Your Call

When there's a decision to be made, there are expressions that affirm who does and doesn't have the right to make that decision. The examples for your decision and not your decision are listed below.


CEO: The company lost a lot of money last year. Should we fire 1,000 employees to recover the losses?

Answer
a. It's your decision.
b. It's your call.
c. It's up to you.


Cleaning Lady: I think the company should get a large bank loan and focus on our next product line.

Answer
a. It's not your decision.
b. It's not up to you.
c. You're overstepping your bounds.
d. You don't have the authority to make that decision.

Decision Making

To Use / Exercise / Have Common Sense means to make the same reasonable decisions that a normal, logical person under normal circumstances would be expected to make. Common sense is often discussed in the negative, i.e. when somebody acted with a lack of it and the action ended badly.

Example:
#1) Why did you throw rocks at a beehive? Don't you have any common sense?
#2) The man yelled at a policeman. After he is released from prison, he will exercise more common sense.
#3) He rode a motorcycle without a helmet and was paralyzed in a crash. He didn't use common sense.
#4) Anyone with good common sense can run a business.



To Think Things Through means thinking about the consequences of an action before taking it. Again, it's often used in the negative when we're aware that it didn't happen.

Example:
#1) He obviously didn't think things through because now his girlfriend's sister is pregnant.
#2) When she got a tattoo of the devil on her face, she clearly hadn't thought things through.
#3) Before I make a decision, I need to sit calmly and think things through.


To Use Your Best Judgement means thinking about and making the best possible decision. It is often used as an imperative (an order to someone else).

Example:
#1) I won't tell you who to marry, but please use your best judgement.
#2) I can only use my best judgement when I'm not emotionally involved in the situation.



To Carefully Consider Something / To Consider Something Carefully means to make a decision logically, examining all of the details. It is the same as thinking carefully.

Example:
#1) I carefully considered their offer and finally decided that I would be happier working somewhere else.
#2) This isn't an easy decision and I have to consider it carefully.

I Always Get My Way

To get / have one's way means to want something out of a situation. It usually has to be agreed to by someone else, perhaps an authority figure, so the person who wants it doesn't have total control of the outcome.

Example:

#1) They always let their daughter have her way and it's turning her into a spoiled child.

#2) You can't always get your way in this life, so stop complaining.

#3) I wanted to transfer to a new office in the company, but I didn't get my way and stayed in the old office.

#4) My parents didn't want me to travel abroad, but I earned my own money and finally got my way by paying for the trip myself .

Word Up

The word "word" is most commonly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb. To Word  means to make an arrangement words to form a phrase/sentence. There is also the verb to reword / rephrase, which means to word a phrase differently than you had. And wording refers to how a phrase is worded within a phrase. To choose one's words is a synonym of to word.

Examples:

#1) He worded the sentence strangely because he wanted the meaning to be vague.

#2) Is there another way I can word this sentence?

#3) She stopped speaking and quickly reworded the sentence to make herself look innocent.

#4) He reworded some sentences in the report to give more information.

#5) Would you like to rephrase that last sentence?

#6) Let me rephrase that.

#7) The wording in his letter was very unclear.

#8) The wording is precise in most court documents.

#9) Lawyers have to choose their words carefully in a court case.

#10) I have to say something important it and I should choose my words carefully.

For No Reason / Without Warning

For no reason is an expression used when a situation / emotion / action / reaction seemingly has no cause. It answers the question "Why?" when the "why" isn't known.

#1) We were having a conversation and he started crying for no reason.

#2) She and I were watching TV together and she got angry with me for no reason.

#3) The team leader left his position for no reason and he never gave an explanation.


Without Warning is used for a sudden event that gives no signs before occurring.

#4) The car stopped running without warning and it wouldn't start again.

#5) The police officer struck me without warning and threw me in the police car.

#6) The stock market collapse came without warning.

Spell It Out

When you're making a reservation over the phone, you will have to give your name. Your name might be difficult for English speakers to understand, in which case you should spell it to them. You can do this by giving the letter plus "as in" or "like" and a common English word. The example dialogue uses a common Korean name, but the whole alphabet is listed below.

Dialouge

Receptionist:Can I have your full name please?

Caller: Yes, my name is Jin Cheol Shin. Do you need me to spell it for you?

Receptionist: Yes, please.

Caller: First is J like james, next is I like ice cream, N like Norway, then space, then C like Cat, H like...

Jin Cheol Shin

J like James

I like Ice cream

N like Norway

C like Cat

H like Hat

E like Echo

O like Orange

L like Lion

S like Summer

H like Hat

I like Ice Cream

N like Norway

Alphabet
A - Apple
B - Banana
C - Cat
D - Dog
E - Echo
F - Flower
G - Good
H - Hat
I - Ice Cream
J - James
K - Kite
L - Lion
M - Money
N - Norway
O - Orange
P - People
R - Radio
S - Summer
T - Tiger
U - Umbrella
V - Violin
W - Water
Y - Yellow
Z - Zebra

Note: These are examples. Any clear and common English word is fine.
"Q" and "X" are omitted because they are rare and easily understood over the phone.

