Rollicking (a): exuberantly lively and amusing

 Vui đùa, đùa cợt

- It's been a rollicking first quarter of the year

The upshot (n): the final or eventual outcome or conclusion of a discussion, action, or
series of events.
 kết quả, thành quả
- The upshot has been consistently rising home values
Tie (v): to relate to or connect to
- be tied to: Is the allergy tied to dairy products, for example?
- tie something up with something: Can you tie his behaviour up with anything
that's happened recently?
Turnaround (n)(Transport)
 The amount of time it takes for a truck, plane, etc. to get ready for a return trip
- The airline's 25-minute turnaround time does not provide sufficient time for
basic security checks.
 Any change from one thing to its opposite/ a positive change; improvement
- Business was up over 40% in a dramatic turnaround from last year.
Stonking (a)
 Used to emphasize something remarkable, exciting, or very large.
- Perth's stonking Q1 metrics – home values up 6.1% in the three months to May
 Used to emphasize how good something is
- We had a stonking good time at the party last night.
Dwelling (n): a house or place to live in
 Nơi cư trú
- The median dwelling value is still one of the more affordable cities in the
country relative to local incomes
Handy (a)
 (C2) useful or convenient
- Handy for: It's a nice house and it's handy for (= near) the train station.
 - Come in handy for (informal): Don't throw those bottles away - they'll come
in handy (= be useful) for the picnic next Sunday.
 Able to use something skilfully
- Handy with: Jonathan's good at putting up wallpaper, but he's not so handy
with a paintbrush.
- Handy about: Susannah's very handy (= good at doing things that need skilled
use of the hands) about the house.
Windfalls (n): an amount of money that you win or receive from someone
unexpectedly
- Investors each received a windfall of £3,000.
Scarcity (n)(C2): a situation in which something is not easy to find or get
 Sự khan hiếm
- The scarcity of skilled workers
Detached (a): separated
 (C1): A detached house is not connected to any other building
- Prices are rising so fast that people can't afford detached houses.
Upswings (n): an increase or improvement/ an increase in strength or quantity; an
upward trend.
- Many analysts are predicting an upswing in the economy.
Discretion (n) (C2): the ability to behave without causing embarrassment or attracting
too much attention, especially by keeping information secret
 Sự nhận thức, sự thận trọng
Be snowed under (with something) (C2): to have so much work that you have
problems dealing with it all
- I'm absolutely snowed under with work at the moment.
Hectic (a) (C1): full of activity, or very busy and fast/ extremely busy
- A hectic schedule
- Business has been hectic recently.
Intensive (a): involving a lot of effort or activity in a short period of time
 - 2 weeks of intensive training
- June and July are a period of intensive activity for our company.
One-on-one: A one-on-one activity involves two people talking directly, usually with
one teaching or giving information to the other
- Each employee has a one-on-one performance review with his or her boss.
Slacker (n): a person who does not work hard enough
- He’s such a slacker. He’s always late with his projects, and he expects me to
work harder to keep up
Workhorse (n): a person who does a lot of work, especially of a type that is necessary
but not interesting
- He’s a real workhorse. Whether it’s in the office or at home, he always gets
projects done.
First thing in the morning: to do something as soon as the day begins.
- First thing in the morning I made a pot of coffee.
- If I don’t hear from her today, I’ll call her first thing in the morning
Pick your brain: to talk to someone who has more knowledge than you
- I know you’ve worked for this company for 5 years, so I’d love to pick your
brains about what it’s like to work here.
Hop on a call: to take a quick, unplanned phone call or Zoom meeting
- Do you have a minute to hop on a call? I have some questions for our new
clients.
Shoot off an email/ fire off an email: to send an email or text quickly
- I’m going to fire off an email with these questions before we meet with the
client.
Keep (me) in the loop: to keep someone informed
- I missed the meeting this morning, so could you keep me in the loop and still
send me the emails?
All hands on deck/ all-hands: All members of a team are required
 - We need all hands on deck if we’re going to finish this project on time.
Align: to be in agreement with or to support something.
- That project does not align with the company’s goals, so we’re not gonna do it.
Streamline (v): to change something so that it works better, esp. by making it simpler/
to make a business, process, activity, etc. simpler and more effective by reducing
costs, the number of people involved in it, etc.
- The company streamlined its operations and increased its profits.
- Around 1% of the global workforce are being laid off as the group attempts to
streamline its business.
Scalable (a): used to describe a business or system that is able to grow or to be made
larger
- To receive funding they will have to demonstrate that their idea is scalable from
school level to state level.
(Lost) In the weed: to get lost in the details of something
- Let’s not get lost in the weeds. We need to focus on the main goal.
Circle back: to come back to something
- Can we circle back to those questions later in the meeting? I wanna make sure
that we can finish the main reason for our meeting first.
To put a pin in it: make a note to come back to a question or topic at a later time
- Let’s put a pin in it, and we’ll discuss it at next week’s meeting.
Monotonous (a)(C1): not changing and therefore boring/ doing the same thing over
and over again
- Doing data entry can be quite monotonous after a while
- She finds her job monotonous because it lacks variety.
Reluctant (a)(C1): not willing to do something and therefore slow to do it
- I’m reluctant to commit to this project without more information
Vague (a)(C1): not clearly expressed, known, described, or decided
- His intructions about the task is too vague so I didn’t know where to start.
Distinctive (a)(C1): Something that is distinctive is easy to recognize because it is
different from other things
- Our company has a distinctive logo that stands out.
Disastrous (a)(C1): extremely bad or unsuccessful/ causing great harm, damage, or
suffering
- The disastrous meeting left everyone feeling frustrated.
Exclusive (a)(C1): limited to only one person or group of people
- We secured an exclusive contract with a major client
Reassuring (a)(C1): making you feel less worried
- He smiled at me in a reassuring way.
- His reassuring words help the team feel more confident about the upcoming
launch.
Prestigious: this means that someone or something is respected or admired in that
field and is probably very important or of very high quality.
- The award is prestigious and recogized throughout the industry
Widespread (a)(C1): existing or happening in many places and/or among many
people
- The policy changed has had widespread effects on the industry.
- The widespread agreement that the current system needs an overhaul.
Sheer (a)(C1): used to emphasize how very great, important, or powerful a quality or
feeling is; nothing except
- His success was due to sheer willpower/determination.
- The project was a success through sheer determination.
Resilient (a): able to return quickly to a previous good condition
- Optimists argue that the economy may prove more resilient.
Retrieve (v)(C2): to find and bring back something
- We taught our dog to retrieve a ball.
- Important historic documents were retrieved from a dumpster last week.
First and foremost (C1): more than anything else
- In spite of being elected to office, she remains first and foremost a writer.
Beat around the bush (C1): to avoid talking about what is important
- Don't beat around the bush - get to the point!
The next best thing (C1): the thing that is best, if you cannot have or do the thing you
really want
- I really wanted to work in television but I ended up in radio, which is the next
best thing.
Easier said than done (C1): said when something seems like a good idea but would
be difficult to do
- "Why don't you just ask Simon to pay?" "That's easier said than done."
Have an ear for (something) (C1): If someone has an ear for music or languages,
they are good at hearing, repeating, and understanding these sounds
- She's never had much of an ear for languages.
Behind the times (C1): If someone or something is behind the times, they are old-
fashioned.
- Canadian Tiktok slammed for “behind the times’s video”…
Down-to-earth (C1): practical, reasonable, and friendly
- She's a down-to-earth woman with no pretensions.
Articulate (a/v): able to express thoughts and feelings easily and clearly, or showing
this quality
- An intelligent and highly articulate young woman
