P06 [3] Adjective Phrases / Noun Phrases / Prepositional Phrases / Idioms from
LEP#464 #465
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Here is part three of this premium episode (number 6) in which I am teaching you some
language that came up during an episode of LEP, in this case two episodes ­ #464 & 465.
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normal episodes of the podcast. I do encourage you to try and push yourself a bit though,
and repeat after me, do the tests, check your memory and so on.
Let’s crack on.
In this one we’re looking at some adjectives, adjective phrases & collocations, noun phrases
and collocations, prepositional phrases and some idioms.
There’s quite a lot of content in here but don’t worry because I’m going to to take you by the
hand and go through this step by step.
Adjectives / adjective phrases (groups of words that act like an adjective ­ describing
things)
Adjectives work in sentences in a few ways.
Sometimes they come before a noun. A beautiful day.
Sometimes they come after the verb ‘be’. It’s beautiful!
Sometimes be + adjective is followed by a preposition and then a noun. “I’m delighted to see
you!”
Sometimes adjectives are modified by an adverb. “She’s absolutely gorgeous.”
Let’s look at some examples.
Be + adjective + preposition
To be married to something/an idea
To be worth listening to
1. If you’re not completely married to the subject matter...
To be married to a person
To be married to an idea = to be completely committed to it
SNES Classic Edition Pre­Order Madness Is Nintendo At Its Worst
Forbes­23 Aug 2017
Nintendo is married to the idea of selling a toy, limiting their own
potential sales and making the vast majority of their potential
customers furious.
2. He’s worth listening to.
Be + worth + doing
If something is worth doing it means that the value of doing it is equal or greater
than the effort, expense, time you take to do it.
It’s also just used to say that it’s a good idea to do something, like “you should”.
You should do it even if it takes time, effort, money. It’s worth it.
E.g. climbing a mountain is really hard work, but it’s worth it for the satisfaction
you get when you reach the top
It’s really worth visiting the science museum. There are loads of interesting things
and interactive displays.
David Crystal is worth listening to on this subject.
Adverb + adjective (Adverbs often have “­ly” at the end. They can tell us more about a verb,
or an adjective. Adverb + adjective is a bit like a ‘double adjective’)
To be mentally ill
To be slightly worried
To be intrinsically linked
To be badly made
3. I’m not mentally ill.
It’s more politically correct to say “mentally ill” than mad, crazy, psycho or something.
I think he might have been mentally­ill.
Deaths of mentally ill rough sleepers in London rise sharply
The Guardian­18 Jun 2018
Deaths of mentally ill rough sleepers in London rise sharply. Research finds 80% of rough
sleepers who died in capital in 2017 had mental illnesses.
4. Slightly worried about/ slightly more interesting
Slightly + adjective ­ it’s a ‘mitigator’ ­ rather than an intensifier = just means a
little bit
I’m slightly worried about what’s going to happen to my rights after Brexit.
England’s performance against Sweden was slightly more impressive than it was
against Colombia.
To be + adjective
It’s nice, she’s sweet, it’s valuable, that’s impressive, he’s antagonistic, it’s feasible, it’s
doable etc.
5. It is doable but not great (possible to do, we can do it, it’s doable)
Do you think we could finish this building work before the end of the year?
I think it’s doable but we might have to pay more.
Adjective + noun
Interesting questions
Appalling defending
Straightforward thinking
Meandering music
6. meandering music
Meandering = wandering, rambling, twisting and turning. It goes this way, that way
and go straight to the destination. Meandering music, talking, road, stories...
Nine epic hiking trails to tackle before you die
WFMYNews2.com­9 minutes ago
Only a tour guide will be able to get you safely through the Petra Basin's meandering canyon
trails and into Petra from the rear.
Why 'Cooking on High' is the worst food show on Netflix
Greensboro News & Record­8 hours ago
... when describing their dishes, and the tiny space inhibits our ability to see their cooking
techniques while the judges tell meandering stories.
Nouns / noun phrases
We know what nouns are, right? They’re the names of things ­ either objects or concepts.
Noun phrases are very common and come in a variety of different forms. The whole phrase
acts like a single noun in the sentence.
They might just be a noun with an adjective in front. They could be a noun with a relative
clause after them.
The examples I’m giving here are just nouns on their own or nouns with adjectives before
them.
7. [I’m talking about] what kind of gear I use (equipment)
Do you do a job, sport or activity that involves gear? What kind of gear is it? Is it
Top Gear?
8. I’ve built up my technical know­how bit by bit. (knowledge, expertise)
I’ve got the knowledge, the know­how, the contacts, the experience.