Vocabulary Focus: Spontaneous and Unpredictable

Spontaneous is used for a sudden and unplanned action, or for people who habitually do things without planning them beforehand.

Example: #1) The man suddenly lifted the computer monitor from his desk and threw it to the ground. It must have been a build up of emotion because it was so spontaneous. #2) The explosion seemed spontaneous. They don't know what triggered it. #3) He fell in love with his girlfriend because she was spontaneous. When they met, he didn't know what they would do together. It made her an exciting and attractive person.


Unpredictable is used for a person or force whose actions cannot be guessed beforehand.

Example: #1) Lately, the weather has been unpredictable, so I always carry an umbrella. #2) The stock market is so complicated that the results are unpredictable. #3) He broke up with his girlfriend because she was unpredictable. She would often get angry or sad for no clear reason, and it gave him a lot of stress.

Empathy

When sharing emotions or feeling an emotion towards someone, we can use these common expressions. Using the correct prepositions is especially important here. Look at the examples below:


to feel happy for someone - #1) He's going to a great university and I feel happy for him. #2) She's finally found true love and I feel happy for her.

to feel sorry for someone - #1) She was rejected by the university and I feel sorry for her. #2) His girlfriend betrayed him and I feel sorry for him.

to worry about someone - #1) My daughter is looking pale and thin. She doesn't eat and there are cuts on her arms. I'm really worried about her. #2) I'm worried about my husband because he never talks to me anymore.

to care about someone - #1) I care about my brother, but I don't know how to help him. #2) My ex-boyfriend is a liar and I don't care about him anymore.

to understand how someone feels - #1) His girlfriend is in another city for the summer and he's quite sad. I went through the same thing with my husband, so I understand how he feels. #2) She's desperate because she can't find a good job. It took me a long time to find my job too, so I understand how she feels.

to relate to something - #1) He's having difficult with his marriage. I went through a divorce myself and I can relate to his situation. #2) His father is a drug-addicted, sexually abusive monster. I can relate to his trauma because my ex-husband was the same way.

to feel the same way - #1) My coworker told me he was bored at his job and I told him that I feel the same way. #2) He looked into my eyes and told me that he loves me. When I looked at him, I realized that I felt the same way.

Climbing

Climbing is the act of ascending, usually something that has a top. When thinking about climbing, you will think first about mountains, but there is a greater list of common things that can be climbed.

Tree - The monkey climbed (up) the tree to get a mango.

Bed - My cat climbed on the bed and pissed on it.

Stairs - She climbed (up) the stairs instead of taking the elevator to lose weight.

Hill - My brother and I climbed (up) the hill. At the top, we looked downwards and I pushed him.

Ladder - The fireman climbed (up) the ladder to capture a monkey eating a mango in a tree.

Corporate Ladder - He climbed (up) the corporate ladder by being more clever than his colleagues.

Table - The woman climbed on the table, danced and took off her shirt.

Shoulders - My daughter climbed on my shoulders and we walked around the park.

Wall - The cat climbed on the wall and walked across it.

Rope - The thief climbed (up) the rope onto the roof of the building.


Note: If you climb "up" something, you can usually climb "down" the thing as well. Example: #1) The woman climbed down the stairs. #2) The fireman climbed down the ladder. #3) I climbed down the hill. #4) The thief climbed down the rope.

I'm going to FOG you UP!

To fog up is a seldom used, but occasionally needed phrasal verb that describes when a transparent or reflective surface becomes coated with a fine mist, i.e. fog. Mirrors, glasses and windows are the things that most often "fog up" and examples of this phenomenon follow.

#1) His wife was taking a shower while he was trying to shave. The steam from the shower fogged up the window, so he had to wipe the mirror repeatedly.

#2) The weather was cold outside that day. When I entered the warm restaurant, my glasses fogged up and my friends laughed at me.

#3) During Titanic, Leonardo and Kate Winslet were in the back of a car, doing something conveniently off-camera. It was a noisy activity and fogged up the windows.

Positive Descriptive Phrases For Your Personality

This is an excerpt my Flight Attendant English Interview Handbook available from the Amazon Kindle Bookstore. They are possible answers to the question "Can you tell us a little about yourself?" They should be followed up with examples from your experience.

Positive Descriptive Phrases for your Personality

People person – Above all, I’m a people person because I truly enjoy working with others.

Team Player – I’m definitely a team player because I know that people can accomplish more as part of a group.

Level-headed – When making important decisions, it’s important to be level-headed, so you can see the situation clearly.

Responsible – I’m a devoutly responsible person and my employers know that they can rely on me.

Goal Oriented – The best way to accomplish something is to make a plan for yourself. This is why I’m a goal oriented person and I push myself to meet new challenges.

