어휘 학습

영어 숙어 500개 이상: 뜻과 예문으로 익히는 표현

#숙어 #숙어와 표현 #관용 표현 #영어 숙어 #자주 쓰는 숙어

어떤 언어에는 직역하면 말이 되지 않는 표현이 있습니다. 영어에도 수천 개나 있습니다. “It’s raining cats and dogs”는 동물과 아무 관계가 없습니다. “Break a leg”은 협박이 아니라 “행운을 빌어”라는 뜻입니다. “Spill the beans”도 음식 이야기가 아니라 비밀을 털어놓는다는 뜻입니다.

이런 표현을 숙어라고 합니다. 대화, 영화, 음악, 뉴스, 비즈니스, 문학 등 영어 곳곳에 등장합니다. 원어민은 숙어를 너무 자연스럽게 써서 거의 의식하지 못합니다. 하지만 학습자에게 숙어는 유창성을 가로막는 큰 장애물 중 하나입니다. 문법이 완벽하고 어휘가 풍부하며 발음이 명확해도, 숙어 때문에 듣는 문장 절반의 뜻을 놓칠 수 있습니다.

이 가이드에서는 가장 자주 쓰는 영어 숙어 500개 이상을 주제별로 묶어 의미 있는 단위로 익힐 수 있도록 정리했습니다. 각 숙어에는 명확한 뜻과 자연스러운 예문이 있습니다. IELTS를 준비하거나 대학 공부를 하거나, 원어민이 실제로 말하는 방식으로 영어를 이해하고 싶다면 이 자료를 참고하세요.

숙어 수: 500개 이상
분류: 주제별 20개 범주
수준: A2–C2 (초급부터 고급까지)
추천 대상: 전반적인 유창성 향상, IELTS/TOEFL 준비, 원어민 이해, 일상 대화

숙어란?

숙어는 개별 단어의 뜻만으로 전체 의미를 알 수 없는 고정 표현입니다. 핵심은 표현 전체의 뜻이 구성 단어의 뜻과 다르다는 점입니다.

표현	문자 그대로의 뜻	실제 숙어 의미
break the ice	얼어붙은 물을 깨다	어색한 상황에서 대화를 시작하다
hit the nail on the head	망치로 못을 치다	어떤 점을 정확히 짚다
under the weather	날씨 아래	몸이 약간 아프다
piece of cake	케이크 한 조각	매우 쉬운 일

숙어, 구동사, 연어의 차이

이 세 범주는 서로 겹치기 때문에 혼동하기 쉽습니다. 차이는 다음과 같습니다.

범주	정의	예시
숙어	비유적인 뜻을 가진 고정 표현	kick the bucket (= 죽다)
구동사	새 의미를 만드는 동사 + 불변화사	give up (= 포기하다)
연어	자연스럽게 함께 쓰이는 단어	make a decision (“do a decision”이 아님)

일부 구동사는 숙어적입니다(come across = 우연히 발견하다). 숙어에 구동사가 들어가기도 합니다(give someone the cold shoulder). 경계는 분명하지 않습니다. 중요한 것은 표현 자체를 익히는 것입니다.

구동사 전체를 알아보려면 영어 구동사 완전 가이드를 참고하세요.

신체, 동물, 음식, 날씨, 돈, 시간, 색깔, 감정, 직장, 스포츠 등 주제별 영어 숙어 분류

신체 부위

신체 부위 숙어는 영어에서 가장 오래되고 보편적인 표현에 속합니다. 다른 언어에도 비슷한 형태가 많습니다.

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
1	keep an eye on	주의 깊게 지켜보다	Keep an eye on the soup — don’t let it boil over.
2	turn a blind eye	일부러 모른 척하다	The manager turned a blind eye to the late arrivals.
3	see eye to eye	완전히 동의하다	We don’t always see eye to eye, but we respect each other.
4	in the blink of an eye	눈 깜짝할 사이에	The accident happened in the blink of an eye.
5	catch someone’s eye	눈길을 끌다	The red dress in the window caught my eye.
6	play it by ear	상황을 보며 즉흥적으로 결정하다	I don’t have a plan — let’s just play it by ear.
7	turn a deaf ear	들으려 하지 않다	He turned a deaf ear to all our warnings.
8	keep your chin up	기운을 내고 긍정적으로 생각하다	I know things are tough, but keep your chin up.
9	bite your tongue	하고 싶은 말을 참다	I wanted to argue, but I bit my tongue.
10	on the tip of my tongue	기억날 듯 말 듯한	His name is on the tip of my tongue — give me a second.
11	by the skin of your teeth	간신히, 겨우	We passed the exam by the skin of our teeth.
12	give someone the cold shoulder	일부러 상대를 무시하다	After the argument, she gave me the cold shoulder for a week.
13	cost an arm and a leg	매우 비싸다	That car repair cost an arm and a leg.
14	get something off your chest	마음에 걸리던 일을 털어놓다	I need to get this off my chest — I lied about the deadline.
15	have a heart of gold	매우 친절하고 너그럽다	She has a heart of gold — she’d help anyone.
16	stab someone in the back	누군가를 배신하다	He stabbed me in the back by telling the boss about my mistake.
17	break someone’s heart	(주로 연애 관계에서) 누군가를 매우 슬프게 하다	Leaving the country broke his mother’s heart.
18	get cold feet	갑자기 긴장하고 망설이다	She got cold feet the night before the wedding.
19	put your foot in your mouth	실수로 창피한 말을 하다	I put my foot in my mouth when I asked about her ex.
20	have butterflies in your stomach	긴장하다	I always have butterflies in my stomach before presentations.
21	a pain in the neck	성가신 사람이나 일	This paperwork is a real pain in the neck.
22	keep your fingers crossed	행운을 빌다	Keep your fingers crossed — the results come out tomorrow.
23	point the finger at	누군가를 탓하다	Don’t point the finger at me — it wasn’t my fault.
24	pull someone’s leg	누군가를 놀리다, 장난치다	Are you serious, or are you pulling my leg?
25	give a hand	돕다	Could you give me a hand with these boxes?
26	an old hand	경험이 많은 사람	She’s an old hand at negotiations — she’s been doing it for 20 years.
27	wash your hands of	책임지기를 거부하다	After years of trying, he washed his hands of the project.
28	the apple of someone’s eye	누군가가 가장 아끼는 사람	Their youngest daughter is the apple of their eye.
29	a head start	시작 단계의 이점	Being bilingual gave her a head start in her career.
30	head over heels	사랑에 푹 빠진	He fell head over heels for her on the first date.

동물

동물 숙어는 생생한 이미지 덕분에 재미있고 기억하기 쉽습니다.

