In “She spoke in a low voice so the sleeping child would not wake.”, what does the expression “a low voice” mean? A voice that is quiet in the stated context. Low can describe quiet volume or low pitch; this context selects quiet volume. Another example: “We discussed the surprise in low voices behind the kitchen door.”
In “We set priorities before dividing up the work.”, what does the expression “set priorities” mean? Decide which tasks or aims should receive attention first. Priorities are the matters treated as most important; set priorities does not mean finish them. Another example: “The short planning session helped us set clear priorities for the week.”
In “Could you keep an eye on my bag while I buy a ticket?”, what does the expression “keep an eye on” mean? Watch something or someone for a period to notice changes or problems. This is an informal expression for monitoring; it does not require constant staring. Another example: “I kept an eye on the soup while I chopped the herbs.”
In “Could you do me a favour and collect the parcel downstairs?”, what does the expression “do someone a favour” mean? Help someone by doing something they would appreciate. Use do someone a favour or do a favour for someone; favor is the American spelling. Another example: “My neighbour did us a favour by watering the plants.”
In “We skipped the planning stage and paid the price in extra work.”, what does the expression “pay the price” mean? Experience an unpleasant consequence of an action or decision. This figurative use does not require money; use pay the price for something. Another example: “He paid the price for leaving his packing until the last minute.”
In “The weekend stall makes enough money to cover the club's costs.”, what does the expression “make money” mean? Earn money or produce a financial profit. This phrase can describe a person's earnings or an activity's profit; it does not necessarily mean becoming rich. Another example: “He makes money by repairing old bicycles.”
In “Omar shared an idea for reducing waste at the event.”, what does the expression “share an idea” mean? Tell others an idea so they can consider it. Use share an idea with someone; sharing here means communicating, not necessarily agreeing. Another example: “Please share your ideas before we choose a design.”
In “A short name game helped break the ice at the workshop.”, what does the expression “break the ice” mean? Make people feel more relaxed at the start of a social encounter. This figurative expression concerns initial social awkwardness; it does not promise a close friendship. Another example: “The host told a gentle joke to break the ice.”
In “Residents expressed deep concern about the loss of the evening bus.”, what does the expression “deep concern” mean? A strong feeling of worry about a situation. Deep concern is relatively formal; concern is uncountable when it means worry in general. Another example: “The letters showed deep concern for the future of the community centre.”
In “We need to make a decision before the tickets sell out.”, what does the expression “make a decision” mean? Choose what to do after considering the options. Make is the usual partner here; take a decision is also established, especially in formal British English. Another example: “The committee made its decision after hearing both proposals.”
In “I did my best to explain the route without a map.”, what does the expression “do your best” mean? Try as hard or as well as you can. Change your to match the subject: I do my best, she does her best; success is not guaranteed. Another example: “The whole team did its best to finish before the rain.”
In “Are you familiar with the booking system?”, what does the expression “familiar with” mean? Knowing something from previous contact or experience. A person is familiar with a thing; a thing is familiar to a person who recognises it. Another example: “I became familiar with the route after a few journeys.”
In “Working on the school magazine helped me develop editing skills.”, what does the expression “develop a skill” mean? Become better at a particular activity through learning and practice. Develop emphasises growth over time; skill is countable when naming an ability. Another example: “You can develop this skill by practising with short, simple tasks.”
In “Please pay attention to the changes on the route map.”, what does the expression “pay attention” mean? Focus your mind on what you are seeing or hearing. Use pay attention to something; attention is uncountable in this pattern. Another example: “I was paying attention when the guide explained where to meet.”
In “I thanked the porter for finding my suitcase.”, what does the expression “thank someone for” mean? Express gratitude to someone because of something they did or gave. Use thank someone for a noun or -ing form; the person follows thank directly. Another example: “We thanked the volunteers for staying until the hall was tidy.”
In “I am trying to break the habit of checking messages during meals.”, what does the expression “break a habit” mean? Stop a repeated behaviour that has become usual for you. Use break the habit of doing something; the habit need not be dangerous or serious. Another example: “Moving the charger helped him break his late-night scrolling habit.”
In “The discussion came to an end when the hall had to close.”, what does the expression “come to an end” mean? Finish or stop. This describes something ending; bring something to an end describes causing it to finish. Another example: “Our stay at the coast came to an end much too quickly.”
In “Several characters in the novel lose their jobs when the factory closes.”, what does the expression “lose your job” mean? Stop being employed because the job ends or the employer removes you. Losing a job is different from choosing to leave; change the possessive to match the person. Another example: “She worried that she might lose her job if the shop closed.”
In “There is a good reason to check the dates before buying tickets.”, what does the expression “a good reason” mean? An explanation or justification that is convincing or worthwhile. Use a good reason for a noun or -ing form, or a good reason to do something. Another example: “He had a good reason for leaving the meeting early.”
In “Her first teacher was an important influence on her writing.”, what does the expression “an influence on” mean? A person, factor or effect that helps shape how someone or something develops or behaves. On identifies what is influenced; influence can also be uncountable, as in have influence on decisions. Another example: “The room's lighting has an influence on how the colours appear.”
In “Light rain began while we were walking back from the market.”, what does the expression “light rain” mean? Rain that falls gently or in small amounts. Light contrasts with heavy in descriptions of rain; it does not refer to colour. Another example: “The match continued through a short spell of light rain.”
In “I will take responsibility for checking the final timetable.”, what does the expression “take responsibility” mean? Accept that you must manage something or answer for an outcome. Use take responsibility for a noun or an -ing form; accept responsibility is also natural. Another example: “The organiser took responsibility for the missing invitations.”