Diligent – I’m a diligent person. I never give up on a project that I believe in.

Approachable (approach people easily) – I’m very suited for the service field because I’m friendly and people approach me easily.

Cheerful – I try to be a cheerful person, smiling warmly to everyone I meet and brightening the atmosphere.

Decisive – It’s important for a leader to be decisive while using everyone’s key strengths. This way, they make decisions that most benefit the company and uses the team to their potential.

Understanding – My friends consider me an understanding person because I listen closely to their problems, and I give them the best advice.

Enthusiastic – A good employee should be enthusiastic about their job. This attitude will greatly influence their coworkers, and improve the team’s overall performance.

English Mission: How do you play your favorite game? Part One

Instructions are sometimes difficult to give in English because they aren't conversational and only practiced when teaching someone to play a game. But understanding how these games are played already will help you understand the vocabulary within the instructions. Just read the description of these popular games.

Chess
To play chess, you need two players, a chess board and some chess pieces. First, you line up the chess pieces in two rows on opposite sides of the board. The players take turns moving their pieces across the board. Each type of piece has a different movement across the board. For example, a rook moves in horizontal and vertical lines across the board, moving an unlimited number of spaces, while the bishop moves diagonally across the board, also an unlimited number of spaces. When one player's piece has landed on an opponent's piece, the player has captured that piece and removes it from the board. The objective of the game is to trap the opponent's king.

Dodgeball
To play dodgeball, you need two groups of players and any number of balls.Two groups of players stand on opposite sides of a line, facing each other. They throw balls at each other in an attempt to hit one another. If one players throws a ball and hits another player, the hit player is eliminated from the game. If the throwing player fails to hit the other player, then game play will resume normally. However, if the player throws the ball and his opponent catches it, the throwing player is eliminated from the game. They may throw the ball as many times as necessary. The game is finished when a team has been completely eliminated.

Tennis
To play tennis, you need two players, tennis racquets, a tennis ball, a net and a tennis court. The players stand on opposite sides of the net. One player begins by serving the ball and the other player attempts to return the ball. The players hit the ball back and forth over the net until one player fails to return the ball. When a player fails to return the ball, the opposing player receives a point. A successful return means hitting the ball over the net and landing the ball within the borders of the court. The game may also be played with two players on each side of the court and this version is referred to as doubles.

Rest (Remainder)

Rest can be defined as the remainder of something, or the leftover amount. It requires differentiation between parts of a group.

Examples for rest of:

#1) Micheal went home, but the rest of us went out.
#2) There we a bus accident and two passengers were injured, but the rest of the passengers were unharmed.
#3) I used my check to pay for my bills and used the rest of the money on new clothes.
#4) I'm full and I can't eat the rest of my meal.
#5) At the gym, I spent one hour lifting weights and the rest of the time on the treadmill.
#6) I want to spend the rest of my life on a private island.
#7) Since I slept on the job, the boss gave me the rest of the day off

Examples for the rest:
#1) Eat as much as you want and give the rest to the dogs.
#2) I can't finish this bottle of wine. What shall we do with the rest?
#3) This isn't all of the money! Where is the rest?
#4) I will take this puppy. The rest are too ugly.
#5) There were three women at the party. The rest were men.

Dress

The verb to dress means to put clothes on, but there can be changes in meaning depending on the preposition and direct object.

To get dressed means to put clothes on yourself.
Example: #1) After my shower, I got dressed and had a quick breakfast. #2) Wake up and get dressed. I don't want you to stay in bed all day.

To get someone dressed means to put clothes on someone else.
Example: I get my daughter dressed for school every morning.

To dress up means to wear nice clothes.
Example: I dressed up for my aunt's wedding/funeral.

To dress up like means to wear a costume. Example: #1) I dressed up like a vampire for Halloween. #2) They dressed up like ninjas for the comic book convention.

To dress in means to wear a specific fabric or article of clothing.
Example: #1) My ex-wife liked going to special parties and dressing in leather.
#2) The woman was dressed in my clothes and looking at me strangely.

To undress means to remove clothing.
Example: #1) She undressed quickly and ran wildly into the streets.
#2) I undressed nervously as the fat man glared in the corner through billows of cigar smoke.

In and Out of the Way.

To get in the way means to block someone from a goal or destination.
And to be in the way means to be blocking.
To get/move out of the way means to stop blocking someone.
To be/stay out of the way means to not bother people or escape notice.

Examples:

#1) A cow got in the way of the train and it had to stop.
#2) A family of turtles crossed the road, getting in the way of traffic.
#3) I am trying to meet my girlfriend, but her sister is always getting in the way.
#4) I wanted to go on holiday, but my work got in the way of my plans.

#5) Sorry, am I in the way?
#6) Yes, you are absolutely in the way.
#7) I tried to get out of my driveway, but there was another car in the way.
#8) She want to be happy, but her anxieties are in the way.

