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30 ADVANCED
ENGLISH PHRASES
VOCABULARY & PRONUNCIATION
LESSON & QUIZ

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1 a fraction of
/ə ˈfrækʃn əv/ - a small or tiny part, amount, or proportion of
The plastic folders were a fraction of the price of the leather ones.

2 all things considered

/ɔːl θɪŋz kənˈsɪdəd/ - taking everything into account
All things considered, I think we have done a good job.

3 all in all
/ɔːl ɪn ɔːl/ - overall, mostly
All in all, the response to the new campaign was very positive.

4 be bound to
/bi ˈbaʊnd tə/ - be certain or destined to
You’re bound to hear back from them soon.

5 be down to
/bi ˈdaʊn tə/ - be as a result of
The drop in profit was down to the bad weather over Christmas.

6 drive (somebody) up the wall

/ˌdraɪv ˌsʌmbədi ˌʌp ðə ˈwɔːl/ - annoy someone or make them crazy
People who throw rubbish out of their car drive me up the wall!

7 easier said than done

/ˌiːziə(r) ˈsed ðæn ˌdʌn/ - not very easy
I’d like to give the boss some constructive criticism, but that’s
easier said than done!

8 for the most part

/fɔː(r) ðə ˈməʊst pɑːt/ - in most cases, usually
I find running, for the most part, very enjoyable.

9 get your hands on (something)

/ɡet jɔː(r) ˈhændz ɒn ˌsʌmθɪŋ/ - find or get something
I need to get my hands on a pair of those new trainers.

10 in high spirits
/ɪn ˈhaɪ ˌspɪrɪts/ - in a lively and cheerful mood
The winning team was in high spirits after the award ceremony.

11 in low spirits
/ɪn ˈləʊ ˌspɪrɪts/ - in a sad or tired mood
She was in low spirits due to her recent break up.

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12 just around the corner

/dʒʌst əˈraʊnd ðə ˈkɔːnə(r)/ - coming very soon
I felt stressed when I realised my test is just around the corner.

13 make a point of (doing something)

/meɪk ə pɔɪnt əv ˈduːɪŋ sʌmθɪŋ/ - always do something or take
particular care to do it
She always makes a point of treating everyone as equals.

14 make ends meet

/ˌmeɪk endz ˈmiːt/ - earn just enough money to live on
We struggle to make ends meet towards the end of the year.

15 miss the point

/ˌmɪs ðə ˈpɔɪnt/ - fail to understand the essential or important
part of something
The puppy was calm and incredibly docile.

16 narrow-minded
/ˌnærəʊ ˈmaɪndɪd/ - prejudiced, not willing to listen to other
people's views
Her father-in-law is extremely narrow-minded and is unable
to accept that it’s not the 1900s any more.

17 on hand
/ɒn ˈhænd/ - present, available
The counsellor is always on hand to offer a shoulder to cry on.

18 on the face of it
/ɒn ðə ˈfeɪs əv ɪt/ - apparently, without knowing all of the
relevant facts
On the face of it, she seems to have settled in well.

19 on the verge of
/ɒn ðə ˈvɜːdʒ əv/ - very near to doing or experiencing something
When I saw him in the corridor he was on the verge of tears.

20 part and parcel

/pɑːt ænd ˈpɑːsl/ - an essential or integral component
Stress is part and parcel of the profession.

21 pose a question
/pəʊz ə kwestʃən/ - raise a question
This poses the question: should we be following the regulations?

22 remarkably complex
/rɪˈmɑːkəbli 'kɒmpleks/ - complicated with lots of intricate detail
The mosaic was remarkably complex and beautiful.

23 roller coaster of emotions

/ˌrəʊlə(r) ˌkəʊstə(r) əv ɪˈməʊʃnz/ - full of highs and lows
I experience a roller coaster of emotions whenever I visit the
opera.

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24 short and sharp

/ˌʃɔːt ænd ˈʃɑːp/ - quick and concise
Let’s keep this zoom meeting short and sharp.

25 sit on the fence

/ˌsɪt ɒn ðə ˈfens/ - avoid making a decision or choice
She likes to sit on the fence in an attempt to avoid conflict.

26 steal the show

/ˌstiːl ðə ˈʃəʊ/ - attract the most attention and praise
The last interviewee completely stole the show.

27 take great pleasure in

/teɪk ɡreɪt ˈpleʒə(r) ɪn/ - enjoy doing something
She took great pleasure in telling him he was fired.

28 walk on eggshells
/wɔːk ɒn ˈeɡʃelz/ - be extremely cautious about one's words or
actions
The boss has a terrible temper so everyone walks on
eggshells around him.

29 without a care in the world

/wɪˌðaʊt ə ˌkeə(r) ɪn ðə ˈwɜːld/ - without worrying about anything
I constantly feel anxious, and there’s my husband without a
care in the world!

30 worth your weight in gold

/ˌwɜːθ jɔː(r) ˌweɪt ɪn ˈɡəʊld/ - very useful, helpful, or valuable
We can’t lose our receptionist - she’s worth her weight in gold!

TEST YOUR
UNDERSTANDING
FILL IN THE GAPS WITH
THE CORRECT PHRASE
1. You are ____________ pass the exam if you work hard enough!
a) bound to
b) down to
c) on the verge of

2. Working long hours is ____________ of being an investment banker.

a) on the face of it
b) part and parcel
c) on the verge

3. My assistant is ____________ to help with any problems.

a) remarkably complex
b) narrow-minded
c) on hand

4. I am bored of always having to ____________ to avoid an argument.

a) walk on eggshells
b) take great pleasure
c) sitting on the fence

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5. She was ____________ after find out that she didn't get the job.
a) in high spirits
b) in low spirits
c) down to

6. The new receptionist has been ____________ - she keeps making silly
mistakes!
a) making ends meet
b) driving me up the wall
c) walking on eggshells

7. My assistant is ____________ to help with any problems.

a) remarkably complex
b) narrow-minded
c) on hand

8. I ____________ telling my husband I love him every morning.

a) make a point of
b) make ends meet
c) get my hands on

9. Better days are ____________ - I promise you!

a) all things considered
b) for the most part
c) just around the corner

10. Only ____________ the applicants got invited for an interview.

a) a fraction of
b) for the most part
c) all in all

Answers:
10. a
9. c
8. a
7. c
6. b
5. b
4. a
3. c
2. b
1. a

The
End
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