month15 Flashcards
Your mother is very outgoing and talkative. You’re describing her to a friend. You give an example of her outgoing behavior.
She’s always striking up conversations with total strangers.
(someone) is always (doing something)
Say that someone “is always ___ing” when a person does something often, and you think it’s too much.
He’s always texting me and asking me to go out with him. Gross!
They’re always asking me to join the team, but I’ve got absolutely no interest in playing softball.
strike up a conversation
To “strike up” a conversation means to begin talking to someone who you were not talking to before.
We usually use this phrase to describe starting a conversation with a stranger.
“Striking up a conversation” sounds friendly and relaxed.
total strangers
“Total strangers” are people who you do not know at all.
A: Who was that gentleman you were speaking with?
B: I don’t know. He’s a total stranger.
You went to a doctor for a bad cough and got some medicine. Now you’re at home and telling your husband what the doctor said.
The doctor said that it would take a few days for the antibiotics to take effect.
antibiotics
“Antibiotics” are a kind of medicine that kills bacteria. They cure various kinds of infections.
People almost always refer to “antibiotics” in the plural form. It’s rare to talk about “an antibiotic”.
a few (of something) "A few" is a number that's not specific, but it usually means somewhere between 3-10. It's a little less formal than "several" and also sounds like a slightly lower number. Here are some examples:
You may want to consider hiring a personal trainer for a few sessions.
That’s a very generous offer. Um, let me think it over for a few days and get back to you.
(someone) said that (something) would (do something)
When you’re reporting what people said in the past, you use past tense like this:
She said she was hungry, so we stopped and got some food.
In this situation, the person’s words were probably “I’m hungry” but when reporting what she said, you change it to “she was hungry”.
But what if someone said something about the future like this:
I’ll send him an email later today with all of the details.
In that case, you report the speaker’s words using “would”:
He said he would send you an email later today.
(a drug) takes effect
When medicine or drugs start to change a person’s body, they’re “taking effect”.
We also use “take effect” to talk about a new law starting to be enforced:
A new law governing boating safety in Georgia will take effect in mid-May.
Your friend has been asked to give a speech at a conference that’s coming up in a few weeks. She’s really worried about it and is thinking of refusing the offer. You’re trying to encourage her to do it.
Let’s say you go up on stage and completely bomb. So what? What’s the worst that can happen?
let’s say that (clause)
When you’re discussing a topic, sometimes you have to imagine a situation and then describe what would happen in that situation. You can do this with the phrase “Let’s say that…” Here’s an example:
Let’s say that I hire you at my company and you do a bad job. Should I have to keep paying you, or should I be allowed to fire you and hire someone better?
In this example, the speaker isn’t really hiring the other person. In fact, the speaker might not even have a company! The speaker and listener are just imagining what would happen in that situation.
Here are some more examples:
Let’s say that someone breaks into your house and tries to attack you. What would you do?
Let’s say you ask her out and she says “no”. So what? It’s not the end of the world.
This expression is really useful for debating or explaining things.
go up on stage
When someone is going to give a speech, they “go up on stage”.
(someone) bombs
“Bombing” is a slang term that means doing very badly in a performance.
When someone like a speaker or a comedian “bombs”, it means that they’re not entertaining and the audience does not enjoy their speech or performance. You can either say that the person “bombed” or that part of their performance “bombed”.
I totally bombed.
I had a few jokes to start off the presentation with. They completely bombed.
It’s common to use words like “completely” and “totally” before “bombed”.
Things like movies and products can also “bomb”. In this case, “bombing” means not selling well.
So what?
“So what?” means “Who cares?” Use this phrase when you think that something isn’t important, like this:
A: We’re going to miss our train.
B: So what? We’ll just get the next one.
“So what?” is a casual expression, and very common.
What’s the worst that can happen?
People often use this phrase to convince someone to take a risk. For example:
Just send in your application. What’s the worst that can happen? Even if they don’t hire you, at least you’ll have tried.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” means that the negative risks of doing something are not very bad.
If someone is thinking about doing something dangerous or foolish, don’t ask “What’s the worst that can happen?” Instead, you might say something like “It’s worth a shot.”
You coach a girls’ basketball team. One of the players on the team usually causes problems, so you yell at her a lot. But recently she’s been working hard and behaving herself. You compliment her for it.
I’ve got to hand it to you: you’ve really stepped up these last few weeks.
I’ve got to hand it to you.
“I’ve got to hand it to you” means “I have to recognize your accomplishments.
You use this phrase to praise some who you don’t usually praise, like:
someone who you don’t get along with
someone who proved that you were wrong
You can also say “I have to hand it to you” and “You’ve got to hand it to (him/her/them/etc.).”
