Express probabilities and possibilities more effectively by learning English idioms for certainty, uncertainty, and chance.
11 topics147 words
Certainty17 words
to [bet] {one's} (life|boots|bottom dollar)phraseto express strongly and confidently that something is undoubtedly true or will certainly happen
to {not} [count] {one's} chickensphraseto be cautious and not assume that something will succeed or happen as planned, as there is always a possibility of unforeseen obstacles or problems
beyond a shadow of a doubtphraseused when one can claim that something is true with all one's certainty
dollars to doughnutsphraseused to show one's utmost certainty about something
to [go] without sayingphraseused to say that something is so obvious that there is no need for further explanation
mark my [word]sentenceused when one is certain that something will happen at some point in the future
to [seal] {one's} fatephraseto do something that ensures that someone or something fails or something unpleasant happens to them
tried and truephrasedenoting something that has been tested many times and proved to be reliable or effective
acid testnouna way of proving the validity of a claim or determining the success rate of a plan
a backward glancephrasea feeling of remorse, and reservation that one gets upon facing a challenge or finding oneself in an unexpected situation
to [feel] {sth} in {one's} bonesphraseto believe something strongly, even though one cannot explain why
in no uncertain termsphrasein a way that is most clear or direct
a one-way ticketphrasea situation in which any decision made cannot be undone
to [be] (only|just|) a matter of timephraseto certainly happen at some point in the future
{sb} can take {sth} to the banksentenceused to imply that something is reliable, certain, and can be trusted completely
hands downphrasein a way that is free of all ambiguity or uncertainty
foregone conclusionnounsomething that is assumed to be true or already decided upon before any evidence or arguments are presented
Uncertainty19 words
too close to callphrasealmost impossible to predict who will win and who will lose, particularly in a competition
a question mark [hang] over {sth}phrasea feeling of uncertainty and doubt about something
to [set|put] the record straightphraseto correct a false story, misunderstanding, or incorrect belief by giving the true facts
you never knowsentenceused to say that even if the happening of something is unlikely, it is not impossible
gray areanouna situation that is hard to define or categorize and therefore unclear
to [have] second thoughtsphraseto start doubting a decision and begin to wonder whether it is the right or best thing to do
(shot|stab) in the darkphrasean attempt to guess or do something without having sufficient information or knowing the consequences
in the balancephraseused to refer to something that is in an uncertain state
to [be] (anyone's|anybody's) (guess|call)phraseto be difficult or almost impossible to predict the outcome of a situation or event
to [take] {sth} with a grain of saltphraseto only accept a part of something or not take it seriously at all
wild cardnouna person or thing with uncertain or uncontrollable qualities or capabilities
rope of sandphrasea thing that is nowhere as good or strong as it appears
under a cloud of suspicionphraseviewed with doubt or mistrust, even if not proven
how long is a piece of stringsentenceused to say that it is impossible to answer a question concerning the size, length, or amount of something
give or takephraseused to say that the amount mentioned might be a little more or less than the exact amount
neither fish nor fowlphraseused to describe a person or thing that is hard to describe or classify
dog's chancenouna very little or no chance of success
to [twist|swing|hang] in the windphrase(of a person) to be in a state of uncertainty or confusion
neck and neckphraseused to describe a situation where no clear advantage or resolution has emerged, leaving the final result uncertain
Unlikely Situations16 words
to [be] a big ifphraseto be a condition or requirement that is uncertain or potentially challenging to fulfill
cock-and-bull storynouna story that seems impossible, particularly one that is used as an excuse
forget that noisesentenceused to express anger and the fact that someone does not care about someone or something
I will eat my hatsentenceused to say that one does not think that something will ever happen or has any chance of being true
to [cast] beyond the moonphraseto think about unlikely and unrealistic possibilities
too good to be truephraseused to refer to something that exceeds one's expectations in such ways that makes it hard to believe
long shotnounan attempt made without having any high hopes of achieving success
(at|) the end of the rainbowphraseused to refer to something that is extremely desirable yet nearly impossible to obtain
jam tomorrownouna promise of something good or desirable that will never be fulfilled
to [swing] for the fencesphraseto aim for goals that are unrealistic or extremely difficult to achieve
pigs (can|might) flysentenceused to express one's disbelief about something happening or being true
pipe dreamnounan impractical or impossible idea, plan, or wish
