Phrases That Start With B (Meaning & Examples)
If you want to speak English more naturally, learning common phrases can make a big difference. Instead of using single words, phrases help you express your thoughts in the way people commonly speak and write. The letter B has plenty of useful expressions, from simple phrases like “by the way” to familiar idioms such as “bite the bullet” and “break the ice.”
Common Phrases That Start With B
The following phrases are commonly used in everyday English.
Back and forth
Meaning: Moving repeatedly between two places, positions, or ideas.
“We went back and forth during the negotiation.”
Back in the day
Meaning: At a time in the past.
“Back in the day, people wrote more letters.”
Back to basics
Meaning: Returning to the fundamental principles of something.
“The teacher decided to go back to basics.”
Back to square one
Meaning: Returning to the beginning after an attempt has failed.
“The plan failed, so we are back to square one.”
Bad blood
Meaning: Feelings of anger or hostility between people.
“There has been bad blood between the two families for years.”
Bear in mind
Meaning: To remember or consider something.
“Bear in mind that the road may be closed.”
Beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid talking about something directly.
“Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.”
Beat the clock
Meaning: To finish something before a deadline.
“We worked quickly to beat the clock.”
Behind the scenes
Meaning: Away from public attention or observation.
“A lot of work happens behind the scenes.”
Better late than never
Meaning: Doing something late is better than not doing it at all.
“He finally apologized, but better late than never.”
Better safe than sorry
Meaning: It is wiser to be cautious than to regret taking a risk.
“Take an umbrella; better safe than sorry.”
Better than ever
Meaning: Better than at any previous time.
“The business is doing better than ever.”
Between the lines
Meaning: The hidden or implied meaning of something.
“You need to read between the lines to understand the message.”
Beyond doubt
Meaning: Completely certain.
“His honesty is beyond doubt.”
Beyond repair
Meaning: Too damaged to be repaired.
“The old machine was beyond repair.”
Big picture
Meaning: The overall situation rather than individual details.
“Try to look at the big picture.”
Bite the bullet
Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.
“I decided to bite the bullet and tell him the truth.”
Black and white
Meaning: Very clear and without uncertainty.
“The rules are black and white.”
Blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something that appears bad at first but later produces a good result.
“Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.”
Blow off steam
Meaning: To release anger, stress, or frustration.
“I went for a walk to blow off steam.”
Quick Challenge
Choose the correct phrase:
- 1. Please __________ that the office closes early.
- 2. Stop __________ and answer my question.
- 3. We need to finish this before noon to __________.
- 4. The old computer is __________.
- 5. Try to understand the __________ rather than focusing on small details.
- bear in mind
- beating around the bush
- beat the clock
- beyond repair
- big picture
Everyday Phrases Beginning With B
These expressions are useful in informal conversations and daily communication.
Break a habit
Meaning: To stop doing something regularly.
“I am trying to break the habit of checking my phone constantly.”
Break a promise
Meaning: To fail to do what you promised.
“You should never break a promise without a good reason.”
Break the ice
Meaning: To make people feel more comfortable in a new or formal situation.
“He told a joke to break the ice.”
Break the news
Meaning: To tell someone important or often unpleasant information.
“She had to break the news to her family.”
Break the silence
Meaning: To start speaking after a period of silence.
“Finally, the manager broke the silence.”
Bring about
Meaning: To cause something to happen.
“The new policy may bring about significant changes.”
Bring back memories
Meaning: To make someone remember something from the past.
“This song brings back memories of my childhood.”
Bring to light
Meaning: To reveal something previously unknown.
“The investigation brought new facts to light.”
Bring up
Meaning: To mention a subject or raise a child.
“She decided to bring up the issue at the meeting.”
Brush aside
Meaning: To ignore or dismiss something.
“He brushed aside my concerns.”
Brush up on
Meaning: To improve knowledge or skill through study or practice.
“I need to brush up on my English grammar.”
Build on
Meaning: To develop something using an existing idea or achievement.
“We can build on the success of last year’s project.”