- The politician was able to articulate his policy proposals in a way that
resonated with voters.
Reconcile (C2)(v): to find a way in which two situations or beliefs that are opposed to
each other can agree and exist together
- The mediator helped the 2 parties reconcile their differences and reach a
settlement in the divorce
 - The student had to reconcile conflicting information in order to write an
accurate research report.
Conjecture: to make an educated guess about something based on incomplete
information
- The journalist conjectured that the company was hiding something based on its
lack of transparency.
Elaborate (C1)(v): to add more information to or explain something that you have
said
- The author used examples to elaborate on the main theme of his book.
Infer (C1)(v): to draw a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning.
- The reader inferred the character’s motives from their actions in the story
Elicit : to make predictions ot estimates based on known information.
- The teacher used thought-provoking questions to elicit insightful answers from
her students
Ameliorate (v): to make a bad or unpleasant situation better
- Foreign aid is badly needed to ameliorate the effects of the drought.
Garner (v): to collect something, usually after much work or with difficulty
- Coppola garnered several Oscars for his movie, "The Godfather."
Abate (v): to become less strong
- The storm/wind/rain has started to abate.
Concur (v): to agree or have the same opinion
- The new report concurs with previous findings.
Exemplify (C2)(v): to be or give a typical example of something
- This painting perfectly exemplifies the naturalistic style which was so popular
at the time.
Criticise POLITELY without being RUDE
I have /I’m bound to say: We want to say something that may annoy the person that
we’re talking to
- I’m bound to say, I found your written response to our client’s query a little
short of the mark.
Short of the mark: below expectations or failing to meet a desired standard.
With (all due) respect: we’re going to disagree with somebody in particular, and we
want to be polite
- With all due respect, Mr T, I do think that you are being very unreasonable.
To say the least/ to put it mildly: we want to suggest that something is actually
worse than what we are saying it
- I think his behavior at the party was completely out of order, to put it mildly
Shall we say? We want to be not so offensive, and we don’t want to sound too severe
- Your time keeping, shall we say, is not up to the level of other people.
To water down: used to describe the act of reducing the impact, force, significance of
something, typically by making it less concentrated or less extreme.
Don’t get me wrong: we wanna make sure that they undertstand your comments as
correctly as possible
- Don’t get me wrong, Mary’s presentation is quite good, but she needs to work
on her closing skills.
- Don’t get me wrong, David is really good, but he tends to talk too much and he
doesn't listen.
How shall I put it?/ Let me put it this way: you want people to understand that
you’re being honest, but it may sound unkind
- Her new colleague…let me put it this way…he doesn’t seem suitable for this
position at all.
Without wishing to…: we use this when we are gonna say something that the other
person may not like
- Without wishing to hurt your feelings, I think you need to put a little bit more
effort into this presentation.
Articulate (a): able to express thoughts and feelings easily and clearly, or showing
this quality in speech or writing
- The articulate lawyer presented a strong case, persuading the jury with her
convincing arguments and eloquent delivery
Astute (a): able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take advantage of it
- The astute businessman was able to predict market trends and make strategic
decisions
Eminent (a)(C2): famous, respected, or important
- The eminent scientist made groundbreaking discoveries, earning her numerous
accolades and awards
Impartial (a): not supporting any of the sides involved in an argument/ unbiased and
fair, without favourism or prejudice.
- The impartial judge considered all the evidence and made a just decision,
upholding the principles of justice and equality.
Meticulous (a)(C2): very careful and with great attention to every detail/ extremely
careful and precise, paying close attention to detail
- The meticulous architect designed a building that was both functional and
aesthetically pleasing
Resourceful (a)(C2): skilled at solving problems and making decisions on your own/
able to find solutions to problems or challenges, often using creativity.
- The resouceful traveller navigated a foreign country with ease, using her
language skills and cultural knowledge.
Versatile (a)(C2): able to change easily from one activity to another or able to be used
for many different purposes
- He's a very versatile young actor who's as happy in highbrow dramas as he is in
TV comedies.
Assertive (a)(C2): Someone who is assertive behaves confidently and is not
frightened to say what they want or believe/ confident and self-assured, able to
express opinions and ideas clearly and forcefully.
 - The assertive leader was able to rally her team and make quick decisions, even
under high-pressure situations.
Compassionate (a): feeling or showing sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad
luck of others, and wanting to help them
- The public's response to the crisis appeal was generous and compassionate.
Persistent (a)(C2): Someone who is persistent continues doing something or tries to
do something in a determined but often unreasonable way
- She is a persistent offender and has been arrested five times this year for
shoplifting.
Inquisitive (a): wanting to discover as much as you can about things, sometimes in a
way that annoys people
- The child’s inquisitive nature led him to ask a lot of questions about the world
around him
Conscientious (a)(C1): putting a lot of effort into your work/ being diligent,
responsible, and thorough in your work
- She is conscientious student who always submits her assignments on time and
puts in a lot of effort.
Arrogant (a): having an exaggerated sense of self-importance or superiority
- He was so arrogant that he refused to listen to anyone else’s opinions.
Assemble (v)(C2): to come together in a single place or bring parts together in a
single group
- The panel of 29 forecasters assembled by The Conversation expects a further
cut of 0.3 points by the end of 2025.
- At the staff meeting, the manager told the assembled company (= everyone
there) that no one would lose their job.
It’s about time: (it is) past the time when something should have happened
- It’s about time you got home. Your dinner has been on the table for the last 15
minutes
- It’s about time you got your hair cute. Look at the length of it!
Take your time: (C1) said to mean that you can spend as much time as you need in
doing something, or that you should slow down // to do something too slowly
- The builders are really taking their time.
- Don’t worry, take your time. I have no other meetings after this.
All the time in the world: you’ve got plenty of time, you can do whatever you want
- The doctor made me feel as if she had all the time in the world to listen to my
problems.
Time on your hands: a period when you have nothing you must do
- Now that she was retired, Mary found that she had a lot of time on her hands.
For the time being (C1): for the present, until some other arrangements is made
- The union voted not to strike for the time being.
- Leave the ironing for the time being - I'll do it later.
Time after time (C2): again and again
- Time after time, I have to tell the kids not to play football in the garden.
They’re going to break the window.
- Time after time he turned down requests for interviews.
Time is on your side: you have a lot of time to do something
- When you’re young, time is on your side
- At the moment, time is on your side. You’ve got plenty of time to prepare and
get it done properly.
Brainwash (v): to make people believe only what you want them to believe by
continually telling them that it is true and preventing any other information from
reaching them // to get someone to think the way you want them to think
- If you fell into the wrong hands of the enemy, they would try to brainwash you.
To butter someone up: to flatter someone they can do something for you
- They buttered him up to get a VIP pass to the game.
To fob someone off: to persuade someone to accept something that is of a low quality
or different from what they really wanted
 - Well, he wants the report ready by tomorrow but I can always fob him off with
some excuse.
To hustle: to try to persuade someone, especially to buy something, often illegally
- They made a living hustling stolen goods on the streets.
To urge: to strongly advise or try to persuade someone to do a particular thing
- Investigators urged that safety procedures at the site should be improved.
