Being relieved
Sometimes we think
that something terrible is going to happen and then in the end it doesn't
happen at all. Here are ten phrases that we use to show our relief.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Phew!
2. Thank God (for that)!
3. What a relief!
4. I'm so relieved to
hear that.
5. You had me worried
(there / for a moment).
6. That's a weight off my
mind.
7. You've no idea what a
relief it is to hear
8. That's one less thing
to worry about.
9. What a stroke of luck!
10. (Oh well.) All's well
that ends well!
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrase 1 is very
informal and is normally said with a rising then falling intonation.
2. Phrase 2 is religious
in origin and may offend some very traditional or religious people. But most
English people do say this.
3. Phrases 3 and 4 are
gerenral expressions for showing relief.
4. Phrases 5 and 6 are
showing how much we were worried before.
5. Phrase 7 is telling
the other speaker how happy you are to hear the good news.
6. Phrase 8 is saying
that you are relieved about one thing but that you still have many other things
to worry about.
7. Phrase 9 is saying how
lucky you feel that bad things didn't happen. This phrase is most common when
talking about relief but we also use it for general good luck.
8. Phrase 10 is an old
saying that means that now the problem is finished you are not going to worry
any more about the situation.
Being rich
The UK is one of the
richest countries in the world and some of the world's richest people are from
the UK or live here. Here are ten ways of saying somebody has or earns a lot.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. A wealthy person
2. A comfortably-off
person
3. High-earning /
Top-earning executives
4. She's well-off /
well-heeled
5. I'm not short of a bob
or two
6. He's rolling in it
7. They're filthy rich
8. They're a bit
nouveau-riche
9. A millionaire friend
of mine...
10. Fat cats
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. In 1, wealthy is a
general word that says that somebody has a lot of money.
2. Phrase 2 is less
strong. A 'comfortably-off' person has enough money not to be worried about
money.
3. Phrase 3 are
adjectives meaning that the person gets a high salary.
4. Phrase 4 means that
the person has a lot of money in the bank.
5. Phrase 5 is an
informal / colloquial expression which has a similar meaning to 4.
6. Phrases 6 and 7 mean
that the person has a ridiculous amount of money - more than they need.
7. Phrase 8 means that
the people have made a lot of money recently and are spending it very quickly.
8. In 9, 'millionaire'
can be used as an adjective as well as a noun.
9. In 10, 'fat cats' are
top executives who earn enormous salaries. In the late nineties there were a
series of scandals about the high salaries of bosses of failed companies.
Being sure /
certain
Sometimes we know that
we are right about something. When we feel confident of our facts, we show
other people how certain we are by using one of the following ten phrases.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I'm quite sure...
2. I'm absolutely
positive...
3. I'm fairly / quite
certain...
4. It must be right.
5. I know...
6. It's definitely...
7. You can be sure...
8. I've no doubt at all
that...
9. I'm a hundred percent
certain that...
10. I'm (utterly)
convinced...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. All phrases are
followed by a sentence or clause.
2. Phrases 1, 2, and 3
are very strong and show that you really are certain.
3. Phrase 4 is a little
less strong than the others. There is just a little doubt in the speaker's
mind.
4. Phrases 7 and 8 are
used especially for reassuring other people who don't believe.
5. Phrases 9 and 10 are
saying that there is no doubt at all. What you are saying is a fact.
Being worried
Sometimes we think
that something bad is going to happen in the future or we think something bad
has already happened. Here are ten ways to say you're worried in English.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I'm (so) worried
about...
2. I'm afraid...
3. I can't help
thinking...
4. I can't stop thinking
about it.
5. I've been worried sick
about...
6. It's been keeping me
awake at night.
7. I'm scared stiff / to
death that...
8. I'm really nervous.
9. I've got butterflies
in my stomach.
10. I'm absolutely
dreading...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. We follow phrases 1, 5
and 10 with a noun, noun phrase or a gerund (-ing form).
2. We follow 2, 3, 7 with
a sentence or clause saying what we think will happen (e.g I'm afraid he'll
find out what happened'.)
3. Phrase 1 is a general
statement of worry or concern. The word 'so' makes the statement much stronger.
4. Phrases 3 and 4 are
saying that the person is always thinking about the problem.
5. Phrases 5 and 6 are
saying that the person is worried now and that they have been feeling it for a
long time before.
6. Phrases 2, 7, 8 and 9
are saying the person is worried about soemthing that is going to happen and
also is worried about their ability to manage the situation.
7. Phrase 10 is saying
that something unavoidable is going to happen and the speaker is really not
looking forward to it.
Boring!
Sometimes other people
are really excited about things that you find boring. Here are ten phrases to
tell people how tedious you find something, but be careful you don't offend the
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. How boring / tedious /
dull !
2. What a bore!
3. It bores me to tears.
4. It leaves me cold.
5. It does nothing for
me.
6. It's as dull as
ditch-water.
7. I can't see what all
the fuss is about.
8. It's as interesting as
watching paint dry
9. I'm afraid I don't
share your enthusiasm..
10. I can't say that I
find it interesting.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 ,2, 3 and 6
are really very strong. You can say this to somebody who probably agrees or who
you know will not be offended.
2. Phrases 4 and 5 are
saying that you feel no emotion at all about a certain thing ot topic.
3. Phrase 7 means that
other people are interested in the subject but that you cannot understand why
they are interested.
4. Phrase 8 is saying
that it is extremely boring by comparing it to watching paint drying - which
most people consider a very boring activity.
5. Phrases 9 and 10 are
more polite. However, you are still saying something negative so you may want
to soften it by saying 'I'm afraid..' or 'I'm sorry to say..'.
Cheering People
Up
Sometimes other poeple
around us feel a bit down or unhappy about something. Here are ten phrases you
can use to try to make them feel better.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Cheer up! / Chin up!
2. Smile!
3. It's not the end of
the world.
4. Worse things happen at
sea.
5. Look on the bright
side........
6. Every cloud (has a
silver lining).
7. Practice makes
perfect.
8. There are plenty more
fish in the sea.
9. Lighten up!
10. There's no use crying
over spilt milk.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 and 2 are
informal and can be used when someone looks unhappy.
2. Phrases 3 and 4 are
well-known sayings which can be used to console someone who feels that things
are very bad. They should probably not be used if things really are very bad.
3. Phrases 5 and 6 are
suggesting that the other person should try to see the positive side of the
situation.
4. Phrase 7 is used to
encourage and cheer up a person who is finding something difficult or feeling
frustrated about not being able to do something.
5. Phrase 8 is used
specifically to cheer up somebody who has just finished a relationship. The
speaker is trying to encourage them to look for a new partner.
6. Phrases 9 and 10 can
seem less sympathetic and suggest that the person needs to forget what has
happened and move on.
Disagreeing with
a prediction
Imagine your friend
says 'I'm going to president one day'. In English, we have a number of phrases
to say that we think the other person is being totally unrealistic.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. As if!
2. In your dreams!
3. You wish!
4. No chance!
5. Not a chance!
6. Not likely!
7. Dream on!
8. Never in a million
years!