(someone) stepped up
When someone has taken a greater responsibility on a team and done the work that was needed, you can say that they’ve “stepped up”. For example:
Jasper really stepped up and took charge after Tomiko left.
You can’t always depend on other people. You’ve got to step up and do it on your own.
“Stepping up” is always positive.
these last few weeks
Use this phrase to talk about something that started happening 2-6 weeks ago and is still continuing.
I’ve been working really hard these last few weeks to finish up my dissertation.
This expression is used in spoken English and informal writing. In more formal English, you say or write “the last few” instead of “these last few”.
You’re watching a basketball playoff game. You’re explaining the playoffs to your girlfriend, who doesn’t watch basketball.
They’re down to four teams now.
(something) is down to (a number of something)
When there used to be more of something, but now there’s less of it, you can use the phrase “down to ___”.
For example, you can talk about a sports playoff:
They’re down to four teams now.
Or about getting rid of things that you own:
We sold the van, so we’re down to two vehicles now.
Or about food:
We’re down to half a bag of rice.
Usually you say the number of things that you are down to, but you can also list what’s left like this:
Now it’s down to just me, Brad, and Gbenga.
Notice that it’s common to include “now” somewhere in the sentence.
Your car’s engine broke down. The car is really old, so you’ll have to spend more to fix it than the actual value of the car. You suggest getting rid of the car at a junk yard.
We might as well sell it for scrap metal.
(someone) might as well (do something)
Use “might as well” to talk about doing something that you didn’t originally want to, but is now your best choice.
For example, if you wanted to wanted to go to sleep, but you can’t sleep, you might think:
I might as well read a book.
Your first choice was sleeping, but reading a book is better than laying in bed without sleeping.
Here’s another example:
A: There’s so much work to do!
B: You might as well get used to it. That’s how things normally are around here.
Read this lesson for a different explanation of how to use “might as well”:
I guess I might as well stick around and have one more.
sell (something) for scrap metal
“Scrap metal” is metal that’s taken from old cars, machines, and appliances. The metal is melted down to be used to make new things.
When you have something like a car or washing machine that’s old and can’t be repaired, you can sometimes sell it for a very low price to be used as scrap metal.
You’re teaching your teenage son to drive. You’re in your driveway now, and you give him instructions on what to do first.
Before you pull out, check in your rear view mirror to see if there’s anyone behind the car.
check to see if (something is true)
It’s a little bit repetitive, but English speakers sometimes use the phrase “check to see”. It just means to check something and find out what the situation is. Here are some examples:
Before you pull out, check in your rear view mirror to see if there’s anyone behind the car.
I’ll check to see if they have one of these at the hardware store around the corner.
pull out (of a driveway or parking spot) When you park a car, you "pull in" to the parking space or driveway. When you're leaving the parking space, you "pull out" of it.
You can use this phrase to talk about cars entering a road from some other road, parking lot, or driveway. For example:
Can you believe that guy pulling out in front of me like that? What the hell!
a rear view mirror
There’s a mirror in the middle of a car which allows the driver to see behind the car. This is called the “rear view mirror”.
Cars also have mirrors that stick out from the side, which are not called “rear view mirrors”. They’re called “side mirrors”.
You’re cleaning your house because you’re having guests over this weekend. Your husband isn’t helping you. You’re annoyed, so you ask for help this way.
Excuse me, I could use a little help…
Excuse me!?
You already know that people say “Excuse me” when they do something rude to someone. But we also say “Excuse me!” to people when they are rude to us. For example, it’s normal to say it when:
A family member burps while you’re eating dinner together at home.
Your friend took your seat at a party when you got up to get a drink.
Someone lets a door close on you instead of holding it open for you.
If you ask someone a question, and you’re sure that they heard you, but they don’t answer, you can say “Excuse me!” because that’s rude.
The meaning of “Excuse me!” in these situations is something like “You need to say ‘Excuse me’ to me.” When people say it in this way, they pronounce the words with more stress. It sounds like a statement rather than a question. The speaker might also make an angry face with raised eyebrows.
I could use (something)
You say “I could use ___” to indicate that you really want or need something, like a drink, but for some reason you haven’t been able to get it yet. In the example at top, you say “I could really use a cup of coffee” because you’re very sleepy and need some coffee, but there’s no coffee nearby.
Here’s another example - when you’re struggling with something, and there’s someone nearby who isn’t helping you, you can say:
I could use a little help.
a little help
Ask for “a little help” when you’re stressed or feel like other people aren’t helping you enough. For example, if you’re carrying two heavy boxes and your friends or family aren’t carrying anything, you can say:
A little help, please?
