PRACTICAL ENGLISH

1. "Just name it" Meaning/Usage : Used to express that you are offering to do or give anything the other person asks. It's a  shortened way of saying, "tell me anything you want or need." A. "There is so much to get done today."  B. "I will help you with whatever you need. Just name it!" Example Sentences:  "I will help you with whatever you need, just name it. "  "We can do whatever you want, just name it ."  " Just name it and we can do it." Other Common Sentences "Anything you need." "Tell me what you need and I'll do it." 2. "You name it" Meaning/Usage :  You say you name it , usually after or before a list, to indicate that you are talking about a very wide range of things or there are many things to choose from. Example Sentences: Pickled cucumbers, jam, pickled berries, tomatoes; you name it , they've got it. Gin, vodka, whiskey, beer - you name it, I've got it...

Phrase: "It serves you right" Meaning:   Expressing that justice happened because the person got what they deserved.  If you say it serves someone right when something unpleasant happens to them, you mean that it is their own fault and you have no sympathy for them. This is usually said when something bad happens to someone who continually did something bad. Used to say that someone who has behaved badly deserves a particular punishment, problem, etc. Example Dialog 1 A.   "Can you believe Kim got fired from work?" B.   " Serves her right . She was always late or calling in sick." A.   "I guess you're right, but I hope she finds a new job . " B.   "Me too." Example Dialog 2 A: "I heard his wife is divorcing him."  B: "It serves him right after the way he's treated her." Example Dialog 3 A: "Oh my God! I've got the worst hangover ever!"  B: " Serves you right! I told you not to drink so muc...

Phrase: "For a change" Meaning If you say that you are doing something or something is happening for a change, you mean that you do not usually do it or it does not usually happen, and you are happy to be doing it or that it is happening. Example Sentences "Let's eat out tonight for a change." "Why don't you help me out for a change instead of me always helping you?!" "It would be nice to eat something else for a change." "He was delighted and I was happy to be doing something positive for a change." "Maybe we should listen to him for a change." "For a change, why not dye your hair?" "Let's take a walk for a change." "We usually go to France in the summer, but this year we're going to Spain for a change." Let's have Italian food for a change." I'm sick and tired of having hamburger for lunch. Let's have pasta for a change."

  Phrase: "That'll do/ That will do" Meaning We use this expression to say that someone should stop something, or that something is enough. Used in informal speech to tell someone that one does not want or need anything more Used for saying that something is enough or is appropriate for a particular purpose This phrase is also used to tell someone to stop behaving badly. You can say this instead of saying "that's enough" or "that's good enough". Dialog 1 A: That'll do ! Stop fighting, sit down and be quiet!  B: He started it - he hit me first! Dialog 2 A: Do you want me to cut you a bigger piece of bread?  B: That'll do , thanks. I'm not very hungry. Dialog 3 A: Would you like anything else? B: No, that'll do. Thanks! Dialog 4 A: I've only got twenty dollars. Is that enough? B: OK, that'll do. More Example Sentences: " That'll do , Timothy! Please just sit down and keep quiet." " That’ll do ! I’ve...

These words both talk about using our ears! They can be applied to same things (music, a conversation, etc.), but they have different meanings. We'll look at explanations about what each word means and review some example sentences to see how each one works. Hear Hear  is a  verb   that means to sense a sound with our ears. When we  hear  something, it is by chance. This means we are not actively paying attention or waiting for the sound. Remember that  hear  is an  irregular verb  in the simple past:  heard . Example Sentences: "I think I  heard  someone laughing in the apartment next door."        - He wasn't expecting laughter, but the sound reached his ears. "You will  hear  native speakers use lots of contractions like "can't" or "didn't." - You are not specifically expecting or waiting for these words, but people will say them. "I  heard  a really interesting news story on the...

Idiom: Start from scratch Meaning To begin from a point at which nothing has been done yet. To create something from scratch is to make it without any ingredients or materials prepared ahead of time. To begin from the very beginning, without the aid or advantage of something that is already prepared or completed; to start from nothing Example Sentences Nothing like this had ever been done before, so we had to start from scratch . The folder with my outline and notes got deleted, so now I have to start the whole project again from scratch . We don't have time to start from scratch , so let's just use some cake mix from a box. All our machinery was lost in the fire so we had to start from scratch . She moved to a strange place where she had to make new friends and start a new life from scratch . I have worked hard and started this empire from scratch , so now I am considered an expert in the industry.  I will have to start from scratch and redo the entire assignment because I mis...