9. You'll be lucky!
10. Yes, and pigs might
fly!
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1, 2, and 3
not only show disbelief but are also quite dismissive of the person who made
the prediction.
2. Phrases 4 and 5 are
indicating that you think the prediction is totally impossible.
3. Phrase 6 is a little
more tentative. You concede that there may be a small chance.
4. Phrase 7 suggests that
you think the other person is just day-dreaming.
5. Phrases 9 and 10 are a
little sarcstic. In phrase ten you are saying that the prediction is no more
likely than pigs suddenly being able to fly.
Disagreeing with
people
Sometimes people give
an opinion and you don't agree with it. We have many ways to show disagreement
in English. Here are ten of them.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I'm not sure about
that!
2. You could be right,
but...
3. (I'm afraid) I don't
agree.
4. I agree up to a point,
but..
5. That's an interesting
idea, but..
6. Do you really think..?
7. Rubbish! / Nonsense!
8. You can't be serious!
9. Actually, as a matter
of fact. I think..
10. That's not how I see
it.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 and 2 are
quite polite and not too direct in saying you disagree.
2. Phrase 3 is neutral.
We use 'I'm afraid' to soften it and make it less agressive to the other
speaker.
3. Phrases 4 and 5 are
showing partial agreement with the other speaker but both are followed with the
second speaker's (different) ideas.
4. Phrase 6 is used to
question how the other speaker could really think something that you think is
completely wrong.
5. Phrases 7 and 8 are
saying that the other speaker is completely worng in a very direct, blunt way.
Disappointment
Sometimes you are
expecting something to be good and in the end it is less good than you were
expecting. Here are ten phrases you can use to show your disappointment.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. What a pity / shame!
2. How disappointing!
3. That's too bad.
4. What a bummer!
5. What a let-down!
6. That's (just) so
disappointing!
7. I was so looking
forward to..
8. We had high hopes
for...
9. It did not live up to
expectation.
10. What we had been led
to expect was..
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 and 2 show
quite a strong feeling of sadness at a personal disappointment.
2. Phrase 3 is often used
to sympathise with another person's disapointment.
3. Phrases 4 and 5 are
very informal and may be used to show anger or sadness at your own or other
people's misfortune.
4. Phrases 7 and 8
emphasise the expectations that you had before the more negative result.
5. Phrase 9 is more
formal and could be used in a formal letter of complaint.
6. Phrase 10 can be used
in formal letters of complaint to explain what you had believed because of
worng information you were given.
Disapproving of an action
Sometimes we hear
about an action that somebody else has done and we feel very negative about it.
Here are ten phrases that English people use to show their disapproval.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I don't think much of
that.
2. How apalling /
dreadful!
3. I'm utterly apalled /
disgusted.
4. I'm dead against
people doing...
5. It shouldn't be
allowed!
6. What a rotten / mean
thing to do.
7. I take a very dim view
of people doing...
8. Who do they think they
are?
9. How can people do
things like that?
10. Whatever next?
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrase 1 is not very
strong. The speaker does not approve of an action and is not very upset. You
can use this phrase to weakly agree with other people who are more angry or
upset.
2. Phrase 3 and 4 are
stronger reactions to an action. You usually use these phrases immdeiately
after you find out about the event or action.
3. Phrase 4 is speaking
more generally about a kind of action that you always disapprove of.
4. Phrase 5 is saying
that you would like a new law to prevent people from doing something that you
think is bad. This also suggests that the action is legal at the moment.
5. Phrase 6 is a very
strong negative reaction to an action that you have just heard about. The
speaker is also showing sympathy with the victim of the action.
6. Phrase 7 is more
formal and shows a general negative attitude to actions of a certain kind. You
follow this phrase with a gerund (-ing form).
7. Phrases 8, 9 and 10
are showing strong negative reactions to an action. Phrases 8 and 9 are showing
particular disapproval of the people who did
Dislikes -
advanced
there are many ways of
saying that you don't like something in English. Here are ten of the more
idiomatic phrases that we use to say that something is not to our taste.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I'm not too keen on
English food.
2. I'm not a big a fan of
English food.
3. I can't work up any
enthusiasm for it.
4. I'm not particularly
fond of English food.
5. I can't stand it / I
really hate it.
6. English food: I can
take it or leave it.
7. English food leaves me
cold.
8. I can't see what all
the fuss is about.
9. I'm afraid it doesn't
appeal to me.
10. I would rather cut off
my right arm than..
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 and 2 are
quite informal / spoken phrases. The level of dislike is not very strong. The
speaker will probably agree to eat English food but won't enjoy it very much.
2. In phrases 3 and 4,
the speaker is saying that she doesn't feel anything about English food. This
is more formal.
3. Phrases in 5 are very
strong. The speaker really does not want to ever eat English food again.
4. Phrases 6, 7 and 8 are
quite informal and saying that English food doesn't cause any emotion or
reaction from the speaker. This is dismissive and considered quite negative.
5. Phrase 9 is more
formal and is saying that the speaker doesn't enjoy English food. This is a
reasonably polite way of saying that ou don't like something.
6. Phrase 6 is an
exaggerated and humorous way of saying the speaker really, really hates
something. It can also be quite impolite if used at the wrong time.
Encouraging
Everyone likes to be
encouraged. Here are some phrases for encouraging.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. You're coming along
well
2. Keep up the good work
3. That's a good effort
4. That's a real
improvement
5. You're on the right
lines
6. Keep going
7. Come on, you can do
8. Give it your best shot
9. What have you got to
lose?
10. If at first you don't
succeed...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 to 4 are
often used to encourage someone who is working and doing well.
2. Phrase 5 is used to
say someone is not exactly right but could get it right if they tried again.
3. Phrases 6 and 7 are
general ways of encouraging and can suggest that the person should not stop.
4. Phrases 8 and 9 can be
used to encourage someone to try something new.
5. ...try and try again.
The first half of this phrase can be used to encourage someone to try again,
even if the first attempt was unsuccessful.
Euphemisms
Because the UK is a
small crowded country, it's imporatnt that we are all polite to each other. For
this reason there are many polite ways to talk about impolite topics.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. He's light-fingered
2. She's been doing time
3. She passed away /
kicked the bucket
4. No longer with us /
pushing up daisies
5. Public conveniences
6. I'm just going to
powder my nose
7. Down and out / A
down-and-out
8. She's in the family
way
9. She had a baby
10. He made an honest
woman of her
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrase 1 means that
the person is a thief / steals things.
2. Phrase 2 means that
she has been in prison.
3. Phrases in 3 mean that
the person has died. 'Pass away' is more polite than 'kick the bucket'.
4. Phrases in 4 mean that
the person is dead. 'No longer with us' is more polite/formal than 'pushing up
daisies'.
5. Phrase 5 is a general
way of referring to public toilets.
6. Phrase 6 is a polite
phrase that some people use to say that they are going to the toilet.
7. Phrases in 7 are
talking about the homeless. 'Down and out' is an adjective but 'a down-and-out'
is a noun that describes a person who is homeless.
