get comfortable with English and comfort this is your English listening practice podcast to help you learn and improve naturally you know sometimes learning English can feel like you need to memorize a dictionary right it can feel like there are endless words and grammar rules to learn it's a lot it really is a lot but here's a little secret a lot of everyday English isn't about knowing thousands of single words it's about knowing common phrases that native speakers use all the time we hear phrases everywhere in movies in shows and in real conversations they just sound natural knowing these ready-made phrases can make you sound much more confident and natural even if you're just starting out you don't have to build every sentence from scratch and they're super practical you can use them right away in many different situations by the way I'm Emily and I'm Liam this is English and Comfort the place where you can learn English while you relax lie down or even while you sleep no pressure no stress just real English today we're sharing 30 common English phrases you'll hear and use every single day these are the building blocks for everyday English conversation that's right we use these phrases with family with friends at work even when we order food or just say hello mastering them will truly boost your English fluency and speaking practice so get comfortable grab your tea or just water and let's get started all right let's dive into our first phrase which is a really common and relaxed one go with the flow ah yes go with the flow i love this one because it's all about being flexible and easygoing exactly it means to relax and adapt to whatever happens instead of trying to control everything or resist changes it's about being flexible and accepting things as they come so if our plans change unexpectedly instead of getting stressed you just go with the flow and make the best of the new situation perfect example if your friends suggest a different activity you could just say "Oh I don't really mind i'll just go with the flow it shows you're easygoing." Or if you're out traveling and something unexpected happens like a train delay you might say "Well it's a bit of a delay but we'll just go with the flow and enjoy the extra time." Let's try it together in a conversation hey Emily our plan got cancelled what do you want to do instead oh no well no worries Liam i'm pretty relaxed today so I'll just go with the flow what do you suggest see how natural that sounds go with the flow it's a great phrase to show you're easygoing let's move to our next phrase which is a strong one for saying definitely not or not at all it's by no means by no means is a very firm way to express strong disagreement or a strong denial it's much stronger than just no that's right you use it when you want to make it very clear that something is not true or not possible under any circumstances so if someone asks "Are you finished with that difficult project?" You could firmly say "By no means i still have hours of work left or if someone suggests you're upset about something you could reply "By no means." I'm actually feeling very positive about it let's practice liam did you manage to get any sleep last night with all that noise by no means Emily it was impossible to sleep so remember by no means means definitely not or absolutely not next phrase out of the blue out of the blue this phrase perfectly describes something that happens unexpectedly or suddenly without any warning it's like something just appears without any prior indication so it's about a surprise event or a sudden occurrence precisely it means something happened without any previous signs or hints it's like a sudden surprise that comes from nowhere so for example if your old friend from high school calls you after many years you could say "He called me completely out of the blue." Or "The company announced big changes to our project out of the blue nobody was expecting it let's try it in a conversation." You won't believe what happened i received a job offer from my dream company today wow that's amazing that came totally out of the blue congratulations so out of the blue means suddenly and unexpectedly okay next phrase is on second thought on second thought is a phrase we use when we've changed our mind about something we just said or considered it indicates a slight shift in our decision or opinion it's like saying "Wait a minute i've had another idea." Or "Actually maybe not." Exactly it introduces a revised thought or a new perspective after the initial one for example you might first say "I'll have a coffee." And then on second thought you might add "Actually I think I'll have tea instead." Let's try a quick practice okay liam are you going to the birthday party yeah I think so on second thought maybe I should stay home and get some rest see how Liam first agreed but then changed his mind on second thought signals that change next phrase is the bottom line the bottom line refers to the most important or essential point in a discussion situation or explanation it's the main takeaway or the crucial factor so it's like getting to the heart of the matter it cuts through all the extra details and focuses on what's most important for instance if you're discussing the costs of a project you might say "After all the calculations the bottom line is that we've gone over budget." It's the key piece of information you need to understand let's try it we've talked about all the different options and possibilities but what's the most important thing to remember the bottom line is that we need to make a decision by tomorrow morning in other words the bottom line means get straight to the point next up we have lost for words lost for words this is a phrase we use when we are so