Here are 10 English phrases that intermediate to advanced English learners should know. Each phrase includes its meaning and examples of how it is used in conversation.
1. “The ball is in your court”
- Meaning: It is now your responsibility to take the next action or make a decision.
- Example:
“I’ve done everything I can to help you. Now the ball is in your court.”
2. “Burning the candle at both ends”
- Meaning: To overwork yourself by staying up late and waking up early, often leading to exhaustion.
- Example:
“He’s been burning the candle at both ends, trying to manage his job and study for exams.”
3. “Let the cat out of the bag”
- Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret or surprise.
- Example:
“We were planning a surprise party, but John let the cat out of the bag!”
4. “Keep someone in the loop”
- Meaning: To keep someone informed and updated about a situation.
- Example:
“I won’t be able to attend the meeting, but please keep me in the loop.”
5. “On the same page”
- Meaning: To have the same understanding or be in agreement about something.
- Example:
“Before we move forward, I want to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
6. “Kill two birds with one stone”
- Meaning: To accomplish two things at once.
- Example:
“I need to go to the bank and the post office. I can kill two birds with one stone by doing both on my lunch break.”
7. “In the nick of time”
- Meaning: Just in time, with very little time to spare.
- Example:
“We arrived at the airport in the nick of time. Our flight was boarding when we got there!”
8. “Speak of the devil”
- Meaning: Said when the person you’re talking about suddenly appears.
- Example:
“We were just talking about Sarah, and speak of the devil—there she is!”
9. “Pull someone’s leg”
- Meaning: To joke with someone or tease them in a light-hearted way.
- Example:
“I didn’t really win the lottery—I was just pulling your leg!”
10. “Through thick and thin”
- Meaning: To support someone or remain loyal, no matter the circumstances.
- Example:
“We’ve been friends through thick and thin, and I know I can always count on her.”
Practice Exercise:
- Create sentences using each of these phrases to describe situations in your own life or something fictional.
- Practice using at least five of these phrases in a conversation or a short dialogue with a partner or classmate.
- Write a short paragraph or story using as many of the phrases as possible, making sure they fit naturally into the context.
These phrases will help you enhance your conversational fluency, making your speech sound more idiomatic and closer to that of native speakers.
