Say It Better In English - 6

76. There’s been a delay: Say this when something is late.


Ex: There’s been a delay in production. One of the machines broke down.

77. For good: forever; permanently
I’m going to Bay city.
For how long?
For good. I got a job there.

78. Hear form someone: receive communication form someone
Ex: I heard form Jack last week. He emailed me.
How is he?



79.What’s this charge for? : ask this when you don’t understand an amount on your bill or receipt.

80. I heard it through the grapevine: someone told me something as gossip or a rumor

81. Hear back from someone: receive a reply from someone
Ex: I emailed Ted yesterday, and I hope to hear back form him soon.

82. Really like/ really enjoy/ really want

83. Better off doing something: say this to show a better choice
Ex: Should we go now?
No. There’s too much traffic now. We’re better off going later.

84. The second one from the right/ left: the thing beside the thing on the right/left
Ex: Please pass me that book on the shelf, the second one form the left.

85. Are you still on for today? : are you going to meet as we have already agreed?
Ask this to confirm an arrangement
Ex: A: Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?
B: Actually, I have to cancel. Can I take a rain check?
86. They say: some people say
Say this when you hear something, but it’s not important who said it.
87. Go ahead: do it
Say this if you want someone to start or do something
Ex: A;I ‘d like to start the meeting now.
B: Okay, everyone’s here, so go ahead.
88.In a good mood’ in a bad mood
Feeling happy / feeling unhappy
You’re in a good mood today.
Yes. I am. Tomorrow is a holiday.

89.Run into someone: meet someone unexpectedly
I ran into Smith at target today.
90. I can’t get something to work: I can’t make something function
I’ve pressed all the buttons on this DVD player, but I can’t get it to work.

Say It Better In English - 5

61. Drop someone off: take someone to a place and leave them there



Ex: Could you drop me off at the bank?


62. End up doing something : finally do something


Ex: Tim was a bad student. How did he end up becoming a doctor?


63. You shouldn’t have: say this to show appreciation when receiving a gift.


Ex: I bought you this gift.
Thank you, but you shouldn’t have.


64. Take turns doing something: alternate(i.e. you, then me, then you, then me)


Ex: It’s a long way. Let’s take turn driving.
Ex: last year, my husband and I both worked, so we took turns cooking dinner.


65. Remind someone to: say something to help someone remember
Ex: When we get to the grocery store, please remind me to buy some eggs.


66. Fed up with something: unhappy about something that has been happening for a long time
Ex: I don’t like my job. I’m fed up with paperwork.


67. As long as : on the condition that; providing that
Ex: I ‘d like to leave at 4 o’clock today.
That’s fine as long as you finish the report first.

68. That sounds : say this to give your opinion after reading or hearing something.
69. You’re not allowed to do something: doing something is not permitted
I read that you’re not allowed to chew gum in Singapore.


70. Despite something: not affected by something
Ex: He goes jogging everyday despite having a broken arm.


71. As a result: consequently; as an effect
Ex: It rained a lot last year. As a result, we sold a lot of umbrellas.


72. Sorry to interrupt: say this you want to talk to someone who is already speaking
Ex: Sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Kim wants to see you right now.


73. In good condition/in perfect condition: not broken/ like new
Ex: My car is in perfect condition because I take good care of it.


74. He just stepped out :He went out for a short time
75. I’ll put you through: I will connect you – say this during a phone call
Ex: I’d like to speak to the manager.
      One moment, please. I’ll put you through.

Say It Better In English -4

46. Get sidetracked: become distracted from something important



Ex: I didn’t finish my homework. There was a good movie on TV,


so I got sidetracked.


47. Gone for the day: say this when someone will not come back that day


Ex: Kate’s gone for the day. You can reach her at home.


48. In the lighting business: say this to show the industry someone works in


Ex: I’m in the publishing business. I’m an editor.


49. A win-win situation: a situation that has good results in many ways


Buying a house is a win-win situation. If you sell it, you make money. If you keep it, you make money.


50. That’s it: nothing more


Ex: Are there any more cookies? No. That’s it.


51. It’s about time: it is overdue, but it is finally happening


Ex: The package arrived. It’s about time. I’ve been waiting for week.


52. Get it: answer the phone


53. Pick something up( pick up something) : collect something


Ex: I left my book at your house. Could I come over later and pick it up?


54. Can I take a rain check? :can we change the plan to another time in the future?


Ex: I have to cancel to our plans for lunch today. Can I take a rain check?


Ex: Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?


Sorry, I can’ make it tonight. Can I take a rain check?


55. Take time off: decide not to go to work for a short time


Ex: I took three months off after I had the baby.


56. On top of that: in addition to, also –say this when the last piece of information is important


I’m very busy. I have two children, I work full-time, and on top of that I take evening classes.


57. Put clothes on : this in not the same as ‘wear’ clothes: first we put clothes on; then we are wearing clothes.


Ex: He’s only two years old. He doesn’t know how to put on his shoes.


58. I didn’t mean that: say this when someone does not understand what you said.


59.Do you mind if I join you?: ask this for permission to be with someone


Ex: We’re going to the movies.
Do you mind if I join you?
No, we don’t mind. Please come along.


60. Chip in: contribute money
Ex: Every summer, my friends and I chip in $ 100 each to rent a boat.

EX: My older brothers and sisters chipped in to pay for my education.

Say It Better In English -3

31. Get cut off: lose the connection during a telephone call



Ex: There’s something wrong with my phone. I often get cut off.


