phrase mix

1.  I'm headed out to grab some lunch. You want me to pick you up something? It's lunch time at work, and you want to go out to get something to eat at a restaurant. Your coworker seems to be working hard, so you say this offering to bring her some food back. (someone) is headed out "Headed out" means "leaving" or "starting to leave". So "I'm headed out" means "I'm leaving". This expression sounds casual, friendly, and kind of cool. grab (something) In casual English, you can sometimes use the word "grab" to mean "get". For example: Jason, go grab your sister. I need her help with this. Can you go grab some pasta sauce from the next aisle? You want me to (do something)? This is a way to offer to do something in a casual and cool way. Of course, the more grammatically correct way to ask is using "do": Do you want me to pick you up something? And an even more polite, more formal version is this: Would you like me to pick you up something? pick (someone) up (something) To "pick up" something means to get it from a place quickly: I'll go pick up all the stuff we need. To describe picking something up for someone, use the phrase "pick (someone) up (something)": Hey, can you pick me up a pack of cigarettes on your way back? 2. Can everyone go ahead and take a seat, and let's get started. You're leading a meeting for a local meetup group that you're a member of. You'd like to start the meeting, so you say this. go ahead and (do something) People use this phrase in casual conversation to express doing something soon, instead of waiting: You guys go ahead and eat — I'm not hungry. Let's go ahead and pick a day and time for our next meeting. 3. It wouldn't kill you to do a load of laundry every now and then, would it? You're frustrated because your teenage son is lazy. He doesn't do household chores. You wish he would wash his own clothes. It wouldn't kill you to (do something). People use this phrase to complain about someone not helping with chores like cooking, cleaning, yard work, etc.: It wouldn't kill you to help out around the house sometimes, you know. This means "You can (and should) help with the housework." You can also phrase your complaint as a question: Would it kill you to straighten up your desk every now and then? You can use the phrases for other activities like exercise too: It wouldn't kill you to do a few situps. a load of laundry "Laundry" are clothes that are being cleaned. You can count laundry by the amount that you put into the washing machine at one time. This amount is called a "load": This load is almost finished. I'll let you know when it's done. It wouldn't (do something), would it? This is a tag question. You use this to confirm that what you're saying is true. 4. It says you're supposed to use it in a well-ventilated area. Your husband is going to spray paint an old piece of furniture that you bought at a yard sale. He's going to do it in the garage, but after reading the spray paint can you don't think it's safe. (someone) is supposed to (do something) Say that someone "is supposed to" do something if: a. there's a rule about it I think we're supposed to shower before going in the pool. b. there's a custom that says something about it You're supposed to take your shoes off when you go into someone's house in Japan. c. you have already agreed to do it I'm supposed to pick Janelle up from school this afternoon. Note that "supposed to" can also be used in other situations, like when you're reporting information that you heard from other people. use (a chemical) in a well-ventilated area "Ventiation" means allowing air to move between the indoors and outdoors. This can be done with windows, vents, or fans. Chemicals which are dangerous for people to breathe often have a warning. The warning says that you should use the chemical in a "well-ventilated area", so that the person using it can get fresh air. 5. It was way out in the middle of nowhere. You're talking to a client at a business lunch. You're telling him about a vacation you recently took to a remote cabin in the mountains. You say this while explaining how far away from the city it was. way out 远了去了 When English speakers who live in cities talk about places that are in the country or in the wilderness, we use the word "out": She lives out in the country. You can also use "out" to describe being in another city that's far away toward the east or west: Mirabel just moved out to L.A. a few weeks ago. When somewhere is especially far, use "way out": The nearest one I know of is way out in Burlington. 6. Rest assured, we'll find this scumbag and make him pay. You're watching a movie about a tough police officer. He's talking to someone whose child was kidnapped. He says this to make the parent feel less worried. Rest assured, (sentence) This phrase means something like "Don't worry". You say this when you're confident that something will happen. You're making a sort of promise that you will accomplish something: Rest assured, we will not stop until we have recovered every single one of the hostages. This expression sounds very strong and determined. It's too strong to use in common, everyday situations. (someone is) a scumbag A "scumbag" is a really horrible person. The word "scumbag" is usually applied to adult men, not to women or children. make (someone) pay 付出代价 To "make someone pay" means to punish them or get revenge. You can use "for" to show why you want to get revenge on the person. For example, if someone insults you, you might think: I'll make you pay for saying that! 7. (something is) accompanied by (something) The word "accompany" means to go somewhere together with. For example, one of the most common uses of this word is in this sentence: All children must be accompanied by an adult. You can see this on signs at places that are dangerous for kids, like swimming pools. It can also be used to talk about documents that need to be sent together: Please note that all applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation. The word "accompany" is quite formal, so it's mostly used in writing. 