#9) Get out of the way, Jackass!
#10) I can't leave the plane until the other passengers get out of the way.
#11) He waited for a half hour before the other car moved out of the way.
#12) I want to relax today, but there is a lot of work I should get out of the way first.

#13) There was a cow on the train tracks, but it's out of the way now.
#14) My little brother is quiet and mostly stays out of the way.
#15) Dan is a harmless employee, always choosing to stay out of the way.

Try To Keep Up, will you?

To keep up with someone/something means to try to match their pace. The pace can relate to their speed, progress, societal change or the flow of information. If you don't keep up with someone, you are slower or there is information you are failing to receive. This can also be called, falling behind.

Examples:

#1) My son ran in a marathon, but he is slow and can't keep up with the others.
#2) The boy tried to keep up with his older brother and his friends, but they walked too quickly for him.

#3) The teacher spoke quickly and the students couldn't keep up with him.
#4) Even though I was sick, my friend brought my homework to me and I kept up with the class.

#5) I visit news websites every morning and evening because it's important to keep up with the news.
#6) Between her work and family, she is too busy to watch the news and she doesn't keep up with it.

#7) My mother is older now, but she reads fashion magazines and keeps up with modern trends.
#8) I think fashion is superficial and I don't keep up with it.

#9) Try to keep up, will you? (Try to maintain the same pace.)
#10) Keep up the good work! (Your work is good. Continue doing good work.)

Back to Back

Back is used to indicate a return to a time or place.For that reason, back is used most often with "to go" and "to come." However, it may be used with other verbs related to movement, travel, jobs and relationships. You may also say "to be back," which is the condition of returning from a place. The examples follow and they're self-explanatory.

To Be
#1) We are going to the United States tomorrow and we will be back in two weeks.
#2) My husband left three hours ago to buy milk and he isn't back yet.
#3) When I'm back from my trip, I will call you.
#4) I heard that Tom and Sally are back together. (return to a relationship)
#5) How does it feel to be back? It's good to be back.

To Go
#1) I loved Holland and I plan to go back next Summer.
#2) She will go back to her hometown to care for her sick mother.
#3) I forgot my textbook, so I have to go back to school.
#4) Marie went back to her old job because they offered her more money. (return to a job)
#5) I will never go back to my husband. (return to a relationship/marriage)
#6) I wish I could go back in time and change the past.

To Come
#1) I'm leaving now, but I will come back in an hour.
#2) My roommate came back very late last night and he wasn't alone.
#3) Come back! I'm so lonely without you. (return to a relationship)
#4) I asked for my job back, but they said that there's no job to come back to. (return to a job)

Other
#1) Welcome back! How was your trip?
#2) Get back in line! (military / school / prison expression)
#3) He lent me his car and he took it back the next day.
#4) Stay back! I will jump off this building. (Don't come closer to me! -- suicide expression)
#5) We had to walk back home because our car broke down.
#6) I take back everything I said. (I said something, but I want to un-say it.)
#7) We drove around the city for two hours before we turned back.
#8) Give me back my guitar!

Widespread (Dis)approval

There have been elections throughout Europe this Spring and there will be a big election in the United States this Fall. If you want to discuss public opinion in English, you need to know the terms for approval and disapproval. Brief explanations follow each example.

Below:

#1) The approval rating for the president has reached 88%, which is a new high. (very good)

#2) The approval rating for congress has reached 9%, which is a new low. (very bad)

#3) The law to legalize pot was met with widespread approval. (well liked)

#4) The law that would allow infants to carry handguns was met with widespread disapproval. (much disliked)

#5) The public is for new laws regulating food safety. (support)

#6) The people are against going to war with Vatican City. (don't support)

#7) The people are rallying for measures to limit government spending. (acting to support)

#8) The public is rallying against the law that prevents gay couples from adopting pets. (acting to stop)

#9) Voter turnout is very high this year. (number of voters)

#10) Voters are turning out in record numbers. (Voters are voting...)

#11) The new government is wildly unpopular and there have been many demonstrations. (much disliked)

#12) The positive/negative response to the Kittens for Criminals program has been unprecedented. (previously unknown; can be good or bad)

#13) The capable government is highly praised by all its citizens for its cooperation and interest in public welfare. (much liked and talked about)

Better...Than

To Be Better...Than is used for an overall comparison of two things.

Example: #1) Coke is better than Pepsi.
#2) San Diego is better than Los Angeles.
#3) My mom is better than your mom.
#4) Motorcycles are better than cars.
#5) Zebras are better than horses.

To be a better...than uses a title/role, narrowing the definition of quality.

Example: #1) He is a better guitarist than me.
#2) Kevin is a better employee than David.
#3) I am a better parent than my father was.
#4) My mother is a better cook than my wife.
#5) You are a better lover than my husband.

To Be Better At...Than is used for comparing the quality of a skill.