In “We caught a bus outside the library and arrived before noon.”, what does the expression “catch a bus” mean? Get onto a bus in time to travel on it. Catch often emphasises boarding in time; take a bus is also natural and emphasises the travel method. Another example: “If we leave now, we can catch the next bus.”
In “The two groups reached an agreement about using the hall.”, what does the expression “reach an agreement” mean? Finish discussions with a shared decision. Use reach an agreement with someone on or about an issue; agreement can also be uncountable in reach agreement. Another example: “We finally reached an agreement on the delivery date.”
In “We lost our way among the narrow streets near the harbour.”, what does the expression “lose your way” mean? Become unsure which route to take. Change the possessive to match the subject; lose your way can also figuratively mean lose a sense of purpose. Another example: “I almost lost my way because two paths had identical signs.”
In “I am deeply grateful for the time you spent explaining the process.”, what does the expression “deeply grateful” mean? Feeling strong appreciation for help or kindness. Use grateful to someone for something; deeply makes the gratitude emphatic. Another example: “The organisers were deeply grateful to everyone who stayed to clean up.”
In “We had breakfast before catching the early ferry.”, what does the expression “have breakfast” mean? Eat the first meal of the day. Meals normally need no article in this expression; an adjective can license one, as in have a large breakfast. Another example: “I usually have breakfast at home on weekdays.”
In “We noticed an increase in the number of visitors.”, what does the expression “an increase in” mean? A rise in the amount or level of something. In names what increases; of can name the size, as in an increase of ten per cent. Another example: “There has been an increase in demand for evening classes.”
In “I made an appointment with the adviser for Thursday.”, what does the expression “make an appointment” mean? Arrange a time to meet someone for a service or discussion. Make an appointment arranges it; keep an appointment means attend it as arranged. Another example: “Can I make an appointment to discuss the course options?”
In “Owen had a bright idea for storing the folding tables.”, what does the expression “a bright idea” mean? A clever or useful thought. Bright is figurative here; the phrase can also be ironic when an idea causes trouble. Another example: “Whose bright idea was it to colour-code the cupboard keys?”
In “Could you give us a rough estimate of the repair cost?”, what does the expression “a rough estimate” mean? An approximate calculation rather than an exact figure. Rough means approximate here; it does not imply careless work or a guaranteed final amount. Another example: “Our rough estimate was enough to compare the two options.”
In “The guide contains an answer to the question about parking.”, what does the expression “an answer to” mean? A response that addresses a question or a way to solve a problem. The noun answer takes to before the question; the verb answer takes the question directly. Another example: “I finally found an answer to the puzzle in the last chapter.”
In “The cat was in a deep sleep and ignored the voices nearby.”, what does the expression “deep sleep” mean? A state of sleeping soundly and being difficult to wake. This everyday expression describes sound sleep; it is not a measurement of a particular sleep stage. Another example: “The noise brought me out of a deep sleep.”
In “I took a chance on the unfamiliar café and enjoyed the meal.”, what does the expression “take a chance” mean? Try something despite uncertainty about how it will turn out. Take a chance on something often presents uncertainty as an opportunity; it can overlap with take a risk. Another example: “They took a chance on a new singer for the leading role.”
In “These two questions are closely related, so we will discuss them together.”, what does the expression “closely related” mean? Strongly connected in subject, features or origin. Use closely related to something; for people the same phrase can refer to a near family relationship. Another example: “The two design problems are closely related to the room's size.”
In “I took notes during the workshop because the steps were new to me.”, what does the expression “take notes” mean? Write down information so that you can use it later. Take notes often means record information while listening; make notes is also natural and can mean preparing written reminders. Another example: “Please take notes on the changes we agree today.”
In “I need to do the laundry before I pack for the trip.”, what does the expression “do the laundry” mean? Wash clothes and other washable household fabrics. The phrase refers to the washing task, often including drying; do the washing is another common expression. Another example: “We take turns doing the laundry in our shared flat.”
In “The adjustable shelf is a solution to our storage problem.”, what does the expression “a solution to” mean? A way of resolving a particular difficulty. Use a solution to a problem; a solution for a person can instead identify who benefits. Another example: “We still need a solution to the noise from the loose window.”
In “The relay team broke the school record by two seconds.”, what does the expression “break a record” mean? Perform better than the previous best recorded result. Use break a record for a measured achievement; set a record establishes a best result, including a new one. Another example: “Our club broke its record for the number of books collected in a day.”
In “The organiser provided us with a map of the route.”, what does the expression “provide someone with” mean? Give or make available something that someone needs. Use provide someone with something; provide something for someone is another natural pattern. Another example: “The course provides learners with clear examples of each technique.”
In “I caught a cold just before the holiday.”, what does the expression “catch a cold” mean? Become ill with a cold. Catch describes becoming ill; have a cold describes the state of being ill, without explaining its cause. Another example: “He missed the rehearsal because he had caught a cold.”
In “The receptionist was polite to every visitor.”, what does the expression “polite to” mean? Treating someone with socially considerate manners. Use polite to someone; polite does not necessarily mean warm or friendly. Another example: “He remained polite to the caller even during the disagreement.”
In “My neighbour paid me a compliment on the new garden.”, what does the expression “pay someone a compliment” mean? Say something that expresses admiration or approval of someone. Use pay someone a compliment on something; give someone a compliment is also natural. Another example: “The director paid the cast a compliment after the final rehearsal.”
In “The printed schedule is different from the version online.”, what does the expression “different from” mean? Not the same as something being compared. Different from is widely used; different to occurs especially in British English and different than especially in American English. Another example: “Her explanation was different from the one I had heard earlier.”
In “We accepted the invitation to the opening night.”, what does the expression “accept an invitation” mean? Agree to attend an event or take part after being invited. Use accept an invitation to an event or to do something; accepting is the response, not the attendance itself. Another example: “She was delighted to accept their invitation to speak.”