surprised shocked or overwhelmed by something that we can't think of anything to say it's like being speechless exactly it implies a temporary inability to speak because your emotions or the situation has left you without anything to say for example when she won the award she was completely lost for words this means that she was so overwhelmed with emotion that she couldn't speak or when I saw the damage to my car I was lost for words in this case it's a feeling of shock let's try it out liam I have some amazing news you got the job wow i I don't know what to say i'm lost for words see how Liam couldn't immediately respond because he was so surprised and happy lost for words perfectly captures that feeling all right next phrase is take a leap of faith take a leap of faith this phrase means to do something important or difficult even if you're not sure about the outcome because you believe it will be good or right it's like making a big decision or taking a big step when you don't have all the answers it often involves taking a risk but it's a risk you feel is necessary or important it's about having courage and trusting the process for example if someone is thinking about starting a new business but is worried about the future you might tell them "Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and believe in your idea." Perfect example or she decided to quit her old job and move to a new city without a job waiting for her it was a real leap of faith let's try this i'm thinking about going back to university but I'm worried about the cost and the time it will take i understand but sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and trust that it will work out for your future see how it encourages someone to be brave and commit even when things are uncertain next phrase is a very relatable one on the tip of my tongue on the tip of my tongue it perfectly describes that feeling when you know something like a word or a name but you just can't remember it at that exact moment that's exactly it it means you're almost able to recall it but it's just out of reach right there almost ready to be said it's so frustrating when that happens you feel like you know it but it just won't come out for example I know his name it's right on the tip of my tongue but I just can't remember it or I'm trying to remember that movie I watched last week the title is on the tip of my tongue but I can't quite get it let's use it in a conversation liam what was that restaurant called the one with the great pizza oh I know it it's right in the tip of my tongue next up go figure go figure is a casual phrase we use when we're talking about something that is surprising puzzling or ironic it's like saying "Isn't that strange?" Or "Can you believe that?" So it's often used when something happens that doesn't quite make sense or it's just unexpected exactly it expresses mild surprise or sometimes a bit of resignation to something odd you use it when something seems illogical or hard to explain for instance I studied all night for the exam but I still got a low score my friend didn't study at all and got an A go figure that's a classic example it's used when something seems unfair or just plain weird let's try it out liam the new park opened and it's already full of people even though it's raining really it's raining and everyone's still there go figure next we have clear the air this phrase means to resolve a disagreement or misunderstanding with someone by talking about it openly and honestly it's about getting rid of bad feelings or tension in a relationship it's like when there's a cloudy atmosphere between people and you want to make it sunny again that's a perfect image Liam you use it when there's some tension or an unresolved issue that needs to be discussed so everyone can feel better for example Sarah and Jessica had a disagreement but they decided to meet up and clear the air so they could be friends again or there was a lot of gossip at work so the manager called a meeting to clear the air and address everyone's concerns let's try it liam I feel like there's been some misunderstanding between you and your friend lately i feel it too maybe we should sit down later and clear the air next phrase is "What's the catch?" What's the catch this is a phrase you use when something seems too good to be true and you suspect there might be a hidden problem condition or trick yes it implies suspicion or caution when an offer sounds incredibly easy or beneficial you automatically wonder if there's a hidden disadvantage so if someone offers you a free vacation you might think "Wow this sounds amazing but what's the catch?" Exactly you're looking for the hidden cost or the tricky part or if a new product promises incredible results with no effort you might ask "What's the catch?" It's about looking for the small print the part that isn't immediately obvious let's use it in a conversation emily I found a new English course online and it's completely free and it promises fluency in one month hm that sounds amazing Liam but what's the catch is it really that simple what's the catch is your way of saying I'm a bit suspicious tell me the hidden truth next up jump to conclusions jump to conclusions this phrase means to make a decision or judgment about something quickly without having all the facts or enough information it's about assuming something is true too soon so it's like quickly deciding something without thinking it through properly or waiting for all the details you use it when someone forms an opinion or makes a judgment too fast often incorrectly because they haven't considered everything for example don't jump to conclusions just because he didn't call you back maybe his phone battery died or she saw them talking and immediately