8. (someone's) technique is sloppy 技术不行, 技术糟糕 A person's "technique" means how correctly they perform a physical skill. You can use this phrase to talk about a wide variety of skills like: throwing a ball. shooting a gun. swimming. playing a piano. You can use a variety of adjectives to talk about a person's technique: Her technique is almost perfect. His technique is poor. One common adjective is "sloppy". "Sloppy" means dirty or unorganized. A person with "sloppy" technique doesn't perform the skill in the correct way. They may do it a little differently each time. 9. No way! Get out of here! 不可能, 去你的 Your brother tells you that he met a really famous celebrity. You say this because you're surprised that he met someone so famous. Get out of here! When someone tells you something that's: surprising, really exciting or good news, possibly a trick. For example: A: Mom, I got into Harvard. B: What!? Get out of here! Of course, there's also a completely different meaning of "Get out of here!" You can say this when you're mad at someone and want them to leave. People will usually know whether you're surprised or angry based on the situation. Your facial expressions also give people clues. If you say "Get out of here!" while you're smiling, people will think that you're happy and surprised. If you say it while frowning, they'll think that you're angry. No way! "No way!" is a casual phrase that means "I can't believe it!" Use it when you're surprised and excited about something: A: Have you been playing the new Call of Dutygame? B: I already beat it. A: No way! You can imagine that "No way!" is a shortened version of "There's no way that could be true." Another meaning of "No way" is "No" or "Definitely no." A: Do you want to go skydiving with me? B: No way! 10. There's some kind of funky odor in here. You open your refrigerator to look for a snack. It smells bad. You comment on it to your roommate. some kind of (something) The phrase "some kind of ___" can be used when you don't know exactly what you're talking about or you don't want to specify: What's this? Some kind of stew? I hear some kind of siren in the background. a funky (smell) 腐臭味, 腐烂味, 坏味 A "funky" smell or odor is the smell of something that's a little bit rotten, moldy, sweaty, etc. You use it like this: There's a funky smell in here. There's something funky in that closet. Other bad smells like the smell of chemicals are not usually called "funky". "Funky" is a slang word, so you use it in casual situations. 11. If you get stuck, come grab me and I’ll be happy to help. You're training a new employee in your department at work. You've showed her how to do a task. Now you're going to let her try it by herself. You say this before you leave. I'd be happy to (do something) Use this phrase to politely offer to do something. For example, you can say this to someone who's visiting your company from another country: I'd be happy to show you around, if you'd like. You can also offer to do something with "I'll be happy to ___". This version is more appropriate after "if": If this one doesn't work for you, I'll be happy to bring you a new one. These phrases are polite, so you can use them with people you don't know very well. (someone) gets stuck 搞不定, 搞不好, 解决不了 "Getting stuck" happens when you're trying to figure out something difficult, like a math problem or repairs for a machine. You use this phrase like this: I was trying to do the Sunday crossword puzzle, but I got stuck. You can also specify what part you got stuck on. A: Were you able to figure out the homework? B: I did most of it, but I got stuck on question 15. grab (someone) This is a casual way to talk about getting help from someone: Just grab one of the librarians if you need help finding anything. A: Ready? B: Sure. A: OK, I'll grab a waiter. 