8. Phrase 8 means
pregnant. Other euphemisms include 'she's expecting a baby' and 'she has a bun
in the oven'.
9. Phrase 9 means that
she gave birth to a new child.
10. Phrase 10 means that a
man has married a woman.
Excuses for
being late
It happens. We are
late for something. That's when we say sorry and normally give a reason - our
excuse for being late.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Sorry - I didn't hear
the alarm clock.
2. The alarm didn't go
off.
3. I slept right through
the alarm.
4. I had to wait ages for
a bus.
5. The bus was late.
6. The traffic was terrible.
7. I couldn't find a
parking space.
8. The roads were
chockablock.
9. I got lost coming
here.
10. It's not an easy place
to find.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. 1, 2 and 3 are all
about problems waking up. We blame the alarm clock. 2 shows there was a problem
with the alarm clock. 3 shows you were so tired that the alarm didn't wake you
up.
2. The traffic is often
responsible for us being late. 4 says that the bus is responsible - it didn't
arrive when it was supposed to. 5 is similar.
3. 6. Here we are saying
the traffic in general was responsible. You can use this if you are driving or
travelling on the bus.
4. 7 and 8 are common
problems for drivers. 7 means that it was difficult to park.
5. We use 8 to say the
roads were full of traffic, like when there is a traffic jam.
6. 9 and 10 are used when
you are visiting a place for the first time and don't know the way.
Facial expressions
You can often
understand how people are feeling from the expressions on their faces. Here are
ten facial expressions.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. She had a broad smile
on her face.
2. He was wearing a
frown.
3. She gave a grimace.
She winced.
4. She gave me a dirty
look.
5. He looked down his
nose at her.
6. She raised her
eyebrows when she saw me.
7. The children were beaming
from ear to ear.
8. Why the long face?
9. He was purple with
rage.
10. If looks could kill..
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrase 1 means that
the person was very happy and her mouth was showing a very clear smile.
2. Phrase 2 means that he
was looking annoyed or concerned and his eyebrows were lowered and forehead
wrinkled.
3. In phrases in 3, a
wince or a grimace are expressions of pain and / or disapproval. They are brief
reactions to something unplasant.
4. In phrase 4 a dirty
look is a way of showing anger or disapproval. The person stared hard at me in
an unfriendly way.
5. Phrase 5 means that
the person is showing that he thinks the other person is 'lower' in importance
or social status. He probably looks at her with his head tilted back.
6. In phrase 6, people in
the UK raise their eyebrows to show surprise or disapproval.
7. Phrase 7 means that
the children were very happy and had big smiles on their faces.
8. Phrase 8 is a very
common question that we ask when somebody looks very sad.
9. In phrase 9, the person
is so angry that parts of his face has changed colour to purple.
10. Phrase 10 is (nearly
always) an unfinished conditional sentence. It m
Feeling Tired
We work hard, we play
hard - so we often feel tired. Here's what you can say when you feel tired.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I'm tired.
2. I'm going to bed.
3. I'm off to bed.
4. I need to crash out.
5. Time for bed.
6. Bed for me.
7. Bedtime, I think.
8. I can't keep my eyes
open.
9. It's past my bedtime.
10. I'm dead on my feet.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. 1 is the most basic
way of saying how you feel.
2. 2 and 3 focus on what
you are going to do.
3. 4 is a slang
expression for going to bed.
4. 5 and 7 can be used to
tell children to go to bed, or to say you are going to bed.
5. 6 and 7 are similar,
but 7 can also be used to tell other people to go to bed.
6. 8 is a strong image of
how you feel when you are very tired.
7. 9 is a way of saying
you should have gone to bed earlier. We can also say: it's past your bedtime.
8. 10 is another strong
image of feeling very tired.
Forgetting
things
Sometimes we can't
remember things from the past and sometimes we forget to do important things in
the present. We can use these ten phrases for these situations.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. (I'm afraid) I can't
remember.
2. I've completely
forgotten.
3. My mind's gone blank
4. (Sorry) I have no
memory of...
5. (I'm afraid) it
doesn't ring a bell.
6. I have no recollection
of...
7. Sorry, I forgot.
8. I simply forgot to do
it.
9. What was I thinnking
of?
10. Oh no, it completely
slipped my mind.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 - 6 are for
things in the past that we can't remember.
2. Phrases 7 - 10 are for
things that we forgot to do in the present.
3. Phrase 3 gives the
idea that I don't remember now but I might remember some time later.
4. Phrases 4, 5 and 6
mean that you don't even remember that you knew the information at one time in
the past
5. Phrase 5 means that a
name, place or face is completely unfamiliar when you see or hear it again.
6. Phrase 9 guggests that
the speaker is angry with himself or herself for forgetting to do something.
Generalizing
There are many phrases
in English that we can usewhen we want to say that something is true most of
the time but not all the time.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Ninety percent of the
time...
2. Nine times out of
ten...
3. More often than not...
4. Usually...
5. As a rule (of
thumb)...
6. What normally happens
is...
7. In general...
8. Generally speaking...
9. On the whole...
10. By and large...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 and 2 refer
to numbers. These numbers are not literal.
2. Phrases 3 and 4 refer
to the high frequency of the statement being true.
3. In phrase 5, a 'Rule
of thumb' is a system of judgement that we use when it isn't possible to be
precise
4. Phrase 6 is followed
by a sentence describing the normal event, occurrence or situation.
5. Phrases 7 and 8 are
formal and can be used in official or scientific writing.
6. Phrases 9 and 10 are
less formal but are used in some business correspondence.
Get - short
phrases
In a good dictionary,
the word 'get' covers two or more pages because there are so many phrases made
with 'get'. Here are ten exclamations.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Get ready
2. Get out / get out of
here
3. Get lost
4. Get going
5. Get a move on / Get
moving
6. Get a life
7. Get well soon
8. Get real
9. Get out of my / the
way
10. Get stuffed
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. We say phrase 1 to
somebody to warn them that they need to be prepared for something soon.
2. We say phrase 2 to
somebody when we want them to leave. Depending on the tone of voice this can be
quite strong and possibly offensive.
3. Phrase 3 is stronger
than phrase 2 and means that we want the person to leave and we don't care
where they go.
4. We say phrase 4 means
that we want somebody to start an activity or start going somewhere.
5. We say phrase 5 to
somebody when we want them to go faster or make faster progress with a task.
6. We say phrase 6 to
somebody who spends a lot of time on a boring or pointless task.
7. We say phrase 7 to
somebody who is unwell. This phrase is often written on greetings carsd that we
send to people who are sick.
8. We say phrase 8 to
somebody who has an unrealistic idea or expects something that is impossible or
very unlikely.
9. We say phrase 9 to
somebody who is blocking our path. This is actually not polite and it is more
polite to simply say 'excuse me'.
10. We say phrase 10 to
somebody who we want t
Giving a choice
Sometimes you want
everybody to do something you want or you want something done in a certain way.
But other times you are happy for other people to choose. Here are ten phrases.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. You choose.