Having said that…: you’re gonna say something which will disagree with what you
said a moment ago // despite what has just been said
- He forgets most things, but having said that, he always remembers my birthday.
Have something in mind: to have a plan or intention // it’s a suggestion that we
wanna make, it’s an idea we wanna raise or introduce
- Did you have anything in mind for Helen's present?
- Have something in mind? Have you got something to suggest?
Be on the point of…: just about to do something
- As we were on the point of giving up hope, a letter arrived.
- She was so tired that she was on the point of collapse.
- Well, I was just on the point of wrapping up for the day and leaving. But if it’s
quick, yes, certainly come in, and we’ll have a talk.
Keep an eye on something/someone: to watch or take care of something or someone
- Can you keep an eye on the soup in case it boils over?
- We should keep an eye on the weather. We might need to think of something
indoors.
By no means (C1): not at all
- It is by no means certain that we'll finish the project by June.
- It is by no means certain that the team is gonna survive this year.
Turn out to be (something): to develop in a particular way in the end
- Things can turn out to be a little different than we expected.
Contrary to popular belief: going against what the popular people think
 - Contrary to popular belief, our Prime Minister is actually quite a hard-working
individual.
Taken aback: we are surprised in a negative way
- I was really taken aback by the company announcement that they were gonna
cut over 1000 jobs.
Keep in touch: stay in touch with someone
- I’ll keep in touch with you when things develop.
As a matter of fact: used to add emphasis to what you are saying, or to show that it is
the opposite of or different from what went before // to introduce a fact or a piece of
information
- As a matter of fact, I sent an email to you few minutes ago. You should see it in
the inbox
- As a matter of fact, I won’t be able to attend the meeting tomorrow. I’m going
to meet with that client.
In the nick of time: at the last possible moment // used to indicate something was just
done in time
- We arrived the airport in the nick of time just our flight was being called.
- We got there just in the nick of time.
Have a lot on one’s plate: to have a lot of responsibilities or tasks to manage at once
- I can’t take on any work at the moment. I have a lot on my plate
It’s not rocket science: used to say that you do not think that something is very
difficult to do or to understand
- My coach always said, "Basketball is not rocket science. It's about putting the
ball in the basket."
Under the weather (C2): If someone is or feels under the weather, they feel ill
- I'm feeling a bit under the weather - I think I'm getting a cold.
- Apologies for the sneezing in the background, that’s my wife. She’s feeling
under the weather.
Get/start the ball rolling: to make something begin or happen
 - We have to get the ball rolling on this project soon.
- Let’s get the ball rolling on planning the party by setting a date and sending out
invitations.
To blunder (v): to make a serious mistake, usually because of not taking care or
thinking
- Police blundered by not releasing more details about the case to focus public
interest.
Blunt (a)(C2): A blunt pencil, knife, etc. is not sharp and therefore not able to write,
cut, etc. well.
(a)(C2):very rigid, very straight to the point; can sound a little bit rude
- The manager made a blunt remark about the staff’s work.
Compelling: something that keeps your attention or focus
- The book was well-written and the story was compelling.
- The lecture that the professor gave was very compelling.
Conceited (a)(C2): too proud of yourself and your actions and abilities
- Without wishing to sound conceited, I am the best salesperson in the company.
- He was conceited and arrogant. He believed that he didn’t need these other
people around him.
Daunting: something a little bit difficult, but not impossible
- The task the boss set me took many days, and it was really daunting at first.
- Europe is facing a daunting economic challenge with rising inflation and high
cost of living.
Exhilarating (a): making you feel very excited and happy
- an exhilarating walk in the mountains
Fierce (a): physically violent and frightening // very angry or ready to attack
- I was confronted by a large wild dog. It was fierce looking.
Formidable (a)(C2): causing you to have fear or respect for something or someone
because that thing or person is large, powerful, or difficult // strong and powerful, and
therefore difficult to deal with if opposed to you
 - There were formidable obstacles to reaching an early settlement of the dispute.
Hostile (a)(C1): unfriendly and not liking something, showing opposition or dislike
- The president had a hostile reception in Ohio this morning.
- We didn’t want our company to be sold to our opposition. It was a hostile
takeover.
Ingenious (a): (of a person) very intelligent and skilful, or (of a thing) skilfully made
or planned and involving new ideas and methods
- Johnny is so ingenious - he can make the most remarkable sculptures from the
most ordinary materials.
- Some of the apps you see on mobile phones these days are ingenious
Harsh (a): unpleasantly rough, severe or cruel
- The weather is always harsh in Aus. Cold, windy and wet.
Tedious (a)(C1): boring and tiring, esp. because long or often repeated // something
that is dull, monotonous, and repetitive, takes a long time.
- The guest speaker gave a tedious lecture with lots of numbers, data and
uninteresting facts.
Time span: a period of time within which something happens, or between two events
Bolster (v): to support or improve something or make it stronger
- More money is needed to bolster the industry.
- She tried to bolster my confidence/morale (= encourage me and make me feel
stronger) by telling me that I had a special talent.
Particular (after verb)(C1): not easily satisfied and demanding that close attention
should be given to every detail
- He's very particular about the kitchen - everything has to be perfectly clean and
in its place.
- She's very particular about what she eats.
Exposed (a): able to be easily harmed, influenced, or attacked
 - I mention Australia’s exposed to money laundering not just from criminal
proceeds generated in Australia by those generated in a region that might be
flowing into Australia.”
Reiterate (v): to say something again, once or several times
- The government has reiterated its refusal to compromise with terrorists.
- She reiterated that she had never seen him before.
Kick off (C1): If a game of football kicks off, it starts
- What time does the game kick off?
- To begin: Indonesia's parliamentary election campaign kicked off at the
weekend.
Slash (v): to very much reduce something, such as money or jobs
- Prices have been slashed by 50 percent!
- Hundreds of government jobs in New South Wales are set to be slashed
Amid (prep)(C1): in the middle of or surrounded by
- On the floor, amid mounds of books, were two small envelopes.
Raft (n): a large number or range; a lot
- The government is preparing to kick-off a raft of measures aimed at trimming
the public service.
- A raft of data
Staggering (a)(C1): very shocking and surprising
- The first to undergo a major restructure that will slash its staggering headcount.
- It costs a staggering $50,000 per week to keep the museum open to the public.
Redundancy (n)(C1): a situation in which someone loses their job because their
employer does not need them
- The economic downturn has meant 10,000 redundancies in the Northeast.
Pledge (v): to make a serious or formal promise to give or do something
- We are asking people to pledge their support for our campaign.
Ax (v): to order someone suddenly to give up a job, or to stop or reduce something
suddenly
- The company has already axed 14 people, and many more may lose their jobs.
- Media reports claiming a quarter of the Service NSW workforce will be axed,
equating to some 1200 roles, are not accurate.
Discontent (n)(C1): a feeling of wanting better treatment or an improved situation
(bất mãn, không bằng lòng)
- Understanding that there is growing discontent among the Service NSW
workforce over the uncertainty created by a lack of information about which
roles are likely to be impacted.
Uplifted (a): raised
- With uplifted arms, he ran towards them.
Transparency (n): the quality of being easy to see through (sự minh bạch)
Susceptible (a): easily influenced or harmed by something
- Ms Chan said knowledge workers were more susceptible to burnout than the
average population because of the nature of their jobs.
Mundane (a)(C1): very ordinary and therefore not interesting (tầm thường)
- Mr Joseph said technology played a huge part in preventing worker burnout,
particularly around automating repetitive and mundane tasks.
- Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest her.