In “There was a strong smell of paint in the corridor.”, what does the expression “a strong smell” mean? An odour that is easy to notice because it is intense. Use a strong smell of something; strong does not by itself say whether the smell is pleasant. Another example: “The flowers gave off a strong smell after the rain.”
In “The manager took action when several customers reported the same fault.”, what does the expression “take action” mean? Do something practical to deal with a situation. Action is uncountable here; take action on an issue or to achieve a result. Another example: “We need to take action to reduce the queue at lunchtime.”
In “Luca made an effort to include the quietest person in the discussion.”, what does the expression “make an effort” mean? Try deliberately, especially when something requires energy or determination. Use make an effort to do something; effort begins with a vowel sound, so use an. Another example: “We are making an effort to waste less food.”
In “Two team members conducted the interview with the candidate.”, what does the expression “conduct an interview” mean? Lead a planned conversation to gather information or assess someone. Conduct is relatively formal; interview someone is a simpler equivalent, while attend an interview describes being present. Another example: “The reporter conducted the interview in a quiet room.”
In “Your call had perfect timing: we had just found the missing folder.”, what does the expression “perfect timing” mean? The occurrence of something at exactly the most useful or suitable moment. Perfect timing describes suitability of the moment, not necessarily a precisely measured duration. Another example: “The rain stopped as we reached the park, which was perfect timing.”
In “Regular visits helped us build a relationship with the local library.”, what does the expression “build a relationship” mean? Develop a connection with someone over time. Use build a relationship with someone; the phrase can describe personal or professional connections. Another example: “The project gave the two groups a chance to build a closer relationship.”
In “The starter kit consists of a notebook, a pencil and a ruler.”, what does the expression “consist of” mean? Have particular things as its parts. Use consist of for the components; consist is normally not passive in this meaning. Another example: “The course consists of six short workshops.”
In “I stopped to say hello to the new neighbour.”, what does the expression “say hello” mean? Greet someone. Use say hello to someone; say does not take the listener as a direct object in this pattern. Another example: “Please say hello to your family for me.”
In “Some knowledge of basic sewing would help with this project.”, what does the expression “knowledge of” mean? Information or understanding about a subject. Knowledge is normally uncountable; a good knowledge of is also an established pattern. Another example: “Her knowledge of the local paths saved us a long detour.”
In “I got dressed before going downstairs for breakfast.”, what does the expression “get dressed” mean? Put on your clothes. Get dressed describes the action; be dressed describes the resulting state, and dress up adds a special style or occasion. Another example: “The children can get dressed by themselves now.”
In “Publishing the wrong opening hours could do harm to the shop's reputation.”, what does the expression “do harm” mean? Cause damage or a harmful effect. Harm is uncountable here; do harm to something and harm something are both natural. Another example: “A careless remark can do more harm than the speaker expects.”
In “The duty manager handled the complaint about the late delivery.”, what does the expression “handle a complaint” mean? Manage the response to someone who is dissatisfied. Handle focuses on managing the situation; resolve a complaint emphasises reaching a satisfactory outcome. Another example: “Who handles customer complaints while you are away?”
In “I made a mistake when I entered the delivery address.”, what does the expression “make a mistake” mean? Do something incorrectly or judge something wrongly. Mistake is countable: make a mistake or make mistakes; do a mistake is not the usual combination. Another example: “Even experienced cooks sometimes make mistakes with unfamiliar recipes.”
In “Her dream of opening a small bookshop finally came true.”, what does the expression “come true” mean? Happen in reality after being wished for, hoped for or predicted. Dreams and wishes commonly come true; the subject is what becomes real, not the person wishing. Another example: “I hope your wish for a quieter workspace comes true.”
In “May I make a suggestion about the seating plan?”, what does the expression “make a suggestion” mean? Put forward an idea for someone to consider. Suggestion is countable; make a suggestion is neutral, and offer a suggestion is also natural. Another example: “Nora made a useful suggestion during our planning call.”
In “The placement helped me gain experience in event planning.”, what does the expression “gain experience” mean? Become more knowledgeable or capable by doing something. Experience is uncountable when it means accumulated practical knowledge; an experience is an individual event. Another example: “She gained valuable experience while volunteering at the theatre.”
In “Please listen to the guide before leaving the group.”, what does the expression “listen to” mean? Pay deliberate attention to a sound or speaker. Use listen to someone or something; hear can describe noticing a sound without deliberate attention. Another example: “I listened to the recording again to check the final instruction.”
In “The guidebook was highly recommended by several experienced walkers.”, what does the expression “highly recommended” mean? Strongly suggested as a good choice. Highly strengthens recommended; a recommendation is an opinion, not a guarantee of suitability. Another example: “This small café comes highly recommended by our hosts.”
In “We spent time discussing how to improve the noticeboard.”, what does the expression “spend time” mean? Use a period of time for an activity or with someone. Use spend time doing something, on something or with someone; spending time does not imply wasting it. Another example: “I like to spend time with my cousins during the holidays.”
In “Nina is good at explaining complicated routes.”, what does the expression “good at” mean? Skilled or successful in a particular activity. Use good at a noun or -ing form; good for concerns benefit or suitability rather than skill. Another example: “Are you good at remembering people's names?”
In “He earns a living repairing musical instruments.”, what does the expression “earn a living” mean? Get the money you need to live through work. Use earn a living by doing something or as a type of worker; make a living is also natural. Another example: “Can you earn a living as a freelance illustrator in your town?”
In “I asked for a printed copy of the timetable.”, what does the expression “ask for” mean? Request a particular thing or action. Use ask someone for something; ask someone to do something requests an action with a different pattern. Another example: “You can ask for help at the information desk.”
