¡Hay tantas expresiones en inglés! Por eso tenemos Expresiones en inglés Expression Session donde te presentamos con las expresiones más utilizadas.
Cada mes te presentamos con un grupo de expresiones con descripciones y ejemplos. También hablamos de otros significados que los expresiones pueden tener a cambiar una palabra o usarla con un tono de voz distinto.
Aprendiendo una expresión cada semana es más fácil que memorizar 10 antes del examen. Así que aprende una expresión hoy, utilizalo mañana y recuerdala para siempre.
There are so many expressions in English! This is why we created Expresiones en inglés Expression Session. We present you with some of the most commonly used expressions in the English Language.
Each month we present you with a group of expressions with their explanations and examples. We also talk about other meanings they may take on by changing a word or by changing your tone of voice.
Learning expression every week is much easier than memorizing 10 right before your exam. So, learn an expression today, use it tomorrow and remember it forever.
English Expression: Take a raincheck. A common expression that you will hear Amercians, British, Irish and Australians use – how is that possible? They say that ‘take a raincheck’ dates back to baseball in the 1800s when games were cancelled due to rain. People didn’t lose their money they paid for their ticket, instead they got a ‘raincheck’ to use their ticket for a later game. Then the expression traveled around the world.
TAKE A RAINCHECK
- Use this expression to tell someone that you are unable to accept their invitation now, but would like to reschedule the invitation.
- I would love to go to your summer home but we have plans for that week. Can I take a raincheck? (Can I go another time?
- Julie and her family aren’t coming. They asked to take a raincheck. Maybe we can have them over next month some time.
English Expressions
Now that you have heard about English Expression: Take a raincheck, have a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: bite the bullet
Expression Session: have a crack at something
Cursos inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio de Alava tenemos cursos para todos los niveles y necesidades. Los cursos anuales empiezan en octubre pero se puede apuntar en cualquier memento del curso. Para inscribirte en un curso con nosotros, pincha aquí.
English Expression: Bite the bullet. This expression is said to have come from the 1800s when people may have literally bit down on a bullet during sugery to handle the pain in a war situation. Today we use it in a much different context, but the image of someone biting on a bullet can help you remember the expression more easily.
BITE THE BULLET
- to decide or accept to do something that you really do not want to do
- to face a difficult situation
- I bit the bullet and took the exam yesterday. Let’s see what happens.
- She might just have to bite the bullet and pay for the repairs eventhough it’s almost the same price as a new car.
- Have you considered just biting the bullet and showing up at her work to talk to her? She is your daughter.
Expression Sessions
Now that you have seen English Expression: Bite the bullet, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: have a crack at it
Expression Session: be worth it
Cursos Inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio de Alava tenemos cursos de inglés para todos los niveles y necesidades. Ponte en contacto con nosotros para recibir más información
- Preparación de exámenes de A2, B1, B2, C1, C2
- Business English
- Inglés general
- Clases particulares y In Company
English Exams: Expressing your opinion with it. In all of your English exams, you will be asked to give your opinion. You do NOT want to repeat ‘I think’. Actually, most of my students are forbidden to use the phrase ‘I think’ in my classroom just to get them used to ‘thinking’ in a different way.
Expressing opinion with it
Now there are plenty of ways to express your opinion without using ‘I think’. Today we will look at how to do this using it as the subject.
1. It + verb + that
- This is one of the easier ways of using it and one that you are probably already familiar with.
- You can use it with verbs such as appears, seems, turns out
- 1. It seems that we bought the wrong tool.
- 2. It turns out that he’s going to be late again.
- 3. It appears that people do not want to admit the truth.
2. It + verb + person + that
- Some verbs are transitive and need to be followed by a person
- verbs include amaze, anger, annoy, bother, appear to, concern, confuse, delight, digust, distress, embarrass, exites, frightens, frustrate, hit, humiliate, hurt, irk, irritate, occur to, perplex, please, puzzle, scare, seem to, shock, strike, stun, surprise, terrify, thrill, trouble, unsettle, upset, vex, worry
- 1. It amazes me that he is still running for president.