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
31	let the cat out of the bag	실수로 비밀을 누설하다	I was planning a surprise party, but Tom let the cat out of the bag.
32	raining cats and dogs	비가 억수같이 오다	Take an umbrella — it’s raining cats and dogs outside.
33	the elephant in the room	모두 알면서도 말하고 싶어 하지 않는 문제	Nobody mentioned the budget cut — it was the elephant in the room.
34	kill two birds with one stone	한 가지 행동으로 두 가지 일을 해내다	By cycling to work, I kill two birds with one stone — exercise and transportation.
35	a little bird told me	누군가 알려 줬지만 누구인지는 말하지 않겠다	A little bird told me you’re getting promoted.
36	the early bird catches the worm	일찍 시작하는 사람이 성공한다	I always arrive at the office at 7 AM — the early bird catches the worm.
37	when pigs fly	절대 일어나지 않을 일	He’ll clean his room when pigs fly.
38	hold your horses	기다리다; 참을성을 갖다	Hold your horses — we haven’t even started yet.
39	straight from the horse’s mouth	당사자에게 직접 들은	I heard the news straight from the horse’s mouth — the CEO told me herself.
40	a wild goose chase	헛수고가 되는 수색	Looking for that document was a wild goose chase — it never existed.
41	monkey around	어리석게 굴다	Stop monkeying around and finish your homework.
42	have a whale of a time	아주 즐거운 시간을 보내다	We had a whale of a time at the festival.
43	the black sheep	가족이나 집단에서 유난히 다른 사람	He’s the black sheep of the family — the only one who didn’t go to university.
44	a fish out of water	자신이 처한 환경에서 어색해하는 사람	At the fashion show, I felt like a fish out of water.
45	open a can of worms	새로운 문제를 일으키다	If you bring up the budget, you’ll open a whole can of worms.
46	take the bull by the horns	어려운 상황에 용감하게 맞서다	Instead of avoiding the problem, she took the bull by the horns.
47	have ants in your pants	가만히 앉아 있지 못하다	The kids have ants in their pants today — they can’t focus at all.
48	the lion’s share	가장 큰 몫	The lion’s share of the budget goes to marketing.
49	a wolf in sheep’s clothing	해가 없어 보이지만 위험한 사람	Be careful with that salesman — he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
50	every dog has its day	누구에게나 언젠가 기회가 온다	Don’t worry about losing today — every dog has its day.

음식과 음료

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
51	a piece of cake	아주 쉬운 일	The exam was a piece of cake — I finished in 30 minutes.
52	spill the beans	비밀을 털어놓다	Come on, spill the beans — what did she say?
53	have your cake and eat it too	양립할 수 없는 두 가지를 모두 원하다	You can’t work part-time and earn a full salary — you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
54	go bananas	제정신이 아니게 되다; 매우 신나다	The crowd went bananas when the band came on stage.
55	bring home the bacon	가계 수입을 벌다	Both parents bring home the bacon in most families today.
56	butter someone up	무언가를 얻으려고 아첨하다	He’s just buttering up the boss to get a promotion.
57	cry over spilled milk	이미 지나간 일을 후회하며 시간을 낭비하다	The project failed, but there’s no point crying over spilled milk.
58	in a nutshell	요약하면; 간단히 말해	In a nutshell, we need more funding and fewer deadlines.
59	take something with a grain of salt	어떤 말을 완전히 믿지 않다	Take his promises with a grain of salt — he never follows through.
60	the cream of the crop	무리 중 최고	These students are the cream of the crop — all straight-A scholars.
61	egg someone on	누군가에게 어떤 행동을 부추기다 (주로 위험한 행동)	His friends egged him on to jump off the bridge.
62	walk on eggshells	상대를 불쾌하게 하지 않도록 매우 조심하다	I walk on eggshells around my boss — she gets angry about everything.
63	a tough cookie	강하고 회복력이 좋은 사람	She’s a tough cookie — nothing gets her down.
64	a hot potato	아무도 다루고 싶어 하지 않는 논쟁적 주제	Immigration is a hot potato in most Western democracies.
65	full of beans	기운과 열정이 넘치는	The kids are full of beans today after their nap.
66	cool as a cucumber	특히 압박 속에서도 매우 침착한	She was cool as a cucumber during the interview.
67	use your noodle	생각하다; 머리를 쓰다	Come on, use your noodle — the answer is obvious.
68	in hot water	곤경에 처한	He’s in hot water for missing the deadline again.
69	a recipe for disaster	잘못될 가능성이 큰 상황	Mixing inexperienced drivers with icy roads is a recipe for disaster.
70	bite off more than you can chew	감당할 수 있는 것보다 더 많은 일을 맡다	I bit off more than I could chew with four courses this semester.

날씨와 자연

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
71	under the weather	몸이 약간 아픈	I’m a bit under the weather today — I think it’s a cold.
72	a storm in a teacup	사소한 일로 크게 소란을 피우는 것	The controversy over the new logo was just a storm in a teacup.
73	break the ice	어색한 상황에서 대화를 시작하다	He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
74	tip of the iceberg	훨씬 큰 문제에서 눈에 보이는 작은 부분	The cases we see are just the tip of the iceberg.
75	on cloud nine	매우 행복한	She’s been on cloud nine since she got the job offer.
76	every cloud has a silver lining	어떤 나쁜 상황에도 긍정적인 면이 있다	I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining — I found a better one.
77	save it for a rainy day	필요할 때를 대비해 돈을 모아 두다	Don’t spend everything — save some for a rainy day.
78	take a rain check	정중히 거절하되 나중에 하자고 제안하다	I can’t make dinner tonight — can I take a rain check?
79	a breath of fresh air	신선한 변화를 주는 것	The new teacher was a breath of fresh air after years of boring lectures.
80	weather the storm	힘든 시기를 견뎌 내다	The company weathered the storm of the recession and came back stronger.
81	lightning never strikes twice	같은 희박한 일이 다시 일어나지는 않는다	I’m not worried about another earthquake — lightning never strikes twice.
82	steal someone’s thunder	다른 사람의 성과를 가로채다	She stole my thunder by announcing the results before I could.
83	chase rainbows	비현실적인 목표를 좇다	You can’t chase rainbows forever — you need a practical plan.
84	come rain or shine	무슨 일이 있어도	I go running every morning, come rain or shine.
85	the calm before the storm	문제가 생기기 전의 평온한 시기	Everything seems quiet now, but this could be the calm before the storm.

돈과 비즈니스

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
86	break the bank	매우 비싸다	The new phone is nice, but it won’t break the bank — it’s quite affordable.
87	make ends meet	수입으로 겨우 지출을 감당하다	Many families struggle to make ends meet in this economy.
88	go broke	돈을 모두 잃다	The restaurant went broke after only six months.
89	penny-wise, pound-foolish	소액에는 신중하지만 큰돈은 낭비하는	Buying cheap shoes that wear out in a month is penny-wise, pound-foolish.
90	worth every penny	가격만큼 충분한 가치가 있는	That cooking class was worth every penny.
91	a dime a dozen	흔하고 가치가 별로 없는	MBAs are a dime a dozen — you need real experience.
92	money doesn’t grow on trees	돈은 한정되어 있고 벌어야 한다	I can’t buy you a new phone every year — money doesn’t grow on trees.
93	from rags to riches	가난한 처지에서 부자가 된	Her story is a classic rags-to-riches tale.
94	cut corners	절차를 생략해 비용을 줄이다	The builder cut corners and now the roof leaks.
95	the bottom line	가장 중요한 사실; 손익	The bottom line is that we need to increase revenue by 20%.
96	ballpark figure	대략적인 수치	Can you give me a ballpark figure for the renovation costs?
97	get the ball rolling	일을 시작하다	Let’s get the ball rolling on this project today.
98	think outside the box	창의적으로 생각하다	We need to think outside the box to solve this problem.
99	back to the drawing board	처음부터 다시 시작하다	The plan was rejected, so it’s back to the drawing board.
100	on the same page	서로 동의하거나 같은 내용을 이해하는	Let’s have a meeting to make sure we’re all on the same page.
101	in the red / in the black	적자 상태 / 흑자 상태	The company has been in the red for three quarters.
102	burn the midnight oil	밤늦도록 일하다	We burned the midnight oil to finish the proposal.
103	a golden opportunity	더없이 좋은 기회	This job offer is a golden opportunity you shouldn’t miss.
104	throw money down the drain	돈을 낭비하다	Buying that cheap laptop was throwing money down the drain.
105	strike while the iron is hot	기회가 왔을 때 재빨리 행동하다	Interest rates are low — strike while the iron is hot.