In “The final paragraph refers to an earlier discussion.”, what does the expression “refer to” mean? Mention something or direct someone's attention to it. Use refer to something; the same pattern can also tell someone to consult a document. Another example: “Please refer to the map for the location of the side entrance.”
In “Let's take a break after we finish this shelf.”, what does the expression “take a break” mean? Stop an activity briefly to rest or do something else. Have a break is also natural; take does not imply that have is wrong. Another example: “We took a short break while the paint dried.”
In “I had difficulty opening the file on my old laptop.”, what does the expression “have difficulty” mean? Find something hard to do or understand. Use have difficulty doing something or with something; avoid a difficulty for this general pattern. Another example: “Some visitors have difficulty finding the side entrance.”
In “Preparing the labels in advance will save time tomorrow.”, what does the expression “save time” mean? Reduce the amount of time that an activity requires. Use save time by doing something; time is uncountable in this sense. Another example: “Taking the new shortcut saves us time on each trip.”
In “Could I have a word with you after the class?”, what does the expression “have a word” mean? Speak briefly with someone, often privately. This conversational phrase often introduces a short request or concern; it does not mean saying exactly one word. Another example: “The coach had a quiet word with the late arrival.”
In “We rely on volunteers to open the hall each morning.”, what does the expression “rely on” mean? Trust or need someone or something to provide help or work as expected. Use rely on someone to do something or rely on something for support; upon is more formal. Another example: “I rely on the calendar reminders to remember collection days.”
In “The child was afraid of the oversized carnival mask.”, what does the expression “afraid of” mean? Feeling fear about something. Use afraid of a noun or -ing form; afraid to do something can emphasise hesitation to act. Another example: “I am afraid of losing the only copy of the recording.”
In “Several neighbours showed interest in joining the gardening group.”, what does the expression “show interest” mean? Demonstrate curiosity or a wish to be involved. Use show interest in something or doing something; this describes visible interest, not necessarily a commitment. Another example: “She showed a real interest in how the instruments were made.”
In “We met the deadline by sending the application on Friday morning.”, what does the expression “meet a deadline” mean? Complete a task by the required time. Meet a deadline means finish on time; miss a deadline means finish too late or fail to submit. Another example: “The designer needs the final text today to meet tomorrow's deadline.”
In “The technician stayed behind to do the paperwork for the repair.”, what does the expression “do paperwork” mean? Complete forms, records or other administrative documents. Paperwork is uncountable; it can be digital as well as on paper. Another example: “I will do the paperwork once we agree on the dates.”
In “The small team has a heavy workload before the exhibition.”, what does the expression “a heavy workload” mean? A large or demanding amount of work to do. Heavy refers to the quantity or demands of the work; a large workload is also natural. Another example: “We shared the tasks to reduce her heavy workload.”
In “They had an argument about whose turn it was to clean.”, what does the expression “have an argument” mean? Disagree with someone in an angry or heated discussion. Use have an argument with someone about something; argument can mean a reasoned case in other contexts. Another example: “We had an argument yesterday, but we have since made up.”
In “She applied for a place on the training course.”, what does the expression “apply for” mean? Make a formal request to obtain something. Use apply for a job or place, and apply to an organisation; the preposition identifies a different role. Another example: “I am applying for the library assistant position.”
In “We reached a compromise on the rehearsal times.”, what does the expression “reach a compromise” mean? Agree on a solution in which people give up part of what they wanted. Use reach a compromise with someone on an issue; compromise need not mean that everyone gets exactly half. Another example: “After discussing the seating, both families reached a workable compromise.”
In “We kept in touch after the course ended.”, what does the expression “keep in touch” mean? Continue communicating with someone over time. Use keep in touch with someone; stay in touch is an equally natural alternative. Another example: “Let's keep in touch when you move to the new city.”
In “The discussion revealed a need for clearer signs.”, what does the expression “a need for” mean? A situation in which something is required or would be useful. Use a need for a noun; a need to do something uses an infinitive for an action. Another example: “There is no need for a printed ticket at this event.”
In “Maya gave a presentation on the results of our survey.”, what does the expression “give a presentation” mean? Explain a topic to an audience, often using slides or other materials. Use give a presentation on or about a topic; deliver a presentation is also natural and more formal. Another example: “I am giving a short presentation to the new volunteers tomorrow.”
In “The shelter protected us from the sudden rain.”, what does the expression “protect someone from” mean? Keep someone safe from a source of harm or difficulty. Use protect someone or something from something; protect against is also natural in many contexts. Another example: “The padded sleeve protects the tablet from scratches.”
In “Grandad had a rest on the bench halfway up the hill.”, what does the expression “have a rest” mean? Spend some time relaxing instead of working or moving. Take a rest is also natural; have a rest is especially familiar in British English. Another example: “Let's have a short rest before carrying the remaining boxes.”
In “I am running late because the bus has not arrived.”, what does the expression “run late” mean? Be behind the intended schedule. Run late can describe a person or event; it does not mean physically running at a late hour. Another example: “The first session ran late, so lunch started at half past one.”
In “We had an opportunity to ask the artist about her work.”, what does the expression “have an opportunity” mean? Be in a situation that makes an action possible. Use have an opportunity to do something; opportunity is countable, and chance is often an alternative. Another example: “Will everyone have an opportunity to speak?”
In “I told the truth about who had broken the mug.”, what does the expression “tell the truth” mean? Say what is true rather than deliberately giving false information. Use tell someone the truth or tell the truth; the usual expression includes the. Another example: “She asked everyone to tell the truth about what had happened.”