12. People generally assume that more expensive products are of higher quality, but that's not necessarily the case. You're commenting on an Internet forum about fashion. Someone has written that "You get what you pay for". You disagree. You don't think that more expensive shoes are always better, so you write this in response. people generally assume that (clause) To "assume" that something is true means that you think it's true, without having any real proof or evidence. "Generally" means "mostly" or "usually". The phrase "people generally assume that ___" describes something that most people think is true, but may or may not actually be true. For example: People generally assume that I'm in my thirties when they meet me, but I'm 48. People generally assume that kids who grow up rich are going to turn out to be spoiled brats. That's not always true. (something) is of high quality You can say that a product "is" high-quality: Their shoes are always high-quality. But "of high quality" is more formal and proper. that's not necessarily the case Use "not necessarily" in the following situation: Something is usually true, or most people think it's true. However, sometimes it's not true, or there's no proof of it. You want to point this out and disagree with what other people think. A: I can't afford a car. A good one would cost at least fifteen thousand dollars. B: Not necessarily. I saw a car the other day on sale for ten thousand. A: Drinking is bad for your health. B: That's not necessarily true. Moderate drinking can be good for you. When you say that something is "not necessarily" true, it means that it's not always true. In other words, it might be true, or it might not be. "Not necessarily the case" means "not necessarily true". 13. enter (some information) incorrectly When you write or type information into a form, you are "entering" that information: Enter your name, email address, and password. If t e information you enter is right, then you have "entered it correctly". If not, you've "entered it incorrectly". It must have been caused by someone entering the date incorrectly. 14. A limp handshake leaves a bad impression. You're giving a friend advice on how to act in business situations in the U.S. You discuss the correct way to give a handshake and you say this. a limp handshake 软弱无力的, 没有生气的 "Limp" means "soft" and "weak". Imagine a French fry that's been left out for a few hours. It's not crispy any longer; it hangs down when you hold it and feels soft. That's the meaning of "limp 软耷拉的". A "limp" handshake is when someone shakes hands without enough pressure. The correct handshake is a firm handshake. This means to grab the other person's hand and squeeze it just a little bit. But some people just hold the other person's hand without squeezing. This is called a "limp" handshake, and most people don't like it. Other examples of "limp" things include: Someone's body when they're dead, asleep, or passed out. Hair that's thin or oily 头发没有生气. The word "limp" 耷拉着脑袋的, 硬不起来的 is also used in some embarassing sexual situations. Use your imagination to figure out what that might be. 15. Quit nagging me! Your wife wants you to go to the dentist. She's told you to make an appointment several times in the last few weeks. She tells you again. You're annoyed that she keeps telling you what to do, so you tell her to stop. Quit (doing something)! Tell people "Quit ___!" when you're annoyed and want them to stop. "Quit" is a little more casual than "stop". (someone) is nagging (someone) Imagine that you're supposed to wash the dishes, but you don't want to. You want to watch a video on the Internet instead. Someone in your family reminds you several times to wash the dishes. You might think that this family member is "nagging" you. The word "nagging" is a negative way to describe reminding a person of something that they're supposed to do. Family members, couples, and roommates sometimes "nag" each other about things like: doing household chores, paying bills, calling family members. 16. Oh, so you're one of those, huh? You're a hair dresser. You're talking with a customer while you cut his hair. You ask what he does, and he says that he's a lawyer. You tease him about it. (someone) is one of those Saying that someone is "one of those" means that the person is bad, annoying, difficult to deal with, etc. You use it like this: A: Whenever my sister travels somewhere, she packs three huge suitcases and her poor boyfriend has to wheel them around for her. B: Ah, so she's one of those. So you can think of this as meaning "She's one of those (difficult or annoying people)." This might seem like a rude thing to say to someone, but people usually use the phrase "one of those" in a friendly, teasing way. You can even say this directly to someone you've just met: You're one of those, aren't you? I can tell! 17. I'm good at thinking quickly on my feet 反应快, 反应迅速. You're in a job interview. The interviewer asks about one of your strengths. You explain that you can make good decisions quickly (someone) thinks on (his or her) feet "Thinking on your feet" means making decisions about things as they happen. It means figuring out what to do when you don't have a clear plan. You can talk about someone thinking "quickly" on their feet, or "well": We're looking for someone who can think well on their feet and make good decisions. You've got to think quickly on your feet in this job. "Thinking on your feet" is almost always a positive quality. If you want to talk negatively about someone who makes decisions without planning, you can say this: He doesn't know what he's doing. He's just making it up as he goes along 随口编, 现编, 跟着感觉走, 没有计划的, 走一步看一步, 临时决定, 走一步算一步, 走一步说一步, 走哪儿到哪儿. make (something) up as (one) goes (along) To improvise continuously as one does something; to do something without formal guidelines, structure, rules, etc. None of us really knew how to play the game, so we just made it up as we went along. I completely forgot the rest of my speech halfway through, so I just started making the rest up as I went along. You can't just make up data as you