You’re waiting in line at the post office. Someone in line in front of you was talking on his phone about a film festival that he was in. You’re studying to become a film director, so you want to introduce yourself to this person. You start a conversation this way.
I couldn’t help but overhear you saying something about a film festival. Are you a filmmaker?
(someone) can’t help but (do something)
Use this phrase to talk about something that you can’t control.
A common word to follow “can’t help but” is “wonder”. This expresses something that really makes you curious:
I can’t help but wonder what my life would have been like if I’d gone to college in the U.S.
When you use this phrase in the past tense, “notice” or “overhear” are common. They’re a way to start a conversation with someone:
I couldn’t help but notice that your t-shirt has some Korean writing on it. Do you know what it says?
I couldn’t help but overhear you saying something about a film festival. Are you a filmmaker?
overhear (something)
To “overhear” something means to hear something in a conversation that you weren’t participating in. You can “overhear” conversations that other people were having:
I overheard Mariana and Hiro in the elevator saying that there might be layoffs soon.
You can also “overhear” something on TV or the radio if you’re not directly watching or listening to it.
(someone) said something about (a topic)
When you’ve heard or understood the general topic of a conversation, but not the details, you can describe it like this:
I heard them saying something about a problem with the server.
You can substitute other words instead of “say” as well:
Omar mentioned something about a street fair happening this weekend on the North Side. Do you know anything about that?
a film festival
A “film festival” is an event where lots of films (movies) are shown. Film festivals often show new films which are interesting and artistic. However, there are also “classic film festivals” which show old films.
a filmmaker
Someone who directs films can be called a “filmmaker”. “Director” and “filmmaker” are nearly the same, but there are some small differences:
“filmmaker” sounds a little more artistic
a “filmmaker” often participates in writing the script and producing the film as well as directing
someone who gets paid to direct a big action film would probably be called a “director” rather than a “filmmaker”
You’re putting your 6-year-old daughter to bed. You’ve turned off the lights and now you’re leaving the room
Night night!
Night night
This expression means “Good night”.
You say “Night night” when speaking to children. Children say “Night night” when speaking with adults too.
You can also use it in a playful way when speaking to someone who you’re close with, like if you stay at a friend’s house overnight.
When you need to sound a little more adult, say “Good night.”
You’re at a political rally. You’re standing in a crowd of people. You notice that a short woman behind you is moving around a lot because she can’t see the stage.
Oh, I’m sorry. Am I blocking your view?
Oh
This is a sound that people make when they’ve learned something that surprises them.
Oh, you’re not coming? I thought you were.
A: Excuse me, miss. We’re closing in five minutes.
B: Oh, OK.
Oh, I guess we’re both going the same way, huh?
block (someone’s) view
“Blocking someone’s view” means putting something in the way and preventing a person from seeing something that they want to see.
For example, if you want to look out of your window and see your neighborhood, but there’s a tree growing in front of the window, you can say that the tree is “blocking your view”.
A person’s view can be blocked by:
a tree
a car
someone’s body or part of their body
You’re at a professional networking event. You’ve been talking to someone for a few minutes. He introduced himself at the beginning of the conversation, but now you’ve forgotten his name. You ask again.
I’m sorry. What was your name again?
I’m sorry. (question)
When you’re speaking with someone you don’t know well, it can be polite to say “I’m sorry” before asking a question. For example:
I’m sorry. What was that?
I’m sorry. Do you know where the restrooms are?
The idea behind apologizing in these situations is that you’re supposed to listen and pay attention carefully when speaking with people who you don’t know well. However, when someone says “I’m sorry” in this way it probably doesn’t mean that they feel truly sorry.
What was (someone's) name again? If you've been told someone's name before, but have forgotten it, you should ask for that person's name again this way:
What was your husband’s name again?
This expression shows that you remember hearing the person’s name once before.
You go to a nightclub. There aren’t many people there, so you’re disappointed. You say this to a friend who’s with you.
This place is dead!
a place
You can call a restaurant a “place” in casual conversation:
Is this place any good?
You can also describe what kind of restaurant it is:
Do you know of a good burger place around here?
Have you been to that new pizza place up on 83rd Street?
There’s this amazing Italian place we go to sometimes. I have to take you there.
And you can call a bar or dance club a “place” as well:
Do you want to have a drink? I know a place nearby.
(a party/bar/club) is dead
Parties are supposed to have a lot of people and be loud and exciting. When there aren’t many people at a party, or when the people aren’t having fun, you can say that the party is “dead”.
You can also call a bar or a dance club “dead”.
You’re discussing social issues with a couple of friends. One issue that’s important to you is the environment. You think it’s important for your country to develop “green” energy, so you say this.
