English Conversation

6
Most common words in English
(cont’d)
laboratory lawyer left library lip
lack lay leg license list
lady layer legacy lie listen
lake lead legal life literally
land leader legend lifestyle literary
landscape leadership legislation lifetime literature
language leading legitimate lift little
lap leaf lemon light live
large league length like living
largely lean less likely load
last learn lesson limit loan
late learning let limitation local
law least letter limited locate
lawn leather level line location
lawsuit leave liberal link lock
long luck majority margin may
long-term lucky make mark maybe
look lunch maker market mayor
loose lung makeup marketing me
lose male marriage meal
loss
lost
M mall
man
married
marry
mean
meaning
machine
lot mad manage mask meanwhile
lots magazine management mass measure
loud mail manager massive measurement
love main manner master meat
lovely mainly manufacturer match mechanism
lover maintain manufacturing material media
low maintenance many math medical
lower major map matter medication
medicine meter mirror money motor
medium method miss monitor mount
meet Mexican missile month mountain
meeting middle mission mood mouse
member might mistake moon mouth
membership military mix moral move
memory milk mixture more movement
mental million mm-hmm moreover movie
mention mind mode morning Mr.
menu mine model mortgage Mrs.
mere minister moderate most Ms.
merely minor modern mostly much
mess minority modest mother multiple
message minute mom motion murder
metal miracle moment motivation muscle
museum narrow negotiation night note
music nation neighbor nine nothing
musical national neighborhood no notice
musician native neither nobody notion
Muslim natural nerve nod novel
must naturally nervous noise now
mutual nature net nomination nowhere
my near network none -n't
myself nearby never nonetheless nuclear
mystery nearly nevertheless nor number
myth necessarily new normal numerous

N
necessary newly normally nurse
neck news north nut
naked need newspaper northern
name negative next nose
narrative negotiate nice not
Common phrasal verbs
Meanings & Examples
back [x] up : support or defend someone
When the class was making fun of me, only the teacher backed me up.

break down : stop working, especially when referring to machines

The ice cream machine at McDonald’s is always breaking down.

call around : contact multiple people

Roy called around to find a nearby mechanic.

calm down : relax after an energetic or irritated state

I need a few minutes to calm down after that match.

call [x] off : cancel

We called the party off. / We called off the party.

check [x] out : verify a person or thing (can sometimes be flirtatious when used in reference to a
person)
I’ll check the contract out. / I’ll check out the contract.

clean up (1): be extremely successful in an endeavor, such as business, sports, or gambling

Our hockey team cleaned up at the tournament and went home undefeated.
clean up (2): stop questionable behavior, such as consuming drugs or alcohol
Her boss said she had to either clean up or find a new job.

clean [x] up: clean a general area

John cleaned the living room up. / John cleaned up the living room.

cheer [x] up: make someone happy, especially if they were previously sad
Reading always cheers me up on a rainy day.

come around: change an opinion or see a new point of view

I never liked seafood, but came around after trying fried calamari.

come between: disturb a relationship

After more than fifty years of marriage, nothing could come between them.

come down on : attack or punish harshly

Ever since last month’s accident, police have been coming down on drunk driving.

come down with : become sick

After sitting in the rain for hours, Chandra came down with a nasty cold.

come out of : happen as a consequence of another event

We missed a day of school, so at least some good came out of our boring class trip.
come up (1): become the topic of discussion or receive attention
Everyone talked about how much they enjoyed the movie, but the run time never came
up in the conversation.

come up (2): approach or come near

While walking outside the fence, a cow came up right next to me and licked my face.

come up (3): happen or occur, as with an event or situation

Don’t worry about a problem until after it comes up.

come up with: think of an idea, especially as the first person to do so, or to produce a solution
Sahar comes up with her best story ideas at night, so she writes them down before she
forgets them.

count on: rely or depend on

If I’m ever making a mistake, I can count on my friends to warn me.

dive into: occupy oneself with something; to pore over quickly or reach into quickly
I’ll dive into that new TV show later tonight.