jumped to conclusions that they were planning something against her when they were just discussing work it's a warning against making quick uninformed judgments let's try it out liam I saw Sarah packing a suitcase so she must be leaving the company whoa Emily don't jump to conclusions maybe she's just going on a business trip or a short vacation all right next phrase get a load of this get a load of this this is a casual phrase you use when you want to get someone's attention because you're about to share something surprising interesting or unbelievable it's like saying "Listen to this," or "Check this out." So you use it to introduce something noteworthy or unexpected that you're about to tell someone exactly it's a way to prepare someone for a piece of news or information that might be a bit shocking or very amusing for example I was walking home today and get a load of this a cat was riding on the back of a dog that's a great example or you won't believe what happened at work today get a load of this they completely changed the meeting schedule at the last minute it's a fun way to start a story or share something surprising let's practice it liam you're not going to believe what I just read in the news oh get a load of this then tell me what happened next phrase you live and learn you live and learn is a phrase you say when you've made a mistake or experienced something new and you've gained new knowledge or understanding from it it acknowledges that mistakes are part of the learning process yes it implies that you've learned a valuable lesson from an experience often one that was unexpected or a bit difficult so it's about realizing something new after an experience sometimes after doing something wrong for instance I tried to fix the computer myself but I made it worse well you live and learn or I thought I knew everything about that topic but after today's lesson you live and learn there's so much more to know let's use it in a conversation i bought that new phone without reading any reviews and it's terrible oh no well you live and learn right next time you'll check the reviews first right next we have It's not rocket science it's not rocket science this is a common phrase we use to say that something is not very difficult or complicated to understand or do it means it's simpler than it might appear it's a way of saying this isn't as hard as it looks or anyone can understand this right you use it to emphasize that something is straightforward even if someone is making it sound complex for example learning to ride a bicycle for the first time might seem tricky but really it's not rocket science once you get the hang of it or following these simple instructions for cooking dinner it's not rocket science anyone can do it it's a reassuring phrase telling someone not to overthink things let's try it out liam I'm trying to figure out how to use this new coffee machine but it looks so complicated don't worry Emily just follow the steps it's not rocket science once you read the instructions okay let's head to our following phrase don't sweat it don't sweat it is a very casual and friendly phrase that means don't worry about it or don't get stressed about it you use it to tell someone not to worry about something especially if it's a small problem use it to tell someone to relax and not to overthink things that aren't a big deal it's a reassuring phrase letting someone know that a situation isn't as serious as they might think or that you're not bothered by something they've done for example if someone apologizes for being a few minutes late you might say "Oh don't sweat it you're perfectly on time." Or if you accidentally spill a little water your friend might say "Don't sweat it it's just water it'll dry." It's a great phrase for everyday reassurance let's try it liam I'm so sorry i completely forgot to bring the book you asked for ah don't sweat it Emily i can always get it later no big deal at all see how don't sweat it immediately eases the tension next phrase round the clock round the clock this phrase means all day and all night continuously without stopping it refers to something that happens 24 hours a day yes it implies something that is happening without interruption covering all hours of the day and night so if a hospital's emergency room is always open you could say the hospital works round the clock exactly or the construction crew worked round the clock to finish the building on time it emphasizes continuous activity let's use it in a conversation that new online store is so popular i heard they're getting orders non-stop yes they're working round the clock to fulfill all the orders even at night right round the clock means continuously 24 hours a day next up you can say that again you can say that again this is a very common and enthusiastic phrase we use to show strong agreement with what someone has just said it means that's absolutely true or I completely agree with you so it's not actually asking someone to repeat themselves but rather emphasizing that you agree very strongly precisely you use it when you hear something that you feel is very accurate or a very good point for example if someone says "It's really hot today." You could reply "You can say that again i'm melting." Or learning English takes a lot of practice you could respond "You can say that again." It's all about consistency it's a casual and lively way to show you're totally on board with what's been said let's try it out Liam this new coffee machine makes the best coffee ever you can say that again Emily it's absolutely delicious next get your act together get your act together is a phrase you use to tell someone or yourself to start behaving in a more organized responsible or effective way it means to improve