2. It's up to you.
3. (You can) do what / as
you like.
4. Do as you please.
5. The choice is yours.
6. Make up your own mind.
7. It's fine by me if you
want to...
8. It's no skin off my
nose.
9. It's your decision.
10. Don't mind me.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrase 1 is simple but
a little impolite in formal situations. To make it more polite say 'I'm happy
for yo to choose'.
2. Phrase 2 means that
the other person can and must decide. The speaker will not give an opinion.
3. Phrases 3 and 4 mean
that the speaker has no interest in what decision you make. You can do anything
you like. Phrase 4 is slightly more formal.
4. Phrase 5 means that
you have to make a choice because the speaker will not help you to choose.
5. Phrase 6 is telling
the other person to make a decision or to form an opinion about something.
6. Phrases 7 and 8 are
saying that the speaker is happy for the other person to make a one choice. The
other person probably thought that the speaker wouldn't like it and the speaker
is correcting this impression.
7. Phrase 9 is saying
that the other person can make a decision.
8. Phrase 10 is telling
the other person to make their choice or continue with an activity and to not
worry about what the speaker thinks. Sometimes this phrase is used ironically.
Giving an
opinion
It is very imporatnt
to show people when you are saying an opinion and show that it is not a fact.
Giving an opinion as a fact is not very polite in the UK.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I reckon...
2. I'd say...
3. Personally, I think...
4. What I reckon is...
5. If you ask me...
6. The way I see it...
7. As far as I'm
concerned...
8. If you don't mind me
saying...
9. I'm utterly convinced
that...
10. In my humble
opinion...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. We follow all the
phrases with a sentence or clause that shows the speaker's opinion.
2. Phrases 1 - 3 are
really quite informal. You can use these phrases when you are discussing
something with friends or people who you know well.
3. In phrase 1, 'reckon'
is a very common word in the UK today. It means 'I think' but British people
use the word 'reckon' much more often than 'think'.
4. Phrases 5, 6 and 7 are
all quite polite and show clearly that the statement is only an opinion.
5. Phrase 8 is more
polite because it says to the other speaker that they might not agree with what
you are saying.
6. Phrase 9 shows a very
strong opinion. The speaker has no doubt at all that it is true.
7. Phrase 10 is the most polite
expression of the ten. It is often written on the Internet as the abbreviatoin
'IMHO' or 'imho'.
Graphs - Rise
and fall
We often want to talk
about things that go up and down at different times. Newspapers and reports
often show this information on graphs. Here are some phrases to describe this.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. A sharp increase
2. A steep drop
3. A massive reduction
4. A gradual rise
5. A slight decline
6. A peak
7. A slow-down
8. A spike
9. A steady recovery
10. Fluctuations
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrase 1 describes
something that goes up very fast
2. Phrase 2 describes
something that comes down very fast
3. Phrase 3 describes
something that comes down by a large amount
4. Phrase 4 describes
something that goes up slowly over a (long) period of time
5. Phrase 5 describes
soemthing that goes down a little bit
6. Phrase 6 describes the
time when something stops going up and starts going down
7. Phrase 7 describes
something that is still going up but less and less quickly
8. Phrase 8 describes a time
when something goes up a lot for a very short time.
9. Phrase 9 describes
something that stops going down and then goes up at the same speed for a (long)
period of time.
10. Phrase 10 describes a
time when something goes up and down many times.
Habits
There are some
activities that are a regular part of our daily lives. We have a number of
English phrases for talking about habits - both the good ones and the bad ones.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I spend a lot of
time...
2. I (often) tend to...
3. You'll always find
me...
4. ___ is a big part of
my life.
5. I always make a point
of...
6. Whenever I get the
chance, I...
7. I have a habit of..
8. I can't (seem to)
stop...
9. I'm always...
10. I can't help...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1, 3, 5, 7, 8
and 10 are followed by a gerund. (-ing form)
2. Phrase 2 is followed
by the infinitive of the main verb (e.g. I often tend to watch TV in the
evenings.)
3. Phrase 4 needs a noun
or gerund in the blank space.
4. Phrases 1 - 3 are
quite neutral. The habit is neither a good one or bad one.
5. Phrase 4 is a bit more
positive and phrases 5 and 6 show that the speaker likes doing these things and
tries to do them a lot.
6. Phrase 7 suggests that
the speaker often does something but that it's not intentional. It may be a bad
habit.
7. Phrases 8 to 10 are
habits that the speaker thinks are bad but cannot stop.
Have a guess...
Sometimes you don't
know exactly what something is, but you have some idea. Here are some phrases
to use when you need to guess.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Off the top of my
head, I think she's 26.
2. Knowing (the English),
he likes football.
3. If I had to take a
guess, I'd say she's 26
4. I'd say she's 26.
5. Chances are she's 26.
6. At a guess, I'd say
she's 26.
7. Probably about 26.
8. We're talking maybe
late twenties.
9. About 6-ish
10. Around about 6 o'clock
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1, 3, 4, 5, 6,
and 7 can be used when guessing almost anything (age, height, time,
personality, problems, etc).
2. Phrase 2 is based on a
generalisation.
3. Phrases 3, 6 and 8
shows that the speaker really doesn't know the exact number.
4. Phrase 9 is only used
with numbers and time.
5. Phrase 10 is usually
used for numbers or a period of time.
Hoping for
something
When we are talking
about something in the future that we want but maybe it won't happen, we use a
number of phrases. Here are ten of them.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I hope it's sunny
tomorrow
2. I'm hoping it'll be
sunny tomorrow.
3. Hopefully, it'll be
sunny tomorrow.
4. Let's hope it's sunny
tomorrow.
5. Here's hoping we have
a sunny day.
6. If we're lucky, it'll
be sunny tomorrow
7. With any luck, it'll
be sunny tomorrow.
8. I wish / If only it
would be sunny...
9. I'm keeping my fingers
crossed for...
10. I'm (really) counting
on it being sunny
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1, 2 and 3 are
all saying that the speaker wants sunny weather tomorrow and that she thinks it
might happen.
2. Phrase 4 is saying
that the speaker wants sunny weather and he thinks that everybody wants sunny
weather too.
3. Phrases 6 and 7 are
saying that the speaker wants a sunny day but that it is very possible that it
will rain.
4. Phrase 8 is asying
that it will probably rain but that the speaker still wants it to be sunny.
5. Phrase 9 is saying
that the speaker wants a sunny day and that he is not going to be prepared if
it rains.
6. Phrase 10 is saying
that the speaker really needs sunny weather. If it rains it will be a disaster.
Hot weather
Everyone talks about
the weather - especially when it's nice. Here's what you can say.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. It's nice and warm
today.
2. It's pretty hot, isn't
it?
3. We're having a
heatwave!
4. It's so hot! It must
be over 80.
5. It's nice in the sun.
6. The weather's lovely.
7. It's a lovely day.
8. It's absolutely
boiling!
9. It's positively
tropical today.
10. It's sunny today,
isn't it?
