Phrases Beginning With R

Phrases Beginning With R

English Phrases, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday English. They come up all the time in both written and spoken English. Because Phrases don’t always make sense literally, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning Phrases is fun, especially when you compare English Phrases to the Phrases in your own language.

List of Phrases Beginning With R

Phrases Beginning With R with Meaning and Example

Here’s a list of “Phrases Beginning With R” in English:

Rack one’s brain

Meaning: To think very hard or try to remember something.
Example: I’ve been racking my brain all day, but I still can’t remember her name.

Rags to riches

Meaning: A situation in which someone rises from poverty to wealth.
Example: His life is a true rags to riches story, from living on the streets to owning a mansion.

Rain check

Meaning: A promise to do something at a later time.
Example: Can I take a rain check on dinner? I’m swamped with work today.

Raise the bar

Meaning: To set a higher standard for something.
Example: Her performance has really raised the bar for the rest of the team.

Raise the roof

Meaning: To make a lot of noise, especially by celebrating.
Example: The fans raised the roof when their team won the championship.

Rank and file

Meaning: The ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders.
Example: The rank and file workers are demanding better wages and conditions.

Raring to go

Meaning: Very eager to start an activity.
Example: The kids were raring to go as soon as we reached the amusement park.

Rat race

Meaning: A way of life in which people are caught up in a fiercely competitive struggle for wealth or power.
Example: He decided to leave the rat race and move to the countryside for a simpler life.

Read between the lines

Meaning: To understand the hidden meaning or implication of something.
Example: If you read between the lines, you’ll see that she’s not happy with the decision.

Read the riot act

Meaning: To reprimand someone severely.
Example: The manager read the riot act to the employees for their poor performance.

Rear its ugly head

Meaning: To appear or become visible in an unpleasant way.
Example: The issue of discrimination reared its ugly head again in the workplace.

Red herring

Meaning: Something that misleads or distracts from the relevant issue.
Example: The detective dismissed the suspect’s alibi as a red herring.

Red tape

Meaning: Excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities.
Example: The project was delayed for months because of all the red tape.

Reinvent the wheel

Meaning: To waste time trying to create something that already exists.
Example: There’s no need to reinvent the wheel; we can use the existing software.

Rest on one’s laurels

Meaning: To be satisfied with past achievements and not strive for more.
Example: After winning the award, he rested on his laurels and didn’t work as hard.

Revenge is a dish best served cold

Meaning: Revenge is more satisfying when it is delayed and well-planned.
Example: She waited years to get back at him, proving that revenge is a dish best served cold.

Ride it out

Meaning: To endure a difficult situation until it passes.
Example: We’ll have to ride out the storm and hope for better weather tomorrow.

Ride shotgun

Meaning: To sit in the front passenger seat of a car.
Example: Can I ride shotgun on the way to the beach?

Right as rain

Meaning: In good health or condition.
Example: After a good night’s sleep, I felt right as rain.

Ring a bell

Meaning: To sound familiar.
Example: Her name rings a bell, but I can’t remember where I know her from.

Rise and shine

Meaning: Wake up and get out of bed energetically.
Example: It’s time to rise and shine; we have a busy day ahead!

Road less traveled

Meaning: A choice or path that is unconventional or less popular.
Example: He chose the road less traveled by starting his own business instead of working for a corporation.

Rock the boat

Meaning: To do or say something that causes problems or upsets people.
Example: He doesn’t want to rock the boat at work by suggesting major changes.

Roll with the punches

Meaning: To adapt to difficulties and keep going.
Example: Life can be tough, but you have to learn to roll with the punches.

Rome wasn’t built in a day

Meaning: Great things take time to achieve.
Example: Don’t rush your progress; remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Rub salt in the wound

Meaning: To make a painful experience even more painful.
Example: Losing the game was bad enough, but the fans’ taunts rubbed salt in the wound.

Rule of thumb

Meaning: A general principle derived from practice or experience.
Example: As a rule of thumb, you should save at least 20% of your income.

Run amok

Meaning: To behave in a frenzied, uncontrolled, and disruptive manner.
Example: The kids ran amok at the birthday party, causing chaos everywhere.

Run out of steam

Meaning: To lose energy or enthusiasm.
Example: I was excited about the project at first, but now I’ve run out of steam.

Run the gamut

Meaning: To cover a wide range or extent.
Example: Her emotions ran the gamut from joy to sorrow during the ceremony.

Rain on your parade

Meaning: To spoil someone’s plans or celebration.
Example: I hate to rain on your parade, but the event has been canceled.

Raining cats and dogs

Meaning: Raining very heavily.
Example: We had to cancel our picnic because it was raining cats and dogs.

Read ’em and weep

Meaning: A phrase used when showing someone something that will disappoint them.
Example: I have the winning hand in poker, read ’em and weep!

Ride him, cowboy!

Meaning: An encouragement or cheer, often heard at rodeos.
Example: The crowd shouted “Ride him, cowboy!” as the bull rider entered the ring.

Right off the bat

Meaning: Immediately; without delay.
Example: He asked for the sales report right off the bat when he entered the office.

Right out of the gate

Meaning: From the very beginning.
Example: The team scored a goal right out of the gate in the first minute of the game.

Ring any bells?

Meaning: Does this sound familiar to you?
Example: Does the name John Smith ring any bells?

Roll with the punches

Meaning: To adapt to difficulties and keep going.
Example: Life can be tough, but you have to learn to roll with the punches.

Recharge one’s batteries

Meaning: To rest and relax in order to regain energy.
Example: After working for months without a break, she went on vacation to recharge her batteries.

Rhyme or reason

Meaning: Logical explanation.
Example: There’s no rhyme or reason to his sudden decision to quit his job.

Riding shotgun

Meaning: To sit in the front passenger seat of a car.
Example: Can I ride shotgun on the way to the beach?

Road rage

Meaning: Aggressive or angry behavior by a driver.
Example: He was a victim of road rage when another driver started shouting at him.

Rome wasn’t built in a day

Meaning: Great things take time to achieve.
Example: Don’t rush your progress; remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Rub salt in the wound

Meaning: To make a painful experience even more painful.
Example: Losing the game was bad enough, but the fans’ taunts rubbed salt in the wound.

Rule of thumb

Meaning: A general principle derived from practice or experience.
Example: As a rule of thumb, you should save at least 20% of your income.

Run of the mill

Meaning: Ordinary; average.
Example: The movie was just run of the mill, nothing special.

Run out of steam

Meaning: To lose energy or enthusiasm.
Example: I was excited about the project at first, but now I’ve run out of steam.

Running on fumes

Meaning: Continuing to operate with very little energy or resources left.
Example: After working all night, I’m running on fumes today.

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