"Come Back" and "Get Back" Question What is the difference between "come back" and "get back" ? Can I use them interchangeably?  Answer Come back   and  get back  can be used interchangeably in some cases, but not always. When you mean "to return to a place after going away" you can use either one, most of the time. Below are some examples of how they are used with this meaning. When he  got back  from vacation he had a nice tan. When he  came back  from vacation he had a nice tan. When you  get back  from the store we will have dinner. When you  come back  from the store we will have dinner. What time do you think you will   get back ? What time do you think you will  come back ? When you are talking about someone returning to a place, and it is from the point of view of the person they are visiting, use  come back : We hope you'll  come back  and shop with us again soon! We invited them to  com...

Phrase: One (thing) at a time   Meaning To do or deal with one thing before starting to do or deal with another. We use this expression to talk about a sequence of things or activities. To do (something) at a time means to do it slowly and carefully, doing just a little at a time or doing it one by one. Dialog 1 A: "Are you the sort of person who plans everything when on holiday?" B: "No. I take it one day at a time and just see what happens." Dialog 2 A: "I want you to book the tickets, phone a taxi, organize the hotel and plan the meeting." B: "Ok, but I can only do one thing at a time. " Example Sentences "There are a few problems, but let's take one thing at a time. " "Do one thing at a time , and do it well." "You're confusing him! Tell him slowly and one thing at a time. " "The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time. " "Doing one thing at a time is probably ...

Overlook  and  look over  are two terms that are very similar but mean two different things. They are often confused. We will look at the definitions of the terms  overlook  and  look over , how they are used and some examples of that use in sentences. 1. Look over ( phrasal verb) Meaning When you  look over  something or someone, you quickly examine it or them. For example: "I asked my teacher to  look over  what I had written." 2. Overlook   (verb) Meaning 1. Overlook means to ignore, to not notice something.  When you  overlook  someone or something you fail to notice or consider it or them. For example: "I think my teacher  overlooked  some of my mistakes." 2 . Overlook also means to observe something from above. For example: "We can  overlook  the sea from here." Note:  Look over is two separate words, overlook is one word. More Example Sentences Look over "Make sure to look over the w...

Phrasal Verbs: Find out / Figure out Both of these phrases have very similar meanings, but there are some implications that can be important. 1. Find out Meaning To "find" something means to locate it by searching . "To find out" implies that the answer exists elsewhere, and through research or investigation, you will get that existing answer. 2. Figure out Meaning To "figure" something means to apply logic and reason . "To figure out" implies that you will determine the answer yourself without outside help, often through trial and error. Example Dialogue A: “Did you ever figure out why your website wasn’t working?” B: “Yeah, I found out that the server was undergoing some maintenance. It’s back online now!” Take note: Figure out = Find the answer to a problem Find out = Discover some information Example Sentences "I'll talk to her and find out what's going on." "Try to find out what happened." "You'...

Phrasal Verb: Break down The phrasal verb "break down" can be used in many different ways since it has different meanings.  1. Break down - (of a machine or vehicle) to stop working because of a fault. Example Sentences "The telephone system has broken down. " "The car broke down on the freeway." "The car broke down halfway through the roadtrip across the country." 2. Break down - (of health condition) to become very bad or a complete loss of physical, mental, or emotional vitality : a physical, mental, or nervous collapse You may come across the expressions "nervous breakdown" or "mental breakdown" that describes a period of intense mental distress or illness that occurs suddenly. During this period, you’re unable to function in your everyday life. Example Sentences "His health broke down under the pressure of work." "She had a nervous breakdown shortly after her sister's death." "She suffe...