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. 1 we often combine
'nice' + 'warm' to be very positive.
2. 2 is useful when the
weather is hot - maybe almost too hot.
3. 3 is used when the
weather has been very hot for a number of days.
4. 4. This is like 2, so
maybe it's almost too hot. Note we use Fahrenheit degrees.
5. 5 is useful even for
winter days - in the sun it's nice, but in the shade it may be cold.
6. 6 and 7 are both
common general expressions.
7. 8 and 9 are used when
the weather is unusually hot.
8. 10 is the most common
expression taught in books. It's particularly common with the tag question.
Improbability
We don't know what
will happen in the future. But sometimes there are things that we don't think
will happen (e.g. England winning the World Cup). We use these ten phrases.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I don't expect they'll
win.
2. It's (quite) unlikely
they'll win.
3. They are not very
likely to win.
4. I shouldn't think
they'll win.
5. There's not much hope
/ chance.
6. I'd be (very)
surprised if they won.
7. I wouldn't bet on them
winning.
8. There's no chance of
them winning.
9. There's little
likelihood of them winning.
10. It'll never happen in
a month of Sundays.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1, 2 and 3 are
quite improbable but not impossible.
2. Phrases 4 and 5 are a
bit stronger. The chance of them winning is a bit less.
3. Phrases 6 and 7 are
more like an opinion and less of a statement of fact.
4. Phrase 8 is saying
that it is impossible for the team to win.
5. Phrase 9 says that
there is a very small chance. This phrase is more formal than the others.
6. Phrase 10 is more
idiomatic / informal. It says that it is almost impossible for them to win.
In The Near Future
When you want to say
that something is going to happen a short time in the future, English doesn't
have a special verb tense. Instead, we use one of these phrases.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. It's going to happen
(quite / very) soon.
2. In (just) a moment / minute..
3. In (just) a few
minutes..
4. Any second / minute /
day now,
5. Not long now.
6. In the near future...
7. Before long,
8. ...is just around the
corner
9. ..will happen in our
lifetimes
10. Watch this space.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. We use phrase 1 to describe
something that we will not need to wait a long time for. the length of time
could be minutes, hours or days.
2. Phrases 2 and 3 are
used when something is a few minutes away (no more than ten minutes).
3. We use phrase 4 to
show that we expect something to happen almost immediately but we can't predict
exactly when it will happen.
4. We use phrase 5 to
tell other people that they will not need to wait much longer. We often say
this to impatient children.
5. We use phrases 6, 7,
and 8 to predict an important change in the world. Phrases 6 and 7 come before
a sentence about the future and phrase 8 comes after a noun or noun phrase.
6. We use phrase 9 to say
that we expect an important change in the world in the next fifty or sixty
years. Phrase 9 comes after a noun or noun phrase.
7. Phrase 10 is used in
writing, especially journalism to say that the writer expects to be writing
about a future event in the same publication tomorrow or a few days later.
Making small
talk
\Small talk\ means
conversation about things that aren't really very important, especially with
people we don't meet very often. You might use them at a party.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. You must be Susan's
husband.
2. How's your wife /
friend?
3. Nice weather, isn't
it?
4. What's new?
5. I haven't seen you for
ages.
6. What have you been up
to?
7. Are you still working
for the same firm?
8. Have you heard from
Jenny recently?
9. What a coincidence!
10. Fancy meeting you
here!
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrase 1 is used to
introduce yourself to someone, when you think you know who the person is.
2. Phrase 2 is used to
ask the person you are talking to for information about someone close to them.
3. Phrase 3 is used when
you can't think of anything else to talk about. If the weather is bad, you
could say 'Rotten weather, isn't it?' instead.
4. Phrases 4 and 6 are
general enquiries, asking for news about a person.
5. Phrases 7 and 8 are
more specific than 4 and 6, but are still enquiries for information.
6. Phrase 5 has a similar
meaning to 4 and 6, but is expressed as a statement rather than a question.
7. Phrases 9 and 10 are
used to express surprise when you meet someone you weren't expecting to meet.
Likes - advanced
There are many
different phrases that English people use when they like something. Here are
ten of the more idiomatic phrases you might hear in the UK.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I'm a big fan of
Indian food.
2. I'm (absolutely) crazy
about it.
3. I'm quite partial to
spicy things.
4. I'm really into it (in
a big way).
5. You can't beat a good
(Indian meal).
6. Give me Thai food any
day.
7. I'm particularly fond
of hot curries.
8. There's nothing I like
more than...
9. Thai food is what I
live for.
10. What I wouldn't give
for a Thai curry!
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 and 2 are saying
quite strongly that speaker really likes Indian food. Phrase 2 is a bit
stronger than phrase 1.
2. Phrase 3 is a bit more
formal and more restrained than phrases 1 and 2.
3. In phrase 4, we can
make the basic expression 'into it' stronger by adding 'really' and much
stronger with 'in a big way'. It is a very informal expression.
4. Phrases 5, 6 and 8 are
saying that the speaker thinks something is best and that nothing else is
better.
5. Phrase 7 is quite
strong but a more formal expression that can be used in writing and in polite
company.
6. Phrase 9 is almost
certainly an exaggeration. It is saying that Thai food is the most (only)
important thing in the speaker's life.
7. Phrase 10 is very
informal and again quite exaggerated. The speaker is saying that the speaker
would anything (or everything they have) for a Thai curry.
Mixed feelings.
Sometimes people ask
you 'How do you feel?'. Here are ten feelings that people often have. You can
use one of them to answer the question.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. happy / contented /
delighted
2. sad / depressed
3. amused
4. excited
5. frightened / afraid /
terrified
6. worried / anxious
7. tired / sleepy
8. angry / annoyed
9. disappointed
10. bored
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. In 1, most people want
to be happy in their lives. We are contented when the situation in our lives is
good enough and we are delighted when something very good happens.
2. In 2, sad is the
opposite emotion to happy. People often cry when they are very sad. When people
are depressed they feel sad about their lives for a long time. They don't think
it will get better.
3. In 3, we are amused
when we see or hear something that is funny. Sometimes we laugh.
4. In 4, we are excited
when something good or interesting has happened or will happen soon. Excited
people often have a lot of energy and can't stop moving.
5. In 5, we are
frightened / afraid when we know that we are in a dangerous situation.
Terrified is a stronger word.
6. In 6, we are worried
or anxious when we think that something bad is going to happen or maybe we
think it has already happened to another person who we care about.
7. In 7, tired means that
you have done a lot of work and you need to rest. If you are sleepy you want to
sleep - you are probably yawning a lo
Near to my home
In English we have a
lot of phrases for saying that something is near to a place. The examples below
are talking about 'home' but many of the phrases can also refer to other places
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Just next door (to my
home)
2. Just beside
3. On my street / On the
same street as..
4. Just up / down the
road
5. Not far from (my home)
6. Right on my doorstep
7. Just a stone's throw
away
8. Just round the corner
9. A two-minute walk
from..