dress up : wear nice clothes or put forth in the best light

Abed dressed up for the award ceremony.
end up: eventually reach some conclusion or destination
After thinking for a day, he ended up taking the job.

fall apart (1): break into pieces

My new dress completely fell apart after just two washes.

fall apart (2): suffer from mental or emotional distress

He endured all kinds of harassment at work without flinching but completely fell apart
when his cat got sick.

fill [x] up: fill something completely

Bruce filled his wine glass up to the brim. / Bruce filled up his wine glass to the brim.

find out: discover or learn

We’ll have to wait until the next TV episode to find out who the killer is.

get [x] across: communicate or explain something clearly

The professor spoke for hours but didn’t get anything across to the students.

get ahead : succeed or progress

You’ll never get ahead at this company unless you follow the rules.
ADVANCED ENGLISH PHRASES
FOR

BUSINESS
 Ever wondered, while watching English movies, web series, or even talking to
people in English, we often come across some of the above expressions:
- pull it off
- up in the air
- keep me posted
which we find quite difficult & unable to understand, hence, avoid using too?

 On the contrary, one can level up their English speaking by using such advanced
phrases & expressions.

 During a conversation, you can never sound confident if you don’t understand what
your partner is saying & would always appear confused when it comes to replying.

 So if ever it happens that you’re a part of a group (professional or social) where it

becomes really important for you to impress & express others by using some good
advanced English expressions & phrases, it’s high time you focused on the following
advanced phrases for business!
Pull it off : Succeed in doing something difficult.
I can’t believe I’ve pulled it off and entered the final round of the competition!

On the same page : Agree and understand what others do or suggest.

Before I start with today’s meeting, I hope we all are on the same page on this project.

Up in the air : Highly uncertain, where things haven’t been decided yet.
All the things related to his new job are still up in the air.

Back to the drawing board : To start something all over again as things aren’t working as
expected.
Let’s get back to the drawing board and analyze what went wrong.

To get someone up to speed : Update someone about the current situation.

I’d like to get you up to speed before we go to the meeting.

A long shot : something unlikely to happen, with very little chance of success.
Getting a senior position in the corporation one day is a long shot, but if you don’t try
you’ll never find out if it’s possible.

Bring to the table : to provide benefit or negotiation in some way.

She brings a selection of strong analytical skills to the table.
To corner the market : to be the only one making or providing a given product or service.
Intel has pretty much cornered the market of microprocessors for servers. Their direct
competition, AMD, is a distant second.

Hands are tied : unable to carry out any meaningful action because of regulations, rules.
I wish I could help you cut through all this red tape (another business idiom meaning
administrative procedures) but my hands are tied. My boss won’t let me.

A learning curve : the process of learning, usually from trial and error.
There was a steep learning curve when I started out trading stock options, but I now
feel like I’m finally getting the hang of it (another idiom which means to master
something).

To go down swinging : to fight to the very end until there is no possibility of victory
The future of our company is uncertain due to our massive debt, but I can guarantee
that we will go down swinging, whatever happens, we will not give up easily.

By the book : to do things strictly by the rules.

I don’t want to take any chances of getting caught by the financial regulators and
having to pay significant fines. We have to do everything by the book.
To cut corners : (almost the opposite of by the book) to do things most quickly and cheaply to
save time and money but often compromising quality and bending the rules
(another expression which means not strictly following all the rules).
The company’s decision to cut corners ended up costing them dearly when they got
caught red-handed and had to pay a huge fine for committing fraud.

Between a rock and a hard place : no easy way out or a good solution.
Management finds itself between a rock and a hard place after the corruption scandal
that has erupted. Either they file for bankruptcy and hope that law enforcement
forgets about them, or they stay in business and run the risk of going to jail.

The bottom line : the final profit margin of a business when all expenses have been paid.
At the end of the day, what shareholders care about is the bottom line which will
determine the dividends they take home every year.

To get down to business : to start getting serious about something.

We’ve wasted enough time debating on the official launch date. Let’s get down to
business now, we have work to do.
To get someone up to speed : to update someone on the current situation.
Why don’t you come to the office and I’ll take the time to get you up to speed before
we go to the meeting.

