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    500 Really Useful English Phrases: 150 Really Useful English Phrases, #4
    500 Really Useful English Phrases: 150 Really Useful English Phrases, #4
    500 Really Useful English Phrases: 150 Really Useful English Phrases, #4
    Ebook179 pages2 hours

    500 Really Useful English Phrases: 150 Really Useful English Phrases, #4

    By Jenny Smith

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    This book is Volume 1-3 of the very popular series 150 Really Useful  English Phrases.

    Do You Feel Stuck in the Intermediate English Level? 

    Do you want to break out and start improving quickly?

    Then this is the perfect book to help you move up to the advanced level and start using everyday English fluently.


    What made me want to write this book?

    After years of teaching intermediate students who never seemed to improve I decided to find out what the problem was. Essentially, intermediate students get stuck because learning at this stage is a different type of learning than at the beginner stage. You have mastered the grammar and the basic vocabulary but most textbooks just carry on like nothing has changed. However, what you need at the intermediate stage is not just more dry grammar and lists of vocabulary, but to be exposed to as much 'real' English in as many 'real-life' situations as possible. This will help you start to understand what people are actually saying and not just 'textbook' English. It will also help you to naturally 'get a feel' for the language. Because I couldn't find a book that introduced everyday English phrases in a fun and engaging way I decided to write one myself.


    How will this book help you?

    Every new phrase is introduced in the real context of a short story or an article. So by having fun and reading something interesting you will be learning naturally rather than having to force yourself to study. It's a simple fact that if you are having fun you will learn quicker and more easily.
    This series of books is an excellent way to be exposed to 'real everyday English phrases' but with the guidance of clear explanations and examples in simple English. Basically it uses simple language to introduce more complex phrases so you are eased into a more advanced level.
    All of the phrases in this book are in common use and are the key to unlocking fluency. I have only included phrases which I have heard recently in conversation or on the radio or television. If it is in this book it is in everyday use.

    So, if you are sick of being stuck and want to improve in a fun and engaging way, please press the buy button on the top right of this page to get started today.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherIsaac Perrotta-Hays
    Release dateJan 16, 2016
    ISBN9781524205225
    500 Really Useful English Phrases: 150 Really Useful English Phrases, #4

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    Book preview

    500 Really Useful English Phrases - Jenny Smith

    500 Really Useful English Phrases

    Jenny Smith

    ©Jenny Smith 2013

    All rights reserved. No part of this book can be reproduced or distributed in any form whatsoever without the permission of the publisher. The only exceptions are short quotations and some non-commercial uses allowed by copyright laws.

    All efforts have been made to make the contents as accurate as possible. However if there are inaccuracies the publisher cannot be held liable. This book contains short stories and example sentences, all of which are fictitious and not based on any real event or person.

    Do you feel ‘stuck’ in the intermediate level?

    I started writing this book because I could see that once students had studied all of the basic grammar and vocabulary and could communicate to a fairly good level they just sort of got stuck there and never really improved very much.

    The problem was that they really needed to start using and being exposed to real English that is in everyday use. However, the usual textbooks just sort of continue teaching the same boring stuff and don’t take into account that the students need to be challenged by using ‘real’ English and not just lists of grammar.

    Of course the student could just pick up an English language newspaper or watch TV but that could be a bit off-putting or intimidating if they had no guidance as to how to use the new language being introduced. This is where this book fits in; it bridges the gap between being comfortable with beginner and lower intermediate grammar/vocabulary and being able to comfortably use normal English language books, magazines, television etc.

    This series uses interesting stories to help the student learn everyday English naturally and in a fun and engaging way. It also features easy to understand explanations and example sentences to ensure the student is guided from the intermediate to the advanced level without ever feeling confused or lost.

    How does this book help you move from intermediate to advanced English?

    Reason 1. It will help you understand everyday English by introducing 500 commonly used phrases. It also features both descriptions and examples so students can fully understand the meaning of the phrases.

    Reason 2. It makes learning fun and interesting. All of the phrases are used in context in interesting short stories and articles. You can see how the phrases are actually used in everyday life.

    Reason 3. It uses easy to understand English to introduce more difficult phrases. So you can improve smoothly.

    Reason 4.One of the things about being an advanced speaker is that you can speak fluently on any subject. The stories are all about particular subjects and feature the phrases you will need to speak fluently on that subject.

    This book is written for people who have reached the intermediate level but are finding it difficult to move forward. By studying phrases in context in a fun and interesting way you will be improving naturally and be learning English that people actually use rather than just ‘classroom English’. You will actually start to sound like a native English speaker.

    So let’s get started and move from the intermediate to the advanced level.

    Contents

    Do you feel ‘stuck’ in the intermediate level?

    How does this book help you move from intermediate to advanced English?

    The New Business

    The Summer Holiday

    The Bully

    The Divorce and The Marriage

    The Fashion Show

    The End and then the Beginning

    The Birthday Party

    School Days

    Boy Hears Girl

    The Dead End Job?

    Fake

    A Tale of Three Careers

    The Art of Negotiation

    Does Ambition Equal Happiness?

    The Time Travel Record Shop

    Teenage Runaways

    Never a  Lender or Borrower Be

    Reality TV! Reality?