go, you have to provide real evidence to support your hypothesis! to invent a story or a tune without thinking before about how it will end. 18. See how the alert message changed when you did that? You're teaching a coworker how to use a database application. You're explaining how to fill in an important form. You notice that something changed on the screen, so you point it out to your coworker. See how (something happened)? When you're training someone or giving them instructions, you can point something out with this phrase: See how the "ready" light just lit up? That means that it's ready to use. This phrase is equal to saying "The 'ready' light just lit up. Did you see that?" Here are more examples: A: See how it just cut off? B: Yeah. What happened? A: You let the clutch out too quickly. See how the stripes are really dark on this one? That means it's ripe. an alert message An "alert message" is a warning on a computer or other machine. It tells you about something that you should pay attention to. One place that you might find alert messages is on a bank website. If you're logged in for a certain amount of time without any activity, an alert message will pop up and ask you if you want to stay logged in. You may also find alert messages on your phone when the phone's battery starts to run out. Similar to "alert messages" are "warnings", which are a little more serious, and "notifications", which are less serious. 18. try (someone) = try calling someone You can talk about calling someone on the telephone with the phrase "try ___". Here are some examples: I tried her three or four times, but there was no answer. I'll try him again tomorrow. This is a casual expression. When you're writing or speaking formally about calling a person, use the phrase "try calling" instead: I tried calling her three or four times, but there was no answer. 19. This one's quite a bit cheaper... but it has a six-hour layover in Atlanta. You're flying overseas for a family event. You're looking for cheap plane tickets now with your wife. You found a flight that costs less but takes a long time. You point it out to her. (something) is quite a bit ( more/less) When you're comparing two things, you use a comparative adjective like this: She's taller than he is. I'm more scared now than I was the first time. If you want to describe the amount of difference between two things, you can use the phrase "quite a bit": She's quite a bit taller than he is. I'm quite a bit more scared now than I was the first time. "Quite a bit" is something in between "a little" and "a lot". ( a flight) has a layover When you travel somewhere by airplane, sometimes you can't fly directly to your destination. You have to take a flight to one place, then take another flight to your destination. The time that you spend waiting at the connecting airport is called a "layover". People describe the location and length of layovers like this: We had a 4-hour layover in London. 20. It's not all glamour and prestige 光鲜亮丽 ( According to historian Jeff Guinn, the photos found at the hideout resulted in Parker's glamorization 美化 and the creation of myths about the gang. The 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, directed by Arthur Penn and starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway in the title roles, revived interest in the criminals and glamorized them with a romantic aura. ) ; we put in a lot of long, thankless hours. You work for a fashion designer. You're introducing the job to some new interns at your company. You explain that it's not going to be as fun as they probably imagined. (a job) is not all (something). Use this construction to correct people's incorrect ideas about a job or activity. You first describe what people sometimes think about the subject. Then you tell the more complete story. For example: Sales is not all fancy power lunches and business meetings. We put up with a lot of rejections. Being a police officer is not all chasing down bad guys and solving cases. A lot of our work involves doing paperwork, riding around the city, dealing with traffic accidents... a glamorous 光鲜的 job "Glamorous" things are exciting, beautiful, and associated with money and fame. Some glamorous things include: a fashion show a Hollywood movie premiere. A glamorous job is a job that lots of people want because it involves things like international travel, meetings with famous or important people, and high pay. The noun form of "glamorous" is "glamour". a prestigious job ( [preˈstidʒəs]  有声望的. 有名望的. 