Example: #1) He is better at swimming than I am.
#2) She is better at lying than me.
#3) Kevin is better at kissing ass than David.
#4) My girlfriend is better at English than me.
#5) I am better at cooking than she is.

Topics: Abortion

People sometimes feel uncomfortable when discussing abortion. You may talk about the abortion directly, saying "I had an abortion!", but most people will use a softer tone when expressing the pregnancy and the resulting procedure.

An unplanned pregnancy is exactly what it sounds like, a pregnancy you didn't plan for. You may also (unkindly) refer to the resulting child as an accident. Example: #1) This is an unplanned pregnancy and I don't know what to do. #2) The parents resented and mistreated the child because she was an accident.

To be careful means to avoid pregnancy through contraception and post-intimacy sanitation. Example: #1) I don't know how she got pregnant because she and I were so careful. #2) We drank too much and we weren't careful. Now, we are going to be parents.

To keep the baby means deciding not to have an abortion. Example: #1) Our parents forced us to keep the baby, even though we didn't want it. #2) We decided to keep the baby and destroyed our dreams in the process.

To get rid of the baby means to have an abortion. Example: #1) I got rid of the baby without telling my husband. #2) They got rid of the baby and now they'll never know the joys of parenting.

To terminate/end a pregnancy also means getting an abortion. Most people prefer to say this because it isn't technically a "baby" until after birth. Example: #1) I have consulted a doctor before ending my pregnancy. #2) Because of the strict laws in America, I went to Mexico to terminate my pregnancy.

Unattended

If something is left unattended, no one is actively watching it and they probably should be.

Example

#1) She left her child unattended and the child was kidnapped.

#2) He left the stove unattended and it burned down the house.

#3) I left a campfire unattended and it burned down the forest.

#4) She left her running car unattended and it was stolen.

#5) Don't leave your dog unattended in the park.

#6) If you leave your bag unattended, it will be destroyed by security.

The opposite, attended, is not commonly used as an adjective. However, I person may attend to something, and this is similar to taking care of something.

Example

#1) I can't come with you now. There's something I should attend to first.

#2) Forgive me for leaving early. There's a problem I need to attend to.

On Between

Between is used to describe two places, times or things and the space that may separate the two. The definition may change from use to use, but it's guaranteed that two separate bodies exist.

Between You and Me is used for secrets, not to be shared with other people. Example: #1) I think Mary might be dating someone new, but that's just between you and me. #2) Between you and me, I'm going to divorce my husband. #3) Between you and me, my older brother has is overly fond of sheep.

Between Jobs means you are unemployed; you left one job and expect to start another. Example: #1) I am between jobs now. I have been between jobs for almost six months.

Between (Places) Example: #1) There aren't any gas stations between this city and the next one. #2) The grocery store is between my home and office, so I can stop there on the way home. #3) The gunman shot the sheriff right between the eyes.

Between (Times) - Example: #1) I will come home between 7pm and 8pm tonight. #2) Sometime between this morning and last night, somebody stole my car. #3) It will take between 6 and 8 hours to do all the work. #4) After he cut his wrists, it took between 45 minutes and an hour for him to die.

To Choose Between Something and Something Else - Example: #1) I had to choose between a low paying job that I love or a high paying job that I hate. I chose the job that I love. #2) I had to choose between a rich husband that neglects me and a poor man that treats me well. I stayed single. #3) I only had enough money to send one of my children to university, so I had to choose between my son and daughter. #4) You can choose between two flavors, French Vanilla and Toffee.

The Difference Between is used to describe how two things are different. Example: #1) There are a lot of differences between my brother and I. He is athletic and I spend all day on adult websites. #2) The difference between this computer and that one is the speed and the size of the hard drive.

To Part; To Take Part In; To Take Apart

To Part (Ways / Company) is used when two people leave each other. This could be physically or when a relationship ends.

Example: #1) Though we wanted to be together, we parted at the end of the night. #2) My ex and I couldn't reconcile our differences and we had to part ways. #3) My friends and I parted company after the third round of drinks.

To Take Part In is a synonym of "to participate in." It is used when the subject has an active role in an event.

Example: #1) He took part in a meeting this morning, asking many important questions, making notes and adding to the discussion. #2) I took part in the Highland Games this year, wearing a traditional kilt, drinking too much ale and showing a crowd of people my backside.

To Take Apart means to separate into individual pieces. It is used for machines and anything that must be assembled. The opposite is "to put together."

Example: #1) After I put together the shelves, I saw that they didn't fit my interior, so I took them apart and returned the shelves to IKEA. #2) I took apart my computer to install a new hard drive. #3) I took apart the DVD player to fix it, but I couldn't put it together again.

Empty

Empty can be used as a verb, which means to make something empty. A few things that can be emptied in spoken English include ( most to least common): garbage, bank account, room, cupboards, bathtub/bathwater, mind, stomach, bowels. Examples follow.