Expressing Opinions
Fair enough: something you say to show that you understand why someone has done
or said something
- I don’t like this series… => Ok, fair enough… (I don’t necessarily agree with
your opinion but I understand your point of view.
I know what you mean: In this case, we agree with some body
- They didn’t let me join the club => Yeah I know what you mean. Same thing
happened to me last week
Do you know what I think // Do you want to hear what I think // Do you want to
listen to what I think?
Hear me out: please listen to me, I’ve got something to say… // I have an opinion to
express…
In my humble opinion: we use this to express our point of view, particularly when
we are sure that we are right
- In my humble opinion, I think you need to apologize
Frankly // frankly speaking: used to emphasize the truth of a statement, however
unpalatable or shocking this may be.
- Frankly speaking, I think you are wrong. I couldn’t agree with you.
I take your point: It is equal to "I understand". Usually it is used in response to the
other person making an objection or disagreement. It can imply agreement with the
other person unless followed by ", but".
- I take your point what you’re saying, but what I would do is the following…
It seems to me: I think, in my opinion
- It seems to me that you’ve been talking about this for a long time
- It seems to me that really want the job
The way I see: think/have the opinion that used before telling someone your opinion
- The way I see, you’re going to have to make the first move.

Thank You
That’s great: in response to someone telling you good news or something positive
they’ve done for you
- That’s great, I’ll look at these right now. Thanks for bringing them over!
- That’s great, thanks for sorting that out! I’m really looking forward to it.
Cheers: in informal situations such as small favours, casual business interactions, or
when being served at places like cafes or bars
- I’ve left you some coffee in the kitchen. Cheers, that’s great. I’ll go grab it now.
Nice one: in casual, informal situations when someone has done something helpful or
impressive.
- Nice one! That sounds really good on a Friday arvo – just what the doctor
ordered!
I really appreciate it: to express gratitude when somebody has done something
particularly helpful or kind
- You stay behind late to finish this report. I really appreciate it.
- Your advice made a big difference. I really appreciate it.
I owe you (one): to thank someone for a significant favour, implying you’ll return the
favour later
- I owe you one for helping out today. If you need any help, just give me a shout.
Good to hear: to casually show you’re happy with positive news, expressing thanks
in a relaxed way.
- You found my keys? Good to hear, I was looking everywhere.
- Good to hear you enjoyed the presentation-thanks for the feedback!
That’ll make my day: to thank someone for something that will make you very
happy
- Hearing good news like this on a Monday morning that’ll make my day.
Music to my ears: something you are pleased to hear about
- When she said they would make a profit, it was music to Richard’s ears.
Just what I wanted to hear: when someone delivers news or information that
perfectly matches your expectations or desires
- I can pick up from the party later on – just what I wanted to hear, thanks!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart: is used to express deep, sincere gratitude.
The implication is that the gratitude is coming from the deepest, most genuine part of
one's being - the "bottom" or core of the heart.
- After all your help when I was unwell, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
You don’t know what that means to me: to express deep gratitude for something
that has greatly impacted you emotionally
 - When you offered to help with my move on such short notice, you don’t know
what that means to me.
You saved my day/ skin/ bacon: when someone helps you get out of a dangerous or
difficult situation
- He doesn't care what happens to us. All he's worried about is saving his own
skin/neck.

On cloud nine (C2): extremely happy.

- I was on cloud nine once I had completed it
- "Was Helen pleased about getting that job?" "Pleased? She was on cloud
nine!"’
Walk(ing) on air: to feel extremely excited or happy
- After the delivery of her baby, she was walking on air.
Thrilled to bits: extremely pleased
- She was thrilled to bits with her present.
Be over the moon: to be very pleased/ happy
- She was over the moon about/with her new bike.
- I was over the moon when I heard the news that my dream university had
accepted me.
- The girl he loves has just agreed to go on a date with him, which makes him
over the moon.
Tickled pink: very pleased/ happy
- I was tickled pink to be invited.
- He was absolutely tickled pink when his colleagues remembered his birthday
Out of sorts: to be slightly ill or slightly unhappy/ upset, or not in one’s usual state of
mind
- I've been feeling tired and headachy and generally out of sorts.
- I’m just a bit out of sorts right now with too much work. I think a short holiday
will do me good.
Down in the dumps (C2): unhappy/ feeling very sad, depressed, or low in spirits
- She's a bit down in the dumps because she failed one of her exams.
- She’s down in the dumps because all her friends are out of town.
- He was down in the dumps because of his ongoing financial problems
Sour grapes: pretending to dislike something because you cant have it
- I don't think it's such a great job - and that's not just sour grapes because I didn't
get it.
- She said top grades didn’t matter, but it was just sour grapes after her friends
got better exam results.
With a heavy heart: feeling very sad
- She handed in her resignation letter with a heavy heart, leaving a job she loved.
To soar (v)(C2): to rise very quickly to a high level
- All night long fireworks soared into the sky.
- Temperatures will soar over the weekend, say the weather forecasters.
To hurtle: to move very fast, especially in a way that seems dangerous
- The explosion sent pieces of metal and glass hurtling through the air.
- The truck came hurtling towards us.
To zoom/ whiz: to move or do something very fast
- We whizzed through the rehearsal, so that we'd be finished by lunchtime.
- A police car whizzed by, on its way to the accident.
Roll across: to move by turning over and over on a surface, covering a distance in the
process
- I carefully aim and let the ball roll smootly across the lane to hit the pins.
- I was opening the bag when frozen peas split and rolled across the kitchen
floor.
Plunge (v)(C2): to (cause someone or something to) move or fall suddenly and often
a long way forward, down, or into something
- We ran down to the beach and plunged into the sea.
- The car went out of control and plunged over the cliff.
Whirl (around): to (cause something to) turn around in circles
- She saw a mass of bodies whirling around on the dance floor.
- He stepped out into the night and the whirling snow.
- Kids laughed as the playground carousel began to whirl around, picking up
speed.
Whoosh: to move along quickly, making a soft sound like the wind
- A fast motorboat whooshed by.
Clump: to walk noisily with slow, heavy steps
- She clumped around the room in her boots.
- She clumped up the stairs in her boots.
Lumber: to move slowly and awkwardly
- In the distance, we could see a herd of elephants lumbering across the plain.
Slouch: to stand, sit, or walk with the shoulders hanging forward and the head bent
slightly over so that you look tired and bored
- Straighten your back - try not to slouch.
- A couple of boys were slouched over the table reading magazines.
Sweep: to clean something, especially a floor by using a brush to collect the dirt into
one place from which it can be removed/ (C2) to move, especially quickly and
powerfully
- Everyone looked up as she swept into the room.
- The fire swept (= spread quickly) through the house.
Scramble (C2): to move or climb quickly but with difficulty, often using your hands
to help you
- She scrambled up the steep hillside and over the rocks.
- He scrambled into his clothes (= put them on quickly) and raced to get help.

