
    A very nervous person.
    Example
    Before his first speech, Eli was a bundle of nerves.
  6. Feelings

    green with envy

    Meaning
    Very jealous.
    Example
    My friends were green with envy when they saw my new skates.
  7. Feelings

    my heart sank

    Meaning
    I suddenly felt disappointed or worried.
    Example
    My heart sank when I saw the rain on the morning of the trip.
  8. Feelings

    beside yourself

    Meaning
    Overwhelmed by a strong emotion such as worry or joy.
    Example
    She was beside herself with worry when the cat didn't come home.
  9. Feelings

    in seventh heaven

    Meaning
    Extremely happy.
    Example
    With a good book and a hot chocolate, he was in seventh heaven.
  10. Feelings

    walking on air

    Meaning
    Feeling very happy and excited.
    Example
    After the good news, I was walking on air all day.
  11. Feelings

    hot under the collar

    Meaning
    Angry or embarrassed.
    Example
    He got hot under the collar when people laughed at his idea.
  12. Feelings

    keep a stiff upper lip

    Meaning
    To stay calm and hide your feelings during a difficult time.
    Example
    She kept a stiff upper lip during the long wait at the hospital.
  13. Feelings

    bottle up your feelings

    Meaning
    To hide your feelings instead of talking about them.
    Example
    It's better to talk to someone than to bottle up your feelings.
  14. Feelings

    wear your heart on your sleeve

    Meaning
    To show your feelings openly.
    Example
    Jamie wears his heart on his sleeve, so you always know when he's happy.
  15. Feelings

    have mixed feelings

    Meaning
    To feel both good and bad about something.
    Example
    I have mixed feelings about moving to a new town.
  16. Feelings

    a weight off your shoulders

    Meaning
    The relief you feel when a worry is gone.
    Example
    Finishing the essay was a weight off my shoulders.
  17. Feelings

    drive someone up the wall

    Meaning
    To annoy someone very much.
    Example
    That squeaky door drives me up the wall.
  18. Feelings

    at a loss for words

    Meaning
    So surprised or moved that you can't think what to say.
    Example
    When they threw me a surprise party, I was at a loss for words.
  19. Feelings

    a heavy heart

    Meaning
    A feeling of sadness.
    Example
    With a heavy heart, we said goodbye to our old house.
  20. Feelings

    scared stiff

    Meaning
    So frightened that you can hardly move.
    Example
    I was scared stiff when the lights went out on the ghost train ride.
  21. Feelings

    like a kid in a candy store

    Meaning
    Very excited and delighted by all the choices around you.
    Example
    At the art supply shop, my mom was like a kid in a candy store.
  22. Feelings

    nerves of steel

    Meaning
    The ability to stay calm in a scary or difficult situation.
    Example
    The pilot landed in the storm with nerves of steel.
  23. Feelings

    lose heart

    Meaning
    To become discouraged and lose hope.
    Example
    Don't lose heart if your first painting isn't perfect.
  24. Feelings

    take something to heart

    Meaning
    To be strongly affected by something someone says.
    Example
    She took the teacher's advice to heart and practiced every day.
  25. Feelings

    get a kick out of

    Meaning
    To enjoy something a lot.
    Example
    My dad gets a kick out of telling terrible jokes.
  26. Feelings

    in high spirits

    Meaning
    Happy and lively.
    Example
    The team was in high spirits after the win.
  27. Feelings

    have a soft spot for

    Meaning
    To feel special fondness for someone or something.
    Example
    I have a soft spot for old, sleepy dogs.
  28. Feelings

    cry your eyes out

    Meaning
    To cry very hard for a long time.
    Example
    I cried my eyes out at the end of that sad story.
  29. Feelings

    at your wits' end

    Meaning
    So worried or frustrated that you don't know what to do next.
    Example
    After a week without sleep, the new parents were at their wits' end.
  30. Feelings

    get on someone's nerves

    Meaning
    To annoy someone.
    Example
    His humming starts to get on my nerves after a while.
All generators

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

  1. Pick a category with the chips if you want to narrow the bank down.
  2. Choose how many to show. One phrase at a time, or several together.
  3. Press Next (or the Space bar) for a new phrase.
  4. Read the meaning and the example under each phrase.
  5. 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