9. some things that I’m sure will be a hit seem to get a muted response (a
success) (a quiet response ­ not a very enthusiastic response)
The new Star Wars film was a hit with the critics, but it got a muted response from
fans.
10. this is a balancing act (something that’s difficult because it requires a delicate
balance between two situations or requirements)
Being a good teacher is a balancing act. You have to be fun and entertaining, but
also serious.
Doing the podcast is a bit of a balancing act between free conversation and a
focus on language.
Prepositional phrases (prep + noun)
11. In theory, it can be very easy to set up a podcast.
12. in practice, it’s actually quite difficult
In theory vs in practice vs on paper
In theory = something is supposed to happen in a certain way, but in fact it often
doesn’t
In practice = the reality of how things go when they really happen
On paper = things as they are written down, not necessarily as they happen (it’s
like in theory, but more specifically to information that might be written down
rather than just theorised)
Which is it? In theory, on paper, in practice?
Cycling to work might seem like a good idea ___________, but ___________ it
turns out to be more time consuming than you might expect.
Belgium look like the better team ___________, but we’ll see who comes up on
top in this game which is due to kick off any moment now.
13. just talking completely off the top of my head (without planning anything first)
Improvising, speaking impromptu.
Example from Toronto Star:
All my eldest does is play video games. How can I motivate him?
Toronto Star­9 Jul 2018
Off the top of my head, I can tell you two things: 1) not all problems can be cured with
proper etiquette; 2) your sons are definitely smoking pot.
14. on the spur of the moment (doing something suddenly, without planning,
impulsively)
Washington Post­9 Jul 2018
On March 8, Trump agreed on the spur of the moment to meet with Kim, thereby putting the
dictator of this two­bit police state on the same level…
On the spur of the moment I decided to apply for a job at a charity.
Do you always plan things or do you do them on the spur of the moment? What things have
you done on the spur of the moment?
Mini story:
I bought a guitar on the spur of the moment, in Brighton. I was there with Moz, Alex, Paul
doing comedy. Every day we’d stand around town flyering and trying to run through our
material in our head. It was very hard to stay focused and try to develop and remember the
material while also perfecting the flyering technique. I often would stand outside the guitar
shop and I’d get distracted by the guitars in the window. On the last day of the festival I felt
good because I’d had a good gig the previous night and so I walked into the shop, tried a
couple of guitars and bought one on the spur of the moment. I hadn’t been planning to do it. It
wasn’t a huge purchase ­ just a 200 Fender P­Bass copy, which was actually better than the
guitar I was currently playing ­ another Fender P­Bass copy that had a blank head and which I
bought for about 10 pounds in a music shop in a Japanese town. The strings actually cost
more than the guitar! It sounded pretty good though, actually! But I needed a new one so this
was it. Bought on the spur of the moment, but I don’t regret it, although I’m always on the
lookout for other guitars. Sometimes cheap Fender copies are as good as the real thing and
my white Fender p­bass is great.
15. I can talk about any topic under the sun.
Anything under the sun = anything at all in the world. It’s just another way to
say “anything”, but more emphatic.
The World Cup and the democratization of power
The Observer­6 hours ago
Most countries where football is a popular sport do anything under the sun to have their
teams take part in this holy grail of sport.
The locals were friendly, welcoming, informed, and happy to chat about anything under the
sun.
16. I am pretty much never at a loss for what to talk about
To be at a loss (for what to do) / At a loss as for what to do = when you don’t
know what to do
At a loss for words? Join the Bureau of Linguistic Reality
The Economist­19 Jun 2018
The participatory artwork is looking for new words to “express what people are feeling and
experiencing as our world changes”
I’m at a loss as to what to say.
Living in the city, you’re never at a loss for what to do at the weekend.
17. Take both criticism and praise with a pinch of salt.
Take something with a pinch of salt = to doubt the truth or value of something /
ignore something because it’s not true or it’s not important
Avocado makes you more attractive? I'll take that with a pinch of salt
The Guardian­12 Jun 2018
Don’t worry about what Liz says, just take it with a pinch of salt. She probably doesn’t mean it.
18. It might not be something that’s on your radar.
On your radar = part of the stuff that you’re aware of
The Best New Rap Music To Have On Your Radar
UPROXX
Seven direct­to­consumer companies that need to be on your radar
CNN
How did you find out about LEP? Are there any other learning English podcasts on your
radar? What about the latest Star Wars or Marvel films, or is that not on your radar?
Idioms or other phrases
19. Show me what you’re made of
To be made of something = the material from which you are constructed ­ your
true quality
My shoes are made of leather, this desk is made of glass and metal.