I’m sick
I feel crap/shit: an informal way to express that you’re not feeling well. It’s not
suitable for formal situations!
 - I feel crap. I don’t know what it is, but I just woke up this morning feeling
terrible. I cant do anything.
I don’t feel so good
I’m out of sorts
I don’t feel the best
I am unwell: formal way
- I am unwell today, I’m going to the doctor
Feel under the weather: feeling a bit sick or not quite right
- I can’t put my finger on it but I just feel under the weather. Perhaps it’s the
change of seasons
I am not 100%: a casual way to indicate that you are not feeling well or that you’re
slightly unwell
I feel ghastly: you feel very sick or terrible; we use this expression to emphasise that
we’re really feeling unwell
- I feel ghastly. It must have been something I ate
I feel as if a bus hit me: Exhaustion is a sign that your body isn't working at its best.
It often comes with feeling lethargic, being unable to concentrate, having “brain fog”,
and generally feeling like you have just been hit by a bus.
- She collapsed on the sofa, exhausted, and said she felt as if a bus had hit her.
I have come/am coming down with something: to start to suffer from an illness,
especially one that is not serious
- I think I'm coming down with flu.
I picked something up: to catch an illness from someone or something, caused by
bacteria or a virus
- He picked up malaria when he was visiting the country on business.
- He picked something up in the swimming pool he must have swallowed some
water.
Pull a sickie: a day when a worker says they are ill when they are not, in order to stay
at home and not go to work
- I pulled a sickie and went to see a film.
It’s some sort of virus
- It’s some sort of virus, you should rest and stay hydrated
I have morning sickness
I am nauseous: feeling as if you might vomit
- Roller coasters make me feel nauseous.
I have a raging hangover: feeling ill with a bad pain in the head and often wanting to
vomit after having drunk too much alcohol
- That was a great party last night, but I'm (feeling) really hungover this morning.
I was throwing my guts up all night: an informal way to describe that you were
voting intensely and frequently

Can you ….please? – casual conversation

- Can you reply to this email please?
- Can you scroll down a little bit please?
- Can you get the new plate please?
Would you…? – more formal
- Would you mind if I asked you a question?
- Would you kindly pass me the salt?
Do you think you could…? – to soften your request
- Do you think you could make the meeting a little earlier? I need to leave to
pickup my kids from school care.
- Do you think you could drop me off at the train station on the way home?
Would you consider…? – more formal
- Would you consider cancelling or postponing the launch until I have completed
the research?
 - Would you consider giving feedback on my draft?
I wonder/was wondering if you could…
- I was wondering if you could bring the meeting forward to Friday. I’ve got a
day off on Thurday.
You couldn’t …., could you? – you understand the request might be difficult, but you
hope they can help
- You couldn’t get me a seat at the window, could you?
- You couldn’t drop into my office on your way to lunch, could you?
Do you mind…? – this structure makes it easy for others to decline if necessary
- Do you mind sending a message when you get there?
- Do you mind washing dishes tonight?
Would you mind…? – a polite way to ask for a favour or request someone to do
something
- Would you mind stopping by my office on your way to lunch?
- Would you mind arranging that dental appointment for tomorrow?
Could you please…?
- Could you please direct me to the nearest police station?
- Could you please show me where the hotel is?
Would it be ok if…? – ask if something is acceptable or if it’s alright to do
something.
- Would it be ok if I asked you to complete this report by lunchtime tomorrow?
- Would it be ok if I left the office a little earlier?
Positive answers:
- Not at all!
- No problem!
- I’d be glad / happy to…
- My pleasure
Negative answers:
 - I’m sorry, but I can’t because….
- I would love to …, but…

Having a sense of purpose - gives us clear reasons for what we want to do. This can
be a goal in life that makes us want to study, work, or train well. There's a close link
with intrinsic motivation.
- People with a sense of purpose work hard because of a true interest in their
goal, rather than because they have to.
- She wakes up every day with a very strong sense of purpose, ready to teach her
students.
To heave a sigh of relief - to suddenly feel very happy because something unpleasant
has not happened or has ended
- We both heaved a sigh of relief when she left. Animal physiology: breathing &
stopping breathing.
- He heaved a sigh of relief after finishing his speech at his daughter's wedding
- After presenting to the board, he heaved a sigh of relief the hard work had paid
off
Deeply concerned = very/sorely/really concerned
- The parents were deeply concerned about their child’s persistent cough.
Firmly believe – when you’re very sure or confident about something
- I am firmly believe that I was correct
- I firmly believe you’re at fault for the mistake in this situation
Strongly criticise – use it to express a high level of disapproval or dissatisfaction
- Unions strongly criticised his actions in relation to welfare reforms
- Customers strongly criticised the new restaurant’s service for being slow
Badly hurt - If someone or something is badly hurt or badly affected, they are
severely hurt or affected.
- He was badly hurt in the accident and had to go to the hospital
 - She was badly hurt when she fell off her bike
Sleep soundly – when you wanna describe deep, undisturbed sleep
- You should sleep soundly because Santa Claus will be coming on Christmas
Eve
- I had a great sleep last night. I slept soundly for the first time in many weeks
Hopelessly devoted – being deeply and completely committed to someone or
something
- He’s hopelessly devoted to his childhood team, loyal through all their losses
Completely forgot
Care passionately – you wanna express strong, deep feelings of commitment or
enthusiasm for someone or something
- He cares passionately about his football team, supporting them at every game
Badly/shabbily dressed - in a way that looks untidy and in poor condition because
things have been worn or used a lot
- He was shabbily dressed.
- I think the economy in this country isn’t doing so well. The people were badly
dressed.
Need desperately - Having an urgent need, desire, etc.
- I desperately need a coffee, I’ve been waiting to have one all morning.
- The startup desperately needed an investor to inject capital and keep the
business afloat
Break deliberately – when someone intentionally, or after deliberation; not
accidentally causes something to break or not function
- He deliberately broke that, didn't he?
- The child deliberately broke the mug during a tantrum throwing it against the
floor
Apologise profusely – when expressing a sincere and intense apology
- He apologised profusely for forgetting her birthday, his words filled with
sincere regret
 - He arrived late to board the meeting and apologised profusely to his colleagues
Bitterly disappointed – a deep and painful sense of disappointment
- You should have seen his face. He was bitterly disappointed that he didn’t make
the team
Severely affected
Distinctly remember – to emphacise that a memory is very clear and specific
- I distinctly remember sending an email to cancel the meeting on Friday
Fatally injured – injuries that are severe enough to lead to death
- The horse was fatally injured during the race, collapsing on the track
- Several passengers were fatally injuried in the train accident and died from
their injuries soon after.
Perfectly clear – something been explained or stated with absolutely clarity
- I made it perfectly clear to you that I didn’t wanna take part in this protest
- I thought I made it perfectly clear to the class that homework should be
completed by Monday
Virtually impossible – something is so difficult or unlikely to occur that it is most not
possible at all
- Climbing this mountain for many people will be virtually impossible
- Being able to go off and play tennis on this day will be virtually impossible
I’m inclined to / I have an inclination to – a person has a natual tendency to do
something regularly or repeatedly
- I’m inclined to go a little bit too much with my introduction
- Harry has an inclination to talk too quickly
As a rule – you’re referring to something that is typically or usually done
- As a rule, I try to get to bed before 10:30 in the morning
- As a rule, I usually get up at 6am in the morning
I’m prone to / I intend to – we have a tendency to do that particular thing regularly
- I’m prone to getting a little sick during the winter when the weather gets cold
 - I tend to get a bit sick during the cold winter weather
Nine times out of ten – when something happens most of the time or is a common
habit
- Nine times out of ten he comes home at 6am in the morning
- Nine times out of ten he will watch the tennis match if it’s on the TV