your behavior or situation so it's like saying "Stop being disorganized or lazy and start being serious and effective." Use it when someone is not performing well or is being messy or irresponsible and they need to improve it's often used as advice or a firm suggestion for example if you want to pass your exams you really need to get your act together and start studying seriously or the team lost several games in a row they need to get their act together if they want to win the championship it's a direct way to tell someone to sort things out let's try it in a conversation liam I've been feeling so unproductive lately just wasting time i get that feeling sometimes Emily maybe it's time to get your act together and make a daily schedule to follow let's move to our next phrase to each their own to each their own this is a phrase we use to express that everyone has different tastes preferences or opinions and we should respect those differences yes it implies that what one person likes or chooses might not be what another person likes or chooses and that's perfectly fine it's a way of accepting individual preferences without judgment so if someone tells you they love a kind of food you really don't like you could just say "Well to each their own." Exactly it acknowledges that people are different and that's okay or I can't believe he chose that car color but hey to each their own it's a simple way to show tolerance and understanding of individual choices let's use it in a conversation i don't understand why people enjoy exercising so much it's just so tiring well to each their own Liam some people really love it right to each their own means everyone has different preferences and we should respect that next up it's a tough call it's a tough call this phrase means that a decision is difficult to make because both options or sides have strong arguments or there are significant pros and cons for each so it's about a difficult choice where there's no clear easy answer precisely you use it when you're faced with a problem and it's hard to decide which path to take for example both candidates for the job are excellent it's a really tough call to decide who to hire or should I go to the party or stay home and study it's a tough call because I want to do both it expresses that you're in a tricky situation and the decision isn't obvious let's try it out liam should I buy the more expensive phone with all the new features or the cheaper one that does the basic things hm that's a tough call Emily both have their benefits next phrase is see eye to eye see eye to eye means to agree with someone or have the same opinion about something if two people see eye to eye they share the same views and understanding it's about being in agreement or having a shared perspective use it when you and another person have similar thoughts or opinions on a topic for example my brother and I rarely see eye to eye on politics this means they usually disagree all the time or luckily the whole team sees eye to eye on the new project direction so we can start working it's a clear way to express whether there's agreement or disagreement let's try it liam do you think we should try that new cafe down the street yes we definitely see eye to eye on that i've been wanting to try it all week next phrase the pros and cons the pros and cons is a very common phrase we use when we are talking about the advantages and disadvantages of something pros are the good points and cons are the bad points yes you use this phrase when you are analyzing a situation a decision or an idea and you want to consider all the positive and negative aspects so if you're thinking about buying a new car you would weigh the pros and cons of each model before deciding exactly or before starting a business it's important to consider all the pros and cons very carefully it's a very practical phrase for decision-m and discussion let's use it in a conversation emily I'm thinking about taking a long vacation next month that sounds lovely have you thought about the pros and cons of taking it then like busy travel times versus quiet beaches right next phrase long story short long story short is a super useful phrase we use when we want to summarize a long story or explanation very briefly getting straight to the main point or the conclusion so it's like saying to make a long story short or in a nutshell use it when you've had a lot of details or events leading up to something but you just want to share the main outcome or key information quickly for example I had a lot of trouble getting to the airport but long story short I made my flight just in time or I spent hours trying to fix my computer but long story short I ended up having to buy a new one it's a great way to save time and get to the point in a conversation let's try it out liam what happened with that complicated meeting you had yesterday well it was a really long discussion with many different opinions but long story short we finally reached an agreement okay what do we have next uh call it even call it even means to agree that no one owes anything to the other person usually after a small debt or favor it's about balancing things out so that neither person has an advantage or disadvantage over the other so it's like saying no one owes anyone anything use it to settle a small balance for example if you bought coffee yesterday and I buy it today we might say "Let's call it even." Or "You helped me move furniture last week and I just helped you with your garden let's call it even." It's a friendly way to balance out small favors or debts let's try it liam I owe you $5 from yesterday oh don't worry about it Emily you bought me lunch last week let's just call it even see how it easily resolves a small outstanding