To show someone what you are made of = show someone what you are truly
capable of
Let’s see what you’re really made of.
This is a chance to see what England are really made of.
You’ve got to be made of tough stuff.
Come on, show us what you’re made of!
20. The world is my oyster!
Originally from Shakespeare, there is some confusion about how it is to be
interpreted in The Merry Wives of Windsor, but in general use, this means that
the world is open, you can go anywhere and do anything that you want.
So, it just means you can do anything and go anywhere that you like.
In this case, I can talk about anything under the sun. The world is my oyster.
It’s not entirely clear why having an oyster is synonymous with freedom, but there
it is. Imagine that you can open up the Oyster and then the *delicious* flesh on
the inside is all yours.
Oyster is also the name of the travel card you can use in London on the tube and
buses. London is your oyster when you have an Oyster card.
The Best Travel Destinations For The Ultimate Gap Year Experience
Elite Daily­26 Jun 2018
The world is your oyster, so you have the freedom to choose where you'll spend your gap
year.
Now test yourself!
Test ­ Part 2
1. if you’re not completely m________ t___ the subject matter (to be completely
committed to an idea)
2. He’s w_______ listening to (it’s a good idea to listen to him)
3. Deaths of m________­i____ rough sleepers in London rise sharply (‘sick in the
head’ ­ I can’t think of a better synonym!)
4. I’m s_________ w________ about what’s going to happen to my rights after
Brexit. (a bit concerned)
5. Do you think we could finish this building work before the end of the year?
I think it’s d_______ but we might have to pay more. (possible)
6. the tiny space inhibits our ability to see their cooking techniques while the judges tell
m_____________ stories. (wandering, rambling, twisting and turning)
7. Let me tell you about what kind of g________ I use. (equipment)
8. I’ve built up my technical k____________ bit by bit. (knowledge, experience,
expertise)
9. Some things that I’m sure will be a h______ seem to get a m________
r___________. (a success / a quiet reaction)
10. Doing the podcast is a bit of a balancing act between free conversation and a
focus on language. (something that’s difficult because it requires a delicate
equilibrium between two situations or requirements)
11. In t________, it can be very easy to set up a podcast but in p________, it’s
actually quite difficult. (how things are supposed to happen / how things actually
happen)
12. Cycling to work might seem like a good idea i___ t________, but i___ p________
it turns out to be more time consuming than you might expect.
Belgium look like the better team o___ p________, but we’ll see who comes up
on top in this game which is due to kick off any moment now.
13. I’m just talking completely o____ the t____ of my h_______. (without
preparation)
14. O___ the s______ of the m_________ I decided to apply for a job at a charity.
(suddenly, without planning to do it first, impulsively)
15. I can talk about any topic u_______ the s______. (anything in the world)
16. I am pretty much never a___ ___ l______ f____ what to talk about. (don’t know)
17. You have to t_____ both criticism and praise w____ a p______ of s_____. (don’t
believe it, don’t consider it to be important)
18. It might not be something that’s o___ your r________. (that you’re aware of)
19. Come on, show us what you’re m_________ o____! (what your true qualities
are)
20. I can talk about anything u_______ the s______. The w________ is my
o________. (see #15 above / I can go anywhere and do anything I want!)
Answers
Test ­ Part 2
1. if you’re not completely married to the subject matter
2. He’s worth listening to
3. Deaths of mentally ill rough sleepers in London rise sharply
4. I’m slightly worried about what’s going to happen to my rights after Brexit.
5. Do you think we could finish this building work before the end of the year?
I think it’s doable but we might have to pay more.
6. the judges tell meandering stories.
7. Let me tell you about what kind of gear I use.
8. I’ve built up my technical know­how bit by bit.
9. some things that I’m sure will be a hit seem to get a muted response
10. Doing the podcast is a bit of a balancing act between free conversation and a
focus on language.
11. In theory, it can be very easy to set up a podcast but in practice, it’s actually
quite difficult.
12. Cycling to work might seem like a good idea in theory, but in practice it turns
out to be more time consuming than you might expect.
Belgium look like the better team on paper, but we’ll see who comes up on top in
this game which is due to kick off any moment now.
13. just talking completely off the top of my head
14. On the spur of the moment I decided to apply for a job at a charity.
15. I can talk about any topic under the sun
16. I am pretty much never at a loss for what to talk about
17. You have to take both criticism and praise with a pinch of salt
18. It might not be something that’s on your radar.
19. Come on, show us what you’re made of!
20. I can talk about anything under the sun. The world is my oyster.