#1) The garbage can is overflowing, but no one will empty the garbage.
#2) After she killed her husband, she emptied her bank account and left the country.
#3) The band emptied the room by playing "Hotel California."
#4) My relatives stayed for a week. They emptied the cupboards, eating everything in the house.
#5) Don't empty the bathtub yet. I want to take a bath, too.
#6) Before going to sleep, I try not to think. I empty my mind and try to relax. (not think)
#7) Someone drank too much at the party and emptied their stomach on the bathroom rug. (vomit)
#8) During our fishing trip, my father emptied his bowels over the side of the boat. (shit)


A person may also feel empty and this could indicate an absence of: emotion, purpose, energy or a combination of the three. Example: #1) I had a challenging week at work and now I feel empty. #2) I felt empty after my wife and kids left me.

Highs and Lows

High and low can be used for a variety of situations, including: elevation, temperature, salary, evaluation,  emotion / mental state, etc. The following examples include some of the most common uses.

Elevation
Lake Titicaca is the highest lake in the world.
The suicide jumped from a very high building.
The dead sea is the lowest point on Earth.
My apartment is too low, so the traffic is very loud.

Temperature
The lake freezes over in low temperatures and people can ice skate on it.
Despite my neighbors' complaints, I open the windows at home and take off all of my clothes in high temperatures.

Salary
I have a much lower salary than my friends and it has given me a low self-esteem.
The company offered me a better position with a higher salary, but the offer was withdrawn because I have high blood pressure.

Evaluation
I got a high grade in anatomy because I'm interested in the human body.
I got a low grade in theology, so I stopped believing in God.


Emotional / Mental State
I feel very high spirited because of the beautiful weather. (to be positive)
I feel very high because I took a massive amount of LSD. (to test positive for...)
This is a low point in my life and I want to die.
I have never felt so low and I have no reason to continue living.

Deal!

As a noun, a deal can be described as any exchange of money for products or services. Additionally, there are good/great deals and bad/shitty deals, which depends on who benefits/suffers the most from the deal.

Example: #1) I bought this brand new television for $25. It was a great deal. #2) That man paid me $25 for the television. The television was stolen, but it's still a shitty deal. #3) The shirt cost me $30. I think it was a good deal. #4) You paid $30 for that ugly shirt!? What a bad deal!

To give/make a deal is the verb for the transaction. Example: #1) I thought the price was too high, so I asked the salesman to make me a deal. #2) I'm a regular customer, so they gave me a good deal.

(No) deal! can also be used when you reach an agreement. Example: #1) You want me to pay $150 for a 30 minute session. Deal! #2) You want to spend $55 on sneakers for our 5-year old son. No deal! Find something cheaper.

To deal with something is used for resolution of a situation. Example: #1) I have to deal with many customer complaints at work. #2) My child has trouble focusing and I always have to deal with his hyperactivity.

“Deal with it!” is an expression used when there's a problem or situation (sometimes emotional) that someone needs to fix. The expression can be used strongly with other people. Example: #1) You created this problem. Now, deal with it! #2) My pet fish just died. I'm incredibly sad, but I will just deal with it. #3) I know your girlfriend left you, but you can't change it now. Just deal with it!

To deal also a means to give something away to other people or entities. It's most commonly used for playing cards and drugs. Example: #1) He deals the cards quickly. He is a professional blackjack dealer. #2) He deals drugs to school children. He is a drug dealer with an entrepreneurial spirit.

5 Common "If...not" Expressions

#1) If you don't love yourself, nobody will. (Advice for someone with self-pity)

#2) If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. (Advice for someone who recently failed)

#3) If I can't have you, nobody can. (Threat from a rejected lover)

#4) If you don't have your health, you don't have anything. (Advice for someone who should live healthier)

#5) If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. (Advice for someone who just said something unkind)

Otherwise / Likewise

Otherwise is a word describing what will happen if the prior statement doesn't happen or isn't true.

Example:

#1) I need to find a job this month. Otherwise, I will run out of money and have to live on the streets.
#2) You have to tell the truth. Otherwise, your conscience will never let you rest.
#3) I believe my girlfriend has been honest with me. Otherwise, I can never trust anybody again.
#4) Eat all of your vegetables. Otherwise, you won't get dessert.
#5) Say you're sorry. Otherwise, you have to find a new best friend.


Likewise restates a truth that applies to another thing or another person's perspective.

Example:

#1) "Nice to meet you." ~ "Likewise."
#2) Mariam is very good at her job. Likewise, Patricia is talented in this job and has years of experience.
#3) Paris has many toursits. Likewise, many people come to Istanbul to visit.

Apparently / Evidently / It seems...

There are some words in English that are used when pieces of information lead to a conclusion that wasn't immediately clear, or a reality you were unaware of initially. Three common terms for this are: apparently, evidently, it seems

Apparently and Evidently are synonymous. You can use them the same way.