시간

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
106	in the nick of time	마지막 순간에 맞춰, 간신히 제시간에	The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.
107	once in a blue moon	아주 드물게	I eat fast food once in a blue moon — maybe twice a year.
108	around the clock	하루 24시간 내내	The hospital operates around the clock.
109	time flies	시간이 빠르게 흐르다	Time flies when you’re having fun.
110	better late than never	하지 않는 것보다 늦게라도 하는 편이 낫다	You finally apologized — better late than never.
111	kill time	기다리는 동안 시간을 보내다	I killed time at the airport by reading a book.
112	against the clock	마감 전에 끝내려고 매우 서두르는	We’re working against the clock to launch by Friday.
113	at the drop of a hat	망설임 없이 즉시	She’ll help you at the drop of a hat.
114	a matter of time	결국 반드시 일어날 일	It’s only a matter of time before they find out the truth.
115	the moment of truth	무엇을 시험하거나 밝히게 되는 순간	The moment of truth came when the grades were posted.
116	live on borrowed time	예상 수명을 넘겨 계속 존재하다	That old computer is living on borrowed time.
117	make up for lost time	놓친 시간을 보충하려 더 많은 일을 하다	After being away for a year, she made up for lost time with her family.
118	on the spur of the moment	즉흥적으로	We decided on the spur of the moment to go to Paris.
119	ahead of time	예상보다 일찍	She always finishes her work ahead of time.
120	behind the times	시대에 뒤떨어진	His teaching methods are behind the times.

성공과 실패

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
121	hit the nail on the head	정확히 맞히다	You hit the nail on the head — that’s exactly the problem.
122	miss the boat	기회를 놓치다	I missed the boat on buying Bitcoin in 2015.
123	back to square one	처음부터 다시 시작하다	The experiment failed, so we’re back to square one.
124	go the extra mile	기대보다 더 많이 노력하다	Good employees always go the extra mile.
125	learn the ropes	새로운 일을 하는 방법을 익히다	It took me a few weeks to learn the ropes at the new company.
126	pass with flying colors	눈부시게 성공하다	She passed the final exam with flying colors.
127	a blessing in disguise	나쁜 일인 줄 알았으나 결과적으로 좋은 일	Losing that job was a blessing in disguise — it led me to my dream career.
128	from scratch	맨 처음부터	He built the website from scratch without any templates.
129	the last straw	반응을 일으킨 마지막 사건	Arriving late again was the last straw — they fired him.
130	burn bridges	관계를 영영 망치다	Don’t burn bridges when you leave a job — you might need a reference.
131	fall flat	완전히 실패하다	His joke fell flat — nobody laughed.
132	up in the air	결정되지 않거나 불확실한	Our vacation plans are still up in the air.
133	nip it in the bud	문제가 커지기 전에 멈추다	If you notice bullying, nip it in the bud immediately.
134	at the end of the day	결국; 모든 것을 고려하면	At the end of the day, family is what matters most.
135	pull it off	어려운 일을 성공적으로 해내다	Nobody thought she could run a marathon, but she pulled it off.

감정

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
136	over the moon	매우 행복한	She was over the moon when she got accepted to Harvard.
137	down in the dumps	슬프고 우울한	He’s been down in the dumps since his girlfriend left.
138	on edge	불안하고 긴장한	Everyone’s been on edge since the layoffs were announced.
139	lose your cool	화를 내다	He lost his cool when the waiter spilled wine on his suit.
140	have mixed feelings	긍정적 감정과 부정적 감정을 함께 느끼다	I have mixed feelings about moving abroad.
141	blow off steam	스트레스나 좌절감을 풀다	I go to the gym to blow off steam after a long day.
142	get on someone’s nerves	누군가를 짜증 나게 하다	His constant humming gets on my nerves.
143	be over the hill	전성기를 지나다 (나이에 관해)	At 40, she proved she was far from over the hill by running a marathon.
144	wear your heart on your sleeve	감정을 숨김없이 드러내다	She wears her heart on her sleeve — you always know how she feels.
145	have a change of heart	의견이나 결정을 바꾸다	He was going to reject the offer, but he had a change of heart.
146	sick and tired	몹시 지긋지긋한	I’m sick and tired of repeating myself.
147	a gut feeling	본능적으로 드는 느낌	I had a gut feeling that something was wrong.
148	drive someone up the wall	누군가를 몹시 짜증 나게 하다	That dripping tap is driving me up the wall.
149	lose sleep over	어떤 일을 지나치게 걱정하다	Don’t lose sleep over it — the problem will sort itself out.
150	feel blue	슬픔을 느끼다	She’s been feeling blue since the holidays ended.

인간관계와 사람

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
151	get along like a house on fire	금세 친해지다	We met at a conference and got along like a house on fire.
152	birds of a feather flock together	비슷한 사람들끼리 어울리다	They both love hiking and cooking — birds of a feather flock together.
153	keep someone at arm’s length	누군가와 가까워지지 않으려 하다	She keeps her colleagues at arm’s length — she never socializes outside work.
154	be in someone’s shoes	다른 사람의 처지에 자신을 놓고 생각하다	If I were in your shoes, I’d accept the job offer.
155	blood is thicker than water	가족 관계가 가장 중요하다	He always sides with his brother — blood is thicker than water.
156	speak your mind	생각하는 바를 솔직히 말하다	I admire people who speak their mind respectfully.
157	bury the hatchet	화해하다; 갈등을 끝내다	After years of fighting, the two families buried the hatchet.
158	hit it off	만나자마자 잘 어울리다	We hit it off at the party and have been friends ever since.
159	see through someone	누군가의 부정직함을 알아차리다	She saw through his lies immediately.
160	tie the knot	결혼하다	They tied the knot in a small ceremony last June.
161	two-faced	부정직하고 사람에 따라 다른 말을 하는	Be careful — she’s two-faced and will talk about you behind your back.
162	give someone the benefit of the doubt	의심이 있어도 일단 믿어 주다	I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt — maybe he really was stuck in traffic.
163	down to earth	현실적이고 친절하며 거만하지 않은	Despite her fame, she’s very down to earth.
164	a shoulder to cry on	고민을 들어 주는 사람	She’s always been a shoulder to cry on when things get tough.
165	people person	사람들과 어울리는 것을 좋아하는 사람	He’s a real people person — he can talk to anyone.

일과 노력

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
166	pull your weight	자신이 맡은 몫을 다하다	Everyone needs to pull their weight on this project.
167	a dead-end job	전망이 없는 직업	She quit her dead-end job and went back to school.
168	climb the career ladder	직업적으로 승진하다	She climbed the career ladder faster than anyone in the company.
169	call it a day	그날 일을 그만하다	We’ve done enough — let’s call it a day.
170	throw in the towel	포기하다	After three failed attempts, he threw in the towel.
171	keep your nose to the grindstone	쉬지 않고 매우 열심히 일하다	She kept her nose to the grindstone and graduated top of her class.
172	the daily grind	매일 반복되는 일상 업무	The daily grind of commuting and working 9-to-5 can wear you down.
173	bite the bullet	어려운 상황을 용감하게 감당하다	I bit the bullet and told my boss I was leaving.
174	jack of all trades	여러 가지 일을 할 수 있는 사람	He’s a jack of all trades — he can fix anything.
175	put all your eggs in one basket	계획 하나에 모든 것을 걸다	Don’t put all your eggs in one basket — apply to several companies.
176	a steep learning curve	빠르게 배워야 하는 상황	The first month was a steep learning curve.
177	work around the clock	밤낮없이 일하다	Nurses work around the clock during emergencies.
178	cut to the chase	본론으로 들어가다	Let’s cut to the chase — how much will it cost?
179	in a rut	지루한 일상에 갇힌	I feel like I’m in a rut — every day is the same.
180	run the show	책임자 역할을 하다	She basically runs the show around here.

