YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
30 EVERYDAY PHRASES
VOCABULARY LESSON
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
Let's make a splash with today's lesson as we dive into learning
30 new phrases. These phrases will help you sound like a native
speaker and add a bit of colour to your conversations. Make
sure you save this lesson because it might come in handy. You
don't want to draw a blank in the middle of speaking.
No.
Phrase
Meaning
Example
1
To eat one’s
words
2
To make a
splash
3
To be on the
safe side
4
As far as one
can tell
to conclude
something based on
the available
information
As far I could tell, the store
was closed for the day.
5
To go down
the drain
to be completely
wasted
All of his efforts on the new
textbook went down the
drain when they went
digital.
6
To go down in
history
to be remembered
forever; recorded in
history books
His speech will surely go
down in history as one of
the greatest!
7
To go down a
storm
to be well received by
an audience
The opening band went
down a storm! It was their
first concert!
8
To take a rain
check
to politely decline an
offer with the
exception of taking it
up at a later time
I can’t go to the museum
today, but I am happy to
take a rain check! How
about next week?
9
To take the
biscuit
to be the most
remarkable or foolish
Tara has done some pretty
terrible things, but stealing
Joe’s cat takes the biscuit.
She ate her words when
to take back what one she realised she was
has said
talking badly about the
boss right to his face.
to attract a lot of
attention
Fred made a splash during
today’s meeting when his
phone started ringing.
to create a sense of
We recorded a video of the
security and minimise incident just to be on the
any possible risk
safe side.
©ENGLISH WITH LUCY
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
10
To take
advantage
of
11
To call it off
to cancel something
We had to call off the
festival when we found out
that it was going to rain.
12
To come to
a head
to reach a critical point
The situation came to a
head when she showed up
to the family dinner drunk.
13
To make a
bee-line for
to go directly toward
something/someone
Tommy made a bee-line
for his mum when he saw
her after school.
14
To draw a
blank
to fail to recall from
memory
I am sorry, I am drawing a
blank. I can’t remember
her home address.
15
To put it
mildly
to express that
something is usually
worse than it is being
said
He is putting it mildly, but
this plan will never work!
16
To get/have
the upper
hand
to have a superior or
more powerful position
Patrick has the upper hand
in receiving the promotion
as he has been with the
company for 10 years.
17
To have
one’s work
cut out
to be faced with a
difficult or lengthy task
We have to paint the entire
house this weekend! We
really have our work cut
out for us.
18
To hit the
ground
running
Miguel hit the ground
running when he was
to get started quickly or
promoted to manager. He
with great success
made a lot of wonderful
changes.
19
To keep
your nose
clean
Keep your nose clean
when you go out tonight. I
don’t want a phone call
from the police in the
middle of the night.
20
To look
alive
21
To go out
on a limb
to make unfair use of
He took advantage of
someone/something for being the boss’ by showing
one’s personal benefit up late every single day.
to stay out of trouble
to move more quickly or
It is the final half of the
engage in a more active
game! Look alive out there!
way
to put one’s self in a
vulnerable position
He went out on a limb
when he proposed to his
girlfriend at the Beyonce
concert. I am glad she said
yes!
©ENGLISH WITH LUCY
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
22
To go to the
dogs
to become ruined or
become worse
This TV show has really
gone to the dogs. What are
the writers thinking?
23
To run the
gauntlet
to experience harsh
criticisms or harsh
treatment by others
Celebrities have to run the
gauntlet of journalists
every single day.
24
To lie low
to avoid attention;
hide
We are lying low for now
until our neighbours forget
about the big party we
threw last week.
25
To bury the
hatchet
to end a conflict
26
To go to town
27
To come in
handy
to become useful
28
To buy time
to temporarily delay
something from
happening
He hadn’t finished his
project, so he tried to buy
time by saying he had
been feeling under the
weather.
29
To be there
for
to be available to
provide support or
comfort to someone
You are my best friend! I
am always going to be
there for you no matter
what happens!
30
To put a
damper/
dampener on
something
Tom and Greg buried the
hatchet by drinking a few
beers and talking about
their problems.
The production team really
to do something with
went to town on the set
a great amount of
design! It looks like we are
enthusiasm
actually in Rome!
That book about phrasal
verbs came in handy when
I started my new English
course.
Sandy’s bad attitude put a
to make something
damper on her surprise
less strong or exciting
party.
Give it a try!
The more you practise,
the easier you will recall
these phrases in your
daily conversations.
Which phrases did you find the most interesting? Choose
your favourite ones and create some examples.
©ENGLISH WITH LUCY
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
Activity
Choose the correct conjugation of the phrase for each sentence.
1) Unfortunately, he _______________ in the middle of the exam and
didn't answer the final question.
a. draws a blank
b. drew blanks
c. drew a blank
2) You will ___________________ for saying such a thing!
a. eat your words
b. eats your words
c. ate your word
3) Paul _________________ at the family reunion when he brought his
wife whom no one had met.
a. made splashes
b. made splash
c. made a splash
4) We need to __________________ on this new project. The due date
is only a few months away.
a. hit the ground run
b. hit the ground running
c. hit the ground ran
Complete each phrase with the correct word.
5) They have their _____________ cut out for them.
a. work
b. words
c. werk
6) To put it ______________, we will need to perform emergency
surgery.
a. wildly
b. miledly
c. mildly
7) Your grandfather is looking more ______________ every time I go
to see him.
a. a live
b. alive
c. live
8) What happened to your house? You really let it go to the
______________.
a. frogs
b. hogs
c. dogs
1) c 2) a 3) c 4) b 5) a 6) c 7) b 8) c
The End
©ENGLISH WITH LUCY