- 2. It concerns me that our governments don’t do more to combat climate change.
- 3. It occurs to me that I have never really thought about this question.
- 4. It seems to me that each individual is responisible for doing their part.
- Note that we can say it seems that or it seems to me that.
3. It + verb + person + infinitive with to
- In some cases, we can use an infinitve + to instead of ‘that + clause’
- We can use this with verbs such as amaze, anger, annoys, bother, disgusts, distresses, embarrass, exites, frightens, frustrate, hurt, irk, irritate, perplexe, please, suprise, stuns, terrify, thrill, trouble, unsettle, vex, upset, worry
- 1. It amazes me to see that so many young people came out to vote.
- 2. It terrifies me to think of him alone by himself
- 3. It really upsets me to hear about the effects of climate change.
4. It + verb (e.g. feel, look, seem, sound) + like/as if/as though
- Another word you should try to avois overusing on an exam (and in life!) is ‘like’
- We can use ‘like’, ‘as if’ or ‘as though’ with verbs such as feel, look, seem, sound
- It feels as though society pressures us to make decisions
- It looks as if this is the case, but it’s not.
- It seems as though you are right.
- It sounds like a good idea.
Speaking Tips
Now that you have seen English Exams: Expressing your opinion, take a look at our other Exam tips:
CAE tips: ways to disagree
Speaking tips: ways to speculate
Cursos inglés
Si estás interesada en hacer un curso con nosotros, ofrecemos una variedad de modalidades y niveles. Pónte en contacto con nosotros para recibir más información
Have a crack at something. This is a way of showing your enthusiasm to try to do something but making it clear that you don’t think you will be successfull.
HAVE A CRACK AT SOMETHING
- an attempt to do something
- usaully meaning that you don’t think you will be successful
- can be used with ‘crack’, ‘go’, ‘stab’ or ‘whack’
- can also be used with take
- I’ve never ice skated before, but I took a crack at it this weekend and I rather enjoyed it.
- Dad would like to have a go at it if you don’t mind.
- Look, I know this isn’t your job, but would you mind taking a stab at it?
- Can you have a whack at the new TV, please? I can’t figure anything out.
Expression Session
Now that you had a look at Have a crack at something, have a go at our other expression session posts:
Expression Session: be worth it
Expression Session: drop the ball
Cursos inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio de Alava, tenemos cursos de inglés para todos los niveles y necesidades para mayores de 16 años. Apúntate a un curso de inglés aquí o ponte en contacto con nosotros a idiomas@camaradealava.com
English Expression: be worth it. In Spanish you say ‘vale la pena‘ and in English we say ‘it’s worth it’ The word ‘worth’ means having value.
TO BE WORTH IT (SOMETHING)
FORM
Subject + to be + worth + object
MEANING AND EXAMPLES
- The value of something is more than what it cost
- It’s expensive to have a financial advisor, but it’s worth it. You save in the long run.
- I think buying a new car is worth it if you have the money.
- It’s not worth getting upset over. We can replace the bike.
- The value of something is more than the effort you put into it
- I know therapy can be difficult, but it is worth it in the long run.
- I don’t think being upset all the time is worth it.
- Is it really worth all the time you put into studying?
TO BE WORTH IT (SOMEONE)
FORM
Subject + to be + worth + object
MEANING AND EXAMPLES
- Someone is worth the effort you put into them (usually in a relationship)
- Use when you want to emphasize that the worth is the person and not the effort.
- You seem to be always fighting. Is she really worth it? (Is she more important than all the fighting?)
- I know I am making a lot of effort with him, but I think he is worth it. (emphasis on he)
- I know I am making a lot of effort with him, but I think it’s worth it. (emphasis on my effort)
English Expressions
Now that you have seen English Expression: be worth it, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: drop the ball
Expression Session: kill time
Cursos Inglés
En la Escuela de idiomas de la Cámara de Alava en Vitoria, tenemos cursos de inglés para todos los niveles y necesidades. Ponte en contacto con nosotros para recibir más información.