지식과 학습

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
181	learn the hard way	고된 경험을 통해 배우다	I learned the hard way not to skip backups.
182	hit the books	열심히 공부하다	Finals are next week — time to hit the books.
183	pick someone’s brain	전문가의 의견을 물어보다	Can I pick your brain about the marketing strategy?
184	ring a bell	어렴풋이 익숙하게 들리다	That name rings a bell, but I can’t remember where I heard it.
185	know something inside out	어떤 것을 속속들이 알다	She knows the tax code inside out.
186	it’s not rocket science	복잡한 일이 아니다	Making pasta isn’t rocket science — anyone can do it.
187	wrap your head around	복잡한 것을 이해하다	I can’t wrap my head around quantum physics.
188	a bookworm	책을 많이 읽는 사람	My sister is a bookworm — she reads two novels a week.
189	food for thought	생각해 볼 만한 것	The documentary gave me a lot of food for thought.
190	read between the lines	숨은 뜻을 알아차리다	If you read between the lines, the email is clearly a rejection.
191	the bigger picture	전체적인 상황	Don’t focus on small details — look at the bigger picture.
192	back to basics	기본 원칙으로 돌아가는 것	After the failed launch, we went back to basics.
193	a wake-up call	무언가를 깨닫게 하는 사건	Failing the exam was a wake-up call to study harder.
194	a no-brainer	별다른 고민이 필요 없는 결정	Taking the higher-paying job was a no-brainer.
195	trial and error	실험과 실수를 거쳐 배우는 것	I learned to cook by trial and error.

의사소통과 말하기

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
196	beat around the bush	핵심을 직접 말하지 않고 빙빙 돌리다	Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
197	get to the point	가장 중요한 말을 하다	Could you please get to the point?
198	a word of mouth	사람들의 대화를 통해 퍼지는 정보	The restaurant became popular through word of mouth.
199	actions speak louder than words	말보다 행동이 더 중요하다	He promised to change, but actions speak louder than words.
200	easier said than done	실제로 하기는 어렵다	Losing weight is easier said than done.
201	go without saying	자명하다	It goes without saying that hard work is essential.
202	on the tip of my tongue	단어가 생각날 듯 말 듯한	The answer is on the tip of my tongue.
203	have the last word	논쟁에서 마지막 말을 하다	She always has to have the last word.
204	keep someone in the loop	누군가에게 계속 상황을 알리다	Please keep me in the loop about any changes.
205	off the record	공개하면 안 되는 비공식적인	Off the record, I think the CEO is going to resign.
206	a slip of the tongue	실수로 잘못 말한 것	I called my teacher “Mom” — it was a slip of the tongue.
207	speak volumes	말없이 많은 것을 드러내다	Her silence spoke volumes about how she felt.
208	put it mildly	실제보다 약하게 표현하다	The project was a disaster, to put it mildly.
209	take someone’s word for it	증거 없이 누군가의 말을 믿다	You don’t need to check — take my word for it.
210	long story short	요약하면	Long story short, we missed the flight and had to stay overnight.

색깔

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
211	once in a blue moon	아주 드물게	He visits his parents once in a blue moon.
212	out of the blue	예고 없이 갑자기	She called me out of the blue after 10 years.
213	see red	매우 화가 나다	I saw red when I found out they’d lied.
214	a red flag	경고 신호	His lack of references was a major red flag.
215	red tape	지나친 관료주의	The project was delayed by government red tape.
216	caught red-handed	잘못을 저지르는 현장에서 붙잡힌	The thief was caught red-handed.
217	green with envy	몹시 질투하는	She was green with envy when her colleague got promoted.
218	give the green light	허가하다	The council gave the green light for the new building.
219	grey area	불분명하거나 모호한 상황	The law on this issue is a grey area.
220	paint the town red	밖에 나가 신나게 축하하다	It’s your birthday — let’s paint the town red!
221	black and white	매우 명확하고 모호함이 없는	The rules are black and white — there’s no room for interpretation.
222	a white lie	상대의 기분을 상하게 하지 않으려는 선의의 거짓말	I told her the dress looked nice — it was just a white lie.
223	in the pink	건강이 좋은	After the surgery, she was back in the pink within weeks.
224	tickled pink	매우 기뻐하는	She was tickled pink by the surprise party.
225	golden rule	가장 중요한 원칙	The golden rule of cooking: taste as you go.

여행과 이동

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
226	hit the road	떠나다; 여정을 시작하다	It’s getting late — time to hit the road.
227	off the beaten track	인기 관광지에서 벗어난	We found an amazing restaurant off the beaten track.
228	at a crossroads	중요한 선택의 기로에 선	I’m at a crossroads in my career — stay or change fields.
229	go the distance	끝까지 해내다	She trained hard and went the distance in the marathon.
230	jump on the bandwagon	유행을 따라 하다	Everyone’s jumping on the AI bandwagon.
231	off to a flying start	아주 순조롭게 시작하는	The new business is off to a flying start.
232	on the right track	올바른 방향으로 나아가는	Your essay is on the right track — just needs more examples.
233	go around in circles	진전 없이 같은 논의만 반복하다	We’ve been going around in circles — let’s make a decision.
234	a bumpy ride	힘든 경험	The first year of marriage can be a bumpy ride.
235	pave the way	어떤 일이 일어날 조건을 만들다	Her research paved the way for modern vaccines.
236	bridge the gap	차이를 줄이다	Education can bridge the gap between rich and poor.
237	in the fast lane	흥미롭고 압박이 큰 삶을 사는	Working on Wall Street is life in the fast lane.
238	a dead end	더 이상 진전이 불가능한 상황	The investigation reached a dead end.
239	take a detour	다른 길로 가다; 예상 밖의 일을 하다	My career took a detour when I moved to Japan.
240	the road to recovery	건강이나 상태가 회복되는 과정	After the accident, it was a long road to recovery.

스포츠와 경쟁

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
241	a level playing field	모두에게 공평한 조건	We need a level playing field so small businesses can compete.
242	drop the ball	실수하거나 해야 할 일을 하지 못하다	The marketing team really dropped the ball on this campaign.
243	move the goalposts	누군가가 시작한 뒤 규칙을 바꾸다	Every time I meet their requirements, they move the goalposts.
244	a whole new ball game	완전히 다른 상황	Working from home is a whole new ball game compared to the office.
245	the ball is in your court	이제 당신이 행동할 차례다	I’ve made my offer — the ball is in your court now.
246	keep the ball rolling	추진력을 유지하다	Good — now let’s keep the ball rolling with the next phase.
247	throw a curveball	예상치 못한 일로 누군가를 놀라게 하다	The interview threw me a curveball with a question about coding.
248	step up your game	실력을 향상하다	If you want the promotion, you need to step up your game.
249	neck and neck	경쟁에서 막상막하인	The two candidates are neck and neck in the polls.
250	take the lead	앞서 나가다	Our team took the lead in the third quarter.