Example:

#1) My husband told me he was working late, but I called his office and he wasn't there. Apparently, he went to his coworker's house to play poker, but he didn't want to tell me.

#2) I went to the liquor cabinet to get a drink and there was a bottle of gin missing. Apparently, my kids have been stealing my alcohol because I found an empty gin bottle underneath their mattress.

#3) I told my best friend a secret and she told my parents. Evidently, I can't trust her.

#4) My doctor told me fast food is healthy. Evidently, he never went to medical school.


It seems is similar, but it is used when a conclusion is only probable.

Example:

#1) My son has been eating his own hair again. It seems he has gone crazy.

#2) My wife doesn't arouse me anymore. It seems we will never have children.

#3) There is a nuclear disaster in the East. The temperature is dropping and the sun is the color of blood. It seems the world is ending.

Gender Neutrality

There are many job titles that were gender specific in the past, but modernly a woman or man can hold these jobs and therefore they have been given updated, gender neutral titles.

Homemaker (Housewife)

Flight Attendant (Air Hostess, Stewardess)

Firefighter (Fireman)

Police Officer (Policeman)

Sales Representative (Salesman)

Look Up, Look Down

As a phrasal verb, to look up means the future seems positive. The full expression, "Things are looking up.", means the future seems generally positive for the person. This expression is the most common, by far.

Look up has the added meaning of researching a piece of information, usually in a directory. Example: #1) I looked up his phone number in the phone book. #2) I looked up the word in the dictionary. #3) I've never heard of Harry Partch, but I will look him up on Wikipedia tonight.

Look down may have the opposite meaning of the phrasal verb look up (i.e. Things are looking down.) However, there is a more common expression, "Things aren't looking good", which means the future of a situation seems negative.

Look down has the added meaning of feeling/expressing contempt for someone, or not having respect for someone. Example: #1) He looks down on poor people because he believes they're lazy. #2) My brother looks down on me because of my drug addiction. #3) My wife looks down on me because I cannot last for more than three minutes in bed.

Carried Away

One common English expression that is rarely used by English learners is carried away.

If someone is carried away with something, it means they have been performing some action to an unhealthy extreme, or they are making a quick judgment. The expression is most often used in the negative to warn somebody who is at the risk of being carried away.

Example:
#1) A little exercise is good for you, but don't get carried away.
#2) I know your wallet is missing and you think Kevin took it, but don't get carried away with your accusations. Maybe you left it somewhere.
#3) You always get carried away with your work. You should really learn to ask other people for help.
#4) I know your angry with him for lying to you, but don't get carried away. He's still your brother.

I'm Not The Person

When describing your personality, you might want to draw a relationship between yourself and a routine behavior. It's often necessary because English lacks the adjective or title to give you a good description, or because you want to give a more detailed description. To do this, you use the phrase "I'm (not) the type/kind of person who..."

Example:
#1) I'm the type of person who tries to finish my work in a hurry.
#2) He's the type of person who sleeps with a woman and doesn't call her again.
#3) I'm not the kind of person who lets other people do my work for me.
#4) She's not the kind of person who gives her phone number to just anyone.
#5) I'm the type of person who eats everything I see on my plate.
#6) We're the type of couple who does everything together.


A common mistake amongst English learners is using: I'm the person who... This indicates that there is only one person who behaves this way. Example: I'm not the person who kisses a boy and tells everyone. Many people do this, so using "the person" is incorrect. The correct way to use the expression is below:

Example:
#1) I'm not the person who ate your cookie.
#2) He's the person who clogged the toilet.
#3) She's the woman I saw talking to your ex-boyfriend.
#4) I'm the person who left the note in your mailbox.

Expressions for "Knowing"

If you knew what I did, you would... means that one person has more information than the other. The person with more information believes the other is making a mistake by acting on or making a judgment based on that lack of information, and is advising the person not to go through with that action or to alter their judgment.

Example:
#1) If you knew what I did, you wouldn't say that about her.
#2) If you knew what I did, you would start looking for a new job.
#3) If you knew what I did, you would hire a divorce lawyer.


You don't want to know. is usually a response to a question that is better unanswered. It is used to protect the questioner from negative information.

Example:
#1) What were you two arguing about? You don't want to know.
#2) Where have you been for the past two weeks? You don't want to know.
#3) Is David having some kind of problem? You don't want to know.



If only I knew... means you are lacking vital information that will probably significantly effect the future. It is often tied to emotion, and is often the response to a question.

Example:
#1) What are you going to do after the company shuts down? If only I knew.
#2) How does she really feel about you? If only I knew.


I wish I knew then what I know now. means that you made a mistake in the past based on a lack of information. If you had the information in the past, you believe you would have acted differently.

Example: I didn't study in school and I couldn't get a good job later. I wish I knew then what I know now.

