Essential English Expressions

Keep an eye on / out Learn the English expression, "Keep an eye on / out" Have you heard the expressions, "keep an eye on" and "keep an eye out"? They're both about watching, but without giving your full attention. Here's what I mean. If you're making rice, you should keep an eye on the stove. You don't have to stare at it the whole time, but you don't want to forget about it either. Watch it, but...

Take advantage of Learn the English expression, "Take advantage of" Have you heard the expression, 'take advantage of'? It’s super common, but did you know there are two ways to use it? One is positive, and one is… not so much. Make sure you don't get them confused. The most common meaning of 'take advantage' is to make the most of an opportunity. Like when there's a big sale, and you snag a great...

At once Learn the English expression, "At once" "At once" is an English expression with two meanings. First, it can mean to do something immediately, without any delay or waiting. If someone has a medical emergency, you might say, "Call a doctor at once!" That means, call a doctor right now, without waiting. When people use "at once" like this, there's always some urgency in their voices. Here's t...

For good Learn the English expression, "For good" If something happens "for good," it's permanent. Use this expression to emphasize that you mean something is is not temporary. For example, in the sentence, "That restaurant is closed for good," "for good" tells your listener that that the restaurant is closed permanently. It will not reopen. We often use "for good" to say that something has stoppe...

Keep track of Learn the English expression, "Keep track of" There are two ways to use the English expression, "keep track of." It can mean to organize information or to stay informed. But whichever way you use it, "keep track of" is about understanding what's going on. You might use an app to keep track of which books you've read. You enter each book and the date you finished it. This is about org...

At the last minute Learn the English expression, "At the last minute" Have you heard the expression, "at the last minute?" It means to do something almost as late as you possibly can--right before it's too late. Sometimes we decide to do things at the last minute. If you celebrate Christmas, you might buy gifts for friends and family. If you wait until December 23 to do your shopping, you're doing...

Take care of Learn the English expression, "Take care of" "Take care of" is a common expression with a few meanings. You've probably heard it like this: "I'm taking care of a sick friend this weekend." That means to provide care or support to someone who needs it. Here's another way to use it. Parents might look for someone to take care of their kids after school. It's kind of like babysitting: to...

Have a hard time Learn the English expression, "Have a hard time" If you have a hard time with something, it's difficult for you, but it's not impossible. You can use "have a hard time" with a verb or a noun. If an action is difficult for you, use an -ing verb. For example, "I'm having a hard time solving this complex math problem." But if it's a thing that's hard, use a preposition like "with, at...

In charge of Learn the English expression, "In charge of" Who's in charge here? The person "in charge" is the person who is responsible for a situation. At your local café, there might be a barista and a manager. The manager has responsibility for the store and has to solve any problems that come up. That's why we say the manager is "in charge." You can say, "in charge of" plus the thing the perso...

Take for granted Learn the English expression, "Take for granted" If you take something for granted, you don't fully appreciate that thing. We take a lot of things for granted in our lives: modern conveniences, our health and safety, and even the people around us. When we take something for granted, we know it's there. But we don't stop to appreciate it. If you're young, you might take your health...

Figure out Learn the English expression, "Figure out" There are two ways to use the phrasal verb "figure out." Number 1: "figure out" means to find the solution to a problem. Now be careful: it doesn't mean fixing a problem. It just means finding the solution. If your car needs to be repaired, you'll want to figure out how you're going to get to work while it's in the shop. Find the solution befor...

Make sure Learn the English expression, "Make sure" The English expression "make sure" means to confirm that things are as they should be, or that people have done what they should do. You probably "make sure" all the time. When you leave your house, you make sure you have your keys with you. Before you go on long trip, you make sure your passport is still valid. Here's a tip: You can use "make su...

Make a difference Learn the English expression, "Make a difference" What does it mean to "make a difference?" This English expression has two meanings: Number one, to have a positive impact on the world. Or number 2, to have a noticeable effect. If someone volunteers at a food bank, you can say, "Her work really makes a difference." She's doing something good. She's having a positive impact on the...

Look forward to Learn the English expression, "Look forward to" Are you happy or excited about something in the future? If so, you're "looking forward to" it You can look forward to an event, an activity, or even a time of year. If you have plans to see a movie this weekend, you can say, "I'm looking forward to seeing the movie." That means you're happy about it. If it's just been a long, cold win...

Are you learning English? Do you want to speak English more naturally? If so, you need to learn the essential English expressions. Every episode in this new podcast will teach you step-by-step how to use one essential English expression. Essential English Expressions is made by Plain English , an online community that helps you upgrade your skills in English. Follow/Subscribe to Essential English...