ghost of a chancephrasethe slightest chance of succeeding or happening
to [promise] {sb} the (moon|earth|world)phraseto make promises that are impossible to be fulfilled or be kept
to {not} [look] backphraseto have no desire or intention to return to past circumstances
not look backphraseto have no desire or intention to return to past circumstances
Impossibility20 words
{not|never} in a (thousand|million|billion) yearsphraseused to say that the chances of something happening or being true are very slim
a snowball's chance in hellphrasethe slightest chance of something happening or being true
a trip to the sunphrasesomething that seems impossible to occur
for love (or|nor) moneyphraseused to refer to something that cannot be done or obtained in any way
pie in the skyphrasesomething that is very good or desirable but highly unlikely to happen or be real
by (any|no) stretch (of the imagination|)phraseused to refer to something that is impossible or is extremely hard to imagine or obtain
(the|that) ship has (long|) sailedsentenceused to say that an offer or possibility is not renewable or available any more
to ill afford {sth}phraseto be unable to do or finish something without being harmed or suffering its consequences
point of no returnphrasethe time when it becomes impossible for one to return to a previous place or state or to make a different decision
out of the questionphrasenot allowed or possible
when chickens have teethphrasesaid to mean that it is impossible for something to ever happen
when hell freezes oversentenceused to express disbelief in something happening
cold day in hellphraseused for saying that it is completely unlikely that something ever happens
when two Sundays meetsentenceused to say that one thinks that something will never happen
over {one's} dead (body|corpse)phraseused to show that one will do whatever one can to stop something from happening
to [cry] for the moonphraseto desire what cannot be achieved
off the tablephrase(of a proposal, topic, or offer) unavailable or incapable of being considered
castle in the (air|sky)phrasea hope or wish that cannot be realized or fulfilled
no-goadjectiveused to emphasize that something is completely impossible or prohibited
no wayphraseused to indicate that something is impossible, unacceptable, or absolutely will not happen under any conditions
Luck & Chance10 words
lucky Devilnounused to describe a person who is considered lucky
{one's} luck [is] insentenceused to emphasize how lucky a person is or how successful they are
story of {one's} lifephraseused to say that it is typical of a person to experience an unfortunate event
just my luckinterjectionused to say that one is used to something bad happening to one, due to having bad luck
knock on woodinterjectionsaid after a positive statement to hypothetically assure the continuation of good luck
the luck of the drawphrasesomething that solely depends on chance
to [take] pot luckphraseto try to do or achieve something knowing that one might not succeed
to [fly] by the seat of {one's} pantsphraseto do something by solely relying on one's instincts, due to a lack of proper knowledge or experience
to [catch] a breakphraseto experience some luck
to [strike] goldphraseto have great success with something, particularly something that brings one a lot of money
Possibility12 words
ten to onephraseextremely likely
the sky is the limitsentenceused to say that there is nothing to prevent someone or something from achieving success
while the getting [is] goodphrasebefore the opportunity to do or achieve something passes
to [come] {one's} wayphrase(of something good) to happen or become available to one
to [be] in the airphraseto get the feeling that something is about to happen
if worst comes to worstsentenceused for saying if the worst possible or most difficult thing happens
storm is brewingsentenceused to say that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen
when push [come] to shovephraseused when a situation reaches a critical point and one must take action in order to deal with it
to [stand] a chancephraseto have a likelihood of success or achieving a desired outcome
to [read] the tea leavesphraseto be able to say or estimate what is about to happen in the future
on paperphrasetheoretically rather than practically
cloud on the horizonphrasesomething that will be troublesome or problematic in the near future
Likelihood8 words
to [lie] in waitphraseto secretly wait for the right time to catch or attack an enemy or prey
on the off chancephraseused to refer to the possibility of something happening or being true
safe betnouna thing that is extremely likely to be true or happen
to [be] in the cardsphraseto have a high chance of happening or being true
[be] in line for {sth}phraseto be very close or likely to achieve something, particularly something very good or desirable
fat chancenounused to say that one doubts that something can ever happen or be true
lie in waitphrase(of something bad) to be about to happen to one
down to earthphraseaccording to what is real or can be done
Expectations7 words
{not} [put] {sth} past {sb}sentenceto believe that someone is capable of doing something, especially something negative or unexpected, based on their past behavior or character
