Common phrases to ask how
someone is:
• What’s up?
• What’s new?
• What have you been up to lately?
• How’s it going?
• How are things?
• How’s life?
Common phrases to say how you
are:
• I’m fine, thanks. How about you?
• Pretty good.
• Same as always
• Not so great.
• Could be better
• cant complain
Common phrases to say thank you:
• I really appreciate it.
• I’m really grateful
• That’s so kind of you.
• I owe you one. (this means you
want/need to do a favor for the
other person in the future)
Common phrases to respond to
thank you:
• No problem.
• No worries
• Don’t mention it.
• My pleasure.
• Anytime.
Common phrases to end a
conversation politely:
• It was nice chatting with you.
• Anyway, I should get going.
Common phrases to ask for
information:
• Do you have any idea…?
• Would you happen to know…?
(when you’re not sure if the other
person has the information.)
• I don’t suppose you (would)
know…? (when you’re not sure if
the other person has the
information.)
Common phrases to say I don’t
know:
• I have no idea/clue.
• I can’t help you there.
• (informal) Beats me.
• I’m not really sure.
• I’ve been wondering that, too.
Common phrases for not having an
opinion:
• I’ve never given it much thought.
• I don’t have strong feelings either
way.
• It doesn’t make any difference to
me.
• I have no opinion on the matter.
Common phrases for agreeing:
• Exactly.
• Absolutely.
• That’s so true.
• That’s for sure.
• I agree 100%
• I couldn’t agree with you more.
• (informal) Tell me about it! / You’re
telling me!
• (informal) I’ll say!
• I suppose so. (use this phrase for
weak agreement – you agree, but
reluctantly)
 • That’s a rip-off. (= overpriced; far
Common phrases for disagreeing: more expensive than it should be)
• I’m not so sure about that. • That’s a bit pricey.
• That’s not how I see it. • That’s quite reasonable. (= it’s a
• Not necessarily good price)
• That’s a good deal. (= a good value
Common phrases to respond to
for the amount of money)
great news:
• It was a real bargain.
• That’s great!
• It was dirt cheap. (= extremely
• How wonderful!
inexpensive)
• Awesome!

Common phrases for weather:

Common phrases to respond to
bad news: • It’s a little chilly.
• It’s freezing. (= extremely cold)
• Oh no…
• Make sure to bundle up. (bundle up
• That’s terrible.
= put on warm clothes for
• Poor you. (Use this to respond to
protection against the cold)
bad situations that are not too
serious)
Common phrases for hot weather:
• I’m so sorry to hear that.
• It’s absolutely boiling! (boiling =

Common phrases to invite extremely hot)

someone somewhere: • it scorching hot outside

• Are you free… [Saturday night?]

• Are you doing anything… [Saturday
Common phrases for being tired:
• I’m exhausted.
night?]
• I’m dead tired.
• . (informal) Do you wanna… [see a
• I’m beat
movie?]
• I can hardly keep my eyes open
• (formal)Would you like to… [join
• I’m gonna hit the sack. (hit the sack
me for dinner?]
= go to bed)

Common phrases for food:

• I’m starving! (= I’m very hungry)
• Let’s grab a bite to eat.
• How about eating out tonight? (eat
out = eat at a restaurant)
• I’ll have… (use this phrase for
ordering in a restaurant)

Common phrases for price:

• It cost a fortune.
• It cost an arm and a leg.
DURING A SPEECH/ DEBATE/
CONVERSATION…
Conceding an argument

It's true/obvious/evident that ... However, ...

While you might say that ..., it's important to

remember that ...

I agree with you that ... On the other hand, ...

Although/even though it is true that... I believe

that...

I agree/admit/concede that... , but we must

remember that...

I can understand that... Nevertheless, ...

Sequencing a list of arguments

First of all, I'd like to state ...

Firstly, ... Secondly, ...Thirdly, ...

The second argument in favor of ...

To begin with, ...

I'd start by...

For a start, ...

The next argument I'd like to state is...

Adding an argument to strengthen your

point

In addition to that,...

You also have to consider...

Furthermore,...

Moreover,...

What is more,...

I might also add that...

Perhaps / maybe I should also mention...

Not to mention the fact that...

Concluding

Let me recap/recapitulate my point ...

As a final word, let me summarize my point of

view ...

To reiterate my point of view, ...

My final thought is ...

It all boils down to ...

In a nutshell, what I am trying to say is ...

To sum up, ...

Finally, ...
IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

A drop in the ocean A very small part or insignificant A donation of 100,000 dollars is just a
amount of something big or drop in the ocean compared to the
whole millions that need to be spent.

Actions speak louder than words It’s better to actually do I am going to work for an NGO in Africa
something than just talk about it fighting climate change. Actions speak
louder than words.

Add fuel to the fire Whenever something is done to Don’t mention the product delay in the
make a bad situation even worse meeting. You are just adding fuel to the
than it is fire.

A penny for your thoughts When you want to know what Why are you staring at the sky? A penny
somebody is thinking for your thoughts!

Ball is in somebody’s court It is up to somebody to make the I have laid out my plan. The ball is in
next decision or step your court now.

Barking up the wrong tree Look in the wrong place or I’m not responsible for this mess! You are
accuse the wrong person barking up the wrong tree.

