Must know everyday English phrases – Part 1 - eAge Tutor
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Must know everyday English phrases – Part 1

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In our last blog, we learnt about 20 everyday phrases that are generally used in conversations. In today’s blog, we’ll learn some more English phrases.

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Must know everyday English phrases and how to use them in sentences.

1. Get it out of your system - to do something you’ve wanted to do for a long time.
Ex. Get this out of your system and then start afresh.

2. Pull yourself together – to calm down and behave normally.
Ex. Boss is coming so you need to pull yourself together

3. You rock - you are great.
Ex. Today you rocked in the party.

4. When pigs fly - this means that something will never happen.
Ex. In this company, I will be promoted only when the pigs fly.

5. Hit the books – to study very hard.
Ex. In order to clear the exam, he hit the books.

6. Get your head around it - to understand something.
Ex. I need to get my head around it so that I can do the presentation well.

7. Take it with a pinch of salt - regard something as exaggerated, or, only believe a part of something.
Ex. At workplace you should always take situations with a pinch of salt.

8. Sit on a fence - to stay neutral and not take sides.
Ex. He prefers to sit on the fence in the meetings.

9. A stone’s throw – very near.
Ex. My office is just a stone's throw away from my place.

10. No-brainer – an easy decision.
Ex. Throwing him out was a no brainer.

11. Hear on the grapevine - to hear a rumor or unconfirmed story.
Ex. I just heard on the grapevine that she is quitting. Is this right?

12. Comfort food - food that makes you feel better, because it reminds you of your childhood.
Ex. Glucose biscuits are the comfort food for me.

13. Go the extra mile - to make a special effort/try very hard to achieve your goal.
Ex. We need to go an extra mile if we want this promotion.

14. Running on fumes - to continue to stay awake when feeling exhausted.
Ex. I had to run on fumes to complete this presentation.

15. Let your freak flag fly - to let others see your uniqueness.
Ex. To get appreciated at your workplace, you need to let your freak flag fly.

16. Shape up or ship out – to start performing better or leave.
Ex. This is my last warning, either shape up or ship out.

17. Once in a blue moon – something that happens rarely.
Ex. For me ,appreciation from the boss happens once in a blue moon.

18. Hit the nail on the head – when someone says something precisely correct. Ex. Our boss generally hits the nail on the head in the meetings.

19. Piece of cake – when something is easy to do.
Ex. Report writing is a piece of cake for me.

20. Go down in flames - to fail suddenly.
Ex. Inspite of hard work, my project went down in flames.

21. Tar someone with the same brush - to believe that someone has the same bad qualities as others in a group.
Ex. We should never tar someone with the same brush during the meetings.

22. Come out swinging - to be confrontational and strongly defend yourself at the beginning of a debate.
Ex. Very rarely he comes out swinging during meetings.

23. Hang in there - to wait and be patient.
Ex. Just hang in there, your turn will come.

24. Sold me out - let the secret out.
Ex. This project failed because he sold us out.

25. Be tickled pink – to be happy and excited.
Ex. I was tickled pink when I received the news of my promotion.

26. Blow smoke - to exaggerate.
Ex. He often blows smoke in meetings.

27. Cry wolf - to call for help when you don’t need it.
Ex. His habit of crying wolf is very irritating.

28. Be chuffed to bits - to be pleased and happy.
Ex. He was chuffed to bits on hearing the news of his increment.

29. Dig in your heels / stick to your guns - to refuse to compromise or change your mind. She refused to dig in her heels regarding coming early to office.

30. Leave no stone unturned - to do everything you can to achieve your goal.
Ex. He left no stone unturned in order to get this promotion.

These phrases will help you improve your English conversation skills to a great extent.  Keep practicing and use them at appropriate time. Stay tuned for more blogs to improve your spoken English skills.


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