Phrases & Expressions

To seem unreal because so many unpleasant things are happening at once.

• First I lost my passport, then my wallet was stolen — the whole trip was like a bad dream.
• For the families who lost their homes in the flood, the past week has been like a bad dream.

To be unable to speak for a moment because you are extremely surprised, shocked or moved.

• When the judges announced that she had won the scholarship, she was completely lost for words.
• The view from the top of the mountain was so beautiful that we were lost for words for a moment.

To be perfectly suited to a particular job, activity or person.

• With her patience and love of children, she was made for teaching.
• This quiet coastal town is made for cycling, with flat roads and almost no traffic.

To feel extremely happy, usually because something wonderful has just happened.

• Ever since he got the job offer from the engineering firm, he's been on cloud nine.
• We were on cloud nine for weeks after our daughter graduated with first-class honours.

To be getting better after an illness or injury.

• Thanks for asking; Grandma is on the mend and should be home from hospital by Friday.
• The doctor said my broken wrist was on the mend and the plaster could come off in two weeks.

To feel extremely happy and pleased, often because of a success.

• When she heard she had been accepted by her first-choice university, she was on top of the world.
• After finishing his first marathon, Emre felt on top of the world for days.

To lack recent information about something, so that your knowledge of it is no longer up to date.

• My grandparents don't use the internet, so they are quite out of touch with how young people communicate.
• After living abroad for ten years, I feel a bit out of touch with Turkish pop music.

To be very happy about something that has happened, especially a success.

• She was over the moon when she found out she had got a band 8 in IELTS.
• The coach said he was over the moon with the team's performance in the final.

To have got through the hardest or most painful stage of an illness or problem.

• Hospital staff believe the city is over the worst of the flu outbreak, as new cases are finally falling.
• Economists believe the country is over the worst of the recession, but recovery will be slow.

To have so much work to do that you can hardly deal with it.

• Teachers are snowed under with marking at the end of every term.
• The accounts team has been snowed under with work since the new tax rules came in.