English Idioms & Phrasal Verbs (Free PDF Download)

You can know every single word in a sentence and still have no idea what it means. "She let the cat out of the bag" has nothing to do with cats, and "I'll get away with it" hides a meaning you will not find by adding up get, away and with. This is the English that lives in the expression, not the dictionary — and it is exactly the part most textbooks leave out. English Idioms & Phrasal Verbs is a free PDF, below, that puts 500+ of these expressions in your hands with clear definitions, real examples and notes on when to use each one.

This page tells you exactly what is inside, who the book is for, and — just as importantly — how to use an idioms PDF so these expressions end up in your speech, rather than sitting unread on your phone. If you have searched for an "english idioms pdf" or a "phrasal verbs pdf" before and ended up with a flat word list, this is the opposite of that.

What this book covers

The book is built around one idea: the meaning of natural English lives in the expression, not the individual word. So instead of a long alphabetical list to forget, it is organised in four parts that take you from how idiomatic language works to actually using it:

• Part 1 — Foundations and the grammar of idiomatic language. Why these expressions cannot be translated word-for-word, how phrasal verbs split (or do not), and how to read a register label so you never sound too casual in a formal email or too stiff with friends.
• Part 2 — Phrasal verbs by particle. The expressions grouped by up, out, off, on, down and the rest, so the patterns become visible — once you see what up tends to add, dozens of phrasal verbs stop feeling random.
• Part 3 — Idioms by theme. Expressions grouped by the situations you actually talk about — feelings, work, money, time, relationships — so you can find the right one when you need it.
• Part 4 — Practice and a reference index. Exercises to move the expressions from recognition into use, plus an index you can flip to whenever a phrase you half-remember comes up.

Every entry carries a clear definition, a real example sentence, simplified pronunciation help where it matters, and a register label. Because of that index and the practice section, the book works equally well read front to back or dipped into the moment a specific expression trips you up.

Who it's for

This is an intermediate-to-advanced reference and practice book, written for B1 to C2. It assumes you already have a working grasp of everyday vocabulary, because idioms and phrasal verbs sit on top of that base — they are the layer that turns correct English into native-sounding English. If you are around B1, start with Part 2 and the most common, neutral expressions in each theme; do not try to swallow all 500 at once. If you are C1–C2, the value is precision: the register labels let you choose the exactly-right expression for the room, and Part 1 explains the small grammar traps (where the particle goes, which idioms are fixed) that separate advanced learners from fully natural ones.

For teachers and tutors, the themed grouping and ready-made exercises are built to be used in class — you are explicitly encouraged to copy the practice pages, and a "by theme" structure maps neatly onto lesson topics.

How to use an idioms PDF so it works

Here is the honest part. A list of 500 idioms is a brilliant reference and a poor teacher — if you only read it. Recognising "break the ice" on a page is not the same as reaching for it, correctly and at the right moment, in a real conversation. The book gives you the meaning and the register; you have to supply the production.

An idiom you have read is a fact about English. An idiom you have used is a part of your English. The whole job is moving expressions across that line.

So use it actively. Do not study fifty expressions a day — choose five you genuinely like, write your own sentence for each about your real life, and use one out loud the same week. Pay attention to the register label every time; the fastest way to sound odd is a slang idiom in a formal setting, or a stiff formal phrase among friends. And start noticing these expressions in what you already watch and read — the moment you spot "get away with it" in a series you are watching is the moment it becomes yours. We expand on this method in our guide to learning from English PDFs the right way.

What makes this guide different

Three things. First, it treats phrasal verbs as patterns, not chaos — grouping them by particle so you see the logic, instead of presenting 200 of them as items to memorise one by one. Second, every entry has a register label, so you learn not only what an expression means but whether it belongs in a job interview, a text to a friend, or neither — the difference between knowing an idiom and using it well. Third, it is organised by theme and backed by an index and practice, which means it is genuinely usable: you can find the right expression for a situation, then actually drill it, rather than just admiring a list.

Pair it with these free PDFs

Idioms and phrasal verbs are the figurative layer of English. Three other free books in our library build the layers around them, from natural word-choice to confident delivery:

• Idioms make you colourful; the right everyday word partnerships make you sound native sentence by sentence — English Collocations in Use is the natural companion.
• Already comfortable and want the frontier? Beyond Fluent handles the register, nuance and advanced expression that separate fluent from flawless.
• Knowing the expressions is half the job; saying them without hesitating is the other half — Speak English Fluently builds the delivery that lets these idioms come out smoothly.

All three sit in the same free library — see the full set on our free English learning PDFs page.

Download English Idioms & Phrasal Verbs

Grab the PDF, pick five expressions you like, and write one sentence for each before you close it. That single habit will do more for how natural you sound than another evening of scrolling idiom lists you will never use.

Want the expressions explained and your own sentences corrected? Our free English track adds the one thing a PDF cannot — feedback on whether the idiom you just used actually landed naturally.

Start the free English trackBrowse all 15 free PDFs