We’ve got to find a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
We’ve got to (do something)
“Got to” means “must”. You can use this phrase to talk about something that you think is important for a group of people that you’re included in. For example:
We’ve got to communicate with each other better.
a viable alternative
An “alternative” is a choice or a possible solution to a problem.
A “viable alternative” is a choice or possible solution which might work.
To illustrate this with an example, imagine that you need to get to work but you don’t want to drive a car. Walking to work is not a “viable alternative” because you live too far away from your office. But maybe riding a bicycle is a “viable alternative”.
Alternatives can be “viable” or not “viable” in a few different ways:
economically viable
politically viable
commercially viable (able to be sold)
fossil fuels
“Fossil fuels” are fuels like oil (which is used to make gasoline), natural gas (which is used to heat homes and for cooking), and coal.
These fuels are called “fossil fuels” because they come from decayed plants and animals from a very long time ago. A “fossil” is the remains of a plant or animal which died a very long time ago.
You’re shopping for a new car. You haven’t bought a car in many years. When you’re looking at the specifications for the cars, you notice that they use a lot less gas than cars that you’ve owned in the past. You comment on it to the car salesman.
Wow, these newer models are pretty fuel-efficient, aren’t they?
Wow
“Wow” shows that you’re surprised.
People often say “wow!” in a a really excited tone of voice, but you can also say it in a relaxed and calm voice if the speaker is reacting to something that’s only a little surprising.
a model (of a product) Products such as electronics and cars usually have new "models" each year or every few years. The new "model" has an updated design and new features.
By the way, some products don’t have new “models”. For example, computer software has new “versions” instead of “models”. Books that are updated have new “editions”.
(question), aren’t they?
Remember that a tag question at the end of a sentence needs to match the verb:
He’s older than you, isn’t he?
They’re from England, aren’t they?
You left a bit earlier, didn’t you?
(a vehicle) is fuel-efficient
A car, truck, or other vehicle that is very “fuel-efficient” is able to drive for a long distance without using a lot of gasoline.
When people are talking about a vehicle’s “fuel efficiency” in the U.S., they usually discuss how many “miles per gallon” it gets. That means how many miles the vehicle can drive using just one gallon of fuel. In other countries, distance is measured in kilometers and liquids are measured in liters. So you would talk about “kilometers per liter” instead.
You’re on vacation with your wife. Your wife can’t find her earrings. She thinks that they might have been stolen by the cleaning staff. You don’t want to accuse anyone of stealing until you’re sure that the earrings are gone, so you say this.
Let’s not jump to conclusions.
let’s not (do something)
When you want to suggest that people in a group not do something, you can say “let’s not ___”. For example:
Let’s not go out tonight.
You can use “Let’s not ___” when you’re suggesting something that you’re sure the listener will agree with. In the example above, you think that everyone will agree that it’s a good idea not to cook.
It’s also common to say “Let’s not…” when you’re someone with authority, like a boss, or if you feel very confident in sharing your suggestions and decisions. In these cases, you can use this phrase:
Let’s do that, OK?
Let’s not spend too much time obsessing over the details. We have a lot of other things to talk about.
jump to conclusions
“Jumping to conclusions” means accepting an explanation too quickly. For example, if a coworker is late for work, you might think that she overslept. However, this would be “jumping to conclusions” because there are other possible explanations for why she’s late: she might have gotten in a car accident, for example.
“Jumping to conclusions” is a bad habit. You often hear this phrase used in the sentence:
Don’t jump to conclusions.
You’ve been trying to fix a problem with your car’s engine, with your son helping you. You tried to fix it in a few different ways, but now you don’t have any more ideas. You say this to your son.
Hmm… well, I must admit: I’m stumped.
Well
One reason for saying “well” at the beginning of a sentence is to show that you’re unsure about something.
This can happen when someone asks you a question that you don’t immediately know the answer to:
A: What are you doing this weekend?
B: Well, let’s see… Oh! I’m having lunch with Gavin on Saturday.
It can also happen when you’re trying to say something nice, even though you’re thinking things that aren’t nice.
A: What do you think of Lana?
B: Well… she’s… always very punctual.
You shouldn’t use “well” in this way in written English.
Hmm.
This is a noise that English speakers make to show that they’re thinking hard about something. When you’re trying to figure something out, make this noise:
Hmm. I’m not sure about that. Let me get back to you.
I must admit, (clause)
You start a sentence with “I must admit…” when you’re telling people something that you feel just a little bit guilty or ashamed about:
I must admit, I’m not very good at this sort of thing.
You can also say “I must admit” when someone else impresses you more than you expected:
I must admit, you’re quite a singer.
You don’t use this for things that you feel really guilty about, like making a big mistake at work.