    Spread Betting

    The Secret? The Lie?

    The Personality Makeover

    Unrequited Love

    Do Children Still Play Outside?

    Jargon Buster

    Death of the Job. Birth of Opportunity

    The Wind up Merchant*

    Internet Dating

    The Family Holiday

    Goodbye

    Conclusion

    The New Business

    Part One

    Years ago when I was still in my twenties and still working for a large company I decided to throw caution to the wind and start my own business. At the beginning it was by no means plain sailing and I had to get through a lot of bad times. At one point I  had a close shave with bankruptcy but I was able to get a big sale just in the nick of time and my company was saved.

    Phrases:

    Throw caution to the wind: to take a risk.

    Example: Even though he doesn’t have much experience, let’s throw caution to the wind and hire him.

    ––––––––

    By no means: this means ‘definitely not’.

    Example: Of course you can run a marathon, but by no means is it going to be easy.

    ––––––––

    Plain Sailing: this is used when you want to say that something is easy and that the process was smooth.

    Example: I studied very hard so the exams were basically plain sailing.

    ––––––––

    A close shave: a lucky escape from danger.

    Example: That was a close shave. He almost caught me reading his private diary.

    ––––––––

    In the nick of time: just in time.

    Example: I got paid just in the nick of time. I’d just run out of money.

    Part Two

    At one point I totally ran out of money and had to let go of a few staff members. This rough patch lasted for the best part of a year but I was able to ride it out and keep my company running long enough until business improved. In retrospect, while this was a difficult period for me, the upshot was that I was able to pick up a lot of new skills and became much more self-reliant.

    ––––––––

    Phrases:

    To run out of (something): to use up all of your supplies of something.

    Example:  We are about to run out of petrol/gas, so let’s stop at the next station.

    ––––––––

    To let go of staff: this is a nice way of saying ‘the staff member was fired or made redundant’. It is often used when it is not the employee’s fault, when the company can’t afford to employ them any longer etc.

    Example: Because of the recession we have had to let half of our staff go.

    ––––––––

    Rough Patch: this means ‘a difficult period of time’.

    Example: After I lost my job I went through a rough patch financially.

    ––––––––

    For the best part of a (time period): this is used to express the fact that something lasted for most of a certain time period.

    Example 1: I was ill for the best part of last month.

    Example 2: I’ll be in Indonesia for the best part of next year.

    ––––––––

    To ride it out: to endure a bad situation.

    Example: I have no choice but to ride it out and wait for the economy to recover.

    ––––––––

    In retrospect: this is used when looking back at a situation/incident. It has the feeling that you would do things differently than you did in the past.

    Example 1: In retrospect, I could have handled that better.

    Example 2: In retrospect, I should have saved some money when I was younger.

    ––––––––

    The upshot is..: this is used when you want to say that there is a positive point to a (sometimes) negative situation.

    Example: My job went from full-time to part-time so I have less money, but the upshot is that I now get to spend more time with my family.

    ––––––––

    To pick (something) up: here we mean to gain or learn a new skill.

    Example: He picks up languages very quickly.

    Part Three

    Although I did go out on a limb when I started my company and I had to endure some hard times (at one time it just felt like one thing after another), business eventually took a turn for the better. It’s difficult to put my finger on when things started to look up but I think it was when I hired a new manager. She is absolutely amazing and in my eyes she can do no wrong.

    Phrases:

    To go out on a limb: to take a risk.

    Example: Even though you don’t have that much experience, I’m going to go out on a limb and hire you.

    ––––––––

    One thing after another: this phrase is used when lots of  negative incidents happen in a short space of time.

    Example: First I lost my wallet and then my car was stolen.  It’s been one thing after another recently.

    Note: If it’s not one thing it’s another: this is another phrase similar to the one above expressing the feeling that there have been lots of problems. This is often used about people.

    Example: If it’s not one thing it’s another with that guy. He’s just never happy with anything.

    ––––––––

    To take a turn for the worse/better: this means when a situation changes for the better/worse.

    Example: His health has really taken a turn for the worse.

    ––––––––

    To put one’s finger on something: to identify what the issue is, or to pinpoint the core of an issue.

    Example: I can’t put my finger on it but I just don’t trust him for some reason.

    ––––––––

    Things are looking up: this is used when you think that a situation is getting better or improving.

    Example:  Now that the economy is beginning to recover, things are really looking up for my company.

    ––––––––

    She/he can do no wrong: this means that ‘in my opinion this person is perfect’.

    Example: I love that author; she can do no wrong in my opinion.

    Part Four

    I think that when you are responsible for everything and you are losing  money it’s very easy to blow things out of proportion and get angry and frustrated about everything. The problem with that is, that it’s a vicious circle because the angrier you get the worse you concentrate and the worse you concentrate the worse your business gets. Once I realised what the problem was I was able to turn things around in no time. My advice to people experiencing problems with their business is that no matter what happens don’t put off dealing with problems, as they will grow and grow. You may get away with ignoring things for a while but in the end it will dawn on you that there’s no time like the present to deal with problems.

    Phrases:

    To blow (something) out of proportion: to act or believe that something is more serious than it really is (this phrase is used in a negative way).

    Example: I was only 5 minutes late but my boss is acting like I’ve just bankrupted

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