广受尊敬的  admired and respected by people. A prestigious institution, job, or activity is respected and admired by people. It's one of the best equipped and most prestigious schools in the country. a prestigious school/institution/literary prize. prestige [preˈstiʒ] noun. If a person, a country, or an organization has prestige, they are admired and respected because of the position they hold or the things they have achieved. ...efforts to build up the prestige of the United Nations. It was his responsibility for foreign affairs that gained him international prestige. ...high prestige jobs. adj. Prestige 高档的, 高级的 is used to describe products, places, or activities which people admire because they are associated with being rich or having a high social position. ...such prestige cars as Cadillac, Mercedes, Porsche and Jaguar. ) When something carries a high sense of respect, it can be called "prestigious". Some prestigious things include: a prestigious award. a prestigious university. a prestigious company. a prestigious position. Having a prestigious job might mean being an important executive in a well-known company, having a high position in the government, and so on. The noun form of "prestigious" is "prestige". You can say things: I think he took the job more for the prestige than for the money (someone) put in long hours "Putting in long hours" on a job or a project means working for a long time on it, or working for a long time each day. For example: Everyone in a big law firm like that puts in insanely long hours. This is similar to the phrase "put a lot of work into (something)" (someone's work) is thankless 没有人在乎的, 没有人注意的, 没有人在意的 ( If you describe a job or task as thankless, you mean that it is hard work and brings very few rewards. Soccer referees have a thankless task. a. a thankless activity is unpleasant, and other people are not grateful to you for doing it. a thankless task. b. ​mainly literary a thankless person is not grateful. a thankless 不知感恩的 child. ) When someone works hard on something but no one notices or cares, you can say that the work is "thankless": Fixing people's computer problems is a thankless job. 21. I don't blame you. You live in a small town. You're talking to your teenage nephew, who lives in the same small town. He says he wants to move somewhere else as soon as possible. The town is boring, so you say this because you understand why he wants leave. Say "I don't blame you" when you agree with someone's decisions or opinions, or can at least understand them. Here are a few more examples of situations in which you can say "I don't blame you: A coworker says that she's going to file a report with the Human Resources department because her boss is making sexist jokes. You think that she should. Your sister is pregnant. She says that she doesn't want to continue working right up until she gives birth. She wants to quit her job and stay home for the last month of her pregnancy. You support your sister's decision. A friend of yours tells you that he has a crush on a beautiful woman. You agree that she is very attractive. You might hear "I don't blame you" in a few other forms. One is "I don't blame you for ___ing": I don't blame you for being mad at me. I don't blame you for wanting to move somewhere more exciting. I don't blame you for reporting him. He should get fired for that kind of behavior! Another phrase that you might hear which is similar to "I don't blame you" is "I can't say that I blame you": A: I'm tired of this town. I'm moving away as soon as I'm old enough. B: Well, I can't say that I blame you. 22. Dude! People sometimes call each other "dude" in casual conversation. For example: A: Dude, we've got to get going. We're going to be late. B: Dude, chill out 放心了, 放轻松了, 别着急 (settle down). "Dude" is mostly used between two young or middle-aged men. However, women sometimes use it and people sometimes use it toward women too. Originally, "dude" was associated with surfers. In the past 30 years it has become much more common, but now some younger people choose other words to refer to each other like "bro". People mostly say "Dude" at the beginning of a sentence. It's possible at the end of a sentence but less common. Nice shot, dude. 23. (someone) zones out "Zoning out" means to let your mind drift and to stop paying attention to things. Your eyes look off into the distance and you think about unrelated things. This can also be called "daydreaming". Another example of a situation in which people "zone out" is when watching some TV shows: At the end of a long, stressful day, all I want to do is go home and zone out in front of the television. The word "zone" means "place". So you can think of "zoning out" as you mind going to another place. There's also an English phrase "to be in the zone 别的什么都不想, 全神贯注, 一心一意", which means to be really focused and concentrated on something like when you're playing sports at a really high level: I love when I'm running on a nice day with my headphones on and I just get in the zone. I feel like I can keep running forever. 24. Settle down! You're getting all worked up over nothing. Your girlfriend is worried because her boss announced an unexpected meeting tomorrow morning. She's afraid that she's going to be fired. She's getting really nervous, so you tell her to calm down. Settle down (chill out)! If someone tells you "Settle down!" it means that they want you to become less upset, less excited, less frightened, etc. In other words, they want you to become less emotional. Telling someone "Settle down!" is very direct, so it's rude if you say that to someone who you're not close to. (someone) gets worked up "Getting worked up" means becoming emotional about something. The emotion is usually a negative one like anger or worry. Sometimes people use "all" in this phrase: Look, you're getting all worked up again. I told you to relax! See? You got worked up over nothing. 