You can also use the phrase “I have to admit” in a similar way.
(someone) is stumped
Being “stumped” means that you don’t know the answer to something, and you don’t have any more ideas about how to solve it. For example, you might say this to another student about your math homework:
A: Do you know how to solve number 15?
B: No, I’m stumped.
This idiom doesn’t sound too negative. It is fine to use in either formal or casual situations.
You’re staying at your uncle’s house for a few days. He offers to make bacon for breakfast. You don’t want it because it’s unhealthy, and you want to warn your uncle not to eat it either.
That stuff’ll clog your arteries.
stuff
“Stuff” can mean almost any physical items or material. It’s similar to the word “things”, but “things” are countable and “stuff” is not. So “stuff” is better to use when you’re talking about a group of things that are different from each other - different sizes, shapes, etc.
“Stuff” is especially used to refer to things that you buy or own:
There’s a good chance that you’ll end up buying a lot of stuff while you’re there.
I’ll go pick up all the stuff we need.
Excuse me. Would you mind watching over my stuff for me for just a minute?
But “stuff” can also mean “topics” or “ideas”, like in this example:
We have a lot of stuff to talk about.
(something)’ll (do something)
The word “will” can be contracted to “‘ll” after a noun like this:
My wife’ll give you a call later.
The sun’ll be setting soon.
No one’ll find out!
This happens in casual spoken English. Avoid it when speaking or writing formally.
(some food) clogs your arteries
Your “arteries” are blood vessels which carry blood away from your heart within your body. In addition to arteries, you also have “veins” which carry blood back toward your heart.
When an artery gets “clogged”, it means that something is blocking up the artery and there’s a high risk that you could have a heart attack.
English speakers generally believe that eating fatty foods “clogs your arteries” and causes heart attacks. Even though veins can get clogged as well, we always use “arteries” in this expression.
You went to a book signing event for one of your favorite business book authors. You got to speak with him for a few minutes. Now you’re ending the conversation.
It’s truly an honor to meet someone of your stature and influence.
It’s an honor to (do something)
When you get special recognition or a special opportunity from people that you respect highly, it’s “an honor”. You can use this phrase in sentences like these:
It’s an honor to meet you.
It’s such an honor to be invited to speak to you all here today.
I don’t even care if I win. It’s an honor just to be nominated!
This phrase is rather formal. When you use it, you sound very thankful and humble.
truly
The adverb “truly’ means “very much” or “honestly”. You can use it before an adjective like this:
I’m truly sorry for what happened.
The most common adjectives that follow “truly” are:
truly great
truly remarkable
truly amazing
truly sorry
truly happy
You can also use “truly” with a verb:
I truly forgot all about it.
I truly believe that you will achieve your dream some day.
“Truly” is pretty formal.
someone of (your/his/etc.) stature "Stature" means "importance" or "status". We use it in the phrase "someone of (his/her/your/their) stature" to talk about people who are very highly respected.
I wouldn’t dare ask such a favor from someone of her stature.
The original meaning of “stature” was actually “height”, so you can imagine that a very important person seems metaphorically taller than others.
(someone) has influence
A person who “has influence” is able to affect or even control a lot of people or events.
Someone might “have influence” because they’re famous, becuase they’re wealthy and well-connected, or because they’re well-known in a certain field.
When you’re describing someone who “has influence”, you can also say that they’re “influential”.
You’re going for a bicycle ride with your boyfriend. He has a helmet, but he doesn’t like having the strap on his chin. You want him to put the helmet on correctly.
What’s the point of even wearing a helmet if you’re not going to buckle it?
“The point” of something is the reason for doing it. But this word is often used in the negative sense: “what’s the point?”, “there’s no point”, “I don’t see the point”, etc.
You can say “What’s the point of (something)?” or “What’s the point of (doing something)?”:
What’s the point of Facebook? I don’t get it.
What’s the point of studying math in school anyway? No one ever uses it in real life.
When you ask “what’s the point of ___?” it’s usually a criticism and can sound negative. So you should use it when you are angry and annoyed about something. Depending on your personality, you may not want to show people that you’re angry unless you’re close to them. A more polite way to ask “What’s the point of this meeting?” would be:
“What’s this meeting about?”
wear a helmet
A “helmet” is something hard that you wear on your head in order to protect it. People wear helmets while riding motorcycles or bicycles and when playing certain dangerous sports like baseball or American football.
buckle (a belt or strap)
A “buckle” is the part of a belt or strap where you attach the two ends to each other. The belts people wear on their pants have buckles. So do some shoes, straps for handbags and luggage, and seatbelts.
When you attach something with a buckle, you’re “buckling” it. You “buckle” the strap or belt itself:
Can you buckle that strap?
