Small Talk & Everyday Phrases
Language in use · 124 words
Levelsall
Practise these 124 words
Learn with flashcardsno clock, no typing
The words
124 words
- about timephrase · B2Said when something overdue finally happens.
- after allphrase · B2Used to add a reason, or to note a reversal.
- after youphrase · B1A polite invitation to go first.
- all the samephrase · C1Nevertheless; despite what was just said.
- all things consideredphrase · B2Taking everything into account.
- anyway/ˈɛniweɪ/adverb · A2Said to return to the main point after a detour.
- as a rulephrase · B2Usually, though not always.
- as i was sayingphrase · B2Said to pick up a thread that got interrupted.
- at long lastphrase · B2Finally, after far too much waiting.
- at the end of the dayphrase · B2When everything is considered, this is what matters.
- bad luck/bæd lʌk/phrase · B1Said to somebody who has just missed out.
- be my guestphrase · B2Please go ahead and do it.
- be that as it mayphrase · C1A formal way of setting an objection aside.
- believe it or notphrase · B2Introducing something surprising but true.
- better late than neverphrase · B2It is still worth doing even though it is overdue.
- by all meansphrase · B2A generous way of saying yes, certainly.
- by and largephrase · C1Mostly; in general.
- by the wayphrase · B1Introducing something slightly off the main subject.
- can't complainphrase · B2A cheerful way of saying life is going well enough.
- catch you laterphrase · B1A very casual way of saying goodbye.
- come off itphrase · B2A blunt way of telling somebody not to be ridiculous.
- come to think of itphrase · B2Said when a new thought strikes you mid-sentence.
- don't mention it/dəʊnt ˈmɛn.ʃən ɪt/phrase · B1A modest reply to being thanked.
- easier said than donephrase · B2The plan sounds simple but will be hard in practice.
- even sophrase · B2Despite that, this is still true.
- every now and thenphrase · B1Occasionally, without any pattern.
- excuse me for a momentphrase · B1A polite way of leaving briefly.
- fair enough/fɛəɹ‿ɪˈnʌf/phrase · B2I accept your point, even if I would not have made it.
- fair pointphrase · B2An admission that your opponent is right.
- fat chancephrase · C1Sarcastically, there is no chance whatever.
- fingers crossed[fɪŋɡɚz kʰɹɔst]phrase · B2Said when you are hoping hard for a good outcome.
- for what it's worthphrase · C1Offering an opinion while admitting it may not help.
- get away with youphrase · C1A playful way of saying you do not believe somebody.
- give me a secondphrase · B1Asking for a very short delay.
- give my regardsphrase · C1Ask somebody to pass on your good wishes.
- give or takephrase · B2Approximately, allowing a little either way.
- good pointphrase · B1Acknowledging that somebody has said something worth hearing.
- hang on a minutephrase · B1Asking for a short pause, or objecting mildly.
- have a good onephrase · B2A friendly farewell wishing somebody a good day.
- help yourselfphrase · B1Take as much as you want without asking.
- here goes nothingphrase · C1Said just before trying something that may well fail.
- hold onphrase · B1To pause a moment; also, to grip tight.
- how do you dophrase · A2A very formal greeting used on first meeting somebody.
- how's it goingphrase · A2A relaxed way of asking whether somebody is well.
- i know the feelingphrase · B2A sympathetic way of saying you have been there.
- i see what you meanphrase · B1Showing that you now follow the argument.
- i should get goingphrase · B1A soft announcement that you are leaving.
- i take your pointphrase · C1Accepting an argument even while disagreeing.
- i'd better be offphrase · B2A gentle way of saying you must leave.
- if i mayphrase · C1A courteous way of asking permission to speak.
- if you ask mephrase · B2Introducing an opinion nobody actually asked for.
- if you insistphrase · B2A soft agreement given after being pressed.
- in a minutephrase · A2Very soon, but not right now.
- in the endphrase · B1After everything that happened, this was the result.
- in your dreamsphrase · B2A mocking way of dismissing somebody's hope.
- just a momentphrase · A2A polite request for a brief wait.
- just my luckphrase · B2Said bitterly when something goes wrong for you again.
- keep in touchphrase · B1A request not to lose contact.
- kind ofphrase · B1To some degree, but not entirely.
- let me thinkphrase · A2Asking for a moment before answering.
- let's catch upphrase · B2A suggestion to meet and swap news.
- likewise/ˈlaɪkˌwaɪz/adverb · B2In the same way; the same goes for the other one.