It’s not rocket science : something not very complicated.

I don’t understand why there are so many mistakes in this report. It’s not rocket
science!

To think outside the box : to think unconventionally and explore new non-conformist ideas.
If you want to succeed in this highly competitive economic environment, you have to
think outside of the box to gain an edge on your rivals.

Touch base: to contact

I will finish the project I am currently working on and then we can touch base later in
the week.

In a nutshell: to summarize something into as few words as possible, as small as a nutshell.

This weeks business meeting was, in a nutshell, extremely productive and informative.
Back to square one : to start something from the very beginning, unfortunately, it can also mean
that no progress has been made on your current project, therefore you are
back to square one.
We tried our best to find the right sources and materials for the project, but
unfortunately we couldn't find anything relevant, so now we are back to square one.

From the ground up : to build or start something from nothing, from zero.
Building a company from the ground up can bring you great pride if you are successful.
Practice 6
Conversation Questions & Answers
 Following are 5 topics conversation questions and answers, that you will face very often in
your daily life.

26. Animals
27. A practical skill
28. Sport
29. A School
30. Festival
 Within your group of 12 students practice and take turns working on these topics.
- First practice the same dialogue
- Then modify the dialogue as you wish to adapt it to YOUR daily life
26. ANIMALS
 Are you an animal lover?
 Yes, I am. I love animals.
 Are you raising any pets?
 Yes, I have a Pitbull puppy at home.
 What is it like?
 My puppy is friendly, highly intelligent and well-behaved. He always waves his tail and licks
my hand to welcome me home.
 What does it look like?
 He’s a medium-sized puppy with a strong neck, broad chest and brown hair.
 What are its habits?
 My Pitbull puppy loves doing exercise every day. When he plays, he plays to win.
 What do you usually do with it?
 We usually play tennis together. My puppy helps me pick up tennis balls.
 What does it like to eat?
 He loves beef, chicken and some dairy products.
 What do you learn from it?
 He teaches me loyalty. An adult Pitbull may make me feel safe.
 Why do people keep pets?
 They consider pets as their loyal companions which make their life better.
 Are pets well looked after in your country?
 Yes. People in my country love pets.
27. A PRACTICAL SKILL
 What practical skill have you learned?
 Cooking is a practical skill that I have practiced recently.
 Who taught you that skill?
 My mom is the best cook. She taught me everything about how to make soup, salad,
omelets, cake, etc.
 How did you learn it?
 She shows me how to buy food, prepare ingredients, and cook meals whenever she’s in the
kitchen. I learn how to boil, grill, steam, fry, braise (= cuire à feu doux), etc. day by day.
 Why did you learn it?
 I just want to be a good cook like my mom when I get married. I will prepare the best dishes
for my husband and children.
 How long did it take for you to learn it?
 I learned it in 4 years. The skill seems to be strengthened when I live apart from my family for
studying.
 How often do you use this skill?
 I cook every day. I also love homemade food.
 How has this skill helped you?
 It makes me more confident whenever I go on a picnic outside. I’m always responsible for the
BBQ.
 Do people in your family know this skill, too?
 My younger sister knows how to cook, too. She has just started learning.
 Do all skills need learning?
 Yes, they do. ‘’Practice makes perfect.’’
 How is this skill important to you?
 It’s an essential life skill. All women need to know this to keep their family warm and happy.
28. SPORT
 What sport do you like?
 I like playing badminton.
 Is it easy to play that sport?
 Yes, it’s pretty easy to play.
 Is that sport popular in your country?
 Yes, it is.
 How long have you been practicing that sport?
 I have been practicing it for 5 years.
 Who do you play sports with?
 I play badminton with my friends, sometimes with my brother.
 How often do you play that sport?
 I play badminton every weekend.
 What benefits can you get from that sport?
 It helps strengthen my muscles because while playing, I have to move continuously. It is good
to burn calories as well.
 Do you like watching football? Online or offline?
 Yes, I do. I prefer watching football offline and online. Going to the stadium, shouting and