10. In your neck of the
woods
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 and 2 say that
the place is the next building at the side of your building
2. Phrases 3 and 4 say
that the place is in the same road or street
3. Phrases 5 and 6 both
mean that the place is very near your home. Phrase 6 is not literal and can be
some hundreds fo metres away.
4. Phrases 7 and 8 are
not literal but they both say that the place is very near - in the same section
of your town at least.
5. Phrase 9 is quite
literal and the number of minutes can be any number. People often exaggerate
when they use phrases like this - or maybe they walk much faster than you do.
6. Phrase 10 is an
idiomatic phrase that means somewhere near another person's house. It is neary
always 'YOUR' and not 'MY'.
Not giving your opinion
Sometimes a person
asks for your opinion about something and you have nothing to say or you don't
want to say your opinion. Here are ten phrases for avoiding giving your
opinion.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I couldn't say.
2. I've never given it
much thought.
3. I don't have any
feelings either way.
4. Your guess is as good
as mine.
5. I (really) don't know
what to say.
6. I really can't say.
7. You're asking the
wrong person.
8. It doesn't affect me
(either way).
9. It doesn't make any
difference to me.
10. That's an interesting
question.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrase 1 is a brief
expression for saying that you don't have an opinion. Because of its brevity it
might seem a bit rude.
2. Phrase 2 indicates (in
a fairly polite way) that you don't think the question is very interesting
because you never think about these things.
3. Phrase 3 might be an
answer to a question about what somebody is going to do. you are saying that
you don't really care.
4. Phrases 4 and 5 are
saying that you don't have enough information to answer a factual question.
5. Phrase 6 is similar to
phrase 1. It is saying that you have no opinion or idea about something.
6. Phrases 7, 8 and 9 are
saying that you are not affected by the topic of the question and so have no
opinion or interest in the topic.
7. Phrase 10 is often
used by politicians. Although they say that the question is interesting
Party People
Some people make a
party come alive - and then some people make it as much fun as a funeral. Here
are party people.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. She's the life and
soul of the party.
2. She's a great mixer.
3. She gets on with
everyone.
4. She's a live wire.
5. She's a real party
animal.
6. She's a scream.
7. She's a real laugh.
8. She's always up for a
party.
9. She's good company.
10. She loves to party.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. 1 is a real compliment
to someone who everyone enjoys talking to and being with in a party.
2. 2. Mixing with
different people is an important skill in a party. That's why this is positive.
3. 3 is similar to 2, but
is more general. 'Great mixer' refers mainly to parties, but getting on with
people is a general skill which is useful in business etc.
4. 4 is like 1, but gives
the impression of someone who is very dynamic and active.
5. 5 means she loves
parties - maybe too much, sometimes!
6. 6 and 7 are similar.
If someone is a 'real laugh' you enjoy their company, in pubs, parties, and
even at work etc
7. 8 and 10 are used to
describe someone who never says 'no' to a party.
8. 9 is a more general
version of 3. It's nice to be with someone like this - in a party or not.
Party talk
What do you say when
you want to talk to someone you don't know at a party or in a disco? Here are
some ideas:
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. You look familiar -
have I seen you before
2. Don't I know you?
Haven't we met before?
3. Hi. I'm Paul. What's
your name?
4. Can I offer you a
drink?
5. Do you know anyone
here?
6. You're a great dancer.
7. I like the way you
dance.
8. Do you come here
often?
9. Do you want to dance?
10. I like your jacket -
where did you get it?
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. 1 and 2. We often try
to see if we have something in common with new people - and pretending to have
seen them before is one way of doing this.
2. 3. Why not try a
direct introduction? This is how.
3. 4. A common way of
starting a conversation is by buying someone a drink.
4. 5. This can sound a
bit desperate - but it's good if you can introduce the person to other people
you know.
5. 6 and 7. Saying
something nice about someone is a good start.
6. 8 This is a classic
opening remark - but it is very boring and doesn't produce a long conversation!
7. 10 is like 6 and 7. Of
course you don't only have to talk about jackets: tops, shirts, shoes, blouses � anything will do!
Phrases you hear
in an airport
If you visit the UK,
you will probably need to go through a UK airport at least once. Here are some
of the phrases you can expect to hear.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. What is the purpose of
your trip?
2. Did you pack this bag
yourself?
3. Please do not leave
any bags unattended.
4. Do you have anything
to declare?
5. Flight BA333 is now
boarding.
6. Flight UA666 has been
cancelled.
7. Flight SA999 has been
delayed.
8. Would passenger Jo
Page please come to...
9. This is the final call
for flight BA111 to
10. ...please make your
way to Gate 99.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. You hear phrase 1 when
you arrive in the UK. The answer can be 'business', 'study', or 'pleasure' if
you are visiting for a holiday.
2. Phrase 2 is asking
about who put things into your bags. You should always pack your bag yourself
and you should always answer 'yes' to this question.
3. Phrase 3 is asking you
to keep your bag with you all the time. If you put it down and walk away,
people will maybe think it is a bomb.
4. Phrase 4 is asking if
you have anything in your bags that you need to pay tax to bring it into the UK
(e.g. alcohol, tobacco, carpets).
5. Phrase 5 means that if
your flight is BA333 you can now go to get onto the plane. Listen and they will
tell you which gate to go to e.g. Gate number 16.
6. Phrase 6 means that
this flight will not go. The airline has stopped it. If this is your flight it
is very bad news.
7. Phrase 7 means that
the flight is going to be late. Look at the information board and wait for new
information.
8. Phrase 8 is asking for
one person to go to an information desk. If it is not your name,
Preferring
things
We often have to make
choices and sometimes we make those choices together with other people. Here
are ten English phrases that you can use to say which coice you like best.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I'd (much) prefer to
stay in
2. I'd (much) rather stay
in
3. I'd go for an Indian
meal (any time).
4. I much prefer wine to
lager.
5. Give me Italian wine
any day.
6. If it was up to me,
I'd choose London.
7. Going to a pub is more
my kind of thing.
8. Given the choice, I'd
rather stay in.
9. London would be
preferable to Oxford.
10. The boys expressed a
strong preference for
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. In phrases 1 and 2 the
word 'much' makes the phrase much stronger.
2. Phrase 3 means that
the speaker always prefers Indian food to the other choices.
3. Phrase 4 shows the
speaker prefers win a lot.
4. Phrase 5 is a strong,
informal phrase that is probably spoken. The speaker is saying that she will
always choose Italian wine over the other possible choices.
5. In phrase 6 the
speaker is saying that he prefers London. He is also saying that his poinion is
not the most important. This is polite.
6. Phrase 7 is an
informal and quite gentle way of saying that the speaker prefers pubs to
another suggestion.
7. Phrase 8 is saying
that the speaker would prefer to stay in but that she will probably go out
because other people want to do this.
8. Phrase 9 is a formal
(possibly written) expression to say that the speaker prefers London.
9. Phrase 10 is a formal
(possibly written) expression to say that somebody else (the boys) prefer
something. Follow this with a noun or noun phrase.