And you “buckle up” or “buckle in” the thing that’s contained by the belt or strap:
There you go; you’re all buckled in!
You live in the country. Recently you and your partner thought that it would be nice to have fresh eggs, so you thought about getting chickens. You describe this thought with a friend who already has chickens.
We’ve been toying with the idea of raising our own chickens.
raise (animals)
You can “grow” vegetables, but you can’t “grow” animals. You have to “raise” them:
We’re growing tomatoes, carrots, herbs, all kinds of stuff.
When I was a kid, my uncle used to raise sheep.
To “raise” something means to help it grow. Things that you can “raise” include:
raising crops
raising animals
raising children
(someone) is toying with the idea of (doing something)
“Toying with” an idea means to consider whether or not you should do something. You’re thinking that you might do it, but you’re not sure yet.
For example:
I’ve been toying with the idea of studying abroad for a semester.
I’m toying with the idea of cutting it really short.
You went to a party this weekend. You’re talking to a friend who was invited, but didn’t go. You describe something fun that happened at the party.
You should’ve been there! Obie showed off his dance moves!
You should have been there!
Say this when something fun or entertaining happened, but the listener wasn’t around to experience it. It means something lilke “If you were there, you would have enjoyed what happened.”
When you use this phrase, you sound excited and happy.
show off (something) "Showing off" something means showing people something good that you have or that you did.
You can “show off” things like:
your nice house
your guitar-playing skill
your very handsome boyfriend
You use the phrase like this:
I want to show off the necklace I got.
You can also use “show off” by itself:
He’s always showing off.
In this case, “showing off” means acting in a way to make people impressed with you.
dance moves
When people dance, they usually repeat certain “dance moves”. Each dance move is a sequence of movements that look cool together.
Some famous dance moves have names, like:
The Worm
The Moonwalk
The Robot
The Can Can
The Twist
You’re talking with a friend whose mother died a few months ago. She admits that it has been very hard for her. You’ve had a similar experience before, so you show your sympathy.
I know how you feel. I went through the same thing after my father passed away.
go through (something) People use the phrase "go through \_\_\_" to describe negative experiences. "Go through" means to experience something negative or difficult. Some examples include:
go through a divorce
go through a tough time
go through a period of weak sales
go through childbirth
There are some other totally different meanings of “go through”. One is to search and examine things in a list or a collection:
We should sit down and go through the details later this week.
Another meaning of “go through” is to use a person or agency to do something for you instead of doing it directly yourself:
Are you going through a recruitment agency?
It’s best to remember each of these meanings separately.
my father
When you’re talking about your father, you can call him “my father”.
When you’re speaking to your father, you should use a term of address such as these:
“Dad” is the standard way that most people call their fathers.
“Daddy” is how young children might talk call their fathers. Most people stop calling their fathers “Daddy” in their teenage years, but some people continue to do so even as adults.
Some groups of people use the word “Pop” to refer to their fathers. It’s not as common as “Dad”, though.
Calling your father “Father” seems extremely formal.
A similar explanation of the words for talking about your mother can be read in this lesson:
Mom, the faucet’s dripping!
I know how you feel.
When someone shares their negative feelings (like sadness, frustration, anger, etc.) with you, a common response is “I know how you feel.”
For example:
A: I feel like they never respect me, no matter what I do.
B: I know how you feel. It’s really frustrating trying to get your parents to respect you as an adult.
“I know how you feel” sounds thoughtful and supportive.
(someone) passed away
Use the phrasal verb “pass away” to talk about someone dying in a polite way.
This is rude:
I’m so sorry to hear that your father died.
This is much more acceptable:
I’m so sorry to hear that your father passed away.
If you’re talking about someone with no connection to you or to your listener, you can say that they “died”:
Elvis Presley died in 1977.
You’ve created a chart which shows the responsibilities of each person in your department at work. You’re sending in in an email to everyone in your division. You write this to explain how the chart is useful.
If you get questions that should be fielded by Ops, this will help you determine which Ops staffer is responsible for which sales division.
be responsible for (something)
“Being responsible for” something means that you have to make sure that something is taken care of. For example:
I was responsible for taking care of my little brother.
This means that it was your job to take care of your brother. If something bad happened to your brother, you would be blamed for it.
Here’s an example that you might see on a sign in the locker room at a gym:
Total Fitness club is not responsible for any missing or stolen items.
This means that the gym will not have to pay for your things if they get stolen.
determine (something)
To “determine” something means to figure it out or make a decision about it.
You “determine” facts or conclusions. For example:
Police have not yet determined the cause of death.
I’ve determined that the next camera I buy should be a Canon T3i
The word “determine” is more formal than “figure out”.