Burn bridges
Meaning: To damage a relationship so that returning to it becomes difficult or impossible.
“Do not burn bridges with your former colleagues.”
Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work or study late into the night.
“She was burning the midnight oil before her examination.”
By accident
Meaning: Unintentionally.
“I deleted the file by accident.”
By all means
Meaning: Certainly; used to give permission.
“By all means, use my laptop.”
By and large
Meaning: Generally or on the whole.
“By and large, the project was successful.”
By chance
Meaning: Accidentally or unexpectedly.
“I met my old teacher by chance.”
By far
Meaning: By a great degree or amount.
“This is by far the best solution.”
By heart
Meaning: From memory.
“She knows the poem by heart.”
Quick Challenge
Complete the sentences:
- 1. He used a joke to __________.
- 2. I need to __________ my French before the trip.
- 3. The report __________ several important facts.
- 4. Don’t __________ with your old employer.
- 5. She learned the entire speech __________.
- break the ice
- brush up on
- brought to light
- burn bridges
- by heart
Idiomatic Phrases That Start With B
Idioms can make spoken and written English more expressive.
Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Looking for a solution or blaming the wrong person.
“If you think I took your book, you are barking up the wrong tree.”
Beat someone to the punch
Meaning: To do something before another person can do it.
“She beat me to the punch and submitted the application first.”
Bend over backward
Meaning: To make a great effort to help someone.
“The staff bent over backward to satisfy the customer.”
Beside the point
Meaning: Irrelevant to the matter being discussed.
“Whether he likes the plan is beside the point.”
Best of both worlds
Meaning: A situation in which someone enjoys the advantages of two different options.
“Working remotely gives me the best of both worlds.”
Better half
Meaning: A person’s spouse or romantic partner.
“I am going to dinner with my better half.”
Big fish
Meaning: An important or influential person.
“He became a big fish in the industry.”
Birds of a feather
Meaning: People who have similar interests or characteristics.
“They became friends because birds of a feather flock together.”
Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on more responsibility than you can handle.
“I think I bit off more than I can chew with this project.”
Bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something.
“I wanted to complain, but I decided to bite my tongue.”
Blow something out of proportion
Meaning: To make something seem more serious than it really is.
“Don’t blow the mistake out of proportion.”
Break new ground
Meaning: To do something innovative or develop a new approach.
“The researchers are breaking new ground in medicine.”
Break someone’s heart
Meaning: To cause someone great emotional pain.
“Losing her best friend broke her heart.”
Break the bank
Meaning: To cost more money than one can afford.
“This holiday does not have to break the bank.”
Burn a hole in your pocket
Meaning: To make someone eager to spend money.
“That bonus is burning a hole in his pocket.”
Burn one’s fingers
Meaning: To suffer because of a risky action or experience.
“He burned his fingers by investing without researching the company.”
By the book
Meaning: According to the rules.
“The officer always does everything by the book.”
By the skin of your teeth
Meaning: By a very narrow margin.
“We caught the train by the skin of our teeth.”
By word of mouth
Meaning: Through people telling one another rather than through advertising.
“The restaurant became popular by word of mouth.”
By leaps and bounds
Meaning: Very quickly or with great improvement.
“Her English has improved by leaps and bounds.”
Quick Challenge
Choose the correct idiom:
- 1. Taking this additional project may mean I __________.
- 2. You are blaming the wrong person; you are __________.
- 3. The two companies are making progress __________.
- 4. He follows every regulation __________.
- 5. She worked hard to give her children the __________.
- bite off more than I can chew
- barking up the wrong tree
- by leaps and bounds
- by the book
- best of both worlds
Phrases Starting With B for Communication
These expressions can be useful when speaking, writing, or discussing ideas.
Be about to
Meaning: To be going to do something very soon.
“The train is about to leave.”
Be aware of
Meaning: To know or understand something.
“Please be aware of the new rules.”
Be bound to
Meaning: To be certain or very likely to happen.
“If you practice regularly, you are bound to improve.”