debt or favor next we have don't get me wrong don't get me wrong is a very important phrase we use when we want to make sure someone doesn't misunderstand what we're saying especially if our previous statement might sound negative or critical yes it's a way to clarify your intention and prevent misinterpretation you're saying "This is what I mean please don't think I mean something else." So if you say something that might sound bad you follow it with "Don't get me wrong." to explain your true more positive or neutral meaning for instance I think his idea is a bit complicated don't get me wrong it's a very creative idea but maybe not practical for us here you're clarifying you're not saying the idea is bad just complicated or I don't really like crowded places don't get me wrong I love meeting new people but I prefer smaller groups it's a great phrase for being tactful and precise in your English communication let's use it in a conversation emily I think that new movie was a bit slow don't get me wrong Liam i appreciate the acting but I agree the story could have moved faster see how don't get me wrong helps prevent the other person from thinking you totally dislike the movie next phrase read you loud and clear read you loud and clear this phrase means I understand you perfectly or I've heard and understood your message very clearly so it's a strong way to confirm understanding use it when someone has explained something important and you want to assure them you've got the message completely for example if your boss gives you very detailed instructions you could say "Okay I read you loud and clear i'll get it done." Or "My friend told me not to be late for the meeting and I said "Don't worry i read you loud and clear let's try it out." Liam remember the deadline for the report is absolutely tomorrow no extensions got it Emily i read you loud and clear the report will be ready next phrase is make ends meet make ends meet this phrase means to earn just enough money to cover your basic living expenses without going into debt it's about having just enough to survive financially so it implies a financial struggle or at least a situation where money is tight you use it when someone is talking about managing their finances carefully to cover rent food bills and other necessities for example it's hard for many families to make ends meet with the rising cost of living or after losing her job she struggled to make ends meet until she found a new one it's a common phrase in conversations about budgeting and financial challenges let's try it liam how are you finding things since you started your new part-time job it's okay Emily but it's still a bit tough to make ends meet every month now we have you win some you lose some you win some you lose some this is a phrase we use to accept that life has both successes and failures and you can't always win every time it's about acknowledging that things don't always go your way yes it's a way to express a philosophical or realistic view about life's ups and downs it helps you accept setbacks without too much disappointment so if you try something new and it doesn't work out you might just say "You win some you lose some." It's a phrase for showing resilience and a healthy perspective or "I really wanted that promotion but I didn't get it this time." Oh well you win some you lose some let's use it in a conversation emily I spent hours preparing for that presentation and it didn't go as well as I hoped ah I know that feeling but hey you win some you lose some the important thing is you tried your best right now we're at our last phrase for today which is keep me posted keep me posted is a very common and useful phrase that means keep me updated or inform me regularly about the situation or progress it's about asking someone to continue sharing news or developments with you you use it when you want to receive ongoing information about something use it when you're interested in the outcome of a situation and want to know what happens next for example I'm waiting to hear back about my job application my friend told me to keep her posted on any news or they're still discussing the new project our manager asked us to keep him posted on any decisions it's a simple way to ask for updates let's try it out liam are you still planning to organize that charity event next month yes we're making progress i'll keep you posted on the details as they come together and that brings us to the end of our 30 common English phrases for everyday use we really hope you enjoyed learning these essential expressions that native speakers use all the time it was a great journey through phrases that will truly boost your English listening and speaking practice from go with the flow to make ends meet these phrases are the building blocks of real English conversation so how did you do did you know some of these phrases already or perhaps you knew all of them which is absolutely fantastic either way we hope you picked up some new ways to express yourself more naturally the best way to master these is to start using them in your own daily conversations try incorporating just one or two new phrases each day and you'll be amazed at how quickly your English communication skills improve if you found this episode helpful for your English fluency and expanding your everyday English vocabulary please remember to subscribe to English in Comfort wherever you listen to podcasts by subscribing you won't miss any of our episodes packed with more common phrases speaking practice and useful tips to help you feel more comfortable and confident in English thank you so much for spending this time with us and allowing us to be a part of your English learning journey keep practicing keep listening and take care everyone