cheering are good to release stress.
 What is your favorite football team?
 I like the Manchester United Football Club, also known as “The Red Devils”.
 Why is sport important?
 Sports are sources of recreation. People can learn how to encourage team spirit when they
play sports, too.
29. A SCHOOL
 What school did you go to?
 I went to Millennium high school, founded in 1999.
 Where is the school located?
 It’s located in New York City, United States.
 Do you like the architecture of the school?
 Yes, I do. The architecture is not really impressive, but I like it that the building’s architects
left plenty of space for lounging.
 What are the teachers like?
 Most of the teachers there are helpful & friendly. I especially like Mr. Mo, my Physics teacher.
 How long have you spent there?
 I have spent 3 years of upper secondary school there.
 Is that a single-sex school?
 No, it isn’t. This is a unisex school.
 Do you like the school uniform?
 We don’t wear uniforms at school, actually.
 Why do you enjoy the time there?
 Although I had to deal with quite a heavy workload, I enjoy the relaxing atmosphere when
hanging out with friends in the cafeteria there.
 What important lesson did you learn from school?
 I learned how to work in a group in which there are many friends coming from different
cultures. That’s the lesson of cooperation.
 Will you recommend that school to others?
 Yes, of course. I’m proud to recommend Millennium High School to anyone who is searching
for a good place to learn.
30. FESTIVAL
 How many popular festivals are there in your country?
 There are many: New Year’s day, Martin Luther King day, Valentine’s day, St. Patrick day, etc.
 What is the most important festival in your country?
 I believe that New Year’s day is the most important one since it’s a chance for family reunion
and parties. People gather together to welcome the new year.
 When does it take place?
 It occurs on January 1st.
 Where’s the festival celebrated?
 The New Year’s day is celebrated all over the country. Each family has its own way to
celebrate the day.
 What do people do to prepare for the festival?
 Before New Year’day, people go shopping for food & drinks, repair the house or put up decor.
 Who can join the festival?
 It’s a day for everybody.
 What do people do in the festival?
 On New Year’ Eve, people have a party with traditional food and drinks. After that, they may
visit friends or relatives, go to the movies or watch sports.
 What’s special about that festival?
 It marks the end of a year and celebrates a new year. People believe that the things they do
on the first day will bring good luck and prosperity to them during the whole year.
 Is the festival culturally related?
 Sure, the festival is an integral part of culture.
 Why is a festival important?
 It adds structure to our social lives and connects us with our families and backgrounds.
Ways to Say Someone’s Talented
She was born to… [dance]. She knows [New York] like the back of her hand.
She could do it in her sleep. He knows it inside out.
He’s a natural. She’s a walking encyclopedia of… [IT].
He’s in a class of his own. He’s the best in the business.
She’s very gifted. He’s a [Design] whiz.

English Advanced Phrases for Telling Someone to Wait

Could you give me a minute? Hold on…
(informal) Hang on a sec / Just a sec. I'll be right with you.
Let me see/think… Bear with me.
That’ll have to wait. Be patient.
Not so fast! Hold your horses!
Set (6) - I just couldn’t put up with those silly pranks
DIALOGUE
Eric : Did you enjoy the show?
David : No, it was rubbish. Wasn’t it?
Eric : I just couldn’t put up with those silly pranks ; they just weren’t my cup of tea , but I had to
stick it out because I was with two of my friends.
David : Well, make sure you see the trailers next time.
Eric : Can you do me a favor and cancel tonight’s tickets. The whole thing is a kind of pouring
money down the drain.
David : With pleasure .

VOCABULARY
Rubbish : (noun) something that is of bad quality.
Put up with : to tolerate; endure.
Prank : (noun) a trick that is intended to be funny.
Not one’s cup of tea : not what one likes or is interested in.
Stick it out : to continue to the end of a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Trailer : (noun) a series of extracts from a film or broadcast, used for advance publicity.
Do someone a favor : to do something for someone as an act of kindness.
Pour money down the drain : to waste money; to throw money away.
With pleasure : gladly (used to express polite agreement or acceptance).