Say goodbye
I’m off now – used when leaving a place or ending a conversation
See you/ya
Later, dude! – used for friends
Take care – a friendly and polite way to say goodbye
Catch up soon/ later
Back later/ back in a while
See you sometime/ see you soon
See you later alligator! => reply: In a while crocodile! – a playful and rhyming way
to say goodbye especially among friends or with young children
See you soon not if I see you first! – a fun way to say goodbye; you look forward to
meeting again, and if they spot you first, they should say hello
Cheers – a casual way to say goodbye in informal situations
Later/laters/catch you later

Presentation
Setting the scene
- It’s good to see you all here
- It’s great that you could join me
- I’m very pleased to be here talking/presenting to you today
- I’m glad you could all make it
 - Thank you all for joining/coming in
Introducing a Talk
- What I’d like to do in this presentation is…
- First of all, I’ll give you a brief overview of…
- Then I’ll talk about…
- After that, I’d like to show you…
- I’ll go into the background of…
- And then I’ll show you some information…
Referring to Visuals
- You will notice on this chart…
- If you look at this slide, we can see…
- Have a look at these figures…
Finishing off a section
- Well, that’s all I wanted to say on that particular topic
- To summerise what I said is…
- That completes/ concludes…
- If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them now
- If there are no more questions, I’ll say goodbye…
- Thank you for your participation. I’ll talk to you again soon
Checking and moving on
- Does that sound OK to you?
- Do you follow that?
- Is it clear? Can I clarify anything else?
- Let’s move on. Let’s look at…
- Let’s move on to the really important topic of…
- That now leads me on to my next/ final point…
Recapping
- As I mentioned earlier…
- As I pointed out earlier…
- To sum up that particular section…
- Let me summerise briefly…
 - Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve covered today…
- I’d like to recap the main points…
Coming to an end
- Well, this is my key point
- To sum up…
- I’d like to finish by thanking you all
- I’ll be happy to take any questions now
- I look forward to receiving your emails
Suggestions
I think you should…
- I think you should go to the doctor
- I think you should probably take a cup of coffee
Would you be interested in…?
- Would you be interested in lending me USD10?
I thought perhaps you might like…
- I thought perhaps you might like to spend the evening at home for a change
I was thinking it would be a nice change if…
- I was thinking it would be a nice change if we went on a holiday abroad
How/what about?
- How about going out tomorrow?
Let’s…
Shall we?
We might as well
Do you fancy?
- Do you fancy going to the movies?
Positive responses
- Yeah, that sounds like a great idea
 - Yeah, that’s not a bad idea
- Brilliant!
- Count me in too
- Yeah, you’re probably right
- Sounds perfect
- That would be lovely
Negative responses
- I don’t think so
- I’m not sure that would be appropriate
- No, I’m not sure about that
- Well, I don’t know
- To be honest, it’s not my cup of tea
- No, not really
- I’m not keen on that idea
- No, I’d rather not
- I’m sorry, I really don’t feel it
Angry or Annoyed
Fed up with something/someone - bored, annoyed, or disappointed, especially by
something that you have experienced for too long (chán ngấy)
- He got fed up with all the travelling he had to do.
- I’m just fed up with his excuses for not getting his work done.
Furious - extremely angry (giận dữ)
- He's furious about/at the way he's been treated.
- He’s furious at the government because they haven’t tackled inflation. They
constantly put up price
Fuming - very angry, sometimes without expressing it (giận bốc khói)
- I saw her a week after they'd had the argument and she was still fuming.
- Days after the argument, he was still fuming.
Fit to be tied - very angry
- Daddy was fit to be tied when I separated from Hugh
Hot under the collar - embarrassed or angry about something
- When I suggested he was mistaken he got rather hot under the collar.
- Another subject which appears to keep making everyone hot under the collar is
industrial fisheries.
- The very mention of this in certain parts of my constituency makes people get
hot under the collar.
Enraged - very angry
- Plans to build a new nightclub in the neighbourhood have enraged local
residents.
- Perhaps this was out of sympathy for her older daughter, who was enraged by
the engagement (although she happily married later).
- Why was she so much enraged?
Seething - extremely angry but unable or unwilling to express it clearly (giận sôi sục)
- A feeling of seething resentment led to angry exchanges between the teams.
Incensed - extremely angry (nổi giận)
- He was incensed by the suggestion that he'd leaked details of a confidential
conversation.
- The villagers are incensed at the decision to close the railway station.
Outraged - feeling outrage (Bị xúc phạm)
- Outraged viewers jumped onto social media to complain about the ending of
the series.
- She became outraged by poverty.
- Am I alone in feeling outraged about this?
Irate - very angry
- We have received some irate phone calls from customers.
Pissed off – annoyed (bực mình)
- He'd kept me waiting for an hour so I was pissed off to start with.
- She seemed a bit pissed off that she hadn't been invited.
Infuriated – irate, very angry, very annoyed
 - The referee’s calls infuriated the home team fans.
- I do not know whether the suppliers are exploiting the position, but, were they
to do so, society as a whole would be infuriated.
Displeased - annoyed or unhappy
- He was displeased that his daughter was marrying a man just one year younger
than he was.
- We're all unhappy and displeased with the position we're in, but I don't see any
alternative.
Go ballistic - to become extremely angry
- He goes ballistic if you even mention his ex-wife's name.
- People went ballistic when they were asked to give up their parking spaces.
Make your blood boil (C2) - to make someone extremely angry
- The way they have treated those people makes my blood boil.