Prepositions + Time

Over / In time - refers to an event that took, or will take, a long period of time to occur
Example:
#1) The boy didn't like school, but, in time, he learned to enjoy it more and make friends.
#2) You might not care about me now, but, in time, you will grow to love me.
#3) Over time, the problem will get worse until it finally kills us.
#4) Over time, the man grew bitter and his friends abandoned him.


On time - refers to punctuality
Example: He is usually on time, so why was he late today?


Down time - refers to a period of rest
Example: I've been working hard all week, and I really need some down time.

Detailed Comparisons

When making comparisons, you use more, less or the suffix -er.
To express the highest degree of that adjective, you also the the superlatives most, least or the suffix -est.

Cake is sweeter than bread.
Tokyo is more expensive than New York City.
Lobsters are less intelligent than dolphins.

Blue whales are the largest marine animal.
Rolex watches are the most expensive.
North Dakota is the least populated state in the USA.



There are other words you may use that give a degree of separation between two things.

My father is a little older than my mother.
The Nile river is a little bit longer than the Amazon.
This job is marginally better than my last one.
After four years on college, I'm marginally smarter than I was before.

Living alone is a lot better than living with someone you despise.
Getting a divorce cost me a lot more than the wedding.
My boyfriend is much better looking than my ex-husband.
Life has been much easier since I left him.

Request: Rude to Polite

There are many ways to make the same request. Your requests can range from extremely rude to extremely polite. In most cases, you just want to be polite. The examples are below. The best requests will be listed in green.

Close the motherfuking door! (Extremely Rude)
Close the door! (Rude)
Please close the door. (Low Polite)
Could you close the door? (Polite)
Could you close the door please? (Polite)
Would you mind closing the door? (Polite)
Would you mind closing the door please? (Very Polite)
If it's not too much trouble, would you close the door please? (Extremely Polite)
If you have a moment and it isn't too much trouble, would you mind doing me a favor and closing the door please? (Extremely Polite)
If you can spare a moment of your time and it isn't too much bother, could you do me an enormous favor and please close the door. I would be forever grateful. (Extremely Polite)

About Expressions

Like most prepositions, About has several meanings and can be used in many expressions. You are probably aware of the most common uses already.

Subject: What is the movie about? What are you talking about?
Approximation: We will leave at about 7pm. It will cost about $50.

However, there are a few additional uses for about. You may heard them before, but practice using the expressions too.

About to is used for actions that will happen in the immediate future. Example: #1) I was about to call my brother. #2) You can't fire him. He's about to have a new baby.

About ready to is a synonym of about to. It is used for actions that someone is preparing to do. Example: #1) Are you about ready to leave? #2) He was about ready to quit before the boss calmed him down. #3) He was so angry that he looked about ready to kill that dog.

While "What is it about?" can be used to ask about the subject of something, you can use the expression "What is it about ________ that...?" to get more detailed information about something.

Several examples follow with two sentence formats:
#1a) What is it about her that you like?
#1b) What do you like about her?
#2a) What is it about your ex-boyfriend that you hate so much?
#2b) What do you hate so much about your ex-boyfriend?
#3a) What is it about that movie that makes it so good?
#3b) What's so good about that movie?
#4a) What is it about Venice that makes the city so special?
#4b) What's so special about Venice?
#5a) What is it about the Spring that makes it so magical?
#5b) What is so magical about the Spring?

Descriptions of Limb Positions

It takes many words to describe position or posture of limbs, but the job can be done much more easily with pictures. Below is a list of physical positions and postures. If any of the terms are unfamiliar to you, you may google them and find a picture that matches the action.

cross/fold arms - She folded her arms and looked at him uncertainly.

cross legs - She sat on the sofa and crossed her legs, pulling the hem of her skirt over her knee.

cross-legged - He sat cross-legged on the floor, even though there was a sofa.

side-by-side - She invited him to the sofa and they sat side-by-side.

chin on hand - He turned to look at her, putting his chin on his hand.

arm around shoulder - He put his arm around her shoulder.

to rest ____ on _____ - He rested his hand on her knee. She rested her head on his shoulder.

wrap arms around - He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.

put hand on hips - She pushed him away stood up quickly, putting her hand on her hip.

hold hands up/out - He stood up quickly, and held up his hands in dismay.

cover face with hands - She turned away and covered her face with her hands as she wept.

hand to chest - He held his hand to his chest as he pleaded with her, but she left the apartment with tears in her eyes.

World Events: Present Progressive

The present progressive tense is used for events that have started, are happening now and you expect to stop in the future. You can use this to talk about events within somebody's life, but the tense is equally valid for global events. Here are some examples:

#1) North Koreans are mourning the death of their great leader.
#2) The United States is going through it's election process.
#3) The European economy isn't expanding. It is contracting.
#4) People aren't investing in Europe anymore.
#5) Demonstrations are happening in Syria.
#6) Tensions are rising in parts of the Middle East.
#7) Flood waters are rising in Thailand.
#8) Workers are losing their jobs in England.