Phrases & Expressions

To be extremely pleased and excited about something.

• My grandmother was thrilled to bits when we surprised her with a party for her eightieth birthday.
• The volunteers were thrilled to bits when the charity raised twice as much money as they had hoped.

To be working properly, especially after being newly set up or repaired.

• The new online enrolment system should be up and running before the start of the autumn term.
• Within six months of the funding being approved, the community recycling centre was up and running.

To understand what someone is saying or explaining; often used in questions and negatives.

• Sorry, I'm not with you — do you mean the meeting has been moved to Thursday?
• Our tutor stopped halfway through the explanation and asked, “Are you with me so far?”

In private, without the public or the media being allowed to see or know what happens.

• Players' contracts are usually negotiated behind closed doors, away from journalists and fans.
• What happens behind closed doors in a family can have a lasting effect on a child's education.

Without a person knowing, especially when saying or doing something unkind or disloyal.

• I was hurt to learn that my so-called friends had been laughing at me behind my back.
• Gossiping about colleagues behind their backs can quickly destroy trust in a workplace.

To allow small exceptions to the rules, usually to help someone or make things easier.

• The head teacher agreed to bend the rules and let the student take the exam a week late.
• Officials are sometimes willing to bend the rules for wealthy investors, which damages public trust.

To stop following a tradition, routine, or organization and start doing things differently.

• The young artist wanted to break from classical traditions in her work.
• He decided to break from the ruling party and form his own group.

To find a book so interesting that you do not want to stop reading it.

• Once you start reading this thriller, you can't put it down, so don't open it the night before an exam!
• The biography is so well written that even readers with no interest in science can't put it down.

To start behaving in a better way than before, especially after being criticised.

• Doctors warned him that unless he changed his ways and stopped smoking, he would face serious heart problems.
• Fast fashion brands will have to change their ways if they want to win back environmentally aware customers.

To fall suddenly and completely in love with someone.

• While studying abroad in Spain, Emre fell head over heels in love and decided to stay on after graduating.
• Within a week of meeting her, Daniel had fallen head over heels in love and was talking about marriage.