In “The older pupils were kind to the new student.”, what does the expression “kind to” mean? Treating someone with care and consideration. Use kind to someone; kind of someone describes a considerate action, as in that was kind of you. Another example: “Please be kind to the volunteers when the queue is long.”
In “My brother is a heavy sleeper and did not hear the doorbell.”, what does the expression “a heavy sleeper” mean? Someone who is not easily woken by noise or movement. Heavy describes how difficult the person is to wake, not their body weight. Another example: “As a heavy sleeper, I sometimes miss the first alarm.”
In “A phone rang and broke the silence in the reading room.”, what does the expression “break the silence” mean? End a quiet period by making a sound or speaking. The silence may be literal quiet or a period when no one speaks about a subject. Another example: “After a long pause, Rina broke the silence with a question.”
In “There is a slight difference in colour between these two samples.”, what does the expression “a slight difference” mean? A small difference that may be easy to overlook. Slight describes a small degree; different is the adjective, while difference is the noun. Another example: “We noticed a slight difference in the sound of the two guitars.”
In “I missed the train because the ticket machine was out of order.”, what does the expression “miss a train” mean? Fail to board a train before it leaves. Miss describes failing to catch the service; it does not mean that you feel sad because the train is absent. Another example: “We nearly missed our train after waiting at the wrong platform.”
In “Her interest in photography began on a family holiday.”, what does the expression “an interest in” mean? A feeling of curiosity or engagement concerning a subject or activity. Use an interest in a noun or -ing form; interest can be uncountable when describing its amount. Another example: “The course encouraged my interest in restoring old furniture.”
In “He told a lie about having finished the assignment.”, what does the expression “tell a lie” mean? Deliberately say something that is not true. Lie is countable in this expression; tell someone a lie identifies the listener. Another example: “I knew I would regret it if I told a lie to avoid the meeting.”
In “We held a discussion about making the club more welcoming.”, what does the expression “hold a discussion” mean? Organise or have a conversation about a topic. Use hold a discussion on or about something; have a discussion is also natural. Another example: “The class held a lively discussion after watching the short film.”
In “We struck up a conversation while waiting for the ferry.”, what does the expression “strike up a conversation” mean? Start talking with someone, often someone you do not know well. Use strike up a conversation with someone; struck is the past tense and past participle. Another example: “She struck up a conversation with the person sitting beside her.”
In “We ran out of time before we could discuss the last question.”, what does the expression “run out of time” mean? Reach the end of the time available before finishing. Use run out of time for an exhausted time allowance; be short of time can describe having little time left. Another example: “I simplified the final section when I realised I was running out of time.”
In “We spent the night at a small guesthouse near the station.”, what does the expression “spend the night” mean? Stay somewhere during the night. This names where or how a night passes; it does not necessarily mean sleeping for all of it. Another example: “They spent the night waiting for news of the delayed flight.”
In “Our tutor gave feedback on the first draft.”, what does the expression “give feedback” mean? Tell someone how their work or performance could improve or what worked well. Feedback is normally uncountable; give someone feedback on something is a useful pattern. Another example: “Please give me honest feedback after the rehearsal.”
In “We succeeded in finding a room large enough for everyone.”, what does the expression “succeed in” mean? Manage to achieve a desired result. Use succeed in doing something; succeed to a position has a different meaning about replacing its previous holder. Another example: “She succeeded in persuading the shop to keep the old sign.”
In “We had a light meal of salad and bread before the play.”, what does the expression “a light meal” mean? A meal that is small or not very rich and filling. Light contrasts with heavy for size or richness; it is not a precise nutritional label. Another example: “I wanted a light meal rather than a large cooked dinner.”
In “The open workshop was a golden opportunity to try the tools before buying them.”, what does the expression “a golden opportunity” mean? An unusually valuable chance to do something. Golden is figurative and emphatic; use an opportunity to do something. Another example: “The small festival gave new performers a golden opportunity to be heard.”
In “Replacing the damaged cable solved the sound problem.”, what does the expression “solve a problem” mean? Find a successful answer or remedy to a difficulty. Solve suggests a successful resolution; discuss or investigate a problem does not guarantee one. Another example: “We solved the storage problem by adding shelves above the desks.”
In “We did some research into the history of the old cinema.”, what does the expression “do research” mean? Investigate a subject systematically to learn more about it. Research is normally uncountable here; conduct research is a more formal alternative. Another example: “I want to do more research on local transport before writing the report.”
In “Can you keep a secret until the surprise party?”, what does the expression “keep a secret” mean? Avoid telling other people information that is meant to remain private. Secret is countable here; keep something secret is a related pattern. Another example: “We kept the secret for a whole month.”
In “The room is ready for the next class.”, what does the expression “ready for” mean? Prepared for a thing, person or event. Use ready for a noun; ready to do something uses an infinitive when naming the action. Another example: “Are you ready for the walk to the lighthouse?”
In “The organiser won our trust by explaining every change clearly.”, what does the expression “win trust” mean? Cause others to become confident that you are reliable or honest. Use win someone's trust or win the trust of someone; trust is uncountable. Another example: “It took time for the new supplier to win the team's trust.”
In “The blue folder belongs to the coordinator.”, what does the expression “belong to” mean? Be owned by someone or be part of a group. Use belong to someone or something; belong is normally not used in the continuous form for ownership. Another example: “Our walking club belongs to a regional association.”
In “We placed an order for twenty replacement badges.”, what does the expression “place an order” mean? Ask a seller to supply particular goods or services. Use place an order for something with a seller; placing the order does not mean it has arrived. Another example: “Please check the sizes before placing the order.”
In “I said sorry for interrupting the rehearsal.”, what does the expression “say sorry” mean? Express an apology. Use say sorry to someone for something; apologise is a more formal single-word alternative. Another example: “You can say sorry without giving a long explanation.”