Reassuring
somebody
Sometimes other people
get reall worried about something that is not so great a problem. Here are ten
phrases that you can use to reassure them and make them feel better.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Don't worry.
2. You'll be fine. /
It'll be fine
3. What are you worrying
for?
4. There's no need to
worry.
5. There's nothing to
worry about.
6. It'll turn out all
right.
7. It isn't as bad as all
that.
8. Whatever you may have
heard...
9. Rest assured,...
10. I can assure you
that...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. The feeling of phrase
1 depends on intonation. If more stress and intonation are placed on 'don't' it
sounds kind and reassuring. With more stress on 'wor' it sounds a little
annoyed at the other person's anxiety.
2. Phrase 2 is showing
your confidence in the situation having a good result.
3. Phrase 3 is mildly
criticising the other person for worrying.
4. Phrases 4 and 5 are
saying that the situation is completely fine and there is danger in the future.
5. Phrases 6 and 7 are
saying that the situation nowis bad but that it won't continue or isn't as
serious as it seems.
6. Phrase 8 is saying
that the negative information is wrong. You follow this phrase with a sentence
giving the true, (more optimistic) information.
7. Phrases 9 and 10 are
more formal and could be used in business letters.
Refusing
Sometimes people ask
us to do things and we don't want to do them. Here are ten phrases to refuse.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. No way
2. Absolutely not
3. No Chance
4. Not if you paid me
5. Get lost
6. No, full stop
7. Not likely
8. I don't want to
9. I'd rather not
10. No but thanks for
asking
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1, 2 and 3 are
strong refusals
2. Phrase 4 is also a
strong refusal and suggests that money will not change the speaker's mind
3. Phrase 5 is very
informal and quite dismisive
4. Phrase 6 is used to
say that the refusal is final and no more discussion will take place
5. Phrases 7 and 8 are
not as final as phrase 6 but it is quite likely that the speaker will not
change their mind
6. Phrases 9 and 10 are
quite polite ways of refusing
Reminding people to
do things
There are many
situations when you ask somebody to do something and later you think that they didn't
remember to do it. Here are some phrases that you can use to remind them.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Don't forget to do it.
2. Remember to do it.
3. You will remember to
do it.
4. You won't forget to do
it, will you?
5. Can / Could I remind
you to...?
6. I'd like to remind you
about...
7. You haven't forgotten
about __, have you?
8. I hope you haven't
forgotten to...
9. Sorry to be a bore but
do remember to...
10. May I remind you / all
passengers that...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. In phrase 1, the
stress is on the word 'Don't' and in phrase 2 the stress is on 'mem' in the
word 'remember'.
2. In phrase 3, you need
to put stress on the word 'will'.
3. In phrase 4, you need
to put stress on the word 'won't'.
4. Phrases 5 and 6 are
little more polite and could be used with somebody who you don't know very
well.
5. You use phrases 7 and
8 when you think the other person has forgotten and it is almost too late. If
they haven't forgotten, they may get angry, so be careful.
6. Phrase 9 has an
apology at the beginning which makes it slightly more polite.
7. Phrase 10 is formal
and is safe to use with strangers, with groups of people and in customer
service situations.
8. After phrases
1,2,3,4,5,8,9 we use the infinitive form. For example: Don't forget to check
your grammar.
9. After phrases 6 and 7,
you need to use a noun or a noun phrase. For example: I'd like to remind you
about the party tomorrow night.
10. After phrase 10 we use
a clause (mini sentence). For example: May I remind all passengers that smoking
is not all
Showing Concern
Sometimes other people
are sad, upset or have a problem of some kind. There are many things we can say
to show concern. Here are ten of them.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. What's the matter?
2. Are you alright?
3. What's getting you
down?
4. What's up (with you)?
5. Why the long face?
6. You look a bit down.
7. Is there anything I
can do to help?
8. Do you need a shoulder
to cry on?
9. You look like you
could do with a drink.
10. Oh you poor thing !
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5 are asking the other person what their problem is.
2. Phrases 1, 2, and 3
are more sympathetic while phrases 4 and 5 are less friendly.
3. Phrase 6 is a simple
observation that the other person looks sad. But you expect the other person to
explain the problem.
4. Phrases 7 and 8 are
offering help or sympathy.
5. Phrase 8 is
specifically offering to listen while the other person talks about their
problem or reason for sadness.
6. Phrase 9 is an offer
of a drink (alcohol or a cup of tea). This is a typical British response to
somebody with a major problem or after a disaster of some kind.
7. Phrase 10 is intended
to sound sympathetic. This expression can sound patronising to some people.
Surprise
Sometimes you see or
hear something that you were not expecting. Maybe it's an unexpected event or a
piece of information. Here are ten expressions that show how surprised you are.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Really?
2. What?
3. What a surprise!
4. Well I never! /
Blimey!
5. That's the last thing
I expected
6. You're kidding!
7. I don't believe it! /
Are you serious?
8. I'm speechless!
9. I'd never have
guessed.
10. You don't say!
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. We say phrases 1 and 2
with rising intonation. It's imporatnt to make your voice go up at the end. You
are inviting the other speaker to give you more information.
2. Phrase 3 is a general
expression of surprise
3. Phrases in 4 are
strong exclamations. 'Blimey!' is a little rude as it literally means 'God
blind me!'
4. We say phrase 5 when
something is completely different to what you expected - after a surprising
event.
5. Phrases in 6 and 7 are
saying that we really don't believe the information.
6. Phrase 8 is saying
that you are so surprised that you can't speak.
7. Phrase 10 is a little
old fashioned. If people say this nowadays, they are probably being sarcastic
and they really mean that it isn't surprising at all.
Talking about
talent
Everyone is good at
something. We often ask people about their ability to do something, or talk
about people we admire for their natural talent. Here's what you can say.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. He's very good at
maths.
2. He's a born
footballer.
3. She's a great dancer.
She's a natural.
4. She's head and
shoulders above the rest.
5. She's a first rate
teacher.
6. He's in a class of his
own.
7. He's got a natural
talent for sports.
8. She can do it in her
sleep.
9. No-one comes close to
him as a painter.
10. As a driver, he's one
of a kind.
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. 1. Notice we say 'good
AT' for ability.
2. 2. This means you were
born to play football.
3. 3. Being a natural at
something is very positive.
4. 4. This image shows
she stands out, so is better.
5. 5. It's better to be
first rate than second or third rate!
6. 6. This means no-one
is close to his ability.
7. 7. This is a version
of 3.
8. 8. She is so good she
can even perform asleep.
9. 9. This is a stronger
version of 4 and 6.
10. 10. This means he is
unique, like in 6.
Things you do
while driving
You probably know how
to drive. But do you know all the English phrases to describe the different things
that you often do in a car? Here are ten of the most common ones.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Indicate
2. Pull out
3. Drive off
4. Pull over
5. Speed up
6. Slow down
7. Step on it
8. Slam the brakes on
9. Have a near miss
10. Get pulled over
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. When you 'indicate'
you turn on a flashing light to show that you are going to turn right or left
2. 'Pull out' means to
take the car out of a side road or parking space and start driving.