Be concerned about
Meaning: To be worried about something.
“Parents are concerned about their children’s safety.”
Be eager to
Meaning: To be very interested or enthusiastic about doing something.
“The students are eager to learn.”
Be entitled to
Meaning: To have the right to something.
“Employees may be entitled to paid leave.”
Be fed up with
Meaning: To be extremely annoyed or tired of something.
“I am fed up with these delays.”
Be fond of
Meaning: To like someone or something.
“She is fond of classical music.”
Be in charge of
Meaning: To have responsibility for something.
“He is in charge of the department.”
Be in favor of
Meaning: To support or approve something.
“Most members are in favor of the proposal.”
Be keen on
Meaning: To be very interested in something.
“He is keen on learning Spanish.”
Be known for
Meaning: To be famous or recognized because of something.
“The city is known for its historic buildings.”
Be likely to
Meaning: To probably do or experience something.
“Prices are likely to increase.”
Be opposed to
Meaning: To disagree with or resist something.
“Some residents are opposed to the proposal.”
Be supposed to
Meaning: To be expected or required to do something.
“You are supposed to submit the form today.”
Be willing to
Meaning: To be ready or prepared to do something.
“She is willing to help us.”
Bear responsibility for
Meaning: To accept responsibility for something.
“The manager must bear responsibility for the decision.”
Believe in
Meaning: To have confidence in someone or something.
“I believe in your ability to succeed.”
Believe it or not
Meaning: Used to introduce something surprising or difficult to believe.
“Believe it or not, I have never visited London.”
Bottom line
Meaning: The most important fact or consideration.
“The bottom line is that we need more time.”
Quick Challenge
Complete the sentences:
- 1. Please __________ the safety instructions.
- 2. She is __________ classical music.
- 3. He is __________ the project.
- 4. Employees may __________ paid leave.
- 5. The __________ is that we need more information.
- be aware of
- fond of
- in charge of
- be entitled to
- bottom line
Phrases That Start With B for Work and Business
Professional English contains many expressions beginning with B.
Back to the drawing board
Meaning: To start planning something again after an unsuccessful attempt.
“The proposal was rejected, so we went back to the drawing board.”
Balance the books
Meaning: To make sure financial records are correct and equal.
“The accountant needs to balance the books before Friday.”
Bank on something
Meaning: To depend on something happening.
“We are banking on your support.”
Bear the cost
Meaning: To pay or accept a cost.
“The company will bear the cost of transportation.”
Bear the brunt
Meaning: To suffer the main or greatest part of something unpleasant.
“Small businesses bore the brunt of the economic slowdown.”
Behind schedule
Meaning: Later than planned.
“The construction project is behind schedule.”
Below expectations
Meaning: Worse than what was expected.
“Sales were below expectations this quarter.”
Below the line
Meaning: In a category or position below a particular boundary or standard.
“The expenses were recorded below the line.”
Best practice
Meaning: A method generally considered effective and appropriate.
“The company follows industry best practices.”
Break even
Meaning: To have no profit and no loss.
“The business expects to break even this year.”
Bring forward
Meaning: To move an event or date to an earlier time.
“The meeting has been brought forward to Monday.”
Bring into effect
Meaning: To make a rule or decision operational.
“The new regulations were brought into effect last month.”
Bring to the table
Meaning: To contribute an idea, skill, or resource.
“She brings valuable experience to the table.”
Build a reputation
Meaning: To develop how others perceive someone or something.
“The company has built a strong reputation.”
Business as usual
Meaning: Normal activities continue despite a problem or change.
“Despite the announcement, it was business as usual.”
Business is booming
Meaning: A business is growing or performing very well.
“Since opening the new branch, business has been booming.”
Buy into
Meaning: To accept or believe in an idea.
“The team did not buy into the new strategy.”
Buy time
Meaning: To delay something in order to gain more time.
“The temporary measure was designed to buy time.”
By mutual agreement
Meaning: Agreed upon by all parties involved.
“The contract was terminated by mutual agreement.”
