Useful Idioms: English Vocabulary List

to reach a point where gains equal losses, resulting in a balance

"The business will break even."

"After months of careful financial planning, the struggling startup finally managed to break even."

(with reference to two things) in contrast to each other instead of correspondence

"The two brothers are always at odds."

"The two politicians are at odds over how to solve the country's economic problems and unemployment crisis."

to use something for personal gain in an unfair or dishonest manner

"Don't take advantage of this."

"They were accused of taking advantage of the loopholes in the tax legislation for personal gain."

the obvious meaning or worth of something, without looking deeper

"It's face value."

"You shouldn't always accept things at their face value without further investigation."