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
State of the art
Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "State of the art" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourAcademic & Formal Discourse collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.
State of the art
Using the most modern, advanced, and up-to-date methods, technology, or knowledge available at the current time.
History & Origin
The phrase originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, stemming from engineering and patent law where 'the art' referred to a specific field of technical skill or industry. By 1910, the noun phrase 'state of the art' emerged in engineering manuals to describe the current level of development achieved in a particular technical field. Over time, it evolved into an adjective used broadly to describe anything featuring the absolute latest and highest level of technology.
Examples
To keep up with our competitors, the management team has approved the budget to upgrade our server room with state-of-the-art cybersecurity software.
My brother just bought a state-of-the-art gaming laptop, and the graphics are so realistic it feels like you're actually inside the game.
The university's new research facility is equipped with state-of-the-art electron microscopes, allowing students to observe cellular structures at an unprecedented level of detail.
The tech giant unveiled its state-of-the-art electric vehicle yesterday, boasting an autonomous driving system that surprised industry experts.
By investing in state-of-the-art medical equipment, our hospital aims to significantly improve patient recovery times and diagnostic accuracy.
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?
A. The museum exhibited several state-of-the-art oil paintings created by famous Italian masters during the Renaissance.
B. Even though his computer was ten years old and incredibly slow, he claimed it was state-of-the-art.
C. The new cancer treatment center features state-of-the-art radiation therapy machines that target tumors with incredible precision.
D. She was feeling very state-of-the-art after getting a good night's sleep and eating a healthy breakfast.