Phrasal Verb: Look back Meaning: If you look back , you think about things that happened in the past. To recall the past; to think about something in the past. To review past events; return in thought. Example Sentences "When I look back on our school days, it seems as if they were a decade ago." "Some people are looking back at the old system and don't accept there are other ways of doing things." "One day we may look back and think we made the right decisions." "We have more things to worry about rather than look back at what happened four years ago." "Remember to look back upon your mistakes from time to time, but never regret them." "Adults often look back on their childhood as a golden age." "Once he makes a plan, he'll never look back ." "When I look back on those days, I realize I was desperately unhappy." "It wasn't such a bad experience when I look back on it." ...

Phrase 1: "Give me a chance" Meaning: We use this expression to say we need more time to do something and that the other person is being unreasonable. Example Dialog 1 A: Have you finished the book yet? B: Give me a chance. You only gave it to me yesterday! Example Dialog 2 A: When will the supper be ready? I'm starving. B: Give me a chance. I've only just got back from work! Example Dialog 3 Alice: Come on! I need more time to finish the test. Give me a chance!  Teacher: Would another ten minutes help? Phrase 2: "T ake a chance" Meaning: To do something that could have either good or bad results When you take a chance, you try to do something although there is a large risk of danger or failure. Related words: Take a risk Example Sentences "Sometimes you have to take chances if you want to succeed!" "If you are willing to take a chance and wait for further discounts, you can look for sales when the new collections are released." ...

Phrase: The final say  Meaning: Responsibility for making a decision, although other people can give their opinion first To say the final words in an argument or discussion, especially ones that decisively or conclusively end it. To have the authority to decide how something ultimately happens or is done. Related words: in conclusion, final judgement, final decision Example Sentences "The whole meeting just turned into chaos as everyone tried to have the final say. " "David is so proud and always has to have the final say in every debate." "As the editor-in-chief, I have the final say on the layout design for every issue." "Look, I already gave you my final say on the matter." "The official has the final say on all judgment calls." "What is your final say ?" "She has the final say, not you nor anybody else." "The president had the final say of all decisions made in this country." "Experts are i...

1. Talk back (to someone) Meaning:  To reply quickly and rudely to something that someone says. This expression is used especially when talking about children who are being rude to their parents If you talk back to someone in authority such as a parent or teacher, you answer them in a rude way. Related words: reply, respond, answer Example Sentences "Sarah, don’t talk back to your mother!" "How dare you talk back to me!" "Don't talk back to your grandpa." "Don't talk back to your mother like that!" "Children who talk back are regarded as rude and disrespectful." "Don't talk back . Listen to what your father says." "How could you talk back to your boss like that?" "It's not unusual for students to talk back or argue with teachers." 2. Get back Meaning: To return to a place, especially to your home. Related words: to go home, to return, to go back, to come back Example Sentences ...

Phrasal Verb:  Act up Meaning: To act in a way different from that which is normal or expected. 1. Of a person, to misbehave or to behave poorly or inappropriately. If a child is acting up, they are behaving badly. Example Sentences "I could hear Jonathan acting up downstairs." "The kids have been acting up again." "The two-year-old was acting up in church so much that her dad had to take her outside." "If you act up in class, you will be sent to the principal's office." "Why do you have detention? Please tell me you weren't acting up again." "With an inexperienced rider, this horse always acts up ." "The driver stopped the school bus because the kids were acting up ." 2. Of a thing, to malfunction or operate incorrectly. Example Sentences  "My car's transmission started acting up  on my way to work." "My oven acted up again this morning; I think I need to take it to the repair shop...

  1. Sleep in When you  sleep in , you  remain in bed until later than usual . You don't need to get up early or set an alarm. This is what we usually do on Saturdays and Sundays, provided we get the chance.  Example Sentences "I was too tired to get up and go to school, so I just  slept in ." "Sunday mornings are for  sleeping in ." "I could just as well  sleep in  and nobody would notice my absence." "Amelia is an early riser, but Jane sleeps in whenever she can." "I think I'll sleep in tomorrow, so don't bother to get up early." "I'm going to sleep in on Saturday." 2. Sleep over This term it is used especially in American English. We  sleep over  when we  spend the night at someone else’s house . In fact, this phrasal verb is so popular over at the US that a night at someone’s house is known as a «sleepover».  Sleepovers  are extremely common among children, whose parents usually set them up on weekend  s...