24. She'll be with you shortly. You're going in for a job interview. You tell the employee near the entrance that you have an appointment with the manager. He tells you to wait. (someone) will be with you (soon) This is a polite formal phrase often used with customers, guests, or patients to ask them to wait. Several different words can be used to mean "soon" in this phrase: He'll be with you shortly. I'll be with you soon. He'll be with you in just a second. She'll be with you in just a minute. (something will happen) shortly "Shortly" is a slightly formal way to say "soon" or "in just a few minutes". Use it in sentences like this: We will begin shortly. She'll be with you shortly. We will be departing shortly. 25. (something) is dope "Dope" is a slang word that means "really cool" or "great". Some young people (mostly young men) use this word to talk about thing that they really like. "Dope" is not rude or offensive, but it's not appropriate in formal situations, with people you don't know well, in the workplace, etc. 26. They are testing the limits of my patience! You're trying to have a conversation with your friend, but your children are running around and yelling. They're starting to make you angry. You say this. test the limits of (something) 测试极限 If you want to see how loud a pair of stereo speakers can get, you turn the volume knob up as far as you can. Similarly, if you want to see how quickly your car can speed up, you might push the gas pedal down as hard as you can. These are both examples of "testing the limits" of something. The "limit" of something is be largest, strongest, farthest, hottest, etc. possible. When you "test the limits" of something, you're trying to find out what the limit is. Here are some expressions with "test the limits": test the limits of my endurance. test the limits of human potential. test the limits of the law. test the limits of credulity. (something) is testing the limits of my patience. When people (or things) are really annoying, you can say that they're "testing the limits of your patience". It's like you're imagining that the annoying things are trying to be as annoying as possible, so that they can find out what will finally make you angry. 27. We're down 4% over last year. You're giving a presentation on your company's financial performance. You're showing a chart which compares this year's earnings with last year's. You explain that the company made a little less this year. We're (at some number) In business, people sometimes talk about sales or other important numbers this way: We're at 3 million for the quarter. What this means is: (Our sales are) at 3 million for the quarter. People also say "We're up", "We're down", "We're flat", "We're growing", etc.: We were growing by about 10% per month, but we're flat this month. (some number) is (up/down) over (a previous period) You can compare numbers for one time period to a past time period with the word "over": Profits are up 10% over last quarter. This means "Profits  are 10% higher than they were in the last 3-month period." 28. It's overcast 阴天. When the weather is "overcast", it means that there are clouds covering the sky. It's not raining (at least, not a lot) but you can't see the sun. It is common to talk about the weather with phrases starting with "It's": It's nice out. It's cold. It's raining. 29. Can we stop by an ATM on the way there? You're riding in your friend's car on the way to a restaurant where you're meeting a few other people. You don't have any cash, so you want to go to an ATM. You ask your friend who's driving this. stop by (somewhere) on the way (to somewhere) This means to quickly go to a place before continuing to your final destination. You usually indicate the destination with "to": on the way to the airport. But "there" and "here" are exceptions to the rule. They don't use "to": Was there any traffic on the way here? there When you're talking about going to a place, you usually use the word "to": I was on my way to work. We're going to Dallas for Christmas. The word "there" is different, though. You use it by itself: I was on my way there. We're going there for Christmas. "Here" and "home" work the same way: I moved here in the early '90s. We're driving home. 30. Why do I always put things off until the very last minute? Why do I always (do something)? This is a phrase that people use when they want to complain about their own bad habits. You ask this question when you try not to do something, but you feel like you don't have control. It's usually used around friends or family members. put (something) off  拖延, 拖拖拉拉的, until (some time) When you "put off" something that you're supposed to do, it means that you wait to do it later. People often put off doing things that are boring, difficult, or stressful. You can use the phrase "put ___ off" by itself: A: Have you bought Renee a birthday present yet? B: No, I've been putting it off. Or you can use the phrase "until ___" to express when you will or have started doing it: Don't put off doing your taxes until the week before they're due. the last minute The phrase "the last minute" is a common way of describing doing something just before the deadline. Of course, it doesn't literally mean the last minute before the deadline. In the case of the assignment described at the top of this post, "the last minute" means two days before the assignment is due. If you really want to emphasize how close to the deadline you are, use "very" before "last minute": I waited until the very last minute to turn it in.