to [measure] other people's corn by {one's} own bushelphraseto judge or evaluate others based on one's own standards, abilities, or achievements, without considering their unique circumstances or perspectives
to [cut] the mustardphraseto meet expectations or perform satisfactorily in a given task or situation
to [make] the gradephraseto succeed in reaching the desired result
all sizzle and no steakphrase(of a person or thing) having a flashy or showy exterior, but when examined closely or experienced fully, it fails to meet expectations or deliver on its promises
par for the coursephraseused of a situation, outcome, or behavior that is considered typical, expected, or unsurprising given the circumstances
to [come] up with the goodsphraseto deliver what was promised or expected, especially when it comes to achieving a particular result or fulfilling an obligation
Unexpected20 words
damp squibphrasesomething that fails to be what everyone expected
out of thin airphrasein a way that is sudden and often unreal
to [take] the cakephraseto be the most surprising, outrageous, or absurd
to [throw] {sb} a (curveball|curve)phraseto introduce a surprising or unexpected element or challenge into a situation
(as|) large as lifephraseused to express a sense of astonishment or surprise when encountering someone or something
to [catch] {sb} nappingphraseto surprise or outsmart someone who is not paying attention or is unprepared
to [catch] {sb} with {one's} [hand] in the cookie jarphraseto catch someone in the act of doing something wrong or inappropriate
to [catch] {sb} with {one's} pants downphraseto unexpectedly expose or confront someone in an embarrassing situation
to [drop|explode] a bombshellphraseto reveal unexpected and shocking news or information that has a strong impact on those who receive it
pig in a pokephrasesomething bought or accepted without being properly examined first and then leading to disappointment
to [pull] a rabbit out of the hatphraseto solve a seemingly impossible problem or accomplish an extremely difficult goal unexpectedly
the bubble [burst]sentenceused to refer to the abrupt termination of a favorable or fortunate situation
to [blow] {one's} mindphraseto deeply astonish or amaze someone, often by presenting them with something unexpected or extraordinary
beyond {one's} wildest (dreams|fantasies)phraseused to mean that something that is significantly surpassing what an individual could have ever anticipated or hoped for
(glued|rooted) to the spotphrasenot capable of moving due to being shocked or frightened
out of nowhereadverbin a sudden and unexpected manner, emphasizing the element of surprise
to {not} [know] what [hit] {sb}phraseto become extremely shocked or confused as a result of something undesirable that suddenly happens
to [turn] up like a bad pennyphraseto reappear where one is not welcome or needed
to [hit] {sb} like a ton of bricksphraseto experience the sudden, surprising, and overwhelming impact of something, that catches someone off guard and leaves them feeling stunned or overwhelmed
flash in the panphrasesomeone who experiences temporary success or achievement but ultimately fails to maintain it in the long term
Unbelievable11 words
to {not} [believe] {one's} (eyes|ears)phraseto find it difficult to believe what one has seen or heard
double takenounthe act of quickly looking at something or someone twice, usually due to surprise, confusion, or disbelief
to [hold|hang] on to {one's} [hat]phraseto prepare oneself for an event or situation that is expected to be exciting, intense, or unpredictable
lost for wordsphrasetemporarily unable to think of what to say or how to express oneself, often due to shock, surprise, or intense emotion
to [raise] (some|a few|many|) eyebrowsphraseto cause surprise, curiosity, or mild shock among people due to something unconventional, unexpected, or controversial
bolt (from|out of) the bluephrasenews or an event that causes a great surprise
to live to see the dayphraseto survive or endure until a particular moment or event occurs, especially one that was uncertain, significant, or eagerly anticipated
to [drop] {one's} teethphraseto be extremely surprised or shocked, causing one's mouth to open wide in astonishment
to [knock] {sb} down with a featherphraseto cause a person to become very shocked, amazed, or confused
words [fail] {sb}sentenceused to say one is unable to say anything due to being extremely surprised, angry, or shocked
to [stop] (dead|right|) in {one's} tracksphraseto suddenly stop moving or doing something due to being extremely surprised, frightened, or impressed
Definite or Unavoidable7 words
like a shotphrasein a quick and decisive manner without much hesitation
to [bet] bottom dollarphraseto be absolutely sure that something is true
to [be] a (dead|) certphraseto be guaranteed or highly likely to occur or achieve success
slam dunknounsomething that is sure to happen
to [come] (home|back) to roostphraseto experience the negative consequences or effects of one's past actions or decisions
to [come|go] with the territoryphraseto be an integral part of a particular situation
to [bite] {sb} in the assphraseto become affected by the outcomes of one's past actions
Learn all 147 words in this list with spaced repetition