In “We had a conversation about sharing the garden tools.”, what does the expression “have a conversation” mean? Talk with someone and exchange thoughts or information. Use have a conversation with someone about something; talk and chat can offer different levels of formality. Another example: “I would like to have a private conversation with the coordinator.”
In “We booked a room near the station for the first night.”, what does the expression “book a room” mean? Arrange for a room to be kept available for your use. Book a room can refer to accommodation or a meeting space; reserve a room is also natural. Another example: “I booked a meeting room for the afternoon workshop.”
In “I apologised for sending the wrong attachment.”, what does the expression “apologise for” mean? Say that you are sorry about a particular action or situation. For introduces the reason for the apology, often a noun or -ing form; apologize is the usual American spelling. Another example: “The host apologised for the late start.”
In “I am worried about missing the last train.”, what does the expression “worried about” mean? Feeling uneasy because something may go badly. Use worried about a person, thing or possible event; concerned about is a more formal alternative. Another example: “The organiser was worried about the number of empty seats.”
In “The local shops gave support to the community festival.”, what does the expression “give support” mean? Help or encourage a person, group or activity. Support is uncountable in this sense; provide support is another natural combination. Another example: “Her colleagues gave her practical support during the move.”
In “She likes to do exercise outdoors when the weather is mild.”, what does the expression “do exercise” mean? Take part in physical activity. Exercise is uncountable for activity in general; do exercises refers to particular movements or practice tasks. Another example: “I do some gentle exercise after sitting at my desk all morning.”
In “All club members have access to the equipment cupboard.”, what does the expression “have access” mean? Be able or permitted to reach or use something. Use have access to something; access is uncountable in this meaning. Another example: “Do guests have access to the building after six?”
In “Were you aware of the change to the opening hours?”, what does the expression “aware of” mean? Knowing that something exists or is happening. Use aware of a noun or aware that plus a clause; aware does not imply full understanding. Another example: “We became aware of the problem when the first guest arrived.”
In “The host kept calm when the microphone stopped working.”, what does the expression “keep calm” mean? Continue to be composed rather than becoming upset or panicked. Keep is followed by the adjective calm; stay calm is also natural. Another example: “I tried to keep calm while I looked for the missing key.”
In “We prefer to do business with suppliers who answer questions clearly.”, what does the expression “do business” mean? Buy, sell or work commercially with others. Use do business with a person or company; business is uncountable in this expression. Another example: “The small workshop does business with several nearby shops.”
In “The new signs had an effect on how quickly people found the entrance.”, what does the expression “have an effect” mean? Cause a change or influence a result. Use have an effect on something; effect is a noun, while affect is commonly the corresponding verb. Another example: “A small change in the layout can have a large effect on readability.”
In “We keep a record of every tool that is borrowed.”, what does the expression “keep a record” mean? Write down and retain information for future use. Use keep a record of something; record here means stored information, not a best-ever performance. Another example: “Please keep a record of the dates you worked.”
In “We paid the bill before leaving the café.”, what does the expression “pay a bill” mean? Give the money owed for a service or purchase. Pay a bill names the debt being settled; pay for a meal names what you bought. Another example: “You can pay the electricity bill online.”
In “The kitchen team worked under pressure during the festival.”, what does the expression “work under pressure” mean? Do your job while facing demanding conditions, urgency or expectations. Use under pressure for the demanding conditions; the phrase does not itself say whether the result is good. Another example: “She can work under pressure without losing track of small details.”
In “We had a good time at the neighbourhood picnic.”, what does the expression “have a good time” mean? Enjoy yourself during an event or period. This describes enjoyment, not a precise time of day; have fun is a close alternative. Another example: “I hope you have a good time on your trip.”
In “Several students are interested in joining the film club.”, what does the expression “interested in” mean? Wanting to learn about or take part in something. Use interested in a noun or -ing form; interesting describes what attracts the interest. Another example: “I am interested in the history of this neighbourhood.”
In “The shorter opening hours led to a decrease in ticket sales.”, what does the expression “a decrease in” mean? A fall in the amount or level of something. In names what decreases; of can give the amount, as in a decrease of five tickets. Another example: “The club reported a small decrease in membership this year.”
In “I wasted money on a cable that did not fit my laptop.”, what does the expression “waste money” mean? Spend money on something that is not worth the cost. Use waste money on something; the phrase judges the spending as unhelpful or unnecessary. Another example: “Checking the measurements first can prevent us from wasting money.”
In “The tutor gave me advice on organising my study time.”, what does the expression “give advice” mean? Tell someone what you think would be a useful course of action. Advice is uncountable: give some advice or a piece of advice, not an advice. Another example: “Can you give us advice about choosing a beginner's camera?”
In “I made a promise to return the borrowed camera before Friday.”, what does the expression “make a promise” mean? Tell someone firmly that you will do something. Use make a promise to do something; making the commitment does not mean it has been fulfilled. Another example: “Please do not make promises that you cannot keep.”
In “The survey asked about people's attitudes to shared transport.”, what does the expression “an attitude to” mean? A way of thinking or feeling about someone or something. Attitude to and attitude towards are both natural; attitude toward is especially common in American English. Another example: “His attitude to feedback became more positive over time.”
In “Could you take care of the plants while I am away?”, what does the expression “take care of” mean? Look after someone or something or handle a task. Use take care of someone or something; take care without of can instead mean be careful. Another example: “I will take care of the room booking after lunch.”
In “Sending the private draft to the whole mailing list was a serious mistake.”, what does the expression “a serious mistake” mean? An error that matters because it may have important consequences. Serious describes the importance of the error; it need not mean that the person intended harm. Another example: “Failing to check the venue's size turned out to be a serious mistake.”