집과 편안함

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
251	make yourself at home	편하게 지내다	Come in and make yourself at home.
252	hit home	감정적으로 큰 영향을 주다	The documentary about poverty really hit home.
253	nothing to write home about	특별하거나 인상적이지 않은	The food was nothing to write home about.
254	close to home	개인적으로 관련이 있거나 마음 아픈	Her comments about bad parenting were a bit close to home.
255	bring the house down	관객을 폭소하거나 환호하게 하다	The comedian brought the house down with his final joke.
256	on the house	무료로 제공되는	Your drinks tonight are on the house.
257	a homebody	집에 머무는 것을 좋아하는 사람	I’m a real homebody — I’d rather watch a movie than go out.
258	set the table	회의나 상황을 준비하다 (비유적 의미)	This research sets the table for future clinical trials.
259	a couch potato	앉아서 TV만 보는 게으른 사람	He turned into a couch potato after he retired.
260	skeleton in the closet	과거의 비밀	Every family has a few skeletons in the closet.

건강과 웰빙

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
261	fit as a fiddle	건강 상태가 매우 좋은	My grandfather is 85 and fit as a fiddle.
262	alive and kicking	여전히 활동적이고 잘 지내는	The rumor that the company is failing? It’s alive and kicking.
263	on its last legs	곧 고장 나거나 실패할 듯한	My laptop is on its last legs — I need a new one.
264	go under the knife	수술을 받다	She went under the knife to repair a torn ligament.
265	a clean bill of health	건강하다는 의사의 확인	The doctor gave me a clean bill of health.
266	run down	지치고 건강이 좋지 않은	I’ve been so run down from working double shifts.
267	keep in shape	건강과 체력을 유지하다	I try to keep in shape by swimming three times a week.
268	take it easy	쉬다; 무리하지 않다	The doctor told him to take it easy for a week.
269	an ounce of prevention	지금 하는 작은 예방이 나중의 큰 문제를 막는다	An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — get vaccinated.
270	in the long run	오랜 시간이 지난 뒤	Exercise seems boring now, but in the long run it adds years to your life.

정직과 속임수

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
271	let the cat out of the bag	비밀을 털어놓다	She accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
272	pull the wool over someone’s eyes	누군가를 속이다	He tried to pull the wool over my eyes, but I wasn’t fooled.
273	take at face value	겉으로 보이는 대로 받아들이다	You can’t take everything politicians say at face value.
274	come clean	사실을 인정하다	She came clean about her mistake and apologized.
275	keep a straight face	웃긴 상황에서도 웃지 않다	I tried to keep a straight face during his ridiculous excuse.
276	through the grapevine	소문으로 들은	I heard through the grapevine that the company is being sold.
277	bend the truth	완전히 거짓말하지는 않지만 오해를 부르게 말하다	He didn’t lie exactly — he just bent the truth a little.
278	an open book	숨기는 것이 없고 솔직한 사람	She’s an open book — what you see is what you get.
279	the naked truth	완전하고 불편한 진실	The naked truth is that we can’t afford the project.
280	honest to a fault	때로 문제를 일으킬 만큼 지나치게 솔직한	He’s honest to a fault — he told the client the product wasn’t ready.

위험과 위기

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
281	play with fire	위험한 일을 하다	Investing all your savings in one stock is playing with fire.
282	a double-edged sword	장점과 단점이 모두 있는 것	Social media is a double-edged sword for businesses.
283	walk on thin ice	위험한 상황에 처해 있다	You’re walking on thin ice by ignoring the safety rules.
284	jump in at the deep end	준비 없이 어려운 일을 시작하다	My first day as a teacher was jumping in at the deep end — I had no training.
285	out of the frying pan into the fire	나쁜 상황에서 더 나쁜 상황으로 옮겨 가다	He left his stressful job for an even more stressful one — out of the frying pan into the fire.
286	take a gamble	위험을 감수하다	She took a gamble and quit her job to start a business.
287	on the line	위험에 처한	His reputation is on the line with this decision.
288	touch and go	결과를 예측하기 어려운; 어느 쪽으로든 될 수 있는	After the operation, it was touch and go for a few hours.
289	skating on thin ice	위험한 상황에 처해 있는	You’re skating on thin ice if you keep missing deadlines.
290	in deep water	심각한 곤경에 처한	The company is in deep water after the data breach.

태도와 성격

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
291	take it with a grain of salt	전부 믿지는 않다	I take celebrity health advice with a grain of salt.
292	the best of both worlds	두 가지의 장점을 동시에 누리는 것	Remote work gives me the best of both worlds — flexibility and income.
293	a chip on your shoulder	과거에 부당한 대우를 받은 것에 대한 원망	He’s had a chip on his shoulder ever since he was passed over for the promotion.
294	keep your cool	침착함을 유지하다	She kept her cool even when the customer was shouting.
295	go with the flow	일어나는 일을 받아들이다	I don’t plan too much — I just go with the flow.
296	set in your ways	습관을 바꾸려 하지 않는	My father is set in his ways — he won’t try anything new.
297	look on the bright side	긍정적인 면을 보다	Look on the bright side — at least you have your health.
298	a tough nut to crack	상대하거나 이해하기 어려운 사람	The new client is a tough nut to crack.
299	the glass is half full / half empty	낙관적인 관점 / 비관적인 관점	I try to see the glass as half full, even in tough situations.
300	turn over a new leaf	더 나은 행동을 시작하다	He turned over a new leaf and stopped smoking.

일상 상황

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
301	24/7	항상; 쉬지 않고	The convenience store is open 24/7.
302	a change of pace	일상에서 벗어나 반가운 변화	Hiking after months of desk work was a nice change of pace.
303	a creature of habit	일과를 좋아하는 사람	I’m a creature of habit — same coffee, same time, same café.
304	burn the candle at both ends	쉬지 않고 지나치게 일하다	She’s burning the candle at both ends with two jobs and night school.
305	the last resort	다른 방법이 모두 실패했을 때의 마지막 선택지	Surgery is the last resort — let’s try physical therapy first.
306	sleep on it	다음 날까지 결정을 미루다	It’s a big decision — why don’t you sleep on it?
307	a blessing in disguise	나쁜 일인 줄 알았으나 좋은 결과로 이어진 것	Getting fired was a blessing in disguise — I started a much better career.
308	once in a lifetime	극히 드문	A solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
309	leave no stone unturned	빠짐없이 철저히 조사하다	The police left no stone unturned in the investigation.
310	the time of my life	매우 즐거운 시기	I had the time of my life at that music festival.
311	a far cry from	~와 매우 다른	This luxury hotel is a far cry from the hostel I stayed in last year.
312	the whole nine yards	전부; 모든 것	She decorated the house for Christmas — lights, tree, stockings, the whole nine yards.
313	add insult to injury	나쁜 상황을 더 악화시키다	To add insult to injury, they charged me for the damaged product.
314	read the room	집단의 분위기를 알아차리다	He told a joke at the funeral — he clearly couldn’t read the room.
315	the writing on the wall	나쁜 일이 일어날 징후가 분명한	The writing was on the wall — the company was going to close.

기술과 현대 생활

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
316	at your fingertips	쉽게 이용할 수 있는	All the information is at your fingertips with a smartphone.
317	go viral	온라인에서 빠르게 퍼지다	The video went viral and reached 50 million views.
318	pull the plug	무언가를 끝내다; 연결을 끊다	They pulled the plug on the project after the budget was cut.
319	get the hang of	어떤 일을 하는 방법을 익히다	It took me a week to get the hang of the new software.
320	keep up with	최신 상황을 계속 따라가다	It’s hard to keep up with all the changes in technology.
321	the cutting edge	가장 발전된 단계	Their research is on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence.
322	reinvent the wheel	이미 있는 것을 다시 만들어 시간을 낭비하다	We don’t need to reinvent the wheel — let’s use the existing template.
323	bells and whistles	있으면 좋지만 필수는 아닌 부가 기능	The basic model works fine — I don’t need all the bells and whistles.
324	back to the drawing board	실패한 뒤 처음부터 다시 시작하다	The prototype broke, so it’s back to the drawing board.
325	a game changer	상황을 크게 바꾸는 것	AI has been a game changer for the medical industry.