By all accounts
Meaning: According to what different people say or report.
“By all accounts, the conference was successful.”
100 Phrases That Start With B
The following table brings together 100 useful phrases beginning with the letter B, complete with clear definitions and contextual example sentences.
| # | Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back against the wall | In a difficult situation | We were backed against the wall. |
| 2 | Back on track | Returning to the correct course | The project is back on track. |
| 3 | Back someone up | Support someone | I will back you up. |
| 4 | Back to front | In the wrong order | He wore the shirt back to front. |
| 5 | Bad egg | A dishonest or troublesome person | Everyone knew he was a bad egg. |
| 6 | Bad taste in the mouth | An unpleasant feeling | The argument left a bad taste in my mouth. |
| 7 | Bag of tricks | Collection of methods or skills | She has a bag of tricks for solving problems. |
| 8 | Ball is in your court | It is your turn to act | The ball is in your court now. |
| 9 | Bang for your buck | Good value for money | This phone gives great bang for your buck. |
| 10 | Bark worse than one’s bite | Seem more threatening than one really is | The manager’s bark is worse than his bite. |
| 11 | Bat an eye | Show surprise or concern | She did not bat an eye at the news. |
| 12 | Battle of wills | Conflict between determined people | The negotiation became a battle of wills. |
| 13 | Bear fruit | Produce successful results | Their efforts finally bore fruit. |
| 14 | Bear with me | Be patient with me | Please bear with me while I check the records. |
| 15 | Beat a retreat | Withdraw from a situation | The soldiers were forced to beat a retreat. |
| 16 | Beat someone at their own game | Defeat someone using their methods | She beat him at his own game. |
| 17 | Beat the odds | Succeed despite difficulties | He beat the odds and recovered. |
| 18 | Bed of roses | A comfortable or easy situation | Life is not always a bed of roses. |
| 19 | Bee in one’s bonnet | An idea or concern someone keeps discussing | He has a bee in his bonnet about efficiency. |
| 20 | Beg the question | Raise an obvious question | The decision begs the question of cost. |
| 21 | Behind closed doors | Privately | The negotiations took place behind closed doors. |
| 22 | Behind someone’s back | Without someone’s knowledge | They criticized him behind his back. |
| 23 | Below par | Worse than expected or average | His performance was below par. |
| 24 | Bend the rules | Not strictly follow rules | They bent the rules to help the applicant. |
| 25 | Beside oneself | Extremely upset or excited | She was beside herself with worry. |
| 26 | Best foot forward | Make a good impression | Put your best foot forward at the interview. |
| 27 | Better off | In a better situation | You would be better off waiting. |
| 28 | Between a rock and a hard place | Faced with two difficult choices | We are between a rock and a hard place. |
| 29 | Between jobs | Temporarily unemployed | He is between jobs at the moment. |
| 30 | Beyond one’s means | Too expensive to afford | The house is beyond my means. |
| 31 | Big mouth | Someone who reveals secrets | Do not tell him; he has a big mouth. |
| 32 | Bite back | Respond strongly to criticism | She decided to bite back at her critics. |
| 33 | Bite the dust | Fail or come to an end | The old computer finally bit the dust. |
| 34 | Bite-sized | Small and easy to handle | The guide contains bite-sized lessons. |
| 35 | Bitter end | The very end of a difficult situation | They stayed until the bitter end. |
| 36 | Black sheep | A person who differs negatively from a group | He was considered the black sheep of the family. |
| 37 | Blame game | Exchange of accusations | The meeting turned into a blame game. |
| 38 | Blank check | Complete freedom to act or spend | They gave the manager a blank check. |
| 39 | Blew one’s chance | Lost an opportunity | He blew his chance by arriving late. |
| 40 | Blind alley | A course leading nowhere | The investigation turned into a blind alley. |
| 41 | Blind spot | An area someone fails to understand or notice | Communication is his blind spot. |
| 42 | Block of time | A period reserved for an activity | I set aside a block of time for study. |
| 43 | Blood is thicker than water | Family relationships are important | He helped his brother because blood is thicker than water. |
| 44 | Blow one’s own trumpet | Praise oneself | He never misses a chance to blow his own trumpet. |
| 45 | Blow the whistle | Report wrongdoing | The employee decided to blow the whistle. |
| 46 | Blue-collar worker | Manual or industrial worker | His father was a blue-collar worker. |
| 47 | Body language | Communication through physical behavior | Her body language showed nervousness. |
| 48 | Bone of contention | Subject causing disagreement | Money became a bone of contention. |
| 49 | Bookworm | A person who loves reading | My sister is a real bookworm. |
