Phrases & Expressions

At risk of being lost, damaged or harmed.

• The injured climber's life was on the line.
• Many jobs are on the line due to the crisis.

Said officially and publicly, so that it can be reported and the speaker can be named.

• The manager spoke on the record, so the reporter could use her name.
• He agreed to go on the record with his statement.

In a risky position with someone; another mistake could cause trouble.

• Joey was on thin ice with his mom after he spent his lunch money on candy bars.
• Bill was on thin ice with his girlfriend after she saw him with another girl.

A principle where every person has an equal vote in a decision.

• In this club, it's one person one vote.
• The election followed the one person one vote principle.

To tell someone your private feelings, worries or problems.

• She finally opened her heart to her sister about her worries.
• It is not easy for him to open his heart to strangers.

No longer able to be controlled.

• The party got out of hand.
• Things quickly got out of hand.

Not happening at the same time or speed as something else.

• The music and the video were slightly out of sync.
• Their schedules were out of sync, making planning difficult.

Not informed about current events or decisions.

• I feel out of the loop since I missed the meeting.
• He's been out of the loop for weeks.

Too difficult or complicated for someone to understand.

• The professor was speaking over our heads — none of us could understand him.
• The article on cloning was written for scientists — it was over my head.

A series of documents or records that show what has happened over time.

• The investigation followed a clear paper trail.
• We found a paper trail leading to the suspect.