Useful vocabulary Flashcards
To begin to understand or be able to use something.
get the hang of something
“It took me a while to get the hang of phrasal verbs, but spotting them in films helped a lot.”
To share with someone to get feedback or validation.
bounce them off someone
“Whenever I learn new idioms, I like to bounce them off my English-speaking friends to ensure I’m using them correctly.”
“Can I bounce a couple of ideas off you?”
To understand something complex.
wrap my head around something
“Some English expressions are so unique; it takes me a while to wrap my head around them.”
To continue with something despite difficulties.
push through
When I’m reading a dense book and find challenging chapters, I push through, because I know it’ll benefit me in the end.
Reach a point where you feel unable to continue doing something because it is very difficult.
hit a wall
Whenever I’m studying and I hit a wall, especially with challenging subjects, I usually take a short break and clear my mind. After that, I come back to it with a fresh perspective.
continue doing something or trying to do something despite difficulties
be persistent
With a language, you just have to be persistent and keep at it.
If you don’t practice a skill, you might forget it.
use it or lose it
With language, you use it or lose it.
Intentionally use new vocabulary or grammar in a chat.
work it into a conversation
Every time I learn a new word, I try to work it into a conversation with my friends.
Experiment with new language elements in various contexts.
play around with it
When I get a new grammar rule down, I play around with it in different sentences to see how flexible it is.
When something isn’t used for a long time.
gathering dust
I used to play the guitar every day, but I haven’t touched it in years. Now, it’s just gathering dust in the corner of my living room.
When you can no longer do something as well as you used to.
lost my touch
I used to bake amazing pies, but I think I’ve lost my touch.
When you haven’t done something in a long time and lost proficiency.
out of practice
I was once good at playing the violin, but I’m totally out of practice now.
Something that is easily understood or grasped without explicit explanation.
intuitive
Coding was intuitive for me. I just started playing around and things made sense.
Acquiring a skill while actively working, rather than through formal education.
pick up on the job
A lot of the practical skills I have, I picked up on the job.
I taught myself.
Something you were born with.
have an innate talent for
I guess I have an innate talent for public speaking.
A natural ability or skill in a particular area.
have a knack for
I’ve always had a knack for understanding complex data. I didn’t need any formal training to understand analytics.
not able to speak because you are shy or nervous
tongue-tied
“I used to get so tongue-tied speaking in front of English speakers, but now I’m hoping to attain
near-native proficiency and never feel that way again.”
achieve a ‘perfect’ accent
nail the accent
“Absolutely! I not only want to be fluent but I also want to nail the accent. It’s my goal to sound like I’ve been living in the UK for years.”
for people to think you’re a local
pass for a local
“Yes, that’s the dream! I’d love to reach a point where I could pass for a local whenever I visit New York or London.”
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master
Definitely. I don’t just want to be good at English; I want to master it. Also, in my job, I need top-notch presentation skills. I believe with enough practice and immersion, I can get there.
Excellent
Top-notch
Definitely. I don’t just want to be good at English; I want to master it. Also, in my job, I need top-notch presentation skills. I believe with enough practice and immersion, I can get there.
I try not to form opinions or judgments hastily.
I try not to jump to conclusions
When I meet new people, I try not to jump to conclusions based on the first thing they say.
clear signs or warnings of possible problems
red flags
If someone talks only about themselves or interrupts others constantly, those are obvious red flags for me.
rely on my instinct or intuitive feeling
trust my gut