Be a good catch Be someone worth Donald is such a good catch. I hope, he’ll
marrying/having propose soon.

Beat around the bush Avoid the main topic or not Don’t beat around the bush! We can have
speak directly about the issue an open discussion here.

Bend over backwards Do whatever it takes to help. Our company is bending over backwards
Willing to do anything to satisfy our customers.

Bite off more than you can chew Take on a task that is too big You bit off more than you can chew. You
are never going to finish the presentation
on time.

Blow somebody away Be extremely impressed by The product demo just blew me away.
something I’ve never seen such a powerful software.

By the skin of your teeth You only just succeeded and I hadn’t studied much, but passed the test
nearly failed by the skin of my teeth.

Couldn’t care less Have a total lack of interest in I couldn’t care less what my new co-
something workers think of me.

Cry over spilt milk Complain about a loss from the There’s no way to win back this customer.
past Don’t cry over spilt milk.

Cry wolf Call for help when you don’t My new co-worker is constantly crying
need it wolf.

Crunch time The period of time just before a I’m not getting much sleep these days,
project has to be completed and because it’s crunch time at work.
everyone has to work hard

Curiosity killed the cat Get into an unpleasant situation He shouldn’t have searched for the secret
by being inquisitive files. Curiosity killed the cat.

Cut corners Do something badly or cheaply They really cut corners when they built
this office. The cubicles are way too
small.

Cut somebody some slack Give somebody a break/ not to You have to cut me some slack. I already
judge somebody severely worked on the report the whole weekend.
Cut to the chase Leave out all the unnecessary In an elevator pitch you don’t have much
details and just get to the point time. You have to cut to the chase!

Dig in your heels / Stick to your Refuse to compromise or change My parents always wanted me to become
guns your mind a lawyer, but I dug in my heels / stuck to
my guns and started my own travel
business.

Down to the wire Something that ends at the last With the deadline coming up and the
minute or last few seconds project not being on track, the team
worked right down to the wire to
complete it on time.

Drive someone up the wall To irritate or annoy very much The music my co-workers listen to at the
office is driving me up the wall.

Get out of hand Lose control of things The meeting got out of hand and people
started yelling at each other.

Get your head around it Understand something I just can’t get my head around the fact
that my boss is not giving me a raise.

Give the benefit of the doubt Believe someone’s statement, I can’t check your results anyway, so I’ll
without proof give you the benefit of the doubt.

Go down in flames End or fail suddenly and Our company will go down in flames, if
spectacularly we don’t take these new startups
seriously.

Hear on the grapevine Hear a rumor or unconfirmed I heard on the grapevine that our boss
story will be leaving us soon.

Hit the books Study very hard I have to hit the books. My final exam is
coming up soon.

It takes two to tango Actions or communications need I don’t think, she did this by herself. It
more than one person takes two to tango.

Judge a book by its cover Judge someone or something I really disliked the product’s packaging.
based solely on appearance But you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Jump on the bandwagon Join a popular trend or activity This new software is going to disrupt the
market. We should jump on the
bandwagon.

Kill two birds with one stone Solve two problems at once / By cycling to work I kill two birds with
with one action one stone. If saves me money and I get to
work out.

Leave no stone unturned Do everything possible to I’ll leave no stone unturned until I find
achieve a goal out who did this.

Let the cat out of the bag Accidentally reveal a secret The CEO let the cat out of the bag about
the company’s restructuring.

Make a long story short Come to the point There’s not much time left. Let me make
a long story short.

Miss the boat Miss the opportunity to do I think I have missed the boat. They
something didn’t accept my application anymore.
Once in a blue moon When something rarely ever You only achieve such an amazing return
happens on your investment once in a blue moon.

Piece of cake When something is extremely Piece of cake, with our new software we’ll
easy to do win this customer for sure.

Pull a rabbit out of a hat Do something unexpected I thought there was no fix to the software
bug, but our programmer pulled a rabbit
out of his hat.

Pull yourself together Calm down and act normally I understand you’ve had a bad day, but
pull yourself together and get on with
your job, will you?

Run on fumes Continue to stay awake when I really have to take a nap now. I haven’t
feeling exhausted slept for twenty hours and I’m running
on fumes.

Sell somebody out Snitch on someone or let their I asked you to keep this information to
secret out yourself. I can’t believe you sold me out!

Shoot from the hip Speak directly If you want to get on well with your new
boss, try not to shoot from the hip next
time.

Sit on the fence Stay neutral and not take sides I’m sitting on the fence with this one. My
team prefers solution A, but my boss
favors solution B.

Skeleton crew The minimum number of people Can you please come to the office this
needed to keep a service/office weekend? We’re operating with a
operating skeleton crew at the moment.

Step up your game Start performing better If you really want to win this competition,
you’ll have to seriously step up your
game.

When pigs fly Something will never happen As long as my boss stays in office, I will
have to wait for a raise till pigs fly.

Whole nine yards Everything I’ll do whatever it takes to make my

venture a successful one – I’ll go the
whole nine yards.

Your guess is as good as mine Have no idea, do not know the We just don’t have enough information.
answer to a question Your guess is as good as mine.