This lesson trains 50 C2 idioms on Society. Idioms signal fluency when used naturally — forcing them into every sentence hurts your score. Practise in the runner first, then revisit every expression in the glossary. Review mode after completion shows how each idiom fits its context.
Armchair critic
Someone who criticizes something without having any practical experience or involvement.
He constantly complained about the team's performance but never attended training sessions.
Wouldn't give sth house room
To refuse to accept or keep something because it is worthless.
The old furniture was so damaged that no one wanted it.
Sb's face doesn't fit
Someone is not suitable or welcome in a particular group or job.
Even though she was highly qualified, she was not chosen for the position.
Under the counter
Sold secretly and usually illegally.
The shop was known to sell certain items secretly to regular customers.
Be heavy going
Difficult and not enjoyable.
The long technical manual was hard to understand.
Epic proportions
Very large or extreme in scale.
The natural disaster affected the entire region.
An armchair critic
Someone who criticizes something without having any practical experience or involvement.
He constantly complained about the team's performance but never attended training sessions.
De facto
Existing in fact, even if not officially recognized.
Although not officially the leader, he made all the important decisions.
Whatever floats your boat!
Do whatever makes you happy; it is your choice.
He preferred to work from home while others liked the office.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry
Ordinary people; anyone at all.
The exclusive event was supposed to be private, but somehow ordinary people had found out about it.
Fall into line
To start obeying rules or behaving like others.
After the new manager arrived, the team began to follow the standard procedures.
Put your hand on your heart
To say something honestly.
She swore that she had not taken the money.
A mine of information
A person or thing that is a rich source of information.
The old professor knew everything about local history.
A death trap
A place or situation that is extremely dangerous.
The old building had no fire escapes and faulty wiring.
A man of many parts
A person with many different skills or talents.
The actor could sing, dance, and play several musical instruments.
In all but name
Almost completely the same as something else, though not officially called that.
Although not officially promoted, she performed all the duties of a senior manager.
Last but not least
Used to introduce the final item in a list while emphasizing its importance.
We thanked the organizers, the sponsors, and ____ the volunteers.
Fit like a glove
To fit or suit perfectly.
The new dress was exactly the right size and style for her.
The long arm of the law
The far-reaching power and authority of the police or legal system.
Even years later, the authorities tracked down the suspect in another country.
Like it or lump it
To accept a situation whether you like it or not.
The new rules were not popular but everyone had to follow them.
A cog in the machine
A small, unimportant part of a large organization or system.
He felt he was just another employee with no real influence.
Chalk and cheese
Two things that are completely different.
The two brothers had totally opposite personalities and interests.
Throw the book at
To punish someone as severely as possible.
The judge gave the maximum sentence to the repeat offender.
That makes two of us
Used to say that you feel or think the same as someone else.
I don't like the new design either.
The sb from hell
A person who is extremely unpleasant or difficult to deal with.
The new tenant caused endless problems for the landlord.
Grass roots
Ordinary people in an organization or society rather than the leaders.
The new policy had strong support from the members but not from the board.
To put it mildly
Used to say that a statement is an understatement.
The service was extremely slow and the staff were rude.
Get a life
Used to tell someone to stop being boring or to start doing more interesting things.
He spent all his time complaining instead of doing something useful.
Play the game
To behave in a fair or acceptable way.
Even though the rules were not perfect, he followed them.
Sort the sheep from the goats
To separate good people or things from bad ones.
The manager had to decide which employees were performing well and which were not.
Run in the family
To be a common feature in a particular family.
Musical talent seemed to be present in every generation.
A whole new ball game
A completely different situation or set of circumstances.
Moving from a small startup to a large corporation involved very different challenges.
A leading light
An important or influential person in a particular field.
The professor was a well-known expert in his subject.
Toe the line
To obey the rules or behave as expected.
The new employees had to follow the company policies strictly.
Turn the other cheek
To respond to an insult or injury by not retaliating.
Even though he was criticized unfairly, he chose not to argue back.
A crowd-puller
An event or person that attracts large numbers of people.
The free concert in the park drew thousands of visitors.
Mind how you go.
Be careful.
She reminded her children to be cautious on the busy road.
A second-class citizen
A person who is treated as inferior or does not have the same rights as others.
Immigrants sometimes felt they were not given the same opportunities as native citizens.
What is the world coming to?
Used to express shock or disapproval at current events or behavior.
Young people no longer respect their elders the way they used to.
Variety is the spice of life.
Life is more interesting when there are many different experiences.
She liked to try new foods and activities.
See life
To experience many different things and become less naive.
After traveling around the world he had a much broader view of the world.
The boys in blue
The police.
The security situation required immediate assistance from law enforcement.
Creature comforts
Things that make life comfortable and pleasant.
The hotel provided soft beds, good food, and reliable Wi-Fi.
Life in the fast lane
An exciting but often stressful way of life involving fast cars, success, and risk.
After the promotion he was constantly traveling and working long hours.
You're teaching your grandmother to suck eggs!
You are trying to tell someone more experienced than you how to do something they already know.
The young intern was explaining basic computer skills to the senior engineer.
Be beyond the pale
To be completely unacceptable or outside the limits of acceptable behavior.
His racist comments during the interview were totally unacceptable.
Silent majority
The large group of people who do not express their opinions publicly.
Most citizens did not protest but quietly supported the new law.
No-go area
A place or situation that is dangerous or forbidden to enter.
Certain parts of the city were considered too risky for visitors after dark.
The elephant in the room
An obvious problem or difficult subject that everyone avoids talking about.
Everyone knew the company was losing money, but no one mentioned it.
Life in the slow lane
A relaxed and unhurried way of life.
After retiring he moved to the countryside and enjoyed a quiet routine.