권력과 통제

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
326	call the shots	결정을 내리다; 책임자가 되다	In this company, the CEO calls the shots.
327	have the upper hand	우위를 차지하다	In negotiations, the buyer usually has the upper hand.
328	turn the tables	상황을 뒤집다	The underdog team turned the tables in the second half.
329	wrap someone around your finger	누군가를 완전히 마음대로 움직이다	The baby has her father wrapped around her finger.
330	pull strings	일을 성사시키려고 영향력을 행사하다	She pulled some strings to get her son into the school.
331	rule of thumb	일반적인 지침	As a rule of thumb, save 20% of your income.
332	the powers that be	권한을 가진 사람들	The powers that be decided to close the department.
333	throw your weight around	권한을 공격적으로 행사하다	He loves throwing his weight around in meetings.
334	give someone free rein	완전한 자유를 허용하다	The manager gave the team free rein to redesign the app.
335	hold all the cards	모든 이점을 쥐고 있다	In this negotiation, the landlord holds all the cards.

수량과 정도

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
336	the tip of the iceberg	훨씬 큰 문제에서 눈에 보이는 작은 부분	What we discovered is just the tip of the iceberg.
337	a drop in the ocean	필요한 양에 비해 아주 적은 양	A $100 donation is just a drop in the ocean for this charity.
338	through the roof	매우 높은	House prices have gone through the roof.
339	over the top	지나친; 과한	The wedding decorations were a bit over the top.
340	few and far between	드문; 흔치 않은	Opportunities like this are few and far between.
341	the whole shebang	전부; 모든 것	She organized the entire event — decorations, catering, music, the whole shebang.
342	in droves	대규모로; 떼 지어	Tourists come in droves during the summer.
343	a handful	적은 수; 다루기 힘든 사람	The children are a real handful when they’re tired.
344	scratch the surface	문제의 일부만 다루다	This article only scratches the surface of the problem.
345	in leaps and bounds	매우 빠르게; 크게 발전하며	Her English has improved in leaps and bounds this year.

결정과 선택

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
346	on the fence	결정하지 못한	I’m still on the fence about which university to choose.
347	the lesser of two evils	두 가지 중 덜 나쁜 선택지	Neither candidate was great — I voted for the lesser of two evils.
348	take the plunge	과감하게 결정을 내리다	After years of thinking about it, she took the plunge and moved abroad.
349	sit on the fence	결정을 피하다	You can’t sit on the fence forever — make a choice.
350	cross that bridge when you come to it	문제가 생기면 그때 해결하다	I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
351	play it safe	위험을 피하다	He played it safe and chose the stable job.
352	weigh the pros and cons	장단점을 따져 보다	I need to weigh the pros and cons before deciding.
353	burn your boats	되돌아갈 수 없도록 행동을 정하다	She burned her boats by resigning before finding a new job.
354	think twice	신중하게 다시 생각하다	Think twice before posting personal information online.
355	a tough call	어려운 결정	Choosing between the two job offers was a tough call.

시작과 끝

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
356	from the get-go	시작부터	I knew from the get-go that this project would be challenging.
357	start from scratch	아무것도 없는 상태에서 시작하다	We lost all our data and had to start from scratch.
358	at the end of the day	모든 것을 고려하면	At the end of the day, your health is what matters most.
359	turn a new page	새롭게 시작하다	After the divorce, she turned a new page in her life.
360	the light at the end of the tunnel	오랜 어려움 끝에 보이는 희망	After months of treatment, she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
361	come full circle	원래 위치나 상황으로 돌아오다	His career has come full circle — he started and ended in the same company.
362	wrap up	끝내다; 마무리하다	Let’s wrap up this meeting — we’ve covered everything.
363	back to the drawing board	실패한 뒤 처음부터 다시 시작하다	The app crashed on launch day — back to the drawing board.
364	the end of an era	중요한 시기의 끝	Her retirement marked the end of an era for the company.
365	kick off	(행사나 프로젝트를) 시작하다	The conference kicks off at 9 AM on Monday.

비밀과 사생활

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
366	keep it under wraps	비밀로 하다	The product launch was kept under wraps until the announcement.
367	behind closed doors	비공개로; 은밀히	Negotiations took place behind closed doors.
368	sweep it under the rug	문제를 해결하지 않고 숨기다	The company tried to sweep the scandal under the rug.
369	mum’s the word	비밀을 지켜라	I’ll tell you, but mum’s the word — don’t tell anyone.
370	an inside job	조직 내부 사람이 저지른 일	The robbery was an inside job — an employee gave them the code.

인내와 기다림

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
371	hold your horses	참을성을 갖고 기다리다	Hold your horses — we’re not ready yet.
372	keep your shirt on	진정하다; 참을성을 가지다	Keep your shirt on — your order will be ready in five minutes.
373	cool your heels	특히 내키지 않더라도 기다리다	The doctor made us cool our heels in the waiting room for an hour.
374	Rome wasn’t built in a day	중요한 일에는 시간이 걸린다	Learning a language is slow — Rome wasn’t built in a day.
375	good things come to those who wait	인내하면 보상을 받는다	Don’t rush the process — good things come to those who wait.

자연과 환경

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
376	can’t see the forest for the trees	세부 사항에 집중하느라 전체를 보지 못하다	You’re so worried about formatting that you can’t see the forest for the trees.
377	barking up the wrong tree	잘못된 곳에서 찾다	If you think I stole it, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
378	make hay while the sun shines	좋은 상황을 활용하다	Interest rates are low — make hay while the sun shines.
379	beat around the bush	핵심 주제를 피하다	Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth.
380	turn over a new leaf	새 출발을 하다; 행동을 바꾸다	He turned over a new leaf and started exercising daily.
381	nip it in the bud	문제를 초기에 막다	If you see signs of bullying, nip it in the bud.
382	come up roses	결과가 잘 나오다	Despite the setbacks, everything came up roses in the end.
383	dig your own grave	스스로 몰락을 초래하다	By lying to the board, he was digging his own grave.
384	the grass is always greener	다른 상황이 늘 자기 것보다 좋아 보이다	She quit to join a startup but realized the grass isn’t always greener.
385	go out on a limb	의견을 말하며 위험을 감수하다	I’ll go out on a limb and say this product will fail.

기타 자주 쓰는 숙어

이 숙어들은 다양한 맥락에서 쓰이며 일상 영어에서 가장 자주 들리는 표현입니다.