English Expression: drop the ball. I have to admit, I love baseball expressions. It’s a sport I started playing at age 6. And I promise that it was never a good thing to ‘drop the ball’. That’s why it is such a good way of expressing how you feel about a mistake you have made.
DROP THE BALL
- to make a mistake by not doing something you should have done
- to miss out on an opportunity because you didn’t do something you should have done
- Joe dropped the ball and waited to too long to ask her out. She’s already dating someone new.
- I really dropped the ball at work and am worried about getting fired.
- Don’t drop the ball! We are all counting on you.
Expressions in English
Now that you have learned English Expression: drop the ball, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: kill time
Expression Session: waste of time
Cursos Inglés Vitoria
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio de Alava tenemos todos tipos de clases de inglés. Ponte en contacto con nosotros para buscar un nivel adecuado a idiomas@camaradealava.com o llamarnos a 945 150 190. Puedes recibir más información aquí
- Business English
- Preparación de Exámenes
- Conversation
- Inglés General
English Expression: Kill time. Another nice expression that translates perfectly into Spanish: matar tiempo. This makes it easy to remember and use so you can bump up your exam points or impress your boss.
KILL (THE) TIME
- to do something not important while waiting for someone or something.
- My flight doesn’t leave for another three hours, so I’m just killing time shopping and buying things I don’t need.
- You know you always have to wait at the doctor’s office, so take something to kill the time.
- Yesterday I had to wait for 30 minutes to talk to someone in customer service. Luckily, I was at home and killed time by cooking while I was waiting.
English Expressions
Now that you have learned English Expression: Kill time, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: waste of time
Expression Session: it is what it is
Cursos Ingles Vitoria
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio de Alava, tenemos cursos de inglés para todos los niveles y necesidades. Pincha aquí para recibir más información sobre las clases.
- Preparación de Examenes de Cambridge, EILTS, Oxford Test of English
- Business English – grupos presenciales y online
- Business InCompany – individual o de grupos individualizados para tu empresa
- Conversation classes
- Inglés General
English Expressions: Waste of time. This is the perfect expression to say that something is ‘una perdida de tiempo’. It’s a perfect translation, which doesn’t happen very often.
WASTE TIME
A WASTE OF (SOMEONE’S) TIME (noun phrase)
- a pointless activity that does not make good use of your time
- Both examples below have the same meaning. Using someone may give a bit more emphasis to the person.
- a waste + of + time
- Having to talk to each person individually is a waste of time.
- I hate commuting to work every day. It’s a waste of time.
- a waste + of + someone’s + time
- Having to talk to each person individually is a waste of their time.
- I hate commuting to work every day. It’s a waste of my time.
WASTE (SOMEONE’S) TIME (verb phrase)
- to not use your time correctly
- to not use the time you have available in a productive way
- You should be doing your homework and not wasting time playing video games.
- Don’t waste my time. I have a lot of things to do today.
- I don’t know why they waste their time calling everyone when they can just send a text message.
Cursos inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio de Alava tenemos cursos de inglés para todos los niveles y necesidades
English Expressions
Now that you have seen English Expressions: Waste of time, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: it is what it is
Expression Session: level the playing field
English Expression: It is what it is. There are those times when you need to say ‘es lo que hay’ and this is the phrase you will need to use in this case.
IT IS WHAT IT IS
- Used to say that we can not change the situation and that we have to accept it.
- An expression to say ‘there’s nothing we can do about it now’.
- If only I knew earlier that it was going to rain. I would have brought the clothes inside. Well, I can’t do anything about it now. It is what it is.
- It is what it is. He doesn’t want to go to the game. We aren’t going to force him.
Cursos de inglés
Si estás buscando cursos de inglés, tenemos una oferta amplia en la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio de Alava. Ponte en contacto con nosotros idiomas@camaradealava.com o llamanos a 945 150 190.
- Inglés para negocios (niveles A2 a C1)
- Preparación de exámenes de Cambridge y de Oxford Test of English. Somos centro examinador de Oxford Test of English. Puedes programar un examen hoy para la semana que viene.