- long story shortphrase · B2Skipping the details and giving the outcome.
- long time no seephrase · B1A friendly greeting to somebody you have not met for ages.
- lovely weatherphrase · A2The classic opening remark to a stranger.
- makes sensephrase · B1That is a reasonable explanation.
- mind youphrase · C1Used to add a qualifying thought.
- mind your own businessphrase · B2A sharp refusal to explain yourself.
- more often than notphrase · B2In most cases.
- more or less/mɔɹ ɔɹ lɛs/phrase · B1Roughly, though not exactly.
- mustn't grumblephrase · C1A very British way of admitting things are all right.
- my pleasurephrase · B1A warm reply to being thanked.
- never mind/ˈnɛ.vɚˌmaɪnd/phrase · A2Do not trouble yourself about it.
- never you mindphrase · C1A playful refusal to answer a nosy question.
- no chancephrase · B1A firm way of saying it will not happen.
- no kiddingphrase · B2Said in surprise, or in flat disbelief.
- no offencephrase · B2Said before something that might sting.
- no worriesphrase · B1A relaxed way of saying that something is fine.
- none of your businessphrase · B2A blunt way of saying it does not concern you.
- none takenphrase · B2A reply meaning you were not upset by the remark.
- not a hopephrase · B2There is no possibility at all.
- not too badphrase · B1A modest English way of saying things are actually fine.
- nothing muchphrase · B1A reply meaning little has happened.
- now that you mention itphrase · B2Said when somebody's remark reminds you of something.
- on second thoughtphrase · B2Having reconsidered.
- on the wholephrase · B2Generally speaking, ignoring the exceptions.
- once in a whilephrase · B1Not often, but sometimes.
- one of these daysphrase · B2At some unspecified future time.
- over my dead body/oʊ.vɚ maɪ dɛd bɑ.di/phrase · B2I will resist this with everything I have.
- safe journeyphrase · B1A wish for somebody setting off travelling.
- same herephrase · B1A short way of saying you feel the same.
- same oldphrase · C1Nothing has changed since you last asked.
- say hello for mephrase · B1Ask somebody to greet another on your behalf.
- see you aroundphrase · B1A casual farewell to somebody you will meet again.
- so far so goodphrase · B1Things are going well up to this point.
- sooner or laterphrase · B2At some point, whether you like it or not.
- sort of/ˈsɔːt‿əv/phrase · B1Partly, but not completely.
- speaking of whichphrase · C1Said to move on to a related subject.
- suit yourselfphrase · B2Do as you like, though I would not.
- take carephrase · A2A warm farewell.
- tell me about itphrase · B2A way of saying you know that trouble only too well.
- that figuresphrase · C1That fits exactly what I would have expected.
- that reminds mephrase · B1Said when something triggers another memory.
- that's a shamephrase · B1An expression of mild sympathy at bad news.
- then againphrase · B2Introducing a thought that argues the other way.
- to be honestphrase · B1Introducing a frank opinion.
- to cut a long story shortphrase · B2Leaving out the middle and getting to the end.
- to tell the truthphrase · B1Introducing an admission you might have hidden.
- too good to be truephrase · B2So attractive that it is probably a trick.
- touch woodphrase · B2Said to avoid spoiling your own luck by mentioning it.
- typical/ˈtɪp.ɪ.kəl/adjective · A2+Showing all the usual features of its kind.
- we should do this againphrase · B1A warm way of saying you enjoyed the meeting.
- what a pity/ˌwʌt ə ˈpɪti/ [ˌwɐɾ ə ˈpʰɪɾi ~ ˌwɜɾ ə ˈpʰɪɾi]phrase · B1An expression of regret about something disappointing.
- what have you been up tophrase · B1A casual way of asking what somebody has been doing lately.
- what's newphrase · B1A casual request for somebody's recent news.
- what's the catchphrase · C1Asking what hidden problem comes with a good offer.
- where were wephrase · B2Asking where a conversation had got to.
- with respectphrase · C1A polite opening to a disagreement.
- would you believe itphrase · B2An exclamation at something hard to credit.
- you don't sayphrase · C1A dry reply to news that is not surprising at all.
- you know what i meanphrase · B1Checking that the listener has followed your point.
- you must be jokingphrase · B1An exclamation of disbelief.
- you wishphrase · B2A teasing way of saying it will never happen.
- you're telling mephrase · C1A strong way of agreeing from experience.