Mood
A bouyant mood
To lift the mood
Low spirits
To sink into despair
A sinking feeling
To raise or boost morale
To weigh on your mind
To keep the spirits up
To get in the mood
To get something off your chest

Expressions with Look

Take/ have a look (at something)
Look your best
Look the worse for wear
By the look of it
Looks like it (to me)
Look down your nose (at someone or something)
Look before you leap
Look no further
Look somebody up and down

Travel
Desolate area - is empty and not attractive, with no people or nothing pleasant in it
- The house stood in a bleak and desolate landscape.
- Whole villages are being desolated, and families dispersed to other parts of the
country.
Tedious journey - lasting or taking too long and not interesting
- The journey soon became tedious.
Panoramic view - showing a full or wide view
- a panoramic photograph of the Grand Canyon
- She used a panoramic camera and long exposures to capture the effects of
fading light.
Luxurious accommodation
Poor service
Far-flung location/destination - a very long distance away from where you are or
from important places.
- She has travelled to the most far-flung corners of the world.
 - The casebook offers useful, accessible storage space for otherwise far-flung and
difficult to retrieve interviews and essaies in criticism.
Quaint village - attractively unusual, esp in an old-fashioned style
Quaint (a)(C2) - attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned
- a quaint old cottage
Raw deal - bad or unfair treatment
- He said that many children in the city's schools were getting/being given a raw
deal by being taught in classes that were too large.
Impeccable service
Impeccable - perfect, with no problems or bad parts
- impeccable taste/manners/credentials
- His English is impeccable.
Unwary traveller
Unwary (a) - not conscious of or careful about possible risks and dangers
- A range of tax and technical issues can trip up the unwary (= unwary people).
- He sold fake insurance policies to unwary customers.

Bad
Poor
- The internet connection is very poor. There is a constant discruption to the
video steam
- When I tried to contact their customer service, I was not able to talk to anyone
in person. It was very poor.
Atrocious - of very bad quality, exceptionally bad
- His Russian was atrocious, but he communicated.
- The food was atrocious, it was cold and didn’t smell nice.
Terrible
Unprofessional
Horrendous - extremely unpleasant or bad
- Conditions in the refugee camps were horrendous.
- Exhibits show how horrendous the living conditions there were.
Appalling - extremely unpleasant or bad
- The weather in Aus is appalling. Yesterday it rained all day.
- The service here is always appalling on a Friday. They never have enough staff.
It’s horrendous to have to wait so long.
Lousy - very bad
- The bus service is lousy. They never have enough buses. It’s never going to
change.
Sub-par - worse than the usual or expected standard
- After a subpar performance last year, the fund has turned around and is now
yielding respectable dividends.
- The customer service in the hotel was distinctly subpar.

Muck around - behave in a silly or aimless way, especially by wasting time when
serious activity is expected. (lộn xộn xung quanh)
- He spent his summers mucking about in boats
Gloss over ST (bỏ qua): to avoid considering something, such as an embarrassing
mistake, to make it seem not important, and to quickly continue talking about
something else/ to treat something in a way that fails to recognize its importance or its
faults
- She glossed over the company's declining profits.
- The documentary glossed over some important issues.
- Popular writing sometimes glosses over important facts.
Tinker with - Try to repair, work aimlessly or unskillfully with
- He tinkered with the engine all day but it still wouldn't start .
Hand something out (trao, phát): to give something to each person in a group or
place
- The teacher asked her to hand out the worksheets.
- They stood on the street corner handing out leaflets.
- I’ve made some copies. Would you like me to hand them out?
Set something off (C2) (khởi hành, làm): to cause an activity or event, often a series
of events, to begin or happen
- The court's initial verdict in the police officers' trial set off serious riots.
- We’d better set off before the rush-hour traffic starts.
Cope with = deal with: to deal successfully with a difficult situation or a person in a
difficult situation
Piss down: to rain heavily, to rain hard
- It's really pissing (it) down here at the moment.
- Let's go, mate. It's going to piss down any minute.
Catch up with
Come up against
Do away with
Face up to
Get away with
Get on with
Listen out for
Look in to
Put up with
Fix up with
Let in on
Take out on
Phrasal Verb Example Meaning
 I tried to phone you but I couldn’t get I tried to phone you but I
Get through
through. couldn’t get a connect
I just can’t understand his
Make out I just can’t make him out at all.
behavior
This photograph brings back happy Make you remember or think
Bring sth back
memories. about sth in the past
Ring sb back I’ll ring you back shortly. Phone you again
Drop off sb/sth
*I dropped off the package at the office.
or drop sb/sth Delivered/left
*I dropped the package off at her house.
off
*Would you like to come roung this
evening?
Come round to visit someone in their home
*Do you wanna come round and play
chess?
to decide or arrange to delay an
Put off = to
Let’s put the meeting off until tomorrow event or activity until a later
postpone
time or date
If you are invalided out of a job,
Invalid She was invalided out of the service especially a military job, you
someone out because of injuries she received in a fire. are forced to leave because of
injury or illness
to ask someone to come to a
Invite sb out He invites me out
social event
Invite sb in Please come in
Invite sb over Come to our place
Come to my house for dinner or
Invite sb round
drink
Invite sb along Come with us!
Invite sb back Come back home with us
*John has an amazing tie on.
*I’m having a lot of work on today.
Have sth on
*She was wearing her new jeans this
morning and she had on them yesterday
* The drinks here are a complete rip-off.
something that costs far too
Rip off *I got ripped off when I phoned this
much money
number (I was charged too much)
to make a group of things
Mix up The books were all mixed up in a box.
untidy
to write someone’s name on a
list or document, usually in
Put down I put you down for the trip next week.
order to arrange for them to do
something
I'd like to run through these to look at, examine, or deal with
Run through points/questions with you, if that's okay, a set of things, especially
because you've made several mistakes. quickly
Hide out Criminals often hide out in these empty to stay somewhere where you
 apartments. cannot be found
to intentionally destroy a
They're going to tear down the old building or other structure
Tear down
hospital and build a new one. because it is not being used or it
is not wanted any more
If a business turns over a
The profits are not high, but the
particular amount of money, it
Turn over company turns over more than $3.5
does that amount of business
million every year.
during a stated period
Pile (something) to form a pile, or to put a lot of
up things into a pile
*Unpaid bills began to pile up
alarmingly.
Pile (something)
*The work was piling up, and I decided (of something bad) to increase
up
I had to go in to the office on the
weekend.
a traffic accident involving
pile-up (noun) several vehicles that hit each
other
(C2) to shout or make a loud
She cried out in pain as the bullet grazed
Cry out noise because you are
her shoulder.
frightened, hurt, etc.
Stand by to be waiting and ready to do
Cabin crew, please stand by for take-off.
someone something or to help
The general ordered his troops to stand
Stand by to be prepared for something
by for a possible attack.
to force yourself through
Break through Protesters broke through the barriers. something that is holding you
back
Sales have finally broken through the $1 to go higher than a particular
Break through
million barrier. level
The government has announced plans to
to spend less, do less, or use
Cut back cut back on defence spending by 10
less of something
percent next year.
The government has cut back $150 to reduce something, or to
Cut back
million of funding. reduce it by a particular amount
What I found off-putting was the (C2) slightly unpleasant or
off-putting (a) amount of work that you were expected worrying so that you do not
to do. want to get involved in any way
Would you help me blow up these
Blow up to fill something with air
balloons?
Blow up My dad blew up when he saw the bill. to suddenly become very angry
The expected blow-up among the
Blow-up (n) a sudden argument
students never happened.
Come along Not many people bought the tickets for Arrive at a place
the concert, but quite a few came along
 and bought tickets at the door.
The antique picture frame just came
Come apart Separate into pieces
apart in my hands.
Come around/ A nurse was with me when I came
Become conscious again
come round round after the operation.
Let your shirt soak overnight and the disappear or become less strong
Come out (of dirt or colour on clothing/material) (of dirt or colour on
stain will probably come out. clothing/material)
become public knowledge after
If this story comes out about the
Come out it has been kept secret (of the
Prime Minister, he'll have to resign.
truth)
be given to people (of results or
Come out When do your exam results come out?
) information)
Jane's coming out of hospital at the leave after a period in a place
Come out
weekend. She's much better now. (of hospital/prison)