- Inglés general (niveles A1 a C2)
- Clases de conversación una vez o dos veces a la semana
- Cursos InCompany para ti y para tu empresa.
English Expressions
Now that you have seen English Expression: It is what it is, have a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: level the playing field
Expression Session: turn over a new leaf
English Expression: Level the playing field. This week in class we are talking about inclusive language. This is hard to do with idioms, as they are notoriously not inclusive. In the example given today, someone may say that it is NOT inclusive because it uses sports and so you may need to understand baseball, in this case, to understand the meaning. However, I am using it today because I think it has an important message.
LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
- Make a situation equal so that everyone has the same opportunity
- Adjust a situation so that everyone has the same chance of succeeding.
- Quotas were created at businesses to level the playing field for women.
- In order to level the playing field, we need to make the class financially accessible to everyone.
A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
- Conditions that allow everyone to have the same opportunity to succeed in a situation.
- It’s not a level playing field. How can children play in the same tournament as adults?
- We have put quotas in place in order to create a level playing field.
English Expressions
Now that you have seen English Expression: Level the playing field, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: turn over a new leaf
Expression Session: have skeletons in one’s closet
Cursos inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Alava, tenemos cursos para todos los niveles y necesidades para mayores de 16 años.
English Expression: turn over a new leaf. This seems like the perfect idiom for this time of year when the leaves on the trees are falling. Turning over a new leaf means starting fresh and changing your behavior.
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
- to say that someone is beginning to behave in a better, kinder way.
- to behave in a positive way
- I’m so glad that you spoke to Sarah. She’s really turned over a new leaf and even seems happier in her job.
- You can’t expect him to just turn over a new leaf if he doesn’t even know that he is behaving poorly. Talk to him.
Expression Session
Now that you have seen English Expression: turn over a new leaf, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: have skeletons in one’s closet
Expression Session: bear in mind
Cursos de inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio de Alava, tenemos cursos para todos los niveles y necesidades. Para poder inscribirte en un curso o para recibir información, pinche aquí.
- Cursos para principiantes, nivel A1 y A2, inglés general y de negocios
- Cursos de preparación de exámenes de niveles A2, B1, B2, C1 y C2
- Inglés para negocios (grupales, individuales, presencial y online)
- Conversación, nivel B2, C1, C2
English Expression: Have skeletons in one’s closet. It’s Halloween time, so let’s take a look at this very Halloweeny idiom.
HAVE SKELETONS IN ONE’S CLOSET
- to have a secret about something bad that you have done in the past
- I’m not sure I trust him. I think he has some skeletons in his closet.
- We all have skeletons in our closets. I promise I won’t judge you if you tell me them.
- to have a secret about something embarrassing that happened to you in the past.
- Don’t bring up all my skeletons in the closet in front of John. It’s too embarrassing.
- Nobody’s family is perfect. They all have skeletons in the closet.
SKELETONS IN THE CUPBOARD
- Has the same meaning as skeletons in the closet.
- I don’t like talking about my skeletons in the cupboard.
- He never talks about himself. I think he has some skeletons in his cupboard that he doesn’t want to talk about.
Halloween vocabulary
Now that you have seen English Expression: Have skeletons in one’s closet, take a look at our other Halloween-based posts:
How to carve a pumpkin
Vocab Rehab: synonyms for scary
Podcast: off the cuff: Halloween!
Cursos inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio, tenemos cursos de inglés para todos los niveles y necesidades. Ponte en contacto con nosotros: idiomas@camaradealava.com
English Expression: Bear in mind. When speaking to adults, you don’t always want to tell them to ‘Remember…’ or ‘Don’t forget…’. So, instead we can use this nice expression to tell someone to take something into consideration.
BEAR IN MIND
- to take something into consideration
- to remember something when you are making a decision.
- Please bear in mind that you only have 2 weeks to return the product.
- Before we buy the refrigerator we need to bear in mind that we may also need to buy a wash machine soon.
- Bearning in mind that she’s so young, she really knows how to play the violin.
