Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Shed light on

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Shed light on" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourAcademic & Formal Discourse collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Academic & Formal Discourse

Shed light on

Shed light on
To make something clearer or easier to understand by providing new information, explanations, or evidence.
History & Origin

The idiom comes from the literal act of bringing a candle or lantern into a dark space to reveal what was previously hidden from view. Over the centuries, the concept of physical illumination seamlessly transitioned into a metaphor for mental illumination or intellectual clarity. By the 16th and 17th centuries, English writers frequently used 'shedding light' to describe the act of exposing truth or explaining complex, obscure topics.

Examples
Workplace Email

Could you please review the attached financial report and see if you can shed some light on why our Q2 marketing expenditures are so much higher than expected?

Casual Conversation

I had no idea how to set up this complex smart TV, but fortunately, my tech-savvy sister was able to shed some light on the process.

Academic Writing

Recent archaeological discoveries in southeastern Europe have shed new light on the migratory patterns and agricultural practices of early Neolithic civilizations.

News/Media

The investigative documentary, which aired last night, aims to shed light on the systemic corruption plaguing the city's housing department for the past decade.

Formal Speech

Today, we welcome Dr. Aris, who will shed light on the latest breakthroughs in renewable energy technology and how they will shape our global economy.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. The heavy rain started to shed light on the outdoor picnic, forcing everyone to run inside the house.

B. The new data from the laboratory shed light on the mysterious virus, helping researchers understand how it spreads.

C. If you don't wake up early tomorrow, you will shed light on your morning flight and miss the important conference.

D. He tried to shed light on his heavy suitcase up the stairs, but it was far too clumsy for him to lift alone.