28 Useful Phrases with ON (with Meanings & Examples)
Hello, English learners 👋 Welcome to a new lesson. Small words often do the biggest jobs in English — and on is a perfect example. Native speakers use it constantly in fixed phrases that don’t always make sense if you translate them word for word. In this lesson, you’ll learn 28 very common phrases with on, each with a clear meaning and a natural example sentence. These expressions are especially useful for everyday English, writing, and B2–C1 exams.
Let’s take a closer look.
Everyday Situations & Actions
On account of
Meaning: because of; due to
- On account of the heavy traffic, he arrived late.
On purpose
Meaning: intentionally; deliberately
- He left the door open on purpose so the cat could come in.
On occasion
Meaning: sometimes; now and then
- On occasion, she enjoys a glass of wine with dinner.
On time
Meaning: at the scheduled or expected time
- The train arrived on time, so we didn’t have to wait.
On foot
Meaning: travelling by walking
- He goes to work on foot every day.
On the spot
Meaning: immediately; without delay
- She answered the question on the spot.
Lifestyle, Work & Daily Routines
On a diet
Meaning: following a specific eating plan
- He’s on a diet that avoids processed foods.
On business
Meaning: travelling or acting for work purposes
- She goes to London on business every month.
On call
Meaning: available to work if needed
- The doctor is on call tonight.
On the go
Meaning: busy and active
- She’s always on the go, balancing work and family life.
On the move
Meaning: travelling frequently or staying active
- He’s constantly on the move because of his job.
On the cheap
Meaning: in an inexpensive way
- They renovated the flat on the cheap.
Change, Trends & Development
On average
Meaning: typically; usually
- On average, people spend two hours a day on social media.
On the rise
Meaning: increasing or becoming more common
- Remote work is on the rise.
On the decline
Meaning: decreasing or becoming less common
- Certain wildlife species are on the decline.
On the horizon
Meaning: likely to happen soon
- Big changes are on the horizon.
On the verge
Meaning: very close to something happening
- The company is on the verge of launching a new product.
Contrast, Opposition & Opinion
On the other hand
Meaning: used to introduce a contrasting idea
- I love city life. On the other hand, the countryside is far more peaceful.
On the contrary
Meaning: used to contradict a previous statement
- He expected the film to be boring. On the contrary, it was brilliant.
Secretive, Risky or Urgent Situations
On the edge
Meaning: in a risky or unstable situation
- The business is on the edge of bankruptcy.
On the lookout
Meaning: watching carefully for something or someone
- The police are on the lookout for the suspect.
On the run
Meaning: in a hurry or trying to escape
- I grabbed a sandwich on the run.
On the sly
Meaning: secretly
- He took the last biscuit on the sly.
On strike
Meaning: refusing to work as a form of protest
- Teachers went on strike over pay conditions.
Repetition, Duration & Movement
On and off
Meaning: intermittently
- She’s been studying French on and off for years.
On and on
Meaning: for a long time without stopping
- The meeting went on and on.
On the way
Meaning: approaching or arriving soon
- She’s on the way and should be here shortly.
Mastering phrases with on will help you understand native speakers more easily and express yourself in a more natural, confident way. Instead of memorising long lists, try learning these expressions in context and using a few at a time in your own speaking and writing.
Little phrases — big progress.
Learn prepositional phrases for formal contexts here
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