In “We got lost after taking a path that was missing from the map.”, what does the expression “get lost” mean? Become unable to find your way. This context is about navigation; Get lost! addressed to someone can instead be a rude demand to go away. Another example: “It is easy to get lost in the old market's narrow lanes.”
In “The reception team deals with lost-property enquiries.”, what does the expression “deal with” mean? Handle a task, difficulty or situation. Use deal with something; the phrase can describe managing an issue without necessarily solving it. Another example: “I will deal with the booking changes after lunch.”
In “The editor has high standards for clarity and accuracy.”, what does the expression “high standards” mean? Demanding expectations about the quality of something. High standards are expectations; high quality describes the result when those expectations are met. Another example: “The workshop maintains high standards even on small repair jobs.”
In “Switching off the empty room's lights saves energy.”, what does the expression “save energy” mean? Use less physical effort or less electricity, fuel or similar resources. Energy is uncountable; the context identifies personal effort or a resource such as electricity. Another example: “I used a trolley to save energy while moving the boxes.”
In “A volunteer raised a concern about the narrow entrance.”, what does the expression “raise a concern” mean? Mention something that may be a problem so it can be considered. Use raise a concern about something; raising it does not necessarily mean making a formal complaint. Another example: “Please raise any concerns before we confirm the plan.”
In “The campaign achieved its aim of attracting more volunteers.”, what does the expression “achieve an aim” mean? Successfully do what you intended to do. Achieve an aim marks success; aim to do something describes the intention before the result. Another example: “We achieved our main aim without increasing the ticket price.”
In “The lead actor fell ill, so the understudy performed that evening.”, what does the expression “fall ill” mean? Become unwell. Fall ill is somewhat formal; get ill and become ill are natural alternatives, and get sick is common in American English. Another example: “She fell ill while travelling and returned home early.”
In “Something went wrong with the printer halfway through the tickets.”, what does the expression “go wrong” mean? Develop a problem or fail to happen as intended. The phrase identifies a problem without specifying its cause; wrong is an adjective here. Another example: “We made a backup plan in case anything went wrong.”
In “Folding chairs save space in the small hall.”, what does the expression “save space” mean? Use less room or leave room available for something else. Space is uncountable when it means room available; save a space can instead mean reserve one place. Another example: “Storing the bowls inside each other saves space in the cupboard.”
In “The matching receipts provided strong evidence that the payment had been made.”, what does the expression “strong evidence” mean? Information that gives substantial support to a claim. Evidence is normally uncountable; strong support for a claim does not mean absolute proof. Another example: “We need stronger evidence before deciding why the machine stopped.”
In “I took a shower after cycling home in the heat.”, what does the expression “take a shower” mean? Wash your body under running water from a shower. Have a shower is also natural, especially in British English; both describe the washing activity. Another example: “There is time to take a quick shower before dinner.”
In “Priya chaired the meeting while Ben recorded the decisions.”, what does the expression “chair a meeting” mean? Lead a meeting and guide its discussion. Chair is a verb here; chairing does not require making all the decisions yourself. Another example: “Who will chair the meeting if the coordinator is absent?”
In “I attended the meeting online because I was away.”, what does the expression “attend a meeting” mean? Be present at an organised discussion. Attend takes a direct object in this sense: attend a meeting, without to. Another example: “Everyone who uses the shared space may attend the meeting.”
In “She took a deep breath before starting her speech.”, what does the expression “a deep breath” mean? An intake of air that fills the lungs more than an ordinary breath. Take a deep breath is a common full expression; deep describes the size of the breath. Another example: “I paused for a deep breath at the top of the stairs.”
In “The film follows a character who breaks the law to help a friend.”, what does the expression “break the law” mean? Do something that is against the law. The expression uses the law in a general sense; break a law can refer to one particular law. Another example: “The character refuses to break the law, even under pressure.”
In “I submitted an application for the evening course.”, what does the expression “submit an application” mean? Send a formal request for consideration. Use submit an application for a role or place to the organisation; submit is more formal than send. Another example: “Applications submitted after Friday will be considered in the next round.”
In “Please take a seat near the window while I find the form.”, what does the expression “take a seat” mean? Sit down in an available place. This is a conventional polite invitation; it does not normally ask someone to carry a chair away. Another example: “The receptionist asked us to take a seat in the waiting area.”
In “We wasted time searching a folder that had already been checked.”, what does the expression “waste time” mean? Use time in a way that produces little or no useful result. Use waste time doing something or on something; waste adds the speaker's negative judgement. Another example: “Let's not waste time arguing about the colour of the labels.”
In “I changed my mind and chose the quieter route.”, what does the expression “change your mind” mean? Replace an earlier decision or opinion with a different one. Change the possessive to match the subject; use change your mind about something. Another example: “She may change her mind about joining the evening class.”
In “The shorter journey is a strong argument for moving the meeting online.”, what does the expression “a strong argument” mean? A reason or set of reasons that supports a position convincingly. Here argument means a reasoned case, not a quarrel; use an argument for or against something. Another example: “She made a strong argument against removing the evening service.”
In “I was angry with my brother for taking my bike without asking.”, what does the expression “angry with” mean? Feeling anger towards a person. With commonly introduces the person; angry at someone is also natural, so with is not the only possible choice. Another example: “She was angry with me, but she still listened to my explanation.”
In “I declined the offer of a lift because I wanted to walk.”, what does the expression “decline an offer” mean? Politely refuse something that has been proposed or offered. Decline is relatively formal and polite; turn down an offer is a more conversational alternative. Another example: “He declined the job offer after discussing the travel requirements.”