| 50 | Born with a silver spoon | Born into a wealthy family | He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. |
| 51 | Bottom line | Most important point | The bottom line is simple. |
| 52 | Break camp | Leave a place after staying there | We will break camp at sunrise. |
| 53 | Break down barriers | Remove obstacles between people | Education can break down barriers. |
| 54 | Break free | Escape from restrictions | She wanted to break free from routine. |
| 55 | Break ranks | Stop supporting a group or position | One member decided to break ranks. |
| 56 | Break someone’s fall | Reduce the impact of a fall | The mattress broke his fall. |
| 57 | Break the mold | Do something differently from tradition | The company wants to break the mold. |
| 58 | Break with tradition | Stop following an established practice | They decided to break with tradition. |
| 59 | Breathe down someone’s neck | Watch or pressure someone closely | The supervisor was breathing down my neck. |
| 60 | Bridge the gap | Reduce a difference | Education can bridge the gap between communities. |
| 61 | Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed | Energetic and enthusiastic | The children arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. |
| 62 | Bring someone around | Persuade someone to agree | We eventually brought him around. |
| 63 | Bring someone to justice | Ensure someone faces legal consequences | The authorities worked to bring the offender to justice. |
| 64 | Bring something home | Make something clearly understood | The example brought the danger home. |
| 65 | Bring the house down | Cause an audience to applaud or laugh loudly | The comedian brought the house down. |
| 66 | Broad daylight | Full daylight | The theft occurred in broad daylight. |
| 67 | Brown-nose | Try to gain favor through excessive praise | He was accused of brown-nosing the boss. |
| 68 | Brush with danger | A brief encounter with danger | It was a frightening brush with danger. |
| 69 | Build bridges | Create better relationships | The program aims to build bridges between communities. |
| 70 | Build from the ground up | Develop something from the beginning | They built the company from the ground up. |
| 71 | Build up confidence | Increase confidence | Practice helps build up confidence. |
| 72 | Built to last | Designed to remain useful for a long time | This furniture is built to last. |
| 73 | Bull’s-eye | Exact target or correct answer | Your answer was a bull’s-eye. |
| 74 | Bundle up | Dress warmly | Bundle up before going outside. |
| 75 | Bury the hatchet | End a disagreement | The two friends decided to bury the hatchet. |
| 76 | Bury one’s head in the sand | Refuse to face a problem | You cannot bury your head in the sand forever. |
| 77 | Bust a gut | Make a great effort or laugh very hard | We were busting a gut laughing. |
| 78 | Bust one’s chops | Annoy or pressure someone | Stop busting my chops about the deadline. |
| 79 | By a hair | By a very small amount | She won by a hair. |
| 80 | By a long shot | By a large margin | This is the best option by a long shot. |
| 81 | By all appearances | Judging from what is visible | By all appearances, everything was fine. |
| 82 | By comparison | When compared with something else | By comparison, the second plan is simpler. |
| 83 | By definition | According to the meaning of a word | A triangle is, by definition, a three-sided figure. |
| 84 | By degrees | Gradually | The weather improved by degrees. |
| 85 | By design | Intentionally | The system was created by design. |
| 86 | By dint of | Through the use of something, especially effort | He succeeded by dint of hard work. |
| 87 | By far and away | By a very large margin | She was by far and away the strongest candidate. |
| 88 | By force of habit | Because of a repeated habit | By force of habit, he checked the door twice. |
| 89 | By good fortune | Fortunately | By good fortune, nobody was injured. |
| 90 | By hand | Using one’s hands rather than a machine | The furniture was made by hand. |
| 91 | By hook or by crook | By any possible method | He intended to succeed by hook or by crook. |
| 92 | By no means | Not at all | The task is by no means easy. |
| 93 | By nature | Naturally | She is by nature very patient. |
| 94 | By necessity | Because it is necessary | The changes were made by necessity. |
| 95 | By return | On the next delivery or response | Please send the form by return. |
| 96 | By the same token | In the same way | He expects honesty and, by the same token, offers it. |
| 97 | By the time | Before or when a particular time is reached | By the time we arrived, the meeting had ended. |
| 98 | By turns | Alternately | They worked by turns throughout the night. |
| 99 | By virtue of | Because of or through | She qualified by virtue of her experience. |
| 100 | By way of | Through or as a form of | He introduced the topic by way of an example. |
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Use the appropriate phrase.