*Come expressing an idea of happen

Dennis: Will you tell your boss about your plans to stand for the local council?
Norma: Only if the subject comes up (1) in conversation. I nearly told him at work this
morning, but then something came up (2) and we had to deal with it straightaway.
Mind you, I don't know if a place on the council is going to come up (3) for a while
yet, so perhaps I'll wait.
(1) is mentioned or discussed
(2) happened unexpectedly, usually a problem or difficult situation
(3) become available
*Other meanings of come
I am doing a research project for my degree on the psychology of ageing, but I've come up
against (1) a few problems. I came across (2) someone who's done an almost identical study, so
I've got to come to (3) a decision: do I want to continue with it or not? I guess in the end my
decision will come down to (4) what my professor recommends.
(1) encountered or had to deal with (a difficult situation)
(2) discovered (or met) by chance
(3) make (a decision about something)
(4) depend mostly on or be influenced most by
To allocate time: to set aside a specific amount of time for a particular task or activity
- I allocate time each morning to practice yoga, which helps me stay calm and focused
throughout the day
- Every weekend, I allocate some time just for my self to relax and catch up my reading

To be pressed for time: to be in a hurry or to have very little time to spare

- Sorry, I can’t take on another tasks right now. I’m really pressed for time with this
deadline approaching.
- I’m pressed for time and need to start dinner right away.

To devote time: to spend a certain amount of time doing something specific

- He loves to devote time to his family, enjoying long walks and games with his children.
- They devote their time to assisting charities with projects that help the community.

To find time: to identify or make available a specific period during which you can do something
- I don’t know where you’ll find the time to fit in all the study you promised.

To free up time: to make time available by rearranging your schedule or completing tasks more
efficiently
- I’ll free up some time this afternoon to help you with your project
- If it’s really urgent, I’ll free up time. What time suits you? I’ll free up time on my agenda.

To invest time: to spend time on something that you expect will be good for you later
- To invest your time on education
- He invested a lot of time in his political activities, and I really hope he gets selected.

To kill time: to do something to pass the time while waiting for something else to happen
- I arrived early for the meeting, so I decided to kill time by browsing a magazing

To manage time
- With lots of responsibilities and tasks, the best way to handle it all is to learn how to
manage our time effectively
To run out of time
- I wanna plan a meetup with my friends, but I ran out of time
- That’s the meeting over. We ran out of time and couldn’t discuss all the topics.

To set/ put aside time: to reverse a specific period for a particular activity or task
- Every weekend, I set aside time to work on my garden and relaxed outdoors.
To take up time: to use or require a significant amount of time
- Taking the rubbish out takes up more time than you’d expect when I clean the flat
- Replying to emails takes up a significant amount of time each day.
- Sleeping an extra couple of hours in the morning takes up time, and perhaps you don’t
need that
To waste time
- Harry tries not to waste time on silly things
- He wasted time staring out the window instead of completing his report.

WORK
Drill down: to examine something in more detail, usually to uncover more complex or precise
information about a larger topic/ to look for something on a computer or website by moving from
general information to more detailed information
- Many websites have some form of hyperlink navigation as you drill down.
- The accoutant decided to drill down into the financial reports to understand the
discrepancies better.
- Can you drill down into the overhead costs and give me a detailed report by tomorrow?

Go the extra mile: to do more than what is expected or required

- She always goes the extra mile to help her team meet their deadlines
- Please give me a situation where you went the extra mile with a customer

Give someone a heads-up

Keep someone in the loop: to ensure that a person remains informed about what is happening
- The boss went on holiday but asked to be kept in the loop in case any urgent issues arise

Bring something to the table: to provide something of value or usefulness in a situation

- What does he bring to the table? Honestly, he hasn’t contributed any new ideas this
month.
Hit the ground running: to start something energetically and enthusiastically, without any
delays.
- We expect you to hit the ground running and immediately contribute to our ongoing
projects.
- You don’t have to spend a lot of time trainning me. I will hit the ground running.

Think outside the box

 - We always do the same old campaign. Why don’t we try and think outside the box
- We need someone to step back, think outside the box and return with a fresh plan

Touch base: to briefly make contact with someone to update or discuss an issue
- I’ll touch base in a couple of days to see what progress has been made.
- They have to go through some other proposals, but I’ll touch base with them next week.

Bring someone up to speed: to update them with the latest information or developments so they
are fully improved
- I just thought I’d bring you to speed on what happened in your absence.
- Let me bring you up to speed. I had an important meeting last week that you should know
about.
Be on somebody’s radar: someone is aware of considering something
- I’m worried about I’m on his radar for the recent errors in the report.
- After the job agency approached me, I realised I was on their radar for the new
management position.
I’m very much in touch with…
- I’m very much in touch with the current market trends.

I have considerable/ extensive experience of/with…

- I have considerable experience of selling technology
- I have extensive experience with managing people.

I enthusiastically maintain my knowledge of…

- I enthusiastically maintain my knowledge of the latest strategies to ensure my campaigns
remain innovative and effective.
I played an active role in…
- I played an active role in the political debates that took place in our university

I acquired/ developed some revelant/valuabale skills…

- I developed valuable skills during my trainee programme at RMIT

I have taken a keen interest in…

I would be very well-qualified for…
As far as I know…
I haven’t the foggiest
I have no clue/ I’m clueless
Your guess is good as mine
I’ll look into it and get back to you
Great question, let’s look into that
Apprise (v) - inform or tell (someone)
- I thought it right to apprise Chris of what had happened