3. 'Drive off' means to
drive the car away from a person or place.
4. 'Pull over' means to
stop the car at the side of the road.
5. 'Speed up' means to
make the car go faster.
6. 'Slow down' means to
make the car go slower.
7. 'Step on it' means to
put your foot hard on the accelerator and make the car go very fast.
8. 'Slam the brakes on'
means to put your foot hard on the brakes and make the car slow down a lot or
stop.
9. 'Have a near miss' is
when you nearly have an accident with another vehicle.
10. When you 'get pulled
over' the police stop your car - because you did something wrong.
Useful
Expressions
Sometimes you need a
few seconds to think of the right word or plan your next sentence. Luckily,
there are many phrases in English for delaying. Here are ten of them.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Well, you see...
2. Now, let me see.
3. Just a moment / Just a
second
4. Hang on a moment /
second / mo / sec
5. How shall I put it?
6. What's the word for
it..
7. Now, let me think...
8. Let me get this
right...
9. It's on the tip of my
tongue..
10. (Now) that's an
interesting question...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. All of the phrases
finish with high intonation to show that you are going to continue speaking
with your answer or contribution in just a second.
2. Phrases 1 and 2 are
very common expressions that English people use all the time. Yoou should not
pause for more than a second or two after saying them.
3. Phrases 3 and 4 are
actually asking the listener to wait. In phrase 4, we often shorten 'moment' to
'mo' and 'second' to 'sec' in informal speech.
4. Phrase 5 suggests that
the speaker knows what to say but wants to organise the words to make them less
unpleasant or annoying to the listener.
5. We say phrase 6 when
we are trying to remember one particular word. If we still can't remember after
another two seconds we often explain what the word means and hope that the
listener can tell us what the word is.
6. Phrases 7 and 8 are
used for requesting the listener to wait for one or two seconds. You can only
wait a few seconds after saying these.
7. Phrase 9 means that we
really think we know the word that we are searching our memo
Ways of saying
someone is drunk
Anybody who comes to
the UK soon notices that many British people spend a lot of their free time
drinking and getting drunk. Here are ten common UK expressions that English
people
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. Tipsy
2. Merry
3. Pissed / sloshed
4. Tanked up
5. Drunk as a skunk
6. Legless
7. Wrecked / hammered
8. Out for the count
9. Intoxicated
10. Under the influence
(of alcohol)
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 and 2 are
not very strong and mean that the person has only had a little alcohol and is
not very drunk. Phrase 2 also suggests enjoyment in a group.
2. Phrase 3 is a bit
stronger. People who are 'pissed' have lost their inhibitions, are talking
loudly and may have started singing.
3. Phrase 4 says that the
person is very drunk and has consumed a large amount of liquid (probably beer).
4. Phrase 5 is used to
describe somebody who has had too much. He / she probably cannot talk in a
normal way.
5. Phrase 6 is used to
describe somebody who cannot walk properly. Seeing two friends carrying a
'legless' drinker along the street is a common sight around UK city centres
most nights of the week.
6. Phrase 7 says that the
person is very drunk and emphasises the destructive effect of the alcohol.
Surprisingly, many younger Britons use this word in a positive way to say how
much they enjoyed a night out.
7. Phrase 8 means that
the person is no longer conscious.
8. Phrases 9 and 10 are
more formal. Phrase 10 in particular is used by
Accepted Facts
Often when we are
debating with other people, or writing academic essays, we want to introduce
ideas that we know others agree on. Here are ten phrases.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. It's common knowledge
that...
2. It's a fact (that)..
3. Anyone will tell you..
4. Everybody knows
that...
5. It's a
well-established fact that
6. Few people would deny
that..
7. It's no secret that...
8. I think we can all
accept / agree that..
9. It is generally
assumed that...
10. It has been
scientifically proven that...
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. In phrases 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5 the speaker is introducing ideas that everybody agrees are true.
2. The other 5 phrases
are a little less strong, saying that a few people might disagree, but nearly
everybody does agree with your statement.
3. Phrases 1, 5, 6 and 10
are good opening phrases for a discursive essay. You can use one of these
phrases to establish the importance of the topic before introducing an aspect
of the topic that is not agreed.
4. Phrases 3, 4, 7 and 8
are often used in spoken discussions or debates.
5. Phrase 10 is saying
that somebody has done an experiment that proves your statement to be true. If
using this in writing you may want to refer specifically to scientist or the
experiment itself in your next sentence.
Resolutions
We all make promises
and resolutions from time to time. Especially around the New Year, people
promise to give up bad habits and improve their lives. Here are ten phrases.
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. I guess I'd better
stop overspending..
2. I suppose I really
ought to go to the gym
3. I really should diet,
but then again...
4. There's nothing for
it. I'll have to do it
5. I promise I'll try
harder to arrive early
6. I have every intention
of passing the test
7. Never again will you
catch me snoring..
8. Nothing is going to
stop me finishing..
9. No matter what
happens, I'm going to win..
10. Come hell or high
water, I'll pay it back
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. Phrases 1 and 2 are
really quite weak. The expressions 'Iguess' and 'I suppose' show the speaker's
unwillingness.
2. Phrase 3 sounds
stronger at first but the second part 'but then again' could be introducing a
different plan.
3. Phrase 4 suggests that
the speaker must do this (no choice) but he / she doesn't really like the idea.
4. In phrase 5, the
speaker is only promising to try, which suggests the possibility that she / he
might fail to do it.
5. Phrases 6 and 7 are
much stronger resolutions. But with more marked intonation indicates that the
speaker is less sure.
6. Phrases 8, 9 and 10
are very strong resolutions. They all show strong determination to complete the
task.
7. Phrase 3 is often
followed by sentences containing modals could, may, might
Talking about Bargains
Everybody loves a
bargain. We like to feel we got something at a special price - that's why shops
have sales, sometimes all year round!
10 expressions to Use In
Speaking And Writing:
1. It was cheaper than
usual.
2. It was discounted.
3. I got two for the
price of one.
4. It was 20% off.
5. It was a real bargain.
6. It was on special offer.
7. They knocked £10 off
the price.
8. It was reduced by £10.
9. It was in the sale.
10. I got it half-price
How To Use These Phrases
In Your English:
1. 1 doesn't give a lot
of information about price, and suggests that you saved a little money and were
happy with this - perhaps it was a surprise for you.
2. 2 is similar to 1, but
a bit more formal.
3. 3 is a common
marketing ploy in shops and supermarkets nowadays, but is better than 'three
for the price of two' or 'buy two, get one free.'
4. 4 and 8 focus on the
saving you made - we all like to save money!
5. 5 is common when we
are really happy with something we bought because it was cheap. We emphasise
REAL a lot.
6. 6 and 9 are similar -
and are often used to justify buying something that maybe you don't actually
need.
7. 7 means that the
seller gave you a special deal for something and decided to reduce the price
just for you. This can happen if you notice a slight problem with what you are
buying.
8. 10 is like 5, and also
like 3 - but the focus is on the saving you made, not the product.
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