(someone) fields a question
When someone asks a question that can be answered by several people, the person who answers is “fielding” the question.
This phrase comes from the game of baseball, where players on the baseball field stand and try to catch balls that are hit in their direction. Catching baseballs in this position is called “fielding” balls.
Ops
“Ops” is short for “Operations”. Operations is a part of a business which manages day-to-day processes, like production, shipping, storage, etc. Operations staff work to make the business run more efficiently.
Many companies have Operations departments or divisions. Some companies have an executive who’s named the Chief Operations Officer (COO), who assists the CEO.
a staffer
The word “staffer” means “someone who’s on the staff”. In other words, it describes someone who works in a certain company or group.
a division
A “division” is a large group of people within a company who are managed together. Divisions are larger than departments, which are another kind of grouping in a company.
A division is usually led by a director, a vice president, or some other executive.
You’re the organizer of a meetup group for people who are interested in public speaking. You want to have strict rules for your group about being nice to other members. You’re writing about one of these rules on your group’s website.
We simply do not tolerate people who are disrespectful to others.
others
“Others” is a formal way to say “other people”:
Please be respectful of others.
Kids who go to preschool learn to play well with others.
(someone) does not tolerate (something)
When you “do not tolerate” something, it means that you will not allow it. For example:
I do not tolerate excuses!
They do not tolerate mistakes.
This expression sounds strict and formal.
(someone) is disrespectful to (some people)
Being “disrespectful to” people includes calling them names, being rude to them, not listening to what they’re saying, and so on.
You can’t expect to be disrespectful to your teachers and still be rewarded with good grades and recommendations.
Another preposition that you can use after “disrespectful” is “toward”:
She was disrespectful toward me and my entire family.
You can also use the word “disrespectful” by itself:
There’s no need to be disrespectful!
people who (do something) You can talk about people who all have the same quality with the phrase "people who \_\_\_":
People who talk with their mouth full are so rude!
I get along well with people who are creative.
simply not
Put the word “simply” in a negative sentence to make the negative more clear and complete. For example:
I’m simply not ready.
This means that you’re completely not ready. It’s more clear than just saying “I’m not ready.”
You can use “simply” in front of a negative verb as well:
We simply can’t accept cheating in any form.
Your company sells products through stores. This year, you’re negotiating a contract with the companies who deliver the products to the stores. The negotiation isn’t going well. Now you’re in a meeting and explaining why you’re having trouble.
We don’t have nearly as much leverage with our distributors as we used to.
(something) used to (be something/do something)
You use the phrase “used to be ___” to describe a quality that someone had in the past, but doesn’t have now. It’s useful for describing your life when you were much younger than you are now.
Of course, you can also use “was”:
I was such a procrastinator when I was younger.
But “used to be” makes it clear that you’re describing something far in the past, not something recent.
not nearly
“Not nearly” means “very much not”.
You usually use it in the expression “not nearly as ___ as ___”:
There aren’t nearly as many cases of malaria as there were 25 years ago.
I’m not nearly as full as I thought I’d be.
You can also say “not nearly ___ enough”:
That’s not nearly big enough.
have leverage (with someone) In a negotiation, "leverage" is some kind of advantage that helps one side to get what they want.
For example, if Company A buys more than half of Company B’s products, Company A “has leverage” in negotiations. They can ask for a large discount because Company B needs to keep Company A as a customer.
distributors
A “distributor” is a company which buys products that a company makes, ships the products to different locations, and sells them. Distributors either sell the products directly to customers or sells them to to stores, which then sell them to the customers.
If you’re talking about distributors that your company works with, you call them “our distributors”.
Your wife wants to buy a new computer. She already has a lot of them, so you don’t think she should buy another one. You tell her why you disapprove.
You already have three computers, only one of which you actually use
already
“Already” can go in a few different spots in a sentence. It can go before an adjective:
Don’t tell me you’re already tired.
Or it can go at the end:
I’m tired already.
It sounds a bit strange to put it before “are” or “am”, although “already” can go before most verbs:
I already spent all of it.
You already took one, didn’t you?
(a number) of (whom/which) (someone does)
Use “of which” or “of whom” to combine two sentences like this:
I play golf with three guys. Two of them are doctors.
I play golf with three guys, two of whom are doctors.
The first sentence talks about a number of people or things in a group. The second describes members in that group.
We came across several snakes on our hike, one of which was poisonous.
There were hundreds of questions to answer, none of which made any sense.
He introduced me to a bunch of his friends, all of whom were really successful lawyers and business executives.
actually (do something)
You can use the word “actually” to talk about something that’s really happening, not just a promise, a lie, a trick, a dream, etc.
For example:
I can’t believe that you’re actually here!