번호	숙어	뜻	예문
386	break a leg	행운을 빌다 (공연 전에 쓰는 표현)	You’re on stage in five minutes — break a leg!
387	the ball is in your court	이제 당신이 결정할 차례다	I’ve said my piece — the ball is in your court.
388	a breath of fresh air	신선한 변화를 주는 것	The new employee is a breath of fresh air.
389	hang in there	포기하지 말고 버티다	I know it’s hard, but hang in there — it will get better.
390	get the show on the road	무언가를 시작하다	Enough talking — let’s get the show on the road.
391	take a back seat	덜 적극적인 역할을 맡다	After 30 years of leading the company, she took a back seat.
392	a shot in the dark	성공 가능성이 낮은 추측	Asking him was a shot in the dark, but it worked.
393	leave someone high and dry	어려운 상황에 누군가를 버려두다	He left the team high and dry by quitting the day before the presentation.
394	one in a million	매우 드물거나 특별한	A friendship like ours is one in a million.
395	you can’t judge a book by its cover	겉모습만 보고 판단할 수 없다	She looks shy, but she’s actually hilarious — you can’t judge a book by its cover.
396	sit tight	참을성 있게 기다리다	Sit tight — I’ll be there in 10 minutes.
397	the whole package	바람직한 것을 모두 갖춘 사람	She’s the whole package — smart, hardworking, and creative.
398	in someone else’s shoes	다른 사람의 경험을 상상하다	Before you criticize, try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
399	not all it’s cracked up to be	기대만큼 좋지는 않은	The job sounded amazing, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
400	have a lot on your plate	매우 바쁜	I can’t help right now — I have a lot on my plate.
401	make a mountain out of a molehill	사소한 문제를 과장하다	You lost one mark on the test — don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
402	two sides of the same coin	같은 일의 두 가지 측면	Fear and excitement are two sides of the same coin.
403	cut someone some slack	누군가를 덜 비판하다	She’s new to the job — cut her some slack.
404	go back to the drawing board	새로운 계획으로 다시 시작하다	The design was rejected, so we went back to the drawing board.
405	read someone like a book	누군가의 감정을 쉽게 알아차리다	She can read me like a book — I can never hide anything from her.
406	let sleeping dogs lie	문제를 일으킬 수 있는 일을 건드리지 않다	Don’t bring up the old argument — let sleeping dogs lie.
407	at the end of your rope	인내심이 한계에 다다른	After months of problems, I was at the end of my rope.
408	hit the ground running	큰 에너지와 속도로 일을 시작하다	She hit the ground running on her first day and finished three tasks.
409	water under the bridge	더는 중요하지 않은 과거의 일	We argued years ago, but that’s water under the bridge now.
410	keep your eye on the ball	목표에 집중하다	Don’t get distracted by side projects — keep your eye on the ball.
411	cut to the chase	핵심으로 들어가다	I don’t have much time — let’s cut to the chase.
412	the best thing since sliced bread	매우 훌륭하고 혁신적인 것	My new coffee machine is the best thing since sliced bread.
413	when push comes to shove	상황이 위급해졌을 때	When push comes to shove, you’ll find out who your real friends are.
414	a taste of your own medicine	남에게 했던 나쁜 대우를 똑같이 받는 것	He was rude to everyone — and finally got a taste of his own medicine.
415	leave a lasting impression	강하고 오래 기억될 영향을 주다	Her kindness left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
416	take with a pinch of salt	전부 믿지는 않다	Health advice on TikTok should be taken with a pinch of salt.
417	a penny for your thoughts	무슨 생각을 하고 있나요?	You look worried — a penny for your thoughts?
418	there’s no such thing as a free lunch	모든 것에는 대가가 따른다	The “free” app sells your data — there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
419	the bigger they are, the harder they fall	강력한 사람일수록 실패의 여파도 크다	The scandal destroyed his career — the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
420	Rome wasn’t built in a day	큰일에는 시간이 걸린다	Don’t expect results immediately — Rome wasn’t built in a day.

난이도별 숙어

숙어를 단계별로 익히려면 다음 순서로 우선순위를 정해 보세요.

초보자에게 유용한 숙어 (A2–B1)

이 숙어부터 시작하세요. 사용 빈도가 높고 뜻을 이해하기도 쉽습니다.

a piece of cake, break the ice, in a nutshell, hit the road, once in a blue moon, under the weather, 24/7, keep your fingers crossed, the bigger picture, time flies, better late than never, a no-brainer, from scratch, call it a day, the last straw, on cloud nine, go viral, get the hang of, the ball is in your court, hang in there

중급 (B1–B2)

이 숙어를 정확히 사용하려면 맥락을 더 잘 알아야 합니다.

a blessing in disguise, the elephant in the room, hit the nail on the head, kill two birds with one stone, bite the bullet, burn the midnight oil, on the same page, cut corners, think outside the box, a double-edged sword, back to square one, cost an arm and a leg, go the extra mile, spill the beans, the tip of the iceberg, a red flag, make ends meet, on the fence, the early bird catches the worm, actions speak louder than words

고급 (B2–C1)

사용 빈도는 낮지만 영어 실력이 세련되어 보이는 숙어입니다.

a wolf in sheep’s clothing, penny-wise pound-foolish, out of the frying pan into the fire, live on borrowed time, can’t see the forest for the trees, pull the wool over someone’s eyes, have your cake and eat it too, barking up the wrong tree, throw someone under the bus, move the goalposts, burn your boats, leave no stone unturned, come full circle, a paradigm shift, go out on a limb

연습할 어휘

관용적 표현과 자주 함께 쓰이는 단어 25개를 간격 반복 학습을 위해 Linglify 사전에 추가하세요.

affordable

형용사

예문

- The government is working to provide affordable housing for low-income families.

- This restaurant offers delicious and affordable meals for college students.

commute

동사

예문

- Public transportation helps people commute efficiently reducing traffic congestion.

- Workers commute daily between suburban homes and downtown offices.

conservation

명사

예문

- Water conservation becomes increasingly important during periods of severe drought.

- Wildlife conservation is essential for protecting endangered species from extinction.

demanding

형용사

예문

- Medical school is very demanding and requires years of intensive study.

- She has a demanding boss who expects perfection in all tasks.

형용사

예문

- The DJ played my favorite song.

- The DJ took song requests all night.

heritage

명사

예문

- She inherited a rich heritage of family traditions from her grandparents.

- The ancient castle is an important part of our cultural heritage.

leisure

명사

예문

- People enjoy various leisure activities during weekends and holidays.

- Reading books is popular leisure pursuit for many educated people.

luxurious

형용사

예문

- She dreams of owning luxurious car with leather seats and sunroof.

- The luxurious hotel suite includes marble bathroom and ocean view.

memorable

형용사

예문

- Graduation day was memorable occasion for entire family.

- The memorable speech inspired students to pursue their dreams.

nutritious

형용사

예문

- Fresh vegetables are nutritious and support overall health.

- Nutritious breakfast provides energy for productive school day.

passionate

형용사

예문

- Passionate speech moves audience to take action.

- Passionate teacher inspires students to learn more.

pollution

명사

예문

- Air pollution affects public health in cities.

- Ocean pollution threatens marine life worldwide.

privacy

명사

예문

- Hotel guests expect privacy during their stay.

- Internet privacy becomes increasingly important issue nowadays.

scenic

형용사

예문

- Scenic overlook provides perfect spot for photographs.

- Scenic route takes longer but offers beautiful.

traditional

형용사

예문

- Traditional cooking methods preserve authentic flavors perfectly.

- Traditional music reflects cultural history and values.

uneven

동사

예문

- Uneven ground makes walking difficult and dangerous.

- Uneven performance shows inconsistent skill level development.

volunteer

동사

예문

- Citizens volunteer time for community improvement projects.

- Students volunteer at local charity organizations regularly.

substantially

형용사

예문

- Her performance substantially improved after additional training and practice.

- Prices have increased substantially over the past few months.

liaison

형용사

예문

- Military liaison officers coordinate operations between allied forces.

- She serves as liaison between different departments.

sustainable

형용사

예문

- Company implements sustainable business model for long-term success.

- Sustainable farming practices protect soil and water resources.

acclaimed

형용사

예문

- His performance was acclaimed by critics.

- The acclaimed author received many awards for her novel.

cancellation

형용사

예문

- Due to weather, the flight cancellation was inevitable.