In “The repair team is making progress, but the lift is still closed.”, what does the expression “make progress” mean? Move towards a goal or improve over time. Progress is normally uncountable in this sense: make progress, not make a progress. Another example: “I have made steady progress with my reading this term.”
In “I need to concentrate on the measurements for a moment.”, what does the expression “concentrate on” mean? Direct your mental effort towards a particular activity or topic. Use concentrate on a noun or -ing form; focus on is a close alternative. Another example: “Let's concentrate on finishing the entrance before decorating the hall.”
In “The role requires experience in organising public events.”, what does the expression “experience in” mean? Practical knowledge gained through work or involvement in a field. Experience is uncountable here; in names a field, while experience of an event is also natural. Another example: “He has considerable experience in customer service.”
In “I cancelled the reservation when our travel dates changed.”, what does the expression “cancel a reservation” mean? End an arrangement that held a place or service for you. Cancel removes the booking; change a reservation alters details while keeping an arrangement. Another example: “Please call the restaurant if you need to cancel your reservation.”
In “The picnic location will depend on the weather.”, what does the expression “depend on” mean? Be determined or affected by a particular factor. Use depend on something; upon is a more formal alternative, and depend can also mean rely for support. Another example: “Whether we need extra chairs depends on how many guests reply.”
In “Listening without interrupting is one way to show respect.”, what does the expression “show respect” mean? Behave in a way that recognises someone's worth, rights or wishes. Use show respect for someone or something; the phrase concerns behaviour, not necessarily agreement. Another example: “The visitors showed respect for the community's customs.”
In “I lost my temper when the same alarm rang for the fifth time.”, what does the expression “lose your temper” mean? Suddenly become angry and show it. Change the possessive to match the person; lose your temper describes an outburst, not simply feeling annoyed. Another example: “She apologised for losing her temper during the discussion.”
In “I asked a close friend to help me choose a course.”, what does the expression “a close friend” mean? A friend with whom you have a strong personal bond. Close describes emotional connection here, not physical distance. Another example: “Two of my close friends joined us for dinner.”
In “The smell of the bread reminded me of my grandparents' kitchen.”, what does the expression “remind someone of” mean? Make someone remember or think of a person, thing or experience. Use remind someone of something; remind someone to do something instead prompts an action. Another example: “That melody reminds her of the seaside holiday.”
In “I had to break the news that the concert had been cancelled.”, what does the expression “break the news” mean? Tell someone important new information, often something unwelcome. Use break the news to someone; the phrase often suggests that the message needs care. Another example: “She broke the news of the closure to the staff in person.”
In “The club has a good relationship with the local school.”, what does the expression “a relationship with” mean? A connection or continuing association with someone or something. With identifies the other participant; between can name both participants together. Another example: “I want to improve my relationship with the neighbours.”
In “The guide answered my question about the building's entrance.”, what does the expression “answer a question” mean? Provide a response to a request for information. Answer takes a direct object here: answer a question; respond to a question requires to. Another example: “This diagram answers the question we discussed yesterday.”
In “Restoring the damaged chairs took a lot of hard work.”, what does the expression “hard work” mean? Activity that requires considerable effort. Work is uncountable for effort or tasks generally; hard refers to difficulty or effort here. Another example: “Her hard work made the exhibition possible.”
In “The empty shelves gave the impression that the shop was closing.”, what does the expression “give the impression” mean? Make someone believe or feel that something is a certain way. Use give the impression that plus a clause; an impression may be mistaken. Another example: “His quick replies gave me the impression that he was interested.”
In “Taking a spare pen seemed like common sense.”, what does the expression “common sense” mean? Practical judgement about ordinary situations. Common sense is uncountable and reflects a judgement about what is sensible, not a formal guarantee. Another example: “She used common sense when the written instructions were incomplete.”
In “My uncle runs a business that repairs outdoor equipment.”, what does the expression “run a business” mean? Manage and operate a commercial activity. Run here means manage, not move quickly; ran and run are its past forms. Another example: “Running a business involves more than selling a good product.”
In “We lost touch after leaving school.”, what does the expression “lose touch” mean? Stop communicating with someone over time. Use lose touch with someone; lose touch with a subject can instead mean stop following its developments. Another example: “I do not want to lose touch with the people from my old team.”
In “We took a risk by booking the outdoor venue in early spring.”, what does the expression “take a risk” mean? Act despite a possibility of an unwanted outcome. Use take a risk by doing something or take a risk with something; risk concerns the possibility of a bad outcome. Another example: “The editor took a risk with an unusual cover design.”
In “The pottery kiln reaches a high temperature during firing.”, what does the expression “a high temperature” mean? A high level of heat relative to the scale relevant in the situation. High describes a value on a scale; with a person, have a high temperature can mean have a fever. Another example: “This glue may soften at high temperatures.”
In “We received an invitation to the neighbours' garden party.”, what does the expression “an invitation to” mean? A request asking someone to attend an event or go somewhere. To can introduce an event; invitation to do something names the invited action. Another example: “She accepted an invitation to visit the new workshop.”
In “Our host told a joke while we waited for the food.”, what does the expression “tell a joke” mean? Say a short funny story or remark intended to amuse people. Tell is the conventional verb here; a joke can be unsuccessful even if it was meant to be funny. Another example: “My nephew loves telling jokes he has invented himself.”
In “We got ready for the walk while breakfast was cooking.”, what does the expression “get ready” mean? Become prepared for an activity or event. Use get ready for a noun or get ready to do something; be ready describes the prepared state. Another example: “Please get ready to leave in ten minutes.”
In “We usually do housework together on Saturday morning.”, what does the expression “do housework” mean? Complete routine cleaning and other jobs in the home. Housework is uncountable and differs from homework, which is work set for a learner. Another example: “I did some housework while the bread was in the oven.”
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