I finally feel like I can actually understand what they’re saying.
There’s another way to use “actually”, which is let people know about something surprising.
You’re visiting friends in another city. Your friend is surprised that your suitcase is so small. You explain that it’s small because you don’t pack a lot of stuff.
All I need is a few shirts, a couple of changes of underwear, one pair of pants, and my toiletry kit. That’s about it
a few (of something) "A few" is a number that's not specific, but it usually means somewhere between 3-10. It's a little less formal than "several" and also sounds like a slightly lower number. Here are some examples:
You may want to consider hiring a personal trainer for a few sessions.
That’s a very generous offer. Um, let me think it over for a few days and get back to you.
a pair of pants
Even though pants are one single item of clothing, they have two leg parts. Because of this, we always say “pants” with an “-s” at the end, and if you want to count them, you call them “a pair”:
Why do you have so many pairs of pants?
You also call these clothing items “a pair”:
a pair of glasses
a pair of gloves
a pair of shorts
a pair of shoes
a pair of socks
All (someone) needs is (something)
Use this phrase to talk about doing something easily:
All you need is love.
All I need is two more days, and I promise I’ll be able to pay you back.
All you need is a screwdriver and a pair of pliers.
a change of (clothes/pants/etc.)
A different set of clothes that you can change into is “a change of clothes”:
Did you bring a change of clothes?
We also use the phrases:
a change of pants
a change of underwear
a change of socks
However, “a change of shirt” is uncommon.
a toiletry kit
“Toiletries” are items like toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, dental floss, soap, etc.
When people travel, they sometimes put all of their toiletries together in a small bag. This is known as a “toiletry kit”.
Other examples of “kits” are:
a first aid kit
an emergency kit
That’s about it.
When you’re listing things, and you can’t think of anything else to add to the list, finish with “That’s about it.”
A: …some coffee, a loaf of bread… and some fruit, please.
B: Anything else?
A: No, that’s about it.
You’re talking to someone who recently traveled to another country. She tells you that it was scary sometimes. You’ve felt this way before, so you agree.
Yeah, it can be really intimidating traveling in a foreign country where you don’t know the language and the customs.
intimidating
Something that is “intimidating” is a little scary, but not too scary. It’s something that you’re a bit frightened of, but you will be able to handle it. Some things that you might consider intimidating include:
speaking in front of a large audience
having a meeting with the director of your department at work
talking to native speakers of your second language
starting a business
Yeah
“Yeah” is a more casual way of saying “yes”.
Say this to agree with something that a person said:
Yeah, no problem.
Yeah, I actually did it myself.
You can also say “yeah” when you’re going to disagree but you want to make your disagreement sound a little softer.
Yeah, but then it’ll be blocking one of the outlets.
“Yeah” sounds less formal than “yes.”
It can be (adjective)(doing something)
This expression is useful for describing an experience in a “soft” way. For example:
It can be lonely living by yourself.
This means “Living by yourself is lonely sometimes.”
It can be difficult working full-time while also trying to raise children.
This is a soft way of saying that working and raising children at the same time is difficult.
a foreign country
A “foreign country” is any country that’s outside of the one that you’re talking about.
That might mean:
a country that you were not born in
a country that you do not live in
a country that’s not the main topic of discussion
For example, if you were born in Korea and you recently moved to Canada, you can say this about Canada:
It’s hard living in a foreign country.
But if you’re talking to other Canadians, you can also say:
I was born in a foreign country.
(a country or group’s) customs
“Customs” are the usual ways that people act in a specific group or region.
As an example, some American customs include:
shaking hands when you meet someone in a business setting
tipping the server at a restaurant
men opening doors for women
taking your hat off when you enter a building
saying “Bless you!” when someone sneezes
You had an interesting experience one time when you were going to a job interview. You’re telling someone the story of what happened.
Wouldn’t you know it, my car broke down on the way to the interview!”
Wouldn’t you know it, (sentence)
Use this phrase when something really inconvenient – maybe the most inconvenient thing in that situation — happens.
For example, if you drove 30 minutes to a library in order to check out a specific book, but the book was already check out, you’d say:
Wouldn’t you know it, it was checked out!
The tone of “Wouldn’t you know it” is disappointed but accepting, like you’re thinking that inconvenient things always happen to you.
(a vehicle) breaks down
When a vehicle like a car, truck, motorcycle, etc. stops working, we say that it has “broken down”.
Hey, can you come pick me up? My car broke down on the side of the road.
(something happened) on the way (to somewhere)
When you’re going somewhere, and something happens while you’re traveling, use the expression “on the way ___”:
I got stuck in traffic on the way to work.
My luggage got lost on the way to Denver.