KEEP IN MIND
- this expression is the same as bear in mind.
- Keep in mind that the plane leaves very late at night.
- He told me to keep him in mind if we have a job opening.
English Expressions
Now that you have seen English Expression: Bear in mind, take a look at our other Expression Session Posts:
Expression Session: brush up on something
Expression Session: neither here nor there
Cursos Inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Alava tenemos cursos para todos los niveles y necesidades. Para recibir más información sobre los cursos, ponte en contacto con nosotros: idiomas@camaradealava.com, llamar a 945 150 190 o inscribirte aquí.
- Business English
- Preparación de Exámenes de Cambridge, EILTS, Oxford Test of English
- Inglés General
English Expression: Brush up on something. It’s that time of year to brush up on your English. Hay cursos de inglés para todos los niveles este trimestre, así que no lo pierdes.
BRUSH UP ON SOMETHING
- to improve your knowledge or skill on a topic that you previously learned.
- to remember information or skills that you once knew.
- I really need to brush up on my French. I was in France and kept using Spanish.
- We are signing her up for a IT coourse to brush up on her skills before she returns to work.
English Expressions
Now that you have seen English Expression: Brush up on something, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: neither here nor there
Expression Session: dodge the bullet
CURSOS INGLES
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio de Alava tenemos cursos de inglés para todos los niveles y necesidades. También somos un Centro Examinador del Oxford Test of English, una prueba de nivel de A2, B1 y B2 con certificado. Para recibir más información sobre nuestros servicios de inglés, escribe a idiomas@camaradealava.com o llamar a 945 150 190.
- Cursos para niveles A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 y C2
- Inglés para negocios / Business English
- Curos InCompany for empresas
- Preparación de exámenes de Cambridge, EOI, EILTS, Oxford Test of English
- Mantenimiento de nivel para B2, C1 y C2
English Expression: neither here nor there. Want a nice way to say ‘ what you are saying is irrelevant’? Here is your expression. Although, like so many expressions in Enlgish, be careful with your tone.
NEITHER HERE NOR THERE
- Used to say that something is not important
- somethng is not relevant to the currect conversation or problem.
- Whether she was drinking or not is neither here nor there. I just want to know if she is safe.
- His looks are neither here nor there. I just want to know if he is a nice guy.
- Their nationality is neither here nor there. Can they work?
English Expressions
Now that you have seen English Expression: neither here nor there, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: dodge the bullet
Expression Session: hang in there
Cursos inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Alava, tenemos todos tipos de cursos para las personas de 16 a 99 años.
- Cursos de preparación de exámenes de Cambridge y Oxford B1, B2, C1, C2
- Inglés General A2, B1, B2, C1, C2
- Inglés para negocios / Business English A2, B1, B2, C1
Para ver más sobre los cursos que ofrecemos, pincha aquí.
English Expressions: Dodge the Bullet. As you can see in the photo, a bullet (una bala) is what comes out of a gun (pistola). To dodge something is to avoid something by jumping out of the way quickly. The expression comes from the idea that if you get out of the way of a bullet, you can save your life. Although the expression isn’t used in this way today, it does refer to dodging something bad.
DODGE THE BULLET
- To avoid an unpleasant situation or even danger
- I’m so glad she broke up with him. She really dodged the bullet because he has a terrible reputation.
- We really dodged a bullet by not going on vacation because there was a hurricane where we
English Expressions
Now that you have seen English Expressions: Dodge the Bullet, take a look at our other Expression Session posts:
Expression Session: Hang in there
Expression Session: Hammer out the details
Cursos de inglés
En la Escuela de Idiomas de la Cámara de Comercio tenemos cursos de inglés para todos los niveles y necesidades. Pincha aquí para apuntarte ahora o escribirnos a idiomas@camaradealava.com
- Cursos de preparación de exámenes de A2 a C1
- Oxford Test of English – www.oxfordtestofenglish.es
- Cursos de preparación para el Oxford Test of English
- Business English
- In Company – cursos deseñados para ti y tu empresa
- Inglés General
- C1/C2 Mantenimiento