- The concert's cancellation disappointed many fans.

discretion

형용사

예문

- He exercised discretion in his decisions.

- Use your discretion when sharing information.

indication

형용사

예문

- The indication of his illness was clear after the tests.

- There was no indication that she was unhappy.

serenity

형용사

예문

- She maintained her serenity despite the chaos.

- The serenity of the lake was calming.

라이브러리로 이동

숙어를 효과적으로 익히는 방법

1. 무작위 목록이 아니라 주제별로 익히세요

위의 20개 주제 범주가 있는 데에는 이유가 있습니다. “spill the beans”, “in a nutshell”, “a recipe for disaster”처럼 음식 숙어를 함께 익히면 알파벳순으로 무작위 숙어를 외울 때보다 기억 속 연결이 더 강해집니다.

2. 능동적으로 익히세요: 자신의 생활에 관한 문장에 써 보세요

숙어를 하나 배울 때마다 자신의 실제 경험에 관한 문장을 쓰세요. “I had butterflies in my stomach before my driving test”는 교재의 일반적인 예문보다 훨씬 기억에 잘 남습니다.

3. 500개가 아니라 50개부터 시작하세요

목록 전체를 외우려고 하지 마세요. 실제로 이야기하는 주제와 자연스럽게 어울리는 숙어 50개를 고르세요. 스포츠를 이야기하지 않는다면 스포츠 숙어는 건너뛰세요. 비즈니스 업무를 한다면 돈과 일 관련 숙어를 먼저 익히세요.

4. 미디어에서 숙어를 찾아보세요

영어 영화, TV 시리즈, 팟캐스트, 노래에는 숙어가 가득합니다. 숙어를 들으면 잠시 멈추고 뜻을 확인하세요. 실제 맥락에서 숙어를 들으면 어떤 정의를 읽는 것보다 용법을 더 잘 알 수 있습니다.

5. 간격 반복을 활용하세요

목표로 정한 숙어를 Linglify 또는 다른 간격 반복 학습 도구에 추가하세요. 연구에 따르면 단어나 표현이 능동 어휘에 들어오려면 8~12번 접해야 합니다. 매일 5분씩 복습하는 편이 일주일에 한 번 30분 동안 몰아서 외우는 것보다 효과적입니다.

과학에 근거한 어휘 암기법은 어휘를 외우는 방법을 참고하세요.

6. 숙어를 억지로 넣지 마세요

학습자가 가장 흔히 하는 실수는 숙어를 지나치게 많이 쓰는 것입니다. 대화 한 번에 한두 개면 자연스럽습니다. 문단에 다섯 개를 넣으면 외운 티가 납니다. 원어민도 숙어를 아껴 쓰므로 학습자도 그래야 합니다.

주제별 숙어 학습, 실제 문장으로 연습, 간격 반복 복습을 제안하는 학습법

이어서 읽을 글

이 핵심 가이드에서 숙어를 종합적으로 살펴봤습니다. 특정한 필요에 맞는 심화 가이드는 다음과 같습니다.

개수별:

영어 숙어 100개와 뜻: 필수 목록 — 엄선한 필수 100개
뜻과 문장으로 익히는 자주 쓰는 숙어 20개 — 초보자에게 적합
뜻과 문장으로 익히는 자주 쓰는 숙어 20개 — 중급 학습을 시작하기 좋은 목록

시험 대비:

IELTS 스피킹 숙어: 자연스러운 표현 50개 — 시험 상황에 맞는 숙어

관련 어휘:

영어 구동사 완전 가이드 — 숙어와 함께 쓰이는 동사
고급 영어 단어: C1–C2 어휘 300개 이상 — 관용 표현을 보완하는 개별 단어
영어 어휘력을 향상하는 방법 — 어휘를 쌓는 종합 전략

자주 묻는 질문

영어에는 숙어가 몇 개나 있나요?

세는 방식에 따라 10,000개에서 25,000개로 추정됩니다. 영국식이나 미국식 영어에서만 쓰이는 지역 표현, 더는 흔하지 않은 오래된 표현, 법률·의학·금융에서만 쓰이는 전문 표현도 많습니다. 일반적인 유창성을 위해서는 자주 쓰이는 숙어 200~300개를 익히면 일상 영어에서 접할 표현 대부분을 이해할 수 있습니다.

숙어와 속담은 어떻게 다른가요?

속담은 일반적인 진리나 조언을 담은 짧고 잘 알려진 말입니다. “The early bird catches the worm”이 예입니다. 숙어는 비유적인 의미를 지닌 고정 표현입니다. “kick the bucket”(죽다)이 그 예입니다. 일부 속담은 비유적인 의미도 있어 숙어이기도 하지만, 많은 속담은 문자 그대로의 조언입니다. 표현이 조언을 주거나 보편적인 진리를 말한다면 속담일 가능성이 높습니다. 문장 안에서 특정한 상황을 묘사하는 구절이라면 숙어일 가능성이 높습니다.

격식 있는 글쓰기에서 숙어를 사용해도 되나요?

격식 있는 글에서는 숙어를 아주 드물게 사용하세요. 학술 에세이, 비즈니스 보고서, 공식 서신에 숙어를 쓰면 전문성이 떨어지거나 지나치게 편한 느낌을 줄 수 있습니다. 다만 블로그 글, 오피니언 칼럼, 발표 자료처럼 약간 격식 있는 맥락이라면 적절한 숙어 한두 개가 개성을 더할 수 있습니다. 규칙은 간단합니다. 맥락이 격식 있을수록 숙어를 적게 쓰세요.

숙어는 다른 언어로 번역되나요?

일부 숙어는 다른 언어에도 대응되는 표현이 있습니다(“break the ice”는 여러 유럽 언어에 있습니다). 하지만 대부분은 문자 그대로 번역할 수 없습니다. “It’s raining cats and dogs”는 대부분의 언어에서 말이 되지 않습니다. 그래서 숙어는 학습자가 익히기 어렵습니다. 모국어를 지름길로 사용할 수 없으므로, 영어 숙어를 완전하고 고정된 표현으로 익히세요.

어떤 숙어부터 익히는 것이 좋나요?

위의 “난이도별 숙어” 단원에 나열된 초보자용 숙어 20개부터 시작하세요. 사용 빈도가 가장 높고 여러 지역에서 널리 이해됩니다. 그다음 중급 목록으로 넘어가세요. 실제로 이야기하는 주제에 맞는 숙어를 우선 익히세요. 일 이야기를 하지 않는다면 비즈니스 숙어를 외울 필요는 없습니다.

영국 숙어와 미국 숙어는 다른가요?

자주 쓰는 숙어 대부분은 영국식과 미국식 영어에서 공통으로 사용됩니다. 다만 일부는 지역 표현입니다. “Bob’s your uncle”(영국식), “knock on wood”와 “touch wood”(미국식과 영국식), “a home run”(야구에서 온 미국식)이 예입니다. 이 가이드의 숙어 420개는 두 변종에서 모두 널리 이해됩니다. 지역별 목록은 영국 숙어와 미국 숙어 가이드를 참고하세요.

IELTS를 위해 숙어를 몇 개나 알아야 하나요?

IELTS 밴드 7을 받으려면 스피킹에서 관용적 표현을 “자연스럽고 적절하게” 사용해야 합니다. 실제로 충분히 연습한 숙어 10~15개면 됩니다. 밴드 8~9에서는 말하는 중에 숙어가 자연스럽게 이어져야 합니다. 시험에 가장 유용한 숙어 50개는 IELTS 스피킹 숙어 가이드를 참고하세요.