- 1. Please __________ while I find the document.
- 2. We need to __________ before making a final decision.
- 3. He was __________ with worry.
- 4. The negotiations took place __________.
- 5. She decided to __________ the disagreement and move forward.
- 6. The company was built __________.
- 7. I learned the poem __________.
- 8. We are __________ the deadline.
- 9. His English has improved __________.
- 10. The manager decided to __________ the meeting.
- bear with me
- look at the big picture
- beside herself
- behind closed doors
- bury the hatchet
- from the ground up
- by heart
- behind schedule
- by leaps and bounds
- bring forward
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Answer
Someone who avoids discussing an issue directly is:
Someone who loves reading may be called:
If something is done according to rules, it is done:
If two people end their disagreement, they:
If something happens unintentionally, it happens:
- a) beating around the bush
- b) a bookworm
- b) by the book
- a) bury the hatchet
- a) by accident
Exercise 3: Match the Phrases With Their Meanings
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Break even | a. End a disagreement |
| 2. Buy time | b. Have no profit or loss |
| 3. Bury the hatchet | c. Gain additional time |
| 4. Bridge the gap | d. Reduce a difference |
| 5. Bite the bullet | e. Face something difficult |
- b — Break even: Have no profit or loss
- c — Buy time: Gain additional time
- a — Bury the hatchet: End a disagreement
- d — Bridge the gap: Reduce a difference
- e — Bite the bullet: Face something difficult
Frequently Asked Questions About Phrases That Start With B
What are phrases that start with B?
Phrases that start with B are groups of words beginning with B, Be, or By that have a particular meaning or function in English. They include common expressions, idioms, phrasal expressions, and professional phrases.
What is a common phrase that starts with B?
By the way is one of the most common conversational expressions beginning with B. It is used to introduce additional information that is related to, but not central to, the current conversation.
“By the way, did you call Sarah?”
What are some easy B phrases for English learners?
Useful beginner-friendly expressions include by accident, by chance, by heart, back and forth, better late than never, break the ice, and be aware of.
What is an idiom beginning with B?
Bite the bullet is a common idiom meaning to face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.
What does “break the ice” mean?
Break the ice means to make people feel more comfortable when they meet or enter an unfamiliar social situation.
“The teacher told a funny story to break the ice.”
What does “bear in mind” mean?
Bear in mind means to remember or consider something when making a decision or thinking about a situation.
“Bear in mind that the weather may change.”
What does “by and large” mean?
By and large means generally or considering something as a whole.
“By and large, the employees were satisfied with the new system.”
What does “bite off more than you can chew” mean?
It means to accept more work or responsibility than you can reasonably manage.
“I bit off more than I could chew when I accepted three projects at once.”
Are B phrases useful in formal English?
Yes. Some B phrases are appropriate in formal communication, including be aware of, be entitled to, bear responsibility for, by mutual agreement, bring into effect, and by virtue of. Other expressions, particularly humorous idioms, are more suitable for informal conversation.