32. Have change: have smaller units of money


Ex: Do you have change for $50 dollar bill?


( bill: paper money/ a fifty=a fifty dollar bill)






33. Distance from a place: say this to show the distance between two places


Ex: our office is about 200 feet from Grand Central Station.




34. The second to last: the thing before the last thing


Ex: Which is your house?


The second to last house on the street.


Ex: We went to France for a week. We were having a great time. But on the second to last day, I got sick.




35. Comes in:; is available in


Ex: This phone comes in blue, white or black. Which one should I buy?


36. I’d like: This is a polite way to say what you want




37. I’ve been waiting for a long time.: say this for something you are still doing now


Ex: he’s been sleeping for four hours.




38. Make up my mind: decide


Ex: I don’t know. I haven’t made up my mind yet.






39. Two weeks ago: two weeks before now


Ex: He left the office five minutes ago. You just missed him.






40. Cheers: Sometimes we say this before drinking alcohol to offer good wishes


Ex: Cheers! To a long happy life.


41. Discuss something: talking about something


Ex: We need to discuss the travel arrangements.




42. Stay up: stay awake later than one’s usual bedtime


Ex: I stayed up late last night. When my husband works late, I stay up until he gets home.




43. Oversleep: wake up late than planned


Ex: I use three alarm clocks so that I never oversleep.


44. About to do something: going to do something very soon


Ex: We are about to start. Where’s Tom?



45. On my way; going to a place-but not at the place yet


Ex: They’re on their way. They will be here very soon.

Say It Better In English -2

16. no wonder:now I understand why


ex:A: This lamp doesn't work.

B: You didn't plag it in.

A: No wonder it doesn't work!

17. on me: say this if you want to pay for someone's food or drink

ex: Lunch is on me today!

18. stuck in traffic: in a traffic jam

ex: Sorry I'm late. I was stuck in traffic for an hour.

19. it slipped my mind: I forgot

ex: I was supposed to meet Fred last night, but I forgot. It slipped my mind.

20. under a lot of pressure: feeling stress

ex: Students are under a lot of pressure at exam time.

21. drop something off:take something to a place and leave it there

ex:I'm going to the dry cleaners. I want to drop off some shirts.

22. have you done something yet? : ask this to find out if something has already happened

ex: Have you eaten lunch yet?

23. get through : make contact with someone by phone

ex: I tried to call you, but I couldn't get through.

24.put up with something: accept something bad

ex: My office is freezing, but I put up with it because I love my job.

25. right away: immediately; now

ex: I'll get it right away.

26. X caused Y: Y was caused by X :x made y happed; y happened because of x

ex: A: What caused the delay?

B: Heavey rain caused te delay.

27. it's not the end of the world: the situation is not very bad

ex: I hurt my knee, but it's not the end of the world. I can still play golf.

28. in the same boat: in the same bad situation

ex: We all lost money last year. We're all in the same boat.

29. I'm not following you: say this if you don't understanding instructions, direction or an explanation.

ex: A: He's not unfriendly, he's just not friendly.

B: I'm not following you.

30. get cut off: lose the connection during qa telephone call

ex: There's something wrong with my phone. I often get cut off.

Say it better in English -1

"Say it better in English" is a learning English book for beginners written by Marianna Pascal.
I found this book this summer at the library,and copied  most contents of book because it was useful but it was not essential book for learning English.
The contents was not difficult and examples were useful.
Whenever I have spare time, I try to practice English-speaking from the beginning level.

 I already posed some phrases and their examle in the Label "Word Bank".

To study them more easily I made this Label.

1. keep going: continue



ex: Let's keep going until 8 o'clock.


2. drop by: visit for a short time


ex:I dropped by the camera store to pick up our photos.


3. Can I put you on hold?:Please wait ( asking this during a phone call)


ex: Can you you on hold for a minute? I 'll see if he's here.


4. In charge of : responsible for, supervisor of


ex: He's in charge of training new staff.


5. running short of time:getting close to a deadline


ex: I have to work late tonight. I need to finish a project, and


     I'm running short of time.


6. get a move on: go faster


ex: the movie is going to start soon. Let's get a move on or we'll be late.


7.That's K for Korea: say this to help people understand the spellig of a word


   ex: My name is Ann Kim. Tha's K for Korea, I for india, M for Mexico.

8.How can I help you?:this is often used when answering the phone  in          a workplace.

ex: Good afternoon. ABC marketing. How can I help you?


9. It's for you: the caller wants to speak to you


ex: The phone is ringing. I'll get it. I think it's for me.


10. in an hour: on hour after now: ( Not an hour later/Not after an hour)


ex: She hasn't arriverd yet. She'll be here in an hour.


11. ahead of/on/behind schedle: faster than planned/ as planned /slower than planned


ex:Please drive faster. We are behind schedule.


ex:Everything is on schedule.


11. tied up : busing doing something that you can't stop


ex: I'm tiedupn now, but I'll be free in an hour.


12. when is a good time?: When is a convenient time for you?


ex: Can we meet next week?


When is a good time for you?


13. held up:delayed


ex: I was held up at the airport for two hours!


Customs officials went through my bags.


14.Move something out of the way : move something so that it dones't block you


ex: We're having a party, so i want to move the furniture out of the way.


15. upside down/ right side up :withthe top part at the bottom